Community quilts for winter

As winter bites, we have delivered the current collection of community quilts to various community organisation who will give them to individual people in need of them. Helen’s spare room will then be ready for the next lot to build up before and end-of-year distribution.

 

More finished quilts

SewMiriam’s ‘Little Women’ quilt design is versatile,
equally appealing in a variety of palettes and mix of prints or
solids. Susan K drew on her long-held stash of Heather
Bailey prints with lack and white sashing.
It was snapped up by a friend.

Quilted by Quilting Finesse.

The multi-coloured houndstooth backing is a great compliment,
and a serendipitous find in Susan’s stash.

Marg V brought in her hexagon beauty to show us how soft
and beautifully ‘drapery’ its yellow double-gauze backing is.

Marg said it was very easy to hand quilt.

The backing.

A tiny quilt of very tiny hexagons hand stitched by Janice
for a doll’s house she is decorating.

Those tiny hexagons are a quarter of an inch!

Some very useful things that are not quilts

Quilters don’t just make quilts …

Janice loves Liberty lawn, linen and hand stitching
- this fabric tub combines all that.

The linen is from the beautiful range of light weight linens
sold by Mel Storey @patch_girl. The colour choices are
impressive. Check out the Mel Storey Patchwork website
 for her full range of products.

Noelle bought her beautiful box in Amish country in the US.

The lid is inlaid with a fan design of different timbers
 (just like patchwork!)

Noelle was storing her large spools of Aurifil thread in the box,
 but ran out of room. Luckily it is just the right size
for the small spools.

Hilary did a Kawandi class with Lorena Uriarte, and 
followed up with a second to make the Emmaline Retreat Bag,
 designed by Janelle Mackay @emmalinebags.

The other side - there had to be a cat!

The zipper is supported to sit open by a two part metal
frame threaded through a casing just below it.

More community quilt finishes

A rescued quilt, donated to our community project,
remodelled by Elaine W.
The Dresden circles had all been sewn together and attached
to a dark background, some only pinned.Elaine removed
them from the background, and it was agreed that a lighter
background suited them better. She spread them out a little more
and overlapped some into the border, giving a more
informal, open look, and machine appliqued them to the
background. The background, backing and border
fabrics all came from the community stash.

Elaine machine quilted it with a meandering pattern.
There are a few circles left for another quilt, but Elaine is happy
for someone else to make that one.

A gorgeous log cabin/ pin wheel in many blues and lights
made by Nerida and hand quilted.

Susan K is very fond of designs using 5” squares. Nerida helped
with colour/tone placement for her trip around
the world variation.

Quilted by Jane at Quilting Finesse.

Of course lots of Stephanie’s wonky trees are pink!

Generously long-arm machine quilted by Janet 
for our community collection.

July Events

 

‘We have a huge month planned with the incredible Julie Paterson - painter, printmaker, designer of textiles and brand-new potter. Find her on Instagram @ClothJulie.

THRIFTY

 is an exhibition by artist and textile designer Julie Paterson, focussing on the beauty of visible mending, the joy of repair and the spirit of creative community. Using scraps from her own ClothFabric designs and other pieces that hold significance, Julie s new work will showcase salvaged and mended furnishings and artworks that enrich homes with personal histories. 

Thrift - it s not a making-do that we grit our teeth for in tough times. Thrift is about care, economy and empowerment. Thrift slows us down and manages resources for a more sustainable life. Being thrifty is how we can thrive as individuals and communities.

Residency
Julie will be in residence during her exhibition, creating a large-scale collaborative artwork with locals, using plants they have grown or foraged in their neighbourhood.

Entitled Community Garden, this hand-printed and slow-stitched artwork will celebrate the nurturing power of working together creatively to make beneficial change. ‘  Embroiders’ Guild of NSW.

 

Susan’s wall hanging

Susan M chose this large wall hanging design when the quilt shop she visited didn’t have her first choice - now she’s very pleased to have made this one. The appliqué is raw edged, straight stitched by machine, and Susan machine quilted it, which can be appreciated from the back. A challenging project, well executed.

 

Reading, viewing, listening …

Links to some long weekend ‘quilt adjacent’ activities …

In Conversation Mini Quilt gallery

A gallery of mini quilts made as part of the ‘In Conversation’ modern quilt exhibition currently showing at Gallery 76, 76 Queen Street, Concord West 2138 (Sydney). Some are for sale and might still be available. Curated by Tara Glastonbury, Stitch and Yarn.

Ornate Jewel-Toned Stitches Embellish Common Household Objects Made From Textiles

Whether a corded rotary phone or humble water pitcher, Sue Trevor’s household objects are all made from the same materials. The artist meticulously stitches ornamental sculptures that resemble common domestic items and vintage electronics. Grace Ebert, This Colossal, 17 May 2021

Having Your Quilt Professionally Quilted

Award-winning longarm quilter Michele Mason answers five frequently asked questions about approaching a professional quilter. Make Modern, 22 March 2023

7 Modern Midwest Quilters Taking the Art to a Whole New Level

Quilting has been an art form for hundreds of years. These contemporary makers are elevating the craft in fresh, exciting ways. Kim Bates, Midwest Living,  29 March 2022

 

Emily Van Hoff

My professional background is in graphic design, which often felt at odds with my desire to have a very tactile, physical thing to show for my work. Over the years though, all of those passions and skills have come together to make each other better and I’ve managed to combine them into work that is unmistakably my own.

I am deeply interested in the space that exists between art and design and craft. That intersection is where the magic happens for me, and quilting has been my perfect tool to bring that to life.

Biggest Morning Tea 2023

We turned our first June meeting into a Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council of NSW. So there was a fancy morning tea, a hand-made craft stall, a fat quarter swap, and a beautiful door prize made by and donated by Janice. There was also show and tell, a bit of chat, catching up and even a little stitching. A very good morning.

Our thanks to members for their contributions to the craft stall and morning tea, and to Roslyn and Jo for setting up and running the craft stall, which did excellent trade.

Pat brought the flower decorations she made for our 2020  
exhibition - the one we had to cancel three weeks out as 
the pandemic took hold.

Many bargains were to be had on the craft stall

Latest community quilt finishes

‘Chapel Street’, designed by Emma Jean Jansen

‘Chapel Street’ is designed to be English paper pieced, 

but Susan was able to use the templates supplied to cut 

the pieces and machine piece with some Y seams.

Susan Mc made her community quilt using all community
stash fabrics, including the backing.

Dawn’s latest community quilt finish,
 quilted by Laura and bound by Lynette

The tiny print on the back allows the quilting
to be seen and appreciated.