Tasmanian Breakfast View

I am on a teaching tour of Tasmania which is great fun. I love being able to combine 'business' with pleasure. This is my view as I write this blog post. It is Port Huon and the cottages are right on the river and a perfect way to start the day. We are on the balcony eating Matthew Evans Baked Beans and watching the salmon farms at work.

We are currently spending a few days down south and yesterday was spent on the Tahune Air Walk -a magnificent structure built over the rainforest





Can you see why I am so happy?

Exciting News

I know I have been quiet but not really. I am in Tasmania for a few weeks teaching and touring and my access has been limited but I have just bought a portable modem with another provider so am able to connect to the world again.

I will post more about my travels soon but just had to tell you my exciting news.
I have been selected to teach at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in the UK in August. I am absolutely blown away to be included in the biggest quilt show in Europe alongside some of the world's most amazing quilt teachers.

I am teaching Crystallisation as a two day masterclass. This is the quilt technique that developed into our award winning Bushfire Sunset quilt and is such fun to do. You get to use all those interesting textured fabrics like silk, organza, velvets etc - and easily blend them into your own masterpiece. I love teaching this class.

I am also teaching my Creative Beading workshop which gets you started on a fabulous new obsession (well it did for me anyway).

This trip will culminate in the wonderful week in Orvieto which I have told you about before but will be the most rewarding experience for everyone who joins in with me.

There is, however a bit of a gap between Festival of Quilts in August and Orvieto in late September so I am also looking for other teaching opportunities in the UK and Europe during that period. I already have some classes booked but am very keen to do some more so please contact me if you would like more details. There is the possibility of some workshops in Hungary and Turkey so you can see I am happy to discuss any possibilities. My workshop information is also available on my website.

Tote Tuesday

I was honored to be invited by Karey Bresenham to contribute to the International Tote Bag for Virginia Spiegel's ToteTuesday, a Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. It will open Tuesday, February 2 and continue through March. It’s a fundraiser AND a showcase for everything that is fun and creative about the fiber arts.

I have sent Karey 2, one metre lengths of my hand painted fabric which will be included in one of the two bags she has gathered. Mine are colours of Australia which I hope will find their way into someone's wonderful creation.

It starts this week and if it is anywhere near as successful as Virgina's last fund raising effort it is sure to be a winner. She has raised around $200,000 for the cause and 100% of what is collected is donated.

What would the world be without people like Virginia!

Cutout Workshop in the Studio

Yesterday was the latest studio workshop here. I love doing these as the groups are small and friendly and best of all I get to sleep in my own bed at the end of the day.

This was Cutout Magic and the ladies seemed to really enjoy themselves and each of them created something unique.
Maxine enjoyed herself so much she has booked into the next one
- Aurora on March 6th.

Val and Judy went very organic with their cutouts

Michelle has done a really interesting fern design which really had interesting optical effects as it grew.

We had fun - and a really nice lunch made by Peter too.
Can't wait to see the finished quilts. I know Cath has finished her hearts already and some of the others weren't too far off.

Cutout Magic

Isn't this a wonderful version by Adele Preen who followed the DVD to make her own version. She wrote that she had adapted the size and also did blanket stitch around the shapes as it is to be a bed quilt and get more handling than a wall hanging.

Didn't she do a fabulous job?

Now that the magazine is no longer available in stores you can always buy them from me with the DVD. I also have fabric kits available.

Hungarian Blues - updated with quilters names

Went to an Exhibition tonight of Hungarian Blue Quilts which was really interesting. The challenge was to use blue fabrics and preferably Hungarian motifs.
The top quilt is MOTIVES FROM TRANSYLVANIA
sewn by Somogyi Ferencne, Maria
They all looked beautiful together although some did look a little like Japanese quilts.
This one is Cover with Tulips
by Szomor Agi

The setting was the South Hungarian Social Club which was full of people including some men trying to play pool right in front of my favourite quilt. I think they were getting a bit irritated as we tried to get a good look.

The motifs were beautiful and the fussy cutting was so precise.

I also really liked this applique one
Cut work by Molnar Janosne, Marika

This one is by Zsuzsa Mészáros - see comments.

Even better - there was a cafe so we had the best snitzel I have had in ages with paprika potatoes and the best Vanilla Slice I have ever eaten. Pity I had to share it.....

Lots of friendly familiar faces too so a good evening.


