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.

For My Mum

My Mum hurt her knee. This can be hard to deal with when you are normally an extremely active 80 year old. She was in pain, couldn't drive, go out to play bridge, shop or hang out with friends. 

She is usually such a positive person with a huge zest for life but after a few months of pain, she let out the tiniest squeak. "I miss your dad. He would have taken care of me."

Dad died a few years ago and was her best friend.

I had been promising myself I would be making something from his old shirts for a long time. The grandchildren had pretty much picked over the ones that could be classified as 'vintage'. I hauled what was left of them home, snipped, unpicked and re sewed the pieces.

The front was very much a simple series of squares and rectangles.

 I liked the overall effect but thought I would be more free with the back.

Now I can't decide which is front or back.

It is heavily machine quilted and the binding is Kaffe Fassett's shot cotton.

The best thing is, she loves it!

Some Minor Finishes

Two quilts that have been hanging around are now finished.

Parson Gray Fabric Quilt

 Finished in May 2013

Started in July 2012

Scrappy Blues. Started in May 2011 

and finished in May 2013.

This is a quilt that is almost finished.

It as made from 48 squares of fabric texta drawings by students at my school.

One of the boys is going overseas and leaving us

so we decided we would make him a present to

take away.

Not quite finished but you can get the idea. 

It is at school waiting for one last drawing to be added in the top right hand corner.

The binding is on now.

Besides these quilts I have been doing a bit of knitting.

 The back of a jumper

Half way through a shawl.

I hope these two will not take me as long as the quilts to finish.

I can't knit for too long at one time.

My hands get really sore but I am determined to keep them going.

I meet up with the knitting girls on Monday so I am encouraged to have something to show by then.

I do eventually finish everything but I just can't seem to stick at any one thing for a period of time.

Messing with Blocks and a Couple of Baby Wraps

I finally cut into my Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy. I chose a block I liked and cut the fabric, but just a little bit. A few strips off each colour. I matched them and played. I came up with all sorts of possibilities but nothing really sang to me.

It just didn't seem to work

Too much colour

I reconfigured

A bit like the x + quilt

I tried backgrounds
I gave up!
Will think about it another day.
Meanwhile I bought some delicious flannel by Anna Maria Horner. It was on sale so I bought a metre of 2 different designs because I had a plan in my head. I had seen a cute baby wrap at a market and thought I could easily make that. How could I not know how beautiful and warm flannel can be.
I went through my stash of fabrics and picked out similar color themes to the flannel.
All I did was cut 49  6" x6" squares, back them with the flannel and voila!
They are cuddly because of the flannel and fun with all the colours.
Perfect to give to the 2 girls at work, about to have babies.

Oh yeh, I bought this ladder for only $20 to hold some of my quilts.
My husband hasn't noticed it yet which is good.

It is full so I might have to look for another one.

Stitch Day

Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend a day stitching, eating, and sharing ideas with some very talented patchworkers at Cathy's house. Cathy is the author of Cabbage Quilts and not only an especially clever quilter but also the most generous of hosts.

Here are some of the Show and Tell items I was privileged to see:

 by Patch Andi

Louise

 Meredithe

I so loved the colours and layout of this happy quilt.

This medallion quilt is a pattern designed by Judy (and made here by Deb) so you can order it online through Judy's blog.

Deb

Cathy

This fun quilt has been published in a recent quilt magazine so you can probably find out where to get the pattern via Cathy's blog

 There were 4 of the cutest pin cushions on show. I think Louise has some patterns available.

Judy

This beauty might just come out as a pattern so keep your eyes on Judy's blog.

Some were works in progress and a few, unfortunately, I haven't attributed to anyone because I just met Glenda and  Janine and I forget who made what! I am the worst with names.

Thank you Cathy for a wonderful day.

I really do enjoy the chance to catch up with people who share my passion in textiles.