Peggy and Bev's Place

I'm sure we couldn't have a better start for the New Year!

The past week has been most enjoyable!  Grey skys, rain, cooler temperatures not the norm for January in Emerald, but oh, so enjoyable!  The shop's been quiet and dare I say it, it's been wonderful to catch up on some outstanding bookwork (not totally finished yet, but on it's way), tidy the shop & rearrange some shelves, sort out a bundle of fabric to go reduce to half price - for anyone wanting a bargain, there's some great fabrics here, even if you just stock up to use them for backing.  I even had a day off - lots of gardening & especially weeding (so you don't want to see me get from standing to sitting and vice versa at the moment - it's not pretty with some sore muscles).  Both Peggy & I even had a chance to do a bit of sewing! I've continued working on my Double wedding ring, and I'm quite happy with how it's coming together, Peggy's working on lots of things.  Yesterday it was making a tea cosy with Clover's Puff Quilter - that I forgot to get a photo of, Today it's Dear Jane blocks -

They look bigger in the photo than the 5inches that they actually are.

I'm not quite sure exactly when she did these blocks - getting ready for a class in the near future

Peggy's also completed the blocks for a Beginners Group that we have starting on Wednesday next.  We're both looking forward to meeting this new group of ladies.

Over the past week or so Peggy's also made a few outfits for herself (which she'd prefer not to model for the blog at the moment), using the new patterns we have in store from Lila Tueller.  2 Gorgeous skirt patterns & very groovy peasant top.

She also tried out The Socialite Dress pattern from Anna Maria Horner - making a shorter version to wear as a top.  Peggy says she's very happy with the results!

To top a great week off, we've unpacked lots of boxes of new fabrics this morning - here's a small sample of some that we were lucky enough to purchase on sale -

be sure to come in and have a look, we're pretty sure you'll be happy with the price!

Before I forget, these are the fabrics we've reduced to half price -

  

We're including all our Christmas fabric & patterns in the half price section, so we do have some wonderful specials at this time.

Now for some newly released fabrics that arrived today

This group is Meadowsweet from Sandi Henderson - lovely limes & citrus colours.

Lastly we have Home Sewing is Easy from Alexander Henry -

features retro, comic strip scenes, demonstrating how easy home sewing is  (not that we didn't already know).

I'm not quite sure what I'll do with this fabric but it's definitely being added to my stash!

That's all for now - Have a great weekend

Bev & Peggy 

Catching Up

Now that I've downloaded all the photos from Peggy's camera, I realize how mean I've been in not sharing through the Blog lately.  So - some catch up time is needed (it might be a great time to grab a drink before you start reading).

Starting with our Dear Jane's

  This is Jackie.  Would you believe she actually needed to be coaxed into letting us take her photo with her wonderful blocks.  Jackie's finished well over 100 of them now and they all look wonderful!

Here's Carla with some of her collection:

 Notice - they're still smiling, having given up every Tuesday morning over the past year!

Their blocks are wonderful and will eventually be part of a quilt that will be treasured by their families.  We're hoping these delightful ladies will continue to come along next year to encourage, inspire & entertain us.

Trying to keep this in chronological order the next photos are from a Circles workshop Peggy did for two talented ladies from Tieri a couple of weeks ago.  We actually haven't got their photos - only some of the work they did.  The one on the left is Sue's, the right belongs to Julie:

 

   

A fun class and it's great to see the effects achieved with different fabrics.  Peggy & I do have wonderful jobs!

This one might be out of order but Sharon brought her Interlocking Hexagon quilt (started in a class a few weeks ago) in to show us:

  The poppies will certainly brighten any room and I like the fabrics Sharon's put with it.  Well Done!

We've heard that at least one of the other attendees has completed her quilt - so we'd love to see it too!

Then we had a stall at the 20th Anniversary Emerald State School P&C Craft Fair.  We took along many of the quilts and samples made here over the past year.  It made for a great display:

It was fun and the organisers & volunteers deserve to be thanked for organising such a successful event which has provided so much enjoyment to the participants over so many years.  Making it even more special for me was that I got to catch up with a friend I'd lost contact with many years ago, who now lives in Victoria.

