Archive
January 2021
Our first meeting of 2021 saw us dip a toe into the world of virtual talks. We had a wonderful 43 listeners to Gillian Travis talk about her Stitch Journeys and we were able to look at the quilts in close detail on screen. On a cold wet night we were whisked around the colourful world that Gillian puts onto her quilts. The challenge of making a Journal Quilt each month since 2007 sounds overwhelming but some were quite small and with the inspiration that Gillian finds in both her travels and in the world nearer to home she has achieved stunning mini works of Art. There wasn’t a single piece that I didn’t like but I was very drawn to the Indian Ladies.
Whilst Zoom will never replace the enjoyment of actually ‘seeing’ the quilts, this is a really good alternative. Another huge advantage is that we were able to host a speaker who we would have not normally been able to, due to distance. We very much look forward to her workshop with us in a couple of weeks.
Sue Rainbow
Our first meeting of 2021 saw us dip a toe into the world of virtual talks. We had a wonderful 43 listeners to Gillian Travis talk about her Stitch Journeys and we were able to look at the quilts in close detail on screen. On a cold wet night we were whisked around the colourful world that Gillian puts onto her quilts. The challenge of making a Journal Quilt each month since 2007 sounds overwhelming but some were quite small and with the inspiration that Gillian finds in both her travels and in the world nearer to home she has achieved stunning mini works of Art. There wasn’t a single piece that I didn’t like but I was very drawn to the Indian Ladies.
Whilst Zoom will never replace the enjoyment of actually ‘seeing’ the quilts, this is a really good alternative. Another huge advantage is that we were able to host a speaker who we would have not normally been able to, due to distance. We very much look forward to her workshop with us in a couple of weeks.
Sue Rainbow
March 2020 AGM
We were pleased to welcome a good number of our members to our AGM for the year January to December 2019. After welcoming everyone the President, Sue Rainbow, moved quickly through the items of the agenda, thanking committee members who standing down, electing replacements and re-electing those staying on. The accounts were not presented as the treasurer has been unwell so that some details needed to be checked before the accounts are presented to members. This will be done later in the year. With AGM business completed we moved on to other activities.
Sue set us a new challenge for the year: to make a small quilt which uses one colour with a small amount of another. Gillian spoke briefly about the theme for the year: a piece which uses letters or alphabets as part of the design. More information will be given later in the year. We admired work displayed in our usual ‘Show and Tell’ slot then moved on to the special Show and Tell related to the ‘Where I Live’ project. The items were very varied from a cushion decorated with a photo printed onto fabric of a statue in Stevenage to a stained glass window style version of an Art Deco design hanging outside the Broadway Hotel. Let us hope those items completed so far inspire others to have a go. We moved on to looking at possible layouts for 2 group quilts of the green/white/purple blocks made by members for Suffragette themed challenge. Others continued with their own sewing . All of us looked for more items from the large stash of a deceased quilter. Her daughter has asked for proceeds to go to the Children’s Air Ambulance.
Gillian Mulder
We were pleased to welcome a good number of our members to our AGM for the year January to December 2019. After welcoming everyone the President, Sue Rainbow, moved quickly through the items of the agenda, thanking committee members who standing down, electing replacements and re-electing those staying on. The accounts were not presented as the treasurer has been unwell so that some details needed to be checked before the accounts are presented to members. This will be done later in the year. With AGM business completed we moved on to other activities.
Sue set us a new challenge for the year: to make a small quilt which uses one colour with a small amount of another. Gillian spoke briefly about the theme for the year: a piece which uses letters or alphabets as part of the design. More information will be given later in the year. We admired work displayed in our usual ‘Show and Tell’ slot then moved on to the special Show and Tell related to the ‘Where I Live’ project. The items were very varied from a cushion decorated with a photo printed onto fabric of a statue in Stevenage to a stained glass window style version of an Art Deco design hanging outside the Broadway Hotel. Let us hope those items completed so far inspire others to have a go. We moved on to looking at possible layouts for 2 group quilts of the green/white/purple blocks made by members for Suffragette themed challenge. Others continued with their own sewing . All of us looked for more items from the large stash of a deceased quilter. Her daughter has asked for proceeds to go to the Children’s Air Ambulance.
