Cozy Weather

It's cozy weather at the moment. I was busily quilting and lost in my 'quilter's trance' that I get into when I'm working. Then all of a sudden the electricity cut out and I couldnt believe my eyes... we had snow! (Ok, just hail) but it was suprising none the less.

Twenty minutes later and the house was full of warm sunlight. Very weird weather day.

Usually when I get home I'm fast to get into the house and don't pay  much attention to the foliage at this time of year. But today I had to stop and take a photo and bask in some appreciation for the bush pictured here. It is blooming. I have no idea what it is. It's scent is sometimes powerful and almost off putting. Other times it wafts in through my bedroom window and it is delightful. For those of you who like Estee Lauder, when it is in a delicate mood -it smells exactly like "Tuberose Gardenia"

I was so lucky to catch a glimpse of a honey bee at work (?!) and he is in the fuzzy bit of the 2nd photo. I think its a confusing time for the garden at the moment. Warm sunny afternoons, sudden drops in temp and freezing nights.

With weather like this, I long for a cottage and an open fire (which my husband will dutifully stack, light and keep burning). No such luck. I am making do with bread and butter pudding and winter soups.

There is something so satisfying about winter cooking though.... I love dusting off my old cookbooks and thinking about recipes that can't even be contemplated during the rest of the year on account of the heat.

Oh yeah, have spent the week pottering througgh UFOs and I'm really pleased to be getting through them - the end is nowhere in sight. But you have to start tackling the list somewhere!

How I Mitre Corners

A mitred corner is a 45 degree seam

continue this tutorial by clicking below

Part 3 is launched

In the Pink: Part 3 is now up and running

It's been a quiet few weeks on my blog - I've just been so busy. I have to admit that the 15th has caught up with me again. Where do the months go? I think that is the question I pose the most on this blog.

I have slowed down a bit...it must be the cooler weather. The days feel much shorter and my preoccupations are revolving around bread and butter pudding, contemplating colours and catching up on some long overdue reading.

My UFO list, however, is ever before me (stuck on a wall) and I am working to remind myself that as time goes so quickly (seems to me at least) that looking back, quilts are a really beautiful way to document moments in time.

I had one of those moments last week when a quilt I posted went temporarily missing. It was sent via Platinum (receipted on delivery, guaranteed next day delivery) and it simply- didnt -arrive.

When I tracked it online, it stated that it had been delivered and signed for...the only problem is, it hadn't been. I was very lucky, the quilter on the other end doing the collecting, was very patient with me as I chased Australia Post up about it. It was finally located and 'dropped' on her door. Where was it for 3 days?? Who had signed for it? Who knows?!

Australia Post were neglectful and tardy with my box..and it's made me wonder how to deliver quilts in future. When you select the 'safest' tracked option, you like to think it will arrive safely. And you really don't want to put the next person along - receiving the quilts-through the annoyance and commotion that this type of scenario creates. Stress!!

I just had to get that off my chest - and have I received an explanation? NO And have I received an APOLOGY? NO Has the quilt receiver on the other end of all this received an APOLOGY? NO. Ok, enough said....

It's struck home that it's so easy to lose a quilt ...and I feel so attached to them. It's made me more commited to appraise (value) all my quilts and keep a better record of what I am making. All my quilts are originals and I would hate to lose any. Some, I'm ashamed to admit, dont even have a decent photo to be remembered by. Not to mention all the work and materials that has gone into each one.

Just yesterday my daughter refused to start a crochet blanket because she didn't want to invest '80 hours' into an 'acrylic' piece. And that made me think about all the hours and materials we quilters put into each quilt. (What's 80 hours? What is wrong with all these fussy crocheters??)

I have been very lucky, I know so many quilters have had there work lost or stolen, almost experiencing it myself put me in a prickly mood all day.

So onto a happier note, my bed will soon be cheered by In The Pink... how is yours coming along?

June Lyons Award 2010

The Waverley Patchworkers Inc Quilt Show is over for another year. On friday evening at the Gala Opening, I was surprised and delighted to be honored with the June Lyons Award for 2010, for my quilt Dream Fountain.

