Updates, News, etc

Wow, I can hardly believe a week has passed since my last post. I returned to work on Monday having had 3 weeks of holiday. I was only meant to have 2, but decided in the 2nd week of my break that I wasn't ready to go back to work (Is anyone EVER ready to go back to work after a holiday???). So now the weekend has come around again....yay...

I received some fun mail this week...late last year I participated in this swap and ended up making 2 quilts for 2 different people. Well, the person who was supposed to send to me never eventuated so the hostess of the swap very kindly made me this lovely little quilt...I just LOVE it...the colours are so me


and then the person who I was an "angel" to (because her partner never made her a quilt) sent me a little bundle of goodies including a bag pattern, some fabric, notepads and lip balm...all so unexpected....and my dear friend Sue sent me a beautiful cross-stitch pincushion.


and then with some money I received for Christmas, I purchased this lovely book.....it is definitely beautiful eye candy for this lover of all things blue and white!!!! These are just a few of my favourite shots in the book....go over here to see more of what this amazing designer does...

I also made this in my holidays....would really love your opinion....

I am also am particpating in this pincushion of the month...and have made these so far



and probably one of the most exciting pieces of news is that I am helping doing some pattern testing for Melly and Me...but can't say or show too much as it is major secret business!!! But I feel so blessed to be able to help out.....


oh and finally, this post has become much longer than I anticipated...an update on my UFO's...well not, much. I have been busy doing a few other things....but here is a photo of my next major UFO which I only started early in 2008 so I am not feeling too stressed about it....we have our final class with Leanne next month...yep, it is her "Butterfly Garden BOM"...I have pieced all the mini blocks and now only need to do all the masses of needleturn applique and stitchery....



a close up of my first completed block.....

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Yes folks....tonight I went and saw Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing".... a very silly but enjoyable comedy...with my good friends Phil and Lucy. It was on at Cloudhill....with the most beautiful gardens in the hills near where we live....it was held in the open ampitheatre and we were blessed with a most gorgeous evening....it has been quite warm here in Melbourne today but is always a few degrees cooler in the hills. So armed with some yummy goodies to eat and drink, we headed off to sit on the grass, enjoy each others company and watch the play. Beforehand and during the intermission, we enjoyed a wander around the gardens...for those living in Melbourne or visiting, they are WELL worth a visit....

There are many "garden rooms" throughout the property and as you wander along the different paths, you are led off into other beautiful areas....and there are some wonderful sculptural elements throughout including many decorative gates...so much inspiration!

I just love these mosaic urns....so tempting to try mosaics....no Lisa....no....no more hobbies!!!!!

Next on my list

I promised last week to put up some photo's of more of my works in progress/UFO's....so here is my next major priority for the year. I actually don't have THAT much more to do on it...just some more ribbon embroidery. I think I came to a standstill with this project because I really don't like the quilt anymore....which is a real shame as I purchased the pattern and fabrics as a Block of the Month too many years ago to mention....let's just say I was early into my patchworking days and hadn't really developed a sort of style...mind you, many of the fabrics back then really weren't me....I do much prefer the light, bright, clear colours which are so much more in abundance nowadays. I anticipate that this will be a quilt which will be given away once it is completed.

Now, for an update on my pinwheels for my "Wedding Quilt".....I am about halfway through them....though I do have a confession to make....when I was cutting the fabrics a few weeks ago, I realised that I may run short of fabric (yes....I can hear the raucous laughter from those of you who have seen my stash)...of the fabrics I had collected for this particular quilt...so I worked out a way to cut the fabrics much more economically...so the other night, I decided to sew up the fabrics into half square triangles....and voila....easy peasy pinwheels....I still have more than 30 still to be hand pieced...but I am feeling much less overwhelmed at the task....

Stay tuned for the next on my list....

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hi and a very Happy New year to you all...May 2009 be filled with God's blessings and lots of new and exciting things....for those who had struggles, losses and sadness in the past year, may you know the peace and love of God in 2009 and may HE do a new thing for you and your families this year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL

Well, 2009 and a New Year has arrived. I am not really one for making New Years Resolutions...they never really get beyond the first couple of days LOL....however, as any of you who have seen my fabric stash would know, I probably have enough fabric to last a lifetime or 10 (as do many patchworkers)....and as the saying goes, she who dies with most fabric, WINS.

So, in an effort to make a large dent in the said stash, this year I, along with a couple of friends have decided to list our UFO's, WIP's and PNS's (that is, Unfinished Objects, Works in Progress and Projects Not Started). I list my PNS because I have a few kits and patterns for which I have bought the fabrics and I really do intend to make them into quilts/bags/softies etc....and in a effort to be accountable, I will give here a weekly update on how I am progressing. Hmmm...could be scary to be accountable to all out in blogland...but I am up for the challenge....so what about all of you? Do you have a pile of fabric just screaming out to be sewn, but you still frequent the shops and buy yet more fabric just because you NEEEEEEDDDDD it? Come on, let's be honest...or are you all just way more self controlled than me?

I probably won't list all the projects...but in the next few days I will post some photos of some of them so you know what I am working on.

So first things first....this is a project which I have been working on for about 5 years....it is all hand pieced...hence my slowness....I have completed 35 star blocks, 10 1/2 star blocks and now need to finish off the 74 pinwheels....it is from a book of Kaffe Fassett..."Passionate Patchwork" and in it the quilt is called the "Wedding Quilt". I too have called it my wedding quilt....and no, I am not married...but it is my hearts desire to be....so I started this quilt as an act of faith...(God willing) that by the time I complete it, it may come to pass that I will marry. So here are a couple of photos of the completed star blocks.