Robin's biography

 

Hello there! I’m one of the newest members of the Edinburgh Modern Quilt Guild group, and I’m so excited to join. Anyway, I’m here to tell you a bit about myself. I live in Edinburgh with my husband, we’ve been up here for about 5 years. I’ve always been a bit crafty (my other major “hobby” is jewelry making), my mom and grandmother taught me to sew, from about the age of 6. I started out with a little hand crank Singer machine and mostly made clothes for my Barbie dolls (really, that was all they were good for!). From there I moved on to making actual clothes, and I’ve gone through whole decades of life where my machine has seen more and less use (often when I get frustrated with finding clothes!). Although I can crochet and knit, I can’t be bothered with them, really! But sewing I always loved. One day, a couple of years ago, I stumbled into Jo’s Avery Homestore and noticed that she gave classes. I signed up for a one-day beginners’ patchwork, where I made a mat for our coffee table, and I have to say, from that point on, I was hooked! I love modern fabric and designs, particularly abstract designs and things like bright colours and textures. As part of that, I tend to like to mix hand quilting and machine quilting, both FMQ and more straight line stitching. I’m also totally hooked on Instagram (where you can find me lurking as @gingerscribble), and have been enjoying the lively quilting community there, participating in about 5 or 6 swaps over the past year.

 

 

 

August meeting

No pub this time just lots and lots of lovely show and tells, and cake, there is always cake!

First up some super exciting news! Looooooook:

 

Why that's only our Jo and Jane hanging out with Jen Kingwell, Lynne Edwards and a host of other top designers! You will all have heard about the new quilting magazine Today's Quilter? Well two of our founder members, our chair Jo Avery and secretary Jane Rae are designer, and features editor. So we know this is going to be an amazing magazine. I had signed up before I knew they were on board, now I am so glad I got in there early with my subscription. This is going to be an amazing publication.

 

 

 

Now onto last months bee blocks, now I have always saved all my itty bitty scraps as 2.5 inch squares, but I am rethinking that because I want to make string blocks like the ones we did for Helens round of the bee. How fab are these?

The pattern is based on this tutorialI love the almost 3D effect this gives.

Next up were Janice's fun cute blocks, I called them the 'I' blocks. Again showcasing great use of high/low volume, this will create a quilt that really 'pops' lots of discussion about sashing etc. can't wait to see the finished top, knowning Janice it will be a stunner!

Katie handed out her instructions for next months bee blocks. These are adapted from a fat quarterly spinning star block. We all use the same star fabric but pick a solid of our own choice for the contrast. Come back here in September to see what we make of this, you won't be disappointed!

Jo shared this wee cutie with us. You have seen that verykerryberry is going to be hosting a quilt along for the new Farmers wife 1930s quilt? If not scoot right across to her blog to get the low down. Jo has been asked to be a guest blogger and this is one of the blocks she will be blogging about. How cute is this?

Next up in the show and tell is Helen with this fresh and fabulous quilt made from a Joel Dewberry jelly roll. There's a lot of piecing in there Helen but it was soooooo worth it

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There are only 18 weekends till Christmas :-) but Jacqui is well prepared with her gorgeous Santa quilt, this was so soft and gorgeous, perfect for the cold winters nights. All hand quilted too.

Not content with one fabulous show and tell, Jacqui also shared this stunning quilt made from Cori Dantini panel. I wish the lighting was better my poor photography skills really don't do this justice, again all with superb hand quilting.

I think this might be my favourite all time picture from the EMQG, look at the fun and laughter we are all having here. This sums up the great atmosphere of our meetings.

Janice is sharing her amazing doll, I think all the laughter was around some 'unseemly' rootling about the dolls underskirts to see if she had bloomers on, she did *phew!*

I am always envious of people who can work on such a small scale, our group really produce an exciting and eclectic mix of amazing makes at our show and tells.

Here is a better pic of the doll.

 

Look at the shoes!!

 

 

Janice produced two show and tells as well, this great plastic pouch with lacy zipper inspired me to get out the lacy zippers I have laying about. Great fussy cutting of the fabric too.

Look at what Fiona produced! Swirls and sequins, I was so busy admiring it I don't know if I took it down correctly but it think this was from a class at the Festival of quilts. Again my photography does not do it justice (also everyone else was keen to get their hands on it to admire!)

We love colour at the EMQG and Katie didn't dissapoint with her beautiful hexie quilt. Bang on trend there Katie!

There seems to be a doll theme this month! Audrey brought along this beautiful example, all that work in the dress and doll, this is perfect. And we can tell straight away this doll is properly dressed, see the cute bloomers peeking out? No need to rootle to check :-)

Cathedral windows is such a classic block, Barbara's beautiful example is just perfect, all made with her usual exemplary stitching.