It was a great opening and I really enjoyed looking at all the great work that was there.

I must say, my heart beat a little faster when I heard that a Red Delicious quilt had won the Viewers Choice. They were just announcing it when I arrived to collect my quilt at the end of the show.

I am so happy about this and will post a pic of the Red Delicious quilt, which by the way is not red at all - but black and white!

Yes, even though it is not red, I still love it. It actually looks magical and I think it is just gorgeous. Thank you and congratulations to Jeanette for exhibiting your Red Delicious, can't wait to share it here.

PS
from all the excitement of the show, I have actually forgotten all the other winners...I know, my memory is like a sieve. But I will say that the winning Field of Flowers challenge entry was deservingly beautiful.

Note to self: next time, remember to take your camera with you (I left it on the bench) and can you believe that I dont know how to use my mobile phone camera?? There you have it - I don't!

Interestingly, I went to the opening with a friend who had not seen my blog or my own challenge entry and I asked her politely if she could find me amongst all the others - and after a well considered inspection, she picked mine...because of the type of fabric I had used on the binding. Maybe it's time for me to stop stash busting and start working with brand spanking new fabrics.

But really, I envy her eye for detail and I do think that all we quilters have a certain 'look' no matter what style we do.

Field of Flowers

The Waverley Quilt Show is on this weekend

Here are my 2 entries for the challenge 'Field of Flowers'

I do love a challenge and I do love flowers....so I thought I better make 2 entries!

I really enjoyed cutting out and making the flower heads. I think that when I have finished my current UFO list, that I will sit down with some inspiring fabrics and make a big bunch of fabric flowers for my kitchen table.

Pomegranate is published

On Tuesday I received 3 emails asking me what fabric I had used as a background in my wall hanging Pomegranate...and when the post arrived just as I was checking my emails, I soon knew why.

Pomegranate is a project in this months Patchwork & Quilting Magazine. Vol 19 No 3

Pomegranate is a wall hanging. It's worked in reds as I designed it just after Red Delicious... and was still enjoying working with this hue so much. It is the first bouquet in a series of wall hangings based on domestic and goodwill motifs that I love.

The pomegranate symbolises fertility, abundance and luck.

I have always been very interested in the language of flowers and nature and the imagery used to impart meaning, particularly in hand textiles through motifs used to represent these items.

I love being surrounded by this rich, meaningful language on a day to day basis. And I love coming home to a house full of quilts and wall hangings too.

The background fabric I used is 'Chloe' by New Heirloom.  Of course, any french toile in red and cream would also work really well.  This is fabric from my stash. I've been quilting for 10 years so I have no idea how old it is. Perhaps 5 years? There is so much variety in the market now that I am sure you will easily find something suitable.

The remaining bouquets in this 'series' total 9. I am still deciding how to work them - remaining with individual wall hangings or designing a quilt? They are on the list, however I am already working on the next BOM and have 3 UFOs that are in progress to be finished. My studio is clean and tidy so I am newly inspired to get finished. I love getting in after a big clean up and just working. One of the rewards of spending days on end sorting out has to be all those bits and pieces you'd either forgotten about or temporarily 'lost'

PS

As a proud member of my local group, the Waverley Patchworkers Inc, I will be attending the Gala Opening this evening.

The Quilt Show starts tomorrow Sat 9:30am - 5pm and Sun 9:30 - 4pm. Admission is $7

Where? Mt Waverley Community Centre (opp railway station), Miller Cres, Mt Waverley

This years challenge is "Field of Flowers"
Am I in it? Of course I am....I can't pass up a challenge!

In The Pink Prowess!

Danni from Germany amazes me with her In The Pink prowess!!

Danni had to climb up on a table to be able to take this photo...thank you Danni...it was worth the effort.

Look at this quilt, it's beautiful...and seeing ITP in such different colours is a real pleasure for me as well, because I can live through other quilters' colour pickings - what a treat.

