Missing!

Well almost. Have been in and out so much lately I have barely had enough time to pick up a needle. But since it is the last day in April, I thought I would drop in and say hello just for fun.

We have just returned from 7 days at Byron Bay - took the whole family up to Bluesfest (a five day music festival). This was my first time and I have to tell you it won't be my last! It was a musical delight, made better by seeing some acts I didn't know who turned out to be stunning!

I confess to being a Bob Dylan disciple - have been for nearly all my life, so seeing him was amazing (not the first time for me but it was for my kids), Elvis Costello who I also love was great too. But it was the others like Mavis Staples and Buffy St.Marie who you would have to say are no spring chickens, that blew me away. I also heard some Aussie talent - Wolfmother (I love them too), Washington was good and the RocKwiz live show all made the event really enjoyable.

And I send out my Congrats to the organisers - an extremely well run festival in terms of catering, facilities etc. It was fabulous!

Of course I took plenty of sewing to do - but wasn't at the cabin for many minutes, so did none!

What I can show you is my second completed block for Kim's Lollipop trees.


I'm well into the third block now - will show you shortly. It's so relaxing to sew - really enjoying it.

And block 4 of Imperial Blooms arrived


It will be so much fun when I really get going on it - but it' not happening now.

Not much else to tell for now, but a couple of things are in the air. More on that later.

Until next time,
Happy sewing,
Deb

Very jealous

of those of you who were able to attend the exhibition of red and white quilts - it appeared to be absolutely amazing. Thank you to all those who posted photos. It was very much appreciated.

I am looking forward to attending one of our large annual quilt shows next weekend. Although not as spectacular as the red and white exhibiton, it is usually very enjoyable and inspiring.

In fact, last year one of my favourite quilts was a version of the Wickersham quilt. To my amazement, the lovely Sue-Anne from Buddy & Me remembered that I was after the book when she found out that one had become available! So thanks Sue-Anne. I am now the proud owner of

This quilt is a project which is now towards the top of the list!


Still working away at my current projects. Nearly done with Block 2 of Lollipop trees

and enjoying it. It is easy sewing and the colours are pure happiness.

I wasn't going to post about Sallie Ann until I'd finished panel 4 - but it's so close I couldn't resist

You can really see the curve starting to - well - curve. I'm going to have a short break from it now to finish aforementioned lollipop block 2.

Hope to have some Quilt show photos for you next time.

Until then, happy sewing,

Deb

I saw a documentary this week

where the claim was made that a messy workspace is the sign of a creative mind. I offer this photo as evidence that I have a very creative mind.


My office at work is actually just as bad! It's amazing that I can find anything but actually I can do it better than if I tidy up. So this is now going to be by mantra when anyone comments on my apparent shambolic existence - I have a very creative mind!

The last few weeks I have been working exclusively on Sallie Ann - trying to finish the first corner block. Nearly there

I really love the way it's coming together. It's a soft and pretty piece and surprisingly relaxing to work on, since all the colour choices are made in the centre.

As a consequence my Imperial blooms project hasn't developed much. The third month's materials arrived, but I haven't even finished month one.


I'm sure I will get into it when the weather cools off. A bit humid in Melbourne to be handling wool.

Oh - and some inspiration. You may have already seen this book in blogland


so many gorgeous vintage style crochet projects suitable for teenage girls and their middle aged mothers.

Movie Review: Me and my girl went to see "Griff the Invisible" last night. I'm not sure you will be able to find it if you live outside of Australia, but if you can it is well worth it. It is very quirky, original, Australian humour, about a couple of 20 somethings who live in their own make believe worlds. Great acting and production and a lovely message about accepting people for who they are. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tomorrow I'm off to the footy with my boy, and Monday I am videoing some of the band's last night at the Evelyn where they have been playing for quite some time. So not much sewing will be happening.

Hope you are all having a great weekend - relaxing, enjoying family and remembering that there is life outside work.

Big Hugs,

Deb

Not very much progress

to show you today. Just little bits of this


trying to finish the third panel, but it's busy time here so not much head space for sewing. Hopefully I will finish it this week so i can move to a corner block which will be a bit more interesting to sew.

And little bits of that


again not much. I pick this up when I haven't got any pieces for Sallie Ann prepped and ready to go. Gives me a great colour hit which is always welcome.

Also a bit more of this


Just over half way there - I'm looking forward to getting on to the final star borders. You can also see a sneak peek of what I am planning in the background.


And finally a bit of this


Block 2 arrived this week with the threads that I forgot to order for block 1. So I have started block 1


It is very different than the applique I am used to. I hope it's going OK.

