Sunday, September 20, 2009

Back on Terra Firma

Thankfully my vertigo has finally taken a hike. Three weeks of constant dizziness was just too much to cope with.
My heartfelt thank you to the many of you that sent lovely messages and even ideas of how to help it to pass. I really really appreciate your kindness and concern.
I have been travelling again, which I did with a little trepidation as I felt perhaps it was caused by flying , but no ill effects after this past trip.
Most of my sewing has been on my orange peels and hexagons as they are very portable. I have been busily sewing on red circles , which really finish off the orange peels, imho anyway.
I have been a bit obsessed with fussy cutting, it really changes the way you look at a piece of fabric, even 'ugly' fabrics have a place.

I guess I really should start thinking about my centres, I just keep pulling out fabrics , some that haven't seen the light of day for years.



The pile is slowly growing, but part of the process is the enjoyment of fabric sorting and letting my imagination run wild. I tell you I can make quilts so fast in my head, just wish that speed could be converted to my hands and of course more hours in a day would be most welcome.
Raspberry and pink being amongst my favourite colours.






These two being from the same fabric , just cut from different parts of the pattern, giving very different effects.





My recent trip for work was to Brisbane, after my workshop had concluded I managed to borrow a car and hi tail it over to Quilters and Embroiders store in Salisbury.
What an amazing shop, thousands of bolts of fabric, but extremely well organised. Some shops out there have bolts and bolts of fabrics , but no organisation, I am afraid I am not a rummage shopper and I don't tend to connect with those shops.
Quilters and Embroiders have quite a few bolts of fabric that have been around for a while so if you ever need that bit of fabric to finish a project , that could be just the place to start.






I did manage to part with some hard earned money and yes I know you are probably thinking that my choice of fabrics have been around for a while , but remember I am thinking hexagons, fussy cut at that, and I think I could get some great effects from these.






Another of my loves is photography, and I love to experiment taking different subjects. Today I had a scout around and these next few pics are pieces lying around.









These corks are in a large dish at our holiday place. I have a love of natural colours and textures and decided I would start saving corks, more for a talking point, corks today are being replaced by screw tops so they will become collectible I am sure. The corks we collect have to be name stamped, any cork as long as it has some text on it.
I know what you are thinking, and yes we don't mind the odd glass of medicine and yes we do heaps of entertaining here but we have had a helping hand from a rellie who happens to work for a specialist wine merchant.







Another love is the garden although we don't have a huge amount of time these days, hopefully in retirement some more time will be readily available.
I think a garden needs the sound of water, it adds a sense of calmness , this fountain is in our garden and has been bought from previous homes, Mr L & R has told me this is the final resting place for this fountain, as it is very heavy . It took two burley guys to get in position . I love it and don't think I could leave it behind , will cross that bridge when the time comes.







Until next time
Enjoy yourselves in whatever you do
j










18 comments:

Deb said...

Jean, your fussy cut hexagons are fantastic and I can so see where you are coming from and how worth the time and effort is.
Loving your choice of fabrics you bought.

Cardygirl said...

Glad to hear you are improved...love your fussy cutting, amazing how one piece of fabric can look so different.

Lurline said...

Love your Orange Peels and of course your Hexies!
Hugs - Lurline♥

PatchworkRose said...

Hi Jean Just love all those textures and colours. You play with colour so well :-) Glad you are feeling so much better. Those orange peels look perfect with that touch of red.
Cheers
Lynne

Janet said...

Hexagon loveliness, they look great Jean. I'm loving the orange peels and have the same book, the red centers are perfect, I may have to put this one on my list. Do you bother much with the points since they are covered by the circles?
Your photos are lovely, I've said that before and it's true. I can't throw out corks either

Chookyblue...... said...

good to hear your better......the hexagons look amazing.......love your photos too.........

Deb said...

Jean I;m so glad you are feeling much better. Your hexagons are lovely and how careful you are with design. And I do love ou orange peel. I have an orange peel piece on the go - but very different to yours. Take care and take it easy!

wishes, true and kind said...

I love your orange peel quilt (great red centers), and what fun you are having with those hexagons! I'm enjoying watching your progress!

ranette said...

First off....the fountain is amazing...no way could I leave that ever!

The fussy cut hexagons are very time consuming, but so worth it and the colors set my heart to pounding.

The red circles ARE just the right touch to the orange peels.
And it seems to me that you are making some good progress on this quilt.

Glad the vertigo has gone...it is such a miserable feeling and it's very hard to live normally when you have it. I once fell off of my toilet (completely sober I might add) while suffering from it...lol

Linda in NC said...

So glad to hear the vertigo has gone. What a relief!

Your fussy cut hexagons are so beautiful and are an inspiration. I can hardly wait to see what you do with them.

And I do love the little red dots - perfect!

Miriam said...

Ohhh I am glad you are feeling much better now.
I love fussy cutting too! It makes you look at fabric in a whole different way. I think fabric some designers are very clever. I have that same pink fabric in your last hexagon photo and I have used it in different ways too.

Julia said...

Love your Orange Peels and your Hexies!
Glad that Vertigo has gone..
Julia ♥

antique quilter said...

so happy your feeling better. Your orange peels are looking wonderful, love those red circles :)
oh the hexies are awesome, just the way you cut out the fabrics and made these special designs makes them so beautiful. I bet it was fun to do as well
your making me want to start this too!
what size are your hexagon papers????
hunting for the right fabrics would be fun for this project.
YOur fabric purchases are wonderful...lucky you finding some oldie but goodies.
Kathie

Unknown said...

good to hear it's all gone now....
I have a new iMac and all your photos look lovely and bright!!

Quilts on Bastings said...

The Orange Peel Quilt looks fabulous as do the fussy cut hexagons - great work!

Thimbleanna said...

Ohmygosh! I just LOVE BOTH of those quilts you're working on -- it takes my breath away when I see them -- they're going to be GORGEOUS!!!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

I don't quilt, but I love looking at your beautiful quilting. You just may inspire me to give it a try. Twyla

Library Gal Quilts said...

Oh, Jean I am so glad you are feeling well! Yeay! I am thrilled with your hexagons...they are so antique and like porcelain plates. The Orange Peels are very nice. I always love red centers! Warm and cozy! Have a good weekend. Hope I can find that great magazine. I too have always loved bags like that! xo Pam in Chico