Meeting Update

Our speaker this month was Diana Marks, who came along to talk to us about her time as a Voluntary Textile Conservationist at Hatfield House in Berkshire.

Diana brought along with her many beautiful examples of her work using old and vintage textiles.  She uses many things that no longer have a function in more modern households.  Things that are too beautiful to throw away and  which have been created with love and care by their original maker.  She puts things together using Crazy Patchwork technique and there were many stunning and inspirational pieces.

Diana Marks

We have been fortunate to have been given an extra hour for our morning meeting and as we have quite a few new members who are eager to learn, starting with the basics, this extra time is going to be used as teaching time.  We kicked off this month with a simple hand pieced nine patch block.  Starting with drawing up their own template the eager students were led through the process by Jenny Greenwood and Sheila Lloyd.  Everyone seemed to enjoy this session and we hope that these teaching sessions will encourage more people to join the Group.

Next month's meeting is the Christmas Party when there will be mini workshops running on making  Christmas stockings and tree decorations.  There will be a raffle, quiz and seasonal things to eat!

  Hope to see you these.

WOW.!!! What a Day.

What a wonderful day we had today.  Our 20th Anniversary Exhibition and Open Day.  The Hall was packed full of visitors all day from the moment we opened at 10.30a.m.  We had Coaches and Cars until the Car Park was overflowing.  There  was plenty for everyone to enjoy.  Here are photographs of most of the Quilts that were on display.

Del Whitfields ' Daisy, Daisy'

A mixed selection of small wallhangings

Pat Felton's Spring and Summer

Del Whitfield's 'Land Lizards'

Joyce Scott

Ruth Brinsden

Jenny Feltham

Ann Jones

Barbara Jones

Chantal David

Maria Davis

Mary Watson

Pat Rolfe

Sheila Lloyd's 'Victory'

Liz Drake

Sue Legg

Annette Hartley

Kate Dowty

A huge thankyou goes to everyone that came to visit us and we do hope you enjoyed your day.  Also thankyou to all the helpers that did stirling work manning the refreshments, sales tables and Tombola and helping with the setting up the evening before and the breakdown after closing time.  It was a perfect end to our Quilting Year.

Our next meeting is on 19th September 2011 which is our Annual General Meeting.   All are welcome.  This is a public meeting and the ideal time to become a Member.

OPEN DAY AND QUILT SHOW

It is just two weeks now until our big day of the year.  On Monday 20th June we are holding an OPEN DAY and EXHIBITION of work by Members.  The Entrance Fee is £2.50 and this includes refreshments.  We will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  There will be lots of lovely work to see made by members over the last 20 years.  This is our 20th Anniversary this year.  There will also be new and current work.  We are hoping for a good response from members for the "20" Challenge.  There will be sales tables, a Raffle and Tombola.  It is going to be a good day we are sure.  Hope to see you there.

MONDAY 16TH MAY

On Monday we spent an interesting and enjoyable day with Machine Embroiderer Jan Tillett.  Jan had travelled from Devon to speak to us in the morning about her work and methods and show us the many samples she had brought with her, and teach some of her techniques in the afternoon.  Jan is a very kind and generous teacher and we all got a lot out of the day.  Below are a couple of photographs of some of the things we managed to produce in the afternoon.

Our next meeting is on June 20th.  This is our OPEN DAY AND EXHIBITION.  This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Hardy Quilters and there will be Quilts and other stitched textiles on display as well as a Tombola Table, Tea and Cakes, Raffle and Sales Tables.  We hope to welcome lots of people and maybe sign-up some new members too. We are all looking forward to it and working hard to arrange a  fun day for everyone.  Do come along and bring as many friends as you like!!

New Banner

This is the new Banner we have made.  A few months ago the South West Quilters sent out an appeal to every quilting group  in the South West asking that they make a Banner for use on their stand at Quilt Shows and this is our contribution.  It will make its debut appearance at the Exeter Stitchcraft Show which is being held the last week=end in March.  The stand should look amazing  and  we are looking forward to seeing what everyone has produced when we go to the Show.

