Pretty Things

This pretty teacup is from The Twiggery which was featured in the April issue of Victoria Magazine which has only just arrived at my newsagents here in Sydney. The article led to to their site where I found the snowman teacup.

Also featured was this delightful pastry stand.


Sigh. Life should be filled with beautiful things.

Smoke and Mirrors

I know, I know....I haven't been around for a while but life has been so busy. Surprisingly, I don't seem to be achieving a great deal. Go figure.

While I'm busy trying to finish my quilt - just the binding and hanging sleeve to sew down - I thought I'd share with you a couple of quilts I made last year.

Of course, all this is designed to distract you from my unfinished Bunny Hill BOMs.

Hope it works...

Butterfly Garden - February 2008

The pattern is Flowers in the Garden by Rachel Cresp from Patchwork on the Peninsula. It was featured in Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol.10 No.9. Rachel used naive fabrics in her quilt.

As I was working to a budget I used a variety of fabrics from my scrap collection. The centre blocks are Folded Bow Tie which can be a little tricky at first but once you get in the swing of things they come together nicely.

It was made for a work colleague's new baby.

My Pretty Whig Rose - August 2008

Now, although I have been making quilts for 15 years, this was the first time I had made a quilt for me. I like the pattern - not just because it uses fat quarters - it contains some of the very first fabrics I purchased for quilting projects. I also really like the shaped border.

The finished quilt measures 58 inches square and was designed by Carol Lewis. It featured in Australian Country Threads Vol 5 No 1.

I'm looking forward to making another quilt, just for me, later in the year.

Happy Stitching

Journey to the Line

I have loved bagpipe music since I was a wee bairn. The track from the new album by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Journey to the Line is amazing. I love it. If you haven't already seen this fantastic video on youtube then you can find it here. I'll be buying the album this week.

The Guards are an amalgamated regiment containing the famous Scots Greys who terrified Napoleon's French Cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo. They used a technique whereby the big grey horses of the Scot Guards carried infantrymen, the Gordon Highlanders holding onto the horses stirrups, behind the French lines. There is a famous painting depicting the event with a good deal of artistic licence. Notice the cowardly Frenchman shooting the brave Scot in the back. Blackguard!

Of course, we will, for the moment, forget that the French were once the closest ally of Scotland.

Gordons and Greys to the Front
by Stanley Berkeley

And yes, I get goosebumps when the Lone Piper plays his lament at the end of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. A lot of good Scottish blood has been spilled for - and against - the British.

Ann.

Blue and White Delight

Winding Ways by Clare Mooney

Isn't it lovely?

I've been looking for a blue and white quilt pattern for ages and I think this might be the one...at least until the next one comes along!

This quilt is featured in the current issue of Australian Homespun Vol 10.5 and it's a terrific issue with loads of super projects. Well, ones that I liked anyway.

I needed a distraction as I'm am still working on quilting Paisley Parade and stitching my Bunny Hill BOMs. I know I promised to have it finished but last weekend was a write-off for sewing.

Hope you are making better progress with your projects than I seem to be with mine!

Happy Stitching

I'm a Goose!

The last two quilts shows I have visited didn't allow photos so I left the camera behind on the weekend when I went to Brush Farm House to see the Eastwood Patchwork Quilters Exhibition.

They were allowing photos. Okay, next time I take the camera.

The weather was superb - a bright, sunny autumn day. It was a fantastic show and the quilts were amazing. Many of them have featured in Australian patchwork and quilting magazines. The quilts were predominantly traditional and the quality of the handpiecing/quilting was breathtaking. Congratulations to all involved.

The girls at Material Obsession have taken some great photos so why not pop on over and take a look.

There were also three fantastic stallholders at the show set up on the beautiful front verandah of the house with its wrought iron lace panels. Material Obsession, Cherry Pie Designs and Jennie Burton's Antique & Vintage Quilts all had terrific displays.

For the first time ever I had the opportunity to see and touch old quilts and it was quite humbling to run my hand over the neat stitches of a quilter from more than 100 years ago (all with Jennie's permission I might add).

Material Obsession had some really funky quilts on display - those girls are incredibly creative and charming.

I'm afraid I made all but one purchase at Carol Robert's stall - Cherry Pie Designs. She had some delightful quilts on display including - Amelia Jane, Spring Evenings and Raspberry Delight. I wanted them all but settled on Amelia Jane for now.


I also purchased a couple of small project patterns and a fantastic little needle roll. I have been searching the net trying to find the original pattern designer - with no luck. In the meantime I will draft my own pattern for it.

After looking at all the quilts - twice - we eventually went for lunch at a little cafe not far away, followed by a visit to Patchwork Products.

All in all, a wonderful day!

Happy Stitching

Eastwood Patchwork Quilters

This weekend I will be visiting their exhibition which is being held in a splendid heritage house called Brush Farm built in 1820. It's on the top of a hill, of course, and has spectacular views across the district and down to Parramatta River. If you would like to learn more about the history of Brush Farm click on the image above.

I must say I am pleased that is has been restored because for many years it was derelict and almost collapsed.

The Eastwood Quilters are renowned for the quality of their work and I can't wait to see their raffle quilt - let's hope I buy the winning ticket!

It's not usual for our quilt exhibitions to allow photographs (more's the pity).

And here's a picture of my finished Bunny Hill BOM for April.













Oh, that's right. I haven't finished it yet. This weekend - I promise.

Happy Stitching