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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



Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Attack of the Killer Sewing Machine

NEWS FLASH!! NEWS FLASH!!
Brother Sewing Machine is CHARGED with criminal offence of “unprovoked assault with a dangerous sharp object inflicting a penetrating wound with the intent to cause serious injury”.

Thursday evening did not go as planned for me – home alone with my 2 fur babies while Dear hubby at work. So I pop into a comfortable nightie (for comfort wearing an Ahhh Bra).
Dogs steak in oven cooking, dishes soaking in sink ready to be washed, hot coffee freshly made.
Then it all went pear-shaped. 
I was sewing a fishing rod sock for Steve & OOPS..... the machine needle came down & went through my left thumb. There was NO movement it was firmly wedged tight between the machine bed & the top of the shaft. ARGH…what will I do? 
As tears streamed down my cheeks, I carried the heavy machine with my right arm through the machine “throat” to get to a dresser to use the house phone to call 000. 
“please stay on the line” …”are you breathing normally?”
“can you unlock the front door”……. NO I’m connected to a sewing machine & if I turn the power off I am not sure if the needle will go further deep into my thumb”. 
“If you cannot unlock the door then we need the Firies to break into your house”.
"Please do not eat or drink in case you need surgery".
WHAT - I have totally lost my appetite and thirst.
I manage to carry the machine to edge of kitchen, the electric cord stretched as far as it could, open a drawer & get the spare garage remote control. Phew!!!!!...No Firies needed. No doors to break down.
“can you lock up any small animals?” …….”NO NO NO”
QAS arrived – both dogs barking like crazy, only little Flynn in the house, "tell me if the garage is open as I cannot see or hear from where I am."
“HMM.... we may need the Firies” say the Ambos – I give instructions on how to unscrew the needle, although it will remain in finger. They give me the “green analgesic tube to suck” – gosh that is a bitter taste.
Thumb is throbbing like crazy. All good the needle is unscrewed, they hand turn the wheel & my left thumb is released. Freedom at last. OH OH what is that piece of shiny metal sticking out of my thumb.
They allow me to get dressed, lock the house, turn off oven, get my purse, then I sit in the back of the ambulance.
QAS Officer starts taking personal details – “was this an assault” (YES by a sewing machine)
“was this a suicide attempt” (NO, I was cooking steak for dogs, and was future planning)
“was this a result of aggression” – NO only by the machine.
QAS are about to drive off & I say “we have visitors” – the Fire Truck has pulled up behind the Ambulance.
A laugh had by all – including me, although thumb still throbbing.
Arrive at Hospital (YEP the one I work at). They give me an Endone for pain – WOW – they certainly relieved the throbbing & left me light-headed. Sat back in the waiting room starting to nod off. They give me a Tetanus booster – that has left my Right arm like a “dead arm”
Called in for an X-Ray, see a Doctor in the “GP-type area”, she used to be a Pharmacist. She removes the offending eye of the needle. I get a dressing, instructions and get a taxi home. Right arm weighed a ton the next day…...grrr!!!


July 2018

Pamela Mills is new to B Group and requested a ShooFly quilt block in yellow print on a white tone on tone background.


May 2018 B group for South African member

Amanda Scheffer is our first South African swapper - so I included some Aussie fabrics. Her request was a Martha Washington Star quilt block in grey, blue, green and purples. I stitched and posted a second block after Australia Post failed to deliver.




May 2018 B Group swap


Elizabeth Koch requested a blue Card Trick block on a white background.

April 2018 swap

April 12" swap block for Diana Rayward whose request was Maker's Choice in bright colours to be used in a Friendship Quilt (signed after photo taken). I chose sewing themed fabrics.


March 2018 PP swap

March Paper Piecing swap blocks for Dorothy Green whose request was 6" Christmas Star block from Wombat Quilts (not in Christmas colours).

April 2018 B Group

Fiona Carruthers requested Jacob's Ladder in blue and white.


March 2018 - B Group

Kath Freame was my March 2018 B Group swap partner whose request was Courthouse Steps block in autumn colours with a navy blue centre.

March 2018 swap

March 2018 12" swap block for Wendy Husband who requested a Carpenter's Wheel in blue, green & teal batiks. There are 112 fabric pieces in this 12" block.


February 2018 - Kaye Robertson

Kaye requested a Starflower quilt block. The orange & green fabrics have Australian flora.


February 2018 swap - Pam McD

Pam McDonald was my February 2018 swap partner whose request was Yellow and blue Friendship Star block.



January 2018 Paper Piecing swap



Carole Osborne was my January 2018 PP swap partner - her request was any star in green, orange &/or blue on a white background.

January 2018 "Angel" blocks

"Angel" blocks for Helen Doyle whose request was a blue ShooFly block on a white background.





January 2018 B Group swap - Wendy P

 January 2018 B Group partner Wendy Pritchard requested a burgundy Churn Dash on a cream background.



January 2018 B Group swap

Val Mahoney was my B Group swap partner whose request was a red Shoofly with a black & white printed background fabric.




January 2018 - Civil War blocks

Deb Ariel requested Civil War fabrics for the January 2018 swap. I love how these Civil War fabrics are "showcased" by simple quilt blocks.

December 2017 - B group swap

Jennifer Walden was my B Group swap partner for December 2017 - her request was Card Trick in blues on a white background.



December 2017 swap

Carol Osborne requested any block in white, aqua, purple, cream & green for December 2017 swap. It was Christmas so I stitched a few extra blocks.





November 2017 swap

Robyn R requested Crazy Patch quilt blocks for November 2017.


November 2017 PP swap

Paper Piecing blocks for Jan Field who requested Zeppelin Bloc in black, bright colours on a white background.



November 2017 swap

Lynda C requested any block in red & green Christmas fabrics on a white background.


September 2017 PP swap

Julie Clayton requested Oriental fabrics for this paper piecing swap block. Shown square & "on-point".


September 2017 swap

 Swap block for Karen Falzon - September 2017

September 2017 swap - Cats Cradle

Jen Dickson requested Cats Cradle block in white, black & a pop of green.

August 2017 swap

Thea requested an Antique Tile block in Civil War fabrics.

August 2017 swap


A Split Ohio Star quilt block for Carmen J in white & blues.

July 2017 PP swap


Paper pieced Crow's Beaks blocks for Thea Williams for July 2017

July 2017 swap


July 2017 swap blocks for Julie C whose request was Log Cabin with red centre - blue, white / creams.

July 2017 - Erin

July 2017 swap block for Erin Barkle who requested any bright star on a white background.