Month: March 2014

A while back we wrote here about the next fabric challenge being offered by the MQG. A large number of our members have signed up to participate in the Michael Miller #MQGfabricchallenge and so CanberraMQG will be hosting a challenge within the challenge for our members. Anyone can participate (even those who missed out on the challenge fabrics, guidelines below). To make this one extra super exciting Polka Dot Tea have generously donated a prize to help us celebrate! 

The winner will receive TWO METRES of their choice of Michael Miller Cotton Couture fabrics from the Polka Dot Tea range (can be one colour, or any combination of fat quarters, of the winner’s choice).

In addition to the prize, Polka Dot Tea is stocking the complementary range of Cotton Couture solids to tie in with the Michael Miller Petal Pinwheels collection, and is offering CanberraMQG members a heavily discounted rate on these fabrics. The solids are: seafoam, kryptonite, clementine, fog, dirt, and canary.

Members will be sent an email directly in the coming days about the fabric offer and how to order – keep an eye out in your inbox! We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with using this challenge as inspiration!

From the sponsor:

Polka Dot Tea was started by two quilters with a love for modern, interesting and quirky fabrics. Our aim is to bring you a collection of beautiful fabrics from our favourite designers and manufacturers, including Yuwa, Kei, Lecien, Liberty and others. We are also proud to be stocking a wide range of the gorgeous Cotton Couture solids by Michael Miller fabrics. Cotton Couture solids are quite simply a beautiful fabric to work with, they have a soft, fine hand, and rich, saturated colours. Polka Dot Tea now stocks a wide range of colours, with more arriving, and we will happily help you select a colour bundle to start your project, or a single colour to use as your background.

For all our up to date arrivals and sale information, visit our shop, follow us on Instagram (@polkadotteafabrics), sign up for our newsletter and like us on Facebook. 

The all important guidelines:

* The challenge runs from April 2014-June 26, 2014.
* Projects must be completed and available for show and tell at the CanberraMQG meeting of 26 June 2014. If you can’t make the meeting, that’s ok, just arrange for a friend to bring your project along for you.
* The winner will be decided by popular choice of those present at the CanberraMQG meeting of 26 June 2014.
* Members may make anything they want as long as it is quilted and features either the Michael Miller printed fabric supplied by Michael Miller or the Michael Miller solids offered in the bundle by Polka Dot Tea – if you missed out on getting challenge fabrics direct from Michael Miller, you can pick up a solids bundle at a discounted rate from Polka Dot Tea.
* Members may add in any other solid or any other Michael Miller printed fabric.
* You do not need to use all the fabrics given to you or all of the solids from the purchased bundle.
* Don’t forget to use the #canberramqgchallenge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

If you where fortunate enough to come to the last CMQG Meeting, wasn’t our Guest Speaker Judy Guthrie an Inspirational Woman. Judy spoke of her love for Fabric Dying in her words “It’s to Dye For” ……. Judy went through the process she uses for dying fabrics & the fun you can have if you give it ago. Judy kindly donated all of her Fabric Dying Tools, Dyes & many Books on Fabric Dying & Quilting. All these books will be set up into a CMQG  Library for our Members to borrow.  We shall also organise a Fabric Dying sessions where we can all have some Fabric Dying Fun.

This is a beautiful quilt Judy brought along for Show ‘n’ Tell, a wonderful use of red & white work.

Judy is explaining how creative you can be with Fabric Dye & a water spray bottle & some leaves.

Mon has taken the Rainbow of Dyed Fabrics, which Judy donated, Mon has offered to cut the fabrics into Jelly Rolls for CMQG Members.

We all had such an enjoyable evening listening & taking in all that Judy shared with us 😊

Hi Ladies,

Doesn’t The CMQG have some very talented Members 🙂

Check out The Riley Blake Challenge Show ‘n Tell.

In the first members spotlight, I would like to introduce Gemma, or as you might know her – Pretty Bobbins. Gemma has just returned to Canberra and we are thrilled that she has become a member of the Canberra Modern Quilt Guild.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself Gemma!
   I’m a long term Canberra resident who has spent more time away from the Nation’s Capital than in it!  I grew up in Victoria and have lived in Queensland, Indonesia, China and New Caledonia.  I have always had a thing for textiles; costumes, rugs, fabric, clothes and weaving.  I came to quilting quite late and used my dress making skills and an old 1970s Better Homes and Gardens book to teach myself to quilt.  Convinced that there had to be a better way I took a beginners class and a few years later discovered modern quilting and got hooked!
2. What got you interested in quilting? When did you first find modern quilting?
   I discovered blogging first and shared my creative journey sewing gifts and kids clothes.  I had made a couple of quilts and the more fabric I bought online the more quilts I came across.  Eventually I bought a few Modern Quilting books and followed a pattern or two.  After a particularly difficult period and whilst recovering from pneumonia I hooked into the modern quilting movement online and realised that quilting was more than just following a pattern and making a blanket.  Once my quilting addiction hit I couldn’t stop and haven’t looked back!

   

3. How has your style changed over the years?
   My first four quilts (with large gaps between the first and second and third) were all made following patterns.  These days I am all about improv, designing my own quilts, using bold colours and making the quilting a large feature of the quilt.  My first two quilts I quilted in the ditch, these days I go crazy free motion quilting everything I can get my hands on. It’s been a little while since I finished a quilt, but I have lots of quilts waiting for binding…
4. What are you currently working on?
   Too many projects to count!  Probably the most exciting for me are a quilt for my bed, designing my own medallion quilt (I’m still figuring out how to make a double orange peel block for the centre – it’s half the fun!) and making a few new wall quilts for our house (we moved recently).

   

5. Where do you find your inspiration? Who are your quilt idols?
   Inspiration is everywhere! I tend to be inspired by the palette around me.  The vivid colours of the Pacific definitely made their way into my quilts and now in Canberra I find myself drawn to more rustic tones.  IG is probably my favourite place to be inspired by other quilters, artists and designers.  My quilting idols are Angela Walters, Latifah Saafir and Krista of Lola Blue Ocean.  Elizabeth Hartman was someone who inspired me early on and I found her blog and first book to be incredibly helpful as a new quilter.
6. What is your favourite part about quilting? What is your least favourite?
   Binding is my least favourite part!  I’m a machine binder through and through or I never finish a quilt!  I love every other aspect equally and am often torn between selecting new palettes, designing a new layout, piecing and quilting!  There’s not enough time!!!
7. Is there a technique on your list to learn this year? How do you like to learn new techniques?
   This year I need to learn time management so I can quilt more! Precise curves is something that I’m focussing on right now.  In terms of quilting I’m enjoying learning about ruler work on the longarm.

   

8. Show us your sewing space! What’s the best thing you ever bought into it? 
   My longarm is my favourite thing in my sewing room, before that it was my Bernina.  I have just discovered Matilda’s Own rulers which I LOVE, oh, and I have to mention Sewline chalk pacer pens.  ESSENTIAL!
9. Do you do any other craft besides quilting?
   At the moment I don’t do any craft, quilting is more art or meditation rather than craft for me and I just don’t have time for any other ‘me-time’ activities at the moment.  I do love rearranging my house and hunting down mid-century modern furniture, does that count as craft? 😉
10. Where else can we find you?
    You can find me everywhere! I’m @prettybobbins on twitter, Instagram, flicker and facebook.  My blog is www.prettybobbins.com and my longarm site is www.prettybobbinsquilting.com

Gemma will be back next week, sharing five things that are inspiring her right now.