Travels

We've travelled over 1500 kms in the last week - to Wagga and back via Yackandandah in Victoria.

Glad to be home and dealing with lots of washing !

A few pics from the class in Wagga at Simply Stitches. Great big, airy shop and happy students makes for a good two days.

I caught up with blogger friend Janelle who's just won 1st prize at Canberra Quilt Show - well done that girl! and met lots of lovely girls in the class.

Here they all are on Sunday afternoon - tired but happy I think.

Now some pics from recent classes elsewhere. This is a new take on Mariners Madness - beautiful!

Mariners Garden

Birds in Paradise with extra borders.

Something completely different - Susan's Bulldog quilt. Will that dog fabric never run out? but don't you love the giant geese.

How many quilters does it take to sew a seam? Three like this when the sections are paper-backed and 2 1/2 feet long! Work progressing on the grand piano cover.

Pattern release!

Finally it's here! The pattern set for my Lots of Dots quilt.
It's now available in my etsy shop - over 100 pages of patterns for this quilt which won its category at the 2011 Sydney Quilt Show.
The set comprises patterns for the 26 different circle blocks in the quilt featuring foundation piecing, applique and english piecing. Each pattern features original foundations, templates, diagrams and extensive instructions for all the blocks in the quilt.

PLUS as a bonus you will receive a 50 page pack of light-weight foundation papers to start you on this project.  So if you're looking for a challenging but rewarding project this one is just for you.

The quilt is on exhibition at the Australian Quilt Convention in Melbourne in April as one of five "Best of the Best" from the NSW Quilters Guild - I'm also teaching there so come and check out the quilt and say hi as well.

Below  is Gaby's version of Lots of Dots in aboriginal fabric featuring - you guessed it - lots of dots!

Her fussy-cutting is amazing and the background fabric is just perfect for the blocks.

You can see both versions of this beautiful quilt at our Springwood Community Quilt Show the last weekend in April. We'd love you to come - check out the latest news from the show on our blog here.

Back into it

The new teaching year has started with a bang. Two weeks of summer school at Hobbysew and these are some of the amazing mariners compasses as a result. Let's hope they turn into something even more spectacular.

 This was my part of "booth" at the Meet-the-teacher day at Hobbysew on Saturday. I met lots of happy quilters all keen to check out the tutors and sign up for a new class.

 We had two days on two different blocks from the Lots of Dots quilt - how good are these.

 Debi sent me this pic of her NYB quilt in yellows and greys. It was quite a while in the making but well worth the effort don't you think.

 Our raffle quilt for the Springwood Quilt Show is out and about now with tickets on sale in various Blue Mountains quilt shops. Check out the show blog for more pics and news on the show.

Only 92 days till it kicks off!

Have you seen latest issue of Quilters Companion magazine number 53?

In it you'll find the pattern for my quilt The Gift - foundation piecing (how unusual) and featuring a large embroidery in the centre. Great wall-hanging size or add borders for a larger quilt.

I'm off to Hobbysew Belconnen this weekend for another Mariners workshop so there'll be more wonderful pics next time.

Foundation papers...

are now available in my etsy shop. Beautiful thin paper that tears away easily and goes through most printers and copiers. I use it for all my foundation piecing and can highly recommend it.

$7 for 50 sheets but I can only post within Australia on this one.

This lovely pic was sent to me by Marianne from Canberra, She made it using my Peony Circle pattern  featured in a recent issue of Country Craft and Decorating.

I made this quilt for Jason for Xmas - right out of my comfort zone I can tell you!

It has big rigs and "man" stuff all over it. Click on the pic and get a closer look at all the fun fabric I managed to find.

On the back is his favourite footy team - the Parramatta Eels and isn't the quilting great. That's Robyn from Hobbysew Kings Park.

Did I mention that Jason is 30 years old and drives a huge B-double with "dog" and is a mad Parra fan!!

He's also my lovely son-in-law and he just loved his surpise present.

These pics are from Summer School at Hobbysew this week. Part one of a Lots of Dots class in progress with part two next week.

I will be at Hobbysew Kings Park this Saturday for their Meet-the-teachers day 11-3pm.

All the teachers for 1st term will be there with their projects to entice you so come along and say hi.

New year and then some

Happy New Year to everyone who visits my blog. May it be a good one for you all!

I spent the break at the beach - oh so good! and with lots of family - even better.

And I've had time to sew - clothes and quilts and read several good books.

What a shame the idyl will end soon.

Even had time to put some new patterns in my etsy shop.

Check them out.

This is DEAUVILLE - lovely appliqued dresden plates and oak leaf reel blocks.
Makes up to a double bed size with that lovely large print border.

DEVILS CLAW - large blocks that go together quickly to make a big quilt.
A good one for those reproduction prints.

