Twice in one day

Just had to show what arrived in the mail today - isn't it beautiful. It's from http://www.reproductionfabrics.com/ Grand Teint range. Ideas are brewing even as we blog.

Guess what!!

I sent a quilt to the Cotton Expo in Narrabri for their quilt show and I won a 1st prize!! in the traditional section with Oriental Mariners. Very generous amount of cash it was too.

Had a lovely Mothers day at Bicentennial Park with hubby and kids (25 & 32 so not so kiddish I guess) picnicking and bike riding. What a great venue for both. There were lots of other families celebrating and we will certainly visit again - the bike paths are fantastic.

I'm on a deadline to finish quilting my entry for Darling Harbour - 3 and a bit weeks til drop-off day - better get on with it.

Time flies doesn't it

Where have the last ten days gone to?? Nearly two weeks ago we were getting ready to hang 150 quilts at Springwood High. All went pretty well with late nights leading up to opening day on Friday. Attendances were fantastic with @ $11,500 income from the door, raffle and cafe. Look like the textile students will be getting a couple more Berninas and Kids with Cancer will receive a fair share also.

No pics I'm sorry as I was too busy on my own stall - what a hoot meeting so many lovely people and giving our own stimulus package to the economy!

Marilyn the exhibition organiser won the raffle quilt - how wonderful it stayed in the family so to speak. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets. It is entered in the group category at Darling Harbour if you'd like a look.

I snuck in four nights in Noosa with hubby - he drove and I flew up - in between the show and our quilt camp this last weekend. Even managed a swim and a bit of reading too. Camp was at the Christian Bros centre at Mulgoa. Perfect weather and great company all weekend. Sorry Pam my room mate if I kept you awake!

Check out the widget for SEWN on the sidebar on the left. Sarah Fielke ex Material Obsession is involved in a new project to be launched on June 8. There will be prizes offered by participating bloggers - I'm one with some Mariners patterns on offer - so look at the guidelines and leave a comment to win.

Stand-up quilter

I had to share this pic from my last class at The Vintage Patch - Betty the stand-up quilter (she's pretty comic as well!) Betty is quite short and does a lot of her work standing up - whatever works I say. This is her 3rd? quilt and her work is beautiful. She jumps in at the deep end and her quilts are huge. One will be on show at the Springwood High quilt show this weekend.

Please try and come up to the mountains Fri, Sat or Sun and take a look at over 150 wonderful quilts by local quilters - you will be very impressed I'm sure. Ten trading tables and a great cafe run by the students - it'll be worth your while.

On the subject of the show I have been making a quilt for The Vintage Patch to sell kits for at the show. It's a good one for the male in your life and a looks great in red and navy reproduction fabrics. The pic hasn't had the final border added yet.

Off to start quilting a Three Sisters wallhanging for Jeanette and her church - wish me luck!

Had a lovely day at Bathurst again. They are gearing up for Sue Spargo's workshop at the end of the month and by all accounts it should be very exciting.

Some pics here of the NYB blocks the gitrls are working on for their Reproduction Beauties quilts - cats, florals, repros, pretties - you name it they are doing it. And very happily too. After a few glitches with the foundations we are well on the way to completing their versions of my quilt and the raffle quilt for Swd High quilt show.

157 entries and the hall will be chocka-block our exhibition organiser - also known as Marilyn - tells me.

The theme of the show is Oriental Journey and Sue in my Swd class is doing my quilt-as-you-go Noodle box using great oriental prints. Foundation pieced with flying geese around an octagonal block. Very easy to quilt and put together.

I'm having a stall at the show selling patterns and kits for them. I've been busy cutting and packaging - reducing the stash quite well to make room to buy some new stuff. Isn't that how it works?

Would you believe I spent the afternoon sitting on the verandah waiting for a red-bellied black snake to come out from underneath. WIRES had no interest in catching it so I called a neighbour who arrived with a broom(!). It has been eating tadpoles from a nearby water feature we think and after lots of beating the bushes we think it has been scared away. Thank goodness - I hate the rotten things.

Anyway - fun classes on the weekend at Folklore and Hobbysew. Most girls are doing my Mariners quilts and don't they look fantastic.

I have the privilege of quilting Vicki's beautiful reproduction version of Mariners Garden - "can I have some feathers please" she says! I have quilted around six of them so far - you'd think I'd be sick of them by now.

Guess what - I won a prize at the Katoomba Quilt Show on the weekend with my Reproduction Beauties quilt. Runner-up in the traditional category so I missed out on the Bernina machine as 1st prize but that's OK. Great exhibition I hear - maybe a bigger venue next time?

I've just had the privilege of being this month's Friday showcase at the NSW Quilters Guild. How exciting it was to go into their office in Pitt St with a selection of quilts and talk about them and myself. It's a lovely setting if anyone's in town to go and look at quilts or use the library. I was well received I think and look forward to knowing more guild members at set-up day for the show.

Saturday it was off early to Anni's at The Home Patch for the monthly class - a few new faces and some regulars with a bit of fabric shopping while I was there. Hubby spent the day sailing on Ben Chifley Dam. Most girls have done or are doing the Mariners Madness quilt with a few starting the Reproduction New York Beauties one of mine very similar to the Springwood High raffle quilt.

The raffle quilt is out and about at the moment, currently at Glenbrook then to Patchwork Heart, Bernina Patch, Patchwork Mania then the Vintage Patch in Springwood just before the show. It's a really beautiful quilt so try and grab a ticket if you can - you never know your luck!

We are expecting visitors from Sweden soon - mum and dad and twin girls aged 2years - won't that be fun for us oldies! I can hardly wait.