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As you all know by now, Gatton, Australia was hit pretty hard in the recent flooding.  It was a coincidence that we shared the article on the ladies of Sew Creative during that time.  Many of you have asked how everyone is doing.  Gail Chalker sent us a note to let you know that they are ok and have set up the shop to serve as a place of refuge. 
"As to the flood here in Queensland it is devastating.  Gatton and Grantham bore the brunt of the flood with the army and police still recovering bodies daily.  The sound of helicopters flying over my home and shop each day is frightening as you know it means more tragedy.   My dear brother Graham had seconds to get out before his home was swept away.  He survived with the clothes on his back and then spent the next hour trying to save as many folk as he could – unfortunately the flood was so fast many drowned before his eyes.   Each of my children were affected by floodwaters as well as my 80 year old father.  As each was evacuated they came to my home which we re-named Mattress Inn – but it was so good to have them all safe.

Brisbane (our capitol) was also badly hit but folk had about 10 hours of notice of the impending flood.  Grantham had none!

As to Sew Creative we were spared.  To help we opened the shop as a drop in point for the ladies in the Evacuation Centre.  They shared coffee, tears and we had quilts that needed binding so they could sit and stitch, chatter etc.  We sent each of the quilters away with a stack of patchwork and quilting magazines so they had something to distract them whilst in the Evac. Centre. 

We have quilts ready to go and we are also making up ‘quilters care packages’ with scissors, needles etc as well as ‘ladies care packages’ with personal toiletries as we see the Mums looking after their kids needs first so we at Sew Creative thought they need them.    

Business wise the flood will be the end of many businesses in the Gatton / Grantham area and I pray Sew Creative will not be one of them.  As Australians ‘Aussies’ we have a saying ‘it’ll be alright mate’ and I believe with everyone pulling together Queenslanders will come through this tragedy!" Gail Chalker

If you want to help, be sure to check out the online auctions taking place through January 24, 2011.

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Three, count them three, of our TQS members won top ribbons in the AQS New Quilts from an Old Favorite - Orange Peel contest.  In first place was, Robin Gausebek (RobinQuilts) of Rockford, IL, with Orange Blossom Special.

Taking a third place ribbon was Karen Watts (krwatts) of Houston, TX,  with Tangerine Dream and representing the men in fifth place was Michael Michalski (bklynmike) of Brooklyn, NY with Cosmic Plum.

“These are not your grandmother’s quilts!” exclaimed Judy Schwender, Curator and Registrar for the National Quilt Museum. “Contestants interpreted the Orange Peel design in imaginative ways, providing a wonderful look at the skills, techniques and creativity of today's quiltmakers.”

The winners will be featured in a book from the AQS along with 18 other finalists.  A book signing by the quilters will be held at the Museum on Friday, April 29 from 10am-noon.

Let's give our winning members a round of applause for their stunning quilts!

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We were going to wait until Monday, but so many TQS members are raring to go, we thought we'd share this info with you about the Friendship Triangle Exchange going on in the Forum right now.

If you have questions head on over to Forum by clicking here.

Thanks to NaneeWolf for helping to get this project going.

New postby NaneeWolf » Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:02 pm

Hi TooHappy Carolyn & PatGlenn (congratulations on your retirement, Pat!) ...this should be a fairly easy thing to accomplish. You can either order papers from LaundryBasketQuilts.com (2" finished half-square triangle size) or if you don't want to purchase an entire pack, you can purchase some from me. I ordered 3 packages after the show, but haven't received them yet. I may need to order more depending on who wants me to send them some. It sounds like a lot of members are already ordering from Edyta.

To explain it rather briefly, each participant will make their half-square triangles (sewn & pressed, but leaving them folded and with the paper still attached) and mail them to me along with a appropriately sized & stamped self-addressed envelope to return them to you. We haven't decided if we should limit the number you can send, but since the papers make increments of 28, then 28 will be the minimum. Whatever amount you send in will be the amount you'll get back. Each member will be responsible for determining their own return postage, but it shouldn't be more than what it cost you to send it to me initially. Unless, of course, you have International postage to take into consideration. 

Debbie
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NaneeWolf
 

 

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TQS Member are always so creative, ladyquilter, has taken the 2011 BOM and put her own twist on it. Here's what she has to say, I'm making mine with the Theme of Old-Tyme Christmas, I designed a new center block to replace Sue's so it would fit my theme. There will be several other parts of the quilt that I will rework to keep with my theme. It was great fun making up my own design. I now have a whole new appreciation for folks that do this for a living. We can't wait to see the rest!

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Deep Blue Sea.  Photo courtesy of  Edyta Sitar at Laundry Basket Quilts

Edyta's helful tips

1. Press triangles before removing paper.  The paper will push the seam allowance in the right directions and it's easier to hold onto the triangle with the paper.
2. Always remember-do not use steam when pressing triangles.  You don't want to fuse the paper to your seam.
3.  Clip bunny ears with the paper still on as the triangle will remain stiff and easier to handle.  Don't use your best scissors since you will be cutting fabric and paper.
4.  Have fun!  Try to use up some of your stash that has been sitting around.  I love the triangle surprise of mixing a variety of fabrics.

 

 

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In Kenya today we went to the Out of Africa lady's home (Karen Blixen and no, Robert Redford wasn't there), then it was off to the Kazuri Bead factory. At this incredible factory women have a place of refuge where they can become self sufficent and safe.  We had lunch  AND then off to a Giraffe Sanctuary. We got to see these beautiful creatures up close and personal - I could have kissed her, but I opted to stay friends (the guys opted for a kiss).

