After the Laidley show weekend you would have thought the next weekend would be quiet but no – we managed to pack quite a lot into the days. Friday night was the teenager-in-residence’s formal and I trust you enjoyed the photos in the last post. On Sunday we decided to take a very pleasant drive to Toowoomba and see what all the fuss was about with the Carnival of the Flowers. For those who haven’t seen this spectacular make sure you add it to your diaries next year because it was definitely worth the trip. In fact we all decided we should stay for a couple of days next time so we could see everything. One day just wasn’t enough.

Of course while we were there we had to check out the quilt show and see what the Toowoomba quilters had been busy doing all year. Like the massed flowers in the parks, the quilts were arranged en masse and they really were quite striking. With so many techniques on display there was something for everyone from intricate appliqué to avant garde art quilts. Here’s a few to whet your appetite:-

This one didn’t have the maker’s name anywhere I could see. It featured beautiful needleturn and sashiko in an interesting way.

Dorothy Cottee – Talking PointTrish Ostwald – StonefieldsSorry about the main photo – there was a breeze where this was hanging. This was a beautiful quilt with lovely needleturn and clever fussy cutting like the piece above.

Jean Swincer – A Bug’s LifeNorelle White – New from Old What a great way to showcase doilies!Lyn Crimp – AFGEPPAB

Lyn did amazing quilting on this (no surprise there) and there were interesting angles on the borders.Robyn Ginn – Quilted Wallpaper The photo doesn’t do this one justice.Kathy Adams – Hobart – What a Site! This was an amazing art quilt which utilised printable fabric in a clever way and texture too – each piece of the grid was separately bound.Kerrie Klan – Graduation Quilt for MatthewDorothy Cottee – Memories of Notre Dame

Our own Apatcheez have also been busy as usual – here’s what they’ve been up to:-

Maureen’s modern quilt made with multiple half square triangles -nice one Maureen

Tracey’s finished the baby quilt just in time

Margaret manages to make Audrey even more magnificent

Suzanne’s tea cosy design goes medieval

Don’t forget the Apatchy challenge for the end of the year – due on 4th December – and the theme ‘Home’.

After the success of the pincushion swap last year, we thought we’d try the same type of thing this year at the Christmas Party only this year we’ll make it a needle book. If you would like to participate just bring a needle book as a gift. We’ll mix them all up and call numbers. When we call your number you get to choose a gift et voila you’ll have a new addition to your sewing tool arsenal.

Also now’s the time to start thinking about a trip to Melbourne for the AQC (Aust Quilt Convention. It is on mid April and I’m sure accommodation will go quickly.

That’s about it this week – until next happy quilting

Kaye