Mystery Quilt for Gawler Quilting Circle Biggest Morning Tea

I know it has only been a few days since I posted, I must be getting the hang of this blogging! Anyway, the group I belong to, The Gawler Quilting Circle, participates annually in The Biggest Morning Tea which is a fundraising event across Australia to raise money for cancer research. This will be the second year that I am teaching a mystery quilt. I just love sharing skills and techniques. Those of you who knew me in my pre quilting days will know that I taught Folk Art for many years from home and in local shops. So I get a great thrill in helping these lovely ladies at Gawler unravel the mystery of the quilt during a one day workshop. We all have heaps of fun and eat yummy food while the foot is on the pedal to get as much sewing done in the day.  For those of you doing this workshop, sorry, I am not about to let the cat out of the bag. I am happy to share my fabric choice with you.Marcia Derse fabric

I purchased some of these beautiful fabrics by Marcia Derse from Hettie’s Patch some time ago and then I was very privileged to meet Marcia in person at Houston International Quilt Convention in 2011. How could I resist… had to add to my stash. I have been saving this fabric for something very special and this quilt just begged for it. Marcia hand dyes her fabric and uses items from nature to inspire her patterns. Her website is worth a visit as she regularly releases new ranges. Lorraine still carries a good range at Hettie’s Patch. I used the black as my background fabric to showcase the beautiful colours Marcia uses to create her unique fabrics. The requirements list asks for a minimum of 16 x 1/4 yard cuts across the width of the fabric but the more the merrier! Visitors not doing the workshop will have to wait until the end of May 2014 to see the finished quilt. There will be a special quilting rate for edge-to-edge quilting of this quilt which I will release at the workshop.

Happy sewing until next time

Helen