Third quarterly meeting – Viewer’s choice

With every quarterly meeting we are given the daunting task of selecting one quilt as that of the viewer’s choice.  It is terribly hard and luckily we are given more than one sticker and then all you can do is sit back and hope that the best man (woman) will win.

This term our viewer’s choice winner was none other than Mari Strydom, shop owner, teacher and well-loved member of our guild all the way from Bultfontein.  This winning quilt could also be seen at the Stellenbosch national quilt festival earlier this year.

I tried to take a couple of close-up photos to show you the detail that went into this little postcard quilt but I don’t think any photo can even remotely begin to show the hours of work that must have been put into making this.

Congratulations Mari!!

Third quarterly meeting: Good food and pretty quilts

Eating well has now almost become a tradition when our guild has their quarterly meetings and should I ever feel slightly reluctant to go, the snacks prepared by our members is enough to make me paint the old face and get going.  This time was no exception as can be seen on these photos.

Then there is the beautiful quilts on display and one can never get enough of these.

The free motion challenge was won by Breggie Viljoen from the ‘Goue Drade’ (Golden Threads) group with her quilt being the blue/beige colored quilt shown top right in this photo.

Griet Lombaard’s quilts

Jolene, one of the founder members of our guild, told me about Griet Lombaard’s quilts shown in New Zealand at the Remarkable Symposium held in Queenstown.  To take a look at her quilts, click HERE then

go down until you see a video and click on either the MP4 or WMV version.  You might only have one of these programs installed on your computer, so if the one doesn’t work, try the other. 

I used WMV as most of us use Windows as our operating system and have this on our computers.  A new screen will open with the video.  Griet’s quilts will appear when the video reaches 06:41 minutes and again on 09:04 minutes.

For those of you who do not know who Griet is, she too is a founder member of our guild and I asked Griet to tell us about herself in an e-mail.  The mail is in Afrikaans and I am not going to translate this as I feel it will take away from the essence of the person, Griet.  She has a unique writing style and I enjoyed reading it as is.  Loved meeting her this way and thought we could become good friends until I read the very last sentence!!  Sorry Griet, I do NOT agree!!

Griet's mail:

Ek was een van die stigterslede van die Oranje Kwilters en onthou goed die opgewondenheid wat ons ervaar het met die stigting van die gilde

Hoe entoesiasties was ons,  nog onervare maar ons het kans gesien om die kwiltwêreld op sy kop te draai

Ons het so baie gehad om te leer en was alles lekker

Die eerste groepie waaraan ek behoort het, was die Rosebuddies en mettertyd het ons ‘n ander groepie begin, die Aunt Beckeys.

Die Anties was vir baie, baie jare saam en was ‘n hegte vriendskapgroep.

Vriendinne vir altyd!!!!!!

Met verloop van tyd was ek ‘n paar keer, ek kan werklik nie onthou hoeveel keer, voorsitster van die OKG. Iets wat ‘n besondere voorreg was.

Verder het ek ook die Oranje Kwilters verteenwoordig op Nasionale Bestuur, dit was werklik interessante dae waar mens so betrokke kon wees met nasionale kwiltbelange.

Met aftree besluit ons om na Jeffreys Baai te verhuis.

Hier mis ek my kwiltmaats geweldig. Ek sluit vir ‘n jaar of wat aan by die Diaz Quilters in Port Elizabeth maar dis net nie meer dieselfde nie.

Drie van ons begin ‘n groep die Designing Women en dis weer ‘n fees. Terloops  by die afgelope Festival wen die twee in SA beide ‘n eerste prys en ek wen aan hierdie kant……dus is dit die jaar van Designing women!!!!!!

Na 5 baie gelukkige jare op JBaai besluit ons om agter die kleinkinders aan te trek na Nieu Seeland

Ons dogter is getroud met ‘n Kiwi en dis vir ons belangrik  om die kleinkinders te sien groot word

Omdat ons al baie kere in NZ kom kuier het, lyk dit na ‘n goeie plan

Maar emigreer is beslis net vir die vreesloses

Ek sal julle werklik nie verveel met al die aanpassingsprobleme nie

Na drie en half jaar hier (ja, mens tel nog die maande, gelukkig nie meer die weke nie) begin ek aanpas.

Die verskriklike verlang na alles wat bekend is, na die Afrika son, veld en lewe knaag nie meer so baie nie

Ek kan al selfs “kiwi-speak”, dis nou om egte Nieu Seelandse uitdrukkings te gebruik

Ons woon op Waitarere Beach, ‘n klein kusdorpie wat net oor die somer effens, effens lewe kry

Ons naaste dorpie is Levin wat gemeet aan NZ standaarde maar ‘n ‘bleek’ dorpie is

Hier is 3 supermarkte, ‘n fliek, ‘n biblioteek en werklik  TWEE kwiltwinkels

Kwiltwinkels hier lyk maar nes soos dié  in Suid Afrika

Amerikaanse lap, kwilts, en klasse

Ek sluit aan by die plaaslike  Town & Country Club, dis nou die kwilters

Ons vergader een maal per maand in die aand want hier werk meeste vroue nog in ‘n beroep

