Announcements

 The 2010 Toowoomba Quilters Club Inc. quilt raffle (shown above)  was drawn on Saturday 6 November.

Our lucky winner with ticket No 0848 was Val Squair of Toowoomba.  Congratulations Val, and we hope your quilt brings you much warmth over the years.
Val will be presented with the quilt at our next meeting on Saturday December 4th.  The Multiple Sclerosis Group will also be presented with a cheque. Our Christmas luncheon will be held on that day too, so it is going to be an exciting fun day.

Winner of the big basket of quilty goodness was Leanne Wilson of Toowoomba with lucky ticket No A85.
Leanne came straight up to our meeting rooms to collect her prize.  Congratulations to Leanne, and we hope you are enjoying your winnings.

2011 looks like being another busy year for Toowoomba Quilters.  We have many workshops coming up including a beginners workshop with Angela Langdon.  So if you have ever thought of 'taking the plunge' into the world of patchwork and quilting, do consider becoming a members and taking advantage of these wonderful workshops.

Toowoomba Quilters Win at Queensland Quilt Show

Congratulations to two very talented members of Toowoomba Quilters Club Inc.  who have won prizes at the Queensland Quilt show .

Robyn Ginn took out best of show from over 600 entries, with her stunning quilt which we showed you after it was exhibited at our show.  It is called "Silk Purses and Crazy Bags".  This quilt shines like a jewel and it is not surprising it won best of show. The hand embroidery on the edge is spectacular. ( This quilt won viewer's choice at our show). Congratulations, Robyn.

Kathy Adams of KoolKat Quilting won First Prize - Machine System Quilter with her wonderful quilt, The Sky is Blue the Sea is Blue.  Well done Kathy.  We know how much work went into this quilt and it is very deserving of first prize.  
(This quilt won 2nd place Viewer's Choice at our show).Kathy was also honoured in that her pattern, "Gather Ye Rosebuds" was utitlised by Audrey Foletta of Brisbane who won first place in Category 4 - First Time Entrant. This pattern was also used by another quilter who won third place in the Commercially Quilted section of Canberra Quilt Show which was held earlier this year


Hop over to Queensland Quilters website to see more of the winning quilts.

Exhibition 2010 -Quilts on Display 4

 
"Hearts for Hannah"  -  another beautiful quilt made by Robyn Ginn.  All hand appliqued and hand quilted - made for Robyn's granddaughter, Hannah.  The backing is a dress fabric from Hanna's great Nana Sylvia.
 
A close up of the embroidered heart in the centre of the quilt and Robyn's superb hand quilting.
 
"Scrappy Happy"  by Robyn H.  Robyn used as many scraps on hand as she could for this one.  She has hand embroidered herringbone stitch over all the seams.  Many hours of work combined with pleasure in making this one for her daughter.
 
"Swirls and Spirals"  by Fay Suley.  You can tell who the achievers in the club are - there name keeps popping up beside quilts here on the blog.  Fay did this wonderful spiral bargello in a workshop with Lyn Crump.  It was achieved by sewing strips together and cutting wedges with a 10 deg ruler.  Well done Fay, seeing as you inadvertently  missed the class and had only instructions to go by!!!
 
"Tropical Dreaming" by Carol F.  The design is from A Patch of Country N.Z, as seen in a Patchwork and Stitches magazine.  Carol drafted the design up and used scraps for the squares.
 
Another beauty by Lynn Rendle-Short.  Lynn has called this quilt "Spring Stars".  The quilt features mostly Kaffe Fassett fabrics and the design is by queen of mystery quilts Debbie Caffrey
 
Judy D had great fun making this eclectic quilt, thus she has named it "Great Fun":.  Judy is one crazy lady - meaning she loves to do crazy patchwork (nice bright ones) and also loves to create art blocks.  She experiments with lots of 'things' in this quilt, different fabrics, found objects and objects from her childhood.  She was inspired by journal quilts in magazines.  So much to look at here and it makes one want to go and create!
A close up of one of Judy's block where she has used a scrappy background, embroidered felt circles and covered this with some onion bag mesh.  Fantastic!

Exhibition 2010 - Quilts on Display 3

"The Babushka Tree" by Heather R.  Heather used a pattern by Chandler's Cottage to make this fine little quilt.  She got our own, Kathy Adams from Kool Kat Quilting, to custom quilt it for her.
 
"Doesn't even Scare the Cat"  by Fay Suley.  Fay took this idea from Bonnie Hunter of  Quiltville.com.  Fay won the fabrics on a bus trip and these were not colours she would normally use. She overcame her fear and made this cheery bright little quilt.
 