FAUX WEDDING RING - get the look of that old favourite without the curved piecing!
Appliqued curves and foundation pieced sashing - too easy.

And this is NOUGHTS AND CROSSES - what a great scrap buster.

I hope you have a look at the shop - you might even find your new project for 2012.

On another note check out the latest edition of Australian Patchwork and Quilting Vol 21, No 1.

On page 54 there's a lovely article about my Lots of Dots quilt which is being released end of January as a Block-of-the-month through Hobbysew stores in Sydney.

You can buy the program over 12 months with fabric (chosen by me) through the stores or the whole 12 months of patterns through my etsy store.

Keep your eye on this blog for more dsetails soon!

Nearly xmas!

Judy who lives near The Rock in southern NSW sent me this pic of her version of my Pretty in Purple pattern. Looks great in Japanese reds and navys doesn't it. I love it when you send me pics and especially when you've made the quilt your own by varying the fabric/layout or whatever.

Two NYB quilts in the making from Bathurst on Saturday. The one on the left is batiks - soft and almost pretty while the one on the right has lots of oomph - purple and black.

Barbara has finished her Lots of Dots that was started early in the year at Jukejema in Nowra. She has quilted it herself - can you see the circles around each block? And her label below is from leftover bits of other blocks - very clever. Love that ric rac!

This beauty is the first block in a Noodle Box version from my Hobbysew class. That fish fabric is just perfect.

Finally added a border to my Buzz saw quilt which I think complements the centre. I bought the border fabric before I made the centre and then went to the stash looking for something and there it was! Just waiting for this project. Goes to show if you buy fabric you like when you see it, it will come in handy down the track. That's my theory anyway.

Sent my Chocolate Stars off to Homespun magazine today - won't come out in the mag til Xmas-in-July issue next year - sorry.

Xmas get-togethers are happening all this week and the teaching year is winding down. It's been a very busy one for me and next year looks even busier with lots of away gigs - all fun! After a beachy break over xmas it's back to the sewing machine and computer and I'm hoping to get a head start on what's coming up next year. Hope you have a rest too!

Class quilts

Not bad for a foundation-piecing newbie is it!

Moyra's done a beautiful job.

Mr Pelican looks right at home here in Kay's version of my Emperor's Wheel. Love those marching crabs too.

Lorraine's finally finished her Lots of Dots and it's on the way to the quilter. Looks great!

This is also Lorraine's - a Xmas runner using the Supernova block from quilt camp and a really cute Santa with tree.

Pam's made this for her granddaughter - lucky girl. Pity you can't see the quilting - it was beautiful.

Another from Pam - love those leaves and yes, less is more.

We have finally finished the raffle quilt for our Springwood Quilt Show for 2012. Go on over and have a look - blue and white always looks great and Susie will do a wonderful job on the quilting.

AQC!!!

The program is finally released for next year's AQC in Melbourne in April - details here. The event is billed as Australia's largest event dedicated specifically to quilting.

And I will be one of the tutors! How amazing is that - finally playing with the big kids. There are 13 different tutors - 3 from the US, 1 from the UK and 1 from Japan as well as lots of famous Australian quilters. Hope I can keep up!

I will be doing 2 x 2-day classes on this quilt - Jacobean Star and two blocks from my Lots of Dots quilt.

 

Lots of Dots has been chosen as one of five by the NSW Quilters Guild to represent the Best of the Best from our state. I am so pleased to be part of this event.

The quilt has also been featured in the latest issue of Quilt Mania - pics were taken when they were at Darling Harbour this year. There is a write up on the Castlemaine Applique Group and Linda from Quilts in the Barn. It is a lovely issue and shows that Australia is keeping up or even surpassing the rest of the quilting world. Well done.

Out and about again

Have you seen the latest issue of Australian Country Craft and Decorating?

My quilt Peony Circle is a project in the mag and is featured on the front cover!

I've recently been to Hobbysew Belconnen (a suburb of Canberra)

for a 2-day workshop on Basic mariners Compass and Basic New York Beauty blocks.

Here are a few pics - lovely shop and we all had a great time playing.

 Now to Bathurst and Janette's NYB quilt finished and bound.

She quilted it herself and has done a fine job as you can see.

 Figtree now and Susanne's Mariners Medley is done. All from her stash too.

 I go to Blackheath once a fortnight to sew with a lovely group in the church hall.

This is on the wall and watching over us - isn't it beautiful.

Keeps the conversation polite as you never know who's watching do you!

I have combined with the Hobbysew group to make my Lots of Dots quilt into a Block-of-the-month project. I'm busy re-writing the patterns to suit (big job with 26 blocks!) and it should be released early 2012. I'll keep you posted but I am VERY excited.