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.