Quilt Fabric Delights

They're growing up

Today is the last day of school for the year here in South Australia, and indeed Vanessa's last day of primary school.  Feeling a little bit mixed about that, in many ways it does not seem as if she has been there that long.  She had her gradation during the week.  It was a lovely evening and we where very proud of her.  I made her dress and finished it just in time the night before (for those who want to know the fabric is from Patti Young's Flora & Fauna. 

I wish I could show you the pic of her with her friends after the formal (scary for them) part finished, but I don't know how the other girls' parents would feel about, but I think Vanessa's smile says it all.

So there it is, she is all finished Primary School.

And today my baby turned double figures - 10! Happy Birthday Rachel

Seems like only yesterday they both looked liked this.

Meet Piar

We have been waiting for a handraised baby bird for quite some time, ever since our budgie Spice had to  be put down (he had cancer poor little thing).   Every weekend for the past four weeks Garry has rung the Bird Place to see if there are any available yet.  This weekend there was, but because of the Open House we had to wait until Saturday afternoon to collect him. As you know we had our  Open House, Saturday was our last day and we finished at 3.00pm.    At 3.01pm Vanessa was hopping up and down asking can we go yet.   

So meet Piar our new baby.  Piar is a baby Green Cheeked Conure.  Piar has a cute little yellow hammock to sleep in (I wonder if he would like a quilted one instead?).

While Piar technically doesn't need to be feed baby food any more (and it smells just like  human baby rice cereal) the man we purchased Piar from recommended that we feed him at night to help with bonding.  Rachel is a little more nervous about handling birds so we have given her the job of feeding.  He only takes a little bit before bobbing down inside Garry's hands so she can't give him any more.  So far he is loving sunflower seeds and apple.  A bit like a child as he leaves all the other seeds and hunts out the sunflower seeds.

 

Piar is very cute and I think given the hot weather we are expecting here in Adelaide this week you will most likely finding me sitting on the couch in front of the airconditioning bonding with Piar.  I bet in time he will make a great sewing assistant, pulling out pins and the like.

Beating Around the Bush Mini Market

Last week Country Bumpkin held their Embroidery Convention - Beating Around the Bush and as part of that on the Wednesday they had a mini-market day.  We were thrilled to be invited along as one of the vendors. Although it was a small market it was a lot of fun, with time to chat to customers old and new.  It was a bit of a challenge to fit everything in such a small space, but we did it, thanks to my three helpers, Garry, Vanessa and Rachel (Jodie we missed you but watch out Vanessa is eying off your job!). 

Garry is usually the packhorse, Mr Fix It and general hand and then when the customers appear he leaves us to it.  This time he helped out and look he's smiling - he actually enjoyed it.

If you look closely you will see some of the new samples I have been making or have had made by the lovely Kim from Victoria and borrowed from Janelle Wind and Nicole Malellieu.  Thank you ladies, although it is going to be very difficult to part with them when I have to return them.

Now I have a few days to get ready for the next market day.  Just a reminder that we will be at the Gawler Textiles and Arts Weekend.  I haven't been before and it sounds like lots of fun with quilting, art, textile arts, cloth dolls, embroidery and craft work on exhibition at various venues around Gawler.  We will be at the Gawler Sports and Community Centre on Nixon Terrace between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm on both Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th of October.  As you can see from our display, although we bring as much as we can, there is a limit, so if there is something in particular you would like us to bring along, just let me know.

40 Hour Famine

Dictated by Vanessa

My class at school is learning about  the Global Food Crisis.  As part of that we are taking part in the 40 Hour Famine to raise funds for those who do not have enough food.  Mum and Dad said I was not allowed to go without food so I have decided to go without furniture and technology for forty hours (which is why Mum is typing this).  Last night I slept on the floor.  I would like to ask you to help those who have no food by donating to the 40 Hour Famine.  Our class is aiming to raise $1,500.00 so far I have raised $83.05.

