December

Whilst some were getting merry at a works' Christmas do, or were already a bit too merry, the rest of us came along to the December meeting on Wednesday including new member, Denise.

As usual, everyone's been very busy finding time in between the Christmas preparations to do some stitching. 

For starters then, these lovely 3D Christmas trees (last month's project), including one that looks like it'll feed a family of about 20! It certainly took a lot of stuffing and is quite heavy but, it is very effective. Not quite finish, the braids need to be stitched down and there are very small baubles (ones meant to a proper tree) to go on the ends. Size-wise, the small trees are about 24cm (9") tall. 

Wendy made the large tree and Rosemary the small, lighter one. Sadly, I can't recall if Rosemary made the small, green one too or someone else (and I've not had a drop to drink, yet!).

Wendy also made this gorgeous Christmas stocking using lighter weight furnishing fabrics. This one's a prize winner having secured first place in a local Embroiderer's Guild competition.


We've not seen Tina for a while but she's been busy too. Her blue and white quilt is progressing nicely and she's made this Dresden Plate cushion cover to match. 


Tina also brought to show us this colourful cushion made from felt with felt appliqué. 



Last month, Lesley had just started piecing a quilt top. Well, the top is now pieced. The photo doesn't do it justice really as the prints used are just gorgeous.

Lesley's also fitted in a spot of hand stitching, a Sashiko piece, which has been turned into a cushion cover. 


This time last year, the group was just an idea, with 3 or 4 people expressing an interest in joining. One year later we have 18 members, most of whom are able to attend on a regular basis, and we have room for a few more if you know of anyone interested in joining. Back in January, the group started with 10 members, a most of whom were patchwork and quilting beginners or returners-after-a-long-time. Just look back through this blog or through the Flickr album (top right of blog page) to see just a fraction of what's been achieved in 2013. 

Looking forward to an exciting 2014. Don't forget, from and including January, our meeting will be a little longer, 7.30pm to 10.00pm. 

November

Most of the group were able to attend last night's meeting and, yet again, have all been very busy since last time. We also welcomed Natalie, our newest member.

Chris has a break in her holiday schedule so was able to join us and made use of the table space available to lay out her blocks so she could number them up ready to piece together.  We're looking forward to seeing the finished item, and a photo. Chris brought her blocks along in the lovely project bag she made some months ago (right).

Rosemary's been making tree decorations and table runners (left), some of which will be decorated with fused appliqué (right).

Another lovely, yet very different, table runner is being made by Elaine. It's not quite finished, but here's a photo (below)
. 

Lesley's made a start on her modern quilt. It's looking gorgeous as is (right). A few more rows to go though before the top is al pieced.


Having run a Christmas craft session for the Embroiderer's Guild, Wendy has been busy making little Christmas stockings (below) for very cute Christmas stocking bunting.



Amongst other things, Shirley made a lovely scissor keeper using this tutorial and Maria made an origami-style bag using this tutorial. Both proved a big hit last night so we'll probably see a few of these at show and tell soon!

Some of us have now made a start on a 3D Christmas tree using this lovely tutorial but none are finished yet. There should be some trees finished in time for December's show and tell.

Suggestions have been made with regard to the potential recipients of Linus quilts we want to make as part of next year's programme, and these are being progressed.

Almost one year in and feedback is that two hours per month is too short , so we're hoping to extend the meeting finish time to 10pm from January.

We've had no success if booking a restaurant for a Christmas meal, however, we've had a much better idea. We'll have a little get-together/party in January instead to celebrate the group's first birthday. How time flies!

October

This month, we invited the local Project Linus co-ordinator to our group meeting to talk to us about the project. We have in mind making a quilt or two for the project as part of our 2014 programme and are now so much better informed about what's needed, why and how to go about it. What we need to do now is gather all our fabrics and find organisations local to us who could make good use of the quilts so, watch this space!

As usual we managed to fit in a quick 'show and tell' and, again, there were some lovely finished projects.

This is Gill's quilt, a raggy quilt which now needs to be washed and tumble dried to complete the ragging process.

Elaine's been busy making Christmas tree hangings and has a few requests still to fulfil. This is one of the finished ones (left).

We saw another two jelly roll purses from Elaine and Rosemary. This is Rosemary's one, which just needs a flower to be added to the flap.  

