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How to JOIN quilting block swaps Australia

Hello and thank you for visiting. This is a community group for all Australian quilters to join or just follow. Membership is FREE and you are partnered each month and we make each other a 12 inch quilt block based on our preferences which we swap. (12.5 inches raw edge to raw edge) The emphasis of the group is on friendship and sharing. To find out more or register to join email me on quiltingblocks@hotmail.com This purpose of this blog is to chat and showcase blocks and quilts made by members, kind of like a show and tell . Yours in stitching, Sue



Friday, December 28, 2012

Syncronicity

How is this for synchronicity?
 Sue and I both received each other's blocks on the same day! Not bad for having traveled half way around the world

So thank you Sue for my first swap block (Yeah!), as well as for the lovely selvage edge bookmark. How could you possibly know that I  am always looking for one?
 It made me smile!




Happy New Year to everyone!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

a quilt planning

Here are 12 of the 13 blocks that I have received in the yellow black and white mix.  I have laid them out in a pleasing manner in readiness of constructing a quilt top.  I am not sure what to sash them with, I am thinking a solid black may work best.  Or do you think they will look better just joined like they are now?  Feedback welcome.

I have one block left over but it is a little undersized - I will keep this for another project, possibly the centre of a cushion to match the quilt.

ps
After posting this I realised that it is our 1000'th post
wooo hoo.
 

December Block for Sue

As I am a newbie to this quilt block swap and signed up a little bit too late to be partnered up for the December swap, Sue kindly suggested that she be my first swapping partner. 

I was so excited to be a part of this that I decided to make two blocks as a thank you to Sue for hosting this swap as well as for offering to partner up with me!

Hope you like them Sue and have a Happy New Year!




Cheers!

Straight into it.

I allocated January swap partners yesterday, and then got straight into making the blocks so now I can get on with trying to turn my pile of quilt tops into well......., quilts.

I allocated myself two partners this month, as we had an odd number swapping, I did the double swap, this way I can plough through getting to swap with everyone.

So for January I have Dawnelle from Washington USA who requested any block in Southwest colours of browns, orange, sage greens and golds.  Here is what I came up with, the block is called town square

 My second partner is Tanya fromQueensland who also requested any block, but in red, black and white and so I made her one of my favourite blocks called either washing day or Balkan puzzle, depending on where you get the pattern from

December To Jan from Lori

Sorry the picture got cut off a-lil?
Guess I need to wear my 'glasses' when I take pic's now...too
age?
In our home we have a 'purple-lover' so when I heard that my December swap partner wanted .....
this Pinwheel block in different shades of purple,
my daughter ran to get the purple fabrics!
And with owning several shades of purple we were able to make so many different combinations,
and since we could not decide between the two blocks.....
both of them are in flight on their way to
Jan Sage
in
Moto, Australia.
Hope she likes them and they fit with her collection.
It was fun swapping with you, Jan.
Blessings~
Lori
U.S.A.
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

QBSA - New Years Resolution

Hi








I hope everyone survived Christmas, and lets collectively make 2013 the best year ever at QBSA.

After some strict culling I am confident that we now have a group of lovely like minded ladies that will do the right thing.  Its really quite simple, if you are falling behind - that's ok but let me know, if you need a break, that's ok - but let me know.  Easy peasy.

You will by now have your partners details in your inbox.

Here are the 3 simple steps to a successful swap.

Step 1.  Email them to confirm details (reply to them if they email you first).
Step 2. Make and send the block by the end of the month (that's January 31st)
Step 3.  When your block arrives from them, email them and let them know.

Enjoy your New Years Celebrations.

Quilted hugs, Sue
ps. Do you like the new background, was time for a change.




Monday, December 24, 2012

Quilt Finished!

I'd like to share with you my quilt 'Red All About it' which I made using some of my own blocks and others from my QBSA partners: Cathy, Sue, Beth, Leena and Elaine (RIP).  Thank you all ladies for your lovely blocks.  Here it is:


I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year and look forward to swapping with many of you in 2013!
Cheers,
Sue

Looking back - what a year

As we near the end of the year I like to look back on what was...

Statistically this was our biggest year, after our humble beginnings in April 2010, we now have

16 members in our ADVANCED GROUP
47 members in our INTERMEDIATE GROUP
11 members in our BEGINNERS GROUP

There is also 19 members participating in the 6 inch group which I also co ordinate - and three of them are not in the 12 inch group.

