Michael Miller MQG Challenge Winners

Better late than never! We're finally ready to announce the winners of the Michael Miller MQG/GWSMQG challenge! Here is our previous post explaining the rules for this guild challenge. The three categories we had for this challenge were: Best use of Fabric Viewer's Choice Best quilting And the winners are... 1. Best Use Of Fabric went to Hilary! 2. Viewer's choice went to Michelle! and 3. Best Quilting also went to Michelle! Congratulations, ladies! Here's our Pinterest board with all our contestant's quilts! The prizes up on offer were generously donated by both quilt shops local and international, plus a few guild members: A half yard bundle of Joel Dewberry fabric, and a quilt magazine from Christa Quilts $50 voucher from Fabric Garden via Sue Miller $20 Kate Quilts voucher via Michelle Rossetto Charlie Harper bundle from Kate Quilts Liberty bundle from Jenna Cottage Garden threads from Wendy Mini quilt Kit from Caroline and a jar of Lorena's amazing marmalade! A big thank you goes to Vancouver MQG and Brisbane MQG for helping with the voting process, and all our...
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Teeny Weeny Piecing Ideas

(image via lillaluise) Teeny weeny piecing is the focus for this challenge. Squares, HSTs and hexies look so much cuter when they are mini sized! Think outside the box, and look at what blocks you can shrink and make teeny-weeny! Below we have included several links to pinterest boards, blogs and websites filled with inspiration and tutorials to help you with your TWS item. We have made a Pinterest board  with a focus on tiny piecing to give you a bit of inspiration, and hopefully get those creative juices flowing! Paper Pieces is a good place to source teeny EPP papers, if your local quilt stores doesn't stock any. Charise Creates has some ridiculously cute paper piecing patterns- some that are already tiny, and other could simply be scaled down before printing. Here's a Paper Piecing Flickr pool full of cute paper piecing inspiration! Patchwork Please is a wonderful book full of Zakka style cuteness, including a few paper piecing bits. Zakka Style is another wonderful source of inspiration! Sew-ichigo has a Craftsy...
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Teeny Weeny Swap

We are very excited here at GWSMQG to announce our collaboration with Vancouver MQG, and Brisbane MQG combining forces to take part in the Teeny Weeny Swap! This swap is only open to financial members of these guilds. The ''Teeny Weeny'' bit refers to the piecing, not the actual size of the finished item, which is obligatory in this swap. It can be paper-pieced, patchwork piecing, English paper pieced, improv pieced, which may then be hand-appliquéd, but it must be pieced in some way - machine appliqué is not permitted. The overall look and feel should be intricate, cute and “zakka-tastic. One of our members Sheridan has made a mosaic  with links to the individual photos within the mosaic, should you feel inspired by these photos. Swap partners have a choice of what item they would like made for them: pouch, needlebook, sunglasses/spectacles case, collapse-able thread catcher, mug rug, or passport cover. The deadline for VMQG to finish their items is November 17th, 2014, and for...
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MQG Michael Miller Challenge Progress

Hey readers, it's been a while! We're currently elbows deep in Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair swag - our members had a lovely time shopping up a storm at the booths! Guild member Sue had her stand Fabric Garden in full swing, Narelle was working the Handi Quilters stand and Kim Bradley Creations was dishing out coveted Cotton & Steel (the first shop in Australia to stock it!), and pre-sales of Sarah Fielke's new book, Little Quilts, and a gorgeous new pattern! Guild president Lorena and our youngest guild member Sofia did demonstrations of curved piecing, Y-seams, and disappearing 9 patch blocks respectively. We also had four guild members take part in the jelly roll race, which placed second in by a hair! Check out our Instagram and Facebook page and see what mischief we get up to, and check out Sofia's show-winning quilt! (more…)...
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Riley Blake Challenge winners!

Hello everyone! We are so pleased to announce the winners of the GWS Riley Blake Challenge! Click here to catch up on our challenge rules. The winners from our five categories are as follows: Best Use of Riley Blake Fabric  - Lorena   Prize: $50 gift voucher from Kim Bradley Creations in Castle Hill http://kimbradleycreations.com Best Use of Quilting  - Vani Prize: A $25 gift voucher at Kate Quilts (also a Guild member) http://www.katequilts.com/ & A jar of Lorena’s Spicy Mango Chutney Best Piecing and Construction - Zoe Prize: An English Paper Piecing Kit featuring Kim’s fabulous “Holey Peepers”, papers, Bohin #9 straw needles, Sewline glue pen, glue refills and a quick unpick  from Kim Bradley Creations http://kimbradleycreations.com Members Choice   -   Marisa Prize: Two metres of any Cotton Couture Solids inc. shipping from Polka Dot Tea Fabrics on Etsy Value $26, & Rulers donated by Lorena & Sophia Best Use of Every Scrap  -  Jennifer Prize: A “Radiant Orchid” FE Bundle from Guild member Sheridan Superior Threads Frosted Donut 2. Value $50 from  Guild member Jane Davidson http://quiltjane.blogspot.com.au/ Sarah Fielke's Favourite Mini Quilt - Caroline Prize: Copy of her book Hand...
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MQG Riley Blake Challenge!