Die verloop van die vergadering is ook dieselfde patroon met gasspreker en “show & tell”

Op pad na my eerste vergadering merk ek op dat “supper’ op die agenda is, ek verstom my aan daaraan  ek ‘n bord kos gaan kry, net om uit te vind dat “supper’ ‘n koppie tee en winkelkoekie beteken. “Tea” is weer aandete .Ook maar baie om te leer

Vir ‘n paar jaar behoort ek hier ook aan ‘n huisgroepie maar voel my nie werklik tuis by hulle en is op die oomblik met ‘lang verlof”

In daardie eerste jaar verskyn daar ‘n artikel oor my en my werk in die New Zealand Quilter. Hierdie is ‘n uitstekende tydskrif wat gelykstaande is aan enige Amerikaanse/Britse publikasie. Hierna word ek dikwels gevra as gaspreker by kwilt en borduur gildes en so leer ek meer mense ken

Ek gee ook klas by die afgelope twee Symposia( festivals)

Ek neem aan verskillende uitstallings deel en dikwels kom foto’s van my werk in tydskrifte.

Meer en meer kry my werk ‘n borduur inslag en sluit ek dus aan by die Borduur Gilde. Dis die beste ding wat ek hier in NZ kon doen. Hulle is ‘n baie goed georganiseerde en sterk gilde. Daar word gereeld uitstallings gehou, hulle publiseer hul eie tydskrif en daar is ‘n nasionale groep, Extensions, wat hul toespits op modern tegnieke. Ons het ‘n plaaslike groep wat een maal ‘n maand vergader waar ek so baie leer wat ek weer op my kwiltwerk kan toepas.

Ek is so opgewonde dat die OKG die volgende Festival gaan hou.

Wat ‘n groot sprong in geskiedenis van die gilde!!!!

Ek wens julle alle sukses en hou julle dop op die internet

Sterkte

Kiwi groete

Griet

O ja, die all Blacks gaan wen hoor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (I still don't think so!!!)

Quilt Design Software by Jinny Beyer

I found this free online quilt design program by Jinny Beyer and decided to give it a try before sharing this with you.

Firstly you have to click HERE to get to the Quilter’s Design Board.

Go to LAUNCH DESIGN BOARD (lower right of the page).  Once this is open, you’ll see an already designed quilt with borders. 

On the right hand side it shows which block was used, the fabrics and colors used and you can easily print the yardage needed to make the quilt by clicking on the yellow high-lighted button.

So you need to change the block.  Go to the upper left and where it says CURRENT BLOCK just click below that on ‘change’ to choose a new one.  Select a block from those at the bottom and the quilt will immediately change with your new block added.

You can do exactly the same with the border by clicking  ‘change’  underneath CURRENT BORDER.

When you click on GO TO BLOCK, you will be able to download any given block in different sizes as well as template guides for the block in PDF format.

 New blocks are continually added and free quilt patterns, already designed and just ready for you to make, can also be found by clicking HERE


I think this is the ideal playground for those people scared of playing with the computer.  Remember you CAN NOT  by accident destroy or delete anything from this program and should you make a major boo-boo simply reload the page and start from the beginning.

I wish to thank Jinny Beyer for the time taken to do this and for sharing it with all of us.

PFAFF ambition 1.5

As a guild we are so grateful to have PFAFF on board, promoting quilting by selling beautiful and quality quilt fabric, referring beginner quilters to the guild and actively participating in sponsorships and fundraising for guild projects. 

PFAFF now launched a brand new sewing machine at the affordable price of R9,900 until 17 September 2011.  This machine would normally sell for R12,830.  So if you were looking to buy, this is the time!! 

And this is what you’ll get for your money:

* IDT™ (Integrated Dual Feed) –

Absolutely even fabric feed from both the top and bottom. IDT™ is ideal for the quilter and sewer! IDT™ works with any stitch in forward or reverse at any stitch length or

width. Built right onto the machine, it can be easily engaged or disengaged as needed. Many PFAFF®

accessories and presser feet can be used with IDT™ to ensure even seams with any stitch on any fabric.

* Large sewing space –

The sewing area to the right of the needle is 200mm, great for large sewing projects.

* 195 stitches –

A wide variety of beautiful 7mm stitches, including utility stitches, buttonholes,decorative stitches, quilt stitches, cross stitches and hemstitches.

* Alphabets –

Choose from four different font styles: Block, Outline, Script and Cyrillic letters.

* PFAFF® design –

Built to make sewing easy and to achieve the professional results that sewers want.

* Large, high resolution screen –

You can view your selections, options and stitch information on screen. Also, all stitches are shown in real size.

* Touch screen –

The touch screen allows for easy access to all stitches.

* Bobbin thread sensor –

Alerts you when the bobbin is running low.

* Start/Stop button –

Press the Start button to sew without the foot control.

*Speed slider-

adjust the speed with the speed slider for full control.

* Three LED light sources –

Optimized bright lights illuminate your entire sewing area without shadows.

* Free-motion sewing –

Simply attach the optional free-motion presser foot for easy quilting and free-motion embroidery.

