Look Below!

I am very excited! What I really want to show you is a great pic of my Blue Frames below! Now it is an attachment Karen from Quilts on Bastings has sent me and the pattern is by Kate of
One Flew Over - I did choose fabrics and stitched it together and asked Karen if she could do the quilting so I can take a tiny bit of credit - I just love it, thanks Girls! I'm on fire - this is popped over the back of the lounge ready for me to pick up and stitch at night - it's making me happy!

Up above - yes, I did get to the machine yesterday - a little sneak peek at what I have started - it is to be a baby quilt and hopefully I will show you the flimsy and tell you about it later on in the week. A little more here and there - I find as long as I do things in short spurts without repetition for ages the dear old arms stand up to it - it has been a long six months and boy, am I going to make up for it!

Oh, yes - everyone is thinking I've disappeared off the face of the earth! No, no - I really am starting to become the 'old Lurline' - maybe it is spring just around the corner! I've had a little tidy-up in 'My Studio' and found my Saffron Craig Fairy Quilt - nearly finished - top and bottom borders only to go - can I do it? - we'll see!

I've started a Kim McLean applique quilt - it was with a little trepidation I wondered if I had the ability to use Kaffe's fabrics - easy-peasey and I love it!

This is a gorgeous 1940 quilt - I would love to have bought it, but a little too expensive! I just love it and could have coped with the very poor workmanship - maybe I should make one of my own, though how hard would it be to capture the charm of this.

Whoohoo! It's that time of year again - thanks Donna, I'm in! It's fun to look forward to it all and really I would like to start a little stash of goodies to give at Christmas now!

Yes, Lizzie is here - lots of you will know her from A House in the Country! I've invited Girlfriends! to meet here here at lunch next Tuesday - what a buzz!

I have an urge - can't divulge because it involves the sewing machine - say lots of little prayers for me that I can stitch one lovely little project, lol!

Happy Weekend!

Penola Retreat

Last weekend was just delightful - I joined just the nicest lot of girls on a retreat - thank you all!Now, there's a long story to my Clamshells - they were destined for the bin and I really mean it! Late Saturday night I was totally over them - not good enough for me, etc. - Clamshells on the floor! I had a big sleep-in on Sunday and this is what I awoke to - some papers removed, pressed and lots more shells cut out and prepared - I'm still quite fragile at times and I really had to hold back those tears - I can brag and say aren't they just beautiful as I have had so much input from others and yes, I would be happy to share my beautiful friends!
Here's a few of us together - Louise, Carole, Jan then me - don't you just love the tasteful attire - Peter Alexander pants Raelene's shawl and no hair brushed as I forgot my brush!

A gorgeous Bullseye by Wendy - oh, I love it, I do have the book somewhere in the shed, just so old!
Candy's flannelette quilt, how rich and cosy - it was a very chilly weekend!
I just cannot believe this is a stitchery by Carole - it is! - so very beautiful!

Louise's Mariner's Compass - so bright and beautiful. Also chickens in progress by Iris.

Perhaps I should have left this pic to another time - it works beautifully! Janet of Quilstalott has told us about it on Glorious Applique - more to come at another time!

Happy week everyone - hope to do a lot of browsing and chatting!

Happy Fingers!

Oh, I do love stitching applique - I am making slow progress at the moment, but I am getting there! Beautiful, beautiful repros - I find them very easy to work with, no problem with colour or pattern selection at all. The French General is just lovely to use for the background, not prone to creasing, so that is great. Originally I bought 6 yards, then ordered another 6 - now , as a lot of you know, this fabric doesn't come cheap and I was having serious guilts about buying this when I could have used quilters' muslin, not now though, one of the nicest fabrics I have ever used!

My 'Sewing Studio' is messy, messy - how can one keep tidy with such an array of fabrics. Cheers to those patient Girls out there who can use a different fabric for each leaf.

Way, way behind with Clamshells - here's the intention! I have fiddled about with the shape and widened it to 3.5". I am using paper shapes with paper that is slightly heavier than the ordinary copy paper and glueing the fabric with the Sewline stick. All seems to be going well, a little early to tell if it is going to be perfectly on the square - hope so as I've always wanted to do a little crib quilt. I'll try to keep it predominately pink with a few other pastels thrown in here and there.

Well, I'm out to the shed for a little bit - I need to scrounge for some plastic tubs for storage and there's also some repro bits and pieces out there - happy weekend!

Stars & Sprigs!

I am improving so much as the days go by and I'm feeling so great it is the perfect day to start Stars & Sprigs by Kim McLean. I can't thank you enough Kim - please join us on the journey. I'm sure you will hear a lot more as it progresses. Apparently the quilt originated in 1810, now here we are 200 years later sharing the beauty!

I believe the pattern will be on release to the public in a few weeks - oh, what a delight for you who love applique and reproduction! Janet of Quiltsalott is on a very speedy journey and oh, how beautiful it is! For those who don't follow Janet's blog - it is a true delight! Pop over and have a little visit!

