April

This month we kicked off with our first AGM. As well as review of the year, we looked at the group's constitution and agreed a few changes to take the group forward. The new constitution will be uploaded shortly.

On to the much more interesting stuff.

Firstly, we welcomed new member Sam taking us to 22 registered members. 

And what have we been making since March, I hear you ask?

Lesley's been busy again. As well as a 'worn and washed' quilt (no photo), she's started this one using flannels; it's gorgeous.

Heather's almost finished this super satchel for her daughter.







Anne has decorated small papier mache boxes that she plans to fill with chocolate eggs for Easter gifts.

Barbara has designed an 'Elmer the elephant' cushion; are you all saying 'aaaah'? Barbara created her own pattern for this and added a gusset to create some depth.







And, we don't just do patchwork and quilting. Wendy is also a member of the Embroiderer's Guild and is working on this lovely button sampler. 

We also took a look at what's involved in making fabric postcards. Will anyone be brave enough to put them in the post though? 

Maria won these two in the postcard tombola at Quilters Guild AGM & Conference in Portsmouth last weekend.

March

Well, March's meeting saw the first 'swap' of our group mystery block challenge. With 17 people taking part, this is going to be a challenge, not least having to number and swap the folders for the first time, trying to avoid mother and daughter members getting each other's folders! 

The next challenge block will be based on triangles so, for those fairly new to patchwork and in response to requests to learn techniques at group meetings, we looked at half square triangles (HSTs) and quarter square triangles (QSTs). Good luck everyone!

Last month the photos I took were useless. I have some better ones from this month's show and tell.

Anne's made a lovely bag (and is working on a second one).

Jenny's made progress on her pretty bed runner.

Denise has been knitting for Easter.

Barbara has completed another miniature quilt.

And Heather's made a raggy bag.

Next month, we'll have a go a fabric postcards.

February

Firstly,  a warm welcome to new member Vera and, to those who are suffering with a horrible cold at the moment are were unable to join us yesterday, we wish you a speedy recovery.

This month's blog is going to be a little bland I'm afraid due to a bit of a disaster on the photo front; they've come out all 'misty' and, hence, useless. Not sure what happened as I also used my phone today to take a photo or too and they came out OK. So, without photos then:

• Jenny has been busy and has completed a lovely bag and the small quilt she had started last month. 
• Elaine showed us a couple of her finished bags too - a beach bag in turquoise fabrics and one in recycled denim. 
• Lesley brought to show us another quilt from her super vintage quilt collection.  
• Tina has made a couple of raggy quilts (just want we need with the weather we've had) and an attractive folk art wall hanging.
• Vera has also made a raggy quilt, her first quilt ever. Now that's enthusiasm for you!
• Three people have competed the first block of the mystery quilt challenge, although it's not actually needed until next month when we swap for the first time and make a start on block 2.

You will recall that this month we invited a speaker, the Regional Co-ordinator for Region 8 of the Quilters Guild. The plan for Helen to tell us about her quilting and quilts. Several boxes, large boxes, of quilts arrived, many more than we envisaged and the vast majority borrowed back from their current owners. There were lots of 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the audience who heard charming tales of how the quilts came to be, also picking up one of two good tips along the way for their own quilts. Many thanks to Helen for coming along to our meeting.

Fingers crossed for some photos next month!

January

Happy birthday to Warley & Childerditch Quilters. We made it! One year on and going steady; long may it continue. To celebrate, we'll be having a meal at a local pub later in the month.

Three new members joined us this month, Heather, Barbara and Katie taking us to 20. Sadly one member, Eileen, has had to leave the the group.

Despite Christmas and New Year, everyone's been busy. Here's what they've been up to.

Amongst Tina's projects are this tree decoration (left) which she gifted to Rosemary who very much enjoys these small folded projects.


Tina also finished the table runner (top right) she showed us last month and this disappearing 9-patch quilt (bottom right). This quilt has a lovely fleece backing so it's very snuggly.


Lesley's working on quilt using fabrics from Worn and Washed but, no photo this month, perhaps next.

Gemma's been busy too and is currently piecing this pretty quilt (left).



In between knitting and lace making, Shirley's been working on this tumbling block piece (right) and, yes, she is aware that one block is the wrong way around! 

Maria's started ploughing through piles of old jeans to rescue the useable denim fabric and has made these two hobo-style bags (right). 

From this month our meeting time has been extended by 30 minutes to 10pm. Even that went too quickly on Wednesday! 

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.