Gillian Mulder
February 2020
This well attended meeting was listed as a sewing evening with ‘Four Corners’. Four of our members had set up demonstrations for us. Sue Rainbow showed us how to make a block. Sally Ritchie demonstrated how to use Apliquick Rods to do applique and Emma Branch used a number of quilts to indicate how a variety of bindings could be used to make pieces more interesting. The shaped edgings were particularly attractive. Gillian Mulder showed us how a ‘Magic Hexagons’ technique makes it possible to create a complicated looking wreath shape First large hexagons were joined then the wreath by a cut and resew method similar to the pin wheel block. We are lucky to have our own members able to provide interesting meeting content. Our thanks go to those who prepared the demonstrations.
Gillian Mulder
This well attended meeting was listed as a sewing evening with ‘Four Corners’. Four of our members had set up demonstrations for us. Sue Rainbow showed us how to make a block. Sally Ritchie demonstrated how to use Apliquick Rods to do applique and Emma Branch used a number of quilts to indicate how a variety of bindings could be used to make pieces more interesting. The shaped edgings were particularly attractive. Gillian Mulder showed us how a ‘Magic Hexagons’ technique makes it possible to create a complicated looking wreath shape First large hexagons were joined then the wreath by a cut and resew method similar to the pin wheel block. We are lucky to have our own members able to provide interesting meeting content. Our thanks go to those who prepared the demonstrations.
Gillian Mulder
January 2020
We had the pleasure of listening to one of our members, Joanna Kent, explain how she goes about editing the Patchwork and Quilting magazine. We were amazed at how far ahead she has to work to fit certain regular items in place as well as setting up the projects for each month’s edition. She showed us a number of quilts which had been projects in past issues. You could have heard a pin drop because her audience were paying such close attention. A fascinating insight into a world completely new to us, the readers of this and similar magazines. Many thanks to Joanna for such an interesting evening.
Gillian Mulder
We had the pleasure of listening to one of our members, Joanna Kent, explain how she goes about editing the Patchwork and Quilting magazine. We were amazed at how far ahead she has to work to fit certain regular items in place as well as setting up the projects for each month’s edition. She showed us a number of quilts which had been projects in past issues. You could have heard a pin drop because her audience were paying such close attention. A fascinating insight into a world completely new to us, the readers of this and similar magazines. Many thanks to Joanna for such an interesting evening.
Gillian Mulder
December 2019
We had an enjoyable end of year gathering with refreshments, several competitions as well as show and tell. We chose our favourite block for the President’s Challenge which was to make a small piece inspired by an artist. Always enjoyed by our members was the ‘Secret Santa exchange: each of us brought a carefully wrapped small item we had made. We played the ‘Left-Right game which moved the gifts around the circle until , at the end, which each ended up with a gift.
Gillian Mulder
We had an enjoyable end of year gathering with refreshments, several competitions as well as show and tell. We chose our favourite block for the President’s Challenge which was to make a small piece inspired by an artist. Always enjoyed by our members was the ‘Secret Santa exchange: each of us brought a carefully wrapped small item we had made. We played the ‘Left-Right game which moved the gifts around the circle until , at the end, which each ended up with a gift.
Gillian Mulder
November 2019
As our speaker for the evening we were delighted to welcome Nicola Walton from Daisy and Grace, a company she started to help her recover from depression following illness and surgery. Her earlier training in fashion at college and work in that industry provided her with the skills to develop a simple idea into an expanding business. She has already appeared on ‘Create and Craft’ shows and on Hochanda. More recently there has been interest in her method in America. Look at her on You Tube.
