Just popping in to say Hi!

Still working away trying to finish Sallie Ann - I'm epsilon away from the end (in maths speak this means a number very close to zero) and it's so close my fingers are tingly. I can't wait to upload a photo when all the pieces are together. I am also working on the raffle quilt for Quilts in the Barn You can see a sneak peek over at SSS.  I hope all is well in your world too.

In the meantime, some photos from AQC that I haven't managed to show you yet.

I love the Nearly insane quilt, and this is a great version I think.  I'll get around to doing my own one day!

Doesn't this one just bring a smile to your face?  Glorious colour for sure.

This one has a real Turkish tile feel to me. Just beautiful.

No words necessary - just gorgeous.

I really love what Michelle Hill is doing with these William Morris designs.  Gotta do one, one day!

So much inspiration, how can anyone ever be bored!

Next time I'm here I hope it will be to show you Sallie Ann.  Can't wait!

Hugs

Deb

Happy Mother's Day

for yesterday.  I hope you had a wonderful day.  I certainly did. A trip out to Mill Rose Cottage in Ballan, and afternoon tea at the cafe next door was just what the doctor ordered. It was great to catch up with Lizzie there too.

Another very lovely day a couple of weeks ago at CAG.  Here are some photos of that day.

Seems like everyone has the hexie bug right now.  This quilt was a really nice example.

Two versions of the Mary Brown quilt.  The one above is Dorothy's from Threads of Life. The one below is our Merri's.  Both beautiful, and very different.

 Here's our Kerry with a gorgeous quilt from Blackbird designs.  Kerry uses colours superbly. This one is so rich and warm. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Here's Sue-Anne's (from Buddy and Me) quilt, I think it is called Irish Circles.  It was lovely to meet Sue-Anne, we have exchangd emails before but this was our first face to face.

Not sure who the owner of this quilt is, but it was lovely, all William Morris prints.

We always have a fabulous day at CAG. Thanks Megan and Corliss for all your efforts.

Back soon,

Deb

Merelyn Pearce Does Margaret Preston

This post doesn't need much text. Just enjoy the photos!  For those of you who don't know, Margaret Preston was an Australian artist in the 1920's (I think that early) and beyond who mainly worked with woodblock prints, so that her art would be more affordable for the average homemaker. Some of her designs were even published in women's magazines so they could be pulled out and framed. Fancy that! She specialised in Australian native flowers and birds, and I have long been an admirer of her beautiful work. Merelyn Pearce has made a fantastic job of turning these prints into beautiful quilts. I can't describe to you how tiny her appliqued pieces are! Just amazing.  Anyway, enjoy.  Apologies for the not perfect photos. There were so many people milling around, I had to go FAST.

Wow, what an eyeful!

Only other news I have is that I have booked in for a Sue Spargo workshop later this year.  How exciting.

Hugs

Deb

It's been such a long time

Doesn't life get busy?  And there is not enough time to do everything. For me it has meant that I have been too overcommitted to think about sewing much, so nothing to show you on the blog. In fact the only sewing I have been doing up to the last couple of weeks has been on my treasured third Saturday of the Month with the SSS. Without them I think I would have imploded!  But things seem to have settled at least for now, and I am trying to get my mojo back.

I have had a problem with my foot, and ended up having a biopsy a couple of weeks ago (which luckily was all fine). However it meant that I spent a weekend not being able to walk much and had a hankering to do some knitting.

This is a Kaffe Fassett pattern. Not too difficult to knit, but the yarn is fine so it grows slowly.  I love the way he uses colour, have done for 30 years!  I will show you when it's done.

Nothing to show you of quilting interest (that I have done), but I have finished panel 7 of Homage to Sallie Ann and started on 8 (of a total of 9) so the end is near.  In the meantime, to keep me motivated - or at least to kick start my interest again, I have been to a couple of shows.  One was the local Essendon quilters show a couple of weeks ago.   A bit of retail therapy cheered me up no end, and a few lovely quilts.

I've always loved the Whig Rose pattern, and this was a really fine version.

 

A lovely quilt by one of our sisters. Nice job Kerry (hope you're feeling well).

Some hexagon madness, which I loved particularly for the fine quilting.

This one appealed to my love of red and the colour saturated Kaffe fabrics.

I liked that this had its main detail in the border rather than the centre!

And this one just appealed

I shall post some photos from AQC shortly, lovely quilts if you can get there tomorrow.

So that's my toe dipped in the water..........I have missed all my blogging friends, and as usual have been lurking to see the gorgeous things you have been making but haven't had time or headspace to leave comments.

A special thank you to Lisa from Stray Threads, who sent me some beautiful fabric, and I thought I had said thanks, but apparently only in my head rather than in the real world!  That about sums it up!

Happy days,

Deb

What the?

It doesn't seem possible to me that it has been getting on for three months since I last posted.   Don't get me wrong, it is quite possible that I could let things lapse for that long, I am intrinsically quite slack, but it just doesn't seem so long ago.  Is that linked to age?  You know, when you are a kid, everything takes F*O*R*E*V*E*R, but as we age, time seems to move in F*A*S*T*F*O*R*W*A*R*D mode.  In fact I thought I was doing quite well.  I knew a busy period was coming, but then it got busier, which meant that works of interest to my blogging friends got put aside, in fact my creative output slowed to zero. And then life got busier still. A conference in New Zealand was quickly followed by a meeting in Malaysia (in the few days before Christmas). This all on top of two visits from collaborators, and my normal job of course.  On the family front, my lovely daughter's 16th birthday and Christmas at my house. A visit from MOTH'S sister and husband (who live in the UK) as their mum moved into a nursing home. And oh yes, many new projects at work and plans for 2012.  In between Christmas and New Year saw various happy social functions, and then after the New Year, the family crew headed off to WA for a few days R&R.  Then there wass my darling boy's 20th birthday, a trip to Sydneywith at least two more coming in the next couple of weeks.  What am I?  A FLIGHT ATTENDANT/EVENTS COORDINATOR?  Far out man!

Not that any of these things are onerous in themselves, I adore my crew, love to socialise and even though I may complain endlessly about the full-on-ness of my job, I actually like it and as my dear sister Meghan reminded me, at least I am doing something of value and making a difference.  Nevertheless it has been a fully hectic period and I fear that I have lost the ability to switch off and slow down.

In a moment of deep darkness, I thought "Wouldn't it be good to be able to see into the future?", you know, like reading the last few pages of a novel so you can find out what's going to happen.  So I decided to approach this scientifically; yes, I consulted my horoscope!

So while other star signs contemplated a year full of romantic fulfillment,  prosperity, good health and happiness, here is what I can look forward to:

Sorry, how can I work like a dog when I'm in FOETAL POSITION!???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far the horoscope is delivering on its "work like a dog" prediction. I expect similar action from the "reap the rewards" part, otherwise I will be asking for a refund on 2012!

It goes without saying then, that I have nothing beautiful to show, except for the two buddies at the top,  taken on Christmas morning.

There should be an SSS post going up shortly, since we had our first Saturday meeting for the year yesterday. It was so inspiring to the girls, we had a lovely day, thanks Meghan, I don't know what I would do without you all.

So belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.  I have been sustained by your inspiration and beautiful works, I truly appreciate your talents and your willingness to share.

Not sure what my goals are for the year. A combination of new and old might be just the ticket.

And oh, if you have a look in the latest Quiltmania (no 87) you might see some people you know!

Cheers,

Deb