One of the wonderful benefits of joining our guild is that we are affiliated with The Modern Quilt Guild, and by joining, you also gain membership to the modern Quilt Guild in the states, which connects us to other guilds and provides discounts on MQG shows (including discounts and special offers from MQG sponsors). Last year, MQG an Riley Blake teamed up to create a wonderful competition open to all MQG members called the Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Challenge. Our guild decided to both participate in the competition, and make it interesting within our guild by creating a mini challenge. The rules were: Produce a a 24'' mini quilt, using ALL of the Riley Blake fabrics provided, and any solid of your choosing. The due date for our challenge quilts is Sunday the 16th of February, which happens to coincide with our Sunday Sit n Sew day! The categories are as follows: 1) Best use of the Riley Blake challenge fabrics 2)...
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2014 Meeting Dates, and our new committee!

Hello all! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. We now have confirmed our Sunday Sewalong dates for the first half of the year, and our Monday Meetups for the full year. Sunday Sewalong Dates: February 16, Function Room March 9, Function Room April 13, Boardroom May 18, Boardroom June 15, Boardroom We were unable to secure the boardroom for the full 6 months, but Dooley's had the function room available to us for the first two dates at the same price. The function room is located to your right, just as you enter the reception area. Monday Meetup Dates: January 20 February 24 March 17 April 28 May 26 June 23 July 21 August 18 September 22 October 20 November 17 We will be located in the corner of the dining room at Dooley's for these meetings, as usual. Dooley's Waterfront Club is located on the corner of Clyde Street, and Silverwater Road, in Silverwater. And finally, we would like to announce our newly-elected committee members! President: Lorena Uriarte Vice President: Cath Roberts Secretary: Louisa Wright Treasurer: Sheridan Powell Challenge Officer: Caroline Gunn Social Media...
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Membership!

The committee is delighted to announce that from Monday 27th May, you will officially be able to join the Greater Western Sydney Modern Quilt Guild, Inc! I'll start with answering some questions that you might have! What will be the benefits of joining the GWSMQG? You will be able to be a part of this inspiring, friendly and creative group of people! You will be eligible to attend any meeting of the GWSMQG You will be eligible for member discounts for Guild events You will eligible to participate in Guild challenges and group projects You will become (as soon as it is possible - hopefully July 2013) a member of the global MQG and entitled to benefits as follows: Access to the new (coming later this year!) MQG website. This is going to include a social media hub which can be used at an individual, national and international level You will able to easily communicate with other guilds and their members You...
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It’s Official!

I am delighted to announce today that the Greater Western Sydney Modern Quilt Guild has been granted registration as an Incorporated Association under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009. Which is a fancy way of saying that we are now an official entity, with a constitution and rules and brand new office-bearers, elected by those present at the Monday Meetup on 22 April, 2013. The inaugural office-bearers of the Greater Western Sydney Modern Quilt Guild, Inc. are as follows: President - Sheridan Powell Vice-President - Lorena Uriarte Secretary - Jenna Appleton Treasurer - Sheridan Powell We will be ready to start accepting membership fees at the very next meeting, on Monday 27 May, and that will be the basis for a separate post. Once the founding members of the GWSMQG Inc. have joined and we have official membership underway, we will be seeking nominations for two more ordinary (ie non-office-bearing) members to join the committee. Caroline Gunn has kindly agreed to be nominated as our Challenge Officer, so...
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2013 Monday Meetup Dates!

I'm pleased to let you know the Monday Meetup schedule for the next few months. Monday 18 February Monday 18 March Monday 22 April Monday 27 May And yep, our first Monday Meetup is just next week on 18th February! You'll find us at the tables in an alcove off the main dining area of Dooley's, just outside the Board Room.  There is no cost for this meeting. With the start of a brand new year, I'd like to talk about some of the interesting things we could do this year as a group, to keep us challenged and sewing! Come along with any ideas that you might have! You should know that until new 'leaders' are organised, there may not be a 'leader' at the Monday Meetups. I cannot guarantee that I can make it, unfortunately. But I can guarantee that if you come along, you'll have a lovely evening, and meet some really clever, talented, funny and friendly ladies! The Details Monday 18th February, 2013, 7:00pm...
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