Finding Braidwood

Airing of the Quilts 1998

Braidwood, with its historical country town presence, offered  a weekend of quilting activities including a spectacular Airing of the Quilts.  A couple of us Literary Guild girls decided to make the pilgrimage.  Braidwood is "close" to Canberra but from Sydney it would be quite a long day trip.

The organisers did a great job and we certainly had little trouble putting in a whole day.  Better still, we could surround ourselves with quilts, enjoy a day without adding to our UFO box yet find some wonderful craft shops & galleries, including a very, very busy patchwork shop!  Who wouldn't want to come to Braidwood again...

This summer quilt celebration has been on our "Wish List" calendars since 1995.  Braidwood is a heritage listed town and lovely to visit at any time.  To find current information about this event check Braidwood Quilters on their Facebook page.

I will most certainly have photos to scan but where they are located is now the question.  Until then, this post rounds out a busy 1998. On another end of year note, and in the blink of an eye, 2014 is upon us.  So I wish you all the best for this new year and "may all your quilt seams line up  precisely"! 

Show Pony

Quilted Jacket: 1997

I wanted to update my wardrobe with a little bit of patchwork fashion and had fallen for Mary Mashuta’s book, "Wearable Art for Real People", 1989.  I chose my favourite design, found a pattern and selected fabrics with pink & black roses as a starting point. Later I added a batik, a nice soft, fine cotton, for lining and sandwiched pellon inbetween.  The main fabric was hand dyed (discharged dyed) after folding it shibori style.  (This actually jogs my memory about a class I did with Deborah Brearley and the Geelong Quilters Guild- 4 Jun 1988- some years before.)  I've been dabbling with dyeing (procion dyes & bleaches) every now and then ever since.  

I loved this jacket, even though I hardly wore it.  I had made the sleeves ¾ length and I found that a bit annoying in the end.  Somehow solutions to fix it only seemed to make it worse.  And by then of course, such dramatic pieces were no longer fashionable...

The jacket would look better if it was on a model but
one can't take photos & model at the same time!!!

Learning New Things

Stars & Angels: 1997

I made this mini wall hanging in a self-help workshop with the RLI girls.  We decided we wanted to learn the “new” & fashionable fused applique technique.  The girls had just emerged from a series of classes for a traditional Baltimore-style applique quilt, so this fast, finish-in-a-day sample (sure! ever hopeful...) seemed a bit of a release. 

Being so close to Christmas, we worked with that theme in mind and chose this pattern, although I’m not sure where it actually came from.  We fused on the angels and stars, then blanket stitched around them.  The result was a bit folk-arty for me.  I used up lots of Christmas fabric scraps (many were rather old designs, even then….but waste not, want not!).  I used even more left-overs for a random patched backing.   It all worked quite well with the folksy theme.

Just for the Record:

Quilt Finished Size: 65x 78.5cm
Block Size:”
Cut in: 1997
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1997
Quilted: Hand 1997
Quilt Type: Workshop
Quilt Finished: 1997
Exhibited:  No
Collection: Home# 028
Pattern Name: Unknown
Fabrics Purchased: 1980’s
Fabric Design: Christmas prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
Whilst I enjoyed spending the day with the girls, I think I was beginning to understand that I wasn’t getting much joy from slavishly copying other people’s quilts. Having said that, I do think it’s important to try new techniques and experiment a little (or a lot!).  All this helps define your own style.  

Using up every last bit of scrap

Scrappy Shoo Fly

Shoo Fly Star: 2004  (Started: 1997)

We made a Shoo Fly Star pattern in a workshop with Joy Dixon (Feb & Mar 97) arranged by the RLI girls.  This one was to be my second pink & grey – perhaps I had so many left-overs from the previous quilt I needed to do something with them.  I only made a sample or two of the blocks (it was a new method for sewing flying geese) as I couldn’t make all the lessons.  Eventually in 1998 I resorted to a pattern in Nancy Martin’s Book “Rotary Roundup” p97 to get on with constructing the top. That book was a real help too as I’ve always found the Hopkins & Martin books very accurate when it comes to instructions eg. rotary cutting measurements.   

