Mysterious Gathering

The most humbling part of my teaching over the last 3 years has been the trust that a group of ladies has put in me as they have continued to enrol in my series of Mystery Block of the Months.
Each year, they pick their colours, with only a scant clue of where the year's quilt will head. Their results have been terrific, I think. I love seeing quilts that are not clones of the class sample.
To celebrate the finishing of a third year we held a Mysterious Gathering. It was a chance to catch up, see some finished quilts and get a preview on next year's Mystery.
This first picture is Michelle Law's quilt from 2004. I love her dusty country colours. I think the suffering she experienced with the stretchy ticking background was worth it!
Next is Jenny's from 2005. it is lovely to see it quilted! She had a feature fabric very similar to Helen's from that year, but her cooler tones made it look quite distinctly different.
Here is Helen with her 2006 quilt. Her last class was only a fortnight before the gathering, so she is forgiven for having only one border on! I love her autumn colours! And her great choice of background fabric. Far more daring than mine.



Then Elaine's quilt with Elaine accidently cut out of the photo. Elaine always comes up with unconventional combinations that always wow us.

Christine, like Elaine and Michelle, is up to her third MBOM.So is Terrie, but I couldn't find her quilts while I was photographing. I think her 2005 MBOM (shown) is my favorite of hers.

The black and white quilt is Joan's. She works with me in the shop and gave herself the challenge of creating a quilt with just two colours. Well done Joan. The fabrics she has chosen for the 2007 MBOM suggests a similar challenge, but in purples.
The next MBOM is going to be the most beautiful. A pretty heavy going one, in terms of quantity of applique. It is going to be MBOM "Seasons". I am having to do mine in blanket stitch just to find time to get it done now that I am working so much. A bit sad :((


Karin's is next in my kind of colours! Deep reds and accent in black.This is the 2006 quilt again.

Next up is Wendy with her 2004 quilt. It looks great finished and she quilted it all by herself on her new janome. I love the colours of her 2006 quilt and can't wait to see it finished.

Finally ( because manipulating photos in this environment is not intuitive!) is Suzanne's quilt. I love it when people make quilts with the fabrics I don't have time to use!

And in case you are wondering, I am the one in a lime shirt at the end of each quilt. Thanks Michelle for taking the photos.