March

March is a 'social' month so we're starting to see some little bags started last month now finished. The zippy scissor
keeper has proven popular.

Last night was our AGM, a  face-to-face meeting with Zoom available for those unable to attend in person, several having tested -ve recently and others not wishing to drive at night or in what was horrible weather last night. This was a first for the group and the format worked a treat. 

A short show-and-tell followed the AGM and Wendy showed us what she'd made at a recent workshop*.

At the last meeting, the subject of M&S' Percy Pigs came up. It turns out quite a few of the group are big fans whilst some had never come across them before. Not sure where this is heading......but we were treated to these last night.

* If anyone would like to do a workshop to make a quilt top like this, CraftyUK will be running a 'twisted pinwheel' workshop for Region 8 in September.

Little Bags

February is an activity month. The topic for both meetings is 'little bags' and we're trying out some of the free-to-use (for personal and charity/fundraising use only) tutorials by S.O.T.A.K Handmade.

So far, most people are tackling the very useful scissor case as their first 'little bag' project. Those who didn't fancy these tutorials bought their own patterns, but most stayed with the 'bag' theme.

April is the next activity month and the theme is 'denim'; what can you make from a pair of old jeans?

A couple of our members have started their spring cleaning already, made space in their wardrobes and have managed to source enough pairs of old jeans for the entire group!  You know who you are, thank you.

January 5th, 2022

With no further restrictions announced by the Government, it was full steam ahead with the resumption of our face-to-face meetings. We held our first-ever daytime meeting and, another first, in a new venue. So far so, good.

There were a few items brought along to show-and-tell. Firstly, some charity quilts made by Pat for Project Linus and Quilts for Care Leavers using gifted fabric.

Two in-progress contemporary pieces by Elizabeth.

This Christmas tree skirt is embellished with applique by Amanda. It took quite a while to embellish but was ready in time for Christmas.

The meeting is on 19th.

The replanning is now done and we have a programme for 2022. It's slightly different to previous years as we'll be in two venues from January. Still one evening meeting each month, but we've swapped the other evening for a daytime meeting and that has necessitated a second venue. It's all very exciting.

Time for a change

As part of the planning for 2022, the possibility of a daytime meeting was raised. This proved a hugely popular idea so, to cut a long story short, WCQ will be moving from two evening meetings per month to one daytime and one evening meeting. The  Saturday morning Zoom, introduced during COvid-19 lockdown, will stay for the foreseeable future. Details of the new arrangements can be found on the 'meetings' page.

And we're off!

And, what a fabulous turnout of 18; would've been 19 had it not been for the demonstrations blocking the M25. 

Several members remembered to bring something for show-and-tell and we saw an array of finishes, some from recent Zoom workshops, some from pre-Covid face-to-face workshops, new work and entries for competitions, and items for charity and future fund-raising. 

We made a start on our planning with a view to having a new programme in place for January 2022  and also started to discuss the structure of the group and membership and how it'll all run going forward. 

The other thing we talked about was our next exhibition. The last, and our first exhibition, was in 2018 to celebrate the 5th anniversary. At the time, the intention was to hold an exhibition every three years but this never happened and then you-know-what happened.  The group started in 2013 so 2023 will be our 10th-anniversary year. It seems sensible and achievable to go with 2023 for our next exhibition, fingers crossed!

WCQ gets going again

September sees WCQ resume face-to-face meetings now that Covid restrictions have been eased. We've been Zoom-ing through Covid and, until the end of the year, we'll keep Zoom-ing on the first Wednesday of each month and meet face-to-face on the third Wednesday of each month. Like everyone else, we're keeping everything crossed for no more lockdowns.

WCQ may look a bit different going forward. We'll be replanning until the end of the year with the expectation of having a programme in place commencing January 2022.

We're still hoping to hold a workshop with Gail Lawther (it's been postponed a couple of times now) and the workshop with Pat Archibald has already been rearranged for April 2022. Both of these will be face-to-face workshops. 

One year on.......

The last blog was 4th May 2020. We're almost one year on now and looking forward, with everything crossed, to June 21st 2021 when step 4 of the Government's roadmap kicks in and we can start planning a return to some sort of normal.

In the meantime, we've been meeting on Zoom; every Saturday for a quick chat plus the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings when we'd have met face-to-face pre lockdown.

Having been rescheduled, our workshop with Gail Lawther is in the diary for September 2021 and the workshop with Pat Archibald is in the diary for 2022. Everything else needs to be revisited.

It's like starting again! What will the new 'normal' look like?

Safe at home....

With lockdown now in week 7 and here, I'm guessing, for some time beyond the current May 7 milestone, we've moved the group online. Even if lockdown is lifted in some way on May 7, the impact will be felt for many, many months to come.

Show-and-tell is now on our Facebook page on a fortnightly basis and, as of the week before last, we introduced a weekly Zoom video call on Saturday mornings. Both are working quite well and are 'well attended'. Certainly, everyone is keeping busy, with many of the group making masks, ear-savers for the masks, scrubs and laundry bags; others are working through their UFOs, trying something new and/or revisiting stuff. Oh, and lots of baking is going on too.

If you're really stuck for inspiration or just want a change, there are lots of online events/challenges/projects to take part in. These are just a few:


Dionna Swift, Janice Gunner and Magie Relph have a virtual quilt challenge and are inviting people to make a log cabin block (Janice has written the requirements) and, for the moment, submit a photo to an online gallery. I think 300+ blocks have been made so far.