This one is made up from two blocks, a shoo fly star and a sawtooth or evening star. Ready for basting in late 2001.  Eventually, I gave it to mum for her spare bed although I’m not sure of the year.  No details confirmed until I next visit…….

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 168x 208cm
Block Size: 8”
Cut in: 1997
Pieced & Basted: Machine 2001
Quilted: Machine 2004
Quilt Type: Workshop
Quilt Finished: 2004
Exhibited:  No
Collection: Private
Pattern Name: Shoo Fly Star
Pattern Source: Joy Dixon
Fabrics Purchased: Colour Collection
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I was finally beginning to relax a little with the machine quilting technique and although still doing straight lines realised that was ok as long as the design was used effectively, improving on the look of the quilt. (This was before the rage for large quilting machines and at a time when I’d just purchased my new Bernina in 2003 – but more on that later!)  

A  few notes embroidered on the back to help me remember?

An Aside:  I'd quite forgotten that I machine quilted this in Delhi and bought the stripe fabric for the bindings from a tailor's shop in Khan Market.  The funny thing was that they did not believe that I had actually sewn the quilt myself...  They must not have met too many (fastidious) quilters! 

Red Stars & Green Checks

Red Stars: 1998 & Green Checks: 1998  (Started: 1997)

These quilts were constructed following a shopping trip with the RLI girls!  I can remember stitching them frantically while we were still living at Watsons Bay.  Even Sue from the Bondi Evening Embroiderers can remember my frenzied efforts, which she kindly reminded me during our 2008 Art Quilts classes!  Not clear what became of J’s quilt even though he did take a fancy to it; I don’t think it survived its little holiday down in Ulladulla – and hasn’t been seen since!

This is the "missing" link; probably wrapped around
a surfboard somewhere.  Block 15" & finished size 170cm square

Both quilts were made in flannel, popular at the time as they produced a “cuddly” quilt, but were rather poor quality material.  I machine patched them and then tied them with buttons rather than quilt them.  Regrettably, the flannel did not appear to be wearing well, so I stitched them both in Perle (#5?) in matching colours (navy & dark green) to hold them all together, finishing this task in 1998.  This was the first time I had used Perle thread for quilting and I was rather pleased with both the effect and the fact it stitched up fairly quickly.  The combination of checks and plains did make a colourful, if not somewhat dark, boy’s quilt but I have never touched flannel again!  Great for PJ’s but not quilts when you consider all the work you put into them!

Shown finished to the RLI girls at our regular Saturday Randwick meeting on 18^th April 1998.

Pre-digital & sharing with "not so lovely" washing...

Just for the Record: A’s only
Quilt Finished Size: 119x 152cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1997
Pieced & Basted: Machine 1997
Quilted: Tied & Hand 1997-98
Quilt Type: Family
Quilt Finished: April 1998
Exhibited:  No
Collection: Home# 027
Pattern Name: Nine Patch on Point
Fabrics Purchased: 1997
Fabric Design: Checks & Plains
Fabric Style: Flannelette Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Somehow the colours are not "real" in these two photos
Here is yet another lesson in photographing quilts....

Lessons Learned:
This was most certainly a big lesson on fabric choices and fashion fads. Whilst flannel quilts were certainly cuddly, they did not stand up to wear & tear, even in their first year, hence the need to quilt them.  Even though they were meant to be “everyday” quilts, there is so much work involved (not to mention expense) that I now would prefer to choose quality fabric every time.