Hopefully the little bits of this and that will add up to something substantial in the not too distant future.

Happy sewing

Deb

Happiness is

the return of the prodigal son. We had a slightly nervous wait at the airport. The plane was delayed for over an hour due to thunderstorms right over the airport, at the tail end of cyclone Yasi. I can't tell you what a great feeling it was when Louis finally ran through the customs door. Here he is with his new love

He is even making some reasonable sounds with it - can play some Beatles (Ravi Shankar period) songs. We have had a fabulous weekend listening to stories of his adventures and impressions of life in a country very different to his own. He had a fabulous time but is also very happy to be home. He can't stop smiling. Really excited about his new course. What a fabulous time of life with the world opening up before him.

Managed to get some sewing in - here is panel two of Sallie Ann finished.

The next panel is exactly the same - so I don't know what I'm going to show you while I finish it. Will have to raid my UFO stash!

Also the post arrived with the first installment of the new Sue Spargo BOM.

It's very beautiful. I have been wanting to try something of hers for awhile now, bot I'm not really an embellisher, so this will be a challenge. Haven't started yet because I forgot to order the wool thread.

That's it - Phebe's dogtooth borders are calling me.

Have a great week - I know I'm going to.

Deb

My thoughts today

are with our Queensland friends who are today nervously awaiting the arrival of a category 5 cyclone. Although there will inevitably be great destruction of property I sincerely hope that the residents remain safe. Good luck.

You know I'm a sucker

for a beautiful background. The colour and movement of a fabric can send my mind sailing away into new dimensions, whether it be for a quilt that is on my to do list or if not that, perhaps to a quilt I've seen and would like to replicate.

As evidence I present Exhibit 1: Phebe

I love the fabric in the background. At first I thought it would be too strong - it is not a tone on tone, but a definite design. It adds such depth to the quilt. As you can see I've been pedal to the metal on the next border. It was my goal for the summer to get to this point so I'm happy! Back to the next dogtooth, say farewell to Phebe, it might be some time before you see her again.

Exhibit number 2 is the background on Sallie Ann

An allover print in tan and softest lemon. It's a gorgeous fabric and gives the whole piece a warm glow. It is beautiful with my favourite yellow greens. The original Sallie Ann used this fabric too - hey, why tamper with perfection? Maybe I should call mine "Homage to, Homage to Sallie Ann"! Or maybe not! I loved this fabric so much I also used it as the backing for my "Blue Collection" quilt.

Panel two above is, so close to being done. I changed my mind on the green fabric for some of the leaves, so waiting for the new one to arrive has slowed me down a little - and it is a PILL to sew with. Thick threads that won't stay put - don't look too closely at the sewing - it is awful.

Exhibit 3 is the background for Lollipop Trees.

Kim's quilt is a riot of amazing colour with her quirky shapes and Kaffe Fassett's amazing fabrics. I loved this design which was originally on pastel backgrounds, but I wanted something stronger. I found the chocolate aboriginal dots and knew it was worth a shot.

Here is block number one complete. I'm really happy with the way the clear colours pop off this background. Block number two is ready to go

The fuchsias and oranges look great I think. I'm going to call mine "Chocolate coated lollipops"
just for fun.

OK, OK, so by now you're thinking this is just Deb's way of showing us what she's been up to. Well true, but it is also because I want to introduce you to my new love

Exhibit 4: Luna Notte of the pear variety. Sadly it refuses to be photographed in all its glory. It is actually a grey-green rather than a grey - but look at all that texture. I saw it as a pre-release on line and loved it, but then I tried to behave and not buy any. Then a few of my SSS's decided to use it. Merri is doing a beautiful Princess Feather, Julie is using it for DNQTTT and Meghan is going to buy some. Well it looked so good I knew I would regret it if I didn't buy 9 yds, so I did. Now I am regret free and that's a good thing. But what shall I do with it? Good question. But the good answer might be for next time.

Hope you have some beautiful backgrounds to inspire you,

Deb

I can't believe

it's the 18th of January and it's my first post for the year! Where did all the holidays go? Why am I back at work? Feels like I've never been away.

I hope your year has started off well. Mine has been nice and relaxing, low key, just what I craved after a hectic year of traveling. I grabbed any minute I could to sew and have made some progress - but it doesn't seem much in the photos.

First up - Sallie Ann. The second panel is whizzing along - maybe I will have this done in a year (I'm not making any promises)!! I think that's fast for a large applique quilt.


