Happenings...

So what has been happening here with me lately, that is a very good question. 

Firstly, I would like to announce that the pattern for Roses in the Attic is now available under my Country Matters format, if you would like a copy just email your details to me. It is quite a quick one to make, having has less fabrics to use if you want to keep it simpler with fabric choices etc.

Secondly, a couple of weeks ago we had the fabulous pleasure of Chris Jurd down at Wagga to spend the weekend with us, inspire and teach us new things.  She bought with her a lovely case full of quilts for show and tell, and I attempted at a couple of the blocks of her Lots of Dots quilt.

This one was Bev's

This one was mine, trying to match up with a bedroom

 

 

and this is the second one, slightly smaller.  Originally I was going to do more, but will now leave them for awhile, perhaps cushions will be there destiny.

 

 

These two were up the other end of the table, just stunning.

And back to class happenings, Brenda is one of the newcomers to class, she has made my Salvation Jane, but added an extra geese and block border for a queen size.  It is just gorgeous,

 

 

and this is a close up of the corner square and fabrics.

 

 Thirdly, more quilt shows.  Ariah Park (west of Temora) are having and Quilt and Craft show on the weekend of 20 and 21 October, 10 am to 4pm as part of the Mary Gilmore Cultural Festival.  There will be a Christmas challenge (wall hanging, table runner or tree decoration) as well as Country music and market day.  For more information email Helen Judd at: nigeljudd@bigpond.com.au

The spring weather is creeping in longer days and it will be nice to see the flowering trees and shrubs bloom and green up.  Canola paddocks are a brilliant yellow now and it won't be long till we get to the business end of the year.  I won't think about it yet, but shall leave you for now to go and make a nice coffee and play with fabric (lol)!

 

Bye for now, Janelle xx

I see RED hexagons

 

I spent the weekend out at Jugiong at the quilt show, which was a lovely way to spend two days - inside nice and warm and talking to ladies about patchwork, drinking coffee and enjoying the homemade treats (I cannot eat at all this week to make up for it!)

 

This was a red hexagon quilt that I made for it, but didn't quite get finished in time. 

 

 

Remember that they where just a pile of blocks...

And don't you just love that red border fabric, a new fabric that I had only just bought (I might have to go back and get some more!!).

The theme was hearts and hexagons, so there where plenty of the little chaps hanging around,  this quilt top was gorgeous, made by Janelle Manwaring (who organised the weekend)

This was one of mine made from leftover florals and scraps from about 4 other quilts.

This was my spot in the corner all set up and ready for the rush

This was an entry made by Lyn - very cute little houses!

Being a but of a purple freak, couldn't resist this one, a fat and skinny log cabin

The next two are from the Wednesday class at Patchwork on Parker (formerly Cootamundra Sewing Centre) - Lyn's ABC quilt for a very special little girl

And Ronnies work in progress doing the Dorothy quilt, using up checks and plaids.

If you are ever going through Cootamundra, make a stop at this great shop (next to Woolworths) there is always new stock arriving, and a fantastic range of reproduction fabrics as well as many other styles, wool and haberdashery.  It seems that I can never walk out the door empty handed and you won't either. I run classes every Wednesday and all my designs are available there. So call in and say hello, we would love to meet you.

The sun is now trying to shine out from under the clouds, might go and do a spot of gardening (to wear off all the cake I ate on the weekend!)

See you next time,

Janelle xox

Quilt shows

Something to see on your travels.....

This weekend at the Jugiong Memorial Hall will be a wonderful exhibition of quilts and crafts, as well as a pincushion competition and redwork challenge, under the theme of Hearts and hexagons.
You will be able to purchase a delicous homemade light lunch and proceeds go towards the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.  This event is only held every two years so don't miss it - if you can make it over you won't be dissappointed.

Save the date - coming up in October - 13 and 14th the lovely ladies at Boree Creek will be holding a Quilt and Craft Exhibition in the memorial hall featuring locally made quilts and crafts.  More information phone Karen on 0269 271495.

Another save the date for November - The Community Chest organisation of Cootamundra will also be holding a quilt show in the town hall on the 10 and 11th November. This event is held to raise money for serious heart, lung and kidney medical equipment and support in the Cootamundra area, so consider supporting this worthwhile cause. More information phone Marion on 6942 2026, but I will have more on that as it gets closer. 

So, better keep those sewing machines going and churning out the quilts to  give great displays of local craft.  I will have a table at all three shows, so come and say hello I would love to see you.  I am sorry there are no photos this week, but promise to have plenty of show and tell next time.

Bye till then

Janelle.

Canberra success

I was about to add a blog post last weekend to do some bragging, when the computer decided it did not want to turn on at all!!  So a couple of mad dashes to town to get it fixed and purchase a new monitor and I am back in action. 

