Mannum Retreats May 2011

The Mannum retreats are now over for another year and a great time was had by all that attended.  We’re so lucky to have such a fantastic group that continue to come back time and time again.   We also had a few “newbies” and it’s always great to meet new people.  The weekend was focussed on UFO’s and there are lots of photos – so sit back and enjoy.

Retreat 1 – Friday 20th May – Sunday 22nd May

Show & Tell

Robbie’s quilts – Starburst & Jane Says – both are Shontelle’s patterns and were taught at previous retreats

Joanne’s Christmas Table Runner            This quilt is called Dear Prudence.

                                                                       Wonder who it belongs to

The next 2 quilts belong to Jean – she has certainly been busy!

A quilt that Prue made for a friend.         Faye’s Aeolian quilt – taught at our

Lucky friend, I say.                                      workshop.

Another of Faye’s – great job!                  Marjorie’s Aeolian quilt – pretty in pink

Pat – a beginner, which you’d never know, with her Aeolian quilt and another which she designed herself.

How cute is this rug – made by Mary.     Mary-Anne’s Jane Says – well done!

Jenni’s quilt uses Le Petite Ecole             Mary Ann’s table runner from a          fabrics from moda – great quilt!               previous workshop – good job!

Another by Mary Ann.                              Joanne’s stichery

Another by Pat – no longer a beginner.   This quilt made by Marjorie uses

                                                                       fabric from a Layer Cake, Jelly

                                                                       Roll & Charm Pack

                           Joanne is quite simply an overachiever!!!!!!!!!!!

 

              

Kylie with her completed table                Local scenery – I love the sound of

runner-   well done!!                                  the paddle steamer’s horn.

Our friendly possum – he is so cute and    Ali feeding the family.

certainly well fed!

Our fantastic retreaters                             With all the talk of planking in the

                                                                     media lately, somebody just resist.

                                                                     Great effort Prue!!!!!

Saving the best til last – Shontelle and her latest project – Ethan James.

 

Retreat 2 – Monday 23rd – Wednesday 25th May

 

Show & Tell

 

Margaret’s table runner – set on point         Pam’s Jane Says – just beautiful

Pam made this Carpenter’s Star for her      Heather’s pineapple quilt which she’s

Mum – lucky Helen                                       quilting herself – I heard she won’t be

                                                                     doing that again

Another of Heather’s but she’s not sure     The chocolate fondue was a great success!

what happened.                                         Too hard to get a photo with everyone

                                                                    looking like a lady – sorry Cheb…..not!!

Cheryl’s quilt from the Wallaroo               This was stitched by Margaret and

Retreat – well done.                                   it is amazing up close!!

What can I say – I’m sure Jill’s eyes         The Group Shot! 

crossed.

 

Thanks go to everyone for making our Retreats a time to remember – see you next time!!!

Hugs,

Sharon

May’s Offerings…so far

That’s not quite true as some of the quilts that will appear in this post are from April but as Tony (DH) says, never spoil a good story with fact! 

This first quilt was done by a “rank beginner”, she’s never been to a class and designed this quilt herself and then proceeded to stitch it.  It came with a few issues, nothing that 2 layers of Hobbs Polydown and a few tucks here and there couldn’t fix.  Alex had booked in to come to our May Retreat which would have been a good learning curve for her.  However, she’s giving it a miss because she’s concentrating on her other project for the time being – she’s having baby!!!  Congratulations Alex & Shawn.

Breast of Friends was a BOM with each block designed by a different person with various “finishing kits” offered.  This quilt was “in my head” for a long time – the concept of these quilts is fantastic and part proceeds go to various charities – in this case the proceeds went to Breast Cancer Research which is wonderful.  From a Quilter’s perspective they can be difficult to come up with a design that complements the quilt and brings it altogether.  I spent hours searching on the internet to see what other quilters had done but in all those hours of searching I only found 2 and they had only been SID’d and I thought it needed more.  As you’ll see from the following photos the good old stipple got a run.  The photos are shown in various lights and some aren’t of the best quality (as hard as I try I’m certainly no photographer!)

Robbie’s quilt follows – it is called Jane Says and was designed by Shontelle and she taught it at our Retreats last year.  The full story of this quilt is on Shontelle’s blog if you’re interested.  The cost of the pattern is $14.00 and can be purchased by sending an email. (This is not a quilt for a beginner)

The loose plan for my blog is to end on something personal.  The following photo is of my precious Scarlett, even just typing her name fills me with joy.  Moments after taking this photo in the studio (in which she has a tea cosy on her head) we were walking down to the house.  She was following me holding my large magnifying glass (which she’d found in the studio) up to her little face.  Then I heard the words that all Nana’s long to hear……..”Nanny, you look fat and old”.  Well, I ask you, from behind through a magnifying glass I may look fat…but OLD??????  God, how I love her!!!

Til next time,

Hugs,

Sharon

March–the month that was.

I am re-writing this post in the vain hope that it’ll work and the formatting will be fantastic!  I’m such a glass 1/2 full sort of girl although that has certainly been tested getting used to Wordpress.

“Drifting Leaves” was quilted on the following quilt with the centre medallion being custom quilted with Stich in the Ditch, McTavishing and freehand leaves.

Next is one of Di’s many quilts and I have used Tendril by Lorien Quilting, this pattern works well on so many quilts – it gives lovely texture and movement.

