Blog Tour Winner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Link for 100 Blocks Blog Tour

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

	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

 

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

 
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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.