Pemberley Quilt

My Pemberley quilt designed by Katrina Hadjimichael is making progress.

And it is feeding my hexie addiction!

      

          

More is on now.

Corner units are next.

While We Stitch by Norma Slabbert

I traveled to Hamilton on Sunday to view the stunning exhibition by 

Norma Slabbert that is on at Artspost Gallery in Victoria Street..

Norma has called her exhibition "While We Stitch".

It contains 13 quilts all in neutral colours. 

Norma sent me this photo of the pile of fabrics that she started with.

Now you an see one reason why I liked her quilts so much - all these

came from us (Patchwork Passion NZ).

The other reason I liked them so much was the message behind them all.
As she says in her introduction: While we stitch life goes on elsewhere - in
this case with Syrian Refugees.

Below are some of the details of her work, (published with her permission) 
but do make an effort to visit - it is certainly worthwhile.

While we stitch, people face barriers.



While we stitch,  people flee with bundles of belongings.



While we stitch, people flee their homes - trudging over deserts, highways, 
byways, fields and farmlands - to find closed borders.



While we stitch, people abandon heirlooms.



While we stitch, people criss-cross countries.



While we stitch, people search for shelter.



While we stitch, somebody says, "We just want to go home - to make our 
own coffee and bake our own bread."

Such beautiful quilts and such a heart wrenching tribute to
the refugee people trying to make a better life for their families.

Congratulations Norma.



Do visit - the quilts look so much better in real life and when you can 
see them all, not just a snapshot.

In the adjoining  room is another quilt exhibition by "8 Perspectives",
 so this makes the trip even more worthwhile.

The exhibition in on until 10 October 2016.

New Saturday Breakfast Club

Our new Saturday morning Breakfast Club started today.

We are doing Sue Spargo's Instastitch with a Japanese twist.

I am making mine all from my collection of old indigo fabrics.

These are pieces I have collected mostly from flea markets in Japan.

Each piece has had a previous life as part of a futon cover (bed cover) or

a kimono or sometimes maybe both. These charm of these fabrics is their 

recycled nature and even patching.

These are the first seven of twelve blocks that Sue is designing.
Most will get more stitching added. Please ignore the white circles in the top left 
corners - they stickers with my block numbers on.















The last block has no stitching on yet as I only just finished piecing
it this afternoon.

Pemberley

I started this large medallion quilt at our three day Retreat with Katrina Hadjimichael.

I got the centrepiece prepared and partially stitched at class.

Since then I have added the vine around it.

It still has a few pins in and needs two bows added to the top and bottom.

It is certainly feeding my addiction to English paper Pieced Hexagons . . . . . . . 

   

 . . . . . . . . . .  and my love of applique

Back soon.

Linen Cushions

I have been busy stitching linen cushions for an up-coming class at the shop.

In fact they have been such fun to make I have just started another one!!

This was the first one made - it so much adding all sorts of embellishments 

and simple stitchery designs.

Then it was onto a Christmas version.

We are running this class as part of our "Stitched By Hand" Friday fortnightly 

group or as one day classes on Thursday 20 September and then again 

on Saturday 22 September for our working customers.

Tricia and I had fun today making up kits for this class.

Back soon with number three.

Mrs Holder Stretched Hexie Quilt Gets Bigger

My Mrs Holder Stretched Hexie Quilt has finally had some time put into it.

I still love making it, but time just hasn't been available for it lately.

I love it because it is so relaxing to work on.

This next row was a variety of chocolate fabrics.

But I did make a pattern out of them.

This is row number 19 and it has 108 stretched hexies around it .

And there are 25 Rows and then the corners get filled in to take it out to a rectangle.

There is no show without Missy Cat - it just happens to be her favourite 

winter sleeping place!

Sorry to disturb her!!!

The next three rows are very scrappy - creams, pinks, blue sand caramels.

Redoubt North School Programme

This year I have been back at Redoubt North School to teach the Year 7 and 8 Students

to make their own single bed quilts.

This is my third year of doing this programme.

These students are 11 or 12 years old and they make the same quilt as 

our shop Easy Retro Beginners Adult Quilt Class.

I couldn't do this programme without the support of the 24 customers who

purchase the quilt top fabrics for their sponsored student. Or my wonderful suppliers

who help with batting, backing fabrics and threads.


Step one - making the blocks



Twelve boys and twelve girls are participating.



Step two - arranging the blocks to make the quilt top.

Step Three - sewing the top together.



Step four  and five - quilting and binding and they do it all on their own quilts.



Twenty four finished quilts . . . . . . 



. . . . .  ready to go home to be loved and keep them warm and cozy for the rest of winter.

These students have worked so hard and learnt so much over the six week programme.
It has been an honour to work with them and watch them gather new skills.
Thanks you to everyone who participated to make this special event happen for these
wonderful young people.

Katrina's Retreat Day Three

Day Three is the last day and nobody wants to go home.

So it is heads down and into lots of stitching in this lovely light classroom.

The final group photo before we say our sad goodbyes until next time!

Katrina has been an amazing tutor - we have learnt so much and 

have loved every minute of our Three Day Retreat.

Car loaded up to go home.

Our final event was "An Evening with Katrina" where she showed 

her collection of quilts to people who were unable to be at 

the Retreat, Despite a wet evening everyone manged to come

along and enjoy Katrina's quilts and the stories behind them.

Thank you Katrina for a great few days on Auckland.