Wonderful Embriodery Landscapes

This is Sizacele Cele - ironing the hand-dyed fabric strips that make up the background for the Landscapes.

Here are Maurean Whitfield & Jagu Khuzwayo working together on sewing the hand-dyed fabric strips together to form the background block.

This is Ruth Seipp & Sibongile Mhlongo discussing just where the colours should go for the next Landscape.

This is Elsie Khomo - hard at work stitching the details on the Landscape.

From left to right: Elsie Khomo, Sizacele Cele, Beth Barkus, Sibongile Mhlongo & Jagu Khuzwayo.

Once the Landscape Blocks are complete we then stitch them to Shopping Bags to sell, which helps support their families who are infected or effected by HIV & Aids.

 These ladies are all from Amandawe on the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal, They have developed their sewing skills to enable them to depict rural Zulu scenes.

All the hand-dyed fabric is supplied by Amafu Fabrics of Durban.

Some of the Landscapes are sent to the USA for sale - please see this link 

The Bag of Hope

Patchwork evening bag!!

Here is the completed bag! Would love to make one with shiny fabric like Mary Gamester used to make her one. It's the zinger fabric that really makes the bag look special. I didn't see the tutorial until after I sewed the strips together. I wanted the floral strip to be the zinger.I will get it right the next time I make another one of these bags.

Another Flower Power Quilt!

Here is another Flower Power Quilt top that's ready for quilting.

This one was made by Saras Subban.

Janome Website

This website popped up on one of my lists this morning- this time to do with machine quilting.
Free Motion Quilting by Sarah Ann Smith

There are three parts to it and a whole lot more on the Janome site.
Since the Janome machines are not well known here, its not a site I would visit on a regular basis but, you know, I have changed my mind! There is some interesting stuff there.

Needle Wallet Patterns

Needle cases or wallets are not something I use to any great degree but they are probably fun to make and give so here is a link to a set of tutorials on needle wallets- more than you will ever need!

Needle Case Tutorial

The Great Izotsha Christian Escape presented by Cottage Patch Quilters Guild - (I know this is a little dated but thought you might like to see the photos anyway)

Here are two members of Tollgate Lynda Estment & Annette Lee helping out at ourTollgate table on the Friday Night Market.

Our, new Chairlady, Phil Fisher looking at some wonderful wares to buy.

This is the busy Friday Night Market.

Here are some more Tollgate Quilters "Girls": Mary Chapman, Annette Lee, Shelia Rice, Beth Barkus, Gail Leeuw & Margi Wilcox all having a great time.

Thalia Griffin & Mary Chapman who were my teachers of the amazing class of " Beautiful Birds", having a welcome early morning cup of coffee.

Pictures to follow when wall hanging is finished.

Annette Lee with her WIP ( Work-In-Progress) - her grand-daughter is going to love the fairies.

I can recomend the weekend away at Izotsha you will find "old" & "new" quilting friends to have a wonderful time with & the food is great.

Stole made by Ruth Seipp & Beth Barkus

We made this Stole for the National Quilt Festival in Cape Town but could not entry it as the Festival did not have a Wearable Section, so we entered it on the Royal Show in Pietermartizburg in the Group Section & we won a "Special Prize". It is hand appliqued & hand quilted. We were inspired after a visit to the Mariannhill Monastery where the ladies make the most wonderful religious garments.