cinzia

Student's Quilts Success

2011-12-20T23:17:00.000+11:00

As I have been flat out lately I haven't finished anything so when AP&Q did a call for possible projects for 2012 I did the only thing possible..... submitted quilts made by some of my students. Well the good news arrived today that they want one of the projects for which I had submitted three different versions.

This is Judy Newton's quilt which they want for the project instructions. This is only her second quilt and she has even practiced some free motion quilting on it.
	Here is Elaine Sawkins' quilt and even though it looks nothing like Judy's the difference is due to the layout but the technique is the same. Elaine still needs to finish her quilting and is expecting a busy Xmas break as the quilts are due in Sydney Australia Day.
And last but not least is Judy Sheehan's quilt. Yet another layout but again same quilt.. mind you Judy did use a layer cake whereas the other two quilts were made with six inch strips of fabric.

Isn't it amazing how different they all look. I can't wait to see them in the magazine... I think it will be the June magazine.

All three students were over the moon... particularly as I had simply asked for photos of their quilts without elaborating as to why I wanted them.... simply said I needed to photograph them...... Just love trusting friends:) .

TAST again

2011-11-26T20:09:00.001+11:00

Well I would love to say that this little seahorse is mine but that would be a humungous lie. I just pinched him from Sharon B's blog Pin Tangle and if you click on him it will take you there. Now why did I flog him and am I sending you there you may ask? Well the reason is obvious.. there is something fantastic happening over there!!!

Starting January 3rd Sharon will be hosting a stitching program called Take a Stitch on Tuesday (TAST for short). In case you don't already know about Sharon she is a superb embroiderer.. the little seahorse is just one of her fantastic samples you can feast upon if you go to her site. Anyway in an attempt to spread the enjoyment one gets from embroidery Sharon is going to be introducing a new stitch every week for a whole year. She not only shows you how to make the stitch she also shows you some variations and from her blog you will find links to many other people who are also joining in. what inspiration.

I started TAST a few years ago and so am already up to lesson 11. Yes I know that isn't even three months in but this time I will make it further. Anyway click on the link and join in.

On my Mind

2011-11-25T20:40:00.001+11:00

Well I have decided to join in on another blog activity. Rhonda whose blog Down to Earth is just full of home made solutions for everything you can think of has an activity called simply 'on my mind'. Every Friday.. or any Friday that you can get around to it you simply take a photo of something which is on your mind and write about it.

So today on my mind is this little scissor fob which I made about a year ago. I have felt like getting back into stitching for a while and although my stitching is only simple I love it.

Richard and by lines

2011-11-18T08:53:00.000+11:00

My youngest son, Richard has a delightful sense of humour and it is always interesting to read his by lines from his email.

This poster is his latest. I don't know why he chose it but it makes me smile.

World Capitals

2011-11-17T20:52:00.000+11:00

Yes I must agree with what several visitors to my blog said. It is amazing how poor our general knowledge is of other places in the world. When asked what was the capital of Canada, I thought, "Nasty!" Why? Because of course I had no idea. I am the same as many of the visitors to my blog and simply assumed that the capital must be the only large place that I knew in the country.... Vancouver.... and I was of course WRONG. The capital of Canada, is in fact Ottowa.

My knowledge of the world has improved over the past few years, no thanks to my own research or the net but thanks to the fact that I have two sons who are studying overseas and who have traveled extensively... but it is sadly still lacking.

Thank you to all of you who had a guess at our capital.. which is Canberra and which was chosen for the fact that it wasn't Sydney or Melbourne and in fact was built about halfway between those two major cities and placed in its own territory just so that it didn't lie in either of the two major states of the time also... good reasons...hmmm!

Blog Tour winners

2011-11-16T21:19:00.001+11:00

Although I am still waiting for the Australian blog tour winner to respond to my email I have received a response from an excited Janis Truesdell from Oregon who was the overseas winner.
Congratulations Janis and thank you to Quiltmaker for their generous support with sending Janis her own copy of the latest 100 Blocks magazine. I am certain Janis will enjoy it as much as I have already..hopefully she does more than simply oogle and hope to make some of the wonderful blocks,which is usually all that I achieve :)

Yvonne's Mystery

2011-11-11T07:03:00.003+11:00

Yes here it is my block from volume 4 of Quiltmakers 100 Blocks, Yvonne's Mystery. Yvonne is one of my students who after making several of my quilt designs wanted to make of Flying Geese. Figuring this was too easy for her I offered to design her a quilt which incorporated the Flying Geese.

Her first lesson was paper piecing of Wild Goose Chase, which is simply four rows of Flying Geese all flying into the middle or out to the corners of a block which is placed on the diagonal. After successfully completing those blocks I then showed her the next part of the design. Although I had planned it to be as per my block Yvonne preferred more blue in her design and so we changed some of the value placements, resulting in a more traditional Feathered Star. Next was the simple sashing and the cornerstones of nine patch were Margaret's idea.

Hasn't the whole quilt come up beautifully? And pretty good for someone who has only been quilting three years.

Now there are two copies of Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Volume 4 to be won. If you live in Australia simply leave a comment with your name and a guess as to the closing date for entries in Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Volume 5..... one clue it has already past... yes there will be another of these great magazines being published in six months... what a top resource if you have them all.
Btw you are still able to buy copies of the previous issues from www.quiltmaker.com
If you are non-Australian please leave a comment to the post below.
Good luck and thank you for visiting my blog..

Non- Australian's chance to win a copy of 100 blocks

2011-11-11T07:00:00.002+11:00

Only if you are NOT Australian would you mind answering this question...without looking up any sites... I am not interested in knowing if you actually know but I am interested in knowing HOW MANY non-Australians can correctly name the capital of Australia.

My son works for the United Nations, which one would assume would know minor things about the countries of the world. Anyway his girlfriend is doing a job interview and asked could they please change the location from Afghanistan to Australia as she will be here when they are due to be held. She was told OK, she could do it in ......... , the capital of Australia. Yes you guessed it they gave the wrong city. This city is often listed as the capital of Australia and so I am curious which city/cities non-Australians think is our capital.

Leave you guess below to be in the running to win your copy of Quiltmakers latest fantastic 100 Blocks magazine. If you don't know you can write that also. If you don't wish your response to be published just tell me in your comment, you will still be in the draw for the magazine.

Or if you prefer you may simply click on one of the options in the panel beside and then leave your name below. I am unable to get the text colour to change for the options but if you highlight them you will see three of the most common options.

Thanks and good luck

100 Blocks Volume 4 tour starts today

2011-11-07T07:02:00.000+11:00

Well here it is the first day of the 100 Blocks Volume 4 blog tour. Check out the main page by clicking the button and it will take you to a list of today's featured blogs, where you have a chance to win your own copy of the magazine.

Don't forget to also leave a comment on Quiltmakers own blog as they have a fantastic draw at the end of the week with amazing prizes from each of the sponsors.

Check back here on Friday for my give away and also a photo of what one of my students did with my/her block..... it really was her bock as I designed it for her when she wanted to make a quilt with Flying Geese.

Shifting Sands

2011-11-03T20:57:00.000+11:00

Well another 1600 quilt. This is in fact the only one for which I actually bought a regular jelly roll. It was also my first attempt at following the instructions... I ended up changing a few here and there as I didn't like some and then I found out a few more errors, like how you have many similar colours lining up together. I was able to remove some of these by cutting the strip apart and rejoining but even better I figured out how to line up the fabrics before sewing so as to minimise the problem. If you check out last Friday's blog post Hilde's Camels you will see that I have a more even spread of the colours. Mind you I still like this one, particularly how the borders turned out, they are in reality straight and even... I am a better quilter than I am a photographer:)

My binding will be the same colours as the first border and the purple really stands out so it should provide a good contrast.

I am really enjoying getting back to blogging. It is a pity when life gets in the way of fun.

Striped Pyjamas

2011-10-30T15:08:00.001+11:00

Well I could lie and say I just whipped this little beauty up over the weekend but that isn't quite true. While it is true to say that it is a quick quilt I actually whipped the centre up about three weekends ago, the pale light outer border two weekends ago and the final dark border this past weekend.

The whole quilt was made from a few Moda scrap bags which I ordered earlier this year and so it cost me the grand total of less than $20 which I think is fantastic. The scrap bags weigh half a pound each and are filled with lots of selvedge strips each being about 32in long and with a usable width of 2 1/4in. For me this was perfect as I prefer to have my strips cut parallel to the selvedge as there is less stretch that way.
This was actually my first attempt at the 1600 quilt although I didn't have 1600in worth of strips. I might have had that much but I only wanted to use the stripes in the central panel. I had been trying to work out a quick easy design since the fabric arrived about February and when all of this talk started about the 1600 quilt I thought it was perfect.
I am really pleased with the finished product ...well it is a topper and that for me classes as finished ..until quilting motivation hits and that won't be anytime soon as I am working on my entry for the Sydney Quilt show next June:)

Ooops wrong day

2011-10-29T20:41:00.003+11:00

I just found the correct schedule for the 100 Blocks blog tour and my day isn't Tuesday at all. I am one of the last on the tour and my blog will be featured on the Friday. I would tell you who else will be on with me but I don't know if I'm allowed to but it will definitely be worth checking out the others..there are some big names.
If you like intricate paper pieced blocks then you may like mine...but I can't reveal it yet..so drop back in on Friday 11th November for a chance to win your own copy of 100 Blocks volume 4. All of the blocks are brand new.