Beary Good Girls

Milly & Molly: 1997  (Started: 1996)

I bought a Merry Beary bear pattern #72 during a trip to Berrima in 1996, and finally managed to put two girls together in 1997.  I started stitching their jackets in May 98, but the embroidery & applique aspect of it languishes still.  I have a photo of them amidst the packing up for our move from Watsons Bay to Kenso, so they were just in need of jackets even then.  I gave the girls to mum for a bit of girl talk. One day she’ll get their jackets too!

The bears themselves were quite easy to sew up and I managed to find a rather nice felty type of fabric.  Very Cute with their little dresses!!

This is the pattern which I found on ebay & currently for sale.
I'll replace this with a photo of the girls one day soon. 

Birds on the Plain

Flock (of Pink & Grey Galahs): 2004  (Started: 1996)

Galah photo from Wiki

I’d been working on an idea since my Tamworth years inspired by those crazy pink & grey galahs which to me typified life on the North West slopes and plains.  I’d even called my idea in advance, “flock” and that has been the cause of a great stumbling block.  I made two quilts in quick succession, both pink & grey, then failed to record their details before giving them away.  Say no more!

This quilt, started 1996, is made from a large collection of pinks and greys (16 so my notes tell me) gathered to one day settle my itch for a “flock” or feather quilt. The initial pattern I chose was from Shortcuts to the Top (p 55), Birds in the Air. Then I found Kansas Troubles (p122) in Rotary Roundup - much more appealing.

My first pink & grey was started with all the relish that a new rotary cutter provides.  I had it ready for batting and backing & basting by late 2001; there was a rush on at the time to clean up the ever-growing UFO box. I was also teaching myself how to machine quilt with the new Bernina (2003), so straight lines were the go on both counts - speed & sanity.  Eventually given to friend, Kath for safe-keeping. 

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 189x 189cm
Block Size: 16”
Cut in: 1996
Pieced & Basted: Machine 2001
Quilted: Machine 2003
Quilt Type: Workshop
Quilt Finished: 2004
Exhibited:  No
Collection: Private 2/6/07
Pattern Name: Kansas Troubles
Pattern Source: Rotary Roundup, Hopkins & Martin
Fabrics Purchased: Colour Collection
Fabric Design: Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
After a few years of study, I was eager to get back into quilting proper.  I chose a quick pattern with a large size block and a nice scrappy look to get all those pinks & greys I had to form a homogenous whole.  The top was fast, fun to make and satisfied an itch. I still really like the way this quilt turned out.

 

A Loss of Memory

Mine & the Computer's....

I’ve been slow to start up again this season.  Much has to do with commitment to other activities, particularly blogs as we finalise sailing season details, including (his) technical minutiae.  Sadly, we’ve been lagging behind in adding information about maintenance and upgrades from previous years.  Sometime I should add costings as well, but that’s another story and I’m sure that anyone who is prepared to figure out how to cut, sew and generally re-arrange fabrics ad infinitum understands how important all these little things are.

I’ve also reached something of a crossroad in my memory bank as I know I made two pink and grey quilts about the same time but couldn’t seem to reconcile one with the other as my notes were slack, my memory shot and both quilts were passed on to better homes; one without a photo.  Gosh Darn!

Outside Hagia Sophia, Istanbul in Turkey 2013

Of course, I went back under the stairs to find my photo boxes – a shattering experience as I’m reminded about how much work I still have left as I catalogue my travel and quilting life.  I did find a few snaps of quilts I’d quite forgotten about and a photo or two of ones that I thought I hadn’t taken a photo of at all.  So all is not entirely lost!  Whilst on the subject of photos, one other incident is worth mentioning.  Somehow this year I lost (completely) a file of digital photos – our trip to London is now but a few photos pasted on a blog post.  That means 170 taken in London (again, gosh darn!) are forever lost to the world.  Yes, I did backup but too late it seems.  This now means that I will have to change HOW I backup…. 

Well, I think I’ve now sorted all my memories out now and am ready to get back on my hobby horse.

I'm now forever in love with blue tiles.
So much inspiration for a new quilt!