Everything old is new again

I love Tuesdays.  For years in Brisbane it was my quilting day, either with Schoolhouse Quilters Kenmore or with seven close friends, we eight making up the group Loose Threads.  Of course I miss them so much, but Tuesdays still remain my quilting days here in Sydney.  St Ives Quilters have been most welcoming and this year they celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Yesterday we were asked to bring along quilts created over twenty years ago.  I was pleasantly surprised as members came forward with their quilts.

They had well and truly passed the test of time and could easily have been made this year instead of twenty years ago.

This magnificent quilt took my breath away.  Apologies for the slightly blurred image, but I was carried away.  Renowned quilter Judy Day (r) fell in love with the original at the Victoria & Albert Museum all those years ago and set about creating her own version.  It is entirely hand pieced and hand quilted.  It would look stunning on my bed, but I couldn't convince Judy to part with it.

And that brings me to a lovely story. Quilter Heather Watts heard through her daughter that a young mother with a three year-old child recently had the most horrific fire accident involving a frying pan.  The burns covered much of the front of her body and it was witnessed by her little girl.  She is pregnant and is due to give birth this week.

Heather was so moved by the story that she made this gorgeous quilt, not for the new baby, but for the little three year-old who has been so traumatised by recent events.  

That's why I love quilters and Tuesdays.

Tuesdays

Some folk love Fridays, as it's the last working day of the week.  For me however, it has to be Tuesdays.

On two Tuesdays every month, we eight Loose Threads gather at one of our homes for a day of quilting or hand-sewing.  Of course, the main object is eating lots of cake, sharing our news, good or bad, and expressing our opinions on how the world would be a better place if we ran it.

Two Loose Threads are currently in the United Kingdom. so watch out - perhaps our world domination is already set in motion.

The Threads that bind us together

THERE ARE EIGHT OF US, good friends going back over a period of sixteen years. We are The Loose Threads, a group of quilters who hang out together twice a month. We do a little hand sewing, eat lots of cake and drink probably far more coffee than we should ...

... apart from a couple of healthy ones who indulge in herbal teas.

We come in all shapes, sizes and ages and our beliefs and political persuasions vary widely, so what has kept us together all these years? If I knew the answer I could solve the world's problems. All I can say is we are comfortable in each other's company. We have been there to hold hands with those among us who have suffered great pain, and to give joyous hugs during the happier times.

Our gatherings take place every first and third Tuesday of the month, and after all these years we still await those Tuesdays with great anticipation.

Every year we indulge ourselves with a marvellous Christmas Lunch at a chosen restaurant. In years past we would draw a name from a hat and make a special gift for that person. Two years ago, we decided to take a different tack and make fibre art postcards for the nominated person. It's been a good exercise, forcing us to think beyond the square to come up with something appropriate for the recipient.

Yesterday was our special Christmas Lunch day. The restaurant was blissfully cool, protected from the soaring heat of a Brisbane summer, and the food was superb. The company, of course, was brilliant, though sadly we were down to seven, with one thread escaping to Sydney for a few days. We were warned to keep room for dessert, and I always obey orders.

It was one of those "I'll have what she's having" moments, only better.

The afternoon was drawing on, so it was time to open our postcards. I was absolutely delighted to receive my card from Loani, who has regular art exhibitions. Now I have my own piece of her original artwork and I love it.

Muffin makes the most superb heirloom hexagon quilts using Liberty fabrics, so she received a postcard which echoed her beautiful work.

On our recent trip to Paris, we came across this restaurant and as one of our members is Margot and it was my turn to give her a postcard, it was the obvious choice. I worked on it in Photoshop, blending two images, and then printed it out on fabric.

I am kicking myself for not taking photos of the other cards, because they were wonderful - including a classic women's pushbike (and there's a tale behind that one!), a brilliant interpretation of work by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and many more. Blame it on the heat and the sugar rush. However, here are a couple from earlier times.

Time for coffee (or healthy green tea) and some shortbread before hitting the heat waiting for us outside.

So what keeps us together? Loose Threads.