Raffle quilt

Good afternoon, it's been a long time since I posted anything, so thought I would update you on the most recent activity of the Secret Sewing Sisters.
The Sisters are all plodding away on various projects of their own at the moment, if they are not tripping off overseas, so I thought I'd show you the photos of the gorgeous quilt that the SSS (Secret Sewing Sisterhood) worked on collaboratively as a donation, for the raffle being conducted by Quilts in the Barn this year.
Our dear Sister Meghan, who is by now in Europe on a very well deserved holiday with a very lucky friend, designed the quilt, donated most of the fabric, inspired all of us to put needle and thread into action, then our gorgeous and very generous friend, Helen Hayes, did the most beautiful quilting, and voila..... here it is.

This quilt will be raffled at "Quilts in the Barn 2012" which is to be held on 5th, 6th and 7th October 2012. The theme this year is an exhibition of Red and White Quilts, featuring some antique quilts from Mary Koval from the US. Proceeds from the raffle will go to support Breast Cancer Research.

We tried really hard to do a "Red and White"quilt, but "white" is just not something that we do very easily, so we have given you our version of a red and "white" quilt, an "antique white" you might say....

There are no patterns for this quilt available, so you'll just have to buy more raffle tickets. Head over to the Quilts in the Barn blog, Quilts in the Barn and watch for further updates about the raffle and weekend in October.

Time to leave the computer and head to the sewing machine,

Till next time

Clare

Home- style Stitching

On a very nice August morning, eight sisters met at my place for the "1st Thursday of the month sewing session". Deb was absent because of work committments...we missed you!

 There was the usual chatting re families, world problem solving, the latest Show-case news etc.......

But the hot topic was Europe,.........why??.....because three of the sisters will be tripping around o'seas, in the next few weeks, mainly in this continent sight-seeing, fabric shopping, tasting all the local foods/wines, visiting museums (including quilt museums), quilt shops, galleries, quilt shows.......you get the picture!!!!

At some time, I think there may be plans to meet up in France.........Oh!! do I wish I was going!!!

O.K!...now, I am going to change the subject to one we all enjoy.............stitching!!

Now, what was everyone up to???.............................

Meghan, Ann, Merri, and myself are working on either the original or newer versions of the "Antique Wedding Sampler"
 
As you can see by the photos...........everyone's quilt is going to be very different, even though the same patterns are being used. I think that is the really great thing about patchwork and applique and piecing. One person's pattern (Di Hall's) can reproduce an infinite number of versions that are all beautiful pieces of work. Barb has finished her version which is hanging in pride of place in her lounge-room.

Clare is working on the "Grove Documentation Quilt"...I believe this is star no.1 of 36!!!........just a little way to go.

 Barb is working on her "Dear Jane"
Just love those little blocks....and ,may I say that mine is nearly completed!!!!
Sue has a couple of projects on the go. Lots of interest in the growth of her Hexagon quilt seen here.

 As for Di?????????????????? she has been busy teaching, packing for the o'seas jaunt and ,of course working on "that book"......which is going to include some really nice new pieces.
 O.K!!!.....just another little look:

Yumm!! Yumm!! Aren't those colours just gorgeous???
That's it for now.
Happy Stitching,
Kerry

A Day In The Country

On a crisp (very crisp!) Winter's Saturday in June the SSS mob motored down the road to Sue's place in the country. This is just a taste (slight "pun" here!) of the day.
The out-looks from the nice warm insides are just great!
Winter skys, ducks on the pond (actually the dam!)
Fruit trees, bare at the moment, but just wait for Spring etc, etc, etc!!!!
Nearly makes us all want to move to the country!!!


However.....onto the real reasons for our journey!!!

Yes!! We were at it again, sewing up a storm!

Ann is working on a very special project for a very special "little person" which includes working in wool felt.
I had rediscovered my Antique Wedding Quilt and Morrell blocks, dusted them off and am busy trying to complete the same!
Merri and Barb where also busy stitching away.
It's a shame, Deb, Clare and Meghan had other engagements on the day.
But, we had one "extra"...............................

.................... enthusiastic to join in................problem was he got just a bit too excited around the stitching and had to join the ducks on the outer for a while! Never mind.....we relented and 1 more was added to our group!




 

Not only was Sue working on her Hexagon quilt........which is growing beautifully,and a project we all want to start!! She was also busy in the kitchen making very nice things for us to eat and drink. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that Sue is a great cook...............and we get the benefit of that talent!  Yumm!


After the "traditional" lunch feast...........and the "traditional" after lunch coffees/teas.(we are a group that is very big on "tradition"!).........the sewing reappeared and just take a look at what Di is working on!!!
Fussy cutting, colours to die for, matching seams.....all the hallmarks of another beautiful quilt!

 Hint! Hint!.................THAT book was mentioned .......again!........2013 please come around quicker!!!
That's all I have ...........after another wonderful day of good friends, great food, world problem-solving conversation (maybe some goss!) and making time to stitch we all said our good-byes and motored back up the road to our homes.
Thanks Sue and SSS for another grand day!

Lots of bits and pieces

It has been a busy few weeks for the Sisters with lots of things done and visits made.  I am not being chronological so, let's start with our 3rd Saturday of the month in June get together.  

Sue is making great progress on her hexagon quilt...

...and Deb brought along the finished top of Sally Ann - just gorgeous don't you think?

There was also a visit to the Sydney Quilt show for six of us.  It was a very early start and a long day but mostly very enjoyable.  I think there was a unanimous vote for this beauty called Southern Stars by Karen Malone as our favourite quilt in the exhibition.  Foundation pieced, the points were perfection.

There was a little retail therapy.  Clare indulged herself and bought a new Horn Cabinet.  Now safely delivered and set up in her sewing room.  Di and I weren't quite as extravagant, just a small purchase of some lovely vintage French linen.  Just love the bird.

And most recently was a trip to Castlemaine for the  Applique Group meeting.  It was a full house and some great show and tell.  Maybe the presence of Carol and Guy from Quiltmania had something to do with that.

The Sister's contribution to show and tell was this glimpse of the 3/4s finished raffle quilt for this year's Quilts in the Barn exhibition.  This will be a traditional 4 block applique quilt when completed - sorry the photo is a bit so so but there were a lot of heads in the way and I had to crop the image. Each block is 30".  Add to this an inner border of the large red print and a final border of the background.  It will be about 75' when done.

My contribution to show and tell - after 7 years I have finally finished the top of 19th Century Flower Baskets.  It is another of Di's beautiful patterns.  I started this in a class with Di when she had her lovely shop, Primarily Patchwork.

Until next time......

Meghan

Hmmm....normally I manage to post the day after the Sisters get themselves together for our regular sewing day.  Not sure what has happened but I am feeling a bit like the white rabbit this week, running late for everything.  This month we met at Kerry's home and this was laid out on the floor for all of us to see on arrival.

Kerry has decided that 2012 is the year of the finish - and she is edging closer to completing Homage to Sally Ann.  Sorry about the quality of the photo.  For those that have seen finished versions of Sally Ann you will know that this is a big quilt (and my little camera just couldn't cope).

Sue has fallen in love with the portability and rhythm of paper piecing hexagons.  She is loving making Will's quilt (not so zen- quilts in Paris) The pattern is in November /December 2011 Quiltmania.

And Di has resumed work on her Baltimore quilt.  How Di sees and uses fabrics is inspiring.  The use of the red feather stripe from Windham Fabrics Eagle Medallion Collection is a perfect example.

Until next time...

Meghan