Trip Around The World tutorial

Sorry for the lack of entries to our blog.  I've been away for a week, turned ill while gone and I'm still struggling to feel like me again.  Let's hope it will get better now that I'm home.

Maybe I have already written about this but I gave my one and only TATW away and I regularly threaten to make another.  For those of you who’d like to do this as well, I found a tutorial on Rose Marie’s blog and you can get it HERE.

Now remember to check back regularly to Rose Marie's blog as this is only part 1 of this tutorial.

A brand new quilting event

Africa's very first Quilt Convention has been planned and will be taking place from 27 - 29 July 2012.  If you are interested in attending, read all about it HERE.

Bookings for the classes by International teachers will open in January 2012 giving you enough time to plan.

There will also be a quilt challenge and to get the rules and start on this, click HERE.

Are we experiencing growth in quilting in Africa here and how cool would it be to be able to say "I attended the very first convention in Africa"?

Mindbloom Game on the internet

I suppose by now you’ve guessed I was asked to write this blog because the internet is but one of my many addictions and that includes playing most every game I can find for free.  Yes, yes, I hear you when you say that it is a waste of time but I’ll give up my sleep to keep all my addictions going.

So this is a game of a different kind and I copied the introduction from the site where I found it:

“The Mindbloom Life Game gives you a fun and interactive way to work on your own motivations and personal goals and passions. Unlike a lot of self-improvement "games" that are gimmicks to help you build a to-do list, Mindbloom was designed to be fun, story-driven, and useful at the same time.”

Start working on your own goals in life by checking this game out HERE and yes, obviously getting more quilting done is one of my goals.  Now have a great weekend y'all!

Crosses quilt tutorial

Good day from a windy and bitterly cold central South Africa in what is supposed to be the second month of our Spring.  Well, no better weather to get going with a new quilt.

This crosses quilt was made using Kaffe Faccet fabric but I guess you can make this in any fabric choice.

This is a two part tutorial by Exuberant Color on how to make the crosses and finally stitch it together.

Part 1 can be found HERE while part 2 followed HERE.

An unrelated coffee story

I always knew I had something going with my love for coffee and as a quilter I know I am not alone.  I think this is worldwide the drink of choice by the largest percentage of quilters.

This is part of the article:

“A few cups of coffee a day may help keep the blues at bay. According to a large new study, women who drink caffeinated coffee are less likely to become depressed -- and the more they drink, the more their risk of depression goes down.”

To read the whole story, click HERE and drop any guilt trips you might have about your coffee drinking habits.

Quilt and Craft fair presented by the Needles and Pins

The Needles and Pins group belongs to our guild and organized this day to raise money for our National Festival in 2013.  Ladies, I have to congratulate you on a job well done.  We bought our tickets for entrance, tea, lunch and kits beforehand and this oiled the gears to ensure everything ran smooth.

We were welcomed by Olivia at the reception desk.

Each of us received a little goodie bag for attending and I think most quilters turn to kids here, not being able to wait to see what would be inside.

An array of vendors welcomed us and it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.  Behind the vendors were quilts on display making you want to continue doing what you enjoy most… quilting!

Now it wasn't just all lazing around as several mini workshops were held in different classrooms and this too turned out lovely, making something small, quick and easy.

Nelia Venter, one of the workshop teachers, helping a‘student’, Doretha.

Here ‘tannie’ Magriet and her granddaughter show off the flowers they made.

A picture from the 3D flower workshop I attended.

Now these 2 ladies wanted to make money for the vendors so badly that they thought standing under a lamppost would earn them some.  Hope you made something Wilna and Sonja!

We also had a very special treat in that the students of the Central University of Technology, where this event was held, gave us a very relaxing back and neck massage.

Hope you made lots of money ladies, we do need this!

3D Bow Tie Block

Can you still remember how to do this one or are you like me that need reminders constantly?  Leeann from the blog Quilt Whangarei in New Zealand, was so kind to put this tutorial together.

To see how this block is made, visit her blog by clicking HERE