Wow! some of you are really moving fast with this BOM, and why not? It's a great stash buster, and who doesnt need another bed quilt???

I'm so glad that I decided to make my own ITP ahead of launching the BOM as usually I like to make quilts step by step as I work through the pattern and I would have been put to shame with the speed some of you are working at!!

Well Danni, can't wait to see how you work the centre applique blocks....

How is everyone else going with ITP? Are you working it through month to month, or collecting the pattern to make at a later stage?

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Red Delicious

Firstly,

thank you Amy for another great Blogger's Quilt Festival. This is my 3rd year taking part and I just love it...this festival is a stroke of genuis...I know I'm going to be browsing hundreds of great quilts and blogs before the weekend is out.

Red Delicious by Esther Aliu

Red Delicious is my original applique BOM which was launched for free over 12 months.

Why?
I had a stash of red fabric I wanted to do something with, it had to be a stash buster – I didn’t want to have to outlay on new fabrics. I had journals of sketching and designs I knew it was time to put to use and I thought it was about time I put my long standing ‘red quilt idea’ into action. Each block was inspired by the red things in life that I love and each design has a personal story behind it. I knew this was something I wanted to share – to give back- to a community that is so generous with its time and advice – this quilt was to be a BOM and it was going to be free to anyone who wanted to join in. In this way, it would be my contribution.

What?

Red Delicious is an original appliqué design wall hanging 50 x 52 inches
Mainly appliqué : It's design, innovative folk, made it traditionally appealing whilst remaining a little bit different
Red Delicious was a free stash buster BOM launched on Nov 15, 2008.It ran for 12 months, it was released in 12 blocks
Red Delicious was complemented by ‘The Red Room’ décor theme which included: a table runner (Cherry Thieves) and 2 cushion designs

The Quilters
Thank you to everyone who joined in.I know from the many quilts made, each quilter who came along for the BOM journey made this quilt their own through personal design embellishes and fabric choices.

Wow!
The Scribd.com site where the Red Delicious blocks were launched and made available each month received over 80,606 reads, since Nov 13, 2008. This figure does not include downloads made by Yahoo Group Members who accessed the block files via group access (membership to date is 836)

And Now?
Red Delicious is finished. Blocks are no longer available for free. Missed a block? All single blocks can be purchased via my shop.

Red Delicious Community

Why not join my BOM Yahoo Group? It’s a great place to celebrate, share and discuss Red Delicious and well as the new monthly BOM In The Pink. It’s also a central place to access files quickly and easily as well as post photos and encourage one another.

Yes, you can buy this stash busting BOM pattern! Visit my website for more info...

I have a Header!

I think I have a header now.
It took a lot of grief, but I think I'll be keeping this one for a while.
It took me longer to do my Header than it did to do last months BOM.
Thank you especially to Brenda and Eva who jumped in and were so helpful.
I read a lot of info, and I *think* I'm closer to understanding.
Phew.....I think

Show & Tell, block 2

This has made my morning....Danni from Germany has emailed me these pics of her block 2. It's going to be striking!

Part 2 is now also available in 2 parts

There was a time when I thought designing the quilt was the 'work'...but now I know that uploading it is the only real work involved. Sometimes I think I need a full time computer tech person to manage all the computer related stuff that needs to be done...

Anyway! I thought I had a handle on launching blocks...but I still have much to learn. I thought Part 2 was compressed enough to be as user friendly as possible, but it appears that some users have had difficulty downloading the file in its present state.

I don't want anyone to miss out on making this stash busting block, so I have now added Part 2 in 2 files for easier downloading. I hope this helps! Please note that the file is the same, it has simply been split into 2.

In The Pink Part 2 is launched

Does stash busting get any better than tulips and reminiscences of

spring fields and billowy tulips?

Part 2 is now launched!

It's nearly Festival Time again

Thank you Amy- Park City Girl....

