WOW: Winter Warmer

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

It's winter down my way and everywhere I go people are coughing and spluttering with a cold or flu, so I've been replacing my morning coffee with a Chinese herbal brew and taking a teaspoon of Manuka honey before heading out and also on returning home. I'm pleased to report that it's been working for me. When I go down with the flu it can take months to properly recover so these steps are going a long way to keeping my mouth bacteria on defensive against the germs that seem to be on attack everywhere I go.

Last week I was lucky enough to get a box of organic, non sprayed lemons from a farm. I'm so happy with these that I'm zesting the skins for my herbal tea blends.

I have a jam packed July and August with lots of projects, ideas and plans to get stuck into, so I'm doing everything I can to make sure nothing gets in my way! I guess you could say it's my most important prep step.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

'Sweet 2016' by Alice Means

'Sweet Treats' by Alice Means

Alice named her Sweet 2016, "Sweet Treats" and I can see why! Is your mouth watering yet? These delicacies are thankfully calorie free! Alice opted to change the layout of her own quilt top, moving the trays around from their position in the pattern. 

I think it looks super and the fabrics, details and arrangement make this wall hanging extra sweet.

I never get tired of seeing how creative and talented quilters make, interpret and bring life to my designs. Thanks so much for sharing your tempting wall hanging with us all Alice, it's a beauty!

Sweet 2016 is a deliciously fun and fabulous applique wall hanging. Read all about it and view each blog back when it was made over in the Sweet 2016 Quilt Archive and if you do make this quilt, be sure to join the Sweet 2016 Facebook Group!

'Sweet 2016' by Judith Roush Knorr

'Through The Bakery Window' by Judith Roush Knorr

This 'Sweet 2016' was renamed 'Through The Bakery Window' by Judith and I think that's a perfect title. A display like this would certainly capture my attention and who couldn't resist window shopping these beauties? Can we just admire the popping background that makes these cake trays shine in all their mouth watering glory? Talk about temptation!

These fabric choices and the chic cakes really set this quilt apart. In April it won a ribbon at Judith's Quilt Guild. You'll notice that Judith opted for a Christmas pudding instead of a gingerbread house on the bottom tow - that month included the option of making either to celebrate the festive season. I love the pud, it looks good enough to eat right now!

Thanks for sharing your wall hanging with us Judith, for those of you not in the Sweet 2016 Facebook Group, I didn't want you to miss out on seeing this beauty.

Sweet 2016 is a deliciously fun and fabulous applique wall hanging. Read all about it and view each blog back when it was made over in the Sweet 2016 Quilt Archive and if you do make this quilt, be sure to join the Sweet 2016 Facebook Group!

'Sweet 2016' by Valerie Giles

Sweet 2016 by Valerie Giles

Feast your eyes on this beauty! Valerie Giles has generously allowed me to show off her own Sweet 2016 here on the blog. I wanted those of you who aren't in my Facebook Group to simply set your eyes on her gorgeous wall hanging. Isn't it sweet? The fabric options are perfect and this wall hanging just shines.

Love the fabric your picked for the strawberries Valerie

 and the swirled topped mousse looks irresistible too!

Valerie's celebration cake

 Valerie's Rosette Cake. 

Lots of quilters told me this was their favourite and I really loved making it too!

Sweet 2016 is a deliciously fun and fabulous applique wall hanging. Read all about it and view each blog back when it was made over in the Sweet 2016 Quilt Archive and if you do make this quilt, be sure to join the Sweet 2016 Facebook Group!

Judy Hogg's 'LE' Wins at Sydney Quilt Show

So delighted to just find out that Judy Hogg's 'Love Entwined' has won awards at the Sydney Quilt Show. 

Judy's LE was awarded 2nd place in the appliqué section for amateurs in the Sydney Quilt Show, then to top it off was awarded Best Traditional Quilt (amateurs).

This pic is one I found on Instagram, I can't wait to see even more higher resolution pics - already I can see how beautiful Judy's choice of colour and tone have worked to make this quilt shine. 

Wow, what a beauty and what an extraordinary quilt you've made Judy. I'm in awe. Congrats on your wins!

WOW: New Projects

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays 

I've finally got a grip on my vertigo and am feeling back in the swing of things. Thanks so much for all your comments and suggestions here, on Facebook and via email. It all helped. I'd never had vertigo before and when I woke up with it one morning, I thought I must be having a stroke. It was so sudden and debilitating, I really thought it was something serious. Finding out it was just a crystal in the ear put it all into perspective.

I'm still in shock to find out that almost everyone I meet has suffered from it themselves. Who knew it was so common? I felt much better knowing I wasn't alone when I read through the comments, thanks for letting me know how you dealt with it, it put me on the right track.

I ended up following several head twisting protocols on YouTube before finding one that cleared the crystals away by leaning forward (video here) and have been feeling almost back to normal. A few times I suffered dizziness whilst out and about during the day, so sitting down and moving my head side to side got that under control too. Phew! What a lot of fuss!

