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