This shows colour coded M & M's, which were a part of the wonderful Christmas dinner that my daughter created. YEP, they were sorted one by one!
I know that this doesn't have ANYTHING to do with quilting, but owing to MAJOR restructuring of our business world, it has been a while since I have even thought about my blog OR had any time to do any quilting or Hardanger. The great thing is that I will get more time now to do these things.
Yesterday I started a Streak of Sunshine quilt designed by Bonnie. I have had my folder open to this page just waiting for a chance to test it out and I walked out of my local quilting shop armed with all the fabric that I needed -from the discount table.....it had been waiting for me. Bonnie says that it is a quick quilt, so I am timing myself to see just how quick it can be put together. Then I will have a quilting pic to show!
Have a great 2009!

This is my very first quilt which I made for my daughter - who was shifting interstate - in 2003. I purchased the kit of hand dyed fabric from Lisa Walton and then proceeded to distribute packs of material and pens to friends and family. I had lots of help and encouragement from my local quilt shop. What an achievement that she had no idea that it was being put together. I had all the pieces arranged on a bed - my daughter had left by then - rearranging them a few times each day, when she informed us she was making a visit. Panic stations.....back to my "encourager" who told me that is should only take about 12 hours to get it all together???? Just what I needed, though I am not sure that I believed her. After all this was me doing the sewing AND working full time ! It took me 14.5 hours...yay.
The look on my daughters face was worth all the effort....it wasn't till she started reading all the messages that she realised that it was for her! I didn't realise that early 20's girls didn't know how to blanket stitch......my 10 year old grandaughter could....so one square was puffy paint...some were stitched by family members of the contributor.
Then came the quilting - to be undertaken by my "encourager" - who also had a busy schedule. Very soon my daughter was returning home again.....yes, her homesickness ended up in her leaving her new career to come home.....so another rush delivery of the quilt for the final stage before I could do the binding and, yes, she was able to pack it in her luggage to take back with her.

Because of work commitments it was 4 years before I attempted any further quilting. During last and this year I have 3 quilt tops completed. Now to get them quilted!

It HAS been a while! My day job is certainly requiring more of my time than it should
and so my creative time certianly seems as if it is in a drought.
As well as that my local quilting group required some different people to offer their time
so I put my hand up for one of the positions which I was willing to do as I learn so much by belonging to that group. It is THAT time of the year again. requiring extra input on my behalf.
I am happy to say that I was able to attend a Sashiko workshop run by one of our members and so the pic is of my first effort. A friend had previously given me 3 x 50cm pieces of three Japanese Indigo prints. After some looking around, now I have planned to incorporate 3 different Sashiko pieces with the gifted pieces into a wall hanging which I will then be able to give back to my friend.
This October Long Weekend has given me an extra day at home which I have used to further my progress in setting up & organising my workroom. Now my design board is in use. Each further step makes it easier to achieve more in the available time that I get instead of wasting valuable time searching for "things." I have to be honest - I do still have to search, but not as much as I used to.

I have been waiting for 3 years for my 'Black Lily' to flower and yes, it started to open the day that
we left for a 10 day break. The flowering finished before we returned, so at least I have this pic. There was a second a second flower developing, but I missed that totally. Maybe next year.

We had such a relaxing break driving up to the Flinders Ranges and then across to the whales at the Great Australian Bight. The scenery down the West Coast - to return back to Port Lincoln - is top class. Everything that we could visit we did.....we acted like we were part of the Grey Nomads......it was a GREAT time.

My latest piece of Hardanger grew considerably while we were away......I was very pleased with how much I was able to do!!

This was only a small hardanger project , but it has finally been mounted on card and in the post today for a Canadian friend's birthday. I get such enjoyment out of doing hardanger - it must be the mathematical process - but it sure is time consuming.
I have started a bigger piece which will be easy for me to transport while we have a few days break in the Flinder Ranges and go whale watching in The Bight. Today I purchased a small halogen lamp to pack in my bags so that I will have plenty of light to stitch by. I am sure on need of some R&R away from work!!

Quilt #2

This is my second quilt...er, well actually it is still a top.....made for my 9yo grandson who helped me choose the fabrics. It is based on Oriental Windows - an original design, using Japanese fabrics, by Elizabeth Williams. I had inserted it into my first post today, see the Picaso icon, but it went into hiding.

Success!!

I have been worrying about taking my photos from my camera and storing them on my computer via Picaso. Yay!!!!! after some playing around I have successfully downloaded all 310 photos and my camera is formatted and ready to go! I had collected those pics pver 2 years, downloaded one 'lot' and then was unsure about it all, so left those original pics on the memory stick and it seemed to get very messy from there! I have learnt one lesson.....download and formatt each time......should be much easier.

Fushias

These is my favourite flower....they always have a great show of flowers AND I can grow them....er, well, they just like my house conditions. There is lots of glass making a great environment for plant to grow.
This is a trial to see if I am successful in posting a photo . Bad luck about the numbers visible on the photo.

Saturday 27th July 2008

This is my very first attempt at Blogging, so here goes. I have been reading a few specific Blogs regarding quilting and over a couple of weeks have learnt LOTS. The next stage of my quilting - as I have 3 finished tops - is to learn to operate my machine quilter. Some calico and wadding has been purchased for some serious practising before I launch into the 'real thing.' Now I need to finish my day, so that I have enough energy to go for a 5km walk tomorrow with my Dragon Boating buddies. We have been having a 2 month 'siesta' from paddling so that we can attend to very necessary boat maintenance.