John & Marie • May 07, 2022

Random Thoughts

Have you ever found yourself gazing at the ceiling and apprehending something weird? Or looking outside the window and pondering about several known and unknown issues? These automatic and not so important thoughts that appear suddenly can literally blow your mind and make you question anything and everything. They are called random thoughts. Some give clarity; few render challenges while others are thought provoking.


“Random Thoughts” is also a fabric range created by Marcia Derse, an established modern fibre artist and fabric designer for Windham Fabrics. She brings a completely new vocabulary of colour to the quilting world. The world is her palette as she draws her themes from the seasons or her travels or sometimes simply as a new texture found in her environment. She applies paint with abandon, exhausting the cups of colour, trying every combination. Each piece of fabric is a fresh and innovative arrangement of colour in a wonderful mix of small, medium and large prints.


Random Thoughts quilt kit is an abstract kit using the Random Thoughts fabric collection and is suitable for a confident beginner. This is but one of the exciting activities that Ripley Sewing Centre has on offer for the second half of 2022.


Read Our Recent Post


Simply Sewing on Saturdays
By John & Marie 14 Apr, 2023
Expressions of interest are invited from fellow sewing enthusiasts to join our 2023 Simply Sewing on Saturdays small group of like-minded people enthusiastic to share our patchwork and quilting journeys. We gather fortnightly from 9am to 12noon with a scrumptious morning tea enjoyed in between. You may like patchwork, applique, embroidery, or combining a range of techniques in your project; with perhaps the joy of one or more quilting styles to finish your creation. Many believe quilting needs to be a big, and expensive, activity with the results destined only for show of some kind. Simply Sewing on Saturdays enables members to be part of a quilting journey making project, big or small eg. from mug mats, place mats, table centres, bags/caddies, wall hangings, and everything in between; plus, quilts from cot to whatever size you wish. RSC will have patterns and kits available. Members can also bring a quality project of their own. In essence, the main aim is to create projects using quality materials in a supportive environment where sharing with others offers you the best in your patchwork and quilting journey. To express your interest please click on the "Get in touch" button above to tell us a little about yourself and what you would like to contribute. Note: Beginners (Male &/or Female) welcome to apply. Places are limited so we look forward to hearing from you soon. S-e-w until next time, from all the team, keep well and stay safe!
Learning the Art of Quilting and Patchwork With Marie
By John & Marie 29 Sep, 2021
Designed as an introductory beginner friendly patchwork program through which you learn to play with colour, explore the art of machine/hand embroidery, advance your applique skill and gain a comprehensive understanding of the basic patchwork stages of cutting, piecing, quilting, basting and binding. This program is for those who would like to have fun stitching along with other like-minded people. The centre piece is a cherished nine block sampler quilt consisting of Ribbon, Uneven nine-patch, Eccentric star, Pinwheel, Heart, Flying geese, Maple leaf, Courthouse and Variable star blocks. It is a great way to showcase different quilt blocks and techniques including half-square triangles, strip piecing and the stitch-and-flip method. S-E-W, don’t be daunted, just take it one block at a time and it will soon come together. To support your endeavours, you will also have the opportunity to communicate with the designer of the sampler quilt who is an international patchwork teacher, modern quilter, pattern designer, freelance writer and author. Several other projects of hers will be included in your beginner package. Primarily you will be using Lori Holt’s “Flea Market” Fat Quarter Bundle complimented by an assortment from the Devonstone Collection Building Blocks Basics Textures fabric range. Limited to 5 participants! Commencement Date: Saturday 9th October 2021 Time: 9am to 1pm Frequency: Weekly Place: Ripley Sewing Centre Contact: ripleysewing@gmail.com or message 0419 948 452
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