The Global Piecers - Who We Are and What We're Doing.

We are a small, but select, group of quilters who have joined together across the world to share our passion for quilting and other aspects of our lives.  We have regular swaps and the information on this blog is posted to share what we do and hopefully get some feedback and new ideas.
We are:
Carole in USA
Joan in USA
Judi in Australia
Katrina in New Zealand
Lis in England
Myra in Australia
Ros in England
Sal in New Zealand
Sandy in USA
Tanya in Australia
Teresa in Scotland
Twila in USA

A couple of members are less involved than they were for various reasons.  Would you like to join Global Piecers?  We would welcome a few new members, preferably who already have a connection with at least one member.  Maybe you know one of us or follow my blog?  Get in touch if you are interested in friendly chat and support on our Yahoo group and regular quilting swaps with lovely ladies around the world.  We are a small group, so sorry, no lurkers!!


Swaps 2016

We have started the year with a skills/techniques swap.  Each month a member chooses a technique and shares tutorials, video clips and personal tips with the rest of us.  We can then make a block using the technique.
January - paper/foundation piecing
February - curved/wavy seams
March -   HST
April - collage
May -  Celtic knot work
June -  easy Drunkard's Path using a wedge ruler



Swaps 2015

This year was quite quiet for Global Piecers, the hoped for summit didn't take place for various reasons and we had fewer swaps than usual.  However, we did have a Spring/Easter Batik Swap
and made items using batik fabrics.  In October we swapped either a pin cushion or mug rug and for Christmas either a handmade tree ornament or a Christmas prayer flag.  We were also delighted to welcome two new members, Judi and Myra, both in Australia.H



Swaps 2014

All the prayer flags have now arrived at their destinations, with the exception of one that fell foul of the postal system.  Some are flying in backyards and gardens, some are being cosseted in conservatories or enjoyed in sewing rooms. This has been a special swap and one that will be repeated in a slightly different form, a Christmas prayer flag is one suggestion.

Our next swap is to celebrate our fifth birthday and we are swapping blocks that say something about friendship, we will include a FQ with the block.  These will wing their way around the world in early October.







We began the year with a breather and time to catch up with outstanding stitching.  Now everybody in the Hearts Block Swap has received their blocks and is busy putting them together.  This is mine, which now hangs in the sitting room and reminds me of my quilting friends around the globe:

Coming up soon are more swaps and a birthday celebration and there are hopes of a mini summit in UK next Summer.  Watch this space…...



We had a lovely swap for Easter, a mug rug or ornament and a 12.5" block, all in lovely fresh Spring-like colours and designs, even though some of the lovely ladies have Easter in the Autumn which must be quite strange, no daffodils, no chicks, no Spring!  I expect they're used to it down under :-)
We are now beginning a new swap, of Prayer Flags.  Carol suggested this swap and everybody has embraced it with enthusiasm.  There's a blogpost about it here:
http://piecenpeace.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/prayer-flag-swap.html


Swaps 2013

We have just completed our Secret Santa swap and are now getting busy with our first swap of 2013 which will actually run all year as it is our Birthday Swap.  Each person who has joined this swap will receive a 12.5" unfinished block in her chosen colours/style on her birthday from each of the other members in the swap.  We should each receive enough blocks for a lap quilt or table topper or we may choose to use the blocks in smaller projects, such as bags.  Two members have received their blocks so far, here is one possible layout for Sandy's birthday blocks:

Our second swap this year was a recycling project. We made a cushion/pillow cover using only fabrics we already owned and some of these were pre-loved fabrics. The cushion cover had a circular theme to the design (but was not a circular cushion cover). The covers were made for a 16" cushion pad.

Our third swap for 2013 is just starting and will continue until the end of the year.  Several of us, or someone close to us, has experienced poor health, an operation etc recently and we have been supporting each other via emails.  We thought it would be nice to demonstrate our support for one another in fabric and so we're having a heart block swap.  Every member will receive a heart block from every other member.  The blocks are to be 6" (finished) in one direction and 6" or a multiple of 6" in the other and be on the theme of hearts - applique hearts, heart fabric, beaded hearts etc etc.  The idea is that we will put the blocks we receive together to make a wallhanging full of love that we remind us of our quilting friends around the world who are thinking of us, praying for us and cheering us on, whatever life throws at us.

Our Christmas swap (golly, is it that time already?) is underway.  It's a swap for a Christmas Mug Rug and a handmade Christmas tree ornament, something that will become a treasure.  We are aiming to get these to our swap partners by the beginning of December so that they can be enjoyed for the whole month. Sal is organising this swap and one of her thoughts in selecting the items to swap was the cost of postage.  Hopefully the packages won't be too heavy and the postage won't cost more than the value of what we are sending!  Many Global Piecers do like to put little extras in, especially at Christmas, but I think magazines and other heavy items may be omitted this year!  Think lightweight and lovely :-)