Quilt Camp!
Last weekend I went to Quilt Camp!
Bronwyn, Janice and I began our mornings with a walk. The venue is set in the middle of nowhere amongst rolling hills and fields, beautiful old trees that look as though they have a story or two.
The fields were hopping with kangaroos.
Hello Skippy!
Colourful parrots having their breakfast.
The days were a whirr of sewing machines and chatter. It's such a hive of activity, about 50 quilters all sewing to their hearts content. At this camp we all worked on our own projects and part of the fun is seeing the wide variety of amazing, beautiful quilts being created. Here's some action shots...
When I sew with my friends I get so distracted so I've learnt its best to take easy projects.
I've been curious about Jelly Roll Race Quilts for a while now and seeing they're basically strips of fabric sewn together I figured it was the perfect time to try one. I know some people can whip these quilts together in an hour, but mine was more of a dawdle than a race as I stopped to make cups of tea, chat and look at what others were creating. It was easily finished in a day.
I didn't have a suitable jelly roll so just used 2.5 inch strips from my stash. I've got a pile of black and white fabrics I've never really used so pulled those out, then decided they needed a bit of colour and added the blues and greens. Gbf says the effect reminds him of rain.
It was funny, when I told him I was going to make a Jelly Roll Race quilt his response was "Make sure you have lots of bobbins wound.". I nearly fell of my chair, I don't know how he knows that! I guess he must really listen when I chatter away about sewing. It was good advice though, because I did go through a few bobbins.
I also finished the binding on 2 quilts! Woohoo!! I haven't had a chance to take photos so I'll show them another day.
I know I should have taken more sewing photos, see, I get distracted, the weekend was over in a flash before I really thought to take photos.. but here are some more random photos from our walks.
Quilt camp is always fun! I've already picked out my fabrics for the next quilt camp in August. Bring it on!
Ps Here's another post about about Quilt Camp and what we get up to...
30 Comments
I know exactly what you mean about being too engrosed to take photos.
ReplyDeleteNice jelly roll and Gbf sure had it right about the bobbins.
What a beautiful place! Looks like you had a very nice time. Good for you, Rachael!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had fun- as usual! GbF is amazing- MrPnP wouldn't even know what a bobbin was, let alone how many were needed to sew a quilt! Are you sure he doesn't get some sewing practise in when you're away???
ReplyDeleteA great write up Rachel It was a great weekend! Great company of friends, great Venue, great food, great comfy beds, extra great showers and great organisers.I had a great time!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a whole lot of fun!! Julierose
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place! I cannot even imagine seeing kangaroos hopping around! Seems like it might be hard to make yourself go inside to sew.
ReplyDeleteLove your strip quilt -- maybe a Welly Roll Race Quilt? ;-)
It looks like you had a good time! I too thought of rain when I saw your quilt, maybe the blue is rain and the green is the nice spring grass?
ReplyDeleteMy husband likes to guess the name of quilt patterns, he knows a log cabin now and loves to show off!!! They do listen, occasionaly!
I can't believe you were chased by a donkey at quilt camp!!! That is too funny!!
ReplyDeleteI think your jelly roll race quilt was the perfect thing to make at quilt camp. It turned out so pretty =D I'm glad GBF reminded you about the bobbins :)
Looks like such fun. I can't wait til I have time to sew again!
ReplyDeleteI love that your honey told you to have plenty of wound bobbins ! My honey bunny is pretty good at quilt lingo too. And OMG ! Ya'll have PARROTS wild and free in Australia ? !! I'm "SEW" jealous ! Is Bronwyn the one and only Red Brolly ? I absolutely love the wonderful art work on that blog. LOL Rachael...I was chased by a donkey one time and believe me...he wasn't teasing !
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time! You got inspiration whether you were inside or out. GBF has a great ability to pay attention to those little details!
ReplyDeleteLove your Jelly Roll Race quilt with the splashes of color. Looks great.
Oh, what fun! Nothing better than a whole weekend to sew with friends in a beautiful place. Your quilt is lovely. It does look something like rain, and the moss on the trees that grows around here--in the rain!
