Final Allcomers Day of the Year

A small select group met at the Red Cross Rooms for the final stitching day of the year.  At this time of year things can get rather hectic, and with a morning appointment I couldn’t get there for the whole day.  Never mind, arriving at 1.00pm I got  to spend the afternoon with the ladies.

Members hard at work in the Red Cross Rooms

There were all sorts of different projects being worked on.   Marilyn was slicing blue fabrics to make the block of the month, Chloe was sewing the binding down on an Advent calendar, Ute was practicing machine quilting, and Marjorie was deciding how to finish the borders on her autumn hued quilt.  Madalyn was working with a beautiful butterfly panel in lovely glowing colours – the next step was to add “quilt as you go” borders around the panel to increase the size.

 

Madalyn’s butterfly panel

Gill’s pretty pieced quilt was beautifully set off with an applique floral border.

Gill’s quilt

Lynne was showing us that perseverance pays, as she was quilting her Pacifica masterpiece with gold thread.  She didn’t like what she had done previously, so unpicked it and started again!

Lynne’s Pacifica quilt

And as for me?  I sat quietly stitching down the binding on my horse quilt, and by the time I packed up and headed for home, there was only one side left to stitch.  Nearly at the finish line, thank goodness.

Jenny stitching down miles of black binding

It was a lovely peaceful afternoon spending time stitching with other members.  Thanks for your company ladies!

Jenny Benton

Hanging at Winchester House

There is such a vibrant quilt hanging in Winchester House this month, just bursting with colour – and sunflowers. Composed of pieced blocks, machine embroidered blocks, and bright yellow sunflowers, the quilt sings of happy summer days.  This is the work of Heather Easton, who kindly loaned her quilt to brighten Winchester House, and raise a smile from Cancer Society volunteers and patients alike.

“Sunflowers”, by Heather Easton

Details of machine work

Jenny Benton

October Club Night

There was certainly a lot happening at our October Club Night.  Notices were read, and our President Lynn thanked all the members for helping out at the recent Quilt Fest.  Not only members, but several husbands too, we heard.  The lucky raffle winners of the evening were  Luchelle and Gill. 

Two visitors from Rotary came and told us about their charity house project, where they design, build and auction a house with the proceeds going to a chosen charity.  Town and Country Quilters wished to donate one of our charity quilts to the home, made with blocks donated by club members.  The Rotary executive chose one from our (small) selection of finished quilts, and this was presented at club night.

Quilt presented for use in the Rotary Charity House project

Jo Dixey was our speaker for the evening, and was certainly an entertaining young woman.  She told us that she doesn’t buy new clothes any more, but likes to rework what she finds in Op Shops.  She passed around a grey coat with patchwork bands.  This started off as a man’s suit jacket, and she slashed and inserted bands of patchwork fabric.  Unfortunately, my photos of this coat were fuzzy and unclear, but take my word for it, Jo had made a very exclusive garment indeed. 

Jo told us about her early years, growing up in the UK, with a sketch book always close to hand.  She started her formal training as an 18 year old apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework for 3 years, and then embarked on a City and Guilds course.  Then she moved to New Zealand, and works in her chosen field, teaching needlework and working on commissions. Let your creativity happen, she told us.

Jo also discovered patchwork, and likes to work on both crafts.  Interestingly, although she often haunts Op Shops for clothing, she always uses new fabric for patchwork, and Kaffe Fasset’s lines are a real favourite.  Curved piecing and needle turn applique feature heavily in her quilts, as do human forms and faces.

Jo’s house quilt, made from leftover pieces

Jo Dixey had judged the Spring Challenge and winners were called up to accept their prizes.  Avon Haigh won the Novice Category with her whimsical mouse quilt.  This was also voted Viewers Choice by club members at our club night.

Avon’s mouse quilt

Wendy Tunley’s Daffodil quilt was certainly the essence of Spring, and won the Intermediate class.

Wendy’s  Daffodils

And Cheryl Chambers took the prize in the Advanced class, with her pretty pastel interpretation on Spring.

By Cheryl Chambers

The quilts entered in Quilt Fest were not judged, but all attendees at the show  (about 450 we were told) were asked to pick one for Viewers Choice.   These prizes were also presented at Club Night.  Winner of Viewers Choice at the quilt show was Other People’s Dreams, by Griet Lombard, and Sandra Collins took Second Place.  Both worthy winners, in my book.

First in Viewers Choice, Other People’s Dreams, by Griet Lombard.

Runner Up Viewer’s Choice, Floriason Rouge, by Sandra Collins

A very busy club night indeed.  After a quick cuppa, and chatting to other members, it was time for me to head back home.

Jenny Benton

Town and Country Quilters Quilt Show

The quilts were hung, the vendors were set up, the tea ladies were ready, and the doors were flung open – our quilt show was ready for visitors.  Friendly faces were at the front desk to take the entrance fee, and hand out the Viewer’s Choice voting slip.

Welcome to the Show

Lots of delightful quilts lay through the doors.

There were challenge quilts to check out, vendors to visit, and the T&C $ bags of goodies to look at too.

$5 Sales Table

But what about the quilts?  So many – all different styles, colours, and designs.  Here are just a few which caught my eye.

We will hear more about the show at Clubnight next Wednesday 12th October.  Wonder which quilt won Viewer’s Choice?  See you there!

Jenny Benton

Hello there everyone . Just a reminder to check out our Facebook page for updates on all things Town and Country Levin . Thank you . Kathy I

Spotted at the Health Centre

It’s a fact of life that visits to the doctor increase as we get a little older, and particularly during winter.  During a recent visit, and a trip to the pharmacy, I spotted a quilt hanging at the Health Centre.   I couldn’t pass that by without whipping out my camera, (I always have it in my hand-bag)  and taking a snap.  And surprise, surprise, there was a Town and Country Quilters logo on the back.

Hanging in the Health Centre

So who made this?  All was revealed on the label.  The “Tuesday Morning Girls” made and donated this wall-hanging, gifting it to the Health Centre in May 2010.

Label on the back.

So come on, put your hands up.  Just who are these Tuesday Morning Girls?

Jenny Benton

August Allcomers Day

About a dozen happy quilters gathered together at the Red Cross Rooms on Saturday morning for Allcomers Day.  I was happy to be there too, and took my sewing machine along and one of my many UFOs to work on.  Due to health reasons I hadn’t been to many club activities lately, so it was something I was looking forward to. 

Most ladies were working on their sewing machines, a couple of quilts got pinned out, and there was a little bit of hand stitching going on too.  Barbara was hand stitching a pretty little mug rug, just the right size to place your morning tea, she said.  And Debi showed me her paper pieced blocks she was starting, one was a pretty cup cake, and the other was a big black spider!

Wendy has joined a little group of club members all busy hand stitching their own version of the fabulous La Passacaglia quilt.  This is surely a labour of love, and Wendy said that planning the fabrics and colours is so much fun.  These quilts take a lot of time and dedication, and we look forward to seeing the finished products some time in the future.

Wendy busy hand stitching

Kath was sitting at a table in a lovely sunny spot and showed me her sampler blocks.  Made of of red, black and white fabrics, they looked lovely indeed.

Kath’s sampler blocks

Janneke makes many quilts for Ronald McDonald House, and was pinning up her latest one, ready for machine quilting.  Some little one is sure to love this.

Janneke’s charity quilt

I decided to take myself off home after lunch, as the energy levels were starting to flag a little.  With several hours more stitching time, the ladies would have had a lot to show for their day out.  It was lovely to catch up with everyone again, and thanks for your company.

Jenny Benton