I've spent some time cutting and machining the little Phebe borders. I'm sewing the dogtooth on freezer paper - takes so long but the finish is worth it I think.

Here's a close up.

On the back burner is the Lollypop trees - a little progress - not much.

I chose a lighter brown than I had originally intended so it didn't get lost on the background. I think it works OK.

There are so many fabulous projects around in blogland at the moment - I'm trying to avoid the temptation but a couple are really attracting my attention.

One is the Barbara B. Snyder quilt. How great is that? And Barbara Brackman also has a series of free patterns commemorating the Civil War 150th anniversary.

I have signed up for the new Sue Spargo BOM - so that should be enough to keep me busy and take me out of my comfort zone for the year. Are you choosing a project for this year to challenge yourself? If so I'd love to hear about it.

Had a great day with the Sisters on Saturday; my first for a couple of months since I missed the December meeting. It was so great to catch up with the gals - so productive and the conversation is always I*N*T*E*R*E*S*T*I*N*G!! Hopefully there will be an SSS blog soon.

I will finish with a few snaps of my recent road trip with my DD. I enjoyed spending some one on one time with her - she's a great companion - we should do it more often.

Found a good country Chinese restaurant in Gundagai - the only thing open on the New Year holiday. Gundagai is a pretty little town - this is the Mill House down on the river
A fabulous pear sculpture outside the National gallery

I love pears - such a great shape - actually I think I am a little pear shaped.

Gorgeous girl in the hotel pool - she was a little miffed that I didn't get in - alas do not currently have bathers - not a water baby myself.

We stopped off here on the way home

For those of you non-Aussies, yes that is a car on the roof and a crashed plane! The pub was a character in an Australian comic strip which was well read and loved. Many years ago this replica was built - a bit of a hoot!

Hope you have had a relaxing holiday season and are recharged for 2011.

Buongiorno,

Deb

Happy New Year!!

Very happy New Year to you all!! Some of you (us) will be H*O*T, some of you will be C*O*L*D and some of you will be W*E*T!! But whatever your climate I hope you have an enjoyable New Year's Eve.

And of course, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Our smaller than normal family spent Christmas Day with my BFFL Claire and her extended family at her sister's place. Claire and I met at school when we were 13 - you could call this a long term relationship! I love her dearly and spending the day with her crew took me back to many hours spent at her house when we were teenagers. We had a great day. Here's Claire (right) and her sister Mary.

And here is my NOD pretending to be an elf. She's the one on the left.

Boxing Day was spent with my family. I made a cake which turned out (alarmingly) to be Barbie Pink.

Not good for the waistline, but it was delicious.

Since the Christmas festivities have been over, I have been pootling around trying to restore order to the chaos that a busy year leaves behind. This requires some major work trying to clear my bookshelf of old stuff to make way for the recently acquired new stuff. So I have been flicking through old quilting mags - throwing out any that I don't need anymore - boy have I generated some recycling! It's quite funny to go back 15 years to see what was cool in quilting......in Australia it was naive and country style. Even the sewing machines in the ads look ancient.

Have been chipping away at some sewing projects. The borders for Phebe are taking some time at the machine. No progress worthy of viewing right now. My first Lollypop tree block is nearly done. A couple more circles and the stems to go.

It's a riot of colour and so easy to stitch. Just right for the hot weather over summer.

And finally, finally I have finished the centre of Sallie Ann.


I wasn't happy with a couple of fabric choices, so pulled them out and replaced them. I'm much happier now, it would have bugged me forever. And just because I like new beginnings - here is the next block ready to go.


True it's not a new project, but it still feels like a start.

Well nothing you haven't seen before in part - so just because I love you all sooooooo much, I pulled out a UFO to show you.



Started about 1999 and very quick to do. Everything is hand done - even the backgrounds are handpieced. I moved to Sydney about this point and much of my stuff went into storage for a year or so. Once I came back I'd sort of lost momentum so it has languished. It has a very simple floral border partially completed. Very festive isn't it? So my one and only NY's resolution is to get it finished by Christmas 2011. Now if you don't see it as a WIP in the not too distant future, you have my permission to nag me - because I will get distracted.

On that note, a glass of bubbly is calling my name. I shall drink to the health of friends near and far away, including my lovely boy who I am missing dreadfully, but is having a great time in India.

Here's Cheers,

Deb

Merry Christmas everyone!

I know it's a bit early - but at the rate I'm posting, I may not be back before Easter.

So many things have been happening since my last post, not many of them are big important things. Just a collection of the day to day highs and lows that keep a working mum busy - too busy.

Let me fill you in on the highlights.

