Bonnie Hunter-led Bali tour:August 2012

Bonnie Hunter is a prolific quilter, and a prolific blogger, posting up to three times a day, every day, even as she travels all over the US, teaching and speaking at quilting events. 

So it's easy to miss something ... did you see that she is leading a tour to Bali in August, and the organisers have puyt together a deal for quilters travelling from Australia - click here for Bonnie's post with the details.

Fairholme Quilters raffle quilts 2012

For this year's Fairholme Quilters Quilt Show (20 - 22nd April), we have made two quilts to raffle.

Proceeds from the raffle will go to the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Association Action for Mental Health, which supports people with mental health problems and their carers in our local area.

Mariner's Stars, first prize in the raffle, was made by the Monday morning group, and machine quilted  by Jo-ann Phillips of Quiltwise, North Turramurra.

The second prize quilt, Lavender Field, a disappearing nine patch design, was made by the Tuesday evening group, and machine quilted by Christy Wang of Quilting Treasures at Pymble.

Both are queen size (approximately 85 X 95 inches), made from all-cotton fabrics, with wool/polyester batting.

Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5

Fairholme members each have raffle tickets to sell now; they will, of course be on sale during the show or you can order tickets by mailing this form with your cheque or money order to

Fairholme Quilters Inc
PO Box 942
Pennant Hills NSW 2120

by Monday 16th April 2012.

Please note that ticket orders can only be accepted from within Australia. The raffle will be drawn at the close of the show, on Sunday 22nd April.

National Quilting Day - a free pattern to celebrate

It seems that March 17th, in addition to being St Patrick's Day is also National Quilting Day in the USA.  The National Quilting Association has released a free pattern to mark the occasion this year ... Pointing the Way, an Ohio star with a simple Mariner’s Compass center designed by Martha Ethridge.

The pattern makes a 56" square quilt.

Previous years' patterns are also still available to download,

Hope you've had a good day's quilting.

A pieced shamrock ...

.... for those who are a little bit Irish  - you just have time before St Patrick's Day (this Saturday) to whip up a pieced shamrock or two, from Sarah Fielke's free pattern published on Generation Q.

Country Pickin's at the Corner ... we're not closing sale!

 ... to help publicise that the shop is not closing - Robyen has moved up the coast, but the Dural store is NOT closing):

From Monday 12th March — Saturday 17th March there will be 30% off all full priced fabric and pre-cuts.

But do note that the shop is no longer opening on Sundays.

Janet's blog, Prophetic Quilts

Janet has started a blog, Prophetic Quilts and she invites you all to take a look. If there are other Fairholme Quilters members who have blogs that they would like to list here (see the right hand column) - just let Jill know and a link can be added.

An art quilt and quilts in art: process and product

This very interesting blog by quilt artist Deidre Adams allows readers to see the process of making a commissioned art quilt from its genesis as an idea to hanging on permanent exhibition.

And this one by Jenean Morrison shows how quilts inspired a large public artwork in Memphis, using recycled street signs! There is a link at the end of the post, to an interview with the artist, Greely Myatt, including some insights into the process.

(Thanks to Jenny Bowker for the first link,  and Jennifer  Richards for the second, both via Southern Cross Quilters)

Monday show and tell

Ginny made this gorgeous quilt by the quilt-as-you-go method, learned initially from books,and given a boost by a workshop with Margaret Cormack that helped her with the borders and getting it finished.

Pat has recently joined Fairholme Quilters - she is an experienced quilter, as we can see as we convince her to bring in some of her quilts for show and tell.  Thanks Pat - it's beautiful.

Thanks to Sue Crowe for the photos.