To make a donation or learn more about the 40 Hour Famine please click here

We are very proud of Vanessa and her classmates' (Year 7) efforts to raise funds for those who have so much less than they do.   They have chosen to go without something that means something to them.  One of her classmates who is a real chatterbox has given up talking for 40 hours (and succeeded all through school yesterday).  I think that I would have major difficulties not talking for that long.  Even though it is nothing like the life that some experience I think they learn a lot about how fortunate they are, they can't just jump on the computer, watch TV, sit on a chair or use their desks at school, and hopefully grow up to be compassionate, caring adults whilst helping out in a real way by raising funds now. 

It's all over for this year - warning photo heavy!

Wow!  What a weekend it was last week.  As many of you know I held my first big stitching retreat (gathering), actually it was the first retreat I had organised full stop.  As you can imagine I was incredibly excited and at the same time nervous that it would all go off smoothly.  I was so lucky to have Rosie, Leanne, Melly and Janelle as guest designers for our first gathering.  They are just the most amazingly generous ladies as I am sure all of you who attended will agree.

Although I took my camera I didn't have time to take any photographs - Jodie took a few but her camera was not playing the game (hence the blurry photographs) and my little Rachel took some but for the rest I need to wait for Susan to send me back a disc from Queensland.  I know there are many bloggers who have posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here (who knew there were so many South Aussie bloggers?) - if you have a blog and I haven't found you yet, please let me know and I will add a link.

And even though the long awaited and much needed rain was coming down it was still light and cosy inside.  Just right for stitching and talking or was that talking and stitching?

The table decorations.



When Rosie, Leanne, Melly and Janelle arrived we all stopped with our jaws dropped as they pulled all their beautiful projects out.  Such a beautiful display.


Rosie's new Block of the Month Quilt It's A Dollies Life - Rosie had just finished this quilt and brought  it over to show us all.  We are taking expressions of interest in this Block of the Month.  Rosie is still to write the pattern and I will need to wait for fabrics to arrive, but if you would like to put your name down, please contact me.



Melly has also just finished her new book Kaleidoscope before she came to Adelaide and she gave us a sneak peak of the projects in the book.  We are also taking pre-orders for Kaleidoscope which will retail for $38.50 and should be available in June.  Just let me know if you would like a copy ordered for you.



At Gillian's (Silly Gilly) suggestion I have made Flickr Group here where you can post photographs taken over the weekend and of your finished projects - because I know you are all going to finish them.....

Speaking of Silly Gilly here she in the top right hand photograph showing us the first block of her Little Blue Birds Quilt.  Gillian is new to stitching so was feeling rightly proud of having finished this.  After her needleturn lesson with Janelle on Saturday she was able to applique her blue bird on in no time.  We'll be watching for updates Gilly!



I managed to miss Show and Tell on Saturday so if you have photographs you would like to share I would love to see them.

And not to forget the serious bit - shopping!!!!




As you may have noticed I am more comfortable behind the scenes and not at all at home with a microphone so all my well rehearsed words (well rehearsed in my head) fled me when I stood up in front of you all and heard my voice over that microphone -  thank you all for coming I hope to see you again next year.

Thank you to Rosie, Melly, Leanne and Janelle.

And as someone wrote to me the other day thank you to my unflappable helpers.  They really were, they worked so hard to make the day the success that it was and then all went back to their day jobs on Monday.  I am so lucky to have such supportive family and friends.  So to my sisters Susan & Karen, my friends Jodie, Ally and Nina, my parents who weren't there but helped out before hand - Thank You - You are all AMAZING!

Of course a huge thank you to my  three favourite people, who were just a little weary by the time this photograph was taken, for putting up with me. 

Time to start planning for next year....

A fun and quick project

Garry repainted Rachel's bedroom over the holidays and remodeled Vanessa's old desk to put in Rachel's room.  It now looks much better without the hutch.  To brighten it up a bit more we made pinboards for the walls.  Thank you to Jodie (no blog) for pointing out this great Ikea idea.

Here is the result, not so good photographs due to low light in Rachel's room at this time of day but here is the finished result.

Unfortunately the circles got mixed up when Garry was putting them up so the ones covered in the Starling fabric are not on opposite sides as we planned.  Still Rachel is more than happy so I'm not going to worry that the symmetry is a bit off.

We made these using cork trivets from the kitchen section of Ikea.  We then cut out circles using a dinner plate as a guide and made jumbo yo yo's.  This was great as it required large stitches with a heavy thread and Rachel was able to do this herself.  We then gathered them up with the cork inside and tied the thread off.  And all finished.