I have had a wonderful number of visitors from Hungary to this post - thank you so much for visiting. If your quilt is included please let me know. I have never been to Hungary but it is on my definite list to visit especially as you make such beautiful quilts. I will actually be in Europe later this year if anyone is interested in a workshop.

Australia Day Gnomes

Today is Australia Day here and we went to the Australian Gnome Convention. It wasn't really a convention but more a collection of about 2000 garden gnomes including a collection rescued from a garden where the owner had died.

It was so warm I even had to buy a hat and I am not a hat person but now I am the proud owner of a nice straw hat. Maybe I could wear it while I am dyeing.

It was part of a Family Fun Day so there were lots of jumping castles and fairy (candy) floss and the traditional Australian Sausage Sizzle BBQ.

It was just nice to be out in the sunshine with lots of happy families.

Then I came home and packed my Monthly Metres for February which are really beautiful but I can't show you because I have been told that my members who read the blog say it spoils the surprise.

Tomorrow back to reality and dyeing and working on a new quilt and maybe even get around to writing that article with the looming deadline.

Binding done

Here is my quilt in full now that I have finished the binding. It is single bed size and will be available soon as a kit complete with all the fabric precut into squares and rectangles and including the Fusible leaves. All you need is to iron them on and applique using your favourite technique. These have been done with a small blanket stitch (1.5 x 1.5) and a rayon thread


The quilting was done with a combination of variagated threads. The leaf motifs were done first and then the lines filled in the spaces

I have called it Falling Leaves

Samples

Can't show you the finished Leaf Quilt yet because my eyes gave out last night before I finished the binding. Give me another day or two but thanks so much for your lovely comments.

Today I have been working on class samples and other things for my C&G course. Here are a few stamped and quilted pieces. I love carving stamps and them playing with them on fabric and I haven't even got to the beading yet! The inspiration was an aerial shot of old mines as I flew out of Kalgoorlie

New Quilt

Here is a sneak peak of my latest quilt.

I have used my Autumn Leaves pack and some lovely Leaf Fusibles with simple squares and rectangles.

I am sewing the binding on tonight and then tomorrow I might show you the finished quilt. I had great fun quilting this. Can you see the leaves?

What do you think?

Dazzling

I have added Dazzle Threads by Wonderfil to my product range as I use and recommend them all the time for bobbin work in my quilts. I have chosen a selection of colours and am happy to increase the range if required.

As an introductory off I am offering 10% off Dazzle Threads on website orders until the end of the month and you will also get a free pack of Fusibles with every order.

Studio Workshop

Just finished the latest workshop in my Studio. We had 5 enthusiastic students for Aurora and this is the studio before they arrived - all tidied up.

This is the happy group at the end of the day just before we did the beading section of the day.


Already have some bookings for the next Aurora workshop on 6th March and I still have a couple of places for Cutout Magic on January 30th if you would like to join in the fun. Just contact me if you are interested or you can book your place online.

Something to Plan For

During this sweltering summer here in Australia which are being contrasted so amazingly in the freezing conditions many of you are enduring my thoughts are often looking forward to Italy and my workshop in Orvieto in September.

Can you imagine yourself walking down this lane

Or finding inspiration for your Textured Treasure here in this garden

and the food....

and wine

These wonderful activities are just part of the total experience of my Textured Treasure workshop. Click here for more information. Hope some of you will join us.

Breaking the Drought in Perth

No not quite although Jenny did say it started to rain just as she finished quilting it. Jenny did my Breaking the Drought workshop in Perth last year at Ocean Keys Sewing Centre.


I will be returning there this year in May for more workshops so contact them if you are interested.

Beneath the Suface

This is my latest quilt project to be published.
It is called Beneath the Surface and can be found in the latest issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting.
The original was made with hand dyed cotton and raw silk and of course embellished with beads with the additional feature of Angelina Fibre leaves floating along.

The quilt spent a couple of years with one of the Ricky Timms exhibitions and has been home for a while now.


The original beads used for the quilt are no longer available but I have substituted others in the kit and you can order it from the website with just the hand dyed cottons or the silk for an additional cost. Angelina fibres are also included in the kit so if you have wanted to play about with simple curved piecing, beading and Angelina Fibres here is the perfect project.
The pattern is available locally but if you can't get it I am happy to purchase one and add it to your order.