I'd nearly forgotten that it's that time of year again. The annual Bloggers Quilt Festival... is everyone ready? Amy has some great instructions to help you join in: http://www.amyscreativeside.com/p/bloggers-quilt-festival.html

Spread the word, the more the merrier

Blogger Header

ear steaming annoyances!

Calling all blogger savvy ladies (or gentlemen) out there:

Try as I might, my blogger header/banner has continually defeated me. I need some guidance and can't seem to find any anywhere. My images are too big for the banner....then they are too small. Then I size them exactly to the banner specs and they only take up half the header 'frame'.

I'm sure I must be doing something wrong. I'm sure it's pretty basic and has passed me by. If anyone knows how to do this, please let me know. I would appreciate any guidance: it does need to be blogger specific though. I have uploaded banners to other formats without difficulty, its just something here that is frustrating me!

I have found blogger to be pretty good on the whole, but some simple things like this do frustrate me. I was thinking about moving house to WordPress.com (easy peasy headers, neat frames, very stylish) but have been scared off by the amount of people I hear from who are still ARGH-ING in angst after making the move themselves.

Surely it's not supposed to be this hard.

Please help!

UPDATE: 15 May 2010:

Thank you so much to everyone for your kind offers and helpful info...I have just discovered Blogger in Draft (where have I been?? I don't know) and have neatened up my blog as best as I know how at this stage of my technical skills.

First Blocks

Raewyn Barge has made my afternoon by sending in a pic of her first block. It's so nice to know that someone somewhere is selecting and cutting away. Nice colours Raewyn!

There are going to be plenty of beautiful 'spring' themed beds in 6 months time...

Block 2 is just a few days away

Block 2 will be launched on the 15th

So you have just a few days to download block 1 for free. After the 15th, you will need to purchase any missed blocks.

Has anyone out there completed this months block? I'd love to see it.

I've been re-organising myself (arent I always??) in the hope of being more organized so I can tackle the upcoming BOMs I have designed and am planning to make in the coming months.

Conversion Chart

There's been some confusion over yards and meters...so here is a chart I think will help. Double click to see a larger image or click on my added 'Conversion Chart Page' for more clarity.

Laughing Leaves Workshop

I was lucky enough to attend Frieda Anderson's Laughing Leaves workshop here in Melbourne last week. I have long admired Frieda, so being able to take her class was a real treat.

This is my work above - I love it. It's not quilted yet, but I already have a spot for it at home. I'm so happy.... Why am I so happy? ...because the design is 'free' no rulers, no measuring, no pencil lines...no marking....you just trust you eye and go for it. If you have the opportunity, I recommend that you take this class...and if you don't, you'll just have to make do with visiting Frieda's blog and website where she sells kits. http://friestyle.blogspot.com/

Thanks Frieda, for a great day

AQC Melbourne 2010

Well it's been a bit quiet on my blog here in the last week or so. Right after launching In The Pink and my long overdue website, it was time for AQC and I have spent the last week having a lovely time in classrooms and on white glove duty. I'm so glad that the AQC is in my home town of Melbourne as I would have hated to miss out on attending this event.

What a week!

I was lucky enough to meet so many of you, it's always great to put a face to a name...and catching up with everyone who is usually so far away.

My UFO list also haunted me a little as I met up Lizzie from the Civil War Bride Quilt (which I am a member of...and absolutely taking part in...I'm just taking my time about it...still choosing a colour scheme actually)but its great to see how everyone is interpreting this quilt.

I waited for all of the girls to start on their quilts so that when I started my own it wouldnt intrude on what everyone else was doing - yes, I have decided to make mine entirely in red and white with a few dashes of black. It was on the agenda, but seeing the progress has made me want to get this one out and I have finally settled on using up (I hope) the rest of my red stash.

I will be following the pattern and have spoken to Lizzie about my 'colour intentions' and she has no qualms about it. The rest of my progress and participation will be revealed in the Civil War Bride Quilt Blog (link on side bar). Are you making this fascinating quilt yourself? Have you checked out this blog? it's a must see.