TextileArtist.org also have a community stitch challenge that's now in week 6. This one's running on their Facebook page.

Region 8 also has moved its coffee mornings online (you bring your own coffee and cake to this one!) and has organised postcard swaps. Both are taking place on their Facebook group.

It's never too late to join in with #the100dayproject. Largely on Instagram, there is also a Facebook page and the website. Use the hashtags  

#the100dayproject and #the100dayproject2020 to see the diversity of projects.

Stay safe everyone. 

First post of 2020

Well, February already. 

No photos from January's meetings. The first meeting of the year was a quiet affair, but more people came out than were expected to given it was New Year's Day.

The second meeting in January was 'a first' for us, "Gadget Night" - bring your favourite sewing gadget or, if you don't have a favourite, the most useless gadget. Most people managed to bring something portable and it was interesting to see how 'low tech' were all the gadgets. Some people discovered a new tool didn't know they needed and others found out how to use a tool they'd forgotten about! And, there was even one pretty useless gadget thad come as the 'free gift' with something else. 

Here are a handful photos from last Wednesday's show and tell. Lots of finishes this time.

Ho, Ho, Ho! Secret Santa here!

Well, as we've all been good this year, Secret Santa called at last night's meeting and brought handmade crackers. 

Here are a few of the postcards received too. 

We also had a quiz (many thanks to Katie for arranging), two rounds of multi-choice questions on sewing and Christmas - and it wasn't that easy. Well done to quiz winner Sara for getting thirty-something out of forty correct answers.

Our meetings wouldn't be the same without cake and a huge 'thank you' to our star baker Sarah.  Last night's chocolate sponge was especially festive with 'star' shaped sprinkles. 

Happy Christmas one and all!

Coach Trip

Today we went on a coach trip to the Lady Sew & Sew warehouse in Henley-on-Thames. I think it's fair to say the visit exceeded most, if not all, expectations. 

After a 2 hour journey we arrived earlier than expected and were greeted with tea/coffee/biscuits and a place to leave our coats & bags. This was followed by a short briefing of what to expect once in the warehouse.

Before tucking into our packed lunches, we we treated to a 30 minute talk about Bosal products and their use in bag making, shown lots of examples and given a few tips.

After lunch we were treated to 'supermarket sweep' where a member of staff selects a number of products from the warehouse to talk about and show visitors. The staff take it in turns to do this and each one selects different items to talk about.  We were shown new wool products and patterns, some sewing kits, advent calendars, books and items that might be suitable for Christmas gifts.

Prior to leaving, Vanessa talked to us for about one hour about waddings, and showed us examples of the waddings stocked. 

The talks/demos etc are optional and can be tweaked to suit the visiting group; we were happy go go with the flow and the suggestions made by the staff.

Otherwise it was all shopping time in the wool shop and the fabric shop. Having settled out bills, we left at 3pm and enjoyed another good run home. Everyone came home with at least one carrier of goodies and a few projects added to their UFOs.

We were made very welcome by knowledgeable and friendly staff. This is a trip very much recommended if you have the opportunity and one we're likely to repeat for those unable to join us this time.

And more Christmas

Yesterday, the group had a sales table at a local church Christmas Fayre, and very well it went too.

The stall looked great with a huge variety of hand crafted goodies, some very Christmassy others not, and something for everyone and all pockets.

The group had already agreed to split the takings between Macmillan and Little Dresses for Africa, two of the threes charities* the group supports. 

* The group also supports Project Linus, and 11 quilts will be off the Basildon Hospital in time for Christmas.

A big thankyou to everyone involved; the makers, the donors, those who 'man' the stall, those who buy, and all the supporters.

Christmas Appliqué with Wendy

With two tables of 'bits' - die cutters, templates, ribbons, felt shapes and much more - to choose from, there results of today's appliqué workshop with Wendy:

I wonder how many will be complete for Christmas 2019? Or will they start the 2020 UFO list?

Felt animals

Many thanks to Sara or organising tonight's mini tutorial and showing us how to make these. I should have photographed them alongside a coin so you get an idea of scale - they are small, ideal for brooches, tree decorations, ornaments etc.

Next month's mini tutorial is called 'a little book of pockets'.

Show & Tell - October 2019

I remembered to take a few photos this time.

Heather and Elizabeth have been making hot iron caddies at their Monday evening P&Q class.

Shirley's been on a workshop with Mary McIntosh and playing with bleach and decolourant.

Lesley's finished a quilt, a kit she bought in USA quite a few year ago!

Karen's made a quilt using fabric her husband bought home from one of his business trips.

Vivienne's sudoko quilt.

Tina and Pat have made an early start on the Christmas projects.

 

A lovely Japanese rice bag by Alison.

And last but, by no means least, otter by Katie.

Print & Stitch

Led by group member Wendy, seven of us spent the day printing and stitching.

Using a selection of Indian print blocks and fabric paints, we printed up a range of fabrics and left them to dry whilst we enjoyed our packed lunches.

After lunch, Wendy explained her technique and we all set to. Lessons in French knots and other hand stitches were available upon request!

All the pieces are still very much work-in-progress and it will be some time before they are considered finished pieces. Here are the photos. 

We hope to run another of these workshops in 2020.