She initially started with a craft holdall and accessories; she showed us several versions of these. She loves ‘quilt as you go’ and the English Paper Piecing (EPP) method but was dissatisfied with paper and cardboard templates. With the help of a friend who could operate laser cutting machinery she has developed several outline templates to cut hexagons, equilateral triangles, ‘houses’ (a 5 sided shape), squares and half hexagons which enable the user to cut a shape where the larger fabric can be turned over wadding and a display fabric to form a border. Thus when the border is stitched down on the right side, each shape is already wadded and ready to join to the next. The outline template enables her to place the wadding and top fabric in exactly the right place to create accurate padded shapes.
She showed us a number of small projects using these shapes as well as larger quilts. We all enjoined having a close look and having the opportunity to buy templates and precut fabric.
Gillian Mulder
As our speaker for the evening we were delighted to welcome Nicola Walton from Daisy and Grace, a company she started to help her recover from depression following illness and surgery. Her earlier training in fashion at college and work in that industry provided her with the skills to develop a simple idea into an expanding business. She has already appeared on ‘Create and Craft’ shows and on Hochanda. More recently there has been interest in her method in America. Look at her on You Tube.
She initially started with a craft holdall and accessories; she showed us several versions of these. She loves ‘quilt as you go’ and the English Paper Piecing (EPP) method but was dissatisfied with paper and cardboard templates. With the help of a friend who could operate laser cutting machinery she has developed several outline templates to cut hexagons, equilateral triangles, ‘houses’ (a 5 sided shape), squares and half hexagons which enable the user to cut a shape where the larger fabric can be turned over wadding and a display fabric to form a border. Thus when the border is stitched down on the right side, each shape is already wadded and ready to join to the next. The outline template enables her to place the wadding and top fabric in exactly the right place to create accurate padded shapes.
She showed us a number of small projects using these shapes as well as larger quilts. We all enjoined having a close look and having the opportunity to buy templates and precut fabric.
Gillian Mulder
October 2019
As our speaker for the evening we had Sally Ritchie who is already known to many members as a teacher of Patchwork and Quilting at the Settlement. She has also taught at The Bramble Patch, been a member of Mimram Quilters and worked closely with other crafters such as Lyn Carter. We arrived to see several tables piled high with quilts made in a mere 20 years.
She grouped them into those where she was learning her craft in the early days, those which were the product of workshops, pieces made for members of her family, Christmas pieces and those she keeps ‘Around the House’. Some pieces had a special focus on the quilting technique used such as a whole cloth cushion done with Barbara Chainey, Boutis work where wool is threaded between rows of stitching and Sashiko, a Japanese method.
I particularly liked her idea of a virtual Christmas tree: pieced patchwork trees to which baubles etc could be attached - real space saver.
Overall I was struck by the wide range of techniques used, the move toward bolder and bolder colour schemes and the very high standard of accuracy maintained throughout. She is continuing to extend her repertoire of techniques and showed us some applique work in progress which she stores in a very nifty ‘block keeper’. Two squares of acrylic joined by tape threaded through holes near the edge keep the blocks for one quilt safe and visible. My mother used a similar idea to keep starched and embroidered doilies in good condition.
It was a real pleasure to have one of our own members giving such an enjoyable talk.
Gillian Mulder
As our speaker for the evening we had Sally Ritchie who is already known to many members as a teacher of Patchwork and Quilting at the Settlement. She has also taught at The Bramble Patch, been a member of Mimram Quilters and worked closely with other crafters such as Lyn Carter. We arrived to see several tables piled high with quilts made in a mere 20 years.
She grouped them into those where she was learning her craft in the early days, those which were the product of workshops, pieces made for members of her family, Christmas pieces and those she keeps ‘Around the House’. Some pieces had a special focus on the quilting technique used such as a whole cloth cushion done with Barbara Chainey, Boutis work where wool is threaded between rows of stitching and Sashiko, a Japanese method.
I particularly liked her idea of a virtual Christmas tree: pieced patchwork trees to which baubles etc could be attached - real space saver.