So we will start 2013 with official membership at 77 members.  You may think wow numbers have dropped off, and to a degree they have, I have had to cull a few due to non communication and swaps not being completed, which may seem harsh but my aim is to run a group where members all honour the swappers code of conduct.  Sadly this year we have seen 50 members leave us, what I find sadder is that 13 of those 50 were suspended.



Membership started slow with three people joining in our first month.  One of those first members is Cathy Cates who is now the coordinator of the Christmas group, which branched away from the main group to run independantly.  I wish to thank Cathy publically for all of her hard work running this sister group so beautifully.  Thank you Cathy. xx

When I started up QBSA, my endeavour was to swap with EVERY member at least once.

As membership grew it became impossible for me to swap with everyone as they joined as some months we had between 5 and 7 newbies join.  Member ship has ebbed and flowed.

I have been keeping track of who I have swapped with and if you have swapped with me in the 12 inch group, Christmas group or 6 inch group it counts as a swap.  (This gives me three a month to cross off my list.)  As it stands I have 37 outstanding swaps to complete to have swapped with all remaining members, so this could be completed in a year, lets see how I get on shall we.

This past year has seen some great highs, one of them being our featured article in Quilters companion magazine

Gaining sponsorship from Fabric direct.com, fabric worm and the fat Quarter shop ( twice) was fabulous and we thank them immensely and hope that we can gain some sponsorship again for 2013 to allow us to have more membership give away fun.





The concept of the Quilting angels was formed to send some love to ladies who are doing tough either personally or with their health.  Angels also make and send blocks to ladies that have bad luck with swaps being let down.



Lastly but most importantly I wish all members a lovely safe Festive season and a Joyous New year spent with your nearest and dearest.  I hope that you all have good health and happiness.

May your needle be always threaded, and the fabric stash be never ending. 





Friday, December 21, 2012

Going to Vicki in Australia

Vicki asked for a bright star of any kind.  Well most of you know I am an earth tone gal, so this was different for me. This is the first time I have done this star.  Hope she likes it.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

An Overdue Update from Sew Well Maide

It has been a while since I have updated my participation in our great group so I thought I would do a bit of a 'mega update'!

Over the last few months I have received some wonderful blocks from my swap partners and have been asked to make some great blocks in return - I have loved everyone of them.  I have had a 'something new' experience in each one of them, sometimes colour, sometimes design.


These are the 12" blocks I have made for my partners

Septmeber:  for Sue

 October:  for Leena

November:  for Jen

December:  for Kym

For me all my partners are making the Plaited Block (from Quilters Cache - Quilt Blocks Galore).
Here is a mosaic of the blocks I have been gifted so far


This will be a fantastic quilt when I have some more blocks and start putting them together.  A big thanks to all my partners for a fabulous array of colour.


Until next time, happy quilting, knitting, sewing, crafting ....

 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Message from Pam

Hi Sue

I would like to thank my wonderful angel who sent a lovely block plus fat quarter in autumn tones that will fit perfectly into my quilt.
(photo attached)

I am quite frustrated after having eye surgery and not able to see well enough to sew but I am recovering gradually and cannot wait to fire up
the machine soon.  I have so many ideas and notes ready for when I have the all clear.
I would like to wish all my fellow swappers a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year
and also send a very big thank you to Sue and her Angels who have really brightened my quilting life.

Kind regards
Pam Sibson

Monday, December 17, 2012

December Swap Block for Jen in the US

Jen in the USA was my partner for December and she requested a postage stamp block, another first for me.  So glad I kept all those weird odd shape scraps as I dug them out and cut them into nice little 1.5" squares for this one.

Didn't have too many double ups in the end.  Hopefully Jen has received it by now!

Merry Christmas to everyone!
Cheers,
Sue

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Blocks In Blocks Out...

This is the block that came from my November swap partner Rev. Traci
 Just what I wished for and great fabric used... 
Traci also sent me an awesome fat quarter love it and some variegated blue embroidery cotton
Thank you Traci and thank you for being a fantastic swap partner...
My December partner is Carolyn from Queensland and she wished for a Dutchman's Puzzle
in Autumn tones...
this will be winging it's way to you this week Carolyn...
Luv Tarnyia xxx

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Block Update

Edited to add my blog is back and running better than ever, so using that again.



