Interview with fabric crafter Ronnie, continued.

Are you involved in a quilting group? And if so what activities do you do as a group?

Yes, I am a founding member of a group of about 12 ladies to attend the Gisborne Library meeting room every Friday afternoon for a few hours. We do various quilting and crafts but mostly we teach each other new methods and talk about the latest mags, designs and quilters. We have made one Charity Quilt - still finishing - and we're deciding how to donate it, whether to raffle and donate the proceeds to our new Riddells Creek Community House or to just donate the quilt to a needy charity so that they can raffle it themselves.

I also attend a Thimbleberries Club once each month to do the most gorgeous block of the month ideas at a reasonable cost. In time this makes up a quilt here and there. I also am doing another block of the month for our 6mth old grand-daughter's single bed quilt.

Do you ever teach your crafts in classes?

Yes, I've taken a few fabric bowls and boxes workshops for various groups and am advertising for further workshops.

How different to quilting are the new boxes and bowls craft techniques you are using now?

It is a totally different craft - but using the quilter's fabric stash that accumulates. It is a quick way to use up FQ's or smaller pieces of fabric - of course I've got "fabric-syndrome" and keep buying more.

Fabric Bowls and boxes by Ronnie

Was there anything that you had a particular trouble with when you started?

Probably only the quilting on my sewing machine - stippling and meandering, but with practice it is showing improvement and I'm happy to experiment now. I am saving to buy my own quilting machine.

Why would you suggest fabric bowls and boxes as a craft for someone looking for a new hobby?

Because it is fast, fun, easy and inexpensive. It is also addictive and makes the ideal gift - for some-one who has everything - visualise the fabric box full of choccies for a friend or a fabric bowl in "tie, dice, fish" fabric for a guy.

Have you got any advice for people that are considering it?

Give it a go. There are lots of uses for this craft.

Fabric Bowls and boxes by Ronnie

Fabric craft interview continued on next page
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