Monday, 30 November 2015

Scrappy Bear Paw Quilts - the big reveal

Wow!! We had 25 scrappy bear paw quilts on display at our meeting Saturday.  They looked fantastic hung around the hall.  We even ran out of room to display them all, but they all were admired.  Well done everyone.

PS - it was fancy dress for this meeting and the theme was "bling".  Please forgive the costumes!










Some close ups:













and some more that couldn't be hung on the rope:



Guild members really enjoyed making the same blocks as others in the group.  We might even choose another block for 2016.  Thank you everyone for supporting this 30th anniversary initiative.

Friday, 20 November 2015

Scrappy Bear Paw Quilts

Is your scrappy bear paw quilt almost ready to display at our Christmas meeting on 28 November?

by Wendy Welsh 

Some of our members have been working on scrappy bear paw quilts to celebrate our guild's 30th anniversary. The Bear Paw block was chosen as our guild's logo 30 years ago because of its meaning as the Hand of Friendship.

Squid Ink and Sorbet Quilt top
by Adrianne Reid

Some examples were shown at the first meeting of the year, and patterns were made available.  Members have been busy choosing their own fabrics and styles, and we're looking forward to seeing a wide variety of quilts at the December meeting.  We will hang them all around the hall and take lots of photos.

by Sheila Christensen
If you would like to make your own scrappy bear paw quilt, you can find the instructions for this oversized block here!

by Pat O'Grady

Monday, 16 November 2015

Upcoming speaker and tutor: Griet Lombard

We are delighted that Griet Lombard has accepted our invitation to speak to the club at our meeting on Saturday 27 February 2016.


Griet is a well known quilter, embroiderer and tutor, and lives in New Zealand (by way of South Africa).  Her quilts have been exhibited internationally and in New Zealand, and we can't wait for her to share her passion with us!


The club has also arranged for Griet to teach her Faded Roses class for members on Sunday 28 February 2016.  We know our members are excited about this because we have a full class (but those interested can still add their name to the waitlist in case there are cancellations).

Please visit Griet Lombard's website here to learn more about her and her work.

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Monday, 9 November 2015

What is Block of the Month anyway?

We love to share the blocks that members make from our Block of the Month patterns, but have you ever wondered exactly how it works?

The Quilters' Pantry block from earlier this year.

Each month, members receive a Block of the Month pattern designed by a guild member.  Previously, Jeanie O'Sullivan did a fantastic job of designing blocks our members loved to make, and at the moment, Adrianne from On the Windy Side is designing the blocks.  The pattern includes all the instructions members need to sew the block, and a description of the colours to use.

Trip Around a Warm Planet - another block from earlier this year.

We have printed patterns available at the meeting, and then a pdf version is sent around to members shortly after the meeting for those unable to attend in person.

Members have until the next meeting to make the block.  Participation is totally optional, and members are welcome to take a pattern even if they're not sure whether they will have time to make the block for the next meeting.

This was is called Networking and is made using applique rather than curved piecing.

All members who made a block bring them to the next meeting, and hand them in for display during the meeting.  Each member who made a block writes their name down on a list, once for each block made (often members who really want to win will make multiple blocks to increase their chances - very clever thinking!).

La Cabane Francaise - a quarter log cabin block made using French General colours.

Towards the end of the meeting, a member's name is drawn from the list, and that member will win all the blocks.  Sometimes if we have a large number of blocks, we will split them into two or more lots - the idea is to leave the winner with enough blocks to make a decent size quilt with.  Members are welcome to do whatever they like with the blocks - make them into a quilt for themselves, create a charity quilt, add them to the WIP pile...

Christmas in Ohio - our upcoming Block of the Month

Members also receive the pattern for the next Block of the Month, and the cycle continues!

Does your guild do a block of the month programme?  Does it work in the same way as ours does?  What do you like best about it and what do you find most challenging?

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Thursday, 5 November 2015

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Sunday, 1 November 2015

Guild meeting 31 October

We had our guild meeting yesterday and it was great to see four of the jelly roll quilts totally finished, and ready to be donated to charity.  We will pass them on to Aotearoa Quilters, and they will put on a special label, and give them on to Cosy Kiwi Kids, for distribution via Social Workers in Schools.

We also received a donated backing which will be great to finish off another one.

Our Block of the Months looked fantastic on the wall. We started out with a few


and it grew to this:



We had 54 Dresden Plate blocks, so shared them out amongst 4 lucky people.

The patterns for our Christmas block were given out, and it's going to be very popular too. We even have permission to use sparkly fabrics!!


It will be drawn at our Christmas meeting on 28 November.