Meandering into the weekend

I am meandering into the weekend ... I went to bed full of ideas of things to get done today...but woke up and decided to take it easy.

I have been sitting outside this morning, enjoying too much post birthday cake, listening to the birds with my back turned on my messy studio, relaxing in a spot of warm sun.

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday with my family. I have some pics of the cake here - what a stunning cake eh? I love how beautifully my name has been scrolled...the whole thing just looks so magical...and it tasted great too! I have had a few happy easters in my life, so it's nice to check and find out that it's really my birthday when the cake arrives!

 Look at those flowers with blueberry centres....do you need an excuse to eat them??

The picket fence around the cake is actually meringue. Amazing.

Yes, regular readers of my blog would be aware that I am very keen on homemade cakes ...and usually my daughters and I bake amongst ourselves for birthdays and holidays...this year has been a change from the norm as we have all been so busy (it's just been one of those years).

It was doubly nice that yesterday I had some rulers I had ordered delivered. These rulers are Leaves Galore by Sue Pelland Designs http://www.suepellanddesigns.com/

I have so many ideas in store for this ruler. But I have left it shrink wrapped and have decided not to open it before I get some EQ7 work done first. I really have to structure my day or I will spend all day 'playing' with nothing to show for it.

I 'found' my pinmoors a few moments ago (I knew they were on the table somewhere)...they arrived last week. Like a lot of quilters, before I had any, I wondered if I could use the cut off tips of flexible rubber as an alternative...but seeing these in real life, I think store bought might be best. This really looks like the basting help I have been looking for. I havent done any work with them yet, but when I do I will definitely share my opinion on their usefulness rating with you.

Like many of you, I have reached the point where I dont want any extra things unless they are useful and save time. I have plenty of 'gadgets' and want to get back to useful basics. 

The weather has been cooler than usual for this time of year and there's been more rain than usual as well. This has been great for the birds and gardens...but on a selfish note, it's been great for my crochet as I usually stop by November because it is too warm. The cold snaps have seen me working double time...and now I only have 8 motifs to finish my hex's for the afghan. Then I will spread them out, decide on a setting and join them up. I think I will have to pull through and get it done this weekend because I am beginning to get tired of it...it feels so s-l-o-w and I just want to see it done.

I always forget how slowly afghans get on...

My postman was busy yesterday- also to arrive on my birthday was a prize generously given away by Bobbie Ashley from http://www.blissfullystitching.blogspot.com/

Thank you Bobbie Ashley!

I was the Flower Garden Winner

I received these super sweet hex flowers and precut hex's and a hex stamp

The whole set is so nice. I have been arranging and re-arranging ideas to use them up.

Maybe a table runner....hmmm, my DD has been inspired by the stamp (and my stash) and has been talking of a hex scrappy quilt top. That would be so nice too, and is actually on my 'list of quilts I want to make'

So we'll see....

12 days of Christmas:

I am thinking about maybe adding a border. Mine looks like it needs it. I don't know if I will yet or not, but I think I might...

How is your's coming along?

Part 6, the last installment

It's the last week

There's lots of finishing up to do...but I know you'll (patiently?) work your way through it.

Time has just flown by (well it feels that way) but I find I'm always saying that, aren't I?

The back of your baubles will look like this

and your fronts will be gently puffed



I've been very busy this week. At this time of year I am generally picking up my pace to finish lingering projects... I know that the next 4 weeks is really my last window of time to get things done before I wind down for the year and for Christmas. I am speeding up my afghan as I really want to get it done...it's the kind of project that, if I put it down for too long, it will collect dust for another year...so I am trying to keep my motivation up. I think my next blanket will have to be colourful grannies so that I won't get bored so easily.

It's also my birthday on thursday so I know that I will most likely not get much practical work done this week. I have started tidying things up so that I can get stuck right back in after the weekend for a good week of WIPs before December arrives.

This year when I bring in the box of Christmas decorations, I'll have a new wallhanging to put up - and so will you!

AQC 2011 Tutor

Next year is only 8 weeks away (what?!) so it's not too early to announce that I am delighted to be a tutor at the AQC in Carlton, Melbourne for 2011.

My workshop on bindings has sold out, however there are still many great classes available. You can check them out here: http://www.aqc.com.au/

These are some of my quilt bindings. I'm looking forward to sharing what I know about this important technique with my class.

Cherry Thieves Table Runner

It's Festival Time Again!

First of all, thank you to Amy for doing this, it's so wonderful to see all those great quilts out there and to hear the stories behind them.

For my entry this time around, I thought of several quilts I have made in the last year... as well as a few WIPs that are nearly done...but I ended up deciding on a 'daily' quilt. A work that I enjoy everyday and get so much pleasure from. Introducing...

Cherry Thieves

Applique - Reds Stash Buster

An accompaniment to my quilt Red Delicious

both designs are based on red things that I love

This quilt is actually a table runner...I think of it as my table quilt.

Cherry Thieves is a complimentary quilt to my earlier work (and BOM) Red Delicious.
Red Delicious proved to be very popular and I had so much fun making it, that when it was finished, I didn't want to stop! I decided to create a few complimentary projects to accent Red Delicious and Cherry Thieves is one of these. Together that make up a lovely 'Red Room' feel.

I have found that Red and White is somehow very tricky to photograph! Although Cherry Thieves is in active use on my table, here I pinned it up and held it outside to try and capture it as best as possible. Anyhow, I always think red and white are a charming combination.



I always say...'quilting is what makes a quilt a quilt' and I really enjoyed free hand quilting this piece on my trusty domestic. Red Delicious and Cherry Thieves both keep in with a folksy feel and I incorporated that in my quilting by swirling in some hearts amongst the feathering.

A great advantage of making smaller quilts and table runners is that you can experiment and let loose... and have something practical to show for it afterwards.

I love designing my own quilts, it's so rewarding to see those sketchbook doodles come to life in something lasting and useful (and hopefully too, beautiful). I didn't think I had a specific 'look', however looking over my applique I notice strong leanings towards naive and folksy elements. They just keep appearing in my work and they feel so natural.

Red Delicious and Cherry Thieves are both based on 'red things that I love' and Cherry Thieves continues this with the two birds thieving cherries between branches. We have a lot of birds where I live and I could watch them for hours. They are both calming and invigorating - what more could I ask for directly outside my studio window?



Thank you for visiting
Link to the festival via my sidebar or here:
http://amyscreativeside.com/2010/10/29/bloggers-quilt-festival-fall-2010/

Wednesday Part 5

This week we create the applique scene beneath the tree

and stitch down the diamonds.

Just one week left...

A Wish on Tuesday

For some time now, it has been my quilting dream

to own a GO!Fabric Cutter

I won't even go on about all the wonderful things I could do with this machine because it would be a verrrrry loooong poooost. Suffice to say, I really want one and have done for years.

Why am I telling you this? Because the lovely blogger Irish Muses at http://www.thedote.blogspot.com/ is GIVING ONE AWAY!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

Head over to her great blog and enter this comp yourself.

Missed blocks for sale

Missed a block? No problem...

Missed blocks are now in my shop!

Apologies to those of you who have been waiting for this, I am very busy at the moment and it just kept slipping to the bottom of the list.

click here for quick link http://www.estheraliu.com/shop.php