This month saw the first of the Christmas table runners completed by Gemma.

Tina's been busy too. Her blue and white quilt is coming along nicely but isn't quite finished yet, but this lovely Christmas wreath is.

And, we welcomed Jenny to the group taking our membership to 17.

 

September

September's been another creative month.

Firstly, congratulations to Laura and her hubby on the birth of their son. 

Other group members have been busy too!!

Elaine's been on a roll, as they say, making these gorgeous weekend bags.

Shirley completed her pretty jelly roll purse (right) in time to take it on holiday as a gift for her hostess. 

Maria also completed another purse, this one (below) as a workshop sample, with another couple in progress and destined for a charity craft sales in November.




This is Gemma's very pretty Christmas tree wall hanging (right). There are quite a few of these still in progress so, hopefully, some more photos next month.

Rosemary's also been busy making mice (no photos available yet) and this lovely peg bag (below). 

A few of the group members missed this month's meeting one one reason or another so it'll be interesting to catch up next time with their projects and, hopefully, some more photos.

We're also looking forward in October to meeting new group member Jenny.

Following on from their stand at Festival of Quilts, and with a Project Linus quilt or two in mind for next year, we've invited the local co-ordinator to one of our meetings to tell the group abut the project. With a busy calendar for the early part of 2014, she's agreed to come along to our October meeting so, more on  this next time.

Still with next year's programme, a Sunday workshop with Alex Waylett has been booked for May. 

Christmas is coming

Firstly, we welcomed to the group two new members, Lesley and Elaine, taking our numbers to a wonderful 16.

This month saw the start of our Christmas projects, but before that take a little look at these gorgeous bags, last month's project.

Tina's bag

Anne's bag

Karen's bag

Tina and Anne have both made their flower embellishment, and Karen is now looking forward to the next village jumble sale and hoping to find some more vintage buttons and brooches!! There should be some bag photos next month too as there are still a couple in progress.

As well as the bags, there are several other projects underway; Gill's now hand quilting her quilt, Gemma's making fabric storage boxes, Rosemary's taking a break from patchwork and having fun making fabric mice, Tina's cutting out blocks for her raggy quilt and new members Lesley and Elaine are, respectively, working on a traditional quilt using English paper piecing and a quilted barrel bag. Oh, and Laura's baby will be arriving any day now.

We had lots to talk about this month, especially as several of the group had been to the Festival of Quilts, some for the first time. Wendy and Pam had also been on a workshop and brought to 'show and tell' the trapunto pieces they made and Maria brought to show the group the results of a round robin mystery block quilt she'd taken part in at another group, and now has to turn into a finished quilt. The group's programme for 2014 is also taking shape with a few more ideas to follow up on, including talks and workshops.

Anyway, back to this month's project, the first of the Christmas projects, an appliquéd Christmas tree skirt. The photo is of one made by Maria; it's only a little skirt as Maria's Christmas tree isn't much more than a large table decoration and usually sits on the sideboard. Quite a few of the group prefer a large, tall tree so we're looking forward to seeing their finished tree skirts in due course.

Everyone's looking forward to the other Christmas projects planned too - a table runner, a wall hanging, a table decoration and our first Christmas meal. 

We are still able to take new members so if you've been reading this blog and thinking of joining, do get in touch - details on the 'contact' tab.

Catching Up!

Since this month's meeting, Laura's finished her project bag and July's project - spurred on by the arrival in a few weeks of baby #2, after which her sewing time will dwindle for a while!

Laura had a large-ish piece of a very pretty floral fabric so decided to use it to make the little purse, rather than break into a Jelly Roll. The purse pattern works just as well in this fabric as in a Jelly Roll, and can be easily resized, so is very versatile. It's also quite a quick pattern so great for those last minute gifts.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone else's little purses next month.

Hot, hot, hot

Despite the heat, most of us made it to Wednesday night's meeting and made a start on the next group project, a small bag covering strip piecing, quilting and using magnetic bags clasps. Oh, and an optional flower embellishment. All new stuff if you're new to patchwork and quilting, and sewing generally, but useful techniques to know for all sorts of things.

