…I was sipping champagne and getting to know the other 6 girls at our workshop at Sewjourn whilst Kellie entertained us with the story of her quilting journey (and showed us her gorgeous quilts and cushions…….up close!!)

It was the start of an amazing weekend. Lara summed it up beautifully. It’s sometimes hard work learning a new skill. And for me who is used to precise rotary cutting, sewing straight lines and matching seams and points this was out of my comfort zone! But Kellie is a fantastic teacher and her patience and encouragement nutured us all towards producing pieces we could be proud of.

We appliqued…..

And quilted….

And watched and listened….

And unpicked….

And practised….

And stayed up very late………

Needless to say I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the weekend between concentrating hard on learning and cooking for everyone as well.  But it was worth it!  I came away inspired by Kellie and by the other 6 lovely ladies who had joined us. By early afternoon Sunday we were at the stage of hanging the fruits of our labours on the new design wall. 

It always amazes me to see the different color combinations that people come up with……they were all so different but all looked fantastic!

These are the faces behind the masterpieces…….

Back L to R: Me, Kerry, Mary (one of the gorgeous girls who made the drive from Canberra to join us), Kylie, Donna (Mary’s travelling companion)

Front L to R: Lara and Leah

What a creative group of girls………and hopefully they all had the chance to relax and enjoy as well.

And here’s some close ups of my first attempt at raw edge applique and free motion quilting………..there’s lots of room for improvement but it’s not too bad (especially when it’s home here and not sitting next to Kellie’s exquisite work!)  The plan for this weekendis to make it up into a cushion……and then there’s the Pretty in Pink pattern to start on……..

because it’s only one more sleep until Kellie’s workshop at Sewjourn!!  Along with 6 other girls I’ll be spending the weekend sewing, learning and eating!  I’ve gathered together all my threads and fabrics and I’ll be heading off in the morning.  Can’t wait.  So come back next week and hopefully there will be lots to tell……..and who knows even some photos of finished projects!!!

Meanwhile last weekend we had our Giveaway Day at Sewjourn.  A few friends and I spent the day chatting and sewing along with 6 other creative ladies.  Here’s a few photos…………

And Saturday we spent the day doing this!  We’d always planned on having a design wall here so finally it’s ready to go…….just in time for this weekend’s workshop!

This afternoon 5 of us had lots of fun making a quilt top………it’s to be donated to a lady with Breast Cancer.  As always there was lots of chatter as the sewing machines whirred away.  It’s so great that we get just as much out of making quilts for charity as the people that receive them!

Bron concentrating hard!

Suzie

The completed top – a good afternoon’s work

Our next get-together is set for February and we are planning on making quilts for a Women’s Shelter so watch out for details if you are keen to join in………

Uploaded from Don’t Look Now blog

I’m sure you’ve seen Kellie’s gorgeous work……..even though she’s only been quilting for a couple of years she produces the most amazing quilts and has had quite a few published in Homespun. 

Uploaded from Don’t Look Now blog

And the exciting news is that Kellie is coming to Sewjourn in February for a Weekend Workshop.  Further details will be available very soon but I can tell you it will be on the weekend of 5-7 Feburary 2010 and places will be limited.  So if you think you might be interested in coming along to spend the weekend at Sewjourn AND do workshops with Kellie then leave me a comment or email me.   Me……..I can’t wait!!!

As we had some fabric and blocks left over from the Bushfires Quilting Bee and because we all had so much fun on our Quilting Bee days we decided to get together a few times a year to make quilts for different charities.  Additionally Victorian Textiles kindly donated another roll of batting for us to use.  So I’d promised to organise another get-together for October but time has gotten away and October is here! 

So……it’s short notice but there are a few of us getting together on Saturday 10th October (yep that’s right THIS Saturday!) from 12 noon to 5pm at Ashburton Uniting Church, 7 Ashburn Grove, Ashburton 3147.  Our aim is to complete a quilt top (or two if there are lots of people able to come along) in the afternoon and being October we are making it for a local Mum recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Anyone who would like to join us is most welcome – just drop me an email so I know to expect you.  And there will even be yummy afternoon tea…………

…..time for relaxing and reading Harry Potter

……for doing some sewing

…..and for Blogtoberfest…….let the fun begin.  (PS There’s a list of players here)

Some time ago I joined up for Around the Block swap  and have finally gotten around to doing the first of my September blocks.  Like Lara I decided that I would make each block for myself first (as a practise!!) and then I’d have another quilt at the end of it as well.  These are my choice of fabrics – all from my stash.

I started with Midwest Modern sent from Janelle and just added bits and pieces.   I’m making a big effort to  work with what I have – hopefully it will look OK.  (And I hope my DH is reading this – I’m NOT buying any more fabric……but yes there is enough in the stash to pull together a quilt….or two!)

Anyway, Kate asked for Wonky Log Cabins and sent out some gorgeous fabrics in blue and oranges.  Here’s my first block for her…..

And here’s my ‘practise’ one for me…..

And then another block to use up all of Kate’s scraps……

For many years Somerset Patchwork, formerly known as Craft Cottage, has been in the one location.  But yesterday current owner Karen Styles opened the doors to her new store. 

And it’s great.  Nearby to the original location and easily accessible with loads of parking the new store is light and airy and sure to inspire.

Somerset Patchwork specialises in reproduction fabrics and the staff are amazingly knowledgable – it’s well worth a visit!

Somerset Patchwork and Quilting, Hamilton Place, Mount Waverley, 3149 Ph: 9807 3399

Last Saturday morning a friend and I went to Quilts in the Barn, an annual event run by a group of Melbourne ladies to raise money for Breast Cancer.  As always the setting was just beautiful. 

Quilts exhibited this year were made by Margaret McDonald and a stall was run by Threadbear of Castlemaine.  These were a few of my favorites:

This quilt amazed me because it was all made from the one fabric – the border fabric was ‘fussy cut’ to make each of the stars.  Very clever!

1. Finished my stint of full time work
2. School finished for Term 3
3. Daughter No. 2’s quilt finished

How many other projects will get finished over the holidays….?