How many Hexagons?

Those two large boxes contained...... 100,000 hexagons! 50,000 of the little darlings in each. Did anyone come close to guessing that number? The funny thing is, we need at least that many again to complete the current block-of-the-month membership! Everywhere we turn at the shop there is another pile of hexagons.

This week we had another 'Midday to Midnight Madness' here at Somerset. Non stop stitching for 12 hours straight. There was lots of stitching, glueing, laughter and lollies! Most of the girls made it right through to the end.

Mary was preparing her final border for Mrs Billings, yes more hexagons. She is keeping track of each coloured patch she cuts and glues inside these bags. It is amazing the things we use to store our patchwork bits and pieces; zip lock bags, tupperware containers and fishing tackle boxes to name a few.

Lois has stitched a few more of her 'star a day' blocks from the chocolate box. I think she will be up to date very soon. 

Aren't they lovely!

Jenny brought her 'Kings Crown' centre block in for show and tell from last weeks class. 

Jenny was back again today working on a 'Carpenters Square' block in Linda Bears class. 

And this block belongs to Tracey, who also joined todays Summer School class. 

We are nearly at the end of classes for this January and thoughts are moving to first term. This next term is a short one, but we will try to include as many workshops as possible to keep you stitching. 

Keeping watching for more Mrs Billings quilt updates, I know there are a few more out there getting close to completion!

Until next time,

Karen

When in doubt, wear RED shoes!

What do you do in January?

Start a new project of course! 
The Friday girls have decided that they will make a star a day this year... a three inch star! Small but very cute. The basic rules are make a block a day (except on your birthday and Christmas day), no repeat fabric in the stars and don't worry about whether they all match, the more varied the fabric and colour the better! Lynne has started with gusto and has even pieced her tiny stars into larger blocks.

Our Lynne is one very organised lady... I think she has prepared enough stars for the next couple of months! There are lots of pre packaged fabric for stars ready to be cut and stitched. 

Lois is all organised too! Her stars are even cut into their shapes! I wonder where the chocolates have gone? 

Miriam is working on a house block a day. Still very tiny and very cute... I think they are three inches as well!

And Sue is busy piecing her final border of Mrs Billings. Keep going Sue, the end is now in sight!

Wow, there must be something about these girls.. look how organised Sue is too!

I have had lots of guesses for how many of these hexagons were in the boxes a few posts back. Some of you are getting close but not quite... I will let you in on the total number next time!


Until then,
Karen
When in doubt, wear RED shoes!

Summer School Update

Our Summer School classes have been very productive again this year... with lots of students learning lots of new things. The clamshell/applecore class was very surprised by the amount of stitching they achieved in a day, and just how easy it is when you know the tricks!

These two examples belong to Glenda and Julie. How do you like Julie's fussy cutting?

Beautiful 'William Morris' applecores!

Mary and Jenny brought along their colourful selection of threads! Yum, just like a box of 'Derwents'.

These clamshells are mine... I think they will turn into a 'Bed Sash', apparently that's the new name for a bed runner, sounds a bit more fancy doesn't it!
This January marks our 9th year of Summer classes and the weather has been very good to us so far, not too hot! There are lots more classes to come and hopefully I will remember to take the camera along and let you in on some of the fun. (Remember, I am still new at this blogging game!)


Until next time,


Karen
When in doubt, wear RED shoes!

Hexagons...hexagons... and more HEXAGONS!!

This weeks big delivery at the shop was two very large and very heavy boxes from Sue Daley (Patchwork with Busy Fingers).

Hexagons... hexagons... and even more hexagons! I know that many of you are doing the Mrs Billings Coverlet Block-of-the-month, well this is what's included in your final months post!!!! 

Just have a guess how many of those lovely little shapes are in these two boxes!!! Send me email and we will see who comes close. (I will let you all know the number next time.)

Until next time,

Karen

When in doubt, wear RED shoes!

Happy New Year!

This week we had a visit from Helen, here at Somerset Patchwork. Helen has been very busy over the Christmas break working on her Mrs Billings and she has finished the hexagon rosette border! Isn't it beautiful, there's lots and lots of lovely fussy cutting.

Have a close look at the darling little elephants in the corner blocks! Thank you Helen for sharing your quilt.

Until next time,
Karen
When in doubt, wear RED shoes!

Christmas Family Traditions

Christmas time is filled with many different family traditions, ours are very simple... but..., this Christmas my daughter Kimberley decided to start a new 'tradition'. We have talked often about making a Gingerbread House and this year the time was right. Isn't it beautiful! The gingerbread was made and cut to shape, lots of lollies were attached and a few more consumed during construction. Look there are even gingerbread men, red(?) snowmen (we forgot the marshmallows!), mini christmas 'bushes' (the supermarket was all out of mint leaves) and soft snow on the roof. Kimberley had a lot of fun making the house while I watched on busily finishing the binding on a quilt for my brother-in-law for Christmas. 

Since I was a small girl my family have had a bit of a Boxing Day Tradition. Santa would bring my sister and me a 'creative' gift like a new jigsaw puzzle or craft pack or 'doing thing'. We would amuse ourselves with these activities while Dad sat and watched the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race or the Boxing Day test match, and mum would have some time for herself. I have continued this practice over the years to start a new project, dressmaking as a teenager, joining new Lego pieces together as a mum, encouraging my children to start something new too! These days the theme is usually start a new quilt! Last year it was Mrs Billings, the design plans had been in place for a while and the fabric selected, but, the serious stitching started between Christmas and New Year. This year I have had a few important things to finish first... 2 overdue wedding quilts and one for my brother-in-law for Christmas. 

