Mystery Quilt Weekend Away

Driving for 3 hours - no kids, beautiful landscape and my music (Gladiator soundtrack, Margaret Becker and Brooke Frazer) in the cd player - made for an inspiring start to my weekend away in Coffs Harbour. I was also blessed to meet my bloggy buddy Kristy from Quilt Club Australia and Quiet Play. I was able to stay overnight with her and meet her two fabulous and sweet kids.

Kristy chatted to the the other 2 ladies at our worktable about blogging and QCA

We met up outside the well-stocked Hunters and Collectors Store in Coffs. Class started without much  mucking around. I needed a cup of tea after my drive but the other 5 local ladies leapt into the first clue with vigour. 

the pattern called for strips NOT squares!

Whilst nibbling and sipping away I realised that I had (to my horror) mis-read the fabric requirement instructions and cut mine into squares rather than width of fabric strips! I wondered why I had so much fabric leftover from the meters I was asked to get! Gah!  
So instead of being in step with the other ladies - I was now behind! and I had to cut strips for the first 20 minutes. I was short on two of the fabrics as well but managed to substitute from the other matching prints and solids that I, thankfully, packed along.

To be honest, apart from Kristy and I to eachother, there was not a lot of chit chat that first morning. I joked that we were all working like sweat shop ladies with our machines all whirring away. I even started to talk in a cockney accent - "Ooo shall have ta work through me lunch break to get me strips all sewn." I mean some of the women DID NOT even pause for food or drink! Thankfully Lisa, our teacher, had baked an awesome chocolate and nut brittle that I was  happy to much on. I needed lots of tea breaks!

slaving away

Lisa was a great facilitator and teacher for the weekend. (I even learned new ironing techniques from her). She gave us the next clue on a card as we completed each step. Thankfully Kristy and I were able to keep pace with each other for most of the weekend.

teacher of the Mystery Quilt Weekend - Lisa

So we were not really aware of what kind of quilt we would end up with. We had to use only 3 fabrics - dark or feature print/ contrast / and a light. As each lady sewed their clues, the pattern took on different features because of their fabric choices.

Kristy and I were not all out to completing a quilt top on the second day so we stopped at one quarter. 

We also did a little shopping in the store too. Such a lovely shop as quilt stores are pretty rare these days.

I bought some cottons, rick rack and linen. Very tempted to buy more. It's nice to see some of the pre-cuts and ranges up close rather than just an online snapshot.


Speaking of lovely fabric...check out this give-away happening at Kate's Facebook Store with Denyse Schmidt's 'Aunt Edna' FQs.

Sunday Stash #2

This week I received some very different Vintage sheet FQs from Ducky House on Etsy. Tamara is based in the town of Winnepeg in the plains of Canada. She had such a huge range that I had to limit my choice to what we could stuff into a postage bag. And I was so happy with my final selection. Getting the a healthy combination of greens, blues and yellows to put away for a planned quilt later in Spring.

I also ordered some more Vintage FQs from Simone of Local Honey Crafts. Now her store is a one stop jaw drop shop. Plenty of Vintage goodiness (all on sale for February!)

And not realising that Spotlight were about to release the same 'Daisy Mae' line, by Denyse Schmidt, in Australia, I ordered some FQs off her as well (although it is not the full line). Her DS FQs are only $2 each and you can pick your own!

And by pure coincidence I found her blog this week too! It is full of lovely tales and quilts. You can find her blog at Goody Goody Gumdrops (cute name huh?). If you go to her last Sunday Stash entry you will see some Pezzy Prints and a new line of Denyse Schmidt called 'Aunt Edna' that has just come out in the US at their equivalent of Spotlight (called Joann Fabrics).


What's new in your stash this week?