 
Looks like puss was not the least bit fearful!!
 
"Floral Fantasy" made by our machine whizz, Angela Langdon.  Angela made this quilt entirely on the machine for a workshop on Invisible Machine Applique she conducted at a Rockhampton Retreat in 2009.  You have got to love that superb machine quilting!

 
Vicky D made this small wall quilt entitled "Walled Garden" using a paper cut technique. It is a Kay Meale design and Vicky was inspired by natures colours.
 
"Romantic Pathway" by Denise D.  Denise did this quilt in a workshop with Irene Carrig in 2006.  Very pretty Denise.

 
"Vintage Bears" by Deborah L.  The colours are much stronger in this cot quilt than the picture is showing, so apologies for the photography.  It is the sweetest design by Julie Lovell of Calico Farm Designs and Deborah has worked it up beautifully.


"You are the Sunshine of my Life" by Lynn.  Can you guess who Lynn made this one for?  Her son, of course.  He chose all the fabrics from her stash and he wanted a mainly yellow quilts.  The colours in this quilt just sing - he made very good choices.

Exhibition 2010 - Quilts on Display 2

 
Quilt by Genell  - "The Things you find in a Scrap Bag".  Genell says most of the little blocks were in a scrap bag purchased from Precious Time.  With matching fabric available - well, it just grew.  Very pretty quilt, Genell.
 
"Golden Moments" by Ena Brown.  Ena made this small quilt to celebrate a 50th anniversary for dear friends.
 
"Gollies" made by Sheila D - A Craft Cubby pattern - machine appliqued and Sheila painted the faces.

"Double Twisted Hexagon" by Lyn Crump.  This quilt was inspired by antique quilt blocks.  The double twisted hexagon was originally published in England in the late 1890's.  Lyn used reproduction fabrics and fussy cutting to make this wall hanging.
 
"Flowers for Jean" was made by Linda W.  A pattern by Susie Atkins.  Linda machine pieced this quilt and machine embroidered this quilt for her sister in law who always likes her quilts
 
"Tulips for Marion" by Angela Langdon.  Angela's daughter-in-law loves tulips and also the tulip fabric which Angela had bought some years ago.  Angela thought the fabric was ideal for stack and whack and it looks like she was right!  A stunning quilt and beautifully machine quilted by Angela herself.
 
This little quilt was embroidered by one of our youngest Members, Rachel.  She is just 12 years old!  Hand embroidered baby animals and machine quilted it is her first effort at hand embroidery. She has called the quilt "Furry Friends".  Well done Rachel.

"Dragon Fires" by Glenda T.  Glenda bought the pattern on eBay - A Top of the Range Design.  Made for her daughter's birthday two years ago but finished in August 2010.  We know what it is like Glenda!  :-)

Isn't this the cutest nursery quilt?  " "Isla's Quilt" by Joan Barwick. Joan designed this quilt herself and it has been made for their 2nd grandchild "Isla Minnette Frances" using applique, embroidery and the quilt has been hand quilted.

"Paddington Bear" designed and made by Dianne S. Dianne made this for her grandchild and she loved the colours. Also, Paddington Bear is a favourite of Diannes.

These are just some more of the gorgeous quilts we had on display - more tomorrow....

Exhibition 2010 - Viewers Choice Winners

 
Our Viewer's Choice winner, Robyn Ginn accepting her cheque from President of Toowoomba Quilters Club, Marilyn Cooper after it was announced at quilt group on Saturday 2 October.
 Robyn's fabulous quilt (pictured below) is called "Silk Purses and Crazy Bags" and is fully hand worked, apart from sewing the borders on.  It is certainly worthy of the adulation it received from viewers to the exhibition!
 
Robyn says 'The traditional fan concept adapted as crazy bags and silk purses gave a great outlet to use my favourite silks and embroidery stitches.  My bag lady and her silk purse friend (shopping for buttons) made the designing fun'.  See her friends? Top row, second block from the left and second block from the right.

2nd prize winner was Kathy Adams with her picture quilt " The Sky is Blue, The Sea is Blue".
(Pictured below)
Kathy was inspired to make this quilt from a family photograph depicting children playing happily in the sand. She says "I wanted the viewer to feel as though they might almost walk into and become part of the picture".  Well it looks like she has achieved just that.  Beautiful work Kathy.

















This is Kathy at her merchant stall at the exhibition. 












 





Also drawn at the meeting on Saturday was the big and bountiful quilter's basket raffle. Pictured is the lucky winner, Leanne (and her cute son) from Toowoomba who had the lucky number  - ticket A85.
Leanne is going to share with her quilting Mum, so we hope they enjoy their prize.

