Snake Gully!

This is the sight that greeted me on my arrival at Snake Gully - the venue for the Secret Sisters sewing weekend in Muswellbrook on the weekend. There were two girls waiting in the labour ward for the big event - we even thought it might happen while I was there but no such luck. I remember just how they were feeling!

Part of the beautiful property of my hosts which included 37 different varieties of fruit trees, cows, sheep, chooks, ducks, geese and guinea fowl - I'm sure I've forgotten some wildlife I saw on a whirlwind walk around the house paddock.

My friendly hosts Liz and Robert with Ellie. Do you know mum cooks her bacon and eggs for breakfast every day!

We had such a good time - I even got to practice for my up-coming role as a granny.

Great venue in a renovated shed on the farm - good lighting, plenty of tables, air-con and food to die for!

Dahlias were growing slowly.

Several girls were trying out the NYB blocks. They started off quite reserved but by Sunday afternoon fabric choices were hotting up and the results were amazing.

There was lots of show-and-tell from me and the students. Unbeknown to me quite a few had made my Mariners Medley quilt and brought them along to show. They were all different and looked great.

We even had a celebrity in the room. If you follow Barbara Brackman's blog about the Civil War quilts you'll know she posted a block a week last year and lots of quilters were making the quilt in all different styles. Leonie posted her blocks on Flickr. They caught Barbara's attention and  are to be included in her soon-to-be-published book.  

These are the three blocks chosen for the book. How exciting for Leonie whose sewing skills are fantastic even though she is vision impaired.

I have lots more pics but I'll keep then for the next post.

Off to AQC in Melbourne next week - can't wait and happy Easter to you all.

Home schooling

Every week and one Saturday a month I have classes at home. Some of the girls have been coming along for over ten years now - who would have thought! and they are producing some wonderful work.

Sandra's working on this medallion centre.

Janice is making slow progress - but hey it's not a race!

And Sue seems to turn up with a finished project each visit.

This dahlia is even better in person - Pam is so particular with her needlework and fabric choices and it certainly pays off.

Bronwyn has had this centre waiting for a while and all of a sudden it's turned into this....

Yummo!

Marrianne has just picked this up from the quilter - what a great job. Just needs binding now.

I found these at Spotlight recently - all Denys Schmidt except the purple.

We have received 134 entries for the Springwood Quilt Show from 79 quilters.

A bit down on last year but not sure why. Anyway I'm sure it will be a wonderful display with a little more room to stand back and take in all the beautiful quilts. Only 30 days to go and so many behind the scenes jobs to do!

Who's a lucky girl

Guess what? I won a 1st prize today at the Sydney quilt show!! Can you believe it - I was nearly in tears going to receive my award for the category New Traditions from Old Favourites with my Lots of Dots quilt.
It is so exciting to even have a quilt noticed at this show let alone win a prize. I am so pleased and thank the sponsors Matilda's Own wadding for my great prize.
Check out all the winning quilts here - the standard this year is very impressive. Try and get there - it's on til Sunday and you won't be disappointed I guarantee.
Not to mention all the retail therapy!

Prize winning Lots of Dots

My 2nd entry in the show was this Ancient Dahlia quilt. It didn't win a prize but looks great hanging with all the others at the show. It was quilted for me by Belinda Betts from Orange and she did a fantastic job.

Belinda's son Harry took out a prize in the Junior category at the show. Must be in the genes!!

I'm off to Wagga tomorrow for a 2-day workshop at Simply Stitches so should have lots of pics when I get home.



Happy campers!

Once again our quilt camp has come and gone in such a short time. Lots of planning culminated in a great weekend for all and it was the biggest roll-up we've ever had.
The weather was kind but cool - just right for sewing til 2am for some of us!
Here a just a few pics from my phone which is why they are so bad. It might have been the wines I had before our show-and-tell on Saturday night do you think.

Lyn's Gilly's coverlet

Lorraine's Dahlia - the 1st one I've seen finished!

See the ribbon? Alice won Best in Show at the recent Camden Show - what a star!

Pam's quilt for her daughter

Marrianne's HUGE top with the most amazing broderie purse flowers

These are only a few of the fantastic quilts shown on Saturday night. The variety and workmanship was truly inspiring. Quilt camp is a fun time to get away and do what we love the most with good company and lovely surroundings.

I stole this quote from Kathy Doughty's blog - I'm sure she won't mind as she put into words exactly what I was thinking of our weekend.

"It is fun to have someone show us how to do things. It is fun to sew in a group. It is fun to share the joy of creating in a group of like minded individuals."

How true!

On the road 1

Emperors wheel from Warriewood

I've been travelling a lot lately even after coming back from Toowoomba so these pics are quite varied.

Summer baskets from Warriewood
A gorgeous version of Summer Baskets using a heap of lovely doilies, ric rac and yummy fabrics

Friendship Ring - this has had three different backgrounds so far!

Kris' beautiful Hexagon Magic. After major quilting dramas it looks so beautiful. Her sister will love it.

Now this is Sue's Friendship Ring, a project started at last year's teaching camp.

The fabrics go together so well and the quilting done by Carol Ikin from Lawson is fantastic.

Here is a close-up and one of the back. Great choice of fabrics and great quilting to match.

You can see this in the flesh at the Springwood Quilt Show coming up the weekend after Easter.

Talking of quilting I received my dahlia quilt back from Belinda Betts in Orange today.

What a fantastic job she has done to highlight the design. No pics yet until I do the binding but it will also be on display at the quilt show. She's does really top-class quilting and is off the the US early May for a "study tour" of machine quilting to further her knowledge.

More pics from my travels soon.