Flowing

This quilt is called Flowing I and I have just been adding a few more beads and label before sending it off to the State of the Art Quilt 10 Exhibition which is a juried exhibition put on by the Queensland Quilters Art Quilts. The exhibition will be launced at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne in March and the Textile Arts Festival in Brisbane in June.

Present in the Mail

Today in the mail I received a lovely postcard from Elizabeth who was one of the first recipients of my Fusibles.
The hearts have been stiched down with embroidery thread onto a velvet/damask base with some additional embroidery.

I am sending a sample pack of Fusibles with every website order this month so here is your chance to try them yourself. I would love to see how you use them too,

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

I have been asked about Snugglepot and Cuddlepie after yesterdays blossom post - which got more comments than my quilt pics :(

Anyway - they were the main characters in a series of books by May Gibbs who lived in Sydney and were known as the gumnut babies. They were published in about 1918 and were based on the the local plants found in the bush near Bunbury West Australia where May Gibbs played as a child.


The "big bad" Banksia Men are the villians of the story and are modelled on the appearance of aged Banksia "cones", with follicles for eyes and other facial features.

They really scared me when I was a child but I can't see them now without thinking of the stories.

Gum Blossoms

We have a small gum tree that is just coming into bloom. I love the different stages it goes through.

First the buds are green and then they turn pink including the stalks.

Then the little tops pop off and then the blossoms spring out like fairy wings.

Finally they grow and grow and turn into these wonderful gum nuts.

Isn't it a beautiful thing to watch.

Happy 2010

Well here we are at 2010.
2009 was pretty great for me so I hope this year lives up to expectations. I have lots of exciting things already planned and can't wait for it all to get underway. In the meantime I have been stitching up a storm in my terrific studio.

Just to start it off I have something new to show you

FUSIBLES

These die cut shapes are made from Dyed & Gone to Heaven hand dyed fabrics in a wide variety of colours.
The best part is that they are already backed with fusible web - just peel off the paper and press into place. Applique in your fabvourite technique - raw edge, buttonhole or satin stitch. They are suitable for machine and hand stitching.






More shapes to come and I am looking forward to seeing what you do with them. I have a few projects underway which I will be unveiling soon.

Be Creative by the Sea Retreat 2010

I am so fortunate to be invited back to Coffs Harbour for the new Be Creative By the Sea Masterclasses. I will be at the Creative Winter Escape from 4th to 6th July 2010.

I am launching a new 3 day workshop developed specifically for Be Creative which will give students the opportunity to work with a broad range of textile skills including stamping, foiling, free motion quilting, rubbing, beading and working with water soluble stabilisers and textured fabrics. We will be compiling these techniques to create a unique wall hanging using inspiration gathered from your own experiences and influences.


Registrations open on 1st January and numbers are very limited and I would love you to join me for a really creative and inspiring time.

Texture

Using this image of a tree I saw in NZ - I have created this small piece using piping and dense quilting.

Another in my Textured Treasured Series which form the basis of my workshop in Orvieto.

Time to Sew

Not gone - just playing. We are not really big on Christmas but I have been having a wonderful time just being home and able to sew for hours and hours.

I am working on a few different things that aren't quite ready for general consumption but here is a little piece I have done.

I think it might be a cushion - what do you think?

Cool Phone Skin

Most people know that I am addicted to my iphone. It goes everywhere with me and I use it constantly. So I was thrilled to hear about Gelaskins do it yourself skins.

I uploaded one of my bead photos and a couple of weeks later I have my own personalised phone. Pretty cool I think.

Quilting Practice

I have (like hundreds of others) been following the 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs blog. Leah Day has been blogging for 105 days now and doing a really great job inspiring me (and many others) to just give it a try.

I have also bought her downloadable pdf and video (even though they are all available on the web) as I think it is important to give something back for her dedication and generosity. They are on special now too but only a few copies left I believe.

Anyway - here are some of my samples. I have prepared a pile of squares and start each sewing day with a new one. Certainly gets me in the right frame of mind.

And the top image? It is one of my latest City & Guild exercises - highlighting quilting with Shiva stick and leaf stencil.

Special Day

Yesterday was a significant birthday for Peter and our wonderful daughter Sarah and her partner Matthew took us to Testuyas for lunch. This restaurant is undoubtably one of the best in Australia and is booked out for months ahead so we felt really special to be going.

