Hardanger Table Runner.

Well, it's finally finshed, and I'm pretty pleased with the final creation.  I started this table runner in September 2012 for my daughter.  She has a lovely Duchess (dressing table) and she had mentioned that a table runner would be nice! 

So I found a piece of linen that was just about the right size and set about looking for a pattern.  You probably know me pretty well by now, and you'll know that I can't possibly stick to a pattern stitch for stitch.  I found the star motif in one of my hardanger books and liked it alot.  So I started in the centre and then had to come up with a complimentary motif to fit inbetween. 

So, here's the final piece - I've photographed it on my dining table to give the effect of the timber behind it.  I would have liked to have finished it with a more appealing border, but as usual, I ran out of fabric space and had to make do with a simple buttonhole edging.

Mooloolah Quilters Open Day

Had a great day today.  I was invited to address a group of quilters who were gathered for the annual Mooloolah Quilters Open Day in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast.  Mooloolah is a gorgeous sleepy little village, and I believe has a huge number of quilters per square mile!!

The idea behind the day is to have a quilt show when you're not having a quilt show!  They have a huge morning of show and tells, raffles, lucky door prizes etc and everyone is invited to attend and enjoy the gorgeous quilt eye candy and some yummy morning tea and lunch.

I gave my talk to a very attentive group of quilters who are always looking for interesting ways to indulge their passion.  I took some photos of the fabulous show and tell, and I'd like to share them with you.   


A Beautiful Blazing Star

 

This quilter assured us that she LOVED Owls and she had a number of owly quilts and things to show us.

I particularly liked this quilt made by Judy. 



Judy's Disappearing Nine Patch.

Would you believe this pattern is a  Disappearing Nine Patch.  I don't think I've ever seen such a terrific arrangement of this very easy block.  I think this block would make a great charity quilt.  Easy to cut, easy to sew.  Judy completed it using the Quilt as you Go Method.  Fabulous Judy!

Brisbane Qld to Bingara NSW

My husband and I recently travelled by vehicle to Canberra, driving over 3,000 kms in 10 days.  A lot of time in the car ( I got plenty of knitting and stitching done!), but a pleasure enjoying the countryside and little towns along the way.  I won't bore you with every detail, but I took some interesting photos and I'm going to share them here with you today.
 
We headed down the Mt Lindsay Highway toward the aplty named region of the Scenic Rim.  This area is known as the "green cauldron" where many volcanic eruptions over millions of years have left their mark.  Large mountains of solidified lava soar into the air, and are currently covered in dense forests and bushlands.  A wide range of fauna and flora are abundant in this region.


Mt Warning, Scenic Rim on the border of QLD and NSW

We travelled through Tenterfield (known as the birthplace of Peter Allen and the wonderful song "Tenterfield Saddler" about his grandfather, and onto a pretty town called Inverell.  We've not spent much time here over the years, and have decided to make it a stop on our next trip.  We stopped for lunch at this pretty park.  Just about every town in Australia has the obligatory park and gardens, and you will always find them in great shape and good repair.


Inverell Parkland - a lovely shady spot for a picnic lunch

Our next stop was the pretty township of Bingara, but we wanted to make a pilgrimage just before Bingara at a very infamous location, that stands as one of the darkest historical significance of early settlement in Australia.  It is known as the Myall Creek Massacre, and having learnt about it in school, it was a place we both wanted to visit.

It was here in 1838, that 28 aboriginal men, women and children were massacred by white settlers in the area. This was my no means the only massacre that occurred during the settlement of inland Australia, but it was the first where the white settlers were convicted and punished for their crime. 

The local community together with descendants of those murdered victims worked together over a number of years to build a memorial to those whose lives were so brutally extinguished.  In June 2000, the memorial was dedicated and stands as a reminder as one of the worst atrocities carried out on the indigenous people during white settlement.  We enjoyed the walk through the well thought out memorial, which is about 1 mile or so, and dotted with a number of large plaqued stones telling the story of that horrible day.  For further information about Myall Creek, here's a link:  http://www.myallcreek.info/massacre/


Myall Creek Massacre monument

Onto Bingara and a very special little town with a unique set of buildings.  We had learnt about the Roxy via the web, and were keen to see just what all the fuss was about.  The Roxy Theatre and Cafe were built in 1936  by three Greeks who had immigrated to Australia after the First World War.  It was beautifully built and was used as a theatre and picture theatre until the late 1950's when it became run down and left dormant for many years.

The realisation that similar buildings still standing in townships across Australia were very rare, encouraged the local community to apply for grants to have the building renovated and returned to its former glory.  The theatre also had a cafe situated next to it, that was also rejuvinated. 

