Greetings from Taupo and the Quilting Symposium! This is just a short post as my connectivity is limited. I hope all of you back home in the Wellington region aren't having too scary a time with the recent swarm of quakes.
Symposium is amazing, so many quilters all in one place. I spent the first two days in class with Joen Wolfrom, queen of colour. There were many new ideas to learn and take in, I looked at my fabrics very differently afterwards.
I am also taking a class with Gail Garber. Watch out for the next twelve by twelve quilt! We are making flying geese curve and swoop all over the place.
That's all for now, off to pick fabrics for tomorrow's stitching,
Sheila

Last Friday night was cold and frosty, just the sort of evening when you want to curl up on the sofa, light the fire and watch TV while doing a bit of hand sewing or knitting. Not so for our plucky ladies who braved the elements to come to the Midnight Madness class.

We were working on my 'Elegant Table Runner' pattern. It was time for the 'bling' to come out as the ladies cut into some gorgeous oriental and metallic fabrics. We had a good laugh at my pattern subtitle 'will grace any dining table' - I must have been waxing lyrical the day I wrote that , but these runners really will be gracing some tables in the Wairarapa -

Karen's cool greens, blues and silvers

Yvonne used Stof's Golden Elements in the maroon colourway.

And look at how the Stonehenge fabric is working.

After a good feed of delicious Blue Cod and chips  we were back at work

Pressing

And by midnight some had quilting well underway and table runners nearly done.

The carriage turned into a pumpkin and yawning...

This week I have been so excited to see my new beginner quilters complete all the blocks for their sampler quilts and begin the choosing of sashings and borders. The variety of fabric choices and combinations for the sampler quilts is always a delight to see, here is the latest crop:

This block is called Mama's memories. I love the colour combination in Lee's quilt, and the purple Jinny Beyer sashing is making it all glow beautifully.

We did a little bit of foundation / paper piecing and made 54-40 or fight blocks.

This is the same block but a different colourway. Emma has chosen a lovely funky floral for her focus fabric, and the blue and white spot is setting it off nicely. Look how the light blue is blending with the corner four patches and creating a different look for the block.

And Mama's memories again.

Hayley used Lynette Anderson's cute fabrics, the feature fabric is perfect for the sashings.

This block is based on 54-40 or...

What a busy week that was. Classes are running full steam ahead, and lots of people are getting stuck in with their projects now that the weather is so much colder.

Before all the 'busyness', we went for a trip to the National Wildlife centre at Mount Bruce. It is always so calming to walk in the bush, and listen to the native birds singing. I took my camera with me to collect inspiration for the classes I am going to attend at Symposium in July. I love the mistiness of the fern fronds against the sky. Then my eye was drawn to this:

What great colours, there is so much to learn from in nature.

The highlight of the week was the One Fabric Wonder class yesterday. Joanne Farmery came down from Hawkes Bay to teach the class.

It's not the easiest quilt to make but Joanne led everyone through step by step and by the end of the day beautiful kaleidoscopes began to emerge from Turtles.....

to Fairies ......

And yes, the colours of the New Zealand Bush ....

I can't wait...

I love it when customers bring in the projects they have made, especially someone as keen as Theresa, who bought the pattern and fabrics for this beautiful bag on Saturday and then came in on Tuesday with the project finished, proudly modelled by her daughter

On Tuesday evening we had the Intermediate class, and learned paper piecing techniques. Here are some of the practice pieces. If you haven't done any paper piecing it's a great way to get your points in the right places and your blocks all the right size!

Thursday is stitching day in the shop. We had a good number of people this week, shared lots of fun and had a laugh at the 'suicidal bunny' - I don't know why but he keeps wanting to jump off the shelf.

Sarah came in to show us her 'Charmed' Quilt:

This is Sue's

Both very different colour choices, don't they look lovely!

So what will you be sewing this Queen's Birthday weekend? We have a Mariners Compass class in the shop tomorrow, so I will be...

This weekend I have been working on a couple of projects - a 12 by 12 art quilt for a club challenge, and the new Shop Hop quilt. I have been reminded about how much I have learned both from other quilters and by discovery over my quilting journey.

I am rather a new quilter, having started in 2007 when I hadn't even heard of quilting as a hobby. I have been very lucky to have been able to learn from lots of  wonderful and experienced quilters and since I started quilting I have been soaking up like a sponge all the information and tips I can get hold of. When you first start quilting there seems to be so much to remember. Some people are naturally good at sewing and don't seem to have a problem getting their points to match and making their seams perfect. Others of us are not and have to work at it. So I have decided to start gathering together as many tips and tricks as I can  that have made my quilting experience so much more enjoyable than my first attempts. I will be...

I always think that quilting is such a great way to take your mind off all the other things that might be bothering you in life. So much more so when you are quilting with a group of other people, all of us with our own worries and concerns, but there for the day just to relax, enjoy and create beautiful things.

Here are some pictures from the Quilt as you Go class we had today.

Mel's fabric choices are always so lovely, this combination is spring fresh. Twelve fat quarters make up this quilt top.

Blocks all numbered to keep them in order....

Yvonne's neutral quilt using Moda's Little Black dress starting to take shape. The blocks will all be quilted and then joined together.

Looking gorgeous!

Kim's daughter has been bitten by the bug and spent a happy time putting colours together for Mum to make her quilt

Altogether a very productive and sociable day and some beautiful quilts under way.

Until next time, happy sewing

Sheila

Hi, my name is Sheila Christensen and I am the owner of Quilters' Lane, the Wairarapa's specialist patchwork and quilting shop.

The Wairarapa is a beautiful rural area in the North Island of New Zealand, about an hour's drive from the capital city, Wellington. The shop is located in Masterton, the main town, and you will find us just behind the library on Queen Street. Opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 4pm, Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm.

In my blog you will be able to follow my adventures as I indulge my quilting addiction, with photos of my quilt designs, classes that I teach (and attend), and great products as they arrive in the shop.

You can purchase items from Quilters' Lane either from our website at www.quilterslane.co.nz, by telephone order (06 370 9400) or by emailing me at [email protected]