I'm home!

What a great two weeks it's been. First to Toowoomba for my two days of classes. The girls really sewed their hearts out and produced some stunning pieces by Friday afternoon. Lisa was the best hostess ever. Talk about organised for teachers and students alike. The catering by the church ladies was gourmet standard and we all ate way too much. Every time we turned around it was time for more food!

These were left from Kathy Doughty's classes - fabulous.

How's this stunner from Peggy who came all the way from Emerald - 8 hours drive - to attend the week of classes

This background fabric in several colourways proved very popular for several Mariners

I might have even bought some of the green version!

This wasn't all Bronwyn made over the two days but she sure was happy with it.

Next year's event looks to be even bigger and better and I've been invited back - how cool is that.
Hubby met me in Toowoomba and we spent a week vegeing (??) out in Noosa - bliss. A visit to Eumundi markets is always on the agenda and I came away with the wallet a good deal lighter. Now it's back to work next week on the downhill run to Xmas - perish the thought.

Have you seen the latest issue of Aust Patchwork and Quilting. I have this quilt featured in it as a project for hand-piecing.
The quilt includes a lot of kimono fabric which I purchased from KimoYES in Canberra. Beautiful original pieces from Japan and the prices are very reasonable with lots of choice. It's hard to resist I can tell you. Check it out.

What's on my design wall

This is my latest "playing around" project. I've always liked the dahlia quilts and this is my version. The plan is to have different blocks in a circle all around the centre and then see what happens. It's fun to play with all the blocks in EQ7 - some are good and some just don't work so I guess I'll make heaps and then choose.

A few pics from Berrima over the weekend.

This is Chris's NYB quilt but she has gone outside the square with the border. Why didn't I think of that!!

Fantastic work! Those geese have a very narrow bound edge and are appliqued onto the border - too easy.

She's also quilted her Mariners Madness - it looks even better in the flesh.

Better join the guild girl and get them into Darling Harbour next year for alI to see.

Lovely muted colours in these NYB blocks.

Wish I could say this was from class but it's a coat worn by Jimi Hendrix - isn't it wonderful and wasn't he a trendsetter. How cool are those hexagons.

I'm off to Toowoomba on Wednesday for Quilting on the Downs - can't wait. Hope those Qld quilters like foundation piecing! We're continuing on to Noosa for a week so I'll be back in a little while.

A gift

This is a new version of one of the blocks from my circle sampler (which is pinned and waiting to be quilted).

I enlarged the centre from an EQ7 block to measure 32" across and printed the foundations - too easy!

The stunning centre is an embroidery given to me by Nerida from Ribbons and Rainbows in Blackheath.

She saw it in an op-shop for $1 and bought it for me. What a lovely friend she is.

Before I even thought about sewing this I found the amazing background fabric locally

and after the centre was completed there it was on my shelf waiting to be a star in this new project.

This is a close-up of that beautiful embroidery. Why on black I wonder? Was it maybe going to be a cushion? Whatever the plan it is now out there for all to see and appreciate.

All's good in the fallen tree dept. It is being removed Wednesday and the neighbour's insurance covers all but our half of a few new fence panels. Can you believe it!

Now a few class pics.

Alice's 10 deg wedge ruler quilt

Lurley's stunning NYB

Check out that centre fabric in Sonia's quilt

This is why we have insurance!

Last night's big winds in the Mountains had this effect in our backyard.

That's our neighbour's shed and that's our tree.

Just a matter of waiting now for the appropriate people to deal with it all.

Luckily it was in the middle of the night and no-one was in or around the shed.

Never too old to learn

I follow the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog and have been browsing thru their tutorials. There is something there for all sewers - quilting, garments, sewing for the home and more. Take the time to browse thru the topics - you never know you might pick up some new techniques.
Another blog I like is True Up - a blog devoted to fabric. They have a look at new releases, a sale alert section and lots more posted five days a week. A recent post included a link to the Rit fabric dye site. There you'll find a tool for mixing dye colours digitally - think of the time and mess this would save you if you're into dyeing your own fabric/clothes etc. I'm not but if you are it would be a very handy tool.

Ok that's enough school - a pic from Dawn in NZ. Her version of my Pickled Lillies quilt - looks great doesn't it. It is a challenging design to construct but Dawn has done a beautiful job. I can see the hands holding the quilt at the top but where are the legs?

This gorgeous quilt is from Anna in my Blackheath class. It is her version of my Spring Baskets doily quilt and I really covet this! Her collection of doilies is fantastic and her colour sense and sewing/embroidery skills are wonderful. It's a great way to use those lovely linens that are hiding in the cupboard - if you can bear to cut them up that is. Here are a few close ups of some of the blocks.

A blue and white spot border will be added with further applique and ric rac. I want it!

Happy campers!

We had a fabulous time at camp even if it was a bit chilly outside. The sewing room was full of hot air all weekend with the girls sewing their hearts out. Fantastic results all around including very creative free-motion samplers. Some learnt a lot of new things about the sewing machines they'd been using for a while so all was good.

As you can see there was a wide variety of 10deg wedge ruler creations - only limited by the imagination of the sewer really. Prizes were awarded for all sorts of things including to Jeanette for sewing her instructions into her sample! (top row, 2nd pic). Janice definitely sewed better with her tongue out and Ann looked impressive surrounded by wonderful examples of her quilting.

One of the highlights of show and tell on Saturday night was Pam's "out-of-the-attic" jacket - a real blast from the past. (She'll die when she sees this).

More pics next post of the myriad of beautiful quilts these girls are producing - some in classes and some under their own steam. It's a visual delight.

My friend Rachael who was at camp for the Saturday classes sure has a bit of bragging to do. She is the current featured crafter in the second edition of Fat Quarterly an e-zine for crafters.

Her interview is very interesting and all her friends are being constantly surprised by her hidden talents.

Well done Rachael - it's a pleasure to know you and have you on our quilt show committee.

Springwood Quilt Show and more

I can't believe I did it! I created a Widget to link from my blog to our Springwood Quilt Show blog.
It's on the sidebar - go and check out the progress on our raffle quilt.
Lots of problems this morning with blogger and photos so the previous post pics have no captions - never mind. From the top down they are

Lurley's from Blackheath

Work in progress on my 1940's DW rings

Another block from my circle sampler soon to be a bigger size

Judy's NYB quilt from Quiltsmith class

I'm off to Toowoomba at the end of September for the Quilting on the Downs week of classes organised by Lisa from Precious Time quilt shop. How exciting and in great company too. Sue Ross, Kathy Doughty and Robyn Ginn to name just a few. Have a look here at the program - it sounds wonderful and I'm so delighted to be asked along for the ride. It's in conjunction with the Carnival of Flowers Festival and should be great fun.