Shontelle taught this pattern, by Joanna Figuroa of Figtree Quilts, called Jelly Stars at the July Retreat last year; it is made using 1 Jelly Roll plus yardage.  Custom quilted with SID, feather motifs using the Intelliquilter, freehand feathers and minimal X-hatching.  The photos show the front and back of the quilt.

The strippy quilt, also taught by Shontelle at the Wallaroo Retreat, was made by Sue.  Sue has chosen Baptist Fans for the quilting and the final results is just gorgeous.

The next quilt was made by the ever patient Silvie for her sister.  It has been custom quilted using SID, motifs, x-hatching and McTavishing.  I had organised with Silvie to deliver the quilt as Tony and I were having a “play date’ at Virginia Nursery (if you’ve not been there, and you live nearby, I suggest you give it a go)  Anyhoo, I digress!  Tony thought it would be a good idea to give the truck a run so I hopped aboard and off we went.  However, when I was disembarking from said “truck” with quilt bag in one hand and a flower arrangement for Silvie in the other I tripped and did a faceplant in her neighbour’s garden.  Picture this! a dishevelled person knocking on your door with a quilt in one hand and some tragically mangled blooms in the other.  Come on in!! Thankfully, she was delighted with her quilt.

Every quilt has a story to tell and some more than others.  This quilt was started over 20 years ago – it was to be for Jan’s son on his 8th birthday.  He actually turns 28 this month and I hope he is as excited with his quilt as his Mum is.  She had started to hand quilt it and with her permission I removed the stitching and put a lovely “allover” pattern on it using a red/white/blue variegated thread.

And for those that believe that men can’t do 2 things at once….look at Tony multitasking!!!

Something to ponder??  Why is it once you’ve hit 50 and have a little trip it’s classed as “having a fall”.  Up until then it’s just falling over!!

Hugs,

Sharon

Formatting issues

I'm still having problems with Wordpress, in my opinion it's the biggest time waster since babies were invented (and at least babies are gorgeous!!).  The formatting below has gone haywire along with some of the pictures of the Joanna Figuroa quilt - if I ever get it sorted you'll see the front of the quilt!!  Stay tuned and I'll try and keep my hair on :-)

Friday Finishes

This week I feel like my feet haven’t touched the ground which has been a good thing as it has seen my queue diminish somewhat with 10 quilts (some of which are pictured below) being completed and thanks to Cheryl (affectionately known as Chebby) another 8 are pinned and ready to go!  I have no idea how I ever managed before I was blessed when she came into my life (thanks Lizzy).

I hope you enjoy looking at my week’s work – thanks for stopping by.

	This quilt was pieced/appliqued by Jan and her work is always a pleasure to work on.  As you can see an “allover” pattern (Simplicity by Lorien Quilting) was chosen and really suits the quilt and doesn’t detract at all from the applique.  My favourite creature is the Octopus.
	This quilt was a joint effort by Jan/Miranda (mother/daughter team).  They were first time retreaters at Wallaroo in November.  The block pattern is the Jacob’s Ladder and this variation was put together and taught by Shontelle.  Great effort ladies!
	Di asked me to quilt this fabric t make a bedspread which will match her curtains.  I’m not going to add up how many quilts I’ve done for Di and would never ask the question why she isn’t using one of them   Quilting this was challenging but the result was certainly worth it!
	This was a quilt cover, bought from Target, reassembled, and turned into a cute quilt.  The fabric and piecing were questionable but I was really happy with the outcome as were Jan and Lesley.
	Table runners for Jan – she’s been a lucky girl this week.  I’m not going to tell how long these have been waiting – lucky she loves me!
	This came to me as a Quilt Cover which Jennie had purchased from “Hills Tribe People” during an Asian holiday.  It was a challenge to say the least with the type of fabric, symmetry and removing the little bits of applieque and reapplying them.  I used Hobbs Wool wadding to absorb some of the fullness and then waved a magic wand – Jennie loved it and her Mum said it was “magnificent” – gotta be happy with that!

I’d love to hear what you think of the quilts – please leave a comment.

Hugs,

Sharon

Welcome to my Wordpress Blog

After a 12 month hiatus from blogging my plan is to get back into it and share some of my work, tips & tricks and general happenings in my life and also at Patchwork on Parade.  I have been extraordinarily busy lately, as is everyone these days it seems, it makes me wonder about all the timesaving devices that we have access to and if they really help – I think not.  I look at my Mum’s life and it is definitely much calmer and no less pleasurable or fulfilling than mine, perhaps more so which leaves me to ponder!

You may notice that my blog has changed to Wordpress and for all those that have a WP blog I take my hat off to you as I have found it challenging to say the least and I’m not sure at this stage if I’ll persevere or kick it to the kerb, stay posted!

Many of you will know that Shontelle was due to have her 2^nd baby in February and Ethan James was welcomed into the world on the 15^th.  He is just gorgeous and must surely be the most precious little man that ever there was :-)  He has had some issues which has given Shonny many hours without sleep and she, Ethan & Scarlett have spent some time staying with us.  This has been a double edged sword,  I have loved having them here and Shonny really needed the support although it has been hard to keep on top of my quilting and there is now a delay which I’m working very hard to overcome.  Having said this, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world!

[caption id="attachment_60" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Sleeping on a bunch of wadding under the longarm machine!"][/caption]

That's it for my first post, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope to see more of you.  I sincerely hope I get better at this and it becomes easier each time I log on.

Hugs, Sharon