My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Gifts and giving

I keep on discovering more to talk about after my trip over to Baradine for the Scrubstitching retreat.
We all took a gift along for a swap....the rule was 'make it or fake it' (great rule!).
I received a lovely gift from Sandy -

I pulled out my design mirror gadget the other day to have a bit of a play; it will be interesting to see what I end up doing with these.
Thank you Sandy, and also thank you Sandie for the mirror :-)
I was able to squeeze in a day in The Palace before leaving and  managed a gift of the Make It kind. As soon as I saw this sewing organiser I knew I wanted to make it as it's the sort of thing I've wanted for myself. It was a fun make and I was really happy with how it turned out. Lynda received my gift and she said she was delighted, so I was pleased about that :-)
My photos don't show it well enough, it a wee pouch thing to stow your sewing bits in when you travel. You can zip it up for safe travels —
and then fold it down to use. Tho photo below shows the top folded down and another zip pocket on the outside.
I found the instructions really clear to follow and will definitely be making this again. 

Sandy, Sonia and Carol all had pop-up shops there at retreat so I may have also gifted myself with a couple of goodies—

I said in a previous post that I spent a day piecing some healing hearts for the Christchurch quilt drive. I took the blocks over that I had made, and added to them blocks made by fellow scrubstitchers. I had enough to piece two quilts!
I wish I'd taken a photo of the piles of blocks that I had but was too busy sewing up a storm to think of that.
Making a start
One completed quilt top. Sue and I explored the grounds to find some interesting photography spots.
Once I got home I pieced the second top. I decided to vary my design a little bit and used a less subtle green in it, which gives a totally different look.
I used both pieced and appliqued hearts in both quilts - combining
them worked better than I thought they may.
I wrote in a previous post about the terrible drought that is ongoing in Baradine and (other parts of Australia). The local Country Women's group has set up a Drought Pantry to help feed the community. A lot of our group donated goods for the pantry and we went along one morning to sort them. It was sobering to drive through the drought hit countryside, more sobering to listen to the talk about the effects of the drought by the Vice President of the CWA, and even more sobering to visit the Drought Pantry in person. Amazing the support and goods that have been given. 
I think this is my last photo to share about retreat - look at the tribe! A fabulous group of women ♥

'til next time, 
happy stitches,

18 comments:

  1. those sure are tiny hexies that you won! I wonder what you will make with them, I tried tiny ones like that once and made several flower bouquets to applique in place on a border. You will find something to do with them. I hope your drought goes away soon

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  2. How great that people help others. Your drought must be scary. Fun fabrics for the hexies. Like your little bag.

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  3. Yes, I do love my bag. It went with me to the car service the other day so I could do some EPP while I was waiting. I did find the pattern on Etsy which was great. Maybe I’ll make one myself. I see that Michelle has a photo of me with it as well. It was lovely meeting you and I hope next year will be as much fun.

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  4. Oh dear! That sewing pouch looks like a must have! Beautiful quilt tops for Christchurch and what an amazing place the Drought Kitchen is. xx

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  5. Love the fabric on the sewing organiser! And such a useful gift too. Your quilts for CHCH are pretty, and will be appreciated I'm sure.

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  6. Love your swap gift and the mirror is amazing, would be a big help in cutting the pieces. Your hearts for Christchurch look wonderful Raewyn, lots of happy memories from Barradine. The CWA food pantry was sobering though. I hope they get rain soon.

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  7. Sounds like you had a wonderful time at retreat. Retreats are a great thing. I can't even imagine a drought that severe, that would be so hard.

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  8. That little pouch is sooo cute. I also like the green heart donation quilts. It is amazing how different they look with the two settings.

    The drought sounds awful. Having just emerged from a seven year drought here, I can begin to imagine what you are going through. It’s great that they have a center like that.

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  9. Lovely gifts both given and bought by you..
    The Green Hearts quilts are beautiful and will be treasured by the recipient...
    Wonderful work the ladiesin the DroughtKitchen are doing and was great of you all to donate and help sort the kitchen.





    add to the kitchen

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  10. Great job on the heart quilts - just imagine the people that receive them, they will be so encouraged. I had no idea about the drought (I don't watch the news and keep up with events). I do hope they receive some relief soon. I do think your gift of the fat qtrs and hexie paper is pretty cool. I love the one you made just perfect.

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  11. love the "fussy cutting fats" !!
    Those green hearts are lovely

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  12. Love the swap gift you made Raewyn. Looks like such a great time on your Retreat - just so special. Thanks so much for the book which arrived yesterday - some exciting looking projects in there! Thanks Raewyn xx

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  13. Lovely gifts. The zipper pouch looks like a very interesting design. Hope you get to make one for yourself.
    Love seeing the green hearts. Such a beautiful idea.

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  14. Great swap gifts - made and received...beautiful heart quilts for Christchurch...

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  15. Retreats are such fun! The more you talk, the less you sew though...I haven't been to one in a couple of years, so I need to rectify that. Glad you had such a great time. I didn't even realize (had to take a second look) that you'd combined appliquéd hearts with pieced ones in your quilt, and yes, what a difference the second one is with the not-so-subtle green. I made 6 hearts yesterday and today to send off; didn't get to the post office in time before they closed today, but will send tomorrow. Glad I'm not too late.

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  16. You got some lovely goodies there! I do like the zippy pouch with pockets and all sorts you made for your contribution - very cool! Well done with making the hearts, I like the way you put them together... and how lovely that the group was able to help out with drought relief. It's a terrible thing... xx

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  17. Google is going to let me comment today, hurray! Sometimes I get lucky. It looks as though you had a wonderful retreat. I just love your heart quilts. I would never have thought of that layout. It looks so good! Thank you for the link for that fabulous sewing organizer! I think I’m in love! I’m always looking for little, clever projects like that for gift giving. Hope the drought situation starts to ease up. We’ve gone through similar here in Tx.

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  18. Wow a part with so much.... Love the gifts you received and have in the swap...... I need to get that pattern..... And I love playing with the mirror working out fussy cutting......
    The Christchurch quilts look great..... Do you still have blocks left as I was going to make a couple this weekend.......
    Thanks for the support of the drought pantry.....

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