* External feed dog drop –

Lower the feed dogs for stippling, free-motion embroidery or darning.

* Extra presser foot lift –

Raises the presser foot to its highest position so that thick fabrics can be placed easily under the presser foot.

 *Presser foot pressure –

Can be adjusted when using specialty techniques or when sewing on light or heavy fabric.

*Adjustable Thread tension –The recommended thread tension setting for the selected stitch is displayed on the touch screen.

 *Needle up/down –

Touch a button to set your needle to automatically stop up or down in the fabric for pivoting, appliqué and more.

* Immediate tie-off –

When selected the machine will tie-off automatically at the end of a seam for a quick and easy finish.

* Programmed tie-off with indicator –

Choose from one or several tie-off options.

 *29 needle positions –

Perfect for topstitching, quilting, inserting zippers and more.

 *Twin needle program –

Automatically adjusts the stitch width to prevent needle breakage.

*Stitch width safety –

Limits stitch width to center needle straight stitch while using straight stitch needle plate and/or straight stitch foot to prevent needle breakage.

 *Elongation –

Lengthen satin stitches and entire stitch will be longer but the density remains the same.

 *Mirror image –

Flip the stitch from side to side, and/or end to end, for more creative possibilities.

 *Sequencing –

Combine and save up to 20 stitches and/or letters into one of the four sequence memories.

 *Save personal stitch –

Change the settings of a built-in stitch to your personal preference and save it in one of the four sequence memories.

*Languages –

Choose from 13 different languages.

* Integrated Needle Threader –

Makes threading the needle fast and easy.

*Stitch plate –

Markings to the left and right of needle helps you guide your fabric.

* Snap-on/Snap-off presser feet –

Changing is easy – no screws or other tools are needed.

*Top loaded bobbin –

Easy to access.

* Permanent Reverse –

Your hands are free to guide your fabric.

* Electronic needle piercing power –

Full piercing power at any speed with total control.

 *Hard Cover –

Protect your sewing machine when transporting it, and keep it dust free.

* Two spool pins –

For twin needle sewing or specialty sewing.

* Accessory tray –

With two compartments to use for storing accessories and bobbins.

* Accessory Feet included –

0A Standard foot, 1A Fancy stitch foot with IDT™, 2A Fancy stitch foot,

3 Blindhem foot with IDT™, 4 Zipper foot with IDT™, 5B One Step Buttonhole foot.

So what are you waiting for?  Hurry down to

PFAFF Bloemfontein

8 Bergstedt Street

Fichardtpark, Bfn

Tel: 051 5224554

Cell: 083 4486921

Now if only I didn’t already own 5 PFAFF machines myself…… or can any quilter have enough machines??

Foundation Piecing tutorial

You either like this technique or you don’t and I don’t.  However this blog is not supposed to be about my personal preferences therefore I will still share this tutorial with you.

This step by step instruction to master this technique with clear photos to go with every step can be found by clicking HERE

Third quarterly meeting – The vendors

No quilt meeting can be complete without the vendors and how we love ours.  These people, many from out of town, live by packing and unpacking their wares all for our enjoyment, getting up early, travelling long distances and working long before the rest of us even arrive at the meeting, always smiling and ready to assist us in our purchases.  For that we thank you.

Quilt Exhibition at Pentzplaas

Need to take a break from city life or just spend a fun day with your best quilting buddy?  I have the solution, escape to a farm.

The ‘Tolbosse’ group from our guild is having a quilt exhibition on Mariëtte Venter’s farm, Pentzplaas  near Bultfontein on 26 October 2011 and invites everyone interested in quilting to spend the day with them.

Entrance is a mere R10,00 per person and eats and handmade goods will be for sale on this day.

Gates will open at 08:30 until 16:00 the afternoon.  So mark your diary, put in a days’ leave if need be and support our quilters from the country.

Do tell your group members about this day and if you cannot find this entry again, please check under the page for DATES TO REMEMBER as I will have it there as well.

Metal tape snap bag tutorial

I’ve seen these way-way back but never wondered how it was made but with time it seems I become more inquisitive as to how things are put together, so I was extremely grateful when I got an e-mail from Ludlow Quilt and Sew with Rose announcing that she just completed a tutorial on how to make these.

It doesn’t even sound that difficult and with a picture tutorial as well as a video to go along with it, I am sure you cannot go wrong.  To take a look at this tutorial, please click HERE

Third quarterly meeting : The busy bees

No guild meeting can take place without a couple of people working really hard and never being seen.  Firstly I would like to thank all the members of the ‘Vingerhoede’ (Thimbles) and ‘Goue Drade’ (Golden Threads) groups for hosting this meeting.  These 2 groups were responsible for setting up the venue, tablecloths on the tables, lucky draws, delicious snacks, pretty flowers, gifts and help at the door, serving tea and cleaning afterwards.

Then there are those people who have to keep us informed and I’ve explained what everyone contributed to this meeting on the photos below.  Thank you all for taking time from your busy schedule to talk to us and explain how the gears work to keep the engine running.  Click on any photo to enlarge it.

And as usual a very nice meeting but there is more to follow soon.