These are photographs of bags Maria made as gifts and samples; hopefully, they will inspire everyone. Looking forward to next month's 'show and tell', it'll be great to see how everyone's got on and how they've made their bag their own.

Small projects are great for covering techniques whilst being very achievable in a short space of time, and not adding to the pile of work-in-progress (WIP) projects. Quite a few of the ladies support church and charity events and are always on the look out for new ideas; small projects like the bag are just the thing and are often well received. 

As well as the small projects, Gill and Tina have quilts in progress, a Jelly Roll quilt and a sampler quilt (Lynne Edwards' book) respectively. Hopefully, we'll be able to post a photo of each in due course. 

Rosemary's been 'playing' with ideas for the Christmas Tree wallhanging she'll be showing us all in a month or so (it must be odd to be sewing Christmas Trees when the temperature is up around 30 degrees, and Anne's been making small, heart-shaped ring cushions, all very prettily decorated.

Anyway, next month, we start on the first of our Christmas projects. We've also got a couple of ideas for next year's programme; more news on this next month, hopefully.

Claiming the blog

With the demise of Google Reader, I'm just claiming the blog on bloglovin'


Follow the blog with bloglovin'

Happy 6-month birthday to us!

Well, we've been a group now for six months. How the time has flown!

Another good meeting last night, and another haul of finishes including these:

Pam's cushion

Wendy's cushion

Shirley's dog

Tina had also been really busy completing her project bag, a cushion and a super little scissor keeper, and Rosemary had competed her fussy-cut cat doorstop and a big version of the folded Christmas tree hanging she's going to show us all how to do later in the year. 

Karen's working on another dog, Laura on her project bag, Gemma on some very useful fabric storage boxes, Gill on cushions for the church fete and Maria finished 'Mabel' the cat. 

Knowing how quickly this first six months has gone, the next six will go by just as quickly so we briefly talked about some ideas for next year, including a Saturday workshop, or two, with a visiting tutor. Everyone is keen so.....watch this space, as they say! 

Meet 'Mabel'

Having decided to make the patchwork dog using English Paper Piecing (EPP), several members suggested it would be nice to make a cat also. Unable to find a pattern, Maria set about designing one, and here she is, about 12" high x 12" wide, excluding the tail. Her name is Mabel.

Another Finish

Another lovely dog, this one made by Anne. The covered button eye is a nice touch. Sooo cute!

Tweet, tweet!

You can now follow the group on Twitter, @warleyquilters. Like everything on Twitter, the group's name has had to be shortened!

On a roll now

May's meeting last night netted another haul of completed projects.

Project bags in greens/browns and yellows/black by Pam and Wendy respectively. These bags are not just for show you know; they came full with Pam's and Wendy's work-in-progress cushions which are looking just gorgeous and will probably be finished by next month's meeting. 

Gemma's also been busy. Yes, she's using her project bag too, and that was full of evidence of Gemma's recent shopping spree for fabrics and this lovely work-in-progress quilt which just has the quilting and backing to do.

Karen brought with her several small bags she'd made (but I forgot the photograph them), including some plain hessian gift bags from a well know high street store which she's jazzed up with a patchwork cover, an iPad cover and a small bag for those sewing bits and bobs you'd lose if they weren't in a small bag.

The topic of World War 1 came up for discussion during the week, following the BAC AGM, in particular the subject of Canadian Red Cross quilts. At a totally unrelated event that Gill attended last weekend, Red Cross quilts from WW2 were mentioned and an acquaintance of Gill's revealed her family had received one. That lady very kindly loaned it to Gill to bring last night, and it was areal treat to be able to see a real one.

As a new group, we're starting to get our act together now and get our priorities right. So, social secretary Karen, will be shortly start sorting out our Christmas meal. 

There are several Christmas projects on the wishlist so, looking at what we need to fit in between now and November (to have a chance of completing them all in time to use Christmas 2013 rather than Christmas 2014!), we need to make a start in August. Christmas fabrics should start appearing in the shops by then too. I like it when a plan comes together! 

We have 14 members now, with Eileen, Shirley and Tina deciding to join the group; welcome ladies. There are still places available so get in touch to register your interest; details are on the 'contact' page.

Our first exhibition

As an affiliated member, the group was invited to be one of two exhibitors of work at tonight's Brentwood Arts Council (BAC) AGM.