So I have not posted about my blocks lately. I wonder if blogger had anything to do with that? So here are some. 


Now for the most recent blocks (December) for OBAS I had the pleasure of swapping with Fiona. We both wanted civil war fabrics. I think they turned out pretty fab.


This one is from me to Fiona




And then from Fiona to me was this one. I snagged this photo Fiona took from QBAS.





November blocks were received too. This time I was partnered with Cathy from the USA. She wanted 1930′s or similar fabric and what better excuse to going internet shopping.


So here is my Churn Dash to her.




And here is another Pinwheel received




Love a squishy envelope

What a great way to finish off a week  - coming home to squishy mail.

Here is my lovely contemporary block from Alison,  I think a another block has the some of this print in it, so it will tie in perfectly, almost enough blocks to put them together, so stay tuned. 

And such a cute Christmas tree, I am going to use it as a bookmark as I am deep into a crime thriller at the moment.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Janet's Ohio Star

 
This is the Ohio Star block that I am sending to Janet!

Jeneta

Two beauties!

Imagine the thrill to open my envelope from Jan S. who was
my December swap partner and finding these "two" beautiful blocks!
     These from this swap are all going to be put together in a quilt for my oldest daughter
and she was thrilled at these lovely blocks! I am so excited to start putting it together!
Jan is a very talented sewer and she did a lovely job...
The monthly choice is one of these two and here she tried one of each! So sweet
Thank you so much!

Blessings~Lori

Monday, December 10, 2012

Sharing some blocks

This is a multi block post

First Rosemary emailed me....

I received the block this week from an Angel in America and it's just gorgeous - lovely rich colours. So a big thank you to my Pennsylvania Angel.

Then Janet emailed me...

Hi Sue
here is my block swap for December on its way to Jeneta!

hugs
Janet



Thank You Sue

A big THANK YOU to Sue for this gorgeous 2013 Quilters Diary and I can't wait to get myself organised for 2013.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Modern star

New member Karen from Canada requested any star in modern prints in red, black and white.

So here is what I came up with, it will be popped in the post on Monday.

Friday, December 7, 2012

December block swaps

Just received this amazing Spool block (top pix)  from Petah and I could not be more happier with the fabric and color choices. It is gorgeous. Petah has requested for a Log Cabin with a Red center, neutrals/creams on one side and brights on the other. Well Petah, hopefully the brights are not too 'bright'!

The Mail Man Finally Got My Block To Me.

My September partner was Lorraine. She did a great job in putting together the natural earth tone colors in this log cabin. What a good job. Love this block. Thank you Lorraine.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Two blocks

Lucky me, I received two blocks from Sharyn my November partner.

I love the newspaper print fabric that is used in the wonky log cabin, these blocks certainly fit the bill of contemporary.

Thanks Michell

Thanks Michell for my lovely Churn Dash in the muted Civil War fabrics .....



don't you just love the fabric with the pictures and writing... drummer boy beating out a hymn in the soldiers camp

Michell also wanted Civil War but in a pinwheel so this is the one I sent....


Great swap... and it has been a great year... so thanks Sue and everyone else for making this such fun.....

Catch up with some of you next year.....

Monday, December 3, 2012

Congratulations Leena

You are the lucky winner of my diary give away.


Your prize will be posted out to you this week.

Quilted hugs, Sue

Sunday, December 2, 2012

I love log cabins

Log cabins are one of my favourite blocks to make, I love playing around with all of the colours to blend them to feel just right.

My partner for December Allison requested a log cabin of a non traditional colourway Starting with a grey centre.

Lime green to charteuse on one side and aqua to teal on the other side in modern prints.  I had a lot of fun digging through my huge strip bucket to find the right colours.

2013 Cushion swap registrations open

Hop on over to my blog QUILTED HUGS to register for the 2013 Cushion swap

I run this swap from my personal blog as I keep the group one purely for the block swaps.

Full details on the blog, I have extended the time due to the silly season so you will have 6 weeks to make and send your cushion to your partner.

Here is a snippet of some of the lovely cushions that were made in last years swap - to wet your appetite lol.