So, I'm back at home. Newly inspired, and thinking about how to organise my time. I have a suprise new BOM which I have to finalise fabric for...yes another one, it's coming soon.... and a studio in serious need of a bit of a tidy. When you start quilting you aquire much 'stuff' and I've reached the era of 'simplifying' I think. Mind you, I still have some wonderful Westalee Rulers I havent managed to get around to using...there's just never enough time.

Wow, I've been a fan of Frieda Anderson for some time (photos above)....and I was lucky enough to meet her in person this year as well as enjoy taking her class. I had a great time and I will be blogging about that tomorrow as it's too dark to take a photo of what I made at the moment.

What a liberating experience it was.... more on that tomorrow!

As you can see, I am still struggling to make Blogger behave and these pics are just doing what they want!

And of course, my banner still has me defeated....urgh! computers!

New EQ7 coming soon!

EQ 7 is being launched soon. That's right. The best Electronic Quilt designer software has been upgraded. Now, I know what you're all thinking....am I computer proficient enough to work with the new EQ7??

Well...I hope so. I have EQ6 and I have gone through periods of trying to teach myself the basics, because if I managed to master it ...it would make my life -so much easier-. With the new EQ7 being launched soon...I think its time that I took some serious lessons and came to terms with using this great software.

You can visit the Electric Quilt website here: http://www.electricquilt.com/

In The Pink is launched

In The Pink is launched!

Red Delicious was so rewarding, I thought I'd do it all over again. In The Pink is a bed quilt, inspired by tulips, released in 6 parts. (87 x 87 inches). As with RD, each installment is free during it's month of 'currency' and is then replaced with a new block.

Each installment will be released on the 15th of the month.

Being a 6 month BOM, there's plenty of time to make this quilt by Christmas....and it's also a perfect stash buster as well as being suited to new modern prints. Applique and pieced. This time around, I've learnt a few things about BOMs and hopefully will be able to bypass the previous issues many of you encountered with Scribd.com.

All blocks are available from my BOM Yahoo Group or my website.

Hopefully this will allow access to run as smoothly as possible. Any feedback would be most welcomed. For more info, visit my website.

I am already toiling away on my next BOM...

Computers, urggh!

I don't know why, but my blog banner above is refusing to behave. Conquering this is beyond my skills I'm afraid...so it may remain plain until someone comes to my rescue.

Just a little clarification…

I’ve been receiving emails and queries about my last post title: April Is The Cruelest Month…and have been told that it’s a little over dramatic and off putting. So I thought I would share with you exactly what I meant when I wrote this as a heading.


The Waste Land is a very well know poem by TS Eliot and “April is the cruelest month’ is the famous first line of this poem. When I used this title, I was using it tongue in cheek.


Working with computers definitely feels to me like a waste land all of my own. I found cross referencing this poem a welcome respite from the hours of wrangling and attempting to get work out of my hated machine (my ‘computer’). As a child in school in Europe, I was forced to memorize m-a-n-y poems…and sometimes certain lines strike you during moments in life.

As for my hate / hate relationship with my computer…things are on the mend… I am moving into the ‘breeding lilacs out of the dead land’ part now.

from Wikipedia ;

The Waste Land[A] is a 434 line[B] modernist poem by T. S. Eliot published in 1922. It has been called "one of the most important poems of the 20th century."[1]

APRIL is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.


On another note:
It's a week to go until AQC. I will be there every day, hoping you meet some of you. Please do come up and say hello. I am especially looking forward to catching up with those of you making the Civil War Bride Quilt... (err, I'm still in the beginning stages...)

April is the cruelest month....

OK, I might be exaggerating a little, but April appears to be conspiring against me and my new BOM, In The Pink.

My computer suffered a glitch and I have been off- line for a week. Apologies, apologies...I'm as eager to send ITP out into the world as I hope some of you are to receive it.

Fear not all eager BOM makers, In The Pink is finished and ready to be launched in the next 48 hours. The files are written up and ready.

So hang in there, it's coming! (and so is my DD...who's in charge of the computer). I only design the BOMs....

Distractions, lovely distractions!