Overall I was struck by the wide range of techniques used, the move toward bolder and bolder colour schemes and the very high standard of accuracy maintained throughout. She is continuing to extend her repertoire of techniques and showed us some applique work in progress which she stores in a very nifty ‘block keeper’. Two squares of acrylic joined by tape threaded through holes near the edge keep the blocks for one quilt safe and visible. My mother used a similar idea to keep starched and embroidered doilies in good condition.
It was a real pleasure to have one of our own members giving such an enjoyable talk.
Gillian Mulder
September 2019
We welcomed John Cole-Morgan to our September meeting and what a joy he was!
We welcomed John Cole-Morgan to our September meeting and what a joy he was!
He only started quilting in 2014 and claims he started it as an alternative to a sports car during his mid-life crisis! It was a crazy patchwork book that first inspired him but has also found the internet to be an amazing research and shopping aid. His early quilts lacked finesse but made up for this with the obvious joy with which they were made and his love for fabric.John has a collection of feed sack quilts which he bought on eBay from all over the world but mainly America. He now describes himself as a quilt maker, hoarder and rescuer! John has volunteered himself for many challenges including a block swap, made 25 quilts in 28 days and organised a group of quilters to make a quilt for the Queen (with two little birds on the back covering up a bird poo stain that was not going to be moved!). John is now designing quilts, amassed 18,000 meters of fabric and is the proud owner of a long arm quilting machine. He now has a studio, Beginners Quilt Emporium in Tring, which is opened to the public every Tuesday.
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John’s parting message was to use our favourite fabrics (the one’s we keep stroking) or else they will just be sold on to someone else when we are gone! Enjoy them now!
March 2019
AGM
Our AGM was well attended. The committee will remain unchanged for the next 12 months. After the business part of the meeting concluded, one of our members led a session on Korean patchwork. The group is working with her on a display for the autumn Grovsnor shows. Each member has been asked to contribute either an 8 inch square which will be joined to make a group piece or a 16 inch square showing another technique.
At Show and Tell members displayed the Heritage quilts they had been working on in the past 12 months.
Sue Rainbow
Our AGM was well attended. The committee will remain unchanged for the next 12 months. After the business part of the meeting concluded, one of our members led a session on Korean patchwork. The group is working with her on a display for the autumn Grovsnor shows. Each member has been asked to contribute either an 8 inch square which will be joined to make a group piece or a 16 inch square showing another technique.
At Show and Tell members displayed the Heritage quilts they had been working on in the past 12 months.
Sue Rainbow
February 2019
This was a sewing evening to which Rose brought along 6 of her many vintage machines. One, pre 1900 machine was acquired at the local tip by her husband. The box was locked until he got it home but it opened to reveal a beautiful mother of pearl inlaid 'fiddle' base machine. Penny launched her Korean patchwork project. Hopefully under her tutorage the group will produce samples for the Autumn quilt shows. It was a lively evening with lots going on, including sewing!
Sue Rainbow
Sue Rainbow
January 2019
We were lucky enough to view the Quilter's Guild Contemporary Suitcase collection in January. This consisted of 64 mini quilts, between A3 and A4 in size on the theme of My Favourite Artist. Interpretation of the theme was down to each maker and some were heavily embellished with embroidery and beads, while others had been painted before adding stitchery. There were many artists represented, some were sculptors such as Barbara Hepworth, others were printmakers. Well known painters such as Van Gogh, Monet and Mondrian were there alongside Picasso and Lowery as well as lesser known European painters with difficult to pronounce names. It was particularly nice to have one of the quilts made by an IQ member.
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December 2018
This was our Christmas party. A variety of quizzes and puzzles were organised by the committee which made the grey cells work overtime. Last Christmas members had been asked to bring along a fat quarter to swop and then with the newly acquired fabric to make a gift for this year. There were some fabulous makes, notebooks, bags of all shapes and sizes and various mug rugs and placemats. These were exchanged by playing a Christmas version of the Left Right game. It was a fun filled evening.
