My Favorite Tables

The most absurd thing just happened. I got another table. 

And now my family have revolted; there's a furniture mutiny in the house. They say I have "too many tables". But I ask you, how many is too many..exactly? I mean, for the working life of a designer, I feel like I don't have enough.

This is my latest table, don't you just love those simple legs? It goes up and down, making it perfect for all my applique pinning work. I found this beautiful table whilst I was casually browsing online. I don't go looking for tables, but they do somehow keep finding me. This one appeared in a sidebar and I knew it was what I was missing.

So here it is, being useful. 

I've turned it into a side attraction to my main event - this square table. I don't know why there aren't more square tables in the world, I love them. This is where I go online and share my work with the world. My computer screen is turned to the side in this picture, so you might not be able to see it, but it's there. I might be showing my age now, but I still think it's incredible that I can sit here and connect with thousands of people over in my Group who are also busy creating. I never take it for granted, it's such a special thing. And it's a special thing that takes place on this table.

Both these tables are to the side of my giant dining table. You can just see a peek of it in the corner of the photo. I start most of my projects over there and then 'graduate' them to these two tables here.. it's a creative process and frankly, I feel like I could use a few more tables but we are definitely out of room, which is a real shame;  I need an extra surface to comfortably draw on without taking space away from anything else.

I suppose I could create in 'shifts' if I absolutely had to, but as soon as I pack something up, I usually forget about it, so these tables keep everything at the forefront on my mind - right where I need them to be.

So, just lately there's been talk around the Sunday Lunch table that maybe I have enough tables now (I don't think I do actually) and it's been getting me down. After all, a quilter needs her space.And then some more. And then just a little pinch extra. Isn't that so?

I feel like no one at home understands or has enough vision when it comes to the importance of tables. And if I can't come onto my own blog to defend my collection of tables, then who else could possibly understand my predicament?

Surely someone out there understands?!

WOW: Working On Birdy

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Today I'm working on my 2019 Applique BOM called Hold Onto Your Heart. I'm making it in 2 colourways - yes, I'm really making such an intense quilt..ah... TWICE. 

No, I don't know what I was thinking. One is a full colour anything goes style quilt and the other is this soft and gentle scheme. I've already completed the Birdscene on my full colour quilt, so today I'm completing it on my gentle quilt.

I love Wednesdays because in my house, it's Applique day. And even now, after several years of WOW, I still look forward to it and and I still love applique too. I do wonder how much more applique I can cram into a day.. I think this year is just about my limit!

  What's Your WOW?  

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Lily Rose: VOTE TO WIN !

I'm over the moon this morning! My quilt 'Lily Rose' has made it into the Quilter's Companion Hall of Fame and is shortlisted for a prize. Please head on over to the Quilter's Companion site by clicking the image above.. and if you love Lily Rose, vote for it!

And when you vote, YOU could win a fabulous prize, so it's worth your effort to click.

To celebrate Lily Rose being shortlisted, I've put the pattern on sale. 

For the next 48 hours, you can buy the complete digital pattern for $4.80 USD. 

  Lily Rose  

  Complete Digital Pattern  

$19.95 USD

It's wonderful to see interest in this lovely quilt: knowing that so many new hands will be creating this quilt brings joy to my heart. Already over in my Group, members are sharing their own Lily Rose's and the images are breathtaking! I love applique and creating new projects and Lily Rose is just so much fun, I can't wait to share my pattern with you and see what you create. 

And don't forget, you can follow how I made my own Lily Rose, step by step, over in my Quilt Archives Page. Simply click here now to browse my Lily Rose creative journey and get inspired to start your own! 

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What you need to know:

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Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home

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Queen's Garden by Karen Daniel

Karen Daniel from Ilkley, Sunshine Coast, Australia created this stunner: look at these colors! The dark background makes all the colours zing so beautifully.  I am in love with the impact of a dark background on this design, and the centre pinks, yellow and green anchors the quilt perfectly.  Here's what Karen had to say: This was my first BOM, first attempt at appliqué and my first QAYG Files show front and back of quilt. Karen, you've sure got that knack for applique! This is more than an accomplished effort, I'm really proud that this is your first applique quilt and honored that you invested your skills in my BOM. 'Queen's Garden'

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

--------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery--------------------------- 

Thanks to Karen Daniel for sharing her finished quilt with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Click here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

Hold Onto Your Heart: Part 6 Cacti

By now you've already seen this image, but I wanted to share my fabric switch out. You know I love chopping and changing my mind over fabrics, and the cacti fabric is no different. I started with the sea green above, I just loved it and thought it was perfect. But as the rest of scene started taking shape around it, I felt it was too stark and replaced it with this print below.

It's such a small switch but makes such a huge impact. I get to see these kinds of little decisions all the time over in my Quilt Group and I just wanted to share my own on here, I know how addictive it can be to fuss over fabric. In this instance, it was worth the extra motif making!

How cute are these cacti? I can't wait to show you my subtle quilt too. It looks like this bright version has become my ambassador quilt as it's coming together so much quicker! Luckily for me, they're both on track - I just work in different phases and parts which means the subtle one is never ready for photos, but I'm hoping to catch up soon.

 'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM 

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!