I've got a hot date............

with the lovely Helen, who will work her machine quilting magic on my latest quilt.

The quilt (which I have been calling Jennie Cleland), should have been finished ages ago, but I got distracted by the Sue Spargo BOM, and well, time just slipped away.

The impending Threadbear's Applique Quilt Show gave me the kick start I needed so with the two long borders (including 320 berries) to go, I knuckled down over my summer break to see if I could make it.  Not quite there (48 berries to go) but should get it to Helen a week early ....wooohooooo!!

In the meantime, I have prepared the backing (photo below) - binding and hanging sleeve can be done when the quilt is being quilted.

So fingers crossed!

I do love a dramatic backing and I think this one fits the brief.

Can't wait to get it all together.

Hope to see you at the show!

Deb

Just like riding a bike!

Well it has been so long since I lasted posted I had to stop and think how to do it.  But really it is like riding
a bike....once you know how it's hard to forget completely.

Having said that....some bits are a bit rusty and this is taking some time!

It has been such a busy and eventful year it is not possible to revisit all the happenings, and to be truthful, there are some that are too painful to convey. But that's life, huh?

On the sewing front, I have been more productive than I think I have (lol)...I have been working hard on the current Sue Spargo BOM...time consuming but extremely enjoyable.  Sue does ask that photos of her current BOM are not posted, and I fully respect that right....but doesn't make for frequent blogging!

Neither does a project that has repetitive elements...but two borders of my Jennie Cleland quilt completed needs some fanfare I think!

I like the way this is coming together......only two borders to go.

 Another section of my Frida quilt is completed....nothing like a deadline looming to focus the mind!

Starting to come together.....I'm liking it a lot!

So that's me........hope all has been well in your world.

Deb

Red and Green

I have been admiring red and green quilts for a very long time, and you may recall that some time ago I decided to make one......this resulted in the DNQTTT quilt (if you click on the tag it will take you to posts about this).  

Of course somewhere along the way this turned out to be not your traditional red and green quilt and although I like it, it's not really what I had intended.  So recently, whilst throwing out some old quiltng magazines, I came across a little photo of a quilt made by Jennie Cleland, and decided that it would be my next shot at a red and green quilt.

Since it is a four block quilt, it's not great to post about; once you've seen one block, well you've seen them all. But here are the four blocks together.

I like the impact of the big pieces.

I have just started work on the first border.

 

Might be some time before you see this again......all the borders are the same too!

I hope you are enjoying the holidays if you still have some,

Deb

In with the New

I'm not much of a New Year's Eve celebrater.  Even when I was a young adult I would avoid NYE parties like the plague.  But there is something slightly sad about not doing anything for NYE, so for the last few years, we have been taking ourselves into the city, having dinner and seeing a movie then meandering home about midnight.  It has worked well and last night we did just that.

After a smashingly good martini and lovely dinner we saw Birdman. What a knockout! I'm telling you nothing else, except that it is a one out of the bag - see it if you get the chance.

This quilt has peeped into a couple of posts around the place, but I haven't posted about it since it was finished.

 

Homage to Sallie Ann

It's a beautiful quilt. I'm very happy with it, and although it has been ready to hang for some time, it is still folded in a cupboard.  I hope to get it hung before I get back to work.

Katrina did a superb job of quilting this. Below are a couple of close ups.

I hope you all have a really wonderful 2015,

Deb

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I find the slowness of the week between Christmas and New Year compelling after a relentlessly busy year.  This is code for - I fall in a heap and can't be bothered doing anything at all!

Hopefully I can regain my mojo soon and get some sewing done before I have to get back to work.

I have been chugging along with a couple of projects, but the progress has been S-L-O-W.

I don't mind the slowness, but it doesn't make for a whole lot of show and tell.  But over the next few days I will post some of the things I have been working on. Some of them you will have seen many times before, but since the main purpose of this blog was to document my work, I'm going to post them anyway!

Today's instalment is my Mountmellick.  I'm not doing this with a kit, but I have many of the original fabrics in my stash so I am using what I have.

I'm well behind the pace on this project, but hey, no prizes for being first here! It's an enjoyable project since there are lots of different things going on.

I hope you are working on something enjoyable too.

Happy New Year,
Deb

Rays of Sunshine

were very welcome this weekend in Melbourne.

 

 

The glorious weather inspired me to spend some quality time  in my rather uncared for garden.

 

More rays of sunshine too, but this time the kind that come from a job finished in a pleasing manner.

This is the first block of my quilt Jennie Cleland.  I am reproducing a version of it from a photo I found in an old magazine.  I'm very happy with the results so far.  It is a four block quilt so it will be some time before there will be much more to  show.

The next photo is of the beginnings of my Going Green Gradually which I started in a Marg Sampson George workshop at Lizzie's.

Mine won't be very green I think!

And last but not least, my Mountmellick, by Di Ford. I am using what I have in the cupboard for this one.  I have many of the original fabrics, but a few rogues are creeping in.

These circles remind me of the red, yellow and green traffic light lollies we used to have as kids.

A fun, productive weekend.  I hope yours was too.

Cheers

Deb

A new start

Nothing like starting a new project!  How many times have I said that?  But still true, and especially so, since my new, NEW project, is an original reproduction.

I love red and green quilts, and this one in particular caught my eye.  No hints about the way it's going to look other than that it is a four block quilt.  I'm trying to use only my stash so fabrics will change as I run out of one and substitute another.

I haven't made much progress on anything lately I'm afraid.  It has been a very busy time with work and travel to conferences in Hong Kong and Vancouver.

