Bags of Stuff–The Big Reveal

Our Toowoomba Quilters Art Quilt Group did a splendid job on their “Bag of Stuff” challenge quilts.

Back in February this year,  12 of the members swapped a ‘bag of stuff’ and the challenge was to make a small art quilt with the contents.  You were allowed to add your own material to it and at the end of the challenge the original owner gets the quilt and what is left of their bag of stuff.

Here are some of the happy group in front of the quilts.  We are missing Ann J and June P who, unfortunately,  couldn’t make it on the day.

L-R – Vicki W, Chriss J, Dorothy C, Chris Dowell, Dianne Cahill, Kathy Adams, Linda Wrench, Heather R, Lyn L and Judy D.

Chris Dowell with her magnificent Lion Cub.  Her quilt is made for Chriss J.   - Chris used raw edge applique and thread painting.

Chriss J  made her quilt with inspiration from the Maori Koru (fern).  She is a Kiwi after all.  The recipient is Judy D.

Dianne Cahill was inspired by the beautiful Phillip Jacobs leaf fabrics.The quilt shows some fabric couching, hand embroidery and hand quilting.  Her quilt was made for Lyn L. 

Dorothy C made this wonderful little quilt using a confetti technique.  A very patient lady!!  The lucky recipient is June P.

Heather R has put together this charming  vibrant art quilt for Kathy Adams who had some beautiful batik fabrics in her bag of stuff. 

Kathy Adams showing her lovely Sky and Sea art quilt made for Vicki Warden.  Features beading

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Linda Wrench was inspired by the ‘tree’ Kaffe Fasset fabric and has themed her art quilt around an orchard.  Featuring chenilling, exquisite cornelli quilting and beading/sequining.  Dianne Cahill was the lucky recipient.

What a wonderful little art quilt Lyn L has created.  She has made some extra tiny little log cabins and her trees are based on the shape of the trees in the fabric included in her bag.  Background is discharged dyed. Linda Wrench has received this quilt.

Look at this beauty by Vick W – She was given  a bag full of assorted  ‘stuff’ and has managed to come up with this fabulous portrait.  She has used the onion bag for misses hair!!  Great work, Vicki and the very lucky recipient is Ann J. 

Judy D got away before we could photograph her with her delightful quilts.  Yes, she did 2.  Judy’s loves are applique and hand embroidery and this shows in her work here.  Heather R was the recipient of these two lovely art quilts.

June P made this stunning quilt with her bag of stuff. Beautifully made with lots to look at including some lovely bling.  The lucky person to get this back was Dorothy C.

We certainly have some marvellous talent in our Art Quilt Group!!  Well done to everyone!!

Christmas in July 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas in July function this past Tuesday at our Jellicoe Street meeting rooms.

(Ladies in Red enjoying the day – Sheila K, Mel and Helen B)

(Behind the ladies – large quilt on the left made by Fay and it is a Christmas table cloth.  The stack and whack quilt on the right also made by Fay – quilted by Lyn Crump – a magnificent quilt)

The room was decked out with our members’ Christmas quilts etc.(see pictures below) and we even had a little Christmas music playing softly in the background.  The weather was cool, rainy, cloudy and foggy – we could have been experiencing a  European Christmas!!

Dot C made this wall hanging.  The Christmas tree fabric was a challenge fabric.  Dot has embellished it beautifully.

A quilt called Buttons & Bows from a Patchwork & Quilting magazine.  Made by Heather R.

A panel with some very cute Christmas toys put together by Ineke.

The very talented Ineke also crafted these delightful Christmas baubles.  The embellishing is exquisite.

Another pretty item from Ineke. 

This folded Christmas tree had everyone intrigued.  Made by Lyn L.

Our President, Fay, put this lovely table centre together from fabric received  in last year’s fat quarter swap.

Ineke has done this small wall hanging and once again embellished it beautifully.

Talent runs in the family, and Ineke’s mum did this magnificent cross stitch table runner which Ineke now proudly owns.  A lovely heirloom.

A wall hanging swap from sister to sister.  Ineke’s sister made this little beauty.

This swirly placemat was made by Vida.

Small hexagons wall hanging made by Heather R – a Kay Miele design.

A lot of our members may remember these little embroidered blocks from a swap a long time ago.  Lyle has put them together to make this delightful log cabin table runner.

A panel made into a wall hanging in 1988 by Angela Langdon and was hand quilted by her.

Our members once again put on a magnificent feast for us (sorry no photo).  It was just like Christmas dinner.

(Magazine bring and buy table)

This year our funds raised from this day will go to Lifeline at Christmas time to help out needy people during the festive season.  To raise funds on the day for this very worthy cause, we had a small raffle (won by Vida) and bring and buy tables.

Thank you to all the members for a very memorable Christmas in July.

Patchwork and Quilting and more .....

Ineke is another talented member of our club and yesterday she led a small group of members who chose to spend the day making Christmas decorations.

No doubt some of them will be on display next week when our regular monthly shared lunch will have a Christmas theme.

As well as days where we make quilts for distribution to the community (coordinated by Lyle and Fay) the Club has supported several "group activity" sessions where a group of members elect to work on similar projects. For example,  there has been a "bag day" and a "string piecing day."  There is no formal tuition but usually someone with experience or expertise volunteers to lead the group and these sessions have proven to be wonderful opportunities to learn and share ideas plus encourage motivation and confidence.

Lyle's quilts

Last week Lyle who is a very active member of our club shared with us her "first quilts before she knew anything about quilting." They were made some years ago for her grandchildren in the city and this one tells a little about her daughter's childhood in the country.  Both quilts have been used by four lucky grandchildren.

Lyle's expertise in embroidery is evident in both of these quilts.  Thank you Lyle for showing us your lovely early work.