Sue Rainbow
Sue Rainbow
November 2018
This was our long awaited visit from Lynne Edwards. She did not disappoint an almost complete set of members and many visitors. Lynne was very generous with her tips and advice as well as being a very entertaining speaker who didn't stand on ceremony. We were lucky enough to be able to view up close many of her quilts that before we have only seen in her books. It was wonderful to be able to look closely at the quilting and to be able to talk to Lynne. The following day 12 of us were lucky enough to have a workshop with Lynne and she was just as generous with her patterns, tips and time. She is a fantastic tutor and we all went away more than happy with what we had learned during the workshop. Sue Rainbow |
September 2018
Lovely evening yesterday. Lots of show and tell and an interesting talk from Stephanie about her time as a judge at the Festival of Quilts. We saw a few pieces of work on the Heritage quilt project and when discussing our favourite sewing gadget or most expensive one Rose entertained us with tales of her numerous old machines.
During yesterday I had received an email from the dad of twins born at Lister in June. They had received quilts, bonnets and knitted blankets and he wanted to say thank you. He has generously offered to fund material for us to make more. This morning he sent me a couple of photos and said that I could share them with you. Does anyone recognise these quilts as theirs?
Gorgeous babies
During yesterday I had received an email from the dad of twins born at Lister in June. They had received quilts, bonnets and knitted blankets and he wanted to say thank you. He has generously offered to fund material for us to make more. This morning he sent me a couple of photos and said that I could share them with you. Does anyone recognise these quilts as theirs?
Gorgeous babies
Sew a row group. This month's theme is curved. Could be circles, drunkards path, pieced or appliqued.
List open for Lynne Edwards workshop. It looks likely that places will have to be balloted for.
Best wishes to members who are in hospital or having treatment. I won't name you all but we are thinking of you.
Next month Angela Daymond speaking about Woad.
Sue Rainbow
List open for Lynne Edwards workshop. It looks likely that places will have to be balloted for.
Best wishes to members who are in hospital or having treatment. I won't name you all but we are thinking of you.
Next month Angela Daymond speaking about Woad.
Sue Rainbow
April 2018
Julia Gahagan - Miniature Quilts
Our April speaker, Julia Gahagan, joined us after a stressed journey from Surrey having had to navigate the M25 at its worst!
Julia is a self taught quilter of 30 years who has always had to work full-time while raising her family. She studied City & Guilds monthly over 5 years and then went on to teach the subject and now works with young people.
There was a time when Julia fully expected to be made redundant so built up her workshops, talks etc only to find out that she had actually been promoted! She now finds that quilting is her therapy from a very stressful job.
Julia is a member of the Miniature Quilt Group which is part of the Quilters Guild and helped organise an A4 challenge to try and boost membership. She has a love of appliqué and uses fusible web and straight stitches. Julia incorporates shadow work into her work which involves the gluing very small pieces of fabric to the background, layering with wadding and backing before placing a very fine net over the whole piece and then quilting through all the layers.
Julia is now challenging herself to make more traditional quilts!
Anne Francis
Our April speaker, Julia Gahagan, joined us after a stressed journey from Surrey having had to navigate the M25 at its worst!
Julia is a self taught quilter of 30 years who has always had to work full-time while raising her family. She studied City & Guilds monthly over 5 years and then went on to teach the subject and now works with young people.
There was a time when Julia fully expected to be made redundant so built up her workshops, talks etc only to find out that she had actually been promoted! She now finds that quilting is her therapy from a very stressful job.
Julia is a member of the Miniature Quilt Group which is part of the Quilters Guild and helped organise an A4 challenge to try and boost membership. She has a love of appliqué and uses fusible web and straight stitches. Julia incorporates shadow work into her work which involves the gluing very small pieces of fabric to the background, layering with wadding and backing before placing a very fine net over the whole piece and then quilting through all the layers.
Julia is now challenging herself to make more traditional quilts!
