Charity sewing

'The March meeting was a hands on session, making blocks for Project Linus.  I know that not everyone wants to drag their sewing machine out on a cold March evening, but there were plenty who did, and I'm very grateful to them for their hard work.  We made string blocks on a Vilene foundation, and I gave each table a bag of coloured strings. 

This table had red (and some blue too!) 

This one is purple.  Gloria was working so fast, she's just a blur!  Go, Gloria, go! 

Here is the main blue table, with Maria sewing and Gaynor and Ann passing her strings, ironing and trimming.  Such great teamwork! 

Julie and Paula worked with yellow - their finished blocks were good enough to eat! 

Here is the pink table. They were delighted to find some completed blocks in their bag of strings.  This is such a great technique, it's not the first time I've used it!

And last but by no means least, the greens. 

Over 70 blocks were made in total, and here are just 49 of them joined into a rainbow!  They look so good.  Thank you to all. 

As usual, June's raffle was a delight. 

Easter chicks, chocolate eggs and egg and birdhouse fabric.  Perfect! 

We had more blocks for the group quilt.  Here are just this month's.  We have 30 blocks in total, so will start to think about how they go together.  We plan to work on them at the next sewing day on 23rd April, so if you'd like to come along, you'd be very welcome. 

Show and tell started with some of the work done in last month's workshop with Gail Lawther.  Here are Pam's topiary trees.  Stunning against the black background. 

Here is a Clarice Cliffe wall hanging.  The colours look wonderful. 

Another one, Di's I think, so gorgeous. 

And my Clarice Cliffe, which I have made into a Linus quilt.  Not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm sure a child will like it. 

This is. Linus top which was finished by.Jill.  She moved out of her comfort zone to quilt some curves in the sashing.  Good job! 

Maria made some of the blocks for this block of the month when she had some long plane journeys recently.  I particularly like the houses. M

Jan has completed this small quilt in red, black and white for the traditional quilt display at the NEC.  It's perfect. 

This is a Linus top I made from a LeMoyne star made by Liz, and some other blocks.  Not a show winner but bright and cheerful. 

Ann made this quilt from a jelly roll. She said it wasn't difficult to make, but you had to concentrate to keep the colours in the right sections.  

Two small Linus quilts made by Di. Mi love the clever way she's offset the blocks. It gives more interest to the arrangement (and eliminates tricky matching!  Clever.) 

Gaynor made this lunch bag as part of a challenge.  She had several different fabrics to use, including the one with the tape measures you can see.  She wanted to make something useful, and I think she's succeeded admirably. 

Lastly, this is a baby quilt made by Di.  She had a charm pack of flannels, framed and sashed them to make this beauty.  

Next month we will be starting our brown bag challenge.  This is open to everyone, whatever their skill level. Looking forward to it! 

Gail Lawther

This month we had the pleasure of a talk and workshop with Gail Lawther.  Gail is particularly known for her 'stained glass' patchwork technique, and she had brought plenty of wonderful examples to stimulate us! 

Here she is with one of her Egyptian inspired designs, while people admire her other work.  She was a lovely speaker, interesting, amusing and inspiring in equal measure. 

With it being February, June had prepared little boxes of fabric love and chocolate for the raffle.  I wàs lucky enough to win one to take home.  I shared the chocolate, but not the fabric! 

Show and tell started off with a patriotic drum roll. Here is Chris's quilt made with London motif fabrics.  She made it quilt as you go.  Great fun. 

Di made this baby quilt for a friend.  I love the way she has quilted round some of the letters to define them.  Lovely. 

Is this one rail fence or courthouse steps?  It's very intriguing whatever it is! 

This is dis quilt made for the Rocheberie challenge.  Shame it's a bit late to be judged as it's beautiful. The diamonds and triangles in the border were made from the leftovers.  Clever. 

Chris made this quilt for her granddaughter.  It is certain to become a treasured possession. 

Paula is in 'use it up' mode.  She has cut lots of her fabric into 2.5" strips, and is merrily working her way through a jelly roll book.  This quilt combines Chinese Coins with some on point four patches.  Cute. 

Here is another Rocheberie quilt. The addition of the hot turquoise is a master stroke! 

This pretty granny squares quilt was made by a new member's mother.  The colours are delightful and the addition of the prairie point border adds to the charm.  

Here is my own take on a granny squares baby quilt.  It doesn't look like the same design! 

A quilt for a large bed, in very sophisticated colours. 

This is my Lovely Ladies quilt for a charity fundraiser.  It's Mile a Minute, but using lots of pieces of my novelty fabrics (by Michael Miller and Alexander Henry especially) to add a lady to each patch.  I hope it'll make some serious money. 

This is a family quilt based on Scrabble.  It has family photos and patches showing their interests.  I think it's the best quilt using photos that I have ever seen.

Ruth made this lovely baby quilt.  The stripes aren't quilted, they're the fabric's pattern!

Ruth also made this Hungry Caterpillar quilt from some leftover fabrics. 

