Sew and Tell, Sew and Tell, Sew and Tell

Yesterday was the first day back to class with Marg Sampson-George at Material Obsession.

Everyone seemed to be very pleased to be back and were very quickly focused on the projects at hand.

Barb began the show and tell with her lovely quilt. Barb began this quilt some years back in a former class with Marg . Marg encourages her students to bring in their 'antique' UFO's and helps bring them back to life with the addition of some more of the modern day fabrics.

Barb must have worked extremely diligently over her Christmas break as she completed all of the broderie persed birds, and the hexagon rosettes, appliqued onto the border and the borders sewn onto the centre.

Next up was this masterpiece made by Kate, isn't this quilt just amazing, it has that aged feeling to me , (museum worthy) I think she has done the most amazing job and let me tell you this girl is focused. Oh how I wish I could be like that. ( I get distracted by covering paper shapes :-) with fabric)

Kate has added this wonderful Dutch Chintz border with the scalloped inset , suits it to a T.

Here is just a little close up

Just a little tutoring here for the next border which is going to be just as stunning, you will have to watch this space for an update or of course on Miss EF's blog.

I have been adding to my sheet, should  have been finished months ago had I remained focused but so many other things to attempt , time is running out  :-).

It is a true sampler with lots of different shapes, applique and piecing. It seems anything goes.

I am also adding a cross stitch sampler, surrounded by hexagons, this has not been sewn down yet, just a picture to give you a bit of an idea , along with the petals coming out of the basket, just a little fabric auditioning going on here.

Looking at the photo it looks quite sparse between the shapes and really it isn't as sparse irl.

Once I feel that the centre has enough shapes it will be time to add a border of triangles and circles before the next border of baskets and trees.

I have had loads of mail and comments asking me where I get my templates from for making my hexagons.

Kathy at Material Obsession now has the most amazing collection of templates for all sorts of shapes and blocks but this little pack just had to make its way home with me just so I could show you. If any of you want them please call or email Kathy and she will get them to you pronto  I am sure.

I have to say that the larger templates have a 3/8 seam allowance which I love. Snowball or Octogan shapes are also available along with Triangles , Diamonds and Squares, you name it.

Wouldn't you just know it, this photo will not load the right way up, but I am sure you get the general idea.

While I am on the subject of keeping you up to date with the goings on Quilty related, Brigitte Giblin is publishing a book, I haven't seen it yet Brigitte will be launching her book at the needle work show in Nantes, France in April but it will be a must have for the library I am sure. As you know I have taken classes with Brigitte and my hexagon sewing purse is a Brigitte pattern, Brigitte is a wonderful teacher , very generous with her knowledge and has a very quirky slant to her quilts. If you are keen to get your hands on a copy I think kathy is taking forward orders for Brigittes book.

You can follow Brigiite on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/brigittegiblinquilts

That's enough from me today

Happy Sewing

j

A test post from my iPad

Sometimes it would be really convenient to do a quick post from my iPad , I have this app but have never tested it so here goes.
Let's see if I can add a picture


Looks like it worked, these are some clamshells I have made to add to my sampler
I can see a few things about this I am not so happy with but hey for a quick post it may be ok

Happy sewing
J

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Very Quick Check In

To wish you all a very Happy, Healthy,Creative 2012
I have been on holiday since 23rd December and I am still on holiday until mid next week, it is going to be very hard to get dressed in office attire after nearly a month of very casual summer dressing.

I have managed to fit in a little stitching time but just enough to feed the addiction for paper piecing.

This time it is octagons not hexagons. I am going to use these for a border on a quilt that isn't even made yet, I cannot sit with idle hands, these little beauties don't take much brain power. Just lovely to use scraps of favourite pieces of fabric.

Just prior to Christmas I had a trip to Melbourne to visit the divine Miss Lizzie and Co. It was a really wonderful time catching up with the Melbourne girls. I did come home with a new project though, as if I need another one. Those of you that read Lizzie's blog will have seen her blooms quilt. It is even better in real life so onto the quilt bucket list it went. The blocks are really large and showcase some gorgeous fabrics, it is hand pieced and yes I know some of you will look at it and think 'Machine Piecing' but I am not a fan of machine piecing and sometimes it is just nice to sit and sew and not have to think too hard , this is one of those quilts.

I call this my 'B' quilt, Blooms, Bees and Butterfly

I have managed to get 6 rows together and it is only 11 rows by 11 blocks although I may add another couple of rows depending on how it fits on the bed.
I will sandwich it with quiltlite, it will be one of those quilts to snuggle under when I have a little afternoon nap. Nothing too heavy.