Anne Francis
February 2018
It was lovely to see so many members at meeting and to welcome Isobel Dunkley and Jan Burt from Al’s Café and Lesley Morris from Teen’s Unite who came to collect the money we had raised for these charities at our exhibition back in October.
Al’s Café plan to spend the £620 donation on an advertising campaign for their group that works to support the relatives of those suffering from Alzheimers or other dementia related illnesses. They meet every Monday evening at Stevenage Fire Station and offer support and practical advice to those living with and caring for those with these debilitating diseases. It is an ideal opportunity to share and support and to pass on tips to make everyone’s lives so much easier. Jan Burt was a frequent visitor to Al’s Café while she looked after her husband and found it such an incredible resource. Apart from supporting Al’s Café, Jan also raises funds for Admiral Nurses, these are specialist dementia nurses who look after the carer as well as their loved one. Fortunately Jan was the lucky lady who won the main quilt in the raffle and plans to make more money with it by including it as one of the auction prizes in their upcoming event in March. If you are interested in attending this event then please speak to Sue Rainbow who has the details. Since starting her campaign in 2010, Jan has raised over £77,000 with similar fundraising events.
Lesley Morris then gave an overview of what happens at Teen’s Unite and they plan to spend their donation on materials for various craft activities they offer their young people. After the meeting we received this message from their head office:
“On behalf of all the staff and young people supported by Teens Unite, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting our work by kindly raising an incredible £620
At Teens Unite, we pride ourselves on being the only charity to provide long-term, ongoing support to 13-24 year olds who are fighting cancer from across the UK. We are there from the moment a young person is diagnosed right through to post-remission. We are not medical staff, in fact, we try to bring illness in to our work as little as possible. Instead, we focus on providing these young people with a bright light at the end of what usually feels like a very dark tunnel.
Through Teens Unite, young people with cancer can meet others their age in a similar situation to themselves and gain strength from each other. We organise activities and workshops where they can build friendships with those who truly understand what they are thinking and feeling, learn new skills, restore their confidence and self-esteem and live a life beyond of illness.
Being the only organisation to offer this support means the demand for our services is constantly increasing. As a self-funded organisation, your kindness and generosity means an enormous amount and your donation will help us reach out to even more teenagers and young adults fighting the effects of a cancer diagnosis.
Thank you for being as dedicated to supporting these young people as we are and we hope you will continue to support Teens Unite in the future.
Kindest Regards,
All at Teens Unite”
We finished the evening with discussions over our next sewing project, “Your Heirloom Quilt”…watch this space!
Stephanie North
Al’s Café plan to spend the £620 donation on an advertising campaign for their group that works to support the relatives of those suffering from Alzheimers or other dementia related illnesses. They meet every Monday evening at Stevenage Fire Station and offer support and practical advice to those living with and caring for those with these debilitating diseases. It is an ideal opportunity to share and support and to pass on tips to make everyone’s lives so much easier. Jan Burt was a frequent visitor to Al’s Café while she looked after her husband and found it such an incredible resource. Apart from supporting Al’s Café, Jan also raises funds for Admiral Nurses, these are specialist dementia nurses who look after the carer as well as their loved one. Fortunately Jan was the lucky lady who won the main quilt in the raffle and plans to make more money with it by including it as one of the auction prizes in their upcoming event in March. If you are interested in attending this event then please speak to Sue Rainbow who has the details. Since starting her campaign in 2010, Jan has raised over £77,000 with similar fundraising events.
Lesley Morris then gave an overview of what happens at Teen’s Unite and they plan to spend their donation on materials for various craft activities they offer their young people. After the meeting we received this message from their head office:
“On behalf of all the staff and young people supported by Teens Unite, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting our work by kindly raising an incredible £620
At Teens Unite, we pride ourselves on being the only charity to provide long-term, ongoing support to 13-24 year olds who are fighting cancer from across the UK. We are there from the moment a young person is diagnosed right through to post-remission. We are not medical staff, in fact, we try to bring illness in to our work as little as possible. Instead, we focus on providing these young people with a bright light at the end of what usually feels like a very dark tunnel.
