Saturday, July 14, 2012

Quilting at Eumundi

 Day 3 quilt
 Day 1 quilt, I have finished the central block.
 day 2 quilt, combined techniques
Posted by Picasa

Quilting at Eumundi

Hi All, This is one mainly for the quilters!
I arrived at Eumundi in Qld, on a wet and miserable day, drove to the showgrounds/camping spot. Only to find the solid ground was on a quite heavy slope, and because of the the oval was not available! Great! I parked on the least sloping section after driving all over the area! Spent the night dragging my bedding back onto the bed! Not a happy vegemite! Thursday I drove back into town to have a look at the place where the quilting was and a parking place was available and fairly flat, Got back to the showgrounds and the caretaker had tried to make me a ramp to drive up onto to get a bit more level. Not very successful, but I guess he got marks for trying!  In the meantime the rain was still pouring down, (and did I say it was no power?). I had my first moment of depression in the whole trip, I thought, what am I doing here in the rain and cold? Vicki go home! Well I had paid for my workshop , so I wasn't not doing that! Friday morning bright and early I headed into town and parked at the school hall , got a fairly flat spot, only took up one "official" parking space, as I overhung some bare ground. Took my stuff into the hall and we were off. A lovely bunch of ladies doing the same quilts as me, from all over Australia  and a lady from Nz. So I missed out as the most travelled to get there! My sister Maxine's friend Heather, came over from WA, It was through her I was there> I had never heard of it. Not surprising as it was the first event. I think it will be a goer though!
I was booked in to do a Karen Styles quilt, she is from Somerset Quilting/patchwork? Her quilts are reproduction ones, as ypou will see from the photos, fairly intricate, and done by hand! (another one!) First day was a lovely Lemoyne star quilt. I managed to achieve one star and half of a 2nd! Friday night there was a meal and a"trunk " show, where the tutors show their work, from suitcases! I took lots of photos, generally got someones head in them. I went off to bed in the car park, ready to pay first thing in the morning as the "famous" Eumundi markets were on and the school makes money by charging for the parking. We were warned to pay up, no arguing, and the quilt people would refund us our parking money. I was quite happy to pay up to 20 dollars, However the man made me move to another area and only took $5. Problem was he moved me to a shady spot, and remember this was day 5 without power and no sun! When we came out from 2nd day of sewing and I moved the van back to my original spot, I was on flashing battery warning. I showered quickly and changed as we went out to dinner, and after wards went to bed and read by torchlight! Day 2 in quilting was an unusual, theme, Each of the 3 tutors taught their techniques, on one overall quilt, moving around the room , so each person got 2 hours from each tutor, but only working on one quilt. Does that make sense? Anyway, another handmade quilt, some different methods, more fabric, more templates, english paper piecing, etc , get the picture? Day 3 another quilt!, fabric, templates, english paper piecing, hand piecing, reproduction fabrics! All these quilts are at least 60", mine of course, are 80 and 90 ", never do things by halves when you can do it the hard way. Now I have 4 reproduction quilts on the go, but I don't need anything else! who can believe that? So endeth the Eumundi lesson!
Next on the agenda, was catching up with various motorhoming groups in some nearby places as I am booked into Noosa, for 10 days from Monday. First I went to Kandanga, bowling club, very welcoming group, had dinner at the club for a very reasonable cost, spent a few days there then drove around in a circle to Kenilworth, via Buderim, the ginger factory and across the road to  the chocolate and Macadamia nut factory!! Filled the fridge with goodies!! Kennilworth has a great cheese factory, with lovely goodies also, including wonderful icecreams and other wonderful things to eat. (Its a wonder I am able to lose weight at all, even maintaining it would be a miracle considering all the fabulous tastes I have been trying!) but I am! losing a bit gradually. that is.
Met more great people at these 2 motorhoming chapter gatherings, everyone is so welcoming. doesn't matter who or what you are, if you are driving a motorhome, it is welcome with open arms! Some even acknowledge caravanners!!
Anyway, it turned wet and cold at Kenilworth, the ground underfoot positively saturated, one was wading through deep watery grass, ugh!! I succumbed and bought gumboots, finally! Very pretty, pink with black ponies or something, one is faded so I got a good deal. Who cares if they are faded so long as I can walk in the wet conditions with my feet dry? I was going to go and visit another chapter gathering, but friends warned me it was just as wet, as Kennilworth , so I decided to come back to Kandanga, just a donation to the bowling club, I have power, and there is a combined toilet and shower, unisex, but that doesn't affect me as I use my own in the night time. Dinner at the club on Friday night and dinner at the pub Sat night!, great, monday Noosa here I come.
I hope I can put the photos in, but if not you may get them shortly. Keep your chin up and keep smiling, Love and best wishes to you all
 love vicki