Frenzied Felix

2011-10-28T15:06:00.001+11:00

Now you must agree Felix is the cutest cat you have ever seen?
I found this lovely book in the local library on crotcheted cats and couldn't resist.... have since bought several other books with different crotchet projects and am having a ball. I can see a new hobby starting here.
Paul looks on in amazement at these things and wonders where it will stop and what will I do with them all... who cares it's fun:)

Frenzied Friday - Hilde's Camels

2011-10-28T15:02:00.001+11:00

Well I have finished three quilts in my quest to knock down the number of UFOs and I now plan to make a start on Hilde's quilt. Hilde is Richard's girlfriend and when they were recently in Dubai she saw a quilt she fell in love with. Richard, being the loyal son that he is said that he didn't think it was as good as what I could make and so I am now in the process of designing a camel quilt.I had lots of ideas and sent these over to which he responded she wants identical camels in plain fabric on plain background with plain borders framing every block just like the attached photo.
Well thankfully for me, if not for Hilde, my supply of plain fabric is nonexistent and so I figured I would go with tone on tones instead.

Hopefully she will like that, as I am certain there is no way on earth that I would ever finish a quilt which only used plain fabrics combined with plain fabrics and which had applique as the main technique. Although my sons know I love quilting I don't think Richard has registered that applique is not my favoured technique. Oh well shall give the machine applique a go.
I have used the 1600 quilt technique and am very pleased with the spread of the colours. Do you like my jelly roll... only took two hours at the local quilt shop to cut all of the strips:)

Khanam's Surprise

2011-10-27T09:09:00.000+11:00

Well here is my quilt from the last blog tour. I had lots of wonderful suggestions from blog surfers, and even tried a couple of them, but nothing seemed to work and so I finally opted for the easiest solution for finishing a quilt...plain border:(

Hopefully I will get it quilted sometime in the not too distant future. Terri, my basting friend has returned from America and so one day we will get together and baste all of these tops I have been making.

100 Blocks Volume 4

2011-10-25T09:50:00.004+11:00

Woohoo I have had a block selected for inclusion in the next volume of Quiltmakers 100 Blocks.

There will be a blog tour running again in which surfers have a chance to win their own copy of the magazine simply by visiting various blogs and leaving their names ad a comment.

The blog tour starts on 7th Nov and runs until 11th.

Each day new designers will be featured on the Quiltmaker site and you can check out their different blogs, simply click on the join me button to go directly to the blog tour centre.

Besides the chance to win your own copy of the magazine you have the chance to win other amazing prizes from Quiltmaker and their sponsors. Each day they have minor prizes with a major prize usually on the final day from all of the daily entrants. I'm not sure about the details of this as nothing has been said yet but it happened with the previous tours so fingers crossed.

My blog will be featured on Tuesday 8th so make sure you check back then as you will have a chance to win a copy.... I can't wait to see the magazine.
Don't you just love the penguin on the cover? I wonder who designed it? So far I have chosen two designs which I will make if I ever have a granddaughter, the penguin will make it three... perhaps there will be more.

Name plz

2011-10-24T19:14:00.001+11:00

Well I have finally bordered this quilt. I had finished the middle ages ago but just getting that border on has taken me about five months. I decided a couple of weeks ago that rain, hail or shine I am going to knock my UFO numbers down. I was hoping to get to single digits but will be happy if I can get to under 20. I have decided that I can't start any more new quilts until I either finish a quilt... that means quilting it as well and is highly unlikely ...or that I finish at least three toppers... so the challenge is up.

Now for this quilt I need a name..nothing has hit me yet and so it will languish on that front also for a while I am certain. Most quilts usually suggest a name by themselves but this one hasn't yet.

This small table runner is also another project from the UFO pile. The little bits hanging off each corner are there because I haven't yet worked out how to mitre them. I had initially tried to make false mitres on each corner but they looked horrid as the fabric is slightly thicker than regular patchwork fabric... so the brain kicked in and figured I could go with the old fashioned real mitred corners.... only one problem..small that it is .. I can't work out how to turn them. another job for another day. Btw the central bits that looked blood stained are actually beautiful roses.

Two toppers down and I only have the binding to join and then I will have another two toppers done... yes I consider the sewn binding to be part of the topper as well as the backing made. That way when the enthusiasm hits me I only have to quilt them.

Dah dah - cheese making

2011-10-23T17:46:00.003+11:00

Well am I good or am I good? No don't be truthful! Just go with one of those two options. What you see just to the right are the results of a perfect afternoon.

OK let's be totally truthful... an afternoon and the greater part of the evening.

Funny isn't it ... I know that making feta cheese, that's the square block in the background, takes a minimum of three and a half hours for the first part and then it needs to be turned over every half an hour for the next two hours and then every two hours for the next six hours and then left to sit and further drain overnight on the sink.

So let's add those figures together and what do we get? 11 and a half hours plus the overnight drain.... OK so that suggests that a good time to start making feta cheese would be sometime in the morning. The theory sounds all well and good but what needs to be added into this equation is the use by date on the milk carton.

Although I have been pestering Paul for a cow ever since I completed the cheese making workshop last June, it has not eventuated. He feels that if people object to battery hens there is certain to be greater protests over a battery cow, although I feel our backyard would not constitute a cage!

Just look at the photos of our yard. The first is our backyard. In the back is our vege patch to the left the 1m garden bed, which edges the back patio area. It may appear to the trained or even the untrained eye that this is too small a space for a cow, but you are forgetting our front yard, which you can see clearly in the next photo has a large expanse the size of a foot path.

Anyway as I don't have a cow I have to buy the milk. Now the best milk to use is organic unhomogenised which usually costs an arm and a leg. so when I spied seven litres of this last week in the reduced for quick sale section I just had to nab it. Being RFQS means it has to be used quickly.

Now you can see why there was the need for making the milk during the week rather than making it on the weekend.

Anyway as can be seen I had success. Not just with the feta but also with the ricotta, front right and back right, which for the first time in ages actually turned out really soft and light.... dah dah! This really amazed me as the previous two batches have been tough enough to resole your boots with... I really need to NOT make cheese when I am stressed:)

The final piece de resistance (not sure how that is supposed to be spelt but you know what I mean) is the mascapone on the front left. This isn't really an achievement as I have always had success with that but it is lovely and is always a by product from my cheese making as there is always left over cream.

The mascapone was made into tiramisu yesterday and made a delicious desert lunchtime today.

100 Blocks winner announced

2011-05-07T09:21:00.002+10:00

Well last night I finished off block 40 in my next major quilt and it had 141 pieces and so I have decided that comment 141 will be the lucky winner for my magazine.

RAW, who likes unicorns (email address gave away that piece of information) and lives in Geneva is our lucky winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered this competition and also thanks to Quiltmaker for organising the tour and providing all of the wonderful prizes. I am positive that everyone will have picked up lots of fantastic ideas for new quilts. Don't forget that Quiltmaker is running a further competition every month. Simply send a photo of your quilt using any of the blocks which have appeared in any of their three magazines to be in the running for the monthly prizes. Check out here for more details.

Quiltmaker Blog Tour - My Big Day

2011-05-03T08:05:00.003+10:00

Well the blog tour is off and running. There are lots of wonderful prizes to be won. As a starting point check out Quilty Pleasures blog first and leave a comment for a chance to win a prize. Every day there will be a selection of different prizes so don't forget to return daily.

Also on that blog you will find a link to the day's featured blogs which also have prizes up for grabs. This is going to be a great week for anyone surfing.

Here, as promised is a photo of my quilt made using my block Khanam's Surprise. As I said previously my machine pedal has died and I am awaiting replacement so I haven't had a chance to add the borders to add the borders to finish it off.

My quilt also extends further than the photo but the shadow effect was so drastic I had to cut it out... I'm glad I don't make a living as a photographer.

Some of my other designs may be seen on my website Cinzia White Designs. There is even a photo of a qult I designed using a variation of my block, Isobel's Flight, from the last issue of QM 100 Blocks. I can't wait to see the finished quilt which Isobel has made and will be hanging at the next NSW Qulit Show in Sydney in June.

The block design is a compilation of designs from some mosques. I was actually working on a third design which I preferred but it wouldn't work and this one suddenly fell out. The name came from my son's girlfriend Khanam and the fact that when she sees it she will be surprised. I am sending her a magazine as a gift and haven't told either of them about it.

