Memories of Lancaster County

Helen Godden is staying with me this week while she is teaching at the shop. I've known Helen for a number of years now, and we are enjoying catching up in the evenings after she has finished teaching.


She is travelling to Lancaster this year with two other mutual friends, Michelle and Narelle, and I have enjoyed telling her about my trips to the are.

The first time I visited that area was a few years ago with a small group of customers.  We were blessed to have two wonderful bus drivers who lived in the area and knew so many out of the way places.  This meant we saw things that most tourists never have the opportunity to see.  


One day we visited the Mennonite Center in Lancaster City.  Here volunteers sorted through donated goods and shipped them all over the world.  We saw how they send out canning machines to farms and harvest and can produce on the same day, ready to be shipped to disaster regions (how fresh is that food).  We also heard about the amazing Quilt Auction program they run.  Where quilts are either donated whole, or in part and then Auctioned all over the US to raise funds for their mission work.  On the day we were there a small group of women were gathered around the quilt frame, had quilting a top.  They were delightful, and we were invited to sit and stitch with them, which I did.


Two years ago I visited Lancaster again, this time with a friend Bev Gorry, one of her staff, and my own lovely daughter Cara.  On my previous visit I hadn't purchased a quilt (after all I do make my own), and lived to regret it.  So this time I was determined to buy one, and knew just what I wanted.


The lovely quilt hangs inside my front door forever reminding me of my trip, and the experience of meeting with so many lovely people.

I'm sure Helen, Narelle and Michelle will have a delightful time discovering the Amish and Mennonite communities around Lancaster.

Weekend Dreaming ...

Happy Friday!


It's funny how we sort our lives into chunks of time.  For us the Monday - Friday chunk is hectic, and full of "must do" activities whereas the Saturday-Sunday chunk is for the things we like to do.  Although having just written that I wonder if Jim feels that way since for 20 years his Sat-Sun chunk has involved balancing working in the businesses and working on the never ending project that is our home.


We shifted into our house way back in 1991 and it was always a do it upper.  I can't even say it had great bones, because it didn't but we really liked the location and the size of the block, which was as close to flat as we could find.  Our previous home owning experience had been a wee project home we had built when we were newly married.  It was so unbelievably tiny, and positioned on a very steep block miles from anything at all including public transport.  Our leafy street is a sleepy little corner of North Ringwood, that changes little over the years.  Some blocks have been carved up to make way for increased housing in the form of units, but many remain as they were when we shifted in.  Our immediate neighbors are still the same people except one house next door that changed hands when the gentleman passed away and his beautiful bride needed to have more care than could be provided in their home. 

So all through these past 20 years Jim has virtually rebuilt our fix it upper, with his own two hands.  It is the kiwi way of renovation which is very much do it yourself, compared to the hire it yourself way the Aussies seem to do it.  He even built the massive extension with very few trades at all.


But he is getting older, and keen to get the thing finished, so recent work has been redecorating the front rooms of the house, which look wonderful.  Next step is to re-do upstairs, although I think we have some negotiation to be had on that subject!


As the cold and wet winter gives way to a hint of spring, the "show season" will also fill weekends with things to do.  I posted on Facebook about two shows that I have been told about, and you might want to put them into your diary.  


For quite a few years a small group of friends who call themselves the "Elfs" have had a show to allow other quilters the opportunity to view their own work. They do a beautiful job, and I think it is inspiring to see quilts that have been made by quilters like me (not just award winning quilts)
Sadly this is the last Elf's Quilt show 2012 so make a note in the diary and get over to it if you can.Saturday August 4, 201210:00 am - 4:00 pmLocation: Carrington Primary school cnr. Laura Rd & Rickards Ave Knoxfield VIC.



The other event is a bit less traditional.  Judy sent me an email letting me know about this event. Judy has been busy with teaching at Box Hill Community Art Centre and that has just ended culminating with an exhibition of 9 migrant ladies's journey in textile art, mix media art. This is something you do not want to miss!!!!

If you aren't able to get to the shows, and would like some inspiration for this weekend, I just found this wonderful video showing Tru Stitch at work.


Click here to view it yourself  http://www.qnntv.com/videos/0003_qnm-trustitch-highlights-with-handiquilter/?utm_source=QUNN&utm_medium=promo&utm_campaign=QC-QI20120724


Have a great weekend everyone!

More of that Hairpin Lace.

Did you see my post yesterday about the hairpin lace.  It seems it was the thing to do in the 70's but as I was just a child I missed that fad!

I found this amazing video when searching You Tube for more things to do with the lace.  The beginning shot of the video shows the most stunning shawl. Imagine having that in your wardrobe!!!!

Where did that week go?

Goodness me, where did the last 7 days disappear to?
Here I was being careful to blog every day or so, and then suddenly it is seven days since my last post.


Naturally I've been busy, achieving very little!


