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

A happy traveller!

Our lovely Di and hubby Brian are travelling in Europe and by all reports are having a wonderful time. While this little jaunt is officially the 'honeymoon' following their marriage earlier this year it hasn't stopped Di from doing a little work while on her travels.

Di's first stop was at Zutphen in the Nederlands to visit with the delightful Petra Prins where one day was spent teaching the key techniques used in Antique Wedding Sampler Revisited. Marianne Snijders sent me an email about the day that included a photo of her completed top for the Burnt Quilt. Marianne tells me that she is hand quilting this beauty. I look forward to seeing the completed quilt.

The rest of the time Di and Brian have been busy sight seeing. It all sounds so wonderful but we did miss Di at our last sewing day and can't wait for her return. There are bound to be lots of stories to tell.

Happy sewing,

Meghan

A Fine Day Of Stitching!

On Saturday, October, 15th. There was a lovely gathering of Sisters at Ann's place.
The gorgeous piece of work in the first picture is Megan's "Homage To Mary Brown" in the process of being hand-quilted!
This photo is Deb stitching away on "Homage To SallyAnne"...
Here is a block from Sue's quilt. A wedding present. It is an original Art Deco design. Hand pieced and hand appliqued............a near-future masterpiece!
See!..when we get together we actually do stitch!.....after solving the world's problems of course!!
And having a really yummy lunch
Sue working on the Art Deco quilt, blacks, browns, creams and reds. Wow!!
These next two blocks may seem familiar! They are from Di's Wedding Album quilt
Great colours and fussy-cutting!
Ann owns these blocks and after a rest has taken up the challange of completing the quilt. Which reminds me..I should really get back to mine!
Megan is busy on another of Di's quilts "The Sarah Morrell Album Quilt"
Mmmmm!!!.........another one for me to get on with!!!
Merri is creating the center-piece to her version of "Homage To Mary Brown"
The second photo shows her progress.
That's it for another very busy, but delightful gathering. A couple of the Sisters where missing: Clare has family committments and Di was winging her way o'seas to Holland.
As for me?......I was behind the camera! ..and working on The Antique Baskets quilt.
Until next time.
Happy Stitching!