Sewing friends

 I can't believe that a month has gone by, it only seem like last week we were together for our sewing day.
We had a finishing off day. Bev found the book "Quilts on the Double" by Judy Hooworth & Margaret Ralfe. It is full good idea & wonderful patterns. The pattern we picked to make was "Beach Brollies"
The top photo is the second quilt "Beach Brollies Tails" that you make from this pattern. The idea is two quilts from the one lot of fabric & cutting. No waist. This quilt still needs to be pieced together.
Sorry my photos are mixed up (it's way too hard to fix, I am having lots of trouble with my computer lately.)

 This quilt come from the book "Kaleidoscope the Smart Way" by Sharon Sebrow. The pattern name is "English Garden". Evol now has the fun of quilting it.

 This is the first quilt "Beach Brollies" . Still needs to have the border put on.


Do you know what this is? Toadstools.   I was out walking & beside the road there were all these big white balls.  They looked really good, I just had to take a few photos. But I don't think you would want to touch them. Once they dry out they turn to dust.

                                      This one would make a great quilt pattern.

Sewing at Peter Taylor's.

Shelly arrived with her "Cactus Flower" quilt. This pattern had the papers to make 3 table runners but Shelly was after a quilt so she put them all together. You can also purchase this pattern as a quilt but we didn't have it in stock at the time, that's why Shelly joined the runners. Looks great though.

The Block class is moving along. We are only up to month 2 and they have made 6 blocks already. I think I will have to throw in a few more difficult blocks.
 This is just a few of the blocks from class.

 

We have started our 2nd Judy Niemeyer pattern. This time it is "Stepping Stones"
 The photo below is of Bonnies blocks for the quilt.
 Next month we will start the "Bali Bed Runner" This quilt or runner has the Wedding ring block with points / stars were the rings join. It is a stunning quilt. 

Megan and I are off to Mum's for Easter. Going to be a bit of a family get together with Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and more. Mum sure will have a house full.
I better say bye for now so I can go and pack.

 We had our once a month get together again. The quilts are getting out of hand, 2 on the go and we are still finding more we want to do, or I should say the one that picks the quilts No Names, is getting ahead and we are following along quite happily. Evol also has a few to quilt.

 Ruth called in for a chat and cupper. She had her Dear Jane quilt all finish and ready to show us. It's just beautiful. Ruth started this quilt when Bev & I had the shop. I also started a Dear Jane quilt but my is still in little bits in a box waiting for me to get back to it. I think it will be a while before I get to that box. But Ruth's quilt has inspired me again
.

 This happy little quilt belongs to Laurene. She made it for her new grandson Bede (pronounced bead).


I have been teaching the Cactus Flower table runner at Peter Taylor's. This is one of Judy Niemeyer patterns. A foundation paper piecing method. The girls are all keen to stat the next class on one of  Judy's patterns. Our next class will be the Stepping Stone quilt.

 Lorraine and Bonnie with there quilt tops. Next week we will be quilting the tops

 Daph with her quilt top. The soft pinks and blues are very pretty.


The last few days I have been really busy quilting. In May I will be having my own quilt exhibition at the local art gallery. So I have been working like a mad woman finishing what I had in the pile at the end of my sewing table.

I made these little quilts for samples to have in my quilting classes. I got the idea from a workshop a done with Jenny Bowker. Incorporating the fabric design out into the quilting pattern

 

 

 See!!!! A wonderful empty table. Pity it won't stay that way for long, I have lots of UFO's in the cupboard dying to come out and see the light of day. You open the door and there all lining up screaming pick me, no pick me, please pick me.

 Well I suppose it's time I face the music and find one to start on.

Busy first month

On the 14th February I will be teaching my first class with the Judy Niemeyer patterns. This class will be the "Cactus Flower table runner". I made up 2 samples to display in Peters Taylors shop. Great class to start if you have never used one of Judy's patterns before. We will even have some of Judy's quilts for show in the shop. I have joined the Judy Niemeyer Trunk Show so we will have a new quilt on display every month. It's all very exciting.

 

Been busy quilting lots of my quilts. I have the pile down to 3, and 2 of those are new quilts. Very proud of my self. Two quilts I took around to Evol and she let me quilt them on her big quilting machine. I did have to have lots of help.

For a few weeks I have been making up blocks for the Techniques, Blocks & Design class that starts next week at Peter's. We will be working on basic blocks through to more advanced blocks. The  Feathered Star is one of the more advanced blocks for this class.

 Do you remember the old Red Wagon fabrics? I was going through my stash and found them, thought it was about time I used them all up and I did!!!! Joined lots of uneven strips, added a few squares more strips and I got a wonderful quilt. I had lots of fun cutting and joining. This is part of the quilt. The top is all finished just waiting to be quilted now. It's one of the new quilts in the pile.

 Sudoku quilt is finished.  It was a easy little quilt to make. I did this as a class before Christmas.

I started this quilt at Sandy's retreat a long time ago. I can't remember when, it was that long ago. I didn't quilt this one, I gave it to Evol to do. She had just received a lot of new funky quilting patterns so we picked one off them for her to play with on this quilt. Turned out really good. Very pleased with the design.

 It was back in to the cupboard to find a UFO to finish. Pulled out my Sue Ross "Circles of Fun" quilt. I don't know how many times this quilt has been out of the cupboard to be finished and always went back in with nothing done to it. But!! This time I got busy and finished it or I should say almost finished it. I just have the borders to put on. This is one of the blocks that the quilt is made up of. Another pat on the back for me.

