Autumn Retreat

What a fabulous weekend!  Because of a slight hitch with dates, we are running two Autumn retreats this year and this first one was attended by a much smaller number than usual.  So we had plenty of space to spread out, less dishes to wash and fewer sewing machine motors to talk over.

Because this only needed the binding sewn down, I grabbed the first 'finish' of the weekend. 

Steph showed us her finished beauty of a quilt.  She was working on this at her last retreat.

And here is part of her next masterpiece.  I've seen the pattern and it's truly stunning. 

Here's Edna contemplating what to do to turn these orphan blocks into a usable quilt.  Aren't they a neat pattern?

Margaret joined us for a day and managed to get several bindings sewn down.  This one has a skateboard fabric as a feature. 

Here's Dianne and Daryl basting Shirley's troublesome quilt that just won't lay flat!  The problem is in the fabric we think - such a gorgeous soft damask.

This is one of a pair - or will be if Dianne can find a few more inches of the purple stripe inner border fabric.

Imogen managed to complete the quilting of her lovely batik bargello.

This is another of Margaret's that she managed to get the binding finished on.

And here is a detail of the quilting from the back.

I managed to finish the border on this round-robin block.  Just in time to send it off to Australia.  Remind me never to work with teeny tiny pieces again!

Carol had been lucky to attend a workshop with Kaffe Fassett recently - here she is working on the layout of her quilt started that day.

Ingrid has been experimenting with fabric paint.   And now she's using the painted fabric to fantastic effect in this cathedral windows piece.

Mmmmmm, colour!!

Carol finished this top off for her brand new grandbaby. 

I managed to piece together my centre applique block into my big blue and white quilt and add a border.  I've yet to decide whether to add another one - what do you think?

And that's about it for photos.  Plenty of stories though!  Like the cricket hunts that had varying degrees of success! 

Anyway - take care and enjoy whatever it is you are working on. 

Show and Tell February

Apologies for taking so long to get this posted.  Hope you enjoy it.

Jane showed us a couple of lovely children's quilts.  Isn't the green and pink one a clever design?

 

Ingrid has been productive with a lovely table runner and her first drunkard's path.

Terri is the proud owner of this - I've take a photo of the back to show the quilting better - very intricate.

 

Terri also made this wallhanging incorporating photos printed onto fabric.

 

Alison has finished her embroidered white and cream quilt that she was working on in retreat last year.  What a stunner!  She also made matching pillowshams.

 

Imogen finished her bargello top in record time.

 

A quilt for kids made by Caroline.  There was another, but that may have been when my camera battery ran out!  Sorry!

 

Jan was the lucky recipient of this gorgeous table runner.  She doesn't know who made it for her - her Patchwork Angel sent it to her!! 

Bia had a beautiful and practical bag to show and the cutest wee wallhanging for dog lovers.

 

We were lucky enough to have Bobbi, a visitor for Australia, show us some beautiful handwork made by the Tentmakers of Cairo.  Bobbi just happens to be friends with Jenny Bowker (!), who let her choose a couple of pieces from her collection.  Click here to read more about the tentmakers, written by Jenny Bowker.

 

And here are two of Bobbi's stunning quilt tops she brought over to show us.  Thanks Bobbi - we much appreciated meeting and listening to you.

This is a sweet wee box made by Ingrid.  We're hoping to persuade her to give us a workshop!

And last but not least - this is a picture of all the blocks members brought in for our 'Guess the Block Name' game.  Steph got the highest number right with 14 out of 32.  Well done!

Queensland Flood Appeal

URGENT REQUEST FROM QUEENSLAND QUILTERS FOR FABRIC

TO MAKE QUILTS FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

An urgent phone call from an Queensland Quilter has been received seeking fabric donations. She belongs to two Queensland quilting groups and she and her fellow quilters are frantically making quilts for those in Queensland who have lost everything in the floods.

The two quilting groups have run out of fabric and are desperate for more.


PLEASE CAN YOU HELP?


No amount would be too big or too small. Every bit would be gratefully appreciated.


We need 100% cotton.


I am asking all the quilters and crafters I know for help in this.


AND IF YOU HAVE ANY FABRIC SCRAPS, QUILTS OR QUILT TOPS OF ANY SIZE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE, PLEASE SEND THEM TO US. BRING THEM INTO THE SHOP THIS NEXT WEEK, FROM TUESDAY 25 JANUARY TO SUNDAY 30 JANUARY, AND I WILL GIVE YOU A 10% DISCOUNT ON YOUR PURCHASE (not including classes, gift certificates or items already on sale) THAT DAY.


We will then make sure that the fabrics & quilts go to the quilt groups in Queensland and they in turn will ensure the quilts they make will go to those who need them. Many of the people who thought that they had insurance now don't have any as it has been deemed by the powers that it is now not a flood but an act of God. WHAT IS A FLOOD ?


We will be donating fabrics and some quilt tops and we are pleased to advise that New Zealand wholesalers, Tiffanies Treasures, Nutex, Fabco and Ascot Lane have all agreed to support this worthy cause.


I will then send everything down to the Wholesaler who is the coordinator of this appeal, so shipment can be expedited to Australia.


I look forward to seeing masses of fabrics and blocks, and quilt tops coming in next week. Thanks for your help and support in this.