Through Teens Unite, young people with cancer can meet others their age in a similar situation to themselves and gain strength from each other. We organise activities and workshops where they can build friendships with those who truly understand what they are thinking and feeling, learn new skills, restore their confidence and self-esteem and live a life beyond of illness.
Being the only organisation to offer this support means the demand for our services is constantly increasing. As a self-funded organisation, your kindness and generosity means an enormous amount and your donation will help us reach out to even more teenagers and young adults fighting the effects of a cancer diagnosis.
Thank you for being as dedicated to supporting these young people as we are and we hope you will continue to support Teens Unite in the future.
Kindest Regards,
All at Teens Unite”
We finished the evening with discussions over our next sewing project, “Your Heirloom Quilt”…watch this space!
Stephanie North
January 2018
Marion Maule - Tape Measures
Marion never ceases to amaze on the topics she has a fascination for and tonight it was on the topic of Tape Measures! For centuries (wo)man has been fixated on measurement and it is essential to our everyday lives. Many rudimentary ways were used in the past to get consistency such as rice grains to weigh objects and one inch was the width of 3 barleycorn heads. Because of this fascination with measuring we have devoted time and thought into crafting the most exquisite items that have lasted through the centuries. Many standards have been developed and now that we are more global there are many consistencies across countries but there is one measurement that still divides and confuses and that is imperial versus metric on measuring length. This is one we are all familiar with and is easily solved by having tape measures with both systems on it.
Of the tape measures that Marion brought with her some were quirky, some were commemorative and some were used as discrete “love” tokens. Most were small and amusing in their design and this may be why Marin has them in her collection. As part of her talk Marion showed a number of photographs of tape measures that reside in various museums and particularly in Luton Hoo. However, since the refurbishments at Luton, very few are now on display which is a pity, as they don’t actually take up much room! We may need to campaign for bringing them back into the light or perhaps this is a possible group trip to put on our list?
Stephanie North
Marion never ceases to amaze on the topics she has a fascination for and tonight it was on the topic of Tape Measures! For centuries (wo)man has been fixated on measurement and it is essential to our everyday lives. Many rudimentary ways were used in the past to get consistency such as rice grains to weigh objects and one inch was the width of 3 barleycorn heads. Because of this fascination with measuring we have devoted time and thought into crafting the most exquisite items that have lasted through the centuries. Many standards have been developed and now that we are more global there are many consistencies across countries but there is one measurement that still divides and confuses and that is imperial versus metric on measuring length. This is one we are all familiar with and is easily solved by having tape measures with both systems on it.
Of the tape measures that Marion brought with her some were quirky, some were commemorative and some were used as discrete “love” tokens. Most were small and amusing in their design and this may be why Marin has them in her collection. As part of her talk Marion showed a number of photographs of tape measures that reside in various museums and particularly in Luton Hoo. However, since the refurbishments at Luton, very few are now on display which is a pity, as they don’t actually take up much room! We may need to campaign for bringing them back into the light or perhaps this is a possible group trip to put on our list?
Stephanie North
November Meeting 2017
Pastime to Profession - Janice Gunner
Our talk from Janice Gunner was absolutely absorbing. As the saying goes “if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life” then this sums up Janice’s current situation. From very humble beginnings in 1974 of making her first “quilt “ from pre-cut squares of fabric to today with her own studio and long-arm quilting machine, she certainly doing just that!
But what struck me most about her journey was how Janice was able to recall events and significant achievements from the dates on the back of her quilts. “This one was made for my son out of maternity clothes, this one I entered into the National Patchwork Championships in 1988, oh and this one was part of my City and Guilds”…..and so the list went on.