It's getting late and I haven't had tea so I had better go. Hopefully I will finish the "Circles of Fun" over the week-end. Good Night.

2013

 Have you seen the flowers on a Pony Tail plant ? It only been the last few years that I have seen them flower. Very striking. I just wonder, does that part of the plant die once the flower does. I will just have to wait and see. (I hope not)

 Before Christmas I got busy finishing  the quilts I had in my quilting pile. The pile has only 2 small quilts now. For this little quilt I have been playing with strips and No rulers. It's been lots of fun.

 Colour wash Hearts and Flowers quilt. I made this quilt as a sample for a up coming class. We will use a 2" fusible grid. This fusible grid would of been very handy for a lovey lady I know that had a lot of trouble with her colour wash quilt many years ago.

 Second quilt with No rulers. I have had a lot of fun making those quilts





Christmas at Bexley
We have just had 2 lovely weeks away with family and friends. It's great to catch up with every one.
My uncle made this stunning big santy. He is standing out near the front gate so all the passing traffic can see him.

The "Hen and Chicks" was out in flower. So pretty. Sorry I don't know it rigth name.

No quilting, sewing, or a piece of fabric at all while I was away. But plenty of other crafts to keep us busy. Mum and I had a good time playing with wire. Made a few things (Art) to go in the garden.
Mum made the two bird cages and my uncle made the little birds in side. Very cute birds.

 I made two wire bowls. There pretty big. Not sure were I will put them but I'm sure I will find a spot.

 We also made a lot of Barbwire balls. Doug said they would be good for the little (real) birds to make there nests in so the bigger bird can't get to them. He side that's about all there good for. Mum and I think there pretty neat. More art in the garden.

Back into the quilting now I am home. Working on a quilt with all the OLD "red waggon" fabric I have.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and new year. Now it's time to look ahead to the wonders we will get up to this year.

Glacier Star

 I have finished my Glacier Star quilt. This is the one I started in Judy Nemeryer workshop at Melbourne. Once all our house guests left I got very busy in the sewing room until I finished this quilt. I only had the "flying geese" to make & join it all together. I am really pleased with the end result.

 It was a never ending job to remove all the paper, I found it better to remove it as I was building the quilt. I had paper from one end of the sewing room to the other. What a mess!

 Almost to the end of all the "flying geese" blocks.




Walking around the garden I noticed the fire ball was out in flower. It is a stunning flower. You forget you have it in the garden until it flowers. Dies down in the winter & then the next thing you see is the ball starting to open up. I don't know it real name.
 But the colours are beautiful.

 Up early to go walking & the sun was a bright orange ball coming up. It looked so good. I had to run back inside to get my camera, the geese were even posing for me.

The fire ball just starting to open up.

At the craft fair with Mum....
Went off to help mum set up for the craft fair. She had some wonderful gear this year. A lot of the art work that she makes is from recycled  junk.
 Most of it is garden art.

 Lizards, cows, possums, hats, bags & frogs all made from old tin.

 Bird house, wreaths, chooks, birds & butterfly's made from wire.

 Lots & lots of stunning things.

 She also works in clay & dabbles in mosaics. There's no end to what she will have a go at.
My garden is like a big gallery displaying all mums art work Plus a lot of my sister's work. My sister Kay is a welding artist.

And last but not lest the few cushions I had for sale.

I had a fantastic week at Melbourne. Spent 4 days at Vic Textiles doing a Judy Niemeyer Certified workshop. I had the best time and left with so much crammed in to my tiny little mind, (luckily I took lots of notes) .Plus Judy's information booklets are very easy to understand and follow.
We had 4 days to make the "Glacier Star",  plus learn how to teach it in our own workshops.
Doing the certified class gives me the rights to now teach it my self. You wont  get this pattern from any one but a certified shop or teacher. Peter Taylor's Sewing centre should have the patterns and fabric in stock any time soon, plus lots more of Judy's patterns. Next year 2013 I will be teaching lots of Judy's patterns.
We will start with the table runners" and yes, beginners will be able to handle these patterns. So I hope to see you all in my classes.

 I have all my units made, I just have to put it all together now.

 All busy in class. Vic Textiles had a stunning set up for us. A big ''Thank you" to all the staff  at Vic textiles for looking after us so well.

  Judy and I.
I can't wait for Judy to come back to Australia so I can go to the next workshop.

After the workshop, waiting 2 hours for a taxi & finding my way around the train stations, I finaly got out to Castlemaine to have a few days with my lovely friends Sally & Pat. Didn't see much of Pat because he had to go in to hospital for a small op. (Hopefully he is figthing fit & ready to go now)
Sally & I had a great time. We did  over most of the Op-shops, second hand & antique shops.

 This house was down the road from Castlemaine & it was unreal, I loved all the Art work he had every where around his yard. There was so much to look at. Metal art, wood, sticks, wire & lots of old stuff. If you are ever down that way I recommend you go to have a look.

Just a few flowers I liked. Looked so pretty.

 Once I got back home I had time to give the house a quick clean and then Mum & Doug's mum, Jean, arrived. Mum has come up for the craft fair.  That will be a big week end. I even have a few things to sell this year. Had better go and get busy.