Guest Speaker at Probus

Yvonne Symonds was “club speaker” at our Probus Club meeting recently, and did a marvelous job promoting Town and Country Quilters.   She explained about the charity quilts made by members, and also the benefit of the heart cushions made by members a little while ago for those ladies undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

We then saw a selection of quilts made over the years, including several challenges made with her “Evening Bags” house group.

Floral Bouquet Round Robin quilt

Dragonfly, made in a Jacqui Carl class

The tiny houses of Happy Villages were started in a class with Karen Eckmeter were just delightful.

Happy Villages

The Evening Bag Challenge 2014 composed of many small circles completed with different stitches in each came in for a lot of scrutiny after the meeting.  As did all the pretty little buttons and charms used too.  “Look at that one, and that one”, people were heard exclaiming.

Evening Bag Challenge of 2014

Thank you Yvonne, for your short talk, it was very interesting, and the ladies (in particular) in the Probus club enjoyed the opportunity to see your work.

Hanging at Winchester House

This month it is a darling little quilt stitched by Helen Cole, called “Dream”.  Helen enjoys doing stitcheries and like all keen stitchers everywhere, takes them away on holiday with her too.  She loves this quirky little wall hanging and when it has done it’s stint in Winchester House, cheering up patients and voluteer staff, it will be hung in pride of place in Helen’s sewing room.

Dream, by Helen Cole

AllComers Day

For those who like to attend the club AllComers Days, we would like to remind you that the stitching day previously arranged for Monday 28th March (Easter Monday) has been cancelled.

This has now been replaced with: ALLCOMERS’ DAY Saturday 9^th April.

Time : 9.30 – 4.00 pm.

Venue: Please note: This will be held at the Art Society Rooms in Bath Street.

Cost: $5

Please bring any projects you wish to work on, the materials you require, and your lunch.

There is a special aspect to this day as we are offering the opportunity to assist with any problems you may be having. Perhaps you have difficulties cutting accurately, or sewing an accurate ¼ inch or scant ¼ inch seam. Do you want to learn how to prevent those areas that have many seams joining together and form little mountains on the top of your quilt? Would you like to have a go at curved piecing, or make a few new simple sample blocks? Are you confident with binding your quilts? Or do you have a problem selecting colour ways for a new project or need assistance with something that you would like to do, needleturn appliqué, etc. Bring your bits and pieces and we will do our best to help. There will also be opportunities for show and share so bring along anything, even unfinished quilts you would like advice on, and are prepared to share with us.

These days are usually good fun and there is a good sharing atmosphere so we thought we’d try this format for this time. You are welcome to sit and work on your project all day if you wish, but you may ask for individual or group assistance throughout the day.

We limit numbers to 20 so it is helpful if you let me know that you are coming.

Lynne Ph 368 5970

March Club Night

There was a good turn out of members at the SGM held prior to our March Club Night to discuss the new Constitution.  Diane took us through some of the new points, and there was a little discussion from members.  The members unanimously agreed to adopt the new Constitution.  Sandra then gave a vote of thanks to Diane and Lynne for all the work thay had done to research and produce this document for the club.

The meeting then got underway, with notices read out.  Please note that the Allcommers Day scheduled for 28th March has been cancelled, as it falls on Easter Monday.  The raffles were drawn, with Lynne and Bev were the lucky winners. 

Show and Tell is always interesting.  There were baby quilts from new grandma-to be Sarah, teddy bear charity quilts from Lesley, a couple of bags, and Yvonne brought along a striking quilt with circular designs started in 2013 Symposium.  Everyone was keen to get up close and inspect the wedding memory quilt which Avon had made for her son and daughter-in-law.

Wedding quilt stitched by Avon

Our special Show and Tell segment this month was for row-by-row quilts, and quite a few came out of cupboards to be shown off.  Even mine, made for me to celebrate my 60th bitthday, by a group of quilting friends from my former home town.  Helen’s row-by-row quilt was especially poignant, as it recorded her journey when she underwent a cochlear implant a cuple of years ago.

Helen’s row-by-row had quite a story behind it.

Instead of a speaker, we had the popular Four Corners where  techniques and equipment were highlighted.  We saw the Acuquilter and the Felting machine demonstrated, quilt-as-you-go placemats, and how to make an interesting strip pieced block.  Thanks ladies, for showing us how everything worked.

Cheryl cutting circles

The evening finished with a cuppa and scone with jam and cream, a look through some magazines which were looking for a new home, then it was time to say goodbye and head off home.

Hanging at Winchester House

What’s on show at the Cancer Society’s building, Winchester House this month, I wondered.  Christmas is well and truly over so there is sure to be something new hanging up now.  I went along for a meeting there today and arrived a little early so I would have time to do a quick photo shoot.

And here it was – a vision of loveliness stitched by Mary Andrew.  Called “Elegance in Centenary”, Mary purchased the kit from Grandmother’s Garden shop.  Stitched with Mary’s perfect needleturn applique and hand quilting, it is indeed a lovely, elegant quilt, with a lovely country style pallette.

Elegance in Centenary, by Mary Andrews

February Club Night

It was great to see so many happy faces at our February Club NIght.  Sandra welcomed everyone to our first meeting of the year.  After the notices were read, there were presentations from two shops in our area.  Aimee from Aimee’s Homestead Quilts showed us her new mystery Block of the Month which is just starting.  And Luchelle from Fox’s Cottage showed us samples from the new class list which is now available.

The raffles were drawn and Carol B and Frances were the lucky winners.  Janneke has done a wonderful job with the raffle prizes and they were beautifully wrapped to coincide with our February theme of Valentine’s Day.

Club member Lynne was our speaker and told us of working with colour values.  She arranged bundles of fabrics to illustrate lights, darks, brights and zingers, using her  rose quilt to show how light colours come forward and dark colours recede.  Although this type of quilt is best viewed from across the room, she stressed.

Lynne’s rose quilt

It was interesting to see the difference in a quilt using the same quilt blocks but different background colours.  Two variations of Snowflake quilts were held up for us.

Snowflake quilts

There was a double helping of Show and Tell – it was great to see quilts completed over the Christmas break.  These included a Cathedral Window quilt, a lovely colourful child’s quilt for a new grandson, and a couple of Kiwiana lovelies.  Diane had made this smart grey, black and lime green quilt for her DIL’s 40th birthday.

40th birthday quilt

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching we had a new segment for our Show and Tell, and invited members to bring along a heart quilt to show, not necessarily a new quilt.  Did you know that Valentine’s Day is named for the Christian Saint Valentinus?  He was imprisoned for ministering to the persecuted Christians and for marrying soldiers who were forbidden to marry.  According to legend during his imprisonment he healed the daughter of his jailer.  Just before his execution he wrote her a letter of farewell, signed “your Valentine”.  We had ten or so quilts on show with a heart theme, including my one “Hearts of Love”, made for our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Hearts of Love

This was a trial at our meeting, to see what the response would be.  The idea is that we will continue this at our monthly meetings, choosing a different category each month, and gives some of our older quilts a chance to be shown and admired again.

After our meeting there was time to check out the library books, have a cuppa, and catch up with other members.

First Club Night of the Year

It will be good to meet up again with you all at the first club night of the year, Wednesday 10th February.  With all that extra sewing time over the holiday break, there are sure to be plenty of quilts for Show and Tell.

And don’t forget our special Show and Tell segment to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Have a look for that heart quilt you made some time ago and bring it along and share the story.   I have a heart quilt myself which will be getting a moment of glory. 

See Sandra about the upcoming bus trip, she will be ready and waiting to take your cash off you to secure your seat.