I am still working on my basket quilt and my sheet with the appliqued shapes, I will show you those next time.

 I was very spoilt at Christmas, this little pile of books will keep me busy for some hours, so maybe not too much sewing will get done.

I had a very busy end to 2011 , in October I celebrated 25 years service for the company I work for, it was lovely to arrive at work on the anniversary to find my office totally decorated with balloons and streamers

I was treated to a wonderful morning tea and received some beautiful flowers and a very generous contribution to a new computer.

Many of you that read my blog will know that I have done a lot of travelling in my job, this has been to train a lot of the staff member to use SAP. SAP is the software system our company uses now worldwide. I have used this system since 1999 when our company here in Australia and New Zealand needed to update in order to be compliant for the year 2000, remember  we were going to self destruct lol. In 2010 I was part of the project team that implemented the upgrade to our German parent company platform. I had previously completed a 'Train the Trainer course at AIM but felt if I wanted to take this any further I needed to be more qualified so last year I sat my Cert 4 in Training and assessment, I got my results in December and passed so now I can train people using SAP (SD ) officially. So who knows where this may lead.

It has been many years since I left school but I rather enjoyed this further education.

I think I said this was just a quick visit so it is time I left, hopefully I will have more time to blog this year.

I will leave you with this lovely picture of the beach we use during our stay at our holiday home.I took this picture yesterday, the water was almost turquoise and it was so warm, Mr L & R had to drag me from the water. This pic is more for those of you on the other side of the world that could be shivering through cooler weather. Not to worry summer will be around all too soon.

 Happy Sewing

j

Christmas 2011

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas

Today is as good a day as any

 It has been so long since I posted , I had got to the stage where I wondered whether I would ever post another post but as today is my birthday I figured it was a good a day as any.
Today is a beautiful spring day, the sun is shining where we are and there is quite a lot of warmth in this spring sun.

 Of course all of the beautiful spring flowers are out, I just love filling our home with them so this morning I am sending these lovely Tulips to you all wherever you may be.

I have been doing lots of different sewing and cross stitch, some I haven't photographed yet so will save that for next time  but in the meantime I will show you some of my new obsessions.

I am obsessed with Jockey Caps, I am sure some of you will call these drunkards path ( I think ) but I believe when they are sewn into four in this manner they become jockey caps.

I think the fun part is mixing the fabrics , the quirkier the better.

I don't believe anything is off limits, what do you think.

I have also been working on this medallion style quilt in my class with Marg Sampson-George at Material Obsession. 

My background is an antique linen sheet which is so lovely to work on. The idea is to fill the entire background with all sorts of quirky shapes and things that appeal to the maker. Here you can see I cannot go without adding my beloved pears.

I have used this quilt to really try and improve my needleturn applique skills.I have to say I have really enjoyed the challenge.

I have also spent quite a lot of time exploring my recipe books and experimenting with some new recipes.

These sticky beef ribs with coriander sauce are a real winner from the cook book of an ex masterchef contestant, Marion.

Well this is a short post but I have to say it is great to be back, hopefully it won't be so long next time and I have loads to show you.

Happy sewing

j

Quilts in the Vines (part 2) The Home Patch

Following on from my previous post
Day one saw us pile into two cars around 4pm and head for the 'Home Patch' the shop of the very talented Anni Downs.
With Anni's permission I have snapped some pics around her store. This is a store with heart and caters for all tastes.


I think from the time we hit the shop Anni was madly measuring and cutting fabric.

no matter which direction one looked it was a feast for the eyes.

Ideas and inspiration aplenty

Loads of books

This little needlecase made from wool is a kit or pattern but how could you resist the kit

samples made up from patterns on sale

Miss Prims

gorgeous Valdani threads in luscious colours, I wish for the whole box not a single ball , just my colourway too.

piles of hand dyed wool, dyed by Anni's husband Peter

Its Christmas year round here, lovely little stitcheries designed by Anni

little ornaments with a Christmas theme, how could you put them away for a whole year.

Really pretty block of the month program, patchwork and embroidery combined

cross stitched samples, makes all the difference when a pattern is stitched

Shame this is not a little closer but on that bag is a needle punched piece. Anni has a lot of them around her store , they are so delicate.

If you love Janet Bolton then this is the book for you, and some cute wood print blocks


Inspiration to help make a house become a home

This lovely little quilt was hanging on the wall in the 'bright' fabric room

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of Anni's store, it was lovely to meet up again with Margaret , I am sorry that I didn't get to see you before you left for the evening but thanks for staying back.