This was a joint effort carried out by members of Hardy Quilters Commitee and if I say it myself, I think we did a good job!!

 

MONDAY'S MEETING.

On Monday

 we had a Speaker at our meeting.  Jean Phillips came along with her vast array of Quilts.  She has won prizes at major quilt shows in the UK and teaches workshops two or three times a week.    She 'blamed' her sister for getting her started.  Once she had made her first quilt she was hooked and now has a huge stash.

This monster won first prize at Sandown Quilt Show.  We were all amazed at the amount of work she produces and thoroughly enjoyed her visit.

Next month we have another Speaker for the morning.  Jane Brenchley will be coming  to talk to us about 'Rocky and his Miniature Quilts.'

She has also asked that people attending bring a hand sewing kit and a small piece of felt measuring approximatley 18 inches.

In April we are having a Catch-Up and Pot Luck Lunch Day.  We are hoping that members and visitors alike will bring along their unfinished projects.  Everyone is asked to bring a small dish of food which will be shared along with all the others.  This will be a good social occasion and everyone is welcome.

CATCHING UP

We had quite
 a busy day at our January meeting, making up for the one we missed in December because of the snowy weather.  Sheila gave us a workshop on making the quilt in the photograph above.  The meeting was well attended and nearly everyone joined in with the workshop.  The one in the photograph is one made by Sheila using her own hand dyed fabrics.  Its amazing what great effects can be made with strips.

These are the little quilts made for the 'Christmas Card' challenge.  The challenge was to make a small quilt using a Christmas card as inspiration.  They were all beautifully made and members present voted for the one they liked the best .  The winner was Annette Hartley who made the little Reindeer quilt.

 This month our meeting is on 21st February and we have a speaker for that day.- Jean Phillips.  Jean lives in the Poole area and she will be coming to show and talk about her work as a Quilter.  As usual the Meeting is open to Visitors as well as Members.  Jean is a prolific quilter and has won awards at some of the Major Quilt Shows in the UK.  She also runs classes at her home on several days a week.  I am sure it will be an interesting and informative meeting.

JANUARY 24TH MEETING

Happy New Year to you all - I look forward to seeing you on Monday 24th - this is a week later than usual due to the redecoration of the Hall.

As we had to unfortunately cancel our December meeting, we were not able to let you know the requirements to bring for January and so the purpose of this is to let as many members know as possible what will be happening this time.

- There will be a raffle - (donations will be gratefully received!)

- To all those who did make something for the Christmas Card Challenge, please bring these along as we would love to see them and the competition will take place in our January meeting

As you know Ann Jones was due to run a workshop last time making the fabric picture frames - if you would still like to do this, (there was a beach scene as well as a Christmas one) we would suggest this takes place in our April Meeting ( which is scheduled as a general sit & sew, followed by a pot luck lunch)

Sheila will be showing members in January how to make a Strippy Lap Quilt. 

For Sheila's requirements please bring the following - this work can be done by hand or sewing machine - please your usual sewing kit and machine - your rotary cutter and measuring board - there will be some irons at the hall

Fabric

- at least half a dozen - 8 1/2 inch calico squares - (Sheila will confirm the number you need for the entire quilt but this should be sufficient in the time available)

- a wide selection of scraps cut into strips 1" - 2 1/2" wide ( ideally do this at home) and it is recommended that you starch the fabric before cutting into squares and strips.

Sort the fabric into two colour ways - warm and cool or blues and reds etc or totally random.

On each calico square you will need to mark it diagonally with a 2" inch wide strip from corner to corner.  This won't show but needs to be accurate.  This 2" strip can be covered in black or any toning colour or you can leave the calico showing.  This forms a trellis when the blocks are joined.   If you have any queries, please ring Sheila for more information on 01305 785991.