So, here is the thing.  Below is a photo of a smiling me, standing next to my Blackgate Interchange quilt, which as you can see has blue ribbon pinned to it.  It got first prize in the category of commercially quilted at the Canberra Quilt Show, quilting done by Sarah Lennon  www.temoraquilter.com who always does a great job with any size or style of quilt. 

Ribbons to prove it was real and not just a prank call, I was so thrilled as there were so many beautiful quilts, I don't know how the judges decide a winner. 

To put another feather in the cap, the judges awarded a special prize for Retaining the Tradition.  I couldn't believe it - certainly made my week!

Just in case you didn't get a good look at it before, here is another view.  I have released a pattern for it, if you are interested just send me a comment or email at jillimar@bigpond.com and I can give you the details.

Now for a couple of class pics from the other week, I think Helen has been bitten by the hexagon bug, she made this lovely tablerunner from the 3/4" size - very nice.

This is Barb's gorgeous Golly quilt, a little time in the making but well worth it.

And Kaye's version of my Mulberries of Amaroo pattern in blues and purples, my photo does not do it justice, it turned out very well.   

I have more excitement coming up this weekend, as Chris Jurd is coming to town to do a class on the Lots of Dots quilt that she got first prize in Sydney with last year.  Hopefully I will have lots of show and tell next week for you, until then stay well and warm, Janelle. 

Show and tell

There has not been alot happening on the sewing front at my place, trying to work out what to work on first and maybe finish something or head out to the garden where I don't have to think about it.

My Wednesday group have been busy over the holiday break and below is Sharon's version of a bargello design.  It is just 5 fabrics and it is stunning, she has done an amazing job.

A couple of close up pics...

A job well done, now for the quilting!

This is Kaye's take on the French Dresden that was a class project, it was good to get it to this stage to do the quilting.

And now for Helen's table runner with appliqued hexagons. It was gorgeous and just to say she has another hexagon project on the way (addicted for sure!) 

Maybe I will get out some hand work and do some hexagons too, while watching the Olympics tonight - leave you to it, till next time

Janelle.

View from the hill

I apologise for a gap in blog posts, it has been a sad month for our family as a very close family member passed away recently.  We needed a break from all the goings on and when the sun came out the other day, it was decided that a bbq up on the hill was just what the doctor ordered.  A couple of snaps of the view - although it was sunny and it looks like a lovely day, the wind chill factor kept us close to the fire as you can tell by the clouds rolling in. The view from up there is amazing, I love going up there and picking up sticks - there is a small amount of pyromaniac in me - making a fire and the kids cooking marshmellows on a stick.  Very theraputic.

Just slightly around the hill a little more.

Okay, back to the important stuff, fabric!

For anyone who may be interested, there will be a Quilt and Craft Exhibition at Jugiong, NSW (right on the Hume Highway) on the weekend of 25/26 August.  The theme is Hearts and Hexagons, with a redwork challenge for quilts etc.  There will be stalls, light luncheon available and much more.  If you are wanting more information please  ring Janelle Manwaring on 0263 866 289 or you can email me at jillimar@bigpond.com and I will pass on the message.

This is the start of something I hope to have finished for that, plus a few other things - does anyone know where I can buy some time?

Also, just wanting to share with you Noeline's version of Whirlygig,  which she made last month using up some old fabrics from her cupboard and added a few new ones, just has a couple of sashings and binding to put on and its all done.

Well its starting to get dark so time to go and fill up the wood box and get something organised for tea, till next time,

Janelle

Dresden in french

Apologies for having a couple of weeks away from the blog, I hope you havn't all given up on me.  There have been lots going on at home, but also wanting to get this finished so I could show it to you in one piece. The latest range of French General fabric came out awhile ago, and I loved it the moment I saw it, and straight away I thought it might make a great dresden, something I have been wanting to do for awhile.

So I started with the idea of 3 dresdens and just a simple table runner,

These are the fabrics I used,

I got it all cut and sewn together ready to quilt.  The next day when I looked at it, I thought that it was not right, it needs to be bigger, so I unpicked it all and made another 6 dresdens.

This is it, below, with all the borders.  It is now ready to quilt, and I am NOT unpicking it again!

Just a little of bragging to be done!  If any of you have a copy of the latest Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine, you will recognize the quilt below.  Level Crossing is made from some of my favourite reproduction fabrics, and I feel very lucky to have it in AP&Q's lastest edition, also a great project by Chris Jurd using another of my favourite things - hexagons!

MICHELLE HILL CLASS - If anyone is free on the weekend of 4 and 5th August and would like to do a Michelle Hill workshop, she will be at Simply Stitches in Wagga.  Please give Faye a ring on 0269 216 722 for more information as there are just a few places left.  I went to Michelle's workshop last year, and she is brilliant at what she does and I learnt so much.  This is a rare opportunity so don't miss out.  Ring now!

I shall leave you for now, hope you are all doing lots of stitching while the weather is cold and wet, stay well and safe,

Janelle.