Carpenter's Star Workshop Oct 2008

Well, I have finally ventured in to blog land! I have found reading other craft blogs to be so valuable that I thought I'd like to have a place to share all of the tips and great ideas that I have picked up over the years. I'm hoping that over the next couple of weeks I can add lots of pictures and links to fabulous things I have discovered in the world of patchwork and sewing - I just have to figure out how to use blogspot properly!

First, a bit about me....My name is Shontelle and I have loved making things since I was a little girl...longstitch, hobbytex, cross stitch, tassels, embroidery, ceramics, decopage - this list goes on. It wasn't until my mum, Sharon, bought me a sewing machine and signed us up for a Sampler Quilt class at our local quilt shop that I discovered patchwork and I have been an addict ever since. So much so that in 2007 Mum bought an A1 longarm machine and now runs a machine quilting business called Patchwork on Parade from home. As part of the business we hold workshops and retreats a few times a year. So apart from using the blog to share tips it will also feature details of past and future workshops.

Last October we held our first workshop and we had a blast. It was a busy, tiring day - but loads of fun. The quilt that we chose to teach was Debbie Maddy's 'Carpenter's Star'. It is a fantastic pattern that uses half square triangles to make the star - no templates or hand-piecing. It was such a thrill to watch all of the quilts take shape and to admire all of the different fabrics that the ladies had selected.


Some of the wonderful ladies at our workshop

To prepare for the workshop Mum, the fabulous Barbarella (a member of our quilting group), and I went to Wallaroo for a weekend of power sewing. Barb and I completed our 'Carpenter's Stars' (minus borders) and Mum completed her 'Antique Nine Patch' quilt, which we will be teaching at our next workshop in March.

Mum with her 'Antique Nine Patch' and Barb and I with our 'Carpenter's Stars'

Mum quilted Barb's 'Carpenter's Star' and it went on to win first prize for edge to edge quilting at the 2008 SA Quilter's Guild Exhibition

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Mum with the award winning quilt. Go Sharry!

I will be posting details for our next workshop to be held the last weekend in March soon. Talk to you then!