How can I get any work done around here?

Did my indoor cat get out when I left the back door open?


We searched and we called and we did a quick look around our yard (we have a neighborhood bruiser who likes to beat up all the neighbor’s cats. He frequently harasses our cat through the window). We called, we used food, we tapped things….and then we found her sheepishly sitting in my DH’s seat, too lazy to respond. She likes to think that SHE is the head of the house and sits in my husband’s seat whenever he is not around! (she’s not brave enough to do it when he is).

Then it rained lightly (the weather is all over the place at the moment – very hot, sudden change, cool in the morning, warm afternoons) and it looked as if a rainbow was in our garden, all the rain drops hanging off the tree leaves were illuminated in a beautiful glow.


Then I decided to go and see how my DD’s cherry tomatoes and silver beet were coping with the weird weather, and marveled that they have grown at least 3 inches overnight.


Then the birds started singing like crazy because our local street cat who we call “R” was up to no good on the fence line. I went out to save some nests from destruction and R mewed and bellowed and complained how hard his life was.


All he wanted was a cuddle and a scratch. He is a good cat really; he just needs more love and attention. I don’t think his owners take enough notice of him.

Ok…back to work. For anyone who’s still interested, the next BOM will be launched April 18th

It's Easter

I love Easter and I love birds. As we have entered the Easter season, I’ve been thinking about how important it is to stop and enjoy the beauty and wonder of creation more.

I have a morning ritual involving a cup of coffee, a window and a tenacious birdy. Finally I have managed to snap a shot (it’s a bit blurry) of the morning ritual unfolding.

You can see how tall the conifer is, it dwarfs nearby roof houses and each morning a bird comes along and tries to perch on the topper most branch.

I love this moment. Every day I watch on with baited breath. And always there are some not so brave bird spectators that come to a nearby roof and jealousy watch. It’s a great moment when the birdy finally manages to get some balance. Often he will sway wildly in the wind on that little branch. I’m amazed it hasn’t snapped. I hope it never does.

I'm back at home and un-packed after 2 great workshops this past week....what a week it's been. Both workshops were warm and inviting and as for the students...well I couldnt have asked for a nicer group of ladies. Teaching is so enjoyable! Thank you !

Not only did I get to spend three days non stop doing what I love, but I also met an incredible inspiration of mine:

Kathy of Material Obsession!

Yes, after reading her books...and drooling over her stunning designs...I met her in the flesh! And she's so much more than I could have ever guessed. Also, my DD has been on at me to make a Dresden Quilt...and now I see a Desden quilt in the horizon, but rather than a traditional affair it will be inspired by Kathy's Garden Party. Do go and have a look yourself!

Kathy, your work rocks!

www.materialobsession.typepad.com/material_obsession

Early Starts, busy March!

It's another early morining start for me. I'm up, my DH is packing the car and I am about to head out for a 2 hour drive to today's workshop!

March has turned out to be a seriously hectic month, so apologies for the few posts.

I feel like I've been spending all my time in 'preperation' or 'recovery' or 'on the road' as I have had several workshops back to back. I have also had lots of organising and ordering to do. And of course, there's always the family things we all know so well that have to be taken care of too.

As I make my morning coffee and look over my sleeping monitor each morning I know that time is ticking...

Many of you are eagerly waiting for the next BOM to start...I know, I know, apologies for the delay, but it couldnt be helped...and I just won't launch until I am satisfied. The good news is that its coming, next month.

So hang in there!

Red Delicious takes it's first prize

Congratulations to: Laurie Schoenebeck, North Wisconsin, USA
Third place ribbon in the Appliqué Wall Quilt-Quilted on Home Sewing Machine Category

I do believe that this is the first Red Delicious quilt to have won an award…and I am so happy to know about it!

If anyone else has won or exhibited Red Delicious, please share. It makes me so happy to know that Red Delicious is out there being enjoyed and that each quilter makes it their own in their own unique way.

Thanks so much Laurie for sharing this!

How is your Red Delicious coming along? Are you finished yet?

and the winners are...

