Its raining members.

As you all know swap partners were sent out on Saturday and in this swap we had a whopping 11 new members join us

Since then Its remained busy with three more confirmed members. - so please join me in also welcoming

Adelaide from NSW

Sharon from Victoria and

Janeen from New South Wales
Jeneta - West Australia

Thank you to all of the ladies taking on double swaps this month to accommodate these ladies so they can swap straight away.  

I have popped all new members names on the side bar of this blog.  We are now numbering 82 members with only 18 places remaining.

If any of the new members are reading this, and you want to be contributors of the blog, please email me to have an invite sent. 

Blazing arrows from Raelene

My lovely blazing arrows block arrived in the post today from Raelene.  A cute paw print piece of fabric was included.

Now I can finish putting this quilt together, so stay tuned for another Block swap group finish

June swaps allocated

Hi lovely QBSA members,  you should have an email from me with your partner for the June swap sitting in your inbox.  Please remember to email your member to say hi and confirm details before making their block.

By now you should have completed your swap for May and have it ready to post (if you have not already done so). If you are running behind now is the time to drop your member a line and let them know when they can expect it.

We have a whopping 77 members now with 10 newbies thanks to the article in Quilters companion magazine in May.  This is the biggest our group has ever been and there is still room for more, so if you are reading this and thinking of joining better be quick.

We have two double swap queens this month.  A big thank you to Melody doing a double swap in the Beginners group and to Amira for doing a double swap in the Intermediate group (due to an odd number of swaps).  I am also extremely grateful to have quite a number of other ladies on stand by for a double swap this month if we get any more new members join after the partnership allocation today

Just so you know, for interest sake, if someone joins up past the middle of the month I do ask them to wait for the next partnership run rather than give members only 2 weeks to get their blocks made.
So double swap ladies on stand by, you may hear from me again in the next two weeks.

Happy sewing everyone, and I look forward to seeing an amazing array of quilt blocks being displayed on the blog.

May blocks swapped

Jane and I were partnered for this month and this is the block that I sent her.I love this star and will do it again I hope.

This is the amazing block that I received from Jane . I am in awe of this amazing block. Thanks so much. It was lovely being swap partners.

Vicki's Block

While I was in Perth I received an e-mail from Vicki to say her block had arrived.

She requested a block in BRIGHTS. What fun finding the fabrics to make her block in my stash. The colours are much brighter than the photo shows. I am pleased she liked the block.

Maria.

May Block From Ank Received

Received my May Block from Ank a couple of days ago.

Must be a special one as even Customs NZ had to inspect it.

May block from Lorna ...................

This is the framed scrappy squares block Lorna sent to me.

Lorna has kindly offered to make and send another one.I hope you have a full and speedy recovery. Thank you very much,

Jan

Fabric direct give away winners

I have decided to use random org for the first time in this give away ( and in all future giveaways)
rather than my old method of names on pieces of paper in a hat that DH pics out.

So the winner gets the fabric pac of their choice I will put all of the Summer house into one draw and then all of the Civil war in the second draw.  If you have not nominated a preference you will go into the civil way draw as that has less people in it.  Sound fair?

Summer House draw             Civil war draw
1. Sooli                                  1. Teresa
2. Jane                                   2. Catswhiskers (Gina)
3. Larissa                               3. Cheryll
4. Maria  W                           4. Fiona
5.Julieanne                            5. Leena
6. Jan                                     6. Kerry (red hat Kerry)
7. Janet                                  7. Flowershona
8. Cathy                                 8. Sewdown under (Minette)
9. Maria N                             9. Robyn R (Artisan)
10. Ellie K                             10. Michell
11. Raelene                            11. cats mother
12. Ullharvan                         12. Bobbie
13. Larain
14. Shaz
15 Cathy T

Winner in Summer house
Is #10 Ellie K

Winner in Civil War
Is #8 Minette from Sew down under

Congratulations ladies.  I will pop the sets in the mail to you this week

Footnote
I tried to save the random org draws, but as soon as I save it clears to zero again.  Also couldnt copy and paste it to pop it in the blog post so you can see the results.  Any hints on how this is done?