Quiltmaker is providing one copy of the magazine to someone who enters my 'competition', which is simple enough.. you have the choice.... any one of the following three actions will give you an entry into the competition.

1. what do you think would be a good name for this quilt?

2. what kind of border do you think would suit this quilt the best?

3. or simply leave your name.

Although the winner will be chosen by random number generator I would dearly love help with the naming and/or border design of this quilt.

btw if you don't happen to win a copy of the magazine you can always order one from here if your local newsagent doesn't get it in. Don't leave it too long as the first issue is totally sold out. Also if, like me, you prefer digital versions you can order that from the same place... I don't think they are available from the newsagents... well definitely not from my little old newsagent.

Frenzied Final Friday Flaunt - again!

2011-04-29T12:07:00.003+10:00

Well this has been a fantastic month. I have finished so many things but to top it all off I have also had a block selected for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 3.

The block is called Khanam's Surprise and I have almost finished a quilt using it. I will upload a photo of it on Tuesday, which is my day in the blog tour.

Quiltmaker is organising a blog tour all week and by visiting the blogs of the designers you will have the chance to win a copy of the magazine. Each designer is giving away one or more copies so there are many up for grabs. I think Quiltmaker itself is running some competitions so don't forget to check out their site either.

Be sure to check back here on Tuesday for the blog tour as you will have an opportunity to win your own copy of the magazine and also to see how different this block looks when actually made into a quilt.... I only need to add two borders and quilt it by then. OK let's be honest chances of getting it quilted is Buckley's as my machine pedal needs replacing and I only ordered the replacement yesterday.

AQC 2011

2011-04-25T16:12:00.004+10:00

Well the holidays are almost over and I will need to return to work :( However I thought I would share a few photos from the recent AQC. The work was amazing and the photos I have uploaded are just a few from the sixty plus which I took.

The first is the chandelier from the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. I thought I had taken more photos of the centre but they didn't turn out too well but it is a truly impressive building.

The second photo is my quilt,Turkish Delight. I am definitely over this quilt but it was still a buzz to see it hanging there.

The next one is a miniature. Gorgeous colour choice and oh so cute . Although the photo doesn't show it the precision in her piecing was impressive..

This one was made by one of the teachers, sorry I don't recall her name.

I just loved both the subject and the colour choice of this quilt. There were several in this series and all worth another look. I think I took at least two photos of each and different details... perhaps one day I will try the technique. No let's be honest applique is never going to feature in my list of enjoyable activities.

Now if ever I could have a quilt made by someone else this would be it. The different techniques which Kay H? used are amazing. And aren't those mice so lifelike?

If only I could improve my layout skills that would be impressive in itself.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks - Volume 3

2011-04-09T21:05:00.004+10:00

Woo hoo!! Just received an email from the editors etc of Creative Craft Group. These are the people who, among other things, put together the Quiltmaker Special Issues and their next issue is the third in the 100 Blocks series.

This is a series of magazines in which they publish 100 original blocks from both established and up and coming designers. I was very fortunate and had a block published in volume 2 and now I have discovered that not only will one of my blocks be included in the next issue but also it is included on the cover.

100 Blocks Vol. 3 is at the printer as of early Thursday (US time)! I can’t wait to see it! Designers who have a block included will receive their complimentary copy around the 4th week of April... so only another three weeks to go. Yes I realise that they said around the fourth week but I am assuming that is for US designers not those of us in the colonies.

So which is my block? Well if you look carefully at the included photo, my block is the brown and tan one which is the second block on the second row. I will take a photo of my block when I recharge the batteries for my camera tomorrow to show it to you more clearly. So why do I still have the block you may ask? Well because my first effort was only 11.75in square and the requirements were for 12in.

I can't wait to see the magazine. the last one had so many fun blocks and I am positive this one will be also be full of new exciting blocks. Actually if I had a daughter or granddaughter I think the one on the top right corner of the shoes peeping out from the skirt is gorgeous.

Friday Flaunt

2011-03-24T22:42:00.007+11:00

Wow I just looked at the date of my last post....Dec 20th and that must have been posted early as I know I was overseas at the time.

Isn't that terrible but life has just been so hectic that I totally forgot about posting.
To make up I am not going to post lots of photos of projects I have been working on.... actually I haven't really been doing a lot of quilting and I haven't finished many things either.

However here are two things I have been working on.

The first is another block from Raconteur - The Storyteller's Collection. I have now finished about 350 of the blocks and they are looking very cute. I hope to finish the last of these blocks by the end of April and then begins the major task of joining them together.

Definitely won't make my original deadline of 2010 Sydney Quilt Show...yes I did mean 2010.

The second is from a class which I attended last year. The Sydney Quilt guild organised for Jacqueline de Jonge to run workshops on paper piecing. I wanted to do her Elements of Nature pattern but it wasn't offered and so I did Morning Glory. My colours were nothing like her sample and that at the above stage everything fitted and looked good. Unfortunately the next stage was not so successful so I am at present doing a lot of frog stitching.... or will when I retrieve this project from the ignore it and it might disappear pile!

Turkish Delight

2010-12-20T20:54:00.000+11:00

Hey check out the cover of the next issue of Down Under Quilts. Yes I realise this is a brag but I couldn't figure a tactful way of saying they like my quilt and have put it on the cover!! It will soon be on sale in shops and newsagents. But if you want an early edition then sign up for a subscription either online or hard copy..... both land in the hands of subscribers, before they hit the newsagents.

This issue has the first part of the instructions to my Turkish Delight quilt. It is made of hand-dyed fabrics in a medallion style with a series of different borders making it up to quite a large quilt. But you can stop before completing all of the borders I did!

Check it out and let me know what you think. Pick up a copy at your local newsagent or patchwork shop or go online for your free subscription - visit www.creativelivingmedia.com.au and sign up now.

Plus, there are lots of other great projects, fantastic quilts and interesting stories too.

PS Take a look at Down Under Quilts' facebook page too!... but I've lost the link... you should be able to pick it up at the creativelivingmedia website.

Isobel's Flight

2010-12-01T00:05:00.003+11:00

Well I don't know what Isobel will actually call this quilt but Isobel's Flight is what I have named the block. Yes this is the actual quilt that the block was originally designed for. I love the continuous path.. you follow it hoping to find the error..but there is none:)

Didn't she do a top job? I think she is making it for one of her grandsons. I can't wait to see it in the flesh... hopefully she enters it into the Sydney show this year.

Blog Tour Winner

2010-11-14T19:08:00.002+11:00

Well thank you to everyone who particiapted in the blog tour. It was lots of fun although extremely hectic as my modem died on Monday night and it wasn't until today... and four modems later... that I have been a ble to reliably connect to the innternet from home. Luckily I was able to keep up to date with what was happening in the blog tour from work, but most days time was limited.

Now for what everyone wants to know...my husband chose number 85 as the lucky number and the winner is Susie Rhodes from Fortville IN, don't know what IN stands for but that is no problem as the people fromQuiltmaker are sending her the magazine direct and they are US also:) Thank you again to everyone who entered the tour and the competiton. Looking forward to actually seeing the magazine. It is due to hit the newsagents November 16th in the US, but I don't know when for us in Oz.

Project - Braided Rag Rug

2010-11-12T12:43:00.000+11:00

Well here is another project which I intend to make in the near future.

I actually made a rag rug about ten years ago. It was lots of fun and I have been meaning to make another one since. Found these instructions and they show an easier method than my previous attempt so I will hopefully get around to making one of these in the near future also.

For instructions click here.

100 Blocks Blog Tour - my day

2010-11-09T06:00:00.002+11:00

Tuesday already! I can't believe how quickly today has come around. My blog and website are one of those being featured today on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour.

Now if you have arrived here through the main link, you already know about the blog tour and are here for your chance to win your own copy of this fantastic issue.

The first issue was a total sell out but is now available as a digital download for anyone who has decided they would like to check it out. There are another two issues in the planning. So if you buy all four you will have 400 new original blocks from both established and new emerging designers.

Ok so back to today's entry. To be in the running for your own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 2 simply check out my website and then come back here and tell me which pattern you like the best or which version of Isobel's Flight you prefer. You will need to leave two comments.... the first is the pattern you like best and the second is your contact email so that I can contact you if you win. Please don't put them both in the same comment as I don't like to publish people's emails.

Isobel's Flight

2010-11-09T04:54:00.000+11:00

Well here it is my block from the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks collector's Edition Volume 2. Funny in the small image it looks very higgledly piggledy but in real life it flows really well. I designed this block for a friend Isobel who wanted to make a quilt for her grandson. She wanted a design that would flow across the entire quilt.

Several years ago I had made another quilt Trails which Isobel had loved and it was the first of my quilts that she decided to make. Anyway Trails was also the first really complicated pattern that I had ever written and as I later discovered many people wanted extra directions for joining it together. The circles were easy enough. The paths were easy enough but several people found that they wanted more instructions for joining the paths to the circles. After writing these for Isobel, and the people who contacted me, I learnt that what may be obvious to one person is not necessarily obvious to someone who is not inside my head..funny that:)

Last year when Isobel wanted to make Pathways she contacted me to find out if it was easily modified for a different size. I replied that it was easily made in any size but if she wanted a different design I had one in my head and no time to make it. Isobel's Flight came from that idea.