It didn't disappoint and we had the 13 course degustation menu which was surprise after surprise with delicate morsels of such perfection you just wanted to preserve them.

I was not the only one taking photos of every new surprise and the service and ambiance brilliantly enhanced the wonderful feast.

Above is a photo of Tetsuyas signature dish of Ocean Salmon with Konbu, Apple & Daikon salad

Below is smoked ocean trout and Avruga caviar

One of the two main courses was Grass fed Angus beef with Asian mushrooms - if it had been acceptable to pick the plate up and lick it I would have.

This was described as a transitional course between main course and desserts (3) and was Cannelini Beans with Mascapone and Caramel

Summer pudding with white chocolate mousse

As a special treat Sarah even allowed me to take a photo of her with Peter.

Thank you Sarah for a wonderful day.

Bag Done

I have finished my bag for my City & Guilds Module.
I stamped the hand dyed fabric with a stamp carved from a design of NZ carvings and then alternately quilted them as well as grid.

I added some beads for further embellishment including a large glass bead which I have had for ages as the closure.

This is the back view.

And the fabric - well it is one of the pieces that I did for this month's Monthly Metres Club and I loved the gradation from turquoise throught to pale green. There are still a few pieces left if you are interested.

Bag Underway -City & Guilds

I am making a bag for my City & Guilds course using images from NZ carvings as inspiration.



I have made some stamps and have played around with quilting and paints.

Here is a sketch of my idea for the bag which is now underway.

More Christmas Gift Ideas

I have listed these three Beaded Jewel Boxes for sale on my website - the small one is AUD$30 (US$27) and the large ones are $AUD50 (US$45) + shipping. They would make great presents.

Small green satin with green hand dyed fabric and beaded design

Large black satin box with purple hand dyed fabric and beaded kaleidoscope design

Detail

Large gold with turquoise hand dyed fabric and kaleidoscope beading design

Detail

Beaded Art Work for Sale

I have posted the following items on my website for sale at a special price of $75 (US$70) - 25% discount plus postage.

These would make beautiful Christmas presents.

All three are framed without glass and are ready to hang on the wall or stand up.

Frame - 11 1/2" x 9 1/2" - art work - 5"x5"

Detail - above

Frame - 11 1/2" x 9 1/2" - art work - 6"x5"

Detail

Frame - 11" x 11" - art work - 6 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Detail

Canberra Crystallisations

I received these photos today from Valerie and Janet who did my recent Crystallisation workshop in Canberra. We had a great day and it is wonderful to see finished quilts so quickly after a workshop. This is Valerie's and Janet's is above.

You can make one yourself too if you want to book a workshop.

Studio Workshops

Do you want something to look forward to in the New Year? Or maybe a subtle hint for a Christmas present?

I will be having two more Studio Workshops in my Lewisham (Sydney) studio in January and bookings are open.

These workshops are small with lots of personalized attention and lots of fun.
Cost is $60 per person with yummy lunch and morning tea provided. We are also beautifully airconditioned so it is a great place to be in the Sydney Summer Heat.

Kits are available and a discount of 10% on all other Dyed & Gone to Heaven products on the day is very tempting too.

Aurora - Sunday 17th January
This workshop is already half full so only a few places left.


Cutout Magic - Saturday 30th January
This is the project featured in the current Quilters Companion DVD.

Horn Sewing Cabinet for Sale SOLD

That was quick - SOLD and going to a good home.

I have decided to sell my Horn Quiltmate III cabinet. This is the one with a fold out back for when you are quilting but can fold down when you don't need the extra space.

It has two drawers and of course the lifting mechanism. If you have a Janome 6500/6600 I can also include the perspex cutout for a perfect fit. It is on castors and in excellent condition.

I would like $250 for it and you would need to pick it up from Lewisham or arrange delivery.

Folded down

Sale Specials Now Online

In addition to my Studio Sale I have decided to add some specials online for those of you who cannot make it.

I haven't updated the website as these specials will be available UNTIL MONDAY NIGHT ONLY. Once they have gone - that is it! Just order on the website and I will adjust to the special prices at checkout.

I have also received my shipment of DVDs and Magazines and had a great laugh watching it. So you can also join in the fun by ordering a copy from me.