ReplyDeleteOh what fun~ I love to get away and sew and what a beautiful setting you have.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Donkey they always look mildly amused and bored at the same time. I just can't imagine getting used to kangaroos - they seem so wild to me and parrots too - amazing!
I really like your strip quilt, it is so fun. I have to remember this next time i need a fun quilt fast.
Easy projects are the best for retreats :)
glad you had such a great time.
Looks like you had a great time and I love the mix of fabrics in the Jelly quilt.
ReplyDeleteI wanna go to quilt camp, it sounds so fun! But like you I'd probably spend more time talking than sewing ;o)
ReplyDeleteOMG that is a lot of people at a retreat.......I like the fabrics you chose for the jelly roll quilt........
ReplyDeleteLove your jelly roll quilt Rachael. Its gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteQuilt camp sounds heavenly. I could do with a quilting holiday at the moment!
Great post Rachael...still chuckling at that donkey chasing your frills LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhen you're doing something you love, taking pictures is the LAST thing on your mind.:) Love the colors and fabric blends in your jelly roll quilt!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the opening pic of the rose. It is beautiful. Mind you the rest of the pics are pretty good too. Gives a good feeling of what the camp was like. Jelly roll race is good mindless sewing - great for when you dont want to concentrate too hard. That reminds me, I have one of them I must dig out and finish. Love the simplicity of yours. Very easy on the eyes.
ReplyDeleteSo so jealous here...kangaroos and 50 friends a quilting...so much fun. a friend of mine made the jelly roll race quilt and then cut it into fourths for baby quilts for the hospital. I thought that that was brilliant. I too need to bring easy things when having sit and sews with friends.
ReplyDeleteGbf is very impressive. I'm not suer there would be too many other halves that would know very much about sewing.
ReplyDeleteI really like your jelly roll race quilt. I like it better than ones made with a jelly roll, it's much more interesting.
Sounds like a fabulous weekend doing something you love with like minded people.
Thanks for sharing your quilt camp with us. What fabulous photos! That donkey does seem to have a "look" in his eye! I met a donkey once and he ate my mitten! (I was 4 so it was probably something I did)
ReplyDeleteLove your Jelly Roll quilt! I really like the B & W vibe going on, and the blues and greens are the perfect accents. Yes, I need mindless sewing projects when I'm sewing with friends - much too much blabbing and laughing going on to concentrate. Your quilt is fab!
50 quilters, wow, really a lot of people. So I can imagine it's hard to focus on own projects when there is so much to see. GBF is well trained ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd your jelly roll quilt is beautiful, very fresh, I love this color combinations.
And I'm jealous of the wild parrots, too ;-)
I saw a familiar face in those pics!
ReplyDeleteI am going on knitting camp in a three weeks. Am so excited but also am wussy - it is most of a week with someone doing all the catering and I always get twitchy about that sort of thing cos of my food allergies... Love the "jelly roll" quilt. I wish I liked cutting strips - I have so many quilts to make! - but I prefer sewing them together...
If I ever went away on a quilt camp I would be the same as you and not take anything too complicated. If I did I am sure there would be unpicking involved afterwards. I love your jelly roll race quilt top. Great fabric choices. Love the occasional blast of colour.
ReplyDeleteloved my time at Quilt Camp!
ReplyDeleteI adore your text prints! Your quilt top reminds me of rain too.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh, I haven't heard of quilt camp ... what have I been missing?
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeletei have just found your blog and it is very enjoyable. I also went to the Springwood Quilt Show for the first time on Saturday and I loved your Dollop of Cream quilt. really very nice - great effects created by the hand quilting and the colour choices and textures worked well together.
I wanted to ask you which quilt camp you went to as I would like to go to a quilt camp and you mentioned one in August. Could you point me in the direction of a site for more info please? I live in the Western suburbs of Sydney.
Thanks in advance, and you have got yourself a new follower.
Cheers
Kate
Thank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.