A helping hand

We can all do with a helping hand sometimes and that doesnt just mean with making the dinner or washing up (boring)! I am lucky to have a husband that does these things as well as other boring jobs for me when I am really busy with sewing projects that just need to get finished.
Husbands who are not sewers but have skills that we patchworkers need also come to the rescue.


Take Sue's beautiful quilt. Not only does her husband draft the quilting pattern but he removes the glass sliding doors from within their home, takes them outside and and elevates them, places here quilt top over them and then traces the quilting design on for her. WOW! how's that?

Sue has quilted the darker setting triangles with shashiko quilting and the result is just spectacular.

You can see in this image those wonderful even stitches.




Maxine is always busy sewing and bought along her very big elongated hexagon quilt to show everyone.This design was originally made by Lucy Boston of England. Every inch is hand pieced and thats maxine on the left.

My own quilt is still in the "box" unfinished....oh well one day perhaps!

Until next time

Carol

A busy day

Welcome,

Did any of you get to the Eastwood Quilters show at Brush Farm at Eastwood over the weekend? 

If you did then you would have been very richly rewarded with the wonderful quilt exhibition and the fabulous old home that was the venue.

I am always left feeling wonderfully happy that I am also a quilter when I see such diversity of work from  this very talented group of ladies.

The show was visited by over 2000 people (and Counting) which is evidence of how popular this bi annual show is . I will be busy stitching and creating over the coming weeks just to replenish my stocks with new creations.

 

  You can follow images of this exhibition on my BLOG over the coming weeks as well as preview new projects that I will be working on.

 New Fabric Arrivals.

Just arrived are two new lovely ranges of fabric from Moda. The newest range Pom Pom de Paris, from the French General is so light and pretty in lovely pinks, creams and yellows. Unfortunately I can't have them all so I picked the four I like the most. You can order these now on line for $16 p/m.

Collections for a Cause..."Faith" is the newest of the reproductions from Moda and I can see myself making some lovely little blocks with this range, also at $16 p/m.

Pom Pom de Paris

Pom Pom de Paris

Pom Pom de Paris

Pom Pom de Paris

  

Faith

Faith

Faith

Faith

 And just a reminder to keep the weekend of 28th - 30th October free for my annual retreat weekend at Tocal in the Hunter Valley NSW. More information to follow.

Happy stitching

Carol

Eastwood Quilters, Quilt show 2011

Here I am again getting ready for a wonderful weekend at the Eastwood Quilters bi annual show. This wonderful group of quilters really knows how to host a quilt show. Their diversity of quilting is just geat and very inspirational.
The event will open on Friday the 10th March until the 13th March 2011 in the wonderful venue of Brush Farm at 19 Lawson St Eastwood.

A view of the home in 1910

And after restoration in 2007.

Come along and enjoy the atmosphere of the show and the house and surrounding grounds. I will be there (can you see me on the front porch?) so make sure you come over and say Hi.

Just to make the event even better ADMISSION IS FREE. There will be donation boxes available for you to make a gold coin donation if you wish.

Carol

Petite Projects

Hi and welcome,

"Lilac Hill" from Brannock and  Patek for Moda fabrics has just arrived and is so lovely. Oh what to make with them? I am thinking of something small and cute. The cream base fabric in the range has already proved popular for background fabric in a hexagon quilt. With the hint of the pale green pattern in the background I always find these fabrics interesting to apply applique too.

Petite Projects.

 Petite Projects is a new size of pattern I have added for your selection. These are smaller projects that are more easily achieved in a shorter period of time and will include items from needlebooks and cushions to small quilts....something for everyone. They will be packaged as a small size pattern packet but will contain full size instructions and pattens sheets. The only thing small about these patterns is the price!

Here are the first of two new patterns in the Petite Projects range.

The new little cot quilt "Cherry Fizz" is now complete and the pattern available. Measuring 36" x 42" this quilt is achievable for the beginner. I have used fresh Kaffe prints for little girls but this quilt lends itself for boys fabrics also.This is a smaller format quilt pattern and retails for just $5.50. The fabric kit for this quilt is available upon request and retails for $40.

The pretty cushion "Zoe" is now also available for $5.50 and is a perfect project if you are looking for a pretty present or just something to make during a quiet weekend. Both of these patterns are now available on the website.

Carol 

Caroline Bay Quilters.

As some of you may be aware I sew with several groups. One of these groups is the Caroline Bay Quilters. We are a group of approximately 40 ladies of all ages and walks in life. There are quilts made by machine and hand. Quilting achieved by means of machine and hand, applique and embroidery. Not to mention all of those other goodies that quilters love to make.

This is Carol's wonderful quilt featuring raw edge applique of leaves. There are so many fabrics in here and when you look really closely there are little animals featured in the prints.

Vicki has made this wonderful quilt featuring embroidery and applique for her grandchild. Fantastic work and it only took her 2 weeks. I wish I could achieve that much in such a short period of time.
Vicki purchased the pattern (one of Bronwyn Hayes's) whilst on the groups bus trip to Cottage Quilt works at Warriewood and Country Pickins at the Corner at Round Corner Dural.

Everyone enjoyed a wonderful day without the exception of me....I was home sick and missed all the fun.

Carol

Cherry Fizz

As promised here is the next installment of the pretty little cot quilt I have decided to name "Cherry Fizz".

In this window of four assorted fabrics I have quilted using DMC perle 8 thread (not shown in this image) and the result has been great.

Now here is a little tip....place the shape with the bias underneath the straight edge when sewing and this will help to eliminate any stretching.


As you may have guessed this project is almost finished and has an easy pieced border. You should be able to see the finished item some time next week.

This is the second block in what I've named "The Little Civil War Quilt". Coming together just fine I am about to add the last borders and write the pattern.

Things are all systems go at the moment...the creative thoughts have been working overtime this week.

Carol

Feels like Autumn

How wonderful to feel the crisper mornings and slightly cooler days along with those slightly earlier sunsets. I for one dont like summer very much and welcome winter with open arms.
The little crocus in my garden that are blooming at the moment certainly agree with me.

My family had a lovely visit from my dad and mum and friends of theirs from the USA. They are currently travelling on the Amsterdam, a ship from the Holland America fleet on which my dad teaches Tai Chi. The US visitors had a lovely day having lunch and a visit to Somersby Falls which is just around the corner from where I live. How lucky I am.

Now this is a picture of Jeff who hates snakes but toughed it out for the camera with my daughters python.
Jeff has a wonderful BLOG...http://www.amazingvoyages.blogspot.com/ where he posts daily from wherever he is in the world. He travels for 10 months of the year....thats amazing!

Jeff behind one of the many waterfalls.

And some of the wildlife.

Stayed tuned for the next installment of images from the "Little Civil War" Quilt and "Cherry Fizz" quilts.

Carol