Moving right along....

Not quite sure if I should let you know their names, but this pair of Merrymakers turned up at our regular Thursday night session last week, intent on sharing their Christmas spirit with us.  So while a couple of us worked madly away getting ready for Pauline's workshop, the rest of us were entertained.  Those hats really are special - be sure to come into the shop and check them out.

Finally - I've already posted about Pauline's workshop so now I'll share some  photos -

Those of us working on a Double Wedding Ring quilt started with a very carefully cut and sewn and re-cut pile of strips that looked like these.

Then towards the end of the 2nd day those same strips were taking form and shape to become something much more interesting:

  Would you believe that some of us had to concentrate so hard, they didn't even realise their photo was being taken in time to stop it?

 This is a sneak peak at Bron's work:

On the other side of the workroom they were working away, learning many new techniques & skills to make their own Blossoming Hearts quilt:

   

So our sincere thanks to Pauline Rogers for coming so far to do these wonderful workshops for us.  We all had fun and have gone home inspired and searching for those little snippets of time that will become available at this busy time of year, so we can keep working on our projects.  Our challenge is to have them completed when you come through this area in Feb/March 2010.

So that's it for today, I've brought you up to date with our goings on at Peggy & Bev's Place - come in and visit us, we have lots more to share!

Cheers,

Bev

Upcoming Workshops with Paulene Rogers

When: Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 December,
   maximum 25 participants

Where:    Patchwork Rooms, Borilla Street Emerald.

Bookings:     Peggy & Bev’s Place,
   Shop 2, 18 Hospital Road Emerald
   Ph 49876590

 

 

Participants have a choice between 2 wonderful quilts:

Double Wedding Ring  

The Double Wedding Ring Quilt is one of the most recognized designs in Patchwork but most people think it’s beyond them to make.  In this workshop participants will discover the secret of the simplified Strip Piecing Method for the Double Ring.  It will be a great surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

Or

 

Blossoming Hearts

 

Blossoming Hearts is one of the best workshops to showcase students a vast selection of modern techniques that will open up doors to more stunning quilts.  Students will learn the easy way to create stunning effects whilst experimenting with different tools and fabric.

 

The techniques taught will include free standing appliqué, chenille, celtic, foundation piecing, textured tucks, colourwash, foundation piecing, traditional pieced block, needleturn appliqué and raw edge appliqué.

Christmas Stitch-In

Helping themselves to the lolly jar, this group of Santas know how important it is to build up their energy and strength for the coming Christmas season!

This lot got there first- they gobbled all the chicos from the lolly jar before the other Santa's could get there!  It's very important that their tummies pass the Insulation Test.

Here are Santa's weary helpers!  Decorations, Santa Sacks, Santas, Reindeer it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

        

Cosmic Curves in Clermont

Wednesday saw Peggy travelling to Clermont to do a Cosmic Curves workshop with a lovely group of ladies.  I'll let their photos do the talking -

  I love the doggy print used above - this has turned into a really fun wall hanging!

Borders are still to be added here, but already the curved sections look terrific!

   

Isn't great to see so many fabric and colour combinations!

  

Our thanks to all the participants for letting us share their work.  The power went out while I was trying to write this post so my apologies to anyone whose photo I've missed!

Regards, Bev

More Photos from Arts West Workshop

Ok, some more photos to share -

This talented lady decided to sew the remaining strips left over from her quilt together, decorated it with circles and this is the wallhanging that resulted.  I think it's wonderful!

Next photo was made from the pattern "Cosmic Curves" by Raggedy Stitches

This one on the right has a very effective Japanese fabric as the feature fabric. 

Out thanks to all the participants for letting us share their photos.  It was a fun-filled weekend and the Blackall community is to be commended on the facilities available to have a workshop such as this, and for the friendliness and enthusiasm from all the locals!