Visit to Castlemaine

I've been quilting these two blocks - Elizabeth Cummins Block 26 and Maria Criswell Block 29.  I have two thirds of the quilting finished on the Chester Criswell quilt.  I was hoping to finish before the end of the year but that's not going to happen.

We traveled to our son and daughter-in-law's home a few weeks ago.  We only visit once or twice a year but we used a long weekend to stay a few days. 

Fortunately for me their house is near Castlemaine, an old gold mining town between Bendigo and Ballarat.  The Castlemaine area has old buildings and trains.

Castlemaine has a lot of nice shops but my favourite is Threadbear. Threadbear stocks a wide range of reproduction fabric; I've done a workshop with Di Ford Hall at Castlemaine too.

I bought some nice things to play with.

I also had a conversation with another quilter at the shop.  I don't usually strike up conversations with strangers, but quilters aren't really strangers - strange maybe, but not strangers.  I gave her one of my new postcards.

I later discovered this stranger's name was Robyn because when I arrived home there was an email waiting for me.

I met and spoke with you briefly when shopping for material in Threadbear on Monday and you gave me your card.  When you mentioned the Chester Criswell quilt it seemed familiar to me and on returning home I looked up your website.  I realized I had previously read about the blocks on a blog. I am so in awe of your history and that you retain the original 1852 wedding quilt with all the signatures. ... I now wish I had asked more questions of you.

How nice!  It was so lovely that someone had made that extra effort to get in touch - it made my day. Thank you Robyn for taking the time to write and all the best with your Baltimore blocks.

A Day at Castlemaine

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to attend a one day applique school run by Threadbear at Castlemaine, Victoria.  I wasn't sure what to expect but I was certain that I would enjoy whatever the day brought.  The two tutors for the day were Margaret McDonald and Di Ford Hall.  Margaret and Di had each designed an applique quilt pattern using the Peace and Unity range designed by Judie Rothermel.  Each pattern featured a medallion centre and a number of borders.  Each participant would receive a goodie bag with fabric and the two patterns, and spend half a day with each tutor.

The goodie bag was overwhelming - look at the pile of fabric!  And the tin is full of mints and chocolate!

My morning session was with Margaret McDonald.  We had a go at needleturned Raggedy Robin shapes

Margaret's green Raggedy Robin in her quilt top

My still unfinished Raggedy  Robin

Margaret showed us some short cuts to save time.  Below is a long appliqued border.  The top sample is needleturn; the second sample has been buttonholed by machine.

Margaret showed us how to hem S shapes to make a woven border.  Hemming S shapes is not easy.

In the lunch break I walked back to the main street in Castlemaine to visit one of the numerous antique/secondhand shops.  This one is called The Restorers' Barn and it deals in all sorts of things that you might use to decorate/restore your home.

The afternoon was spent with Di Ford.  The first technique Di presented was Broderie Perse (which I still can't pronounce).  Broderie perse is an old applique technique.  When printed fabric was very expensive, needlewomen would cut out a flower or leaf or bird and sew it to a larger plain piece of material.  Di's quilt top featured broderie perse flowers and she showed us how it was done.

Blue broderie perse flowers with inked detail

Di makes it look easy

So ... the results of my day's work? Just a few little things.....

But I have added to the collection since I've been home.....

It was a fabulous day, I hope I can book another one next year.