Don't you agree the full quilt version looks a lot better than the single block version:)

I have worked out a few colour variations but am desperately looking for time to make what would be to me the best... a completely scrappy version... one day.

100 Blocks Blog Tour

2010-11-08T10:34:00.000+11:00

WOW today is the start of the 100 Blocks blog tour, which will be running for the entire week. Every day there will be new blogs featured at this link, so head on over and see which blocks and blogs are featured today.

Also check them out to see what you need to do to win your own copy of the magazine. Each and every blog is giving away one copy of the magazine. On the main link there is also the opportunity to win other great prizes... Top way to spend a few hours.

My feature day is Tuesday. Now I'm not sure if this is supposed to be Tuesday their time or my time but suspect it should be US time... which fortunately is behind Australia so I intend to post my entry Tuesday Sydney Australia time (+10 hours GMT), but if I am running a little late it should still be up before Tuesday US time :) So head back here on Tuesday for another chance to win a copy of the magazine.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2010-10-29T22:20:00.000+11:00

This quilt is called Bubble and Squeak and I made it a couple of years ago when I was into a clean up my scrap pile stage.

If you look closely at the individual blocks you will see that they appear to be crazy patchwork style but this is not correct. In actual fact the blocks are made using an improvised four patch technique which I have been utilising quite a bit lately as it is perfect for when I feel like doing brainless sewing and when I want to use up scraps.

If only I could throw out unwanted fabric it would make life so much easier.

The leftover scraps were randomly sewn together to form large pieces of fabric which was then cut into the squares and rectangles. Unfortunately I was a bit brain dead at the time that I started to cut and didn't allow correctly for seam allowances which is why most blocks have a double border on two sides.. never throw out an error when you have a chance to experiment as they say. It is one of my favourite quilts.

If you want to try the technique I have used it in two projects which are being featured in Australian Patchwork and Quilting. The first was in last month and the project was called Dusting Crumbs and the other will be in a few months in a project called Starry Cabins. Dusting Crumbs uses a few different improvisational techniques whereas Starry Cabins only uses two.

If you would like to see more entries in the latest Blogger's Quilt Festival just click on this link and it will take you to the central blog with all of the links.. great way to spend a few hours surfing :)

Caring for your Quilt

2010-10-26T17:24:00.001+11:00

Found a great site today with information on quilt care and storage. Check it out.

Link for 100 Blocks Blog Tour

2010-10-24T10:33:00.000+11:00

November 8 -12 is the Quiltmakers blog tour. This is a great opportunity to check out many of the blogs of numerous international and new to the international stage designers. While cruising on the tour... it's free by the way and can be completed totally from the comfort of your own home... you will have many opportunities to win your own copy of the latest Quiltmaker 100 Blocks magazine.

I am still waiting to find out which of my blocks made it into the magazine so am looking forward to this as much as everyone else. If you click the link above each day during the tour it will take you to a list of all of the day's highlighted blogs. when you go the blogs you will have the chance to win a copy of the magazine.... no idea how or anything else at this stage but hopefully things are clearer by then

If you click the link today you will see the marvellous cover of the magazine and a selection of some of the blocks from inside the cover... mine is not there but it is inside somewhere... I am excited!

Friday Flaunt - Lost?

2010-10-22T10:29:00.003+11:00

Late last year Paul and I went on a trip to the US. Great trip and saw lots of wonderful things but that isn't the point of this post.

After returning home I went out in my car one day and when I looked in the back seat of my car I was quite surprised to find this large lap sized quilt... almost big enough for a single bed.

So why was I surprised to find a quilt there you may ask? Well the thing was I couldn't remember ever seeing the quilt before. Now I know I am forgetful but I was positive I didn't make it so I took it with me to all of the various quilt groups which I meet with but no one owned up to having either seen it or made it.

So there I was with this dilemma... new quilt and no owner. I was trying to clean up my place and organise which quilts would go to charity and which ones would go for gifts and which quilts would go elsewhere. In the midst of this DUQ did a call for quilts for a few themes and I thought let's give it a try. Sent off the picture and surprise, surprise... they liked it.

So if you would like to make this starry quilt for someone the instructions will be in this month's edition of DUQ (number 144).

If you don't get around to making it and you would like to buy a ticket in a raffle to win it let me know. Tickets will be $2 each and the funds will go to sponsoring hearing impaired primary aged children to attend camp. For many of the children this is the only opportunity they have to meet other hearing impaired children and discover that they are not alone.

We have a different quilt, Summer Whispers, for this year's raffle, along with three other prizes for accommodation at various places around the Goulburn area.

Spring Explosions will be next year's raffle quilt and I will remind anyone who comments that they would like a reminder.

Free Project - Key Chain holder

2010-10-17T10:17:00.011+11:00

Found this cute little key chain holder while killing time today.

Instructions and patterns are provided here if you are interested in making it.

Seems simple enough.

Friday Flaunt - Shirt Quilt

2010-10-16T08:42:00.001+11:00

Earlier this year I attended a retreat where the challenge was to make a quilt using only recycled flannel shirts. A friend of mine donated a pile of unwanted flannel shirts to the project and from twelve of these I made this beauty?

It was a lot of fun and quite a quick quilt. I could have made it as a QAYG but when I started it I had no idea what I would do ..initially it was to be a square in a square but i found this too boring after adding just four or five pieces. Also I didn't want it to be a project that I needed to stress over. So although the principal is square in a square the process is nowhere near as accurate.

The separate blocks were quilted and then it was put together using a second hand pair of men's pyjamas for the sashing in a QAYG method. I am really enjoying the freedom and ease that the QAYG process allows and am actually improving. My latest quilt you can't even tell it was QAYG as there is no sashing on the front nor the back.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks

2010-10-15T12:53:00.000+11:00

Well it has gone to the printers!!! What you might ask?

Well the second issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks from Today's Top Designers.... check out the cover here! None of those beaut blocks on the cover are mine but they show you some of the variety that will be inside.

Yes I know it sounds like a brag but I am just so thrilled to actually be in the magazine that I had to tell someone. Lucky you? I submitted two blocks for the magazine and don't know which one will be in the magazine so can't wai.

The magazine is due out early November and at that time there will be a blog tour where you can win copies of the magazine, so be sure to check back here. I don't know yet what the requirements will be to win but it won't be too hard.

Raconteur

2010-10-14T13:01:00.002+11:00

Well I have been busy sewing and have almost finished all 287 hexagons for my next quilt.. only ten to go and then replacements for any which I don't like the fabrics.

So hopefully all of the individual blocks will be finished by the end of the month.

Then I need to make the half blocks for filling the side gaps and then work out what to do on the borders.

I hope the finished product comes together. Should be interesting if/when I work out what to do:)

Email Tags

2010-09-30T18:57:00.001+10:00

Well another week over and last week's tag, for those to whom I didn't write was

It's hard to be nostalgic when I can't remember anything.

A new tag has been added to my emails for the next week. It is fun finding new ones for each week. I wonder how long I can keep it up?

More Quilts

2010-09-24T22:12:00.001+10:00

	Well at first glance you probably won't believe this but both of these blocks are the same. Well not exactly the same but the same principal. These blocks were made by ? at the recent Jamberoo retreat. The quilt was a mixture of Dresden Plate blocks and each one looked so different that you need to study it for a while before you realised that they were really the same block.
Isn't it amazing how different they look when you make just a few changes here and there. The first block uses plain fabrics for each spike where as the second alternates between a plain (red) fabric and top and tails of a piece of strip pieced fabric. Now you may be wondering where the similarity is that I spoke of first up.. well both blocks are made using the Dresden Plate rotary template.

One Week One Thing Challenge

2010-09-22T23:48:00.001+10:00

Well this week I have decided to join the One Week One Thing Challenge. At this stage I think one thing a week is about the most I can complete. My target for this week is to finish the binding on my guild challenge quilt... so here's hoping.

If you are interested in joining in just click on the link here and if that doesn't work then try the link in the side panel.

Jamberoo Retreat

2010-09-22T22:03:00.000+10:00

A couple of weekends ago I went to the Sydney Guild annual Quiltaway at Jamberoo and saw some amazing quilts in progress. These two blocks were made by Shirley Gibson whose work has to be seen to be believed.... my photos definitely don't do justice to her skill.

These two blocks are reproductions of a quilt in the book which accompanied the recent display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London..... and here I am planning on visiting in a few months.. which unfortunately will be several months after the display has well and truly finished..phooey!

I don't know how fast Shirley works but I suspect that this quilt will be on display in next year's Sydney Quilt Show so if you attend be sure to look for it.

Email Tags

2010-09-22T21:30:00.002+10:00

I have over the years enjoyed many tags that people include at the bottom of their emails and have decided that I am going to try to find a new one every week.