Here is a super stencilled crane. Mit looks so lifelike. 

The next day, fifteen people came back to the hall for a workshop with Gail.  Some people made topiary trees, 

And some a Clarice Cliffe scene. 

Here they are in various stages of completion. 

And here is Madeline's too.  I can't wait to see them all finished!  

January 2016

It's hard to believe that were already into 2016, but this year will be an exciting and stimulating one for Piecemakers members.  Our January meeting starred the lovely Maria Thomas, who came over from Kenilworth to show us her stunning work.  I think some people were a bit surprised to see her display of quilts made from paper and a set of jackets, but once she started to talk, they were reassured.  Several people have subsequently commented to me that 'it wasn't their kind of thing' but that they'd thoroughly enjoyed her lively and interesting talk.  She showed us the project she is working on at the moment, and we were delighted to hear that she will be showing it at the NEC in August, so we can view the completed piece.  Unfortunately I was a bit stressed that evening (panto costume traumas) and had to leave early, and completely forgot to take any photos of Maria or her work.  Shame.  

At this meeting it was also announced that we will be undertaking another Group Quilt to be entered into the Festival of Quilts in August.  The theme will be 'Buildings' and they can be 12" or 8" blocks featuring buildings whether realistic, fantasy or wonky.  The finished quilt will be in the form of a playmat to be donated to a local nursery, hospice or hospital.  Lynda and Vicki showed some examples, and here is. Linus quilt to give a few ideas. 

Sorry it's a bit blurred, but it gives an idea. 

Show and tell was of the usual high standard.  Paula has been hard at work recently, and brought several quilts. 

This was made from challenge fabrics given out at Rocheberie.  What a shame it wasn't finished in time to enter the competition! 

And here is another one made from the same fabrics.  What a different look!  

Paula also showed this wonky star which she had made at a workshop with Muriel.  The stars really twinkle on the dark background! 

Paula made this quilt from some spiders web blocks which were donated to Linus.  The light green smashing calms the blocks down, and the orange binding is perfect. 

Paula made this beautiful quilt for a friend.  This is so pretty.  You can't beat blue and yellow for a bit of class! 

Here is another wonky star quilt.  What a different look!  Pretty and fun. 

This little cot quilt has sheep jumping over fences.  The perfect aid to a restful sleep.

This was a Linus made by Jan Cornford.  Great use of scraps here. 

Another scrappy quilt which must have made a small dent in the scrap bin! 

This was a donated Linus top which has been finished beautifully.  That flower garden would imply that Granny has been drinking more than tea! 

And finally, Gloria's beautiful patchwork clock!  Not only is it attractive, but fully working!  Fabulous? 

Don't forget your Buildings blocks at the February meeting.  I'm looking forward to seeing them all. 

November meeting

Although it's only November, as it is our last meeting of the year, this had a Christmas theme. 

June's raffle was beautifully decorated Christmas parcels. I don't know what was in them, as I didn't win one, and every one who did seemed to be saving it for Christmas Day. What self-restraint! 

We had a fabulous array of treats to taste, both sweet and savoury.  Luckily some people had brought fruits, so we could kid ourselves that it was all healthy food! 

And we all had an activity of making a clever Christmas decoration from some felt shapes and some beads.  It was very easy, but produced an impressive result. 

Here is Beth's finished heart design.  Pretty. 

Unfortunately I completely forgot to take any photos of the 'Fifteen' challenge.  The entries varied from a teddy bear to a waistcoat garland, through quilts and wall hangings.  The winner was Gwyneth with her festive tree skirt decorated with appliquéd characters and scenes from the book 'The Snowman'.  A very worthy winner!  (And would you believe that fifteen people voted for her quilt?  Amazing!) 

Luckily Gwyneth's husband took a photo for us.  There are 15 snowmen, 15 trees and 15 different border fabrics.  She says she had lots of fun making it, and I'm sure that's true! 

Show and tell was kicked off by Paula's Jack in the box quilt.  She used a fat quarter pack of blues and creams which had been donated to Project Linus.  It looks stunning! 

A good use of the leftovers from the pack, with a hint of yellow. 

Here is a great way of using feature fabrics in a strippy arrangement.  I love the pale blue background. 

This is a panel which Paula has quilted for a friend's new grandson.  I'm sure it will be a huge hit. 

Maria made this quilt at a workshop, although she hadn't realised how big it was going to turn out!  The thought of quilting it wasn't an attractive one, so she asked Liz to oblige.  Good decision. 

Here is a glimpse of the back, where you can see the beautiful design.  

Liz herself brought this cute baby quilt.  Apparently a friend of hers was on the loo, when she noticed a lovely clamshell design on her loo paper.  She asked Liz if she could make a quilt using this theme.  Liz wasn't to keen on making a whole quilt of clamshells, so came up with the clever idea of using the shapes for feathers.  Lovely. 

And to finish on a festive note, here is Gaynor's offering.  This will either become a wall-hanging or a cushion, or maybe a wall-hanging with an envelope back!  

I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. 

See you in January!