eastwood

Thank you all so very much for your sympathy and kind words. I'm feeling much better!

One of the reasons I was disappointed at missing out on the Springwood Show was that I wanted to snap up some goodies for my . . .

200th blog post giveaway!

Yes that's right this is my 200th post on blogger but you'll just have to wait until I've been to the Sydney Quilt Show in June. So then it might be my 204th or 205th blog post giveaway.

You'll have to pretend to be excited all over again.

As an extra special treat I went to the Eastwood Quilters Quilt Show at Brush Farm House today. Those Eastwood quilters never disappoint and it was a marvellous show. So many wonderful quilts.

Best of all - no restrictions on photographs! Out of courtesy to other attendees I didn't use the flash (only once when  no one else was around). I don't like disturbing the viewing of others.

As you walked along the footpath to the historic house the fence was hung with little quilt bunting (picture above).

Brush Farm House was built in 1820 and the second floor has magnificent views down over Parramatta River and the plains beyond. It must have been spectacular in its day. The house suffered terribly from neglect but was rescued at the 11th hour and has been beautifully restored. You can read more about the history here.

 

 

I really liked the pattern on the tiles on the steps leading to the front door.

 

 

This was a pretty quilt hanging just inside the entrance door to the show. Love those scalloped edges.

 

 

 

There were displays of 12 inch quilts - the themes and execution were amazing! This was my favourite.

 

 

Girl's gotta have her stash right?

 

 

I really like that maple leaf block. Is that an APQ pattern?

 

 

No matter how many times I see one of these log cabin quilts I still marvel at just how much work goes into making them.

 

More quilts in my next post!

 

springwood

Image courtesy of the Springwood Quilters blog

It's an unbelievably stunning Sydney autumn day and I'm supposed to be here at the Springwood Quilt Show in Sydney's Blue Mountains.

Instead, I'm at home with a dreadful cold feeling sorry for myself.

It looks like a great show too. More pictures and information on the Springwood Quilters blog and at Creative Dabbling's blog. The shop stalls look fantastic!

Musn't grumble . . .

I had an extended weekend thanks to the ANZAC Day public holiday on Thursday. Around the country and overseas dawn services were held to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the young men and women of Australia and New Zealand. It's a sober reminder of how lucky we are to have a safe country and a good life.

I worked on the charity quilt and although I haven't finished all the blocks needed (April's are done) I wanted to start joining the blocks together using the method by Fiona from bugzrugz. Click here for her tutorial.

It actually works!

 

front

 

 

back

 

The main blocks are 18 inches square. I didn't lose too much of their size after trimming despite using at least three different types of batting.

 

 

Four of the blocks have the black star print and five blocks have the cream star. These are joined in rows of three and there are long joining rows to give the quilt some length. Most 13-17 year olds are as tall as beanstalks these days.

I also found some time to work on the Rosette blocks before the cold took hold. Now I'm off to make a hot lemon and honey drink. Then a nap.

patience

It's about this time in a new project when I start to lose a little patience. This of course benefits no one, least of all me.

It hasn't helped that my iron gave up the ghost (where on earth does that expression come from?) spluttering and spitting as it did so. I'm beginning to think there is a conspiracy as this is about the fifth iron story in the last two weeks.

Its replacement is a fine, sturdy chap with a Teflon sole plate and good head of steam. Perfect for ironing jeans (awww Mum! Not my jeans - DS).

Pity it's too heavy for pressing 2 inch half square triangle blocks. Heading to the store this week to find something more diminutive.

I have discovered that pressing the finished block and pinning it to the ironing board to cool overnight is resulting in lovely flat blocks which stay flat. Why didn't you folks let me in on this secret before now?

It takes ages and ages and ages to make one of these blocks. I'm guessing the clever folks at Figtree whipped up this quilt in an afternoon. (I know, I know. You've told me a million times not to exaggerate).

Six more blocks to go.....

muddle

Now that work has finished on the basket quilt, it's time to pick up where I left off on the Rosettes quilt.

Things got into a bit of a muddle but it's all sorted now and eight of the sixteen star blocks are finished.

Still a fair way to go though.

A binding is also needed for this quilt -

I've only just realised that those brown strips are next to each other. Sigh, so much for random.

On a lighter note the peacefulness of our morning sleep-ins are being shattered by an unkindness of ravens dropping small stones on the roof. They are a relatively new addition to the avian landscape around these parts and I have to say I much preferred the sparrows and blue wrens.

march

I'm a wee bit late posting about finishing these blocks but I did quilt them in March so it still counts right?

Just two more blocks left to quilt and then I can start piecing them together and working out the pattern for the border. I have lots of leftover pieces that musn't go to waste.

Thank you all for the lovely comments and compliments on my baskets quilt. Made my day!