The major raffle - the queen sized quilt will be drawn on Saturday 6 November 2010.  So good luck to all of you who purchased a ticket in this one.  This raffle was very popular and we sold out of tickets!!  Proceeds to go to the Toowoomba MS Group.

Exhibition 2010 - Quilts on Display

Over the coming weeks we will be showing some of the over 200 quilts and other items we had on display at our recent exhibtion.  Thank you to all our members who participated in any way in bringing this exhibition together.  It was one of our most successful yet and is a real credit to our club.


















"Beginners Sampler Quilt"  by Lyle
This quilt was inspired by the chair pictured below.  Lyle had the applique centre put together and then took part in Angela Langdon's beginner's sampler quilt.  She then bordered the centre with her sampler blocks and the ideas for other borders were taken from the book "Beautiful Borders and Backings and Bindings" by Jill Riber and Margaret Sindelar.





































 "Lady in Red"  by Carol F
Carol used the window box technique and used this wonderful feature fabric to create her quilt.


















"Wagga 1" by Pam G
There were a few Waggas on display this year at the exhibition.  These are the quintessential Australian-style quilt, originating from around the region of Wagga Wagga, NSW.  In those earlier days they were made from anything the sewer could get her/his hands on.  e.g. old blankets, hessian etc.
Pam has made this one from the woollen fabric from old jackets and shirts etc.
 
"Candlewick Cream on Cream" by Lyle
A stunning candlewick quilt which, unfortunately, did not photograph very well.  Some close-ups have been included below to give you an idea of the stunning work Lyle has done in each and every block of this quilt.
A wonderfully large quilt too.

 "APQ'S 1930's 2009 Block Swap"  by Lyn Crump
Lyn belongs to a Longarm internet forum and the blocks of this quilt were all made by members of this forum.
Blocks based on 1930's designs.


"Autumn Quilt - Wedding"  by Cora
Because Cora's daughter loves the colours of autumn and was married in Autumn, she made her daughter and her new son in law this quilt for their wedding.

 
"Civil War Quilt"  by Lyn Crump
When Lyn was gifted a whole bunch of reproduction fabrics and a pattern from her mother-in-law, she got to and made this delightful quilt. Pattern by Patchwork on Stonleigh.

 
"To Love, Honour and Cherish" by Angela Langdon
This quilt is much more stunning in real life than shown in this photograph!!  Angela made this quilt for her daughter and son-in-law who chose the colours.  She machine quilted the quilt herself using her domestic sewing machine, and using feathers in the border without marking and using a hooked feather method technique developed by Sally Terry.

















"Sarah's Quilt" by Hazel N
Hazel did the stack and whack workshop at the club with Fay Suley earlier this year.  The quilt just grew like topsy and most of the fabrics used were what Hazel already had in her stash.  Very good work, Hazel!!!

Exhibition 2010 - Finale

 The visitors kept coming, and the final day of our exhibition was busy right up until closing.  A very successful event and a fabulous venue.  We hope to be able to secure the same venue for next year - Salo Centre, Rome Street, Toowoomba.  See you all in September 2011.
Here are some glimpses of what was happening throughout the week and some of the wonderful quilts and items we had on display.
\
Here is our industrious exhibition convenor, Angela.  Angela did an admirable job in pulling the team together and getting this wonderful exhibition together.  She spent her time at the exhibition showing some strip piecing techniques.  String quilts are one of Angela's passions and she is also a competent machine quilter and tutor.
 
This is just some of what Angela achieved during the week.  Visitors were very interested in this quick and easy way of putting together a quilt top.

 Busy lady!!

 
Now for some more small items  which were on display at the exhibition.  Sashiko is very popular in our club at the moment and Diana R has set the ball in motion with her wonderful sashiko placements.  Beautifully sewn.

A lovely basket by Pam G using strips of fabric around cotton twine.  The photo doesn't show the lovely detail on the front but it is a beaut big basket, very useful for taking your sewing projects to class or club.
Our youngest member, Isaac, is just 10 years old.  He has made this chenille place mat with help from his Nan, Toni (also a member).  This is his first effort at sewing and he says it taught him how to sew a straight line.  He did a very fine effort of it, and he is now excited to start on his next project.  By the way, our oldest member is Phyllis who is 90 - and a half.



















This is the most exquisite cross stitch, done by our member, Val P.  "Mighty Samari" was from a Dimensions, Fox Magazine and Val made this for her son and wife.  The work in this is very fine and a credit to her.

 
"Boonah Dreaming" by Dorothy C.  Dorothy began this wall quilt in a workshop with Robyn Christofel.  She has used overlays and fibres which create depth.  Good work Dorothy!