Best Wishes,

Caroline Pyne


THE POWERQUILTER
22 Selwyn Rd., Paihia, Bay of Islands
NEW ZEALAND
(64) 09 402 7171

Raffle Results

The raffle has been drawn and first prize goes to J. Riddell.  Second prize was won by A. Gawith.  Congratulations to both of you!

Phew! The annual exhibition is over.

Welcome to the virtual Kerikeri Patchworkers and Quilters Club exhibition for 2011.  Take a seat, click on any picture to make it bigger, and accept my apologies if your entry is not photographed - there were so many amazing quilts and wall hangings that I just know I can't have got them all.  But I guess that's an incentive for you to go and see it next year in full colour and real life!

Thank you to everyone who made the effort to exhibit something.  Thank you to everyone who helped organise and set up and clean up.  Thank you to all who sold raffle tickets.  Thank you to The Powerquilter for a lovely wee merchant stall.  And thank you to everyone who came along and made this exhibition such a success.  Well done. 

Stay tuned for the winners of viewers choice and the raffle will be drawn in the next day or so and results published in The Bay Chronicle and here.

Annual Exhibition, Summer Project and January Meeting

Annual Exhibition – Friday January 14th – Monday 17th Inclusive, Kingston House, Kerikeri:


In the November Newsletter we detailed “requirements” to enable you to exhibit your quilts and related items in January. Remember you can get the forms and cards from Imogen or she can get them to you. Just phone her up, her number is on your membership list.

NOTE: - SET UP:
Kerikeri and Surrounding Members - You will need to arrange delivery of your items to Kingston House on Thursday 13th January BETWEEN 1 PM AND 2 PM.

Whangarei Members – You will need to deliver your quilts to Dianne or Leonie no later than the evening of Wednesday 12th January.

Kaitaia Members – You will need to deliver your quilts to Beatrice no later than the evening of Wednesday 12th January.


NOTE: - PICKUP: You will need to arrange pickup of your items from Kingston House on Monday 17th January just AFTER 4 PM (no earlier).
!!!!Also please call Daryl if you can help on any Exhibition days!!!

Remember your raffle tickets.  Post off butts and payment to Imogen asap if you are not going to make it to the exhibition.

SUMMER PROJECT

 

*** We would like everybody to bring a block ***

for presentation at 22nd February 2011 Meeting

A FEW REQUIREMENTS

· SIZE: Block can be any size up to 12” square.

· PATTERN: Your choice. It may be a block of a current project, a new project or even a left over block from an old project! (You will be able to take it home afterwards.)

· THE CATCH: Preferred (but not essential) would be a block of a known “Title” e.g. Flying Geese, etc.

· ATTACHMENT: Attach, either written or typed on a piece of paper, either or both of the following, whichever suits your project:

- the meaning or history of your chosen design (but not the name. You will reveal the name of the block to Imogen, Shirley or Ingrid only, on arrival on the 22nd February.)

And/or

- your inspiration or reason for choosing the block presented. (Have the name for the block but reveal the name only to Imogen, Shirley or Ingrid on arrival on the 22nd February.)

Please do not add your own name to your block – you will know which one it is when you collect it!

Find out what happens next at the February meeting!!!

 

 

First Meeting 2011 –

Tuesday 25th January at Margaret's in Kaitaia

Once again Margaret is generously opening her (new) home to all members for the first meeting of the year. She has moved house and we have provided a map in your last newsletter and a list of things you need to bring including the mystery project -


Time: 10 a.m. (If you arrive earlier Margaret will appreciate help to set up).


Lunch: Please bring a plate for a shared lunch.


Seating: Bring your own seat as Margaret doesn’t have enough seating.


Mystery Project: - 4 ½ inch squares fabric (couple of dozen squares approx.) - any colour


- Sewing thread - three or four colours - any colours


- Offcuts of thin batting - 4" or bigger


- HB pencil


- Sewing kit




I hope you have all had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year's.  Here's hoping 2011 is a great one for all with many hours of quilting and some fabulous finished projects.

Ladies who Lunch.

 At our annual Christmas lunch, we have a secret Santa game.  Everyone brings along a wrapped, handmade gift and puts it on the table.  Then everyone takes a number from the hat.  You get to go up to the table and pick a gift and unwrap it, in numerical order  Except we like to have fun, so we steal too!  The second person to pick a gift can choose to pick a gift OR steal the first person's gift.  If they steal, the first person gets to go and choose another gift from the table.  The third person can either steal one or two's gift or choose from the table.  There are only allowed to be two steals in a row and then the last person stolen off has to go back to the table. 

 Everybody watches with great interest, because they might be able to steal it later!

 This gold-wrapped one was an apron and a Christmas cake.  And it got stolen quite a few times!

All eyes on Shirley.

If you like your gift so much that you don't want anyone else to have it, you can try and hide it behind your back like Margaret is doing! 

 Poor Ingrid.  I think the chicken went home with someone else.

 Then it was time for a lovely lunch, prepared by Beryl and her team of hardworking ladies.  Delicious.  And some fun with a raffle at each course thanks to Itch to Stitch and the Garden Club. 

 Homemade by Jane and well worth sneaking a second one.

It was my first Christmas Lunch.  Well worth it, I'll be back next year.  Save me a mince pie!