 

I had a great view of Hong Kong harbour from my window........lots of construction going on. It has grown so much since I was there last, maybe 10 years ago.

You will be pleased to know (or maybe not!) that I now have a computer at home again.  This has been quite a saga so I won't bore you with the details. 

Last weekend was spent in absolute sewing heaven, when I attended a workshop with Marg Sampson George, wonderfully hosted by Liz.  It was just what I needed after spending quite some time subsisting on not much more than house chores and work chores.

This is a snippet  of Marg's "Going, going, green" which is absolutely glorious and the quilt that I am making.  Not enough to show you yet............sorry!

These two pictures are from an antique style quilt that Marg is doing.  Just beautiful.

 

Marg has such a unique way of seeing fabric, I learned a lot from the workshop......so nice to be taken out of your comfort zone.

An added bonus for the weekend was that I got to spend some talking to Jean from Linen and Raspberry.  I have eknown her for a long time, but it as just great to meet the real Jean.

Until next time,

Deb

Computer Crash

what a pest!  Right at the beginning of my leave my computer CRASHED! Never to be fixed.  So I am working off a little laptop  - not ideal.

But even though I haven't been blogging, I have been stitching and hope to show you some output over the next little while.

My main project has been Ann Daggs.

 Centre block all done included scalloped border.

There are four borders (obviously, lol) but two different designs.  This one is the top and bottom.

This one is the right and left side.

That's all I have time for today (after I reinstalled new camera drivers) but I just wanted to let you know I haven't fallen off the perch.

I hope all who are still blogging are well and happy!

Until next time,

Deb

When words are not enough

use an acronym or two.

OMG......CAG!!

What a wonderful exhibition over the weekend in Castlmaine.  Congratulations to all the wonderful quilters and in particular to the Threadbear gals for putting on such a fabulous show.

You have probably seen lots of photos from CAG already but here are some of my favourites.

Of course I am going to start with the work of my sisters!

This Art Deco beauty was conceived, designed and hand worked (including hand quilted) by our Sue as a wedding present for a family member! Now that's familial love.

From Merri, a gorgeous version of Mary Brown.

From Ann, an original design, magnificent clamshells.

And from Meghan, the spectacular Mrs Miller's Journey.

Do I feel inadequate? You bet! 

There was a really lovely version of Stars and Sprigs.

I just adored this blue and white quilt.

And a lovely version of The Burnt Quilt.

Phew........and there will be more next time.

Until then,

Peace and Happiness,

Deb

Dipping my toe back in.......

yes I know, completely hopeless.....missed the whole of December including Christmas, missed New Year, and it's nearly February.......time flies - it's true!

I know I have a lot of catching up to do.  But in the meantime, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope it has been a good one for you so far.  It has been a busy, quiet one for me.....quite nice really.  Apart for the week here that it hovered around 44 C for five or so days...................not great sewing weather.....not great anything weather.

I have a couple of things to tell you today, and then (soon) (hopefully) normal transmission will resume :)

Thing Number 1

You know I'm a Sue Spargo fan.....and, well, I just can't get things finished. So my Imperial Blooms (2011 BOM) is nearly there, but not quite. I'm working on the borders......so close, but no cigar yet.

Earth n' Twig (2012 BOM) haven't even touched it. I'm calling that one, "my retirement fund".

Bird Dance (2013 BOM) I vowed to keep up with, and, well, you know I didn't. I did start it (just) in 2013.

So when I signed up for In Full Bloom (2014 BOM) (ye-es, I did) I got an attack of the guilts, and thought I had better do something with these darling birds, so here is number one.

So cute.

So much work.

But worth it.

Thing Number 2

Well it should be no great mystery to you, that our sewing group (the SSS) is on the mystery train for Di Ford's mystery quilt (click here if my comments are mysterious). We are not working ahead, we are completely in the dark - just like you.

As part of my new mantra (I shall not buy more fabric, I shall use what I have already bought) I chose (from my stash) this background for the centre block.

I have no idea where it came from, but it is just the right size, so it's a winner!

I hope you can join in the mystery quilt-a-long this year. One thing's for sure, it will be a beautiful quilt by 2015.

That's it for now, 

See you real soon, or at least sooner than last time ;).

Deb

Ch-ch-ch-changes

David Bowie said that. 

If there is one constant it is change.....not sure who said that.....but it is true, don't you agree?

The change here is that I no longer have school children....no more notices....meetings...books....excursions....lunches to make.  And best of all, exams are over, at least for now!

The air is somehow clearer and stress levels have decreased quite a bit (both mine and the lovely girl who made it through a rather stressful year. Well done I say).

She is one HAPPY GIRL..................and now  having fun and planning her 18th birthday party which is just around the corner.

The boy child is also having fun, but not here....he's in London or maybe in Italy by now taking an intensive music course.  So lucky!  But I miss him already and he won't be back until February.  

As I said - changes.

And me - well I've been in and out a little and about to head back out tomorrow, so I thought I would post a couple of pictures before I go.

First up, the last two Caswell Blocks.  All done now and waiting for a border.

 

Second, the centre panel for Ann Dagg. Poor legless birds!  These were a bit tricky.....not sure what I will do about that yet, until I figure it out, they will have to keep flying.

 And last but not least, the final block of Imperial Blooms.  It has been sitting on my desk for close to a year...I was dreading attempting the fluffy bit in the middle. In the end it wasn't too scary and came out OK.

Have to dash........see you when I get back.

Deb