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Nestled in the farming belt of the Lockyer Valley of Queensland, Australia, in the town of Gatton, Gail Chalker and her co-owners and friends, Janelle Diete and Jenny Harch, have built a quilting community within the walls of their cozy shop, known to the locals as Sew Creative. Wanting to do more than just quilt for family and friends, these three "grannies" bought and transformed an old, rundown craft shop into what has become a welcoming place for young and old alike to drop in for a "cuppa and a biscuit" (tea and cookie), as well as to learn more about quilting. 

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Here at TQS, we drooled with envy over 2010 TQS Legend Yvonne Porcella's special box filled with antique textiles that--over the years--have served as inspiration for her quilts. Why not begin your own collection by visiting The Textile Society's upcoming Antique Textile Fair, to be held March 6, 2011, in the Armitage Centre in Falllowfield, Manchester (UK)? You won't want to miss this wonderful opportunity to find the perfect textile...the one that touches your heart and sings to your creative spirit! Learn more about the Textile Fair here.

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Three "Grannies" Share More than Quilting
by Lilo Bowman

Nestled in the farming belt of the Lockyer Valley of Queensland, Australia, in the town of Gatton, Gail Chalker and her co-owners and friends, Janelle Diete and Jenny Harch, have built a quilting community within the walls of their cozy shop, known to the locals as Sew Creative. Wanting to do more than just quilt for family and friends, these three "grannies" bought and transformed an old, rundown craft shop into what has become a welcoming place for young and old alike to drop in for a "cuppa and a biscuit" (tea and cookie), as well as to learn more about quilting.

Along with classes for adults, the ladies also provide after-school hand-sewing lessons for children ages 5 - 14. Young students begin their introduction to sewing by hand stitching their own beaded needlecase and scissor fob. (Gail says that by making their own sewing supplies, the children are more likely to keep track of them.) Boys, as well as girls, attend these classes, which are geared around the school schedule. Due to their more demanding school work, teens attend classes on the weekends, working on more advanced projects, such as bags or pillowcases. The idea behind the classes is to encourage the love of handwork and creativity at an early age. 

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                                       Children's class projects courtesy of Sew Creative Quilt Shop

Gail and the other "grannies" are always looking for ways to share their love of quilting through a variety of community-oriented projects. "The World's Largest Hexagon Quilt" project was started as a way to share their love of traditional quilts, and also as a quest to make the world's largest quilt of its type...pieced entirely by hand! After researching the Guinness Book of World Records, the three women set out to achieve this immense goal by talking it up with and enlisting the help of their friends, students, and customers. The request the trio put out was minimal: that each person donate as many rosettes or rounds as they liked. The only stipulation was that all contributions be stitched entirely by hand. Word quickly spread across the internet...and the world!  Within a very short time, little bundles began arriving at the store.  By December 2009, the shop had received almost 11,000 rosettes; in total, almost 66,000 hexagons! 

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Donated hexagon rosettes and rounds.

Donations came from young and old. The youngest to contribute was nine years old, the oldest a 92-year-old lady living in a nursing home. Quilters in 18 countries, from as far away and diverse as Cyprus, China, Finland, and Chile, sent donations. One set of hexagons was made with pieces from a wedding dress! The overwhelming response to this project was more than the "grannies" ever had imagined.  As donations poured in, each contributor was sent a thank-you note for his or her time and efforts toward advancing the project. 

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Quilting sections of the quilt

As hexagons arrived in all colors, it was decided that additional green hexagons would be used to unify the design. Work progressed as still more donations continued to arrive.  The plan was to have the entire quilt completed in time for the annual Queensland Quilter's Picnic on May 12, 2010, where an assessment would determine if the quilt indeed could claim a Guinness Record. Four hours before the official determination, the last bit of quilting and binding were done. The completed quilt was indeed deemed to be the recordholder: it measured 108.8 meters (357 feet), weighed in at 146.7 Kg (321 lbs.), contained 152,636 hexagons, and took 160 hours to quilt and bind!  What an amazing feat! 

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The World's Largest Quilt displayed at the annual Queensland Quilter's Picnic in Gatton on May 11, 2010.

Once the quilt had been displayed, the "grannies" decided it would the be cut into smaller quilts that could be sent to those in need. Gail admits that cutting into the quilt was a bit scary after all those months of sewing, but in the end, anxiety was overcome, and the World's Largest Hexagon Quilt was cut into 115 individual quilts that were given to those in nursing homes or with disabilities. 

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Cutting into the World's Largest Quilt.                                 Cut quilts ready for donation.

Not women to rest on their laurels, these dynamic "grannies" have given themselves a new challenge for 2011. They have pledged to make 1,000 pillowcases for the Pillowcase Challenge.  The majority of the pillowcases will go to those in Queensland, with the remainder going to soldiers in Afghanistan. These three ladies truly stand behind their shop motto: "Sew Helpful, Sew Friendly, and Sew Creative. Service Like the Good Old Days!"  As Gail says "The kettle is always on, and we look forward to meeting you. Bring your friends, bring a bus, just let us know and we will have a 'cuppa' and biscuits upon your arrival."

Thank you, ladies, for all you do in sharing your service and love of quilting with others. If you ever are in the Queensland area, do be sure to drop by this dynamic little quilt shop in the Lockyer Valley.


Visit the Sew Creative website at http://www.sewcreativegatton.com.au/  or click here.

  

 



 

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It's time to head off to Africa. Ricky sent some pictures from the plane as they were getting ready to take off from JFK.  These guys look awfully happy to be leaving. Could it be because this is what they will be doing?  They will be visiting the Karen Blixen Museum in Nairobe, staying at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club, founded by William Holden, meeting with the Nanyuki spinners and weavers, and of course, going on Safari. Did I mention the hot air balloon?

Let's wish them a Bon Voyage and a very safe journey!

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