May Block For Ank

This month I was teamed up with Ank in the Netherlands.  She asked for any block in blue, green, warm brown and ecru and loves aboriginal prints  So I thought maybe she would like these colours in NZ Maori prints.  So I made her a Amish Diamond.

Made in the nick of time

As May draws close to the end I have made this block for Lorraine in New Zealand.  Lorraine was my second partner this month by default as her first partner (as it turns out ) has been missing in action since Feb in this swap, and since December in the Christmas swap. {insert grumpy face}

Both Cathy and I have suspended this member and wish we knew about this sooner. 
Lorraine requested any mixed block in any mixed colour.  Personally I actually find non specific requests more challenging than specific ones.

Well, I think its nice and cheery

How is everyone else going with their May swaps, mine are all done :)

Meet some new members - Monday update

So far we have had four six  EIGHT confirmed new members join up after reading the article about our group in Quilters Companion magazine, so a big quilted hugs welcome to :

Petah from Queensland who has join the ADVANCED GROUP

Janet from Queensland who has joined the INTERMEDIATE and Christmas groups
Margaret from New South Wales who joined the INTERMEDIATE and 6 inch groups
Donna from Victoria who has joined the INTERMEDIATE group

Helen and Isa, both from Victoria that have joined the BEGINNERS group

Monday welcome
Erin and Carolyn both from Qld and both into the INTERMEDIATE group.

Welcome ladies, we all look forward to getting to know you.

There are still places left in all groups if any one else if thinking of joining.
(two more joined this evening)

Doing a happy dance

Its out!  its out.! 

The article in quilters companion is out.

I haven't seen it yet as my copy has not arrived in my letterbox, but today I have already had three new membership enquiries so hold onto your hats its going to be a busy month.

This will boost our Australian membership base which at present represents about half of our entire membership.  I plan to initially cap the membership at 100 but may raise that slightly when I see how I cope with it. As of writing this we have 68 active members and at our peak we had 72 and I coping OK with that.  This realistically allows room for 32 more members, and I could be wrong but with the exposure in the magazine I think that we will get a lot more enquiries than that.
And ooohhh how I hate turning people away.
I have been thinking about how I would cope with this, and that is one of the reasons for splitting the groups into categories.  I could stagger the swaps within each group to take the pressure off.  As many ladies that have been with me for awhile would know, at one stage we did run a second group, loosely attached to the first but it didn't really work out so I am not keen on heading down that path again.

Anyhow the purpose of this is to let you all know my thoughts and I welcome any comments on how you think we can make this work. 

A block from Spain....

How exciting to get a block all the way from Spain....

Thank you Encarna for this wonderful Churn Dash block....

It's just perfect for my collection

Hugz from Fiona

MEMBERS and PAST MEMBERS GIVE AWAY

I am having a birthday this month, but I am giving you the presents compliments of our new sponsor fabric direct.

The lovely Eve has sent me two mouth watering fat quarter packs.  I am so tempted to keep them for myself (grin) but I wont be greedy.  I guess I will just have to enter to win.

I am holding this give away to Members and Past members only of Quilting block swaps Australia, Christmas Block swaps Australia or 6 inch block swaps Australia.  As a thank you to the members for all of your support and dedication to the Quilting block swaps Australia groups over the past two years.

Here is a peek of what is on offer :

 Civil war set

Summer House set

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what set you would like to receive either the civil war set or the summer house set.

Easy as that. 

Entries close at 5pm (Adelaide time) on May 23rd which just so happens to be my birthday.

A Goldiblocks Story

Let me tell you a fairy tale about three Goldiblocks.
One was too big, one was too small and one was just right.

The first block was made per instructions from the net, oops a mistake:- too small!

For the second block I made a few calculations and oops a block that was too big!

So in desperation I made even more adjustments and made a third block and it was just right!




In amongst all of this happening Kerry B and myself,Kerry E, were having running conversations via email and having lots of chuckles. I ended up unpicking the too big block and re-sized it so it was the right size as well and posted those off to Kerry. The too small block will be saved and used somewhere else maybe in a scrap quilt. What fun it was!!!

A block from Meg

Hello all.....