I did get a start on some baby quilts for Sunshine Hospital on Sunday.  I hadn't slept for 3 days, and was feeling pretty yuck, so it seemed easy to sit and make four patch blocks while my Sensation worked on embroidering some cute baby designs.  I didn't get very far, but will get back onto it this weekend.  


We are making baby quilts for the newborns at Sunshine Hospital here in Melbourne.  Although it is no where near our side of town, we have a family connection there with Jim's cousin working there. The newborns that need extra care go to her department, which has just had a new building constructed for them.  Barbara (the relative) was telling me that nurses were doing their shifts then going home to knit or sew wee blankets for the top of the babies cribs.  They were both functional, and to provide some cheer to the lives of the families and to the unit as a whole.  I thought it was lovely, but was surprised that nurses were doing this without help from somewhere.  That is when I put my hand up to organize some quilts and blankets by appealing to our customers.   


There is a growing pile already at the shop, and as soon as I have contributed some to the pile I'll give Barbara a ring and get them to her.  But I'd really like this to be a long term effort, since the baby's and their families will take the quilts/blankets home with them so I'd love to make sure they had a steady supply on hand.


If you can help we'd love it!


Barbara wasn't too sure of the size she needed, because they are just to go over baby in the hospital cribs (once home the quilt/blanket is terrific for the pram and baby capsule) but around 50cm x 70cm would be fine.


So, I taught all day Monday, and had loads of plans for yesterday, until I got an early phone call from the sewing machine company to say they'd like to borrow some of my samples for the show in Melbourne starting tomorrow.  I was more than happy to send along a few things, but had one of those moments when I thought I'd do something new.  


I had digitized a large embroidery of an Oriental Lady some time back and thought she'd look great.  Small problem was that I'd never got around to test stitching her, and if you've ever digitized you'd know that you need to be up for testing at least a few times before you get it right!  No like a mad thing I decided to go for it, and since it took around 8 hrs to stitch I had just one shot at it.  Well at midnight I finished a small wall hanging.  She isn't quite perfect but darn close!


Jim has taken her (although damp) to the set up day today.  If you are at the show over the next 4 days she will be on the Pfaff stand.  


Today is a rest day, I have every intention of staying put and just working on some admin stuff before getting back to digitizing.  


But clearing my emails I found a link to some really cool Hairpin Lace instructions.  http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/26167/how-to-make-hairpin-lace

Take a look at this great stuff!

I subscribe to the Threads newsletter (from USA) and they have lots of neat stuff.

It is a magical day here in Melbourne.  The sun is shining and it is crispy cool outdoors.  Of course it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and like many of you I hear a lot from people north of the equator, who are enjoying a varied summer.  My daughter is in London, where it has been a wet summer.  She loves the sun, and I imagine she is keen to find it before they drift into autumn.


Back here though we are over the half way point of winter.  It has been cold and wet, and precisely the right type of weather for sitting at home and sewing or digitizing.  Today I'm itching to get sewing, but I know I must get some computer work done.  I'm going to work on getting my new website updated with fabrics, possibly the hardest item to put onto the site, and manage.  And I have two class plans to write.


But tonight I think it is time for me to bind at least one of the quilts I quilted last week, they look so sad just sitting almost finished.

The Amelia Challenge

Today I was delighted to welcome Margaret Rowe, author and quilter to the shop.  Sadly not many of our customers were able to attend today's book launch.  But those that did were treated to a great presentation in which Margaret told how she came to pen her very popular series of novels featuring a group of Australian Quilters.

I was able to take a video, and have loaded it onto YouTube so you can hear Margaret talk about her book, The Amelia Challenge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIxMHZQpXyk&feature=g-upl

Book Launch

Tomorrow my friend and Author Margaret Rowe will be launching the latest book in her Australian Quilt Challenge series of novels, "The Amelia Challenge".  I think this is my favorite book so far, although I did have to sort of stop myself from reading the closing chapter!

I'd best explain.

In the Amelia Challenge we again meet with the group of five friends as they manage their very different lives, and come together to enjoy the joy of quilting.  Each year their guild issues a challenge to all guild members to make a quilt based on a set of rules, or inspired by a different story.  In past novels in the series we have learned about the Rajah Quilt and how the convict women being transported to Australia learned to sew, we've learned about early pioneers, and now we learn a little more about our architectural heritage in the Amelia Challenge.

Without giving too much of the plot away the challenge for the group of friends is to construct a quilt inspired by a building or architectural object.  Margaret's meticulous research allows her to tell us amazing stories about buildings that are a familiar part of our surroundings.

The cornice detail in my formal dining room.

The funniest thing is the series of co-incidence that we discovered when Margret and I met and had lunch a month or so ago and discussed her book launch.  It was the first time Margaret had visited my home, and she was very surprised to discover that our formal dining room features an unusual cornice of gum leaves, the very design she had found in a historic building and commented on in her novel.