First piece of really good news is that NOS auditioned for music programs and was accepted. I can't tell you how thrilled he was - he was a changed man overnight - I could see how it had been weighing on him all year. It is very difficult to get into a program. They audition around 90-100 guitarists of all ages and levels of experience, and take about 4, so it is a great achievement. Second piece of news, he has now departed on a trip OS with friends, he has been to Malaysia and now should be somewhere in India. Won't be back until early Feb. I can tell you it was so hard to watch him go.........and since he will be gone for the holidays the entire household is a little sad.

My lovely NOD finished up a great year at school and is now social butterflying. She is so gorgeous to have around - especially now that she has adjusted to braces and isn't in quite so much pain. We are planning a week away together, just the girls, hopefully getting up to a bit of mischief on the way.

Remember this time last year when I had terrible car trouble? Well it all started to happen again - but this time my "I've had enough" switch got flicked and I had sold the old car and bought another within a couple of days. Haven't taken a photo yet. It's a swish black VW Jetta avec sunroof. NOD and I will be tres chic cruising up the highway I can tell you (even if we are the only ones who think so!).

Since my last post I have been back up to Sydney twice (unexpected trips) and back to Malaysia, so I have been really busy. So busy I missed the SSS Christmas party - really not happy about that! I vow to not go near an airport for some time. It's been a busy year.

On the sewing front, haven't had much time or headspace. To be honest something just had to take a backseat - I'm hoping to regain some energy and motivation over the next few weeks. I've even taken leave on Christmas Eve (first time in about 10 years I think).

So that's enough of that. I have a couple of photos. First Sallie Ann. I should have been finished this centre a month ago - but hey - can only do so many things before the brain starts to fry.


It's a little bit pink at the moment, but there is more red and less pink around the outside so I think it will balance out. Can't wait to move on to the next bit.

Only other sewing I have done is to start on this Kim McLean design.

I bought the brown background ages ago (when the pattern was first available) and a starter pack of fabric. I cut and basted a large amount of the blocks and then promptly forgot about it and started something else. But the Glorious Applique blog inspired me to pull it out, and I'm enjoying the contrast of colours and shapes.

Well that's me done. Hope to be back soon with these two blocks finished. Until then I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season surrounded by your loved ones.

With much affection,

Deb

Something different

You know how it is when you are trying to find just the right piece of fabric, and you know that you have it and you just can't find it anywhere. So you look three times in every plastic tub you own, rummaging through bits and pieces, stacking and unstacking crates - and you still can't find it, and it has to be somewhere, so you do it again, sleep on it , give up, decide you'll have to buy something else but you can't find what you want because that bit you thought you had was just so perfect, so you have one last search, and it isn't there and in frustration you give up, turn around , open a cupboard - and wham - there it is! Is it magic, punishment, or something else that I just don't have a word for?

Well while I was going through the above, I also found this.


Forgot I had it pretty much, but while it was out I thought I'd take a photo for you Kathie, because it's on a plain background - sure it is quite a strong yellow, but plain nevertheless. It is the centre of the Trundle Quilt (a pattern by Karen Cunningham) which I started the year I was in Sydney (2000). It has been brewing and at just the right time it will be ready to come out again to be finished.

In the meantime, I have just been continuing on with Sallie Ann, I'm a little bit further on now from when the photo was taken.

I'm enjoying it very much - except now I'm coming to a few fabric decisions that I know will cause me to faff around for some time.

Thanks for all your comments about starting and finishing. It seems like everybody prefers to start things rather than finish, but also appreciate the satisfaction of finishing a major piece of work. Me too, I'm glad we all think so much alike!

Thanks so much to all of you who have made comments about my quilt DNQTTT (either my version or the others). It means a lot to me since this is my first attempt at designing. It is not currently available as a pattern, since as you know I am a full time+ worker and mum, and it takes time to produce a pattern, and I don't have much of that. But if I do decide to do it (and it is possible) I will certainly let you know here first.


Here is my slightly crooked picture of it in situ. It was actually made for that spot and it really looks good there. It doesn't photograph well though. The stripeyness of the background is much more pronounced in photos, it's more subtle in real life (see I'm not telling the truth again - there isn't anything subtle about this quilt at all). And oh yes - I'm thinking about doing another more traditional version (telling the truth or not?). But perhaps not this year.

Oh and if you haven't seen the photos of Quilts in the Barn, do have a look here where Linda has got a fabulous virtual quilt show in progress. And if you decide to make a contribution to breast cancer research do let her know, so she can add it to the tally. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

I hope the sun is shining where you are.

Piece,

Deb