Santa Door Banner

And here the weekend is upon us again and I never finished half the things I wanted to during the week, I hope you did better.

Another project just in time for Christmas is this Door Banner from Debbie Mum.

I refuse to put up any Christmas decorations now that my kids are grown for I HATE putting all of these away afterwards and never seem to get anything to fit in the box it was bought, again.  Then, cleaning my own house, cats, shiny things and tiny balls dangling from a tree, just don’t seem to work.   So until the first grandchild is born, I will leave this up to you.

Find the full instruction (available as a PDF document ) on how to make this, by clicking HERE

Fabric container

A couple of international blogger participated in free tutorials for making Christmas gifts and a few caught my eye.  Today I’d like to share this container tutorial from Ayumi, all the way from Tokyo, with you.  I think this is such a versatile container and putting a gift into one of these immediately turns it into a double gift.

Get the whole tutorial on how to make these on Ayumi’s blog, by clicking HERE

Christmas Card Holder

Now not wanting strings running from one side of a room to the other or cards standing by themselves falling over every time someone opens a door or window, I think I can do with one of these Christmas Card holders.

Karin posted this tutorial on her blog ‘ Sew Many Ways’ and you can find the pattern/ tutorial by clicking HERE

Got Dots quilt along

Remember how the Dear Jane quilt mania ran like a wildfire through our country a year or so ago?  (Mine is still not done ugh!!).  Now here is another museum quilt to make.  This quilt was donated by Fleur and Charles Bresler to the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte, North Caroline, USA.

Jovita shared the patterns of the 3 blocks needed to make this quilt on her blog and you can get the pattern or quilt along by clicking HERE.

Now it seems there is a lot of applique work to do for those who love this.

2013 Festival Committee taking a tour of Eunice

Yip, we don’t just sit around waiting for 2013, hoping all will go well.  A while ago, we took a tour through the venue for the 2013 National Quilt Festival and I thought I’d share some of the photos with you.

A couple of committee members awaiting the rest just outside the main building/entrance.

The main building, so visitors if you are here, you’re not lost!

Pathway to the entrance/registration

Door to entrance/registration – it will be wide open by then to welcome you

The ladies giving out your goodie bags will be behind these arches

The lovely gardens where you can sit, relax and chat with fellow quilters

Can we turn this into a restaurant?

The hostel foyer with coffee machine

Our class captain, tape measure in one hand, explaining to us what should happen where.

Hope you enjoyed this mini virtual tour of the venue for the 2013 National Festival.  Now you can get your mind set on coming!

Hippy Square block Tutorial

Karen from Lisnaweary Quilts shared this interesting block and tutorial on how to make it with us HERE.

I don’t know whether it is just the colors that got to me but I really like this block and come to think of it, I don’t like pink that much, so it must be the pattern.

Quilt exhibition by the Tolbosse, Bultfontein

This post is especially for those members who could not attend this lovely exhibition on Mariette Venter’s farm, Pentzplaas, just outside Bultfontein.  I just love going out to the farm with the massive terrace surrounding the house.  I get totally nostalgic about this remembering all the fun family gatherings we used to have on my grandparent’s terrace.  Nowadays houses are built so when you open your front door, you’re basically in the street!!

Now wouldn’t you too feel welcome, seeing this upon arrival?

On the one side of the house lovely treats were sold and as if this wasn’t good enough, the tea garden served cake, quiche and drinks to die for.  Now just watch tannie Magriet, ready to unbutton her blouse whenever she sees a camera!!

I almost found it hard to believe that one group could have this many quilts on display but then again, I always suspected they add something to their drink water.  How come we, in the city, don’t get to make this much?

A lovely new twist to any previous quilt exhibition was the life and very lively music organized for the day.  I don’t know how much she charged for the day but Tolbos ladies, she was worth every cent.  Thanks for this!

Mari also had her merchandise for sale and as only quilters can, we queued to get to the cutting table. Now I can't help wondering why we moan if we have to queue at the Post Office?

It appeared we only had one nasty incident or rather attendant, when a quilter named, Elize from Bothaville entered the shopping venue.  She threatened to tell our husbands how much we spent, complained about the queue, pushed in ahead of us all, basically just being very mean.  Just kidding, I didn’t know Elize before this and threatened to say nasty things about her if she doesn’t give me a pretty smile for the blog.  Good to meet you Elize!

Now as we all by now know, these things just don’t miraculously happen all by itself.  Somewhere behind the scenes a couple of people work extremely hard to make this possible.  Ladies, even though I just caught Pikkie on a photo, we want to thank each and every one of you for making this year’s exhibition memorable.  We do appreciate this outing to the peace and quiet of your valley.