Isn’t it such a great part of our craft that we have these quilts and labels to bring back such lovely memories? Where we made it, why we made it, who we were with, who helped us, what inspired us? I feel so lucky to have this as my pastime and I suspect that Janice has inspired many more to come into the fold.
Thank you Janice!
Stephanie North
Pastime to Profession - Janice Gunner
Our talk from Janice Gunner was absolutely absorbing. As the saying goes “if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life” then this sums up Janice’s current situation. From very humble beginnings in 1974 of making her first “quilt “ from pre-cut squares of fabric to today with her own studio and long-arm quilting machine, she certainly doing just that!
But what struck me most about her journey was how Janice was able to recall events and significant achievements from the dates on the back of her quilts. “This one was made for my son out of maternity clothes, this one I entered into the National Patchwork Championships in 1988, oh and this one was part of my City and Guilds”…..and so the list went on.
Isn’t it such a great part of our craft that we have these quilts and labels to bring back such lovely memories? Where we made it, why we made it, who we were with, who helped us, what inspired us? I feel so lucky to have this as my pastime and I suspect that Janice has inspired many more to come into the fold.
Thank you Janice!
Stephanie North
July Meeting 2017
Our July meeting was well attended by members eager for strawberries and cream washed down with Theresa's famous fruit punch. Sue told those assembled that they would be allowed to eat after they had listened to the notices!!! Final arrangements were made for our display at Caldecote Church on July 22nd and 23rd and Sue thanked everyone for the quilts that have been loaned to show, Penny Chattey had some very exciting news. Following her talk last month about Korean Patchwork, she is going to run some workshops and she has been approached by Grosvenor Shows for Icknield Quilters to exhibit the work produced at their Spring Shows. Stephanie North produced a slide presentation about our forthcoming exhibition so that members could have an idea of what help will be needed during the exhibition weekend. Staging an exhibition every 4 years is a mammoth task and we need 'all hands on deck'.
Once the strawberries had been eaten we brought out the Show and tell Items. As usual there was much to 'oo and ahh' over. Rose had been to a workshop run by the 'Teabag lady' and had made 2 fabulous bags from a pair of jeans and an old overall. The only cost was the zips. Anne Styles showed us a quilt that she was making to be raffled by the Romantic Novelists Group in memory of an agent who has sadly died. It took the form of bookshelves stacked with books, jewellery, handbags, a doll's house and Venetian souvenirs, all items important to the lady being remembered. What a lovely tribute to someone.
After this we enjoyed chatting, sewing and pouring over the fabrics and cards that needed rehoming. Sue drew the raffle before everyone went home.
Sue Rainbow
Our July meeting was well attended by members eager for strawberries and cream washed down with Theresa's famous fruit punch. Sue told those assembled that they would be allowed to eat after they had listened to the notices!!! Final arrangements were made for our display at Caldecote Church on July 22nd and 23rd and Sue thanked everyone for the quilts that have been loaned to show, Penny Chattey had some very exciting news. Following her talk last month about Korean Patchwork, she is going to run some workshops and she has been approached by Grosvenor Shows for Icknield Quilters to exhibit the work produced at their Spring Shows. Stephanie North produced a slide presentation about our forthcoming exhibition so that members could have an idea of what help will be needed during the exhibition weekend. Staging an exhibition every 4 years is a mammoth task and we need 'all hands on deck'.
Once the strawberries had been eaten we brought out the Show and tell Items. As usual there was much to 'oo and ahh' over. Rose had been to a workshop run by the 'Teabag lady' and had made 2 fabulous bags from a pair of jeans and an old overall. The only cost was the zips. Anne Styles showed us a quilt that she was making to be raffled by the Romantic Novelists Group in memory of an agent who has sadly died. It took the form of bookshelves stacked with books, jewellery, handbags, a doll's house and Venetian souvenirs, all items important to the lady being remembered. What a lovely tribute to someone.
After this we enjoyed chatting, sewing and pouring over the fabrics and cards that needed rehoming. Sue drew the raffle before everyone went home.
Sue Rainbow