I am sure many of you know Anni from her stalls at various shows both trade and retail around the world and just like her shop there is always so much heart put into the display.

Next post I will finish off the rest of our retreat

happy sewing

j

Quilts in the Vines

Last weekend Bernadette hosted the inaugural 'Quilts in the Vines' retreat at Bathurst . Bathurst is a city in the central west of NSW.

Bathurst is well known for many reasons. One of them being the famous car race on Mt Panorama, another is the Charles Sturt University, many prominent Australian journalists attended this university.For me Bathurst is famous for the divine quilt shop 'The Home Patch' run by the gorgeous Anni Downs. Anni also has a blog Hatched and Patched. I will warn you now this post is image heavy.

Friday morning in Sydney we woke to the most appalling weather , rain rain and more rain , certainly not congenial to driving over the Blue mountains and Mount Victoria into Bathurst but a few quilt shop ,cafe's and shop stops did the trick. Surprisingly when we arrived in Bathurst not a drop of rain to be seen. Pre dinner bubbles, a lovely meal at the local pub and a night cap in Bernadette's room saw us retire to our rooms at a respectable hour ready for our two day quilt in.

Bernadette who also is a Personal Fitness trainer invited anyone interested to partake in an early morning walk around the famous Mt Panorama race track. I have to say when I woke the next morning I looked out the window from my room and thought no it looks far too cold so I hopped back into bed , when an attack of the guilt's got the better of me I was up and dressed ready to meet at the agreed time. Only 3 of us walked and it was freezing , the only way to warm up was to walk faster.

This hill might not look terribly steep in this image , it was one of those killers, you know a gradual incline but incline upwards. We chatted away pointing out the beautiful vistas the higher we got , I might add as I was puffing and panting my way up the hill our PT didn't look anything like getting out of breath. Oh to be that fit. This is Kate in the red jacket, Kate was my mind reader when Bernadette asked if we wanted to continue as we came to the very steep hairpin bend. We wimped out at that point.

The sun shining over Bathurst was a gorgeous site

Our hotel was in sight, we stayed right on the race track. The rooms were lovely but we all commented that the decor is rather masculine, I can only imagine how noisy it must be on that certain weekend in October.

Algona is the venue Bernadette selected for our weekend retreat after she and her husband had driven many miles to find just the right place and a great choice it was.

Nothing could be faulted, we had a very large room to ourselves we were able to spread ourselves out , design walls set up , cutting tables , sewing machine tables ,fabulously talented tutor ,like minded friends, a wonderful view and get this, our very own chef , who kept the sustenance up to us at regular intervals. Really what more could a girl want.

Marg Sampson was our tutor for the weekend , and our inspiration was Mary Jane Hannaford.

Mary Jane was one of Australia's most creative quiltmakers , she came to Australia in 1842 aged 2 . MJH was jilted but had an only child whom she raised alone. Her daughter went on to have 9 children. Several strong themes run through Marys quilts , her religious faith, her love of Australia and a melancholy sense of loss and time passing . Mary meant for her quilts to be hung and used decoratively , she embroidered funny little saying and used scraps of fabrics in strip like fashion. (check out Kate's blog she has a link and some images). Marg encouraged us to be inspired by MJH but to make it our own .

Out came our fabric stashes ready to cut strips of varying sizes.

Some got straight to work

Kate's featherweight (Elvis) never let us down all weekend, quietly whirring away.

Such concentration from Sue, it was amazing just how quiet the room was at times as I guess we all delved into our memories wondering what ideas we could put in fabric.

It was exciting seeing ideas coming to life

Kate had memories of birds being chased which is forming the centre part of her quilt

Elaine was down on the floor with Marg throwing some ideas around.

This is what they came up with, these little people representing her 2 children. Elaine was so excited all weekend, she was heard to say on a number of occasions "Marg's back , I'm back" you see Elaine has been away nurturing babies for the last 8 years and Marg as we know has been living overseas, happiness all round.

Laurel is Canadian born , Australian by choice, how lovely is that, I think she is cutting out a crown

Bernadette's visualisation coming to fruition

Mine up on the design wall , I wasn't too interested in the circle. Appliquing fabrics not on the bias seemed too hard a task for my liking. No sense of adventure !!

Being a kiwi I think sheep need to make an appearance , Janet Bolton's naive style suits me down to the ground

Maybe a hexie or two being the addict I am

I'll be back later continuing this post. I am having some technical issues so don't want to loose what I have already done.

See you soon

j