For the past few weeks I have been using -

If pain is natures way of telling you you’re not dead yet,

I’d much prefer an email or even a quick SMS

this one was sent to me by a dear friend Bruce.... some days are not so good while others are just plain bad!

Have changed the tag over...will update next week in case you didn't receive an email from me this week.

Where does the time go?

2010-09-04T22:53:00.000+10:00

Well today is Richard's 21st birthday?
Where did the years go?
Richard is my baby and he is studying in the US.
Here is a photo he recently sent us of his trip to Norway. Isn't he good looking?
No I'm not biased in the least.

Just two days ago he began the second year of his masters in biostatistics at Harvard. He is now living with some friends in South Boston - crime central for those of you who don't know the area:)

To celebrate his birthday he planned to spend the first few hours on the phone talking to us, his brother in England, his girlfriend in Norway... it's a different world these days isn't it.

Sydney Guild Challenge entry

2010-09-03T22:53:00.000+10:00

Well I would love to say here is my entry for this year's guild suitcase challenge.... all finished and da dahh!!! But and this is a big but I muffed it. Made the star months ago. Finished the quilting about two weeks ago. Bought the binding. Cut off the excess. Sewed on the binding. Found the entry form and started to fill it in..... read the challenge guidelines.. reread them.. went looking for the original entry form... read those.... OOPs

My delightful quilt, which I struggled to find an extra piece of fabric when I was short one 2in square in the making is a well balanced 16in by 18in which makes it just a mere 6in TOO SHORT!

Phooey! Oh well no rush now to finish the binding off is there. Unfortunately I think it is also too small to go into the regular show as it isn't a miniature... win some you lose some.

At least I now know how I will need to modify my colour placement for my feathered star bed quilt which has been in the planning for only six/seven years!

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks

2010-08-07T11:09:00.001+10:00

Well I know this is a brag but hey this is my blog and if I can't brag here then where can I brag? I have just received an email from Carolyn Beam the editor of Quiltmaker saying that one of the blocks I submitted for their next 100 Blocks magazine has been successful! Woohoo!!!

I don't know which block it was but am over the moon. Both blocks were designed for friends/students who wanted to make quilts for family and couldn't decide on a design. I had designs which had been floating around in my head for ages and didn't have time to make them so a deal was struck.

My friends make the quilts and I get full publishing rights on the finished product. Wait till I tell them their block will go international with their name. One block was Yvonne's Mystery designed as a mystery block for none other than Yvonne; while the other block is Isobel's Flight designed for Isobel. I will have to find a photo of the blocks and upload it.... I don't know if I ever organised myself about photographing the blocks... shall see.

So when will the magazine be on sale? November 16th. I don't know if that is the date for Australia and actually suspect that we will be later than that but I am really looking forward to it.

To accompany the magazine publication Quiltmaker also organises a blog and website tour over a few weeks to coincide with the release. Will have to get organised on my blog and website and actually update them a bit more. Mind you that has been a bit difficult with going back to work.... oh for a lotto win :)

Friday Flaunt

2010-07-31T01:20:00.004+10:00

Well I hadn't realised that we had reached the end of the month until I checked the emails tonight and discovered everyone was flaunting.

My biggest flaunt has to be Turkish Delight. Although I have flaunted it before my flaunt is the fact that it won an award at the recent Sydney Quilt show, for best use of hand dyed fabrics.

I used almost 300 different coloured fabrics and all except those in the outer row of stars were my own attempts.

Some might say shows what mastery that I was able to get so many different colours. Personally I would say shows what skill that I could repeat my recipe numerous times - exactly and yet obtain a different colour each time :)

As for actual sewing this month, well last month, I have actually had a productive month although not a lot is actually completed.

My tie quilt, which is one of my 10 in 10 targets would have been finished except that I have now decided it needs a border... so back to the WIPs pile it goes. I have since taking this photo though added another row and joined all of the blocks together using red strips, looks quite smart. Hopefully it will be finished this year.

I also finished two baby quilts. One you can see here, while the other I posted to my nephew on Monday when he announced that Bailey Kate had been born.

They were very impressed that I was able to whip up a pink quilt so quickly. I did mention that although it was an easy quilt the only reason they received it before the child's first Xmas was because I had made two, this blue one and the other pink one.

Other than that all that I can flaunt is approximately 2,000 1/4in hexagon papers which I have cut in preparation for my next long term project. I didn't photograph them as it really was depressing when I worked out how many I had... my calculations are that I will need at least ten times that many for the project.

Friday Flaunt - Feathered Star

2010-05-14T06:00:00.005+10:00

Well I would love to say that I have finally finished my feathered star but alas that is not the case. However I have finished most of it and so figured I would post a picture with requests for quilting ideas.

As can be seen from the photo (hopefully) I have echo quilted the inner sections but I am unsure as to what to do with the outer sections. I have drawn several lines trying different ideas but haven't been happy with any.

Now as may be seen from the quilting I am slightly, ok let's be honest greatly, restricted by the fact that I couldn't free motion quilt to save my life or even yours. Thus the quilting will need to be something that can be completed with a walking foot!

What do you suggest?
PS just noticed that I have posted the photo sideways it should be in portrait setting with the two part lines going across the bottom :)

Friday Flaunt

2010-03-26T08:17:00.002+11:00

Well it has been a while since I flaunted but I have been busy. I know you will find this hard to believe, but I have now finished four of my 10 in ten projects.

Over a month ago I finished the quilts for the twins so 5 and 6 were gone; I completed a calendar quilt a couple of weeks ago so there goes 9; and the biggie of them all is Turkish Delight, number 3, which I will finish today.... I wrote this post last night and by the time that this post is uploaded I should be finished ... or well on the way to finishing it.

I had parts of it professionally quilted and then added extra bits which I felt it needed and all in all I am now very pleased with it. The pictures that I have here are of the back which shows the quilting up beautifully I feel.

So four down and only six to go.

Friday Flaunt - Highways

2010-03-08T18:56:00.001+11:00

Well I have finally done it.

I have had numerous requests for this pattern on my website but when I explained that it was king size and not easily modified people asked if I could design a similar quilt for queen sized beds. Here it is - Highways!

Well actually the photo is still of the original king size quilt, Trails. I must admit that although I have finished the queen sized pattern.. and had it checked over I am still in the process of actually making the sample.

Highways has only 16 circles and 24 paths and so it has to be quicker to make than the original.

I am hoping that one of the people who buys it, works faster than I do. If I am very lucky when finished they will also be happy for me to use their quilt photo on the website. We will have to see.

Anyway even if you don't want to buy a pattern check out the website. I like it!

New Website

2010-02-07T12:16:00.000+11:00

Well in case you haven't seen Christine Abela's latest email about her newest website the news is "it's mine!!"
Christine has been working VERY hard to iron out some 'small' (well big really but I hate to admit it :) errors which I somehow incorporated. After a few very late nights.. thank you Christine, my web site is now live.

If you have some time to spare, check it out and let me know what you think. Personally I love it AND I am totally unbiased, well maybe a little bit.

I still have a lot of patterns to write up and so am planning on uploading a new one at least fortnightly but hopefully weekly until I finish. I really should have put my head down last year and done it while I had the time off but the year just flew by.

By the way if you are thinking of having a website made I recommend Christine completely. She is very professional and works to what you want. Very helpful and prompt.... hey you know she is one of those people you like to work with.

So go and check it out... http://www.cinziawhite.com

Friday Flaunt - Yvonne's Mystery

2010-02-05T06:19:00.001+11:00

Once a month I teach at the Quilters Garden in Albion Park and one of the students has been doing a variety of my quilts throughout the last 12 months. Anyway last month she selected one of my Flying Geese designs. However, I felt it would be too simple for her and so offered to design a mystery quilt with Flying Geese for her and she was quite happy to go with that. This is the first block in the quilt.

Yes I realise you can't see any Flying Geese there but they will come I promise... in the border!

Oh forgot to say the twins were born Wednesday morning sometime between midnight and 2am! Both are healthy and happy and mum is going well

Friday Flaunt

2010-01-29T07:44:00.001+11:00

Well this should have been my flaunt last week but I was too flat out to upload it in time. Finally finished two of my 'ten in 10' resolutions, numbers 7 & 8. The other quilt used the same calendar panel but was framed with different fabrics.

As of Tuesday, when I wrote this blurb and set it up for automatic posting, the twins are yet to be born. They are now at 39 weeks, which is phenomenal since both look like being well over 6lbs a piece. The doctor intends to wait until labour starts naturally and Sara is really huge and uncomfortable.

