quilt group circle of life

Is there anything better than a quilt group?  We have had a few big issues in our house these past ten days and I needed a break from life.  What to do?  Head straight to Hunters Hill quilt group and get swallowed up by humanity.  Yep.   They had to listen to me vent my fear and frustration.  I found myself immersed in life experiences that were most helpful in helping me process my feelings.  I don't mean to be cryptic but some things are not for blogs and by the end of the day it was all in perspective anyway.

The point is, there were women around the table that listened to what I was saying and then shared a variety of life experiences similar to my own.  This sharing, this unveiling of secrets and memories really helped me.  It always makes me miss the idea of working communities.  As we all sit at our computers, in our houses, on our streets of nameless neighbors I have to wonder is it worth loosing the community of sharing life with those that are older and wiser, younger and more naive and generally all in the human boat.  Aside from the breath of living experience there was all of this to see!!!!

Lets start with birth.  Carl, husband to our late and beloved founder Alysoun came in to collect the quilt we all made for his daughter Jay.  Jay and her husband had a baby girl last week.  To a room full of clucky mommy types, Carl stood up and reminded all of us of Alysoun and the verandah where our group started at their house nearly 30 years ago as he thanked us for the quilt for Jay.  A quiet moment of reflection full of the joy of birth!  I had to suggest that Jay get a bit of rest because in a short space of time she will be working on designs for my next Material Obsession book.  I love the circle of life that Alysoun started our group and now her daughter will work with me on my book.  Love it.

While we are on beginners, Grace who is one of our beginning quilt class teachers made this gorgeous thing as a sample for her class.  We have a beginner sampler that they all can do if they like but now Grace has made this as a supplement to the curriculum.  Easy, dynamic and fully MO!  Well these points might be ambitious but it has lots of possibilities for adjustment and personalisation....we like you to learn early how to make it your own.

Then there is this little beauty growing before our eyes!

There are some minds that fascinate me from afar.  Beryl, has made this using the Antique Rose template.  It is fascinating to see it because...in a few quiet moments I have wondered what else we could do with this tiny template and then from a quiet and very talented corner came this in construction.  It is most famous for the 72 piece block of Erica's Honesty but here, well it takes on a different look altogether.  Beryl not only pushed the envelope but opened it wide up with possibilities. 

What is under foot here?The show in NYC brought red and white to our minds eye via blogland tours of the photos.  Laurel has been working on this one for a while and it just looked fab on the floor as the blocks were coming together.  It made me feel like dancing...dancing...dancing the day away...(thank you Leo Sayer for making an appearance this morning!)

We are preparing our raffle quilt for the 2012 Hunters Hill Quilt Show which is just over a year away now.  the blocks are coming in now and here is one for your viewing pleasure!

It is tricky trying to work a quilt design that appeals to everyone, uses a variety of fabrics and comes together in a way that appeals to a wide audience as well.  We started with the tulip from Now and Then (also in Material Obsession book two) and eveyrone "made fabric" with their scraps.  We knew we would use the background and a basic layout.  Look forward to this one coming together soon(ish) and then line up for raffle tickets come January!!!

While in show mode, Iris, our current fearless leader has organised show and tell of our quilt show prize winners.  We will see Robyn a lot as she is a wonderful quilter.  This one fascinated me as she made it with Marg Sampson George and won the 1998 show for the effort.  As you all know, Marg teaches for us now and some of the elements of this quilt are still available to be done in class today!

Marg has a knack for finding the quirky elements and the right fabric suggestions to make these quilts just come to life for each person that makes them.  I was completely immersed in seeing this and thinking through the colour options available today. 

It just looks beautiful in a timeless treasure kind of way.

Then, as I made my way around the room checking on what eveyrone was doing I found Marie busy basting this quilt.

In a full circle of life, these are the scraps from the lovely Vi.  We lost Vi last year suddenly.  There is something wonderfully emotive to see these scraps sewn together from her stash.  It was deposited at the group shortly after she passed on and we all stood over it for a few minutes before taking scraps of her life to bring into ours.  Even now I am feeling her quiet and unassuming nature.  I hope she is watching and smiling as her legacy goes on.

And in the final wrap up for the day, I chanced by Alysoun's last quilting efforts here.

Alysoun made this incredible Hawain applique for Jay.  It wasn't anywhere near being finished when she died but it lives on.  It got passed around for applique and now quilting.  Each member can hold it and work with it and generally carry on a part of Alysoun well into the future.

Is that what keeps us quilting I wonder?  We share our lives, ideas, feelings and the days of our lives while creating a legacy that carries on well after we are gone.  It is a link to the past, present and future that anyone can experience while adding a many layered enrichment to our daily lives.  I love my quilt group, truly, maddly, deeply for rounding out life and reminding me all the time about what is important. love, k

ps If you are in Sydney this weekend and looking for a Mothers Day activity, the Arcadia Quilters are having their show at Swanes nursery.  It is a great opportunity to head west to open space, walk through the show and perhaps purchase a bit of gardn fodder on the way out.  It is a don't miss event!

 

 

Comments

[SUZANNE REICHARDT]

Hi Kathy, great post, it's comforting to see the quilting tradition being passed on to future generations. The Arcadia Quilter's Show sounds like fun, is it at Dural or Carlingford?

[Alison]

Lovely, lovely, post. You so eloquently stated everything I love most about quilting groups! thanks, Alison

[Lisa]

Your blog is so amazing! The quilts so showcase are over the top wonderful! Thanks for sharing all of this with us.

[Bonnie Hull]

I was just sort of wishing to see a photo of Alysoun happily holdng up a quilt, at the very end. Paying homage is the best and sweetest thing.

[Céline]

Love your post. We moved 2 months ago so I should go away from "my" quilt group. Now, I am sewing, quilting alone and it's so difficult. I miss just listening people, sharing ideas, people's life... I miss the possibility to tell my own life.

[Britt Nina]

Thank you for sharing from your group, both from life and your all fantastic designs!

[Bronwyn Ugonotti]

Beautiful blog Kathy Have a great Mothers Day!

[Marybeth Megel]

Happy Mother's Day to you. Sending you the wish of great peace for your day (& all year!)

[Michelle @ The Crafty Little Fox]

Miss having a quilt group :( Being in a group makes it easier to keep going, gives you motivation and (best of all) gives you girlfriends.

[Peggy Grow]

I just love that string quilt using Vi's scraps. Wow. Truly beautiful!

[Pam]

Love that reds and whites quilt...is that am pattern or? It is fun because it is so lively!

[Coach Outlet Online]

I'm happy I found this blog ! It's very good and thank you for sharing it !