Scrap Bag

This is a new quilt for a friend of mine who lives in Sweden. She has just had a baby boy and I have been deciding what kind of quilt to make. Then I remembered a lovely UFO sitting at the back of the cupboard. I am sure Mum and I started this quilt at least 4 years ago, then just lost interest. What naughty girls we are. Anyway i pulled it out tonight, made 4 sawtooth stars and then sewed the borders on. Ta da……. finished.

I was always going to make this quilt into a bed quilt but got stuck after the last border. It is so busy and bright I just didn’t know what to do. I think a baby quilt is the answer - no more borders to make, no more decisions to be made. I like it.

This weekend just gone was the Ballaarat Quilting Weekend held by Ballaarat Quilters Inc. I was lucky enough to be on the organising committee for this event and I think everyone involved had a fabulous weekend. 5 different tutors over 2 days of classes, fantastic venue, great food and lovely company. The tutors this year were Annette Blake, Jenny Bowker, Sue Dennis, Helen Godden and Michelle Yeo. Friday night after dinner we got to meet all the tutors and they all did a show and tell. All of the quilts were amazing and it is such a treat to see them up so close. Saturday night we got to listen to a very interesting talk by Jenny Bowker and the Tent Makers of Cairo. She also brought lots of show and tell too!

I was lucky enough to spend a day in Michelle’s Ballarat Beauties class. I learnt a really great new foundation piecing method and between Mum and I we completed 5 of these quite intricate blocks.

The range of fabrics we were using were  Flutterby by Tula Pink, and we spent a lot of extra time fussy cutting the prints but we think it was worth it!

If you are interested in coming to this weekend, please email info@ballaaratquilters.com.au with your name, address and email address. You will receive an expression of interest in a couple of months.

I just had someone leave a comment asking about Michelle’s foundation piecing technique. (I very stupidly deleted the comment - sorry)  The technique was new to me but I am sure other people have heard about it. It is using freezer paper but not sewing on to it, you actually fold it back. It is an extremely accurate technique and if you are interested in learning this I would advise buying one of Michelle’s lovely patterns. She explains it all in great detail.

Ballarat Patchwork welcomes Audrey and Maude to our shop. A lovely range of patterns now available on line. Click here to check them out!

My Mum and I promised my sister a quilt for her 30th birthday, mmmmm she is now 35. Opps. Thats the thing with owing a shop, you are always sewing new samples, or desiging new quilt patterns. Family stuff always seems to come a very distant 2nd.  I pieced this quilt for her using the pattern “What a bunch of Squares” from Denyse Schmidt’s book, “Quilt”. I made it using a cream solid and Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern range.

Yesterday whilst watching the Olympics I decided to baste and machine quilt this rather large quilt. 8 hours later and with very sore shoulders and back, I was finished. I really like the simplicity of this quilt and I think I would like one for myself too!

I don’t know if i have mentioned quilts of love before, they are small quilts which are given to parents of babies that are stillborn, or have died for some reason. The parents are very grateful for these quilts, as it helps with the grieving process by giving them something tangible that is part of the memory of their baby. You can read more about them on the Ballaarat Quilters web site.

At our last retreat we were asked to bring orphan blocks. (Blocks that we have used to test patterns, or made too many, or decided we didn’t like the fabrics used etc… basically blocks that we no longer want.) These were then put on the floor and everyone had a look and took what they liked. They are to be used to make quilts of love. I got the backround blocks for this quilt from the retreat. Kirsty has used them to test a block. I then did some applique and lots of hand quilting and I really like the finished product.

Suzanne Lyle, the designer of “Memories of Japan”, the quilt I wrote about a couple of posts ago, has made another quilt. This time using our Kaffe Fassett Fat 1/8th packs. It shows just how fantastic this design is that it will work with any fabrics so successfully.

I had to take a photo of this beautiful quilt today. It has been made by Liz, a member of Ballaarat Quilters all out out Kaffe Fassett shot cottons, checks and stripes. This is Liz’s friendship quilt, so she asked members to make four 4″ squares using any pattern that you like. My Mum actually came up with the idea but hasn’t got around to putting her quilt together. She says she is a little busy with the long list of things I am getting her to help me finish. Mum is planning on sashing hers separately, with just a denim colour. I love the way Liz has put the four blocks together, grouping them with the lovely teal fabric as sashing.

We are having a little sale on our cupcake packs. The pack includes everything to make 4 cupcakes, however you will have to supply the stuffing. These have been designed by the very clever Jodie over at ricrac and the pack also includes her easy to follow pattern. They were $19, now only $10!

I have also been sewing like a crazy woman. Lots of new things to show shortly!

One of our talented quilt group members, Suzanne Lyle, designed this wonderful quilt. After much encouragement from the patchwork group she has released it as a pattern. It is such a simple, yet stunning design that showcases the fabrics beautifully.

Memories of Japan

We are having another little sale.

We have just set up (finally) a secure credit card payment option in our online store.

So come and test out our new facility and get 20% off all stock!

Sale is for online orders only and ends on August 5th 2008.

Ballarat Patchwork Online store