AGM

Some groups have difficulty getting their members along on AGM night, but at Piecemakers, we keep it very functional.  We need to have an AGM for insurance and transparency purposes, but also because it is an opportunity for the members to have their say about the running of the group, both compliments and criticisms.  It only lasts about half an hour and means we can have time for some other activity as well.  This year we made some little bags to put teddies in for children having medical treatment on Mercy Ships.  

Here is a teddy which Paula made earlier, and some of the 24 bags which were made on the evening.  Some people took some home to make, as they were very easy.  

Here are people sewing by hand and machine. 

At the same time we had three sales tables.  Chris brought goodies from the Bloodwise charity shop.  This is a go to destination for haberdashery and fabrics.  They have donated zips, laces, braids, buttons, ribbons, threads, wool, knitting patterns, sewing patterns and the famous 'odds and ends'!  I bought a load of brand new zips for 50p each! Bargain! 

Julie brought delectable batiks and other fabric at bargain prices.  

Gill had had a clear out and had all kinds of bargains for everyone.  Looks like she's just negotiating a sale. 

June was in Halloween mood with the raffle, and had spooky fabric plus spooks! 

The show and tell was varied.  Gaynor had made this lovely wall hanging at a workshop.  Gorgeous. 

Here is an example of a sample made at a Jenny Rayment workshop. 

Here is another one of Jenny's techniques made into a cushion. 

Jan made this cushion cover at the Tentmakers of Cairo workshop.  She left the cushion at home to save bulk. 

Another workshop piece, with contrasting circles.  This looks very complicated! 

Paula brought two wall hangings.  This one is so cute.  All the deer look very realistic. 

This one is topiary trees.  

Here is a Linus quilt made to use up 2.5" squares.  It was fun to make and I think it'll be fun to own too. 

This quilt is called 'Remember the Ladies' and each block is named after a famous woman.  They range from Martha Washington to Grace Darling.  

Gill started this quilt about four years ago, and finally finished it thanks to help she received at a sit and sew day.  She had despaired at getting it together, as not all the blocks were the same size, but it looks great!  Look out for the sit and sew days for next year.  Maybe you have a project which could be completed with a little advice. 

Vicki is looking forward to a new member of the family.  Lucky baby! 

Ruth's grandchildren are growing up, and she has decided to make each one a quilt to mark their 21st birthdays.  This is for grandchild number 2 and all made from fabulous Oakshott fabrics.  Lucky grandchild! 

We are looking forward to exhibiting at The Big Textile Show at the end of this month, and the visit of Sarah Fielke in November!  Hope to see you at both events! 

Sarah Fielke visit

We are super excited that the Australian quilter Sarah Fielke will be visiting Lutterworth in November!  She is in the UK as part of a European tour, and visiting Shaftesbury, Lutterworth and Halifax, so it will be a rare treat.  Many thanks to Ann for having the foresight to book her. 

Here she is on the top right of this photo.  She will be teaching two workshops on the 9th and 10th of November.  On the 9th it will be her garden pouch (top left) and on the 10th her bits and pieces bag (bottom two pictures).  The workshops are at North Kilworth Memorial Hall, and run from 10-4 and cost £40 each or both for £70.  If you are interested, please email me at lyndahill39@gmail.com and I will pass your details on.  

Sarah will also be doing a trunk show on the evening of the 9th at Lutterworth Methodist Church, Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth.  (You can park in Morrisons and cross the road to the hall.) this costs £3 for members of Piecemakers and £5 for non-members.  Just pay at the door.  

Silk evening

Our September talk was by the lovely Teresinha Roberts and all about silk.  I have heard this talk before, but thoroughly enjoyed hearing it again.  She told us all about the different kinds of natural fibres and how silk is completely different to the plant fibres of cotton, flax and wool.  She told us about her own experiences rearing silkworms and showed lots of different types of silk.  Who knew that it was possible to make garments from spider silk?  

Here she is in her beautiful silk blouse (she let us into the secrets of washing silk items too) and with a silk moth.  

She brought lots of different silk items to illustrate her talk, and it was fascinating to be able to examine them at close quarters afterwards. 

June was in September mood, not with The Last Night of the Proms, but Proms Last Night.  If you couldn't make it to the Albert Hall, you have your own instruments and flags! 

Show and tell was very varied.  Here is a seasonal wall hanging made in a recent workshop.  Beautiful. 

Denise was inspired by a recent talk she attended by John Cole-Morgan (look out for him on next year's programme!).  He encouraged us all to enjoy our wonderful hobby and not to stress about perfection.  Denise says she did just that at a recent workshop, although it looks pretty perfect to me! 

Pat had attended a felting workshop and made this amazing coat!  This is the front. 

And this is the back.  Absolutely fabulous! 

This quilt has been quilted with big stitch quilting.  Unfortunately my photo isn't clear enough to show it!  Big stitch quilting is a great way to add decoration to a quilt, plus to hold the layers together. 

These elephants are lovely, and in little families. 

Here is a quilted mat.  It's hard wearing, durable, washable and double sided. 

Here is the other side - just as good! 

Paula is ahead of the game and has made these two bags as Christmas presents for two friends.  Lucky friends. 

Here is a Linus quilt made by various people and assembled by Julie.  It is a Bonnie Hunter design, Grand Illusion. Bonnie gives instructions for a mystery quilt every November.  Look on her website quiltville.com for details. 

I have completed my Sarah Fielke BOM 'Down the Rabbit Hole'.  I loved doing it, but when I got to the penultimate border (the rabbits) I just ran out of steam.  Not a problem with Sarah's design, just with my short attention span!  So I just put a border round the edge, and I love it! 

I had appliquéd all the rabbits, and have decided to make them up into baby quilts.  Here is the first top, ready to be quilted.  

Jill had been given a bag full of hexagons.  She made a quilt for her daughter in law and this Linus quilt, and still has quite a lot left.  She has donated them to Project Linus, so they will be put to more good use! 

Julie was tempted by ruler quilting and is already a master of it!  She is delighted with this technique and is making this quilt in the quilt as you go method.  Fabulous! 

Here is another of the pieces of the quilt.  I can't wait to see the finished items! 

Sewing time

Our August meeting was a sit and sew, a new venture for Piecemakers.  August can be a tricky month for groups, as its prime holiday season, and usually leads to poor attendance figures.  Although quite a few people were obviously away, there were plenty of members to make for a very enjoyable evening.  

June had gone with a pink theme for her raffle prizes, and Paula, while supporting June, wasn't letting the grass grow under her feet (quilting wise) and had brought a project to keep her out of mischief!  

Here you can see the prizes, with the theme of 'tickled pink'!  Perfect. 

People sat round tables, either sewing or chatting.  Jan and Nik seem to be doing neither! 

There's a confab going on here, with Julie and Caroline putting blocks together. 

Another advice session.  Well, four heads are always better than one!  This is one of the benefits of getting together with other quilters - you can always get guidance and opinion from like minded friends. 

 Lots of hexagons being joined together here.  

Chris had brought some items from the Bloodwise shop which might be interesting for us.  Thank you Chris. 

Show and tell started with this gorgeous cushion. 

Here is. Work in progress.  Looking good. 

Jan made two Linus quilts.  Thank you very much Jan! 

This is a scrappy pineapple quilt I made.  It's a good use of scraps. 

This one is mine too.  A baby quilt using the chicken block from 'Today's Quilter'. 

And finally my Bonnie Hunter's 'On Ringo Lake' her 2017 mystery quilt.  I made it half size, as Bonnie's quilts are always huge. 

Next month we will have a talk on the Silk Road by Terashina Roberts.  See you there!