Coming along nicely…

We often comment on how lucky we have been to have quilts to work on during the pandemic - a creative, enjoyable and useful occupation, that requires constant play with beautiful fabrics. Here are some recently finished quilt tops that we are looking forward to seeing finished.

 

Janet loves blue and white, and she loves the sea. 

She often finds quilt designs encompassing both.

Helen was a little concerned that her scrappy, mostly French 

General quilt top is ‘too red’. We all had a good long look, and 

the consensus was that it is just the right amount of red. 

Pat @bellamojo.95’s fabulous long term project is ready for 

quilting - she thought and worked long and hard 

on all those borders, to great effect.

Lyn’s appliqué William Morris style quilt is made 

from a mix of fabrics from her stash.

  

A little reading …

… for when you’re not quilting …

Adelaide River's biodiversity slow-stitched into a community quilt by more than 80 women

The quilt depicts the animals, plants and biodiversity found in the Northern Territory's iconic Adelaide River system, which is best known for its crocodiles.

The river is almost 240 kilometres long and flows through several Top End regions, including floodplains on Limilngan-Wulna land.

Before the stitching began, each participant was given a list of plant, fish and animal species along with several pieces of recycled calico dyed with indigo to represent water … Felicity James, ABC Darwin, 16 April 2022

 

Retired Astronaut launches a fabric line inspired by her views of Earth

Seeing Earth from space is a privilege afforded only to a select few highly trained individuals—the rest of us have to settle for photos and videos. Now, those views can also be incorporated hinto quilts and other crafting projects thanks to a new fabric line from retired NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 April 2022

Earth Day - Earth Views

Introducing “The One” 68” x 73” featuring Earth Views from Robert Kaufman by designer Karen Nyberg, a retired astronaut, conservationist, textile artist and quilter … Karen Foster, Capitola Quilter, 22 April 2022

Community Quilts

We were able to donate some finished quilts, a donated quilt top and some fabric to the quilt drive for residents of the recently flooded Hawkesbury-Nepean region, and will send more as hey are needed. True Blue Stitches at North Richmond is collecting the quilts, and organising volunteer workshops to make quilts from donated materials. The distribution is being organised locally by volunteers who know the area and the local people well.

Our quilt collection was immediately topped up by quilts handed in by our generous members.

Elaine W generously sews community quilts mostly from
her substantial stash, which we are ‘helping’ her to manage.
 This one is typical of her beautiful work.

Elaine G also generously sews community quilts from her own
 stash of bright fabrics. She recommends checking out the
free patterns on offer from fabric manufacturers and designers
that are often issued with new ranges.

Elaine followed the coloured shapes to quilt in
continuous lines across the quilt, quilting the ditch.

Yvette trialled some bamboo battings using panels

 for a quick finish, and quilting on her long-arm machine.

Jo-Ann used the very last of the transport fabric, 

framed with squares of solid fabric …

… and found the backing print in the community stash,

 expanding it with a solid, for a delightful quilt for a child.

 

Recently finished quilts (2 0f 2)

One of the best parts of getting back to regular meetings 

(beside the people!) has been seeing our finished and in-progress 

quilts in real life. We hadn’t seen Dana’s beautiful ‘Liberty 

Reigel’quilt until very recently, and now it’s completely 

finished, beautifully hand quilted with Aurifil 12wt thread. 

Pattern from @quiltcakes.

Lyn started her candle wicked and postage stamp quilt
more than ten years ago. It is now on its way to
the UK for a friend’s grandchild.

Miriam’s ‘Alice’ is another fun collection of
churn dash blocks with quirky centres.

‘Colour Me’ designed by Emily Herrick is a fun scrap quilt,
 this version made by Janet, who seemed to produce
it in next to no time!

 

QuiltNSW survey - ends Tuesday 19 April

www.quiltnsw.com

 

Art and Craft Exhibition - Thornleigh

 

Recently finished quilts (1 of 2)

Susan has been taking an online course learning to use Westerlee machine quilting rulers. At the end of the course, the quilted class pieces are put together into a stunning quilt. Susan used a subtle print for the joining strips and a variegated thread for the quilting. She found the course both challenging and rewarding, and obviously very effective!

Yvette spent three years making her ‘Dear Jane’ blocks, using foundation paper piecing and appliqué. Note that the blocks are four inches square as you look at the close ups and contemplate the scale of the individual pieces! 

This quilt was the last one Yvette finished on her long arm machine before packing it up for storage and an interstate move. We’ll miss you Yvette, and thank you for all that you have contributed to Fairholme.

 

A quilt for a much loved granddaughter

It was reported that there were some tears shed as this beautiful quilt parcel was opened and lovingly inspected. Sue’s Instagram caption tells some of its story and inspiration:

There has been some secret sewing going on here over the past few years getting this one ready for the special birthday of my much loved granddaughter. Some of the hexies reference her life so far, some have hopes for what life might hold. Inspired by a quilt made by @lyn_quilts2 and designed with the help of @msg47. Some of the backing fabrics bought on my fabulous trip to Japan with @sewmiriam, who patiently helped with the border choice conundrum 🤣 Hand stitched and quilted through some good and bad times. I was very pleased when it made its way across the country in the post and was warmly received 😊