The one in the middle I used the gorgeous blue wren embroidery design from Cinderberry Stitches. To make the pocket I stitched another piece of fabric to the embroidered piece, wrong sides together, with ric rac in the seam allowance.  I then folded them wrong sides together, leaving what looks like a bound edge above the ric rac.  I then made a pocket by laying the embroidered piece over the circle of linen and cut to size and then sewed them together with a machine stitch before making it up like the others.

 

Instant gratifcation and instant wall art.  When Rachel is tired of pinks and purples as most little girls seem to go through we will be able to change the colours by putting new fabric on.

Layer cakes would be fantastic for making these, just the right size and a variety of fabrics.

The only problem with getting rid of the hutch from the desk is that she now does not have any shelves, so next project will be to install some shelving in her room so she can find her desk top!

Handmade

I received the latest Handmade recently (Volume 25 No 10) and right there on the front cover is my sister Susan's quilt.  Congratulations Susan I am so proud of you.

If you would like to make this quilt we still have a bit of the red fabric available.  I'd also be happy to kit it up for you - just email me.

Today I received a copy of the latest Patchwork & Stitching and in the Next Issue section is a photograph of another of Susan's quilts a cute pastel nursery rhyme quilt with gorgeous embroidery - so look out for Patchwork & Stitching Vol 8 No 11.

Don't forget to leave a comment in the previous post to be in with a chance to win our giveaway - who knows I may even be talked into giving away one of my teacups!

Tags: Susan O'Donnell, quilts, Handmade, Patchwork & Stitching, magazine project

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Gift - Rosalie Quinlan Designs

Rosalie Quinlan's beautiful book Gift is now available in the shop.  As many of you will know Rosalie is a breast cancer survivor and together with Creative Abundance will be donating 50c from the sale of this book to Pink Ribbon Day.

Yesterday saw the sad passing of the courageous Jane McGrath.  My heart goes out to her family and friends and to all those who are fighting this terrible disease. 

Please take care of yourselves, make the most of  your gift of life and if you can, support these two worthy causes so that one day no one will have to lose this fight.

Pink Ribbon Day

McGrath Foundation

Tags: Rosalie Quinlan Gift, craft book, sewing, embroidery, stitchery, quilting, appliqe, breast cancer awareness

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My Sister's work

Some of you will already be familiar with my sister's work.  You can see her  Susan O'Donnell Designs patterns on the Quilt Fabric Delights website.  We live at opposite ends of the country so while she was down here last month Susan collected another pile of patterns and fabric to take home with her.  Since Susan doesn't blog I thought I'd share what has become of some of those fabrics and patterns.

A table runner - her own design - using Spring Carnival

A fun little sewing/needlebook also her own design - fabrics used are from Mackenzie and Forget Me Not

The next two are not Susan's original designs - the first is from a recent issue of Homespun - I can't find the issue at present (have I mentioned I am drowning in magazines??)

This last one is Hugs N Kisses Spirit of the Season.   Susan has used quite different colours to the those Helen has used on the pattern cover.   Given Christmas is in the height of summer here in Australia and the colours are strong and bright at that time of year this just says Christmas in Australia to me.

If you'd like to see more of Susan's work look out for upcoming issues of Patchwork and Stitching and Handmade magazines.  Susan has had a number of her designs accepted for publication.

Speaking of Helen, be sure to visit her Nice People Nice Things Blog - Helen has a giveaway for a bonus block.

Tags: Susan O'Donnell, Hugs N Kisses, quilting, embroidery, Nice People Nice Things, table runner, christmas tree skirt, embroidered bag

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Nice People Nice Things

Hello this is Vanessa and a week or two ago I started  this embroidery. It isn't my design though I used one of the cards from Nice People Nice Things.  I did it all by my self, though to start of with mum had to keep helping to thread the needle and tie  the knot at the end. In the end I mastered tying the knots and threading the needle, although sometimes it takes me about ten times to get in in the needle eye. I also find the unpicker helpful.

I have discovered that I don't really like the sewing machine that much (My sister is the one that does). I rather do embroidery. I also like taking photographs as you might have guessed I took these ones.

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