We arrived about lunchtime on a public holiday and didn't expect to be able to go inside, but as luck would have it, the owners were almost locking up and allowed us in and took us on a tour.  It was truly facinating, a real step back in time.  If you'd like to learn more about this remarkable make-over, here's a link:  http://www.roxybingara.com.au/about-the-roxy/



The gorgeous cafe that has a lot of the original fittings still in place

The inside of the theatre, with filligree windows and gorgeous velvet drapes.  The seats were found in gullies, and on properties, and were returned to the theatre and re-upholstered.

 

The wonderful Art Deco Stairwell

The Cafe with its Art Deco Design

Next will we visit the Black Stump and Canowindra NSW.



Another busy week buzzes by, and I'm guessing it will be full steam ahead to the "x" time! I don't like to say that word until I simply can't avoid it!!

Was a busy bee yesterday. I attended the meeting of the Mountain Quilters Inc at Peachester a very pretty little village west of Brisbane. The girls made me feel very welcome and I had a lovely day. Members of the Mountain Quilters have been sewing for the Sunshine Linus group, and I wanted to say a big thankyou to everyone who has helped us thus far.


Lillian, Leone (birthday girls) and Glenys admiring the quilt tops.



Here are Anne and Lillian.  Lillian holds one of the many quilt tops she has made for Sunshine Linus and Anne holds a beautiful touchy Feely quilt that has been made for Senile Dementia patients.  Well done girls!

 

Elaine was very excited to show us her very first quilt, which she has made for her grandaughter. Most of the patterns have come from colouring in books. Well done Elaine.


Barb made a beauiful art quilt of a Sea Horse and was busting to show us the award it received recently.  I was most diserved - a beautiful piece, very well executed.


 

Here is a very proud Barb with her beautiful creation.

A close up of the beautiful beading on the

A beautiful Sea Horse by Barb - and it's a winner.

Of course I didn't come away empty handed.  I received 40 xray bags, some touchy feely quilts and some quilt tops.  Thankyou to Anne and Lillian, Glenda, Bonnie, Leone, Gladys, Elaine and Lorraine and all those other wonderful quilters who have contributed to the work we do at Sunshine Linus.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.





Samford Quilt Show


Preparing to enter the fray!!
 

We had a great day on Saturday at the Samford Quilt Show.  One of our Sunshine Linus members is also a member at Samford, so we organised for 20 of our SL members to bus down to Brisbane, attend the show and then raid the biggest patchwork shop in Brisbane - Sewco. 



My friend Gay made this one - isn't it a beauty!

Loved this one - lots of boring old plaids, but sooooooo effective!

It was a glorious spring day and perfect for a quilt show.  The girls at Samford put on a splendid display and the quilts were simply fabulous.



Cute Bus, seeking shade

 

We had lots of time, so we enjoyed a sit and chat and a cuppa and of course some retail therapy.

We headed over to Mt Gravatt for a shop-up and boy we weren't disappointed.  Some great bargains and the staff were very friendly and helpful - even gave us a few demonstrations on the run! 

A fabulous day for all, Judie was a little tuckered out by it all, and slept like a baby that night. 

Welcome to When Life Hands you Scraps.....

Hi everyone, welcome to my new blog.  A special welcome to all my newsletter subscribers who receive a weekly newsletter from me every Wednesday (or there abouts).  I've decided to commence this blog so that I can show you what's happening in my neck of the woods, instead of just talking about it.

So my first post will be a BIG thank you from Cadbury my darling grand-doggie.  Cadbury got into some trouble a few weeks ago with rat poison and it was a very worrying time.  I wrote about it in the newsletter and received so many lovely responses and advice.  Thank you from me and Cadbury for caring so much.  I thought you might like a photo of my darling boy.

I have finally finished the two baby quilts I've been making for my GP.  They have two doctors who are having babies in the next few months and so I've been busy creating some special quilts for them. We know the sex of one (a boy) so I had to be careful with my choice of colours.

I made the quilts using the I Spy genre.  Here's the quilt for a boy/girl. I chose this paper pieced star pattern and  was very happy with the outcome.  Some I Spy fabrics in the centre of the stars and lots of lots of I Spy around the outside border.  Here's a close up of one block:

The other quilt is for a boy, so I was able to let my head go with the fabrics.  I chose an I Spy quilt idea that I've used before.

  Each block is 9" and consists of 1 x 6" square, 1 x 3" square, and 6 x 2" x 3" rectangles.  You make the blocks and then just put them together at random, with the 6" square in different positions.    Here's a block:

 

 

So, that's my first post for you.  I hope you enjoy seeing the photos I have for you.  If you're new to Bellaonline Quilting site, perhaps you'd like to subscribe to the weekly newsletter.  Here's the link:  www.bellaonline.com/site/Quilting Cheerio for now.