Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Last Night - Today!

Meet Lindley from Secret Stitchers! We are a newly formed quilting group meeting in a lovely, well-lit room of the Secret Harbour Community Hall. Secret Harbour is a beautiful seaside town on the shores of the Indian Ocean and very close to where I live.

Big smiles and a Friendship Quilt - love it and it lives on Lindley's bed!

A project of Lindley's taught in a workshop by Helen Rhodes, Textile Artist - though beyond my capabilities, I am in awe of Helen's expertise! It was lovely to meet Helen and another lovely Helen!

Carmen's chooks - I'm sure a lot of you recognize this great quilt. Carmen has beautifully quilted this and also lots of little beads sewn on the berries. Cute shoes, too!

Another gorgeous Helen with her beautifully appliqued and hand-quilted quilt!

Well that was last night - now on with today. I have started, well sort of, cutting out the squares for my Shaggy Fairy Quilt - on the right you can see I have added another piece of the fairy range by Saffron Craig - great Valentine fabric! The green - I think I will make a 'green bag' from this gorgeous fabric by another great Australian designer, pop across to meet Caitlin at Pippijoe.
Have a lovely day!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Embryonic Dinosaur!

I had a Lazy Friday but I'm not having a Lazy Sunday - lots to do and some time will be spent working in my spare room preparing it for Heidi and Byron!

I've been having some fun with this little fellow - Dino or Dorothy! 'It' will turn into a baby quilt to hang on the wall - I have lots of wonderful ideas - a nice border, big-stitch quilting, nice binding? I never cease to be amazed working with Kaffe fabrics. I have pressed over freezer paper and am now ready to blind stitch for overlay applique - this is the most beautiful fabric I have ever used for this purpose! The little fake eye (for the purpose of this shoot!) will become a real one so 'it' can see properly, LOL!

Happy weekend!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Lazy Friday Morning!

Oooh, I've had a lovely morning - yes, with my bot on the chair in front of the computer! Here's some goodies I have to talk about! The postie has been to visit in the last few day - actually most days this week! I must tell you about the lovely gift from Mary Grace of Hooked On Needles - lookie here, the crocheted pink and white floor-duster (I don't think so!), the sweet little pink and green bag and the gorgeous ribbon. Thanks so much Mary Grace!

I saw a gorgeous baby quilt on Freda's Hive - Nanette showed the most gorgeous 'show and tell' with a couple of delightful baby quilts amongst a great display, and I was able to buy the book Baby Love in Brisbane - now that is on the other side of Australia. You will see more pics from this lovely little book!

Oh, I have a gorgeous Dino I'm about to start - you will see more of him, too!

I don't think Andi will mind me showing her banner - I have probably spent an hour this morning just browsing her site - a lovely girl who I had the fortune to meet last year in Melbourne - lots to interest there - I wandered off to other sites, too after spending a little time thinking on a little 'controversy' Andi has experienced recently. Pop over to see Andi if you have a little time to spare!

I was going to do so much this morning - have the dentist this arv - I'll have coffee downtown with daughter Angela, and so another day goes by with no sewing done - maybe catch up on some tonight!

Happy weekend!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Tulip Fairy!

I opened the parcel and my little heart went 'pitter, patter'!

Introducing an Australian designer, Saffron Craig! I think this piece is so very beautiful!

Teamed with the red and whites on the right, backed with the pretty soft pinks on the left, Thermore batting and I think it will be the yummiest shaggy quilt ever - well, maybe! Oh, I hope I can make a little start tomorrow!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Log Cabin With Attitude!

Another finish for January - lots of activity this weekend just gone and a little sewing to boot!

I had a lot of fun making this quilt and then it seemed to hover around forever - originally it was intended for my grandson, Tyler, who is nearly 19 now - too girly 'they' thought!

There are so many great fabrics - all bits and pieces from my stash, ranging from repros to very modern Kaffe stripes! I'm sure it will find a nice home and keep some body warm, LOL!

Happy day!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Playing With Binding!

What a lovely way to spend a Saturday - and it just keeps getting better and better!

Here I am about to stitch the binding onto my poor quilt that has been waiting so long for some attention! Some time ago, I was so very fortunate enough to do a bindings class with Narelle Grieve! You will see I have prepared the binding and started sewing leaving maybe a 8/10" tail.

Right around the quilt, I stitched, mitreing the corners. I stopped maybe 8/10" from the end, then I left a lap over - the amount is determined by the width of the binding.

Positioned and stitched across the 45 degree line!

Trimmed to 1/4" and the pressed flat! Give a gentle pull, lay onto the quilt and finish stitching over the remaining few inches.

I guess a lot of you know this method and this is a very brief show and tell, so hope it helps a few along the way - it is the neatest way I know to finish a binding!
While 'scrounging/caressing' fabrics in my stash this morning, I came across this little assortment above - hmmm, I'm about to redecorate a room for the Littlies - could make a very nice quilt!!!
My family is preparing Nachos for dinner (made by Angela) - yum, my favourite! - and then we are having a belated Birthday Cake (made by Ben) - this is one of the best Saturdays I have had for a long time!
Hope yours is a good one, too!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Whew - School's Back Soon!

The Little Treasures are here with me now after a sleepover - seems like Nanny's place is the most popular - very little Lurline action is going on these days!

As I have mentioned, I'm trying to get off the ground with Granny Squares - now I'm not a wool girl, but this is glorious! It is created by Biggan, a Swedish fashion designer who emigrated to Australia - 64 glorious colours and I am particularly taken with the one above!

A tiny bit of progress on my Icecream Quilt - I'll get there! Quite a bit brighter than the original!

These blankies are nearly 6 years old - dearly loved and as you can see sadly worn - new ones are on the agenda and I have Byron's fabric ready to go - not quite settled on Heidi's yet!

Proud little Australians - they have made the most of it this week! Happy day everyone!