Anyhow, back to quilting. This week I've been enjoying my morning coffees outside with a few colourful visitors peeking through the leaves. Usually Glenda (our Moderator over in my Group) has lots of exotic things to show us from her corner in tropical QLD, but down my way this is a real treat!

I've been making scallops in my spare time for my Shelly quilt. Finding my Shelly pattern was a real treasure as I found some other patterns I thought I had misplaced and I can't wait to share them with you. Next up, the other design I was working on before my vertigo lull, Koi Garden is now back in full focus. My DD spotted it the other day and would like it as a wall hanging in her home. So I'll be making it as an art quilt and am getting my supplies together for another adventure.

Stay tuned!

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

'Shelly' my Clamshell Quilt is Launched!

Shelly is my newest clamshell quilt pattern. Isn't she gorgeous? I have been loving clamshells these last few weeks - they're so easy to pick up and put down and now I've almost got enough to make my very own Shelly - and I cannot wait. Shelly is a clamshell quilt with a twist: the central block consists of four clamshell stacks that meet in the centre with a foliage motif. Between the stacks, you have the option of slotting in some contrast fabrics to create a visible central crossing element and the border repeats the clamshell appeal with more foliage motifs to tie it all together.

I love making clamshells—they’re so quick and easy yet look so great.

I've been shelling away making stacks from my monochromatic stash. I'm still going and have about 50 more to make now. I can't get wait to get this top together. Of course, you know me and yes, I considered lots of different colourways for my clamshell quilt. Red and white was a really strong contender, as was a muted stash of civil war tones. But in the end, I had this really stunning assortment of black and white and grays that just needed to come together. I played around with the idea or a black / white & red theme, but somehow went with a newspaper print instead.

Me? I love it! What do you think?!

'Shelly' finished size 57 x 57 inches

'Shelly' $12.95 USD

Complete PDF pattern

This pattern is being sold as an instant digital download. The moment payment is processed by PayPal, you will be redirected to a download page. You will also be sent an email with download details so you can download this pattern instantly. 

Diamond Hill: Part 6 is Launched

Diamond Hill is my Current Free BOM for 2017

It runs from Jan - July 2017

You can take part in this BOM by joining my Facebook BOM Group (which is free)

Or by downloading the pattern directly from my blog on the 15th of each month

Members of my BOM Group over on Facebook have access to Part 6 of Diamond Hill via the 'FILES' area of our Group. For those of you not on Facebook, you can download Part 6 right here and right now by clicking the Diamond Hill Part 6 button above. The download (in PDF format) will automatically begin downloading.

WOW: Scallops, Scallops Everywhere..

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I adore scallops (or do you call them clamshells?) I've always thought and referred to them as scallops and now I can't get out of the habit. Anyhow, I have a whole stash of gorgeous black and white and grey fabrics that I decided to just start scalloping and stacking up to make a new quilt top.

It's a gorgeous way to stash bust and I'm loving every minute of it. Right now, it's not too demanding on my eyes or mind either which is just what I need. I have a wonderful I pattern designed for scallops and I'm using my Template from that pattern, the only problem is I can't show it to you as I don't know where it is - I simply cannot find it! It's called Shelly and when I come across it, I will be putting all these scallops to use. The only thing I know is the number of scallops I need because I wrote it on my template! For now I will just keep making scallops until Shelly shows up.

Last week I was all excited about Koi Garden and planned on releasing it but then I came down with a 2 day vertigo attack. I'm still not 100% after that and am taking it easy. It means my exciting art quilt plans for Koi Garden have to wait until I feel well enough to tackle it. My vertigo attacks and ear aches are really keeping me mostly away from my screen. I don't have the nerves to sit behind a computer for long enough to do anything with it.

So, it's all about the simple scallops for me today..

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Winter Creativity

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

This is a partial image of my wall hanging Dream Fountain. Most of you will recognize it as it's become something of a 'mascot' to represent my work. I use it here on my blog and over on my website and also on my creative cards and what not, it's an intriguing piece and not a week goes by without someone asking for the pattern. And that got me thinking. You see, autumn and winter are very creative seasons for me, it's usually when I get the most done. And right now I'm in a flurry of designing and creating and sampling.

In fact, I'm hardly online these days at all, I'm off in my studio working whilst the daylight is still strong. And just yesterday I found my folio containing all my water garden themed wall hangings and there's a sister design to Dream Fountain in there that I haven't made yet. As soon as I saw it, I remembered the plans I had for it - the same fabrics and colours as Dream Fountain and carrying on in the same theme. Looking at it with fresh eyes, my enthusiasm and passion for another wall hanging has been renewed. And now I have to admit, I have started another adventure. I know this is WOW and I know I have WIPS and I know I have set aside the second half of this year to complete my very own Love Entwined masterpiece. But inspiration has called out to me.. and I must respond.. I'll show you my progress on Friday.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up