Christmas Party 2011

On December 6th we celebrated our year together with a luncheon at the Maclean RSL Club. A group of willing workers had organised the event and we arrived to a beautifully decorated room with the mighty Clarence River as a backdrop.

We had each recently made a Christmas placemat for our Christmas Box and each place was set with one of these lovely mats. It was fun guessing who made which mat.

Our Christmas Challenge, an apron, set by Marcia R. were all set out for us to admire and vote a viewer’s choice. The priettiest apron was won by Claudette and second was Sonia. The novelty apron was won by Lyn with Wilga second. What a lot of aprons in all shapes and sizes and designs!!

The lunch was preordered and was very nicely cooked so we all enjoyed it very much. We followed with a few games, lucky door prizes and a presentation to Wilga and Elizabeth for their hard work over the year. Everyone congratulated the organisers for a job well done.

Part of the organising team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judging pretty aprons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sonia setting up the apron display

 

Deborah Louie Workshops

We have just completed four days of workshops with Deborah Louie. Deborah Louie is one of Australia’s leading domestic sewing machine quilters who writes a regular column in Quilter’s Companion magazine.

The four workshops catered for all levels of quilting expertise from beginners to advanced.  “In the first five minutes I found out I did everything wrong on my first quilt”, said Ursula.

About fifty members attended on the various days and learnt about quilting and free motion basics, how to use quilting stencils and advanced free motion patterns. Deborah made the workshops fun but intensive and members can now improve their quilting skills by putting her theory into lots of practice.

Elizabeth, the president, says” I want to see some beautifully quilted quilts at next year’s exhibition!”

Beginner Quilters on Day One

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris and Alison busy quilting with stencils

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deborah and the girls on Day Four

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samples of Quilting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well done everyone and thank you to all the helpers!!!!!

 

November Sampler Quilt

This month we pieced an interesting block called Amish Diamond. While sewing the block we learnt about the straight grain of fabric and also the sew and flip method for a square in a square.

Our Amish Diamond blocks are finished.

Our Sampler Quilt

For our newer members and to just improve our piecing we have embarked on a sampler quilt. The quilt will have twelve blocks, sashing and borders. There are fifteen members signed up.

October’s Block:- ‘Churn Dash’

We chose Churn Dash to be the first block as it is fairly simple requiring  only the skill of half square triangles. We learnt the importance of pressing correctly and using an accurate 1/4 inch seam.

Having a laugh as we sew.

 

 

Chatting around the ironing board.

 

Some of our Churn Dash blocks.

 

 

The Retreat

Well girls we had a wonderful time at Evans Head Koinoia Camp. After arriving at 9am the sewing machines were soon humming as we got to work on pieced hearts for our latest community quilt. Under the direction of Fay the hearts of all manner of piecing were soon being spread out on the background.

 

Some of our Heart blocks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had an afternoon walk and Elizabeth locked us all out but eventally we enjoyed a meal at the RSL Club and talked into the night.

Tuesday came bright and chilly but some retreaters were madly off to the hall for some more sewing. Others followed more sedately. We worked on our own projects with most trying the two specials. One the creative ruler and the other Chasing Geese which gave many of us a good chase back and forward.

Our Day's Work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another lovely meal at the RSL followed and then we played games into the night learning a lot about our friends. In all it was a great break and as a first time retreat it ticked a lot of boxes. We hope to do another one next year.

The Retreaters 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biggest Morning Tea

Once again we have held a successful morning tea to raise funds for the Cancer Council. This annual event goes from strength to strength this year raising over $2500.

The Scottish theme was well received and visitors also enjoyed a display of mini art quilts from Quilter Sandy Corrie’s classes held in Coffs Harbour. Other features of the day were guessing competitions, lucky door prizes, sponsorship of Scottie Dog quilt blocks, demonstrations of patchwork techniques, a plant stall, a vast array of crafted items for sale and of course lots of delicious cakes and slices. Coffee was kindly provided by Botero of Maclean.

This year’s raffle quilt, featuring heart embroidered quilt blocks, was really popular and was finally won by Janet Hall’s daughter from Labrador in QLD.

Many thanks to all the people who support The Biggest Morning tea each year and to all the members who work hard every year to make it such a success.

Ursula pouring tea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fay demonstrating needleturn applique

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wilga demonstrating patchwork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guests enjoying morning tea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marlene running the guessing competitions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art Quilt Block display

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trading table with Barb and Liz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scottie dog sponsored blocks run by Diane and Sonia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More guests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alison and Nancy running the quilt raffle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann and Claudette man the door

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Quilt for WIRES

The WIRES Girls with their quilt

Last Tuesday, March 1st, Maclean Patchwork and Quilters welcomed the members of WIRES to hand over a quilt to be raffled. Many members had donated fabric and we held two working bees to piece the quilt which has a theme of ‘coastal landscapes’. After quilting and binding it was ready for delivery. We all  enjoyed a morning tea with our guests and lots of animal stories were shared by both groups. The quilt will be raffled by WIRES to raise funds for their ongoing animal care work. Ticket enquires can be made to Joan Woodmore phone: 66453164.

Handing over the WIRES quilt

July 5th

Have just heard from WIRES that they raised $1500 in the quilt raffle. Also met the winner and she was very happy with her colourful quilt.