Fabric Needed

2010-01-26T12:28:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone,
have just started to work on my quilt for this year's guild challenge and have discovered that I am a little short on fabric. I need one 2 3/4in square if anyone has any to spare.
Please leave a comment below, with your email address, if you have some and I will get back to you. I won't publish your email.
Thank you

Poem for the New Year - no time to flaunt

2010-01-08T22:16:00.004+11:00

Just picked this up from one of my online lists. It was posted by Jeni Kift.. not sure if she wrote it or found it but it seems very appropriate for the time

T'was the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I'd nibbled, the chocolate I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber),

I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt...
I said to myself, as I only can,
You can't spend a summer, disguised as a man!"

So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a biscuit, not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie.
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore...
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet.

Friday Flaunt

2009-12-31T17:15:00.001+11:00

Well here is my ~~third~~ fourth attempt at making a journal cover. I do agree that it is very similar to the one I flaunted a few weeks ago but that is only because I blatantly copied it.
Although my quilting skills are not as good as Robyn's I still think it turned out pretty well.
I did learn one thing while making it and that is to only work while I am in the mood. Once I hit the "I want to finish this" stage I have to stop. The quilting in the red section was done when I should have called it a day and the stitches are a trifle bigger than the rest. We all live and learn.

This will be a birthday present for Khanam, my son's girlfriend, and the cover fits an art book as she has just started painting. Isn't it a bummer to have your birthday so close to Xmas.

Friday Flaunt / Question

2009-12-24T23:20:00.001+11:00

OK now the fun begins. I have been piecing these clamshells together this week but I want to know if people can work out what they represent. I know the photo/s not the best but please leave a comment stating what animal you think it might be.

The photo on the left shows the correct orientation but I think it is easier to see in the right hand photo if you tilt your head to the left.

Hope everyone is having a fun Xmas and are with people they enjoy being with.

No Friday Flaunt

2009-12-18T14:15:00.000+11:00

Too much has been happening here this week and so I have had no chance to get a needle out.
Our home has exploded from a quiet two person abode to six people. PJ, eldest son is home from Paris with his gorgeous girlfriend, Khanam.
It is marvelous to see your children when they return from a long time away. We only see him every Xmas as he has been studying overseas for about four years now. Just after returning he received an email offering him scholarships for another two years of study in another french university so he is really pleased with that. It also looks as if Khanam will be able to accompany him and so plans are now afoot for their new life together.
My sister, Charmaine and her son Kye have also moved in with us and will be staying a while.
Life can change so quickly without warning.

Friday Flaunt

2009-12-11T12:04:00.004+11:00

Kye is my youngest nephew and this is a quilt that I made for him when he was born, six years ago. It has been much loved and so was returned a couple of weeks ago for repairs.

My flaunt this week is the 'again' finished quilt.. Kye's Kaleidoscope... very original name hey?

With Xmas racing here I thought I would be lucky to do any quilting... but a little bit of straight line quilting was a needed relaxer.

Sewing room now packed up and no access to machine for three weeks while PJ is home. Looking forward to seeing him and he is also bringing his girlfriend home to see Australia

Friday Flaunt

2009-12-04T07:33:00.001+11:00

Well how lucky am I? Last week one of the groups who I meet with had their Xmas party and this year we decided to swap journal covers. Well you must agree I was extremely lucky... must have been a good girl this year.

My journal cover was made by Robin and you have to admit she has a fantastic sense of colour and her quilting is what I dream of doing.... perhaps if I practiced I could get better:)

Frenzied Friday - Autumn Stars

2009-11-27T09:15:00.001+11:00

These were actually sewn about two or maybe even three years ago when I was into English paper piecing but thought I would do a bit of quilting this week.

The star on the right is the front of the block while the star on the left is the back, making it into a double-sided QAYG project. The corner diamonds on the front is made of four different diamonds and the star of seven pieces, while the green in the back is a single piece and the yellow frames are each separate.

I decided to simply echo 1/4in from the main seams on the front and these lines are more easily seen on the back. I haven't yet decided how many blocks to make but have finished, but not quilted, four more blocks.

Haven't decided yet if I will call it a day and simply use them as placemats or continue onwards and make a quilt out of the blocks.

The problem really comes down to joining the blocks together. As the front and back are different there is a seam along the edge of each block meaning that it would probably be difficult to join them securely.. oh for the foresight to plan further than the next step when I start a project:) .. and a down side of doing points so accurately along the edge.. there is nowhere to fudge an extra 1/4in to add a covering seam :(

Friday Flaunt

2009-11-20T07:34:00.000+11:00

Well in truth I didn't finish my quilt this week.
I managed to finish it just before we left for our holidays but I didn't have a chance to upload it.
The finished quilt looks completely different to the original plan and I am very happy with it.
Off to the longarmer next.

Home Again

2009-11-18T07:20:00.003+11:00

Well we are back. Actually returned just a little over a week ago but have been so busy I haven't had a chance to write anything.

Where did we go?

Well just over a month ago Paul was surfing the net. He found a fantastic special 80% off on an 11 day cruise and 85% off the connecting cruise. Both cruises spent a day in Boston, which is where Richard is studying. So no decision was needed. Booked our tickets and flew out five days later.
Had a fantastic time.

This bridge was in Boston and looked really colourful in an industrial estate that we walked through. Very simple idea, it is simply plastic slinkies wrapped around the top rail and more simply hanging from the lower end of the struts.

Quilt Festival Entry

2009-10-10T07:10:00.004+11:00

From October 9th to 13th there is an online quilt show showcasing quilts from all over the world. Click this link for many wonderful quilts and also to join in.

As this quilt show is a hanger's choice I have decided to showcase a quilt which I made many, many years ago. The face is that of my eldest son PJ when he was about 11 month's old.

I have called it Going Home to suggest him being a long way away but with his thoughts and dreams still looking home.

Funny that is how the situation has developed and he now studies in Paris and will be over there for many more years, but he does hope to come home permanently at some stage. The quilt was made about 15 or 16 years ago.

Friday Flaunt

2009-10-08T21:03:00.003+11:00

Well it has been a busy and very productive week. I have finished the new centre for my Turkish Delight quilt. I am very happy with it and it just improves the quilt out of sight. I now need to add some borders as I want the orange arrow pointing towards the top corner rather than along that edge.

I think it may even be finished in time for Xmas. This will definitely not be a persimmon tree affair. In this household if someone receives a gift that they consider a total dud it is know as a persimmon tree - in remembrance of such a tree which I once gave Paul, thinking he would like it but discovering he hated the fruit..such is life!

Friday Flaunt

2009-10-02T07:36:00.003+10:00

Well I have finally finished attaching the outer border to Turkish Delight. Feeling very happy with how it went too.

All that needs to be done now is to make a new centre and replace the vase then all will be done. I haven't liked the vase for quite a while now and figured that I would simply throw something over it when the quilt was finished.

Paul however had the bright idea that as it isn't quilted yet why not simply remove it and replace it with something I prefer. Clever boy huh?

I have designed a feathered star which I hope to make in the upcoming week. Making it in a variety of greens will help to unite the outer border back in with the rest of the quilt... I am also over the multicoloured sections too.
Can you work out why this quilt has been in the UFO pile for years:)

Have booked it in with a longarmer, who unfortunately can't do it until early next year so even in that area I can't organise things as I would like.

Dust Storm

2009-10-01T07:54:00.006+10:00

Well here you have the evidence. Yes we had a beauty of a dust storm here also. Unfortunately I never thought to photograph the inside of the house but it was almost as good?

It had been rather warm early in the night of the storm and figured if I opened the windows it would allow the breeze to pass through the house and cool me down.

Yes you guessed it. Dust isn't really that cooling but it does have a colour changing effect:) Spent all of Wednesday cleaning the house. the layer of red dust for some reason was not an appealing colour.

Oh well I had wanted to do a thorough clean and I suppose there wasn't anything else which had actually prompted me to go from wanting to actually doing!

Every cloud has a silver lining as they say.

Don't you just love the windows.

I think the worst of it was being stuck inside for several days waiting for the dust in the air to settle.

Friday Flaunt

2009-09-25T18:24:00.003+10:00

Yes it is a late flaunt but there is a reason for it..I didn't realise it was Friday already. Just sat down to check the emails and surprise surprise there was Daphne's flaunt.

My flaunt this week is related to last week's flaunt. Rebecca from Patchwork and Quilting at Express Publications has just emailed me to ask if they could take my Confused Wells quilt to a few craft shows as the sample of a project from their upcoming magazine.... As you can well guess my prompt response was a definite yes! So anyone going to Brisbane or Adelaide in the next month or so will be able to check it out in 'real life'.

I was also going to flaunt the 59 charity blocks I made for the NSW guild get away last weekend except they were all 1/4in too small. Note to self - when using someone else's machine be sure to check their 1/4in foot... oh well at least they only need to cut down a few of the other people's blocks to have enough for three quilts!

Frenzied Friday

2009-09-18T06:40:00.002+10:00

Well two flaunts really. Tomorrow is the first day of my online class at Quilt Campus. Scroll down until you get to Confused Wells and that is my class.