Fantasia Kit - usually $150 - Now $100 - contains hand dyed cotton and raw silk, paint and beads and beading thread

Colourplay Kit - usually $120 - Now $90 - Save $30 (contains 12 fq of rainbow plus border fabrics.

Fabrications - original colourway - usually $120 - Now $100 - save $20


Midnight Sky - usually $70 - now $60 - save $10 contains fabric and hand painted fabric and beads and beading thread.

Also available - 6 packs of 1/2 metre sets - usually $70 - now $60
6 fat quarter sets - usually $36 - now $30 or 2 for $50

Today was fun with lots of lovely ladies popping in. We are still open tomorrow from 10-4 at 23 Fred St Lewisham with lots of goodies so please drop in if you are free. Although it is hot in Sydney - we are airconditioned so very pleasant.

Bids Open Tomorrow

Bidding starts tomorrow at 10am Sydney Time for Bid 4A Cause.

All the details are now on the website and I hope it raises lots of money for this extremely worthwhile cause.

Bid 4A Cause Auction Ready to Roll

Get ready - it is now time to support our fund raising
activities for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

On November 27 the auction will BEGIN – tell ALL your friends.

There are 14 wonderful textile artworks up for grabs. You can add an artwork to your textile collection for a fraction of the price that these artists work normally sell for.

All money raised will be sent to the National Breast Cancer Foundation – there are no admin or artist’s fees, so every cent you spend will go to this extremely important and worthwhile charity.

Go online NOW to see the artworks from talented Australian textile artists.

Sue Dennis – Helen Godden – Lisa Walton – Wendy Bailye –
Dijanne Cevaal – Jocelyne Leath – Caroline Sharkey – Sarah Louise Ricketts
– Robyn Kennedy – Nic Bridges – Erica Spinks – Brenda Gael Smith – Dale
Rollerson and Olga Walters

Here are some detail shots of my contribution

It Has Arrived!

I am very excited to announce that my latest DVD has arrived. It is with Quilters Companion November Issue and shows you how to make my latest project CUTOUT MAGIC which I have featured recently in workshops on the blog.

You can order a kit and the magazine from the website in your choice of colours and I can't wait to see hundreds of variations of this simple design all over the place.

Please let me know what you think of the DVD - as you may remember, we filmed it a few months ago in my new studio which was a lot of fun.

Sale Update

I have had a few people write and ask if the sale will be online too.
Unfortunately initially it will be just for personal shoppers but I will definitely try to add some items to the website but time may defeat me.

Last Workshop of the Year

I have just taught my last workshop of the year.

It has been a very full year of workshops and next year is already looking just as exciting but there are still some dates available - mainly in the beginning and end of the year. I taught Cutout Magic to Fairholme Quilters in Sydney and they have already posted photos on their blog which is really terrific. Some of these photos are from the blog (with permission) but there are lots more on the blog to check out. Jill did a great job of official photographer and blog mistress. Such a great idea to have a blog for your group isn't it?

Jo's fern design above really complemented her background fabric and she actually finished the top in the workshop.

Bev's fishes are so cute. She was going to add an extra fin but then her fish looked like a Christmas Tree so she didn't!

This is Dawn's design


I was so impressed at their entusiasm and creativity although for a while it was really really quiet while they got into the thinking side of it. Evidently it was the quietest the group had ever been but that all changed once the results of their thoughts started appearing .

Jane even wrote to show me her finished top which she just had to get done the next day as she enjoyed it so much.

You too will be able to create your own Cutout Magic - even without me - very very soon. Watch this space!

STUDIO SALE

Announcing the first
DYED & GONE TO HEAVEN STUDIO SALE

I would like to invite you to the first Dyed & Gone to Heaven Studio Sale. This is a unique opportunity to pick up some great bargains in hand dyed fabrics, beads, quilt kits, art work and anything else I can find to offer. I would like to start the new year with a clean studio and fresh and exciting fabrics and products so have decided to be ruthless. There will be discontinued quilt kits at greatly reduced prices, bead sets and of course lots of hand dyed fabrics in every colour under the sun in a wide range of sizes and packs. So if there is something that you have been thinking about buying this may be your last chance.

DATE
28th & 29th November 2009 10am - 4pm

ADDRESS
23 Fred St Lewisham Sydney

Cash and cards are accepted

All purchases will be going into a draw for an original framed beaded artwork.

Bring all your quilting friends!