The next surprise was when I was able to show Margaret the amazing poster I bought during my recent holiday in Venice.  Jim and I had arrived in Venice at the end of a wonderful cruise around the Med. and naturally we set about to see all the famous sites we had only heard about.  St Marks Cathedral was on the list and we were so amazed by the beauty and splendor of this building.  As a quilter I saw inspiration for quilts everywhere, and the floor was a million quilt possibilities.  I took lots of (forbidden) photos, and then wandered into the gift shop where we found a poster showing the entire plan of those floor designs.   You can imagine how thrilled I was.  Now I plan to make several quilts, using an assortment of techniques from those floor designs!

Tomorrow's book launch will be fantastic.  Margaret is a terrific speaker, and I really look forward to sharing some of my snaps (not photoshoped yet) and that amazing floor plan of St Marks.

Can you come?

The event kicks off at 11.45am and finishes at 1.30pm.  We will be service some food and we'd love to see you there.

Venue:  Classroom of Michelle's Sewing Basket, 2/54 Wantirna Rd, Ringwood VIC 3134

Anna William's Wraps Up Her Workshops

Last week was one of those weeks that is just wonderful in the shop.  Our guest tutor, Anna Williams was over from New Zealand, and the classroom was buzzing with creativity.

The first weekend Anna taught her Fractured Faces class, which I had very much wanted to do, but was booked out so I missed.  Then during the week she taught a Machine Trapunto workshop, and finally wrapped it up this weekend with her Full Of Eastern Promise Workshop.

I didn't have my wits about me earlier in the week and so missed out on taking photos, but Jim did remember the camera and so took photos of this weekend's class.

Anna's Class from the weekend.  (Anna is front right)

Pat Greenwood's beautiful Quilt.

Ann Greenwood's beautiful quilt.

 I absolutely love the use of the border prints with the Celtic knot work.  Anna's teaching was superb and the students I spoke to today were so very pleased with their workshops.

Many thanks to Anna for making the trip over the ditch, and to all the students who enrolled in the workshops.

Oops

Well that will teach me to be too fast to post something to my blog!


Here is the link for the tutorial for using rulers with the Sweet 16!   http://youtu.be/CaA4rni7_-w.

Tutorial - Sweet 16 Ruler Quilt

Yesterday I quilted a small sample quilt using rulers on my Handi Quilter Sweet 16.


If you have free motion quilted on your sewing machine, you will know how tricky it is to sew very uniform shapes, which is why you would opt for using your walking foot.  However the Sweet 16 allows us to use the same rulers that professional long arm quilters use!  Isn't that great.


Take a look here and learn how to use the Handi Quilter Rulers with the Sweet 16.  http://youtu.be/wOQgiwnybv0.


I have a class scheduled this term where we will make this sampler.  If you want more details go to www.michellessewingbasket.com.au and check out our latest newsletter (it contains a full class list).

Tutorial - How To Use Fusible Wadding

I've made a video to help you with using fusible wadding.

http://youtu.be/G3rmFp3tQb0

One Quilt Done and Ready to Bind.

Today was the day I had set aside to quilt a small sampler quilt.  Unlike most samplers, this sampler is all about the quilting and is ready for a class I will be teaching this coming term.


I've taken a video of the process and will endeavor to edit the track and post it here in the next two days.


Tomorrow I hope to get the 2Buck Block quilt quilted, and finish an embroidered quilt too!  

This years 2Buck Block Quilt.

The 2Buck Block is a quilt we have done in years gone by, but not recently.  The blocks are done as a block of the month quilt, and cost just $2.  The cornerstones and pieced sashings are not included in the kits, but you can either use your stash or buy a kit.  


The 2Buck Block will begin in October!

Today is a rest day for me, which means that I try to do quiet things!  So it is a good time to update the website (we will have a new one next week I hope!), create this new blog, answer emails, digitize and write class notes, tutorials and so on.  You can see that even though I'm "resting" there is lots to do.


Tomorrow I will be quilting all day, which will be lots of fun!  My main project will be a whole cloth quilt, stitched in some sort of beautiful variegated thread that I still have to choose, on a black fabric.  I will be using the Handi Quilter Sweet 16 and working with the circle rulers and versa tool.  I hope you will check back tomorrow to see my progress!


I began the process yesterday by using grid paper and working out a rough plan.  The next step was to chalk up a grid on the fabric.  

You can see that I've used a dressmakers chalk, which will be inclined to brush off, so I set the chalk using a bit of hairspray.  The hairspray will encourage the chalk to stay on the cloth for the time that I need it, but brush off after I'm done.

A new blog for me!

It has been months and months since I kept in touch with everyone on a blog, and so I have decided to have a "half year" resolution and set up a new blog.  This has meant a change in where the blog is simply because I needed a site that was easy for me to use!


Watch this blog for lots of news from me, and to see what I've been doing in my Sewing Studio.

Michelle xx