Emerging from hibernation......

As Melbourne enters the last 2 weeks (officially) of winter, I thought it about time I emerge from hibernation and write a blog post.  The third Saturday of the month has just passed so it was off to Di's for a lovely day of sewing and chat.  Everyone was most industrious!

First up is Ann who has started making 'When Stars meet Hexagons' from Petra and An's beautiful book, Promenade in a Dutch Garden.

A very tempting box of stars, anyone for lucky dip?

 Deb is up to block number 26 of Corliss's stunning Caswell Quilt.  You can seem more of Deb's recently completed blocks here.

Just beginning.....

 Clare is working on the borders for 19th Century 9 Patch, a very old pattern of Di's

So sweet.....

 While Barb has started a quilt for her granddaughter, Freya.  Can't wait to see all of these circles joined together.

Lucky Freya!

Merri is the most prolific of the group, and her show and tell consisted of two works in progress - the beginning of Esther Aliu's new BOM, Love Entwined, and...

Great fussy cutting!

 ...she has finished the centre of Di's pattern, Ann Daggs,

Ahh, the first swallows of spring!

 Kerry brought out another of her long term projects, The Wickersham Quilt from the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

Block 2d complete, and 4D underway!

And me, well now that the top for Mrs Miller is finally completed, I have started a new project.  This is block number one (of four) for the Feather with Flowers quilt from Fons & Porters book, Quilts from the Henry Ford.  This quilt is for my niece, she wanted something in purple and red, a colour scheme that is a little challenging to say the least.  I can assure you that if you were to actually see this block it would not have the 'glow in the dark' look of the photo.

Spooky....

Hope you enjoyed the show and tell,

Until next time,

Meghan

The Best Laid Plans!..............

Now, as we all know "life" does not often go as planned.....and, well, blogging is a bit like that too!
It has been a bit of a long "gap" between drinks, but here we are back again! With a bit of a long post!
Hopefully, you will enjoy this......bits gathered from all over!
In July the SSS had a sit and sew at my place.......I baked a cake! ...........now some may say .."so what?"
others, who actually know me will say "WOW!!!".............'cause I am no cake-baker!!!. But it has become a bit of a tradition at SSS get-togethers that a cake is produced. So, I went out and purchased the "new" Women's Weekly cake cook book, tested  the "caramalised apple blondie" cake which worked out quite well (plan "B" was the flourless orange cake from Coles up the road!)
Then, cleared the table for the Sisters arrival..........one of them was delivering a quilt to my house (being picked up later for display at the recent quilt and craft show at Jeff's Shed) that had been a "secret" for so long........a well kept secret that 21 Quilters from all over Victoria had kept. This Baltimore style quilt named "Espirit De Corps" is a very special quilt made to raise awareness of, and funds for, The Caroline Chisolm Society in Victoria. If you see it, please purchase a "pledge" (they are $20 each) as ALL funds will go to helping out women and children who find themselves in desperate situations and can rely on the help of The Caroline Chisolm organization.
I had a bit of a problem getting a decent pic, (you know, short person, small ladder!) but this will give you an idea of how it looks and shows the label with the names of those who helped produce it.

There are 3000 tickets (pledges) to sell and the winner will be drawn at a special Lions Club dinner next June (2014)...........If you see this special quilt at a local show, exhibition or quilt-in please think about supporting the project and I hope you have a winning ticket.
O.K! .....the Sisters are all at my place and we have a bit of "show and tell"
Now, recently we all attended another fantastic CAG (Castlemaine Applique Group) meeting, so some of these pictures are not at my place, but were when we all got together at my place!........now, is that as clear as mud!?"........................Oh! ..........I'll just let the pictures do the TALKING!

 
 Meaghan has finished "Mrs Millers Journey"
Is'nt it just so special?...a close-up of the centre.

 


 Deb has been VERY busy finishing  her version of "Ode To Sally-Ann".
 Is'nt this quilt just amazing? The centre shows off both the applique and quilting. Just a bit of a closer look!
Not satisfied with finishing just one spectacular quilt,,,here is a second one made for her daughter.


How lucky is she!?
Merri has finished the main blocks and put together her version of "The Civil War Bride" quilt. Another stunning piece of work!








 Here we all are, gathered around, admiring Ann's version of  "The Antique Wedding Sampler" quilt. Just a closer look!



 Maybe a bit closer still!......... what a stunner!










...................so, once again we stitched the day away! .......ate cake, did a bit more stitching, ...........ate a bit more cake. You get the picture!
o.k....this must be one of the longer posts we have done for a while!
so now I will say bye for now and remember.......keep on quilting!

Kerry

Autumn Gathering of The Secret Sewing Sisterhood....

It was a glorious Melbourne Autumn day when the Sisters gathered at Ann's place for a bit of stitching.....we missed you Clare, Sue and Di.

 One of Ann's live-in friends supervised the proceedings...and is not camera shy either!!! Harry is wearing the latest in doggy coats to ward off the chill that was in the air  that day.

A copy of the latest book from Quiltmania was on the table. Meghan brought this copy back from France.  AND, look at what else she came home with!Our previous blog entry gives a great description of her adventure in Nantes. Both Di and Meghan have contributed to Petra and Ann's new book. Way to go  Sisters!!! As I am doing the "show-off" thing...just look here! Yes! It's Di's "Phebe" adorning one of those great collector bags.  