Seasonal Hazard

I love Jacaranda trees and their beautiful blossoms - but not when I am painting fabric.
Yesterday I was painting some background pieces for Pelican Sunset and an hour later they were covered in these flowers.

Contagious

Looks like I have started a flow. I always ask students to send a photo of their finished quilts but only ever get a few. Having posted a few this week has prompted some more.
Heather from Geraldton in West Australia has sent me her version of Breaking the Drought - very different and so interesting and bold. I love it.

Margaret in the UK has sent me a link to her art quilt group. Margaret brought her quilt all the way out here on her holiday earlier this year to show me the finished work . I was honoured that she used up her valuable luggage allowance for me.

I will be in the UK October 2010 if anyone is interested in a workshop but I only have a few days still available. Contact me directly if you want more information.

More Student Quilts

At my Adelaide Crystallisation workshop this week I was thrilled to be shown some more quilts finished by students or made with our fabrics.

Carolyn (who made yesterdays Skipping Boy quilt) is up to her third Aurora quilt (above). She just can't stop and is doing some incredible beading.



Angela who is a longtime member of my Monthly Metres Club made this wonderful quilt from our fabrics. Can't wait to see what she does with her Crystallisation quilt from the workshop.

It was also very exciting to meet Annette at the Show who won a first prize at the show with her wonderful quilt which used fabrics from Dyed & Gone to Heaven.

Skipping Boys Quilt

This gorgeous quilt by Carolyn was made with some of my rainbow packs and a few metres of blue. Didn't she do a wonderful job?
And the backing fabric is just so cute too.

Book Purchase

I used to have a set of how to Singer books but sold them ages ago as I don't do dressmaking, furnishings etc. Of course now with my new Bernina 820 I am tempted to try some things again and needed some help.

At the Adelaide Show Can Do Books had a great selection as usual and I found this one which has lots of handy hints of everything from curtains to pleats to zippers to cushions (with great clear photos). So I think it will be a perfect addition to my groaning bookshelves.

Once I am home from Adelaide I have a wonderful few months ahead of creativity - can't wait.

Perfect Purple

This is part of one of the Monthly Metre pieces which I finished today. I think they are all really delicious.
It is not too late to join up and get something like this for your collection.
Monthly Metre and Beautiful Bead Clubs are on the website and are posted free in Australia. The bead set will be coordinated with these purple pieces and will be equally delicious.

Ok Sun - do your stuff

I feel very self righeous today. Our government decided to give a rebate to people who installed solar power units. Peter was very keen and did a lot of research into it and finally got his paperwork in. That exact night - the government suddenly decided to finish the scheme early - that night! We were not impressed and thought that it had all been a waste of time.

We were very surprised a few weeks later to hear that we had just got our application in time and could go ahead with the installation.

Today was the day and now we are the proud owners of 6 solar panels and an inverter which allows us to use solar power and what we don't use we can sell back to the grid.
Apparently we average 26kwh per day and so far we have generated 5. I think this is very cool. Just a little bit for the planet but imagine if everyone did it

Match Made in Heaven

There is a really unique fashion parade about to happen in Brisbane to raise money for the Children's Cancer Institute Australia.

The International Vintage Fashion Parade will held in Brisbane City Hall on 15th November and will be showcasing a stunning range of garments from the 70s.

I wish I could be there - sounds a wonderful opportunity to see some incredible fashions.

Wonderful Works

I always love it when students and customers send me photos of their work made either in workshops or from our fabric.

Judy in the USA is a new member of our Monthly Metre Club and has already been inspired to make this landscape using her latest fabric. You can join up to the Club too at http://www.dyedheaven.com/store/clubs/

I thought you might enjoy seeing the art quilt that I made from one monthly metre that you sent me. There is only one tiny piece of a mountain in the quilt that is not from one of your monthly metres. It is a scene adapted from a photo I took of some rice fields near Kyoto. I was absolutely fascinated when the metre arrived and I realized it had every color I needed from sky to green fields to mountains. The piece is a 12 inch square. Much thanks - I look forward to receiving many, many more metres.

These were some of the Fabrications quilts which were produced in my class for Western Quilters in Auckland

Rejeaneration

No it is not a typo just a play on words. I have been (finally) working on my City & Guilds course again and the latest activity was to create a patchwork piece using something recyled. It had to contain some identifiable basic elements of design like balance, harmony, contrast, movement etc

I found this little pair of child's shorts at a thrift store and loved the green zip so decided that they would be perfect for the exercise.