Here's what the Quilt show had to say:

Table Runner Contest Winners are Here! Thanks to all the talented TQS members who entered our recent Table Runner Contest. There were so many beautiful pieces; it was very difficult to select the winners!

Based on your nominees for the top six entries, ARJJ chose the top three winners. All three are shown here. A big round of applause goes out to the winners for their outstanding work.

Watch this space: We'll soon be sharing the patterns for the top three winners with our TQS Star members, so you can create a winning table runner of your own...and be sure to keep an eye out for our next contest, coming in May. Once again we'll be offering a monetary prize to the top three winners.

1st Place: Esther the Easter Chicken by clhughley

Mine!! 2nd Place: Tulip Delight by EstherAliu

3rd Place: Round Robin by Bridget473

How great are these table runners?

Very happy to be placed 2nd.

Ok, I am actually Very Busy working, so back to it!

Paducah!

Sunshine and Shadow has been accepted for Paducah this year

Congratulations to everyone

(and especially Lisa Walton- another from Australia who made it in)

UPDATE: Wow! what a great response, thank you for your well wishes. I've never won anything in Paducah, however I enter because I feel that more important than winning - is being present. Especially with stenciling which is not a well known quilting technique. For me, just hanging amongst the big names I so admire is exciting!

Of course, I'm always trying to better my work, but making my own original designs and showing them is reward enough.

The end is in sight!

Finally the end is in sight!

Whenever I 'plan' something, I can be sure that my idea will be diverted into something else. I had some pretty strong ideas for the next BOM...and no matter what I do...or how I work it, the same design elements continue appearing, demanding to be the centre focus. What is this insisting design? Where is the BOM?? All will be revealed soon.

At the moment I'm finishing up and playing around with details to make sure everything is just where it's supposed to be.


I've been somewhat preoccupied in finishing this stash busting bed BOM quilt these last few weeks. I've gone through my fabric piles, I've been designing and re-designing and pinning blocks on any available wall.

My DD's (who are both all grown up and perfectly capable of moving out and running their own homes) left me this nice postcard on the fridge earlier this week. I thought I'd share it with you as I'm sure many quilters can relate.


More soon....

Totally Delighted!

The Quilt Show: is running a Table Runner Contest!

I have entered my own Tulip Delight and have been really delighted with the positive feedback.

There are some great table runners there, so if you'd like a look, stop by The Quilt Show site and check it out by double clicking on this post title or via my side bar. Log in and look under the"contests" tab at the top of the screen.

In other news, I'm working busily, very busily to get the next BOM launched (it has a mind and a will of its own) - I'm always struck by how determined a stash of fabrics can become - design wise.

More on that soon....

Mess means progress

Guess which end of the table is mine?? It's been a hot weekend - exactly the kind of weather which deflates all my good ideas....but I toiled on regardless, sketching designs in front of the air con. Yes, I'm finally getting there.

Having a whole sewing room to myself isn’t enough, I branch out into the kitchen too. Well, I want to be where the action is.

I begged my DH for a bigger dining table. Both my DD’s vehemently protested – they knew it would turn into a work space. And it has. This means I’m busy. The messy half is mine. The clean half is where my family has to squeeze in to eat meals.

When my DD’s are really annoyed with my creativity nests, they swoop the whole lot into empty washing baskets and put them back into my studio. But these creative spaces are necessary; you never know when certainty will strike!

Meanwhile, my cat cooled off in a box beneath the air con. It's a bit cooler today which is good luck because we are cake baking my DH's birthday cake - which is tomorrow. My DD's now have a tradition of baking a Meringue / Pavlova for my DH's birthday every year, and every year its a different recipe. Hopefully this year's will end up being the best.

Freudian Slips

I have a journal for jotting down phrases that I want to hear again and again (I have a journal for everything) and just yesterday my DD was having a look through when she noticed this slip… have I been quilting too much or what???

Sew/ Sow, so what's the difference?

Pretty much any time is sew time in my household. I think I need to get some housework done.