Craft and Quilt Fair

I went to the fair today with a few ideas of what I wanted to do. I had seen a You Tube Video on paper piecing that mentioned an "add a quarter ruler" that is supposed to be very useful for foundation piecing so I bought one of those as well as some other bits and pieces that I haven't taken photos of; linen to knit, a fat 1/8th and some handbag handle clips. We will see whether they ever turn into something.

I always look forward to seeing the quilts but I didn't feel the love this year. There were the usual hand pieced masterpieces that I admire but will never attempt.

Made between 1820- 1830 in the UK

Irish Circle by Helen Collins of Wodonga

Chrysoberyl by Bronwyn van't Hoff

Cheltenham by Sonia Higgs

Birdsong in the Black Forest by Lisa Anderson

Sanity Saver By Sonia Higgs

And this was pretty cool - a quilt called Broken Dishes that was made by Michelle Bardwell and linked back to Nifty Quilt's blog for the tutorial.

There were also some crazy knitted tea cosies by Loani Prior

 Princess Beatrice

 Princess Eugenie

If you are into tea cosies, Laoni has written a couple of gorgeous books called 'Really Wild Tea Cosies'

And after all of that I went home to test out my new quilter's ruler.

I used a template designed by Ayumi from Pink Penguin.

It worked but it is a messy business!

I also watched the You Tube video again on paper piecing. How good it it?

You want to learn something new and sure enough it is on the web.

I have been stitching and knitting lots but the blogging has practically stopped.

I'm just a lazy girl these days - sorry.

Here are some pictures:

Gwen Marston Class

While this is all fresh in my head, I am going to try to post everybody's work from our class today.
Amitie hosted Gwen Marston to come and teach a very lucky group of people about how to be a 'liberated quilter'. We learned that there are no rules, mistakes, formulas to making a quilt. Gwen, over many years of research found that quilters of the past did not always follow patterns. In fact, they would chop corners off, cut triangles in half, add extra strips etc to make their borders fit and lo and behold, those very unformulated quilts are what major museums show as masterpieces. we were shown a few simple techniques she uses as well as some gorgeous quilts which are featured in her books.
So, in an endeavour to get this all up before I start cooking dinner...

 Marie - Quilts with Personality

 Debra from My Patchwork Palace

Heather

 Barb

Jenny

 Chris

 Leanne

 Raelene

Sorry, I missed your name!

 Nelly from Pumpkin Mamas

Natasha also from Pumpkin Mamas

 Wendy

 Lisa

Gina

 Kerry

Leanne - who used fabric from her first ball gown as the centrepiece of her medallion quilt

And finally Pat's mini masterpiece all stitched on this little antique Singer sewing machine.

As for what I made, well, it is bright and not fit for your eyes just yet.
I do hope I got everyone's name correct. Some of the people holding the quilts aren't the makers, just the person closest to the piece at the time.
Gwen is a fabulous teacher, very relaxed and encouraging.
I believe she will no longer be teaching at her retreat on Beaver Island in the States but the retreat is being taken over by some other ladies; Sue Nickels and Pat Holly so all is not lost.