It is my version of Hidden Wells but without the restrictions of strips being a fixed width and blocks being same size and in fact any other restriction. I really like the quilt and in real life it is a lot brighter than this photo shows. I have taught it a few times and all of the students have had success and it is perfect for clearing out the rubbish which we all seem to accumulate in our stash over time.

My second flaunt is this tie quilt. I would love to say that I have finished making all of the blocks but when I lay it out it just screamed that it was too short. So in a few weeks you will see a similar flaunt, I hope, when I finish another four blocks... fingers crossed.

Carmichael and Shane

2009-09-17T19:05:00.002+10:00

I know this is an old one but it is definitely a good one... parenting tips for a single parent trying to bring up twins. The boys, Carmichael and Shane, both are gorgeous and play their roles superbly. Check it out well worth the five minutes and I am sure you will laugh.

Great Give Away

2009-09-17T15:01:00.002+10:00

I really do need to get a time manager. I have spent almost an hour sitting here surfing and haven't had a chance to start all those horrid tasks one must do. However I do have a very good reason. I have found some top giveaways which, if you have a few minutes, or hours to spare are worth checking out.
Art Gallery Fabrics is giving you the chance to win a bundle of FQs or and this is what I would love most a bag of scraps... I really do need to move on from scraps...but not just yet.

Sorry but I just went give you links to the other giveaways but my browser died and I have lost those. As I said I need a time manager and so must leave now... but check out the above link.

Really Super Flaunt

2009-09-11T00:16:00.000+10:00

Well what do you think of this for a brag? I am now an online designer with Christine Abela's ecraftpatterns. Check it out. I am there.

Yes I know it is bragging but I can't believe it... especially the part where I actually managed to get organised enough to get my design instructions converted correctly to pdf. Yes I know everyone says it is easy and it probably will be next time.. especially if I don't start out with a table format, but that is another story.

My first pattern is one which I drew up for a friend of mine who wanted to begin teaching patchwork. It was perfect for a beginning teacher and also for a beginning patchworker.

Again you can see Paul's watermarking .. for those who asked for a tutorial he will provide this once he can remember how he does it. He is still at the "I think this is what I did last time" stage.. but getting faster.

Free Motion Quilting

2009-09-09T06:33:00.000+10:00

Found a fantastic blog today, 365 Days of Free Motion.

Everyday Leah is uploading a new free motion design with an accompanying video. Check it out and I would even recommend you bookmarking it.

The design beside is called Lightning Bolt and is from day 27.

Childhood

2009-09-07T19:25:00.003+10:00

Well I can't believe how busy I have been. I have been trying to get organised for this weekend's retreat plus write instructions for a few patterns and in the midst of this we had a visit to Brisbane. Took some lovely photos while travelling and figured that I would upload some.
The collage above is a collection of photos of homes which I lived in as a child. Isn't it amazing how our memories remember things. When I lived in these homes they were beautiful but the years have not done them any favours.
We never lived in the middle house but it is one I have always loved. When I was young it was to me a palace with two huge lion statues guarding the entrance. I have always wanted a majestic entrance and I think it is because of this house. Unfortunately arsonists visited it a while ago and there is little left of my dream.
My happiest home was the one on the lower right and it still looks well loved.

Friday Flaunt

2009-09-04T07:54:00.002+10:00

Well here it is Friday again. I have been unbelievably busy for most of the past fortnight but the last two days have been great. I am now working on the next border for the quilt top I flaunted a fortnight ago and have decided to do this block.

Initially I wanted to make 8in blocks but after talking with friends have changed my mind and will now make smaller blocks and ... if I can find some more hand dyes in enough colours will do a final border of sawteeth after this one.

Last night I decided that foundation piecing was the way to go and so drew them up and after only two more samples I have managed to work out what sizes to cut the fabric and the order of piecing to achieve what I want.

I am planning on making all of the backgrounds in black and the star/whatever in a variety of greens.

Charming Jelly Cake

2009-08-31T11:59:00.004+10:00

Now who could refuse an opportunity to win this gorgeous prize.
Jane, on her blog, has found some great giveaways. Click on this link for the chance to win this Charming Jelly Cake... and it isn't even fattening. Or you can simply click on the photo and it will take you there also.

Go and check it out and leave a comment for your chance.... and if you win and can't decide what to do with the prize I am more than willing to help you out... what are friends for?

Now I really need to finish some work:)

Anyone want some uggies?

2009-08-31T11:39:00.003+10:00

Well I'm not sure if this promotion is still running but if it is then you have the opportunity to win a free pair of whooga ugg boots. Yes I know it is warming up in Australia but there are many countries where a white Xmas is approaching rather than 0ur traditional scorchers. Anyway it is worth a try if you like uggies. click on the little picture and it should take you to the site where you can register for the competition if you are interested.

Another Competition

2009-08-30T11:48:00.001+10:00

Ok now if you would like to win a $100 gift voucher click on this link to the Fat Quarter Shop blog and follow their directions.

You will have to decide which colourway you prefer for the Village Green BOM but other than that it is easy. Oh and good luck.

If you click on the picture you can even order the kit if you would like it but it is not due until December sometime... perhaps a gift for yourself or someone special.

Friday Flaunt

2009-08-28T09:21:00.000+10:00

No flaunt this week as I have been in Brisbane all week and have no internet access. Looking forward to checking out all of your work when I return....
PS don't you love it when you can schedule posts to show on the correct days.

Friday Flaunt

2009-08-21T09:09:00.000+10:00

Well here it is. I have finally attached the next border onto Turkish Delight. This quilt was started many,many years ago when I decided I wanted to learn how to applique.

At that stage I was also into dyeing and so all of the fabric, apart from the vase and the black are my own hand dyed fabrics.

The lattice design is also my own as the original class had a swag which really wasn't me.

I now need to add one more border as it isn't a really useable size, too narrow for queen and too long for anyother size. I will add another border of floating stars which will hopefully make it king size and then finished.

OH and what do you think of Paul's watermarking skills. He is trying to learn a few more skills and so practises when I ask him for something.

Another Challenge

2009-08-20T08:53:00.006+10:00

Surfing again I have found yet another challenge for all of you creative people out there.

Do you have any wizz bang idea for an Amy Butler name tag? If yes then check out here as you have the opportunity to win some gorgeous Amy Butler patterns as well as other surprises. If interested then check it out.

Rhonda's Quilt

2009-08-18T05:58:00.004+10:00

I would love to say that I made this quilt but truth be told I selected my fabrics and copied a few of the hearts onto the vliesofix about three, or more, years ago and that is as far as I went. yes this quilt was destined to be another WISP, Work in SLOW progress.

My friend Rhonda had made it, in 1997 if you read the label and I had admired it for many years. Unfortunately I had never managed to really make a start on it which as it turns out was quite fortunate. You see Rhonda has moved from a huge four bedroom country home to a modern two bedroom villa. With the change of abode also came a drastic culling of possessions and a change of style. This meant that the quilt no longer fitted in.

Yahoo!!! It now resides in my place! Aren't I a lucky bunny?

Fantastic Jewelry Tree

2009-08-14T12:16:00.003+10:00

I know you have all seen those wind chimes made from old cutlery and loved them.

Well here is another great use for unwanted cutlery, albeit a hell of a lot more work. Kristie is making these for sale but is also offering you a chance to win one. So if you are interested pop on over and leave a comment.

Frenzied Friday Flaunt

2009-08-14T07:52:00.000+10:00

Here it is..Mud Puddles.

This is my version of Hidden Wells. I had gone to a lot of trouble to carefully calculate all of the little bits so that they fitted together and as you can easily tell, they do fit. Well perhaps those extra borders weren't really in my original calculations and plan but some days life changes things and mathematics isn't as accurate as it used too be... that is why whenever I need to calculate fabric I do so very carefully ... and then buy an extra metre :0

Friday Flaunt

2009-08-06T16:24:00.002+10:00

Well I have a double flaunt today... I have finished this little scissor fob which is as tiny as it looks and was great fun to make.

Also this post is a little early as on Friday I am off to the Canberra Quilt Show. Looking forward to the break as I have been unbelievably busy lately.

It will be great to simply relax and look at things rather than rushing around madly trying to do six days worth of things in three.

This will be my first non-frenzied day in ages :)

Richard's Graduation

2009-08-03T02:04:00.003+10:00

Well here he is.. Richard delivering the valedictory speech at his graduation last week.

Definitely looks cute if you ask me. the photographer had a lot of difficulty getting a clear picture of him as every time she tried to shoot it he looked down but luckily she managed this shot

Frenzied Flaunter

2009-07-24T01:52:00.002+10:00

Well what have I done this week.... see below for a start... I have been photographing Rhonda's things and uploading all of those, also I have had to label and prepare for sale several items for my first venture into craft markets(no photos there) also have ripped up carpet, humped a ton of very heavy furniture out and then back in and cleaned and tidied most of the house... so although I don't have any quilting as such to show you and I don't have any photos and I haven't done anything exciting, i have run out of time in which to do anything so my flaunt is defintiely frenzied...