So, what are we all up to?....................................Barb has been VERY busy completing this "Storm At Sea"masterpiece. The front is great.....but just look at the back! Wow!

Now, this was made to display at The University Of The 3rd. Age Show at the Box Hill Town Hall, 6th, 7th and 8th of September 2013. Karen Styles, of Somerset Quilts did the machine-quilting.
Merri has also been very busy stitching up a storm (like that one!) producing a piece of work that may seem familiar to some. This is Meghan's pattern, now christened;" Les Grandes Feuilles de Rouge" Ann is working on her "Clamshell Quilt" putting on the edging, a really gorgeous auburgine like colour. Deb is stitching her version of "The Caswell Quilt" 
Meghan is continuing on with "Mrs Miller's Journey" As for me....I am still working on "The Grove Documentation Quilt"....nearly up to the last round!
To finish up this entry....here is a snap of Ann's "Winter Stars" adorning a wall in her home, reminding us that it's going to get chillier........and therefore a great reason to ..make more quilts!!!!
Happy stitching everyone! Kerry

Pour L'Amour du Fil, Nantes 2013 - Congratulations Di!

If you haven't guessed by the long break between posts, I have been on holiday (in France).  Home now for just over a day, it is time to gather my thoughts and write about the main reason I was swanning around overseas - Di's official book release at Quiltmania's Pour L'Amour du Fil in Nantes.  

Pour L'Amour is a combination of an exposition and an outstanding market place where you can buy all things relating to thread - fabric, wool, embroidery etc etc.  The exposition is by invitation, and this year more than 20 artists and designers were there.

Along with Di, there was Kaffe Fasset and Brandon Mably, Petra Prins, Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson to name some of the more recognisable. Each had their own 'salon' where their quilts were displayed as if in room(s) of a house.

The entrance to Di's salon

From the moment the Expo opened, Di's salon was crowded, and apart from some quiet moments late in the afternoon, this is how it was each and every day.

Standing room only!

I lost count of the number of times I heard c'est magnifique, superbe, douee artiste!  My french is terrible but even I got the gist of these comments!

Rotherfield Greys (on the bed), Jane Austen and Oak Alley(left)

Drayton Hall and just a glimpse of Miss Porter's Quilt

Antique Wedding Sampler (left), and Sarah Morrell

Di is very humble about her creative ability and her quilts.  She is also one of the most warm and generous people you will ever meet. Over the 4 days at Nantes, Di spent every moment, apart from 3 hours on two days when she was teaching, signing books.  Each signature was accompanied by smiles, lots of chats and personal messages in each book.

A happy group of quilters from Spain!

And there was even time for an impromptu lesson on needleturn applique to this lucky group of quilters from the UK.

Concentrating hard!

And of course, there is Di's dear husband Brian.  Brian is now officially an 'honorary Sister', even if he can't thread a needle.  When Di was busy teaching, Brian held the fort in her Salon selling books and trying to explain the intricacies of Di's quilts to all and sundry.

Brian, with Maggie Grace's Garden (left) and Ann's Legacy (right)

It was the most wonderful time. I was so fortunate to be there. It was a privilege to share the time with Di and to witness the reaction of folk seeing Di's quilts for the first time.

I count my blessings every day that I wandered into Primarily Patchwork one Saturday morning, enrolled in a class with Di, and now some 9 years later have had my life enriched by friendships that will last forever.

Until next time,

Meghan

A special Sisterhood Day at Hepburn

 Last Saturday was Secret Sewing Day at Sue's gorgeous Victorian cottage in Hepburn.What a special place to reveal....... THE BOOK !!!
I managed to procure a copy on Friday afternoon.
I surprised the girls on arrival at Sue's.......no-one could believe I had kept it a secret on the hour and a half drive to Hepburn ! Unfortunately Ann was unable to join us but here's the crew celebrating!Fromleft to right..Deb, Meghan,
Kerry, Di, the book!,Sue,Barb,Merri and Clare.It was very special celebrating with the best group of friends in the whole world !

 Meghan has been so busy putting her Mrs. Miller's Journey, a design by Liz Willing,
together. It looks stunning. Just a little applique to finish over the joined seams then ready for quilting.Beautifully done Meghan.

 I'm madly working on some samples for a fussy cut applique class I'm teaching in Nantes in April....... so I really need to get a wriggle on !
To all our readers outside Australia ,it has been the hottest Summer ever not great for sewing with sticky fingers from all the perspiration....put that together with hot flushes and it's not a pretty situation !! I'll show some close ups in a future blog.

 And now just a little sneak preview of the inside front cover of the book..
        "PRIMARILY QUILTS......
          19th Century Inspirations "
Carol Veillon and all her team at Quiltmania have done the most amazing work putting everything together.THANK YOU!
The styling is just beautiful and I can't quite believe it has all happened !!

I will firstly apologise to the Sisters for this totally unrelated to the Sisterhood photo.
But they know I'm animal crazy!
This is our boy "Fletch" putting on his sad face because he had to wait for me to finish sewing before we could go for our walk !

Phew!..... this is my first post in well over 12 months so wasn't sure that I could remember what to do but once I started it all came back. Happy stitching to all.