A hint about what is to come!

Not sure what possessed Di and I but.....while sitting enjoying the camaraderie of the after show barbecue at last year's Quilts in the Barn we volunteered to make the raffle quilt for the 2012 "Red and White" exhibition. Inspiration has been slow coming but we finally have a design and the fabrics have been purchased.

The fabrics are from Blue Hill Fabrics Garabaldi II range. Don't you just love the large floral? And no, your eyes are not deceiving you, the background is not white. None of us can quite wrap our heads around white as a main colour so instead we are using our favourite shade of tea stain. The freezer paper leaf shapes you see is the hint of what is to come with the finished quilt being a 4 block applique.

Yesterday was also our regular Saturday gathering. So to round out this post, here is a little show and tell from the day.

First up, Deb has almost finished her version of Phebe. The colours are just beautiful.

And a close up of the outer borders.

Ann and I are both busy stitching Di's Antique Wedding Sampler Revisited with both of us working on this block. We chose the red independently of each other and think these two blocks are a great example of 'same but different'. That is Ann's version on the left, mine on right.

I have also finished these two blocks in the past week or so. All up Ann and I are about halfway done with both of us really enjoying this creative exercise.

Until next time...

Meghan

A Little Catching Up!!

O.K!.............we all forgot to bring out the cameras at the last gathering of the Sisters!, so I thought I might do a bit of 'catching up"
As requested by Meghan.............This is Merri's "Ode To Mary Brown", borders on, and looking fantastic!
Also, in this post a few images of the quilts from the American Museum in Bath that I visited in 2010. Yes!..........I forgot to finish my little "world quilt tour" that I started in 2011 (I think!)

So I hope you enjoy the show! As for adding images.....I am a little rusty at this!
Please forgive if they are all over the place!

Just take a look at these hexagons!, and don't you just love that border!?

Then, along comes this stunner!, and some detail!

The roses are amazing! and I did'nt have time to count the leaves on the border!

Let's add some stars and a bit more chintz!

Then finish with some Broderie Perse that is as vibrant today as it was when first made!

I hope you have enjoyed the "catch-up" and end of the "tour" of quilts!.......and promise that someone will have a camera at the next Sisters get together!!!
Keep on stitching!
Kerry

Another year over, a new one just begun...

..well more than just begun, after all it is January 23rd! And yes, we have just had the third Saturday of the month so naturally there was a gathering of the sisters, this time at my home. It was great to see everybody.

There is renewed enthusiasm from Kerry and Sue for their versions of Mary Brown. Must be because Merri has finished her top and it looks gorgeous. (Kerry has the photo of this so if I ask nicely maybe she will add it to this post, please Kerry!)

Kerry has chosen a dusky pink for her background fabric. The centre and borders are on different fabrics. Kerry was not sure if she had enough of either to make the quilt so this is the compromise. It is difficult to see but there is a small spot on the border fabric. Don't the colours just sing?

Sue's could not be more different. Her background is a beautiful pale olive green that has an all over pattern in acanthus leaves.

You can see it better in this block that Sue is working on.

Merri has started on Antique Wedding Sampler. And despite starting a few months after Ann and I she is rapidly catching up to us.

And finally Di. Di is busy with new quilts related to her creative work as a wonderful quilt designer and publisher of patterns but decided she needed a little break from it so has started this amazing hexagon quilt. The pattern is by Will Vidinic and is in Quiltmania #86. Good luck with all of those hexagons Di!

Until next time,

Meghan

A Visit to Threadbear, Castlemaine

For our final gathering of the year we decided to make a day of it and head north to Castlemaine and the delights of Threadbear. However before Castlemaine is the obligatory stop at the bakery in Malmsbury for coffee and muffins / mince pies. Needless to say we did not leave empty handed. The fruit loaf was warm from the oven so how can you resist such temptation.

Corliss was as ever a lovely hostess. We were delighted to be given the use of Threadbear's classroom to sit and sew. Not that there was a lot of sewing done! I am sure the first hour was spent fabric shopping. And I must say the shopping was very focussed - with each of us searching for fabric for our next project or to finish a current project.

Merri was looking for backing for her Mary Brown quilt. It is all but finished, just a few stars for the inner border to complete and some serious time on the machine to put it all together.

The centre is done and looking just fabulous.

Barb spent time choosing fabrics to complete her version of the Burnt Quilt. There are quite a few more stars finished and ready to be attached.

We then headed out to The Bold Garden for lunch. Lots of chatter! We are a noisy bunch when all together.

And finally, back to Threadbear. This time there was a little sewing done before heading back to Melbourne. And just to prove it here is Ann busy hand quilting Tesselations, a lovely bright and bold quilt designed by Brigitte Giblin.

Wishing you all a very, merry Christmas. Enjoy the New Year celebrations,

Until next time,

Meghan

An Early Christmas Celebration

It is hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner! And it seems even closer after last Sunday when the Sisters gathered for our 'Christmas' lunch. It has become part of the tradition of the group for us to celebrate Christmas at our November gathering as there is just so much on in December.

This year was a little different as Kerry organised for us to have a day out at Mill Rose Cottage in Ballan. Apart from Kerry, none of us have visited this new addition to the quilting landscape. What a delight it was! We all thoroughly enjoyed the day as we sat and stitched in the gallery space surrounded by paintings and fabric.

And we were very industrious, above from left to right, Barb, Kerry, Sue and Ann. And below Di, Deb and Clare.

I forgot to take photos until the day was nearly over, so I don't have a lot of show and tell. First up, Kerry. Kerry is in a 'finishing' phase and brought along a block of Homage to Sally Ann to work on. The background fabric is stunning, a beautiful faded rose print with a linen-like finish.

Merri has complete the centre block of Mary Brown.

I have now finished seven of the blocks from Di's Antique Wedding Sampler Revisited.

And naturally we all indulged in a little retail therapy. This is Deb's selection of fabric, all from Barbara Brackman's new collection, Morris & Company.

Thank you Kerry for organising a wonderful day,

Until next time,

Meghan