Getting ready for Christmas...

We've been preparing for Christmas. It's cold and windy, perfect weather to be inside sewing!! We are running a class on this quilt at the moment. It is my adaptation of the pattern from the book "Welcome To The North Pole". Class participants are using the book to complete construction in stages over the next 4 months.

I look forward to showing you their quilts as they progress - every quilt looks sooo different!!

Jean's new finished project

Jean comes along to our sit and sew sessions Wednesday afternoon from 1pm onwards. (It's only $2 which includes complimentary tea and coffee - the urn is on in the kitchen!!). Jean attached the binding last Wednesday afternoon.Jean modified a pattern in a recent edition of the Australian magazine Patchwork and Stitching. This baby quilt is for a Jean's friend's grand-daughter.

Jean quilted it herself and used machine blanket-stitch-applique. Jean is so quick! I look forward to Wednesday's show and tell... what will we see next?

Monika makes her mark

Last term Monika made the top of this quilt in the 12 fat quarter quilt class with Sandra. (Both days this term are already full, we plan to run this class again in term 4).



Monika learnt how to baste, machine quilt and add binding over successive weeks by attending our UFO sessions. Click here to read more about our upcoming classes. Monika, your quilt is just fabulous. Congratulations!

It's snowing fabric!!

We just added these richly coloured prints from the Heritage Holiday range onto the website. Not all the prints are strictly Christmassy, although these ones are.

This cheater print is fabulous... it just needs a little bit of embellishment.

Once you have wiped your drool off the keyboard, come into the shop to pat the fabric yourself, or order online via our secure website.

Samsara

The Samsara fabric range arrived yesterday. This range is getting my pulse racing!! I can hardly breathe when I see it!
Beautiful paisleys and Jacobean florals just flow together.This range reminds me of exotic designs in shawls.I just adore these prints!!

The border prints will look stunning with mitred corners.
You can see the whole range on our website by clicking the link above. We have fabric packs available in fat quarters and fat eights.

Cheryl's dollhouse

Cheryl is working on the dollhouse BOM. This is her first block. Cute huh?

She watched this DVD - Applique The Piece O'Cake Way, and decided to start straight needle-turning right away... this will be quite a big project to start on!! Well done Cheryl... we can't wait to see what you are up to next!!

Helen's new bag

Helen took a break from scrapbooking to make this gorgeous bag!! Helen says she loved the way the design came to life as she appliqued it on. Thanks for sharing with us Helen.

Lisa's Friday night quilt

Every Friday we run UFO sessions - you will receive assistance with your current project.

Lisa attends the Friday evening sessions from 7-9pm (scheduled on alternate Fridays). She has been making these blocks following a pattern, but then decided to enlarge the quilt. This totally changed the layout of the quilt - here are her blocks in their decided layout.
Lisa will start joining these very soon.

The Sew and Sews

The Sew and Sews were on retreat last weekend in Bacchus Marsh (only about 25 mins drive from here). Some of the ladies popped in on Saturday and picked up extra supplies as one of the contingent had offered to show them how to make these bags..
They came back in on Sunday and showed us what they had made.

Here are photos showing the ins and outs of some of the bags.

I can see why the ladies had to take up the opportunity of making them. They are beautiful!!

Thanks for sharing with us ladies.

New Bronwyn Hayes products

Bronwyn Hayes - a fantastic Australian designer has done it again... I particularly love her Christmas products.

This is the new pattern "Hot Pad Shuffle". You could use them as oven mitts or for protecting your benches from hot crockery.... but for me...I want to use the designs on an apron pocket...

Here is what I want to put across the bottom and/or top. The Gingham Girls again, or Santa in his sleigh - as shown in the Christmas Buckets pattern.

You could fill these little buckets with Christmas goodies, or use them on the table at Christmas time.

And we have the Gingham Girls - "Things I Like" patterns for Block of the Month (pattern only) OR you can buy just one pattern because you like it... OR you can buy the whole set of patterns at a special discount price.

These are some of my favourite images in the quilt.

This is the finished version... you could choose any colour theme to create your own quilt.

Marie Webster fabrics

Marie Webster was a quilt pioneer in every way. She designed and sold patterns and kits in the 1920s and 1930s. These fabrics feature designs from her most famous quilts. Her quilts were appliqued and pieced, but you can use these to make your own quilt to give a 1930s feel.

We have put together fabric packs of the range - fat eights or fat quarters.

There is also a panel featuring photos of 12 of Marie Webster's quilts. Click here to see a picture of the panel and read the dimensions.

Ironing and cutting compendium class #4

Here we go! More show and tell from Annie's most popular class!
Bronwyn made her compendium to fit her A2 sized cutting mat, and she covered her ironing surface with this smashing purple and gold fabric.

Rhonda used a print that looks like it has already been patchworked.

Marion loves the William Morris prints.

Jean loves this rich gold... can you see the pirate coins on it?

Amanda used this cute print from the Charisma range.

Wendy's compendium was finished... but she left without a photograph. Ah well... maybe we will see it later???

Sunday lessons...

We have some beginner's classes running Sunday mornings for those who work during the week...

Annette's confidence is already growing!! Look at all these beautiful blue and brown blocks...

Heather is making a number of baby quilts for her first grandchild...

After she made those blocks she repeated one block a number of times to make this little crib quilt top. Heather is definitely hooked!!

I hope we have some more beginner's blocks to show in the next few days... Well done to all participants..

Marjorie's Intrigue....

No, I don't mean to be rude or secretive... Marjorie used the "Intrigue" range of fabric to make this fabulous quilt from 12 fat quarters.

These fabrics are on sale for only $15 per metre! See in store for details.

I just love the use of the border print. Thanks for sharing with us Marjorie...

Jean's beauty

Jean made this quilt over the last 3 weeks... wow! Jean is new to Gisborne, having moved interstate. She has been patchwork-and-quilting for 30 years (she must have started in her teens!!). Here is a close-up of the New York Beauty blocks.

Jean used variegated thread to stipple and quilt "Crown" designs into the border. This is a stunning quilt Jean. We are so lucky to have you in Gisborne.

If you would like to make a New York Beauty quilt, this book is perfect - it includes instructions for foundation piecing.

Every week at Wednesday's sit and sew Jean has something new to show us. You are invited to join us Wednesday afternoons from 1pm.

Marg's first quilt

Marg proudly displays her first quilt top made in our beginner sampler class.Marg is now learning 12 different kinds of applique in an applique sampler... She is well and truly hooked!!

This is one "first quilt" that will never cause embarrassment (unlike my first one *cringe*).

Well done Marg.