I love getting pictures where we are flapping about with our hands :-) you can see the excitement and energy the group produces. Sheena was also at the Festival of Quilts and made these panels in a stunning surfaces class from Cecile Whatman. If you can't find the fabric you want you make your own!

I love all the panels Sheena made but this is my top favourite. The colour and movement are just my style, wonder if Sheena takes commissions? :-)

Lone star!!! I adore this quilt made by our very own Jo Avery. Jo was asking for advice about how to quilt it. That's the great thing about any quilting group, you have access to the "hive" collective mind. I have lost count of how many times the group has given inspiration and just the perfect piece of advice, and even top designers such as Jo sometimes need help!

 

 

Last up in a bumper crop of show and tells is this one, the person hiding behind the elephants is me! I have had this African shweshwe fabric for years and never found a pattern that I wanted to use it in. Then I saw Jos fabulous scallops quilt in an edition of Love Patchwork magazine and I knew immediately that's what I wanted to do. So we finish off this month with some elephants on parade.

 

 

July meeting - the one where we went to the pub

Well I think it is safe to say that the Golf Tavern in Edinburgh really didn't know what to do when the EMQG crew rocked up to their door!

Oh yes, when we need an alternative venue for a meeting we just go to the pub. Well we are a Modern quilt guild!

Jane had booked us all a table and off we went.

I was very very grateful that my new camera phone was good at taking pictures in low light ...

First up were last months bee blocks, here are some of the ones for Jane, she gave us all a square of this fab bicycle fabric and we had to add some simple borders. Another great example of a simple block showcasing some lovely fabric.

Look how well they go together! This will be a stunner

Next up are the two bee blocks for next month, Janice chose a simple block, I'm calling it the 'I' block because it looks like an I. Tune in next month to see how they all turn out.

Helen chose a string block for us to do, but there wasn't a sample for me to take a picture of, so I will keep you in suspense till next month.

Now for our bumper crop of shows and tells.

Does this look familiar? It's Janes quit! The quilting done by our very own long arm talent - Tatyana, can you see the amazing quilting?

Janes next show and tell was this gorgeous hand printed fabric, how brilliant is this! If you can't find fabric you like, just make your own. The EMQG is a crew of many talents.

I need to make a beach tote for the Rural, I did try to appropriate this one by Tatyana but she was having none of it, I don't blame her either, if this was mine I would hold onto it! Love the fabric Tatyana. Stunning work as ever.

We move at the speed of light, well Robin does! This is her fabulous hand pieced mini for an Instagram swap, head back to last months blog post to see it more fully. It's a lucky swap partner who will receive this beauty.

Swaps always need extras and what is nicer and more practical than a one hour basket? With cute hexies too. Like I said, you have a very lucky swap partner Robin.

Cute inside fabric too!

How fabulous to see all of Barbara's bee blocks put together. Some simple white sashing really shows off these gorgeous blocks.

It's a hard life taking pictures at the guild sometimes! But everyone just gets so excited, and who can blame us! Audrey had us all well jealous when she showed us a HUGE stack of fabric. She asked her Australian friend to bring her 4 fat quarters ... Well bless him (he's a keeper, I heard someone whisper) he brought back what looked like 40 fat quarters!

We did get a bit carried away looking through them!

Audrey plans on using this stunner as a center for a medallion quilt. Watch this space for a future show and tell!

Things calmed down a bit so I could get a better picture of the stack of fabric!

Margaret brought along this adorable feather cushion.

Jaqui kindly held it up so I could get a better picture. More hexies, we are bang on trend at the EMQG you know!

Awwwwww how cute is this!! An adorable bib made by Janice, the smile on Robins face says it all, c'mon it's making you smile too!

Next up is Janice again with her jelly roll quilt, all hand quilted, my poor camera phone was struggling at this point so you will just have to take my word that the hand quilting is stunning.

And the back is pretty nifty too!

Jaqui brought some much needed sunshine with her bright and cheery mini. I'm loving that border fabric, who am I kidding I'm loving all of that fabric, Jaqui has such a great way of putting colours together.

Last but not least is ... me! I can't remember who was taking photos but thank you! Here is my giant Lilysquilt Dresden from Love patchwork and quilting magazine. You can't see it too well in this low light but it is all Japanese fabrics.

Can I get another awww?? This was my last show and tell, honestly I could just spend all my time making sleeping bags for teddy bears. The pattern is from the fabulous Flossieteacakes. The pattern instructions are adorable, with instructions for how to cope with teddies who have ample tummies ... Or sticky out paws. Too cute.

I have to say the patrons of the Golf Tavern seemed to be quite sang froid about the EMQG crew taking over their pub and oohing and ahhhhing over various quilts and blocks. Thank you Golf Tavern, we had a blast, but then again, we always do!