They are now all DONE... so... what do I start next! I have headed back to Kings Crown and drawn a design for the centre applique. I treated myself to some lovely threads awhile ago and have now found a use for them. The day has been spent quietly stitching, watching the cricket and planning the next major project for the year in my head. (I must get that down on paper soon!)

Oh no, while I wasn't looking a little mouse has come along and nibbled at the roof of our Gingerbread House...mmmmm. It's a shame they can't last for ever, I do think this will definitely be a new tradition for our family.

I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and restful Boxing Day. Did you get a chance to start a new project too!


Until next time,


Karen 

Summer School class samples

The class samples for Summer School are in the shop now. Here is a quick look at whats on offer this January 2012! Oh that sounds so strange... where has 2011 gone to! The classes are filling fast so don't forget to look at the class list and give us a call if your interested.

'Kings Crown' class... this quilt is moving along quite nicely, except for the group Christmas festivities that keep getting in the way of my stitching!

'Kings Crown' - this is the centre block...still a few more stars to go, then they will be appliqued onto a large square.

There are a number of these pieced blocks surrounding the stars in the centre. 

'Nearly Insane', what was Salinda Rupp thinking when she made this quilt in 1870's Pennsylvania? I know some of you have begun this gorgeous quilt, maybe you would like to continue, or would you like to start? We have copies of this book for sale if you can't make it to a class.

Gail Pan has created this lovely wall hanging for a class at Somerset. Perfect for beginners or advanced applique lovers alike. The project has lots of basic applique shapes to learn and/or perfect.

This is Linda Bears 'Carpenters Square'. A large 40" machine pieced block x four, creates a very interesting two colour finished quilt. The fabrics appear to interlace with each other.

'George Town Circle' with Michelle Yeo. Michelle will show you how to foundation piece this large circular block or you can piece this one by hand.

The 'Friday Sewing Girls' had a break-up Christmas luncheon last week too. Even Santa came for a visit! There was lots and lots of lovely yummy food. I think this was the last of the celebrations for now. Mmmm Jan's Meringue Roll was absolutely delicious!

Until next time,


Karen
When in doubt, wear red shoes!

WOW!!! Look what arrived this week!

Wow! The John Hewson panels arrived this week. There are birds, birds and more birds, butterflies of many sizes, the large central 'Floral Urn' panel and two borders, one large and one small. These panels and prints are beautifully recreated and are very close to the original colourings. To see the complete John Hewson range visit the Somerset Patchwork website.   

                                                                                                       

And as promised...what did I do with those fabrics? Here is the start to a quilt that was originally made by Susan Lorinda Brigham (Munroe) Shepherd in 1850. She had named her pieced quilt 'King David's Crown'. These tiny stars are only 3 inches in size!

After making the stars they are set into an interesting circle. It constantly amazes me how these women from our past could think up these intricate designs and transform them into the wonderful quilt tops we know today without the use of modern tools and just a little basic math knowledge! I admire their perseverance to get these quilts to work and sit flat! This circle of stars forms the central design and is surrounded by pieced 'Kings Crown' blocks. Keep watching...

This week I will be collecting lots of photos of the class samples for our January 2012 Summer School, and will post them as they become available. 

Until next time,


Karen
When in doubt wear, red shoes!

Christmas Festivities have started at Somerset Patchwork!

This week Christmas arrived early at Somerset. There has been a party nearly everyday!  Linda Bear's Wednesday morning girls had a 'Mad Hatters Christmas' party with all of them wearing stunning headgear creations for lunch. There was even a glass or two of sparkling...mmm...something with strawberries and little umbrellas for special effect. Plenty of food was consumed to diffuse the bubbles.

Linda on the right with her 'Wednesday girls'

Kim Bastiani's Monday group, played ladies and had a sit down meal at the end of their class, there was even a place set for me! Thank you Anne and Jackie for making our delicious lunch. 

Please note the fine china and perfect cutlery...lunch in style!

One of Anne's specialities...homemade strawberry sponge and cream...yummmmmm

Since finishing Mrs Billings I have had a bit of a creative dry spell, but I think the drought has finally broken. While playing with fabric the other day I came across this colour combination. A selection I have never worked in before. The books came out and the drawing started and now I have begun to stitch. There will be lots more photos to follow soon.

Until next time,


Karen
When in doubt, wear red shoes!

Mrs Billings x 2

Jenny from NSW came for a visit to the shop this week and brought along her beautiful version of Mrs Billings for show and tell. She has chosen a collection of lovely florals. Check out the fussy cut hexagon rosettes! Well done Jenny we hope to see more soon.

This stunning brighter version of Mrs B belongs to Mary... some of you may have seen this one in progress a few months ago. Mary is relatively new to hand piecing, but, I think we have her hooked now!

Don't forget to bring your quilt in for show and tell if you're passing through Melbourne this summer.
Keep an eye on the Mrs Billings' Coverlet page for lots more of these beautiful works in progress.


Karen
When in doubt, wear red shoes!