Catching up

Lots of pics today from classes before the big holiday. This is Ann's Mariners combination - Mariners Garden with a Mariners Madness border! This is the 1st one I've seen using both patterns. Well done Ann - why didn't I think of that?
I start back to classes tomorrow - it's been a long break and my head's not really with it yet.
I'm sure I will just pick up where I left off.

This is Carol's NYB quilt for her grand-daughter. I think she was a bit out of her comfort zone with this but she's persevered and I think it looks just right for a young lady.

I especially love the Kaffe border fabric. I wonder did Carol actually buy this one. It is perfect.

Caroline in my Friday class has been working on these blocks for quite a while and collecting fabric for the quilt for an even longer time.

Aren't they stunning. It's not til you can have a vertical look at some projects that you get the full impact. And of course when you stick with something for so long often you get sick of looking at it!

I think they are fantastic.

These guys are from my Berrima class - don't they look great.

Same pattern, so many different looks. The girls have done a wonderful amount of homework and I'm off to Berrima this Sunday to see them all again - they'll probably be finished the whole quilt by now having missed the September class.

PLEASE click on the SEWnSELL button on the left to take you to my on-line shop!!

I'm selling quilts that have been teaching samples and are now excess to my requirements and will have lots of patterns on there shortly.

Leave me a comment as to how you think it looks.

Overseas

One of the "quilty" things I did while in the UK was visit the neighbouring farm to where we were staying in Cornwall. Our host Mary (black skirt in the pic) told me that Jo next door was involved in quilting and would I like to come over and have a look. Yes please! Jo has the most wonderful set up of a shop, classroom and cafe attached to her century old farmhouse. Hubby ploughs the fields while Jo immerses herself in patchwork and quilting. As you can see there is a bored husbands seat outside and the shop is jam-packed with goodies. I managed to spend a bit! We had tea and cake in the cafe - thanks Jo - and looked in on a cushion making class. What a perfect set up tho Jo is flat out covering all bases and even has special events in a marquee out the back. What a busy girl she is. Kaffe Fassett has been to visit and Jo has been featured on a BBC program. Have a look at her website here.
I happened to find two quilt shows while I was there, both pretty small but very friendly. The quilts were lovely and when I mentioned Australia everyone said "we'd love to go but it's so far!" Just do it I said.
I didn't buy much fabric as the prices in Canada and the UK weren't much cheaper than here and the fabric was all the same anyway. Pays to shop at home I think.

Home again

Finally home after a wonderful trip. More details over the next few posts but I had to get this one up. In the latest issue of Down Under Quilts you'll find Jan Urquhart's EQ column with a query from Chris J. about how to draw this block from an old quilt - that's me!
She very kindly answered my query by writing a whole column on it - how kind she is - thanks Jan. The pic is of wrapping paper I bought and I'd love to make the same pattern but where to begin. EQ was the answer, now all I have to do is start sewing.

Happy day

She finally made it! My daughter was married last Saturday at a lovely venue surrounded by lots of family and friends. It was a beautiful day for everyone - the bride looked radiant and survived the nerves to have a wonderful reception. Just like a family party actually!

Haven't really looked at the 9 cds of photos but I thought this one was lovely.

We are off overseas on Monday for 6 weeks to Canada and the UK - maybe I'll find some patchwork shops? Hope to add to the blog by email but if I don't I'll be back in October - bye for now.

Quilting

I've had an email from Belinda Betts of Eucalypt Quilting in Orange who is quilting one of my Bathurst student's quilts. Could she put it on her website as "quilt of the month"? Sure can I said! Have a look at her wonderful work (under Photo Gallery) and click on the pics for a close-up. What a beautiful job she has done. Thanks Belinda for the publicity.
23 deg predicted for Saturday and the wedding - we are now excited!

NEWS

What do you think of the new sidebar? Wouldn't you just love it in real fabric! It was a free download from this site - thank you Megan. Check it out if you'd like a new look for your blog. They have free buttons and all sorts of goodies and they're really easy to download. I'm not the best at http's etc. so I need all the help I can get.
Further to the current issue of Homespun with the Texas Wheel quilt featured there is an "interview" with me on their blog this week! How flattering of them to think people would be interested.



After much deliberation I decided to put just this border on my hexagon star and do lots of quilting in the background areas. The colour suits perfectly I think and is a lovely frame for the star which really didn't need any fussiness around it. It's been added to the pile of tops waiting to be quilted hanging over the stair railing. They make great insulation and stop the fire's warmth disappearing upstairs!

This is my hexagon sampler, done by hand at our Tuesday night group meetings. The blocks were drawn up in EQ5 and were a pleasure to sew. The yummy border I saw at Houston last year and then managed to find it at Hancocks for $4.98 per yard! You can click on the pic to see a closeup. The toile came from Zooks at Intercourse for something like $5 a yard - it's not fair is it that we pay so much for fabric out here!

Exciting times for me at the moment - wedding this weekend, leaving for 6 weeks O/S 10 days after that AND I'm starting an on-line shop! The good folks at SEWN have opened SEWnSELL for all sorts of crafty people to be able to sell their wares. I am in the process of loading my store with patterns and actual quilts that have become "surplus to requirements". It is an exciting venture for me and I'll keep you posted.

Inspiration

Check out the latest issue of Australian Homespun (No 75) for my Texas Wheel quilt. I collected SEVERAL reproduction fabrics on the Houston trip last year and made this using SOME of them. Do you think the corner applique looks like Rudolph!!

My Tuesday night handwork has resulted in this gem with lots of fussy cutting around the outside edge. But I am really stuck as to what to do on it next. I've looked at lots of old hexagon quilts and am still not inspired. Maybe it should just sit and brew for a while?
I drove to Bathurst yesterday for a busy class with machine quilting, new york beauties and mariners all happening at the same time. It really makes the day go quickly!


This is Petah's finished quilt with a peeper strip and even mitred corners. She was very excited with the end result and it will certainly warm up those cold Orange winter nights.

Susan from my Friday class has made this wallhanging using mainly Jinny Beyer fabrics, Doesn't it look like a leadlight window.

And Sue has expanded the Noodle Box pattern to make a full size quilt for her son (?). She even draughted her own border templates to get the required size - well done.
The Quilters Guild Friday showcase is on this Friday - Jennifer Corkish is the featured quilter. I don't have a class on so guess where I'm going? 10am at the Pitt St office if anyone's interested.

I was booked for a 2 day class at Quiltsmith this coming weekend but it failed to materialise for whatever reason so we'll be busy speed cleaning for all the visitors on the wedding weekend. How wonderful it will be to catch up with people I haven't seen for years! Wish us well with the weather - it's been glorious the last week - I even dragged myself away from the machine to do some gardening!