Oh one thing I would like to flaunt is that my baby, Richard... he is 19 and a bit big to be considered a baby.. anyway today he is graduating with first class honours in Advanced Maths and next Wednesday he leaves Australia to go to Harvard University where he has won a Knox Fellowship (like the Rhodes Scholarship) to do his Doctorate in Public Health.. and I am as proud as anything of him!

Rhonda's Final Fling (almost)

2009-07-24T01:11:00.006+10:00

Some of you will remember a few months ago I sold many quilting books which a friend of mine was clearing out. Well she has had to do more clearing out, disadvantage of moving from a six bedroom house to a two bedroom villa.
I have photographed many of her patterns and things and uploaded them onto flickr. If you want any more information about any item simply email me at opposite.like.conscious79@gmail.com and I will tell you what I can.... mind you I will be out for most of Friday so please excuse the delay in responding but as usual it will be on a first come basis. Please tell me what the photo number is in your email if possible.

Click on the links below and hopefully you will find something you like.
kits- these include pattern and fabric for the front at least, some also include threads, backing, buttons etc. The prices are between a quarter and half of the original price and include top quality fabrics. Most of her kits were purchased from Mittagong Patchwork.

less than $5- mixture here, some FQs, some Debbie Mumm knobs, laces and I can't remember what else

$5 items - most of these are patternsbut there are also some panels and stitcheries in there.

$10 - some books here and some kits. I will upload a few more books here over the weekend as a few of the photos were quite blurred when I first took them.

I also have some other items like the stuff in the photo above which I haven't yet listed as I still have to find a price but all will be uploaded soon.

Postage is $2 per pattern for one or two patterns $5.60 for three or more patterns up to 500g... this should be about five but I will check and it depends on which patterns. Books are the same. Kits are generally $5.60 but I will confirm this for you.

Thanks for looking and I hope you find something you like.

Friday Flaunt

2009-07-17T08:48:00.004+10:00

Well have finished another block in my Winter Secrets quilt. This is the sixth in the series which when finished will hopefully look good together as a quilt top.

I have really enjoyed making these blocks and actually using some of my many embroidery threads. As there are 56 separate hexagons in the design I have attempted to use 56 different colours.. what is the point in having lots of colours if you never get to use them all?

These blocks developed from my Raconteur quilt, which I have only finished just over 200 blocks for so far so there is still quite a while to go with that one:)

Friday Flaunt

2009-07-10T00:16:00.001+10:00

Although I finished piecing this quilt quite a while ago... like about two years. It is only lately that I have actually knuckled down and completed the quilting.

Machine quilting is not my forte. Hey I could even go so far as to say I am terrible at it. Now this photo does not show my latest efforts at quilting but I have managed to free motion all of the separate blocks and now this is what I have achieved this week.... added a label to it!

So Country Stars is now totally finished and I have given it to my brother-in-law as a thank you gift from our dog Kendall. Peter always looks after Kendall when we go away on holidays and as he lives in Boorowa, a really cold place, this seemed an appropriate gift.

I have also spent most of Thursday washing quilts. A friend of mine is moving from a six bedroom house to a two bedroom villa and so needs to cull drastically. She has in the last few years made many quilts and as she is changing her style, from country to french provincial I will be selling many of her quilts for her in the near future. Unfortunately it rained most of Thursday so heaters have been going flat out all day.... almost finished drying. I suppose I could have waited for a sunny day but hey that is a bit forward thinking for me.

Stolen Copyright

2009-07-07T07:37:00.002+10:00

Just received this email from a friend. If you see the pattern being sold could you please note the name of any contact person on the cover and let Liz or myself know. Thanks.

Hi there,

..You will find updates on my web site (that’s as soon as I manage to get information uploaded) and also a free pattern – “Bear Hugs”.

This freebie has come about because I discovered just recently much to my dismay, that someone has been photocopying & selling my patterns wholesale. I have never sold any of my patterns wholesale & I understand that someone in the ACT may have been selling them at a quilt show. Now I don’t know who that person is, & instead of becoming bitter & twisted, I have decided to make it available to anyone who would like a copy! In fact this solution has made me feel very happy & I hope that you will enjoy making this little quilt – it has given me great pleasure. J

You can use this pattern to make quilts, teach if you want to, but I would appreciate it if you respect me as a designer & do not on-sell this pattern.

Elizabeth @ Berry Patchwork J

Oh also, if you want the free pattern keep checking back on her web site as it is being updated at present but things should be fixed soon.

Success!!

2009-07-05T10:41:00.002+10:00

I have finally managed to upload my quilting website. I have been trying to organise this for ages and once I even managed to succeed but couldn't find it. This morning PJ helped out and viola her it is. I haven't yet worked out how to add comments to it though but that will come one day.

Friday Flaunt

2009-07-03T08:01:00.000+10:00

I have been working on many projects lately but here is something that I have actually managed to finish... well I have finished all of the blocks in the quilt that is.

There are about 140 blocks and it is a QAYG project so it now only needs to be quilted, which will be quick on the machine and then joined together.

Hopefully after cleaning out Richard's room today I might have a chance to start the quilting.

Alaska was great

2009-06-18T20:48:00.000+10:00

Well today I started to upload the photos from our last holiday. Here is a picture of me on the train from Skagway to Ketchiken. You see the snow in the background that is the height above the ground level .. it isn't going up a hill... the background is actually sloping down away from the train.

It was absolutely amazing. This is the end of the season so you can just imagine what it must have been like at the height of winter.

Actually in winter the train can't get through unless it has a plough go through first to clear the lines. The lines had been cleared a few weeks before to allow the passenger trains through for the holiday season.

If you ever get the chance to go to Alaska and Canada take it... you won't regret it

Sydney Quilt Show

2009-06-12T07:08:00.005+10:00

Well the winners have been announced and there were some real beauties among them, including my dear friend Margaret. This was her first entry into the show and she won the ribbon for fourth in 'first time entrants'. What do you think of her quilt... not bad for only having been at it four years.. no not the quilt for four years... quilting four years!

The Winners Are Announced

2009-06-12T06:50:00.003+10:00

Yes I realise I am running behind but the lucky winners have finally been chosen. Thanks to everyone who joined the party and entered this competition.

The lucky winner of the oriental pin cushion is Mary in Melbourne - love pincushions . Please count me in.

while the overseas winner is Fred - love donuts and also surprises

Could you both please contact me at opposite(dot)like(dot)conscious79@gmail(dot)com so that I can organise sending your pin cushions to you.

Almost Home.

2009-06-07T21:17:00.003+10:00

Well our holiday is almost over... and there are still no snaps up on the blog. But just wait until I get a chance.

Our final leg home was postponed when China Air cancelled our last flight and so what should have been a three hour stop over has been stretched to 36 hours. Lucky we didn't have further connecting flights like some of the others. We have been put up in a hotel in Taipei and today were taken on a five hour tour of the city... fantastic. Will upload photos sometime next week.

Yes we do have some photos - I took almost 2000 and Paul took about 800! Paul suggested we invite over anyone who we don't want to revisit and show them ALL of our snaps... how horrific. I can still remember being forced to watch 'hjoliday' snaps of some friends of the family.... wll one way to clear out unwanted visitors - or at least guarantee they won't come back.

Looking forward to being home again. As wonderful as other places are they don't match home.

Holiday Prep Started

2009-05-15T08:26:00.006+10:00

Well we leave shortly for our trip and as I had a feeling that I might not mange to finish all of my must do tasks I even arose early this morning and started my sewing. Now you may mistakenly believe that I started sewing the ski pants which I plan to live in for most of the trip but no.. there was something even more urgent....luggage tags. I have wanted some bright ones for ages and saw some beauties on my last trip but at $17 each thought it was a bit over the top. So now two hours after rising we have our own luggage tags.

What do you think of them?

Off to have breakfast and then hopefully sew some ski pants!

SEWN Blog Party Give Away

2009-05-14T11:34:00.009+10:00

Spent the morning surfing the web, avoiding the must do task of making some ski pants for our upcoming trip to Alaska, and found what looks like being quite an exciting new blog, SEWN. Seems it will be an online resource centre for Australian designers, shops, you know whats all related to patchwork and sewing. It is being set up by Sarah Fielke who lives somewhere in Sydney.
the site has a launch day of June 1st and a big online party date of June 8th. As I will be away on the 1st looks like I will have to catch up with those happenings when I return but I will be home and hopefully alive by party date.

To celebrate the party Sarah is organising a party give away and if you click on the link you will find out all of the details there.

For my party I am planning on giving away two gifts. For those who come to my party from Australia you have the chance of winning an oriental pin cushion and for those who come from overseas it will be a donut pincushion (if I find my pattern again otherwise it will be a surprise:), which you will need to stuff.

If you would like to join my party simply leave a comment below and remember to check back after the party to see if you were the lucky person.
For an extra entry simply create a link back to this blog and leave a second comment with you blog address, this second comment will not be published though.

Some other places to pick up a few prizes are crafty librarian and here