I love the way the fabric looked from the elasticised waistband once the elastic and stitching was removed. Doesn't it look like indigo shibori. I used the waist cord for additional decoration as well as the belt tags.

I broke 2 needles while sewing through the thick layers and freemotion quilted it (where I could) with green thread to accentuate the green of the zipper.

I think this might be a fun workshop. What do you think?

Day in the Botanic Gardens

We played truant again yesterday and went to the Sydney Botanic Gardens to see the Artisans in the Gardens Exhibition. This annual show is always a treat and this year was no exception

There was an additional exhibition in the Palm House of Marijke Greenway paintings. I love her work. She works in oils, acrylics and watercolours and this one was one of my favourites.



I also loved the mosaic work of Marian Shapiro

The garden furniture by Indiana Jones is always whimiscal.

The work of Julie Cooper is reminiscent of Rosalie Gascoigne.

But our favourite pieces were water features by Daniel Burgermeister which we couldn't resist so have bought a small piece which should go beautifully in our renovated/revived garden which I am pleased to say is coming along beautifully.

One Year to Go

I have just received the latest newsletter from Adventures in Italy who are running my workshop next September in Orvieto. It all sounds so wonderful I just can't wait to be there again. Download it here to get excited too.



Kristi has taken some more brilliant detail shots for me so I can start working on some samples for my workshop in September 2010. Can't you just imagine using them in your textile work.

We already have our first students enrolled so even if you are just thinking about joining us, it is not too early to contact Adventures in Italy as the groups are kept small and it would be terrible to miss this opportunity.

Home for a Minute

I rarely get a chance to blog while I am away but am always thrilled by how many people make the effort to tell me how much they enjoy the blog. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. Makes me feel really special.

We had a wonderful time in Brisbane as always and it is great to catch up with old friends.

Our trip back was long but always interesting and now that I have worked out the motordrive on my camera I was busy taking shots. Pity about my dirty window.

Australia is incredibly beautiful and varied. I especially love stopping along the way and seeing classic towns. We stopped in Glen Innes for breakfast and there are some beautiful traditional Australian buildings still in excellent condition.


Here is a Balancing Rock - don't you just want to go and push it?

This bank building facade was retained while the old building behind it was rebuilt. I love that they kept the art deco facade.

Brisbane Quilt Show

Having a great time here in Brisbane at the Quilt & Craft Show. My quilt Ocean Dream won 3rd prize in the Art Quilt Category which was very exciting.

There is also the first outing of the Bid 4 A Cause quilts that I have contributed a little piece to (above). Full details of the bidding process will be announced fairly soon and it would be great for the auction to raise much needed funds for a worthy cause.

Here is the display but more details can be found on the site.

Crystallisation Workshop in Canberra

Last weekend I taught Crystallisation workshop in Canberra to a group of enthusiastic ladies. Here are some of the works in progress and I am looking forward to seeing the completed quilts.



This is also the workshop I am doing in Adelaide on the 9th October and there are still a few more spots available.

Houston Prize (sort of)

My friend Sarah Ann Smith has just won second prize at Houston with her quilt Fields of Gold.
The background piece of fabric is one of my hand painted pieces which I sent her a while ago. It's the closest I have come to a prize at Houston and I am thrilled for Sarah.

This is a very exciting time for her as she has also just launched her first book called Threadwork Unraveled and I can't wait for my copy to arrive. If you want more information click here

Adelaide Workshop

A dear friend has asked me to do a workshop in Adelaide after the show - Monday 9th November. It is in Goolwa which is a little bit out of Adelaide but those who live there will know where it is.

We are doing Crystallisation which is the quilt technique which inspired Bushfire Sunset and is a really fun workshop. We are doing the two day workshop as a one day version but it is suitable for all levels. You get to use up all your scraps too which is always a bonus.

If you are interested please contact me for more details. This is a small private workshop so numbers are limited.

Thanks also for all your nice comments wishing my plants well. Here are the results of our labours yesterday. So far so good - maybe this time some will survive our neglect.

Busy day

I didn't have time to blog yesterday as it was delivery day to the shippers for our last two shows of the year. Our house feels so empty now after two car loads of fabric. We needed to send everything for the Brisbane and Adelaide shows as they are