I have chosen an antique white Paddo for the background and French General Rural Jardon for the background behind the stars - we will use lots of pretty, bright reproductions for the applique - with maybe a few rogue fabrics thrown in.

Please God, let me keep well - let's not worry about the necessities, but I would really love some joy and relaxation stitching - I have come up with a perfect ( I hope !) pattern for the Clamshells (lol)! I went for a lovely long drive north of Perth yesterday and my arms survived beautifully, touch wood they stay that way - I have missed my independence so much!

Happy weekend everyone!

Moody Blues!

Happy day! Though I am not sure - perhaps lacking a charm that Kate's quilt has - hopefully it has a mood of its own. I am so pleased to have it finished, such a simple quilt, but quite a marathon effort for me. I think it will be quite a while before I sew a full sized quilt again - maybe never. I am just so thankful I can still do handwork - I am going to have another try at clamshells again and also a little play with applique. I'm so looking forward to having it quilted.
Hope your day is happy, too!

I'm a Survivor!

I know it hasn't been a good year - so far I have survived - maybe just! Sewing machine trouble - I wonder why? Machine problems - I tinkered, re-threaded top and bottom, dismantled and cleaned, new needle. I really wanted to finish the Windows and Frames Quilt so a few little tears in my current state of mind. When I put my foot down, sometimes it just looked at me and did nothing, other times it took off like a rocket winding thread galore and clanking away!

I borrowed Julia's machine - couldn't get the 1/4" accurate with my previous blocks. I gave up thinking to myself do a Scarlett and think about it tomorrow. Picked my machine this morning (still a bit of a challenge with my weak little wings!) and started to put the cords in again - now this really wasn't funny! - bare broken wires - the copper ones, see them. Don't strange things happen in life - I must have been very wicked in my past one, lol!

I won't speculate on what could have caused the damage, not nice to think of what the outcome could have been - I do have a little idea! I am so desperate to get this quilt finish to send it to Karen to be quilted! Pop over to her site to see her unique, amazing wholecloth!

Just a little bit of joy in this Post - pretty delicate white flowers on one of our succulents, David's (son), so that's nice! I haven't been Posting or Commenting a great deal - hopefully it will all come together again - however, I have done a lot of Browsing, and that is always such a thrill

Moving On!

These things happen don't they - it has been a bad year for the computer, too. He decided to go to sleep for nearly a week! Time has slipped away from me - here are the beautiful fabrics I am using to make Windows and Frames, the original by Kate Dixon of One Flew Over!

This pattern featured in the last Fat Quarterly. I think it is a stunner thanks, Kate. It is so fresh and simple.

I must get back to stitching this afternoon as one gorgeous girl from Melbourne, Karen of Quilts on Bastings has returned from a wonderful holiday overseas and now has time to machine quilt a quilt for me. Lots of 'copy-catting', I know, and both girls are happy about this. Oh, I am so excited - lets hope all goes according to plan!

We Are All Happy!

The puppies are always happy to see our mail-lady - not as happy as I am though! Thank you so much Kathie of Inspired by Antique Quilts. Kathie is one of my oldest and best friends in Blogland and I am so honoured to be the lucky Owner of one of her quilts - the additional red fabrics is for a border - now , in the recent past I have joined in the controversy of hand versus machine quilting this one will certainly be fine hand-quilted - oh, I am so happy - big hugs, Kathie♥
The pretty little print in the background is from Patchwork on Stonleigh, just a bit too gorgeous to pass by!

Let's get back to Kathie again! She has sent some quick pain relief in her parcel also, lol! Lots of new 10" Kaffe squares here - what a thrill. Really though, today does feel so much better - I'm off to the shop to buy something nice to cook for dinner - it will be good to give the Master Chef a break! Hope your day is happy, too!

Beautiful Sunshine!

We have maybe a half hour until the chill sets in - lots of heaters on and quilts dragged out in this part of the world - makes me feel like vintage style quilts to cuddle up under - let's see what the rest of winter brings - it would be nice to think I could get a nice applique underway!

A few more rows, maybe - I'm aiming for a cushion top at the moment - a lot of fun and happiness there with the clear bright colours - the Clover Yo-Yo Maker makes it all very mindless ( relaxing, is a better word, lol!)

See my copy of Brigitte Giblin's Clamshells in the background - I also ordered Lizard of Oz's papers there a while back. I hope to have a little trial over the weekend to see if I qualify to join Sue-Ann's Clamshell Club I have always wanted to make a cot quilt! Google both our Designer's sites if you would like to find some patterns.

I hope we have more lovely sunshine in the morning - maybe I will get to have a little play on my machine. It has been a very 'up and down' week for me - makes me really appreciate the good times! Its been nice checking out some blogs, welcoming a few new Followers (a big Thank You!) and please pop over and visit our new Blogger Helen at Cats Meow - Helen is a gorgeous girl and an accomplished quilter - I'm sure we can drag her into a few projects over time !

Have a fun weekend!

PS - Gee it is lovely to say hello again!