Monday, July 27, 2009

Bushfire quilt help needed

Dear friends,
Many people across Australia have been deeply moved by the plight of Victorian towns affected by the bushfires in February.

We are among the lucky ones: our towns and homes were not directly impacted and our lives have moved on. For people in towns like Marysville, there are months and years of hard work and recovery ahead before life gets back to normal.

Yet out of the devastation and heartbreak, visions of hope have emerged. The reviving of the bush seems symbolic of the strength and tenacity of bush-loving residents.

If you've been wondering what you could do to help, this might be just the thing.
We are making a commemorative quilt to give to the community of Marysville.
We invite you to participate in this project. If you've never quilted before, don't worry - neither have I! It's easy! With the guidance of our technical support expert, Julie Warren, even us non-quilters can have a go.

Step 1: Choose fabric of your choice, 100% cotton is best. Cut out an 8 by 8 inch square.

Step 2: Measuring in 1 inch from the edge, trace a 6 by 6 inch square

Step 3: Decorate your block any way you like - as long as you stay within the clearly marked 6 inch square, leaving the margin clear for hemming.

You could use embroidery, applique, fabric paint or fabric pens such a 'Pigma' pens.
Julie Warren is available for idea and practical guidance.

The Marysville Quilt Project website is up and running. Check there for for inspiration and practical suggestions, including photos that might prompt ideas for your block design.
Your local quilting store will also be a useful resource.

Step 4: Complete the quilt block and post it to:

The Marysville Quilt Project
P.O. Box 378
Warburton
Victoria 3799
by no later than 30 September 2009!!!

Feel free to forward this email to friends you think might like to join the project.
Thank you for being part of this project.
Kind regards,
Julie Bell
Julie Warren

The Marysville 'Beauty for Ashes' Quilt Project
http://marysvillequilt.blogspot.com/

Face

This is her face close up. Oh my God! She looks scared! It is so not what i wanted! I wanted it to look like she was laughing. Apart from starting again, next time, any artists out there to give me advice?

Hair continued

The channel for this loom is wider than the foot. Very important because you want the yarn to squish down and be sewn close.
Make sure that the loom has the open end facing the back of the machine or you won't be able to slide the yarn off!.
The hair is pinned around the head and tied into a ponytail and ready to sew onto the head. You can if you wish cut the yarn loops, but i will be keeping them as is to make the hair look curly.

Hair

This is a cardboard loom. The cardboard is cut to the depth i want the hair to be. Now i am going to prepare the yarn to make the hair.
You wrap the yarn round and round, pushing the yarn close together.
Keep going until you have most of the cardboard covered. Do not cut the yarn, take the whole thing to the sewing machine and stitch in the blank space using a wide zig zag to hold them all together. When you almost reach the end, stop. slide the now sewn yarn off the end and wind some more yarn around the loom. When you have the length required stop, back stitch and cut the yarn.
Hair is ready to use.
For this particular doll i will be sewing it onto the head all the way around because i am going to make a pony tail.