Maria took along several recently completed items of work, some loaned for the evening, and photos of other completed projects that weren't available to exhibit.

The display was very well received with many people making kind and lovely comments about the work. 

Gorgeous in blue & cream

This is Gemma's bag looking lovely in blue and cream. The chunky ric-rac embellishment on the handles is a super addition.

Gemma's worked on this at home to get it finished and is looking forward to starting on the 'scottie dog'. 

No stopping them now!

Look what I found today, two more finishes by Karen. 

Firstly, this handsome beast. He (I think it's a he) is made from 1 1/2" squares,has a ribbon gusset and sand in the feet to make him into a useful doorstop.

And then, not happy with one bag, here's another made from Jelly Roll strips.

Some time ago, the group was invited to have a small display of work at the forthcoming BAC AGM. These will be amongst the finished projects on display.

And another.....

This is Karen's bag. It's her first attempt and she's chuffed to bits with it; so she should be!!

Wendy and Pam are not far behind with their bags, but are now also working on their cushions, and the dog. Boy, will they be busy.

Rosemary's about to start a different bag, Ann's hand piecing a different cushion and Gill's working on a quilt she's hoping to get to keep for herself this time. 

I've got my work cut out too with a challenge to design a cat pattern for English Paper Piecing (rather than the dog).

Another finish

This darling little doggy was stitched by Chris and she's given me the OK to post a photo of it on her behalf for 'show and tell'.

I don't know if it has a name yet, but it's to be gifted to a granddaughter. It has felt eyes and, I believe has been stitched by machine with a single square gusset.

Coming up

Due to popular demand, this will be our next project, probably starting in May, giving everyone time to finish their bag and/or cushion.

The technique used here is English Paper Piecing (EPP), that is hand piecing over papers. This 'Scottie Dog' is made from 2" squares so stands about 14" tall. The gusset is two squares wide so he's wide enough to stand up on his own. Add some weight (e.g. sand) and make a doorstop. Make from smaller squares and you've got yourself a puppy! 

Start saving those scraps (min 2 1/2" square) - lots of them - and paper otherwise destined for the orange/pink sack (magazines, printer paper and used envelopes will do).

March 20, 2013

Well, we had our first 'show and tell' tonight, this absolutely gorgeous patchwork cushion, started last month and all hand-pieced by Anne. 

Karen got as far as boxing the bottom of her bag tonight and just has the lining to do so, another 'show and tell' next month maybe? Let's hope so (no pressure Karen)!

Wendy, Pam and Sheila are onto handles and deciding what colour/fabric combinations to use, whilst Gemma's decided to quilt her background fabric all over.

In amongst all this hard work, we also managed to come up with some ideas for projects for the rest of the year, including Christmas, and a suggestion of a little trip out into Essex one day to show some of the newbies a patchwork and quilting shop or two!

February 20, 2013

The new group met for the second time last night and was delighted to see a new member, with a second new member expected next month. That's 12 of us now so, a brilliant start.

Our first projects - the bag and the cushion - are now underway and, surprise, surprise, everyone wants to make both so we know what we'll be doing for the next couple of months!

To keep a record of our achievements, we'll try and find a way that anyone who wants to can add photos to the blog.

Insured & Affiliated

Today we received confirmation that the group is now insured and affiliated to the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles.

Just a bank account to sort out now.

First things first

The Founder Members of the group, many of whom are patchwork & quilting beginners, decided last Wednesday upon their first projects:

• There's one unfinished object (UFO), some pretty charm square placemats, that need quilting and a mitred binding. 
• There's a very pretty cushion cover like the sample photographed. This uses scraps of fabric and lace. 
• And a project bag in which to bring all our bits and pieces to future group meetings (and here's a sample of the proposed bag).

The requirements lists have been sent to everyone so, snow permitting, we'll be out shopping for fabric and/or searching through our fabric stashes. 

The group's initial constitution has been circulated for comment. A very important task but nowhere near as interesting as buying fabric!

And for the second time is almost as many weeks, we may make the Brentwood Gazette as the correspondent for Warley has been in touch.

There's still a few places for anyone wanting to join the group (it's not too late) so do get in touch to register your interest. You will find detail on the contact page.