Well doesn't time fly by. With going away last month I have completely forgotten to update the blog.

In May we spent a lovely evening looking at the Handbag collection of miniature quilts which we loaned from the Quilters Guild. Some of the quilts were amazing. How does someone get so much accuracy when sewing such a small piece. I have such a great admiration for all the quilters who have donated a quilt to this collection.
Since we also had a go at piecing 1/4 inch hexagons ourselves I also greatly admire their patience.

In June we looked at another form of patchwork that can be said to be small and fiddly and had a go at making strips of Seminole work. This patchwork was created by the Seminole Indians to adorn their clothes and has always been traditionally done by machine.
Since I enjoy making bags and clothes I have used it on several occasions to embellish my work.

There are photos in the meetings review section. Please take a look at what we have been doing.

The April Meeting of White Rose Quilters had us all making tool caddies that fit onto a mug, a very handy accessory for any quilter going to a workshop. Not only does it hold all your sewing essentials but you also have the mug for your favourite beverage.
Moira did a great job of teaching us how to make these handy caddies which look quite complicated but were surprisingly easy to put together with the right tuition. (See the photo in the meetings review section.)

May has seen a change to the published programme. Everyone seems to be progressing well with their sew-a-row quilts without needing any extra help at the meeting, so we thought we would spend the evening exploring miniature quilts instead.

We have sent off to the Quilters Guild for the handbag collection of miniature quilts so we will be examining these closely and then having a go paper piecing with 1/4 inch hexagons. I think it will be a technique you love or something you hate. We will see!

Last month saw us catching up on the Sew a Row challenge with the remainder of the patterns being given out to all the members. I am really looking forward to seeing everybody's efforts which I hope will be at the July meeting.

We also discussed the exhibition we are planning for 14th May 2016. It seems along time in the future but I know it will quickly come around and we have a lot to organise.

We have already booked the venue. It is the Huntington room at Kings Manor in Exhibition Square in the centre of York. Can I also say a big thank you to PenLife Associates who have kindly helped us with sponsorship towards the cost of the venue.

We have also made a start on our charity quilt which will be raffled at the exhibition and again thank you to Cotton Cloth Sales for donating the material for this.

We have chosen our charities and any money made by the exhibition and raffle will be donated to York Hospital Special Care Baby Unit and the national charity BLISS, which helps families with premature babies. These charities were chosen as 2 members of the group, a mother and a grandmother have a special reason to be grateful to these two organisations.

At the next monthly meeting, April 22nd we will be making a caddy that fits around a mug. The caddy will hold all your sewing bits and pieces especially when you need to take a mug to a sewing event or be given as a gift to hold make-up brushes, hairclips etc to keep things tidy on a dressing table.

I will need to search my stash and find some pretty fabric before the next meeting to make this.

January saw a visit from Philippa Naylor. We are lucky that she lives just up the road in Beverley and was able to fit us into her busy schedule. What an inspiration to see her award winning work on a bleak January night, and to hear her amusing anecdotes of how she became such a famous quilter. Just what was needed to motivate us to get back to sewing after the Christmas break. Have a peek at the meetings review section to see some photos.

We have another teacher coming to join us in February. Katie Chaplin from Japan Crafts. Katie will be showing us her techniques for making Kanzachi, or folded flower brooches. She will also supply the necessary kits, so all members need to bring along is their hand sewing tools.  Very easy for everyone.  I am looking forward to a convivial evening spent sewing in the company of friends.

December's meeting was our annual 'Christmas Bash'.
We had our usual Faith Supper with lots of good food being provided by the members.
Kate showed us how to make Christmas Stars which proved more tricky and 'sticky' than we had expected.
Plus an old friend and ex member joined us with her daughter. Unfortunately Jean is getting quite disabled and can no longer sew as she would like, therefore she is trying to sort out her sewing acquisitions including her considerable stash of material. For a small cash sum which will be donated to our local hospice, we were fortunate enough to have first pick of these goodies.
Then there was the 'Secret Santa'. Presents for everyone.
All this took up more time than we had anticipated so the quiz will be saved for another meeting. Probably the AGM next year.

For the January meeting, our speaker will be Phillipa  Naylor, award winning quilter and author who will be bringing copies of her latest book hot off the press. A good start to 2015.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

November's meeting was fantastic.
Our speaker Brioni Greenberg makes wonderful quilts and she brought a whole load of them for us to admire. Her choice of colour is stunning and unusual. All I could say at the end of her talk was WOW....
There are some photos in the meeting review section. I suggest you take a peek.

December is our Christmas Party. We will have our usual Faith Supper alongside Secret Santa, and The Christmas Quiz. Kate Smith will also teach us how to make a simple star decoration.  I am hoping to hang mine on our Christmas tree so I will take a photo and show you what it looks like later.
Merry Christmas Everybody

Following last month, at both the meeting where we did our bit for charity, in the form of making bags and liners for the 'Days for Girls' international and also at the Saturday Christmas workshop, where we had great fun sewing the 'Button Santa', this month we are just relaxing and have invited a speaker to join us on November 26th.
You can see more about the above in the meetings review and work shop sections of this blogg.

Brioni Greenberg seems to have packed a lot into her as yet quite short patchwork career.  Her book about jelly roll quilts and charm pack projects is inspiring and I have also seen some of the patterns she has had published on the quilt art web site. We are lucky that she is quite local and has agreed to come and speak to us and also I hope bring along some of her work to show us.

Yes I am really looking forward to the November meeting and if anyone wants to join us that evening you are most welcome.