Just want to show you my lovely Churn Dash block I received from Meg this week....

A perfect addition to my growing collection... thanks Meg...

Hugz from Fiona

Showing off some members blocks

I am sorry I completely forgot to upload these earlier

Firstly are the two lovely blocks that new member Kerry B made for almost new member Kerry E

Lovely colours wouldnt you agree

The next block was made by another relatively new member Jessisca and recieved by Billy
Lovely bright fun colours.

Sponsorship discount offer

Our Group sponsor  Fabric Direct have offered a very special offer to ALL MEMBERS of QBSA

If you place an order with them between now and 30th June 2012 they will give you a  WHOPPING

25% off all orders.

To take advantage of this amazing offer make sure you use the special code blockswaps .

So pop on over and visit them now.

April Block Swap Received from Shirley in USA

I received this lovely Hunter Star block from Shirley in the USA. I can just picture a whole quilt of these in lots of different bright colours, can't you?

Thanks Shirley!

Sue xx

May Partner...

My partner for May is Amira from Australia

and she wished for any block in yellow and brown...

I saw Sue B's Blazing Arrow block and thought that would be a great choice for the 2 colours...

hope its what you were wishing for Amira...

Thank you for being my May swapper.

Luv Tarnyia xxx

May block for Lorna

I made a Shooting Star block for Lorna using the colours she requested - pinks, greens, cream and burgundy. Then I found a picture of a simple shooting star - just two colours - and had to make one. Both are on their way to Lorna.

Hope you are pleased Lorna,
Jan

Block swap cushion

I am in the process of putting together a lap quilt with the blazing arrow blocks I have received in this swap, (I am waiting on one more to get it done), but during the swap, I was fortunate enough to receive two identical blocks (from Bea in France), and decided to make a matching cushion for the lap quilt.

April & May blocks

This is my April block for Amira in yellows and browns, she has received it.

And here's my May block for Terry. I'll go in the mail next week.

Aprils block for Kerry

New member Julieanne has asked me to pop this photo up of the lovely block she has made for Kerry.  its being posted to you now

One Half of An April Swap

I say one half because, sadly, I have not never heard anything from my April partner.  However, I have sent her this block but don't know if she has received it or if she likes it.  Since I am feeling a little unloved (lol!!) I thought I would totally, transparently and a little sheepishly beg for some group appreciation!

My partner requested any block in red and white and since I had made this block for my previous partner and really liked it I thought I would remake it in red and white.

Cheers,
Karen

April Block For Val

Better late than never.  Was a bit late in sending off Aprils block to Val as life sometimes gets in the way, but finally done it.

Val asked for any block in pinks, greens and burgundy, so here it is.

May Block from Leena

I was paired up with the lovely Leena this month and I received a lovely squishy envelope in the mail today which contained this terrific block:

I asked for any block in red, black and white and this one is gorgeous and goes really well with my other blocks too!  Lucky me though as Leena also sent me these two lovely panels as well! I love them!

Leena has also received the blocks I sent her. She asked for a spool block in bright colours and I couldn't make up my mind between two fabrics for the thread so I made both for her.

I really enjoyed making these, might use that block again one day.
Thanks so much for being my swap buddy this month Leena!

Cheers,
Sue xx

We have a sponsor

I am thrilled to announce that FABRIC DIRECT has agreed to be a sponsor of QBSA.  Thanks so much to the lovely Eveleen Curtis for accepting my request for sponsorship.  Fabric Direct are an Australian based online fabric company.

Visit them now at   http://www.fabricdirect.com.au/ to see the lovey array of fabrics, patterns and notions that you can purchase.  In coming months we will be holding some lovely give aways courtesy of fabric direct.

Blocks for Julie

Julie from California is my May partner. She had one block on its way to me before the end of April, what a whiz!. She then informed me that she wasn't 100% happy with the first so made a second and that is on the way. I had made one block and had made a mistake in cutting out some of the fabric so had part of a second different colour way already done. So now Julie had two blocks also. Julie sent me a pattern which has been added to my collection and wanted red, black and aqua. I hope she likes these blocks, the colour combination is quite dramatic and eye catching.