My canTeen bandanas have arrived!

I've been wondering for a while now where and how I would integrate charity and sewing...

A week or so ago I was sorting through our camping gear, and found George's red canTeen bandana. It made me think about using the bandanas to make quilts to donate back... Loads of fun - so of course I googled it and it seems there are several lovely people already making this happen.

So the next day I called our state office (Brisbane) and chatted with Jen, who kindly sent me a detailed email with all the available patterns - it was just like fabric shopping lol!

So now as National Bandana day is October 28th, I'm hoping that a few of you will get inspired to buy some bandanas and help out too. They use quilts a lot for sitting and snuggling in group sessions, for one on one counseling. I'm sure that bandana bags would be appreciated as well. Please keep me posted on how you go, I'd love to see pics :)

CanTeen

A gorgeous stack of colour and pattern

Here are all the different designs in their packets... such a variety of patterns and colours!

a wonderful gift....

Now just before I went away for a weekend (my first in a long time) I got this parcel in the post...

It was beautifully packed and such a treat...

 My Friend Vicki ( who I always refer to I know... so as an aside check out my other super creative friend Anthea ).. anyway Vicki thought EPP (english paper piecing) would be a novel new thing to try and roped in a few people, she asked me what sizes I would like and I thought lets try small... yes feel free to laugh at my expense it didn't sound that small when I said it!

Amidst it all this gorgeous Holly Hobby wall ceramic - who can't remember her...

Small blog meet

Hi, I decided to follow my friend Hitch and thread's Lead and join Lily's small blog meet - it seems like a fantastic idea to get circulating a little bit more! Hopefully I'll get to meet a few new people and share their thoughts as well as mine.

Take care for now x

The Redlands Quilt Extravaganza

This last weekend (including Friday) 9-11th September was the Redlands Quilt Extravaganza. By chance I was flicking through this months AP&Q and glanced in the whats on section - realized that it started the same day and excitedly changed all my plans to fit it in ;)

My friend Vicki (Hitch and Thread) wished she could come too... so I took a few snaps and thought the best way to share them would be on here!

The standard of work was fantastic and the range of standards was equally good - all in all a wonderfully stimulating experience from a creative point of view... Not only that but the ladies were so pleasant to chat to and I've made a few contacts with groups that I really hope to join in with to help keep the creative energy moving. 

Obviously its over for this year now but I would strongly recommend a visit next year or for any other exhibition they put on, alright enough of me - here's the pics... (several are in half as there just wasn't space to get back far enough - too many quilts :) )

One last general apology - since I originally got the photos for private viewing I wasn't diligent with names and quilt names, if you do happen to recognize feel free to let me know if you want it identified.

I've admired this pattern having grown up with the golly's - and the quilt was even more intense in person! Category - from a pattern or kit

This one is sweet, category - entirely hand sewn and quilted - lot of work including the embroidery

This one I loved the use of colour and the design is clever too - details photo below

Loved the use of colour, simple yet striking

How cute is this animal quilt

Category - Art quilt by a professional quilter, second place. Some interesting links with beads and the flowing coppery river appears to be hand sewn beads also.

Carolyn Ashbrook - from 'The big book of Building Blocks' by Sara Nephew. Category - Made with the help of a commercial quilter

Not necessarily my style but I love the way that this is executed, it is beautifully done!

Category - A quilt entirely hand constructed and hand quilted, this was just that little bit different and at least queen size.

This one because its effect is appealing, but if you look closely the colour combinations are not what we would naturally go for..

Category - A quilt entirely hand constructed and hand quilted, first place. 'South Carolina Friendship' - Myra Alder. Apologies no full photo of this one I was focusing on the detail and the size of the stitching

Again I focused on a part - the central panel, done by machine in a needle turn style with the pieces appearing to abut - details below

details for quilt above

I think that this was a first time I've entered a quilt in a show category.

Category - Quilt by a professional, 'Little Blossoms' - Elke Malony. The panels are all machine embroidered and looked sweet.

Category - A quilt made with the help of a professional quilter, 'Dresden plates in the 1930's' - Heather Willett. Who wouldn't love the pretty pastels of this one, there's just something about those '30's colours...

Category - the first quilt I have ever entered into a show, 'Lazy days of summer' - Susan McDougal. A lovely bright cheerful first time entry - there were a few first timers inspiration to us newbies!

Category - A quilt designed, assembled and quilted entirely by myself on a domestic machine, 'Come on, This way' - Anthea Twigg

A close up of that gorgeous duck - at the bottom of the pic you can see how she is constructed of feathery layers.

Category - A quilt with the help of a commercial quilter. For those lavender fans, a nice mix of piecing and applique.

Category - An Art quilt by a professional, information below. This one I really loved, not surprising as it has elements similar to my 'thread sunset' I did for the silk finish competition lol - for a non-red gal I'm loving them at the moment...

A small quilt, simple yet beautiful colours take you away to the ocean.

Category - A quilt by a professional.

Best in show - need I say anymore? The embroidery is hand done and the simplicity of the colours make it sing.

Warratah detail from above

Last but not least my choice for viewers favourite - I believe its an original design, all hand pieced and hand quilted. Its not technically perfect, it clearly doesn't sit flat, but the use of colours is exciting the design stimulating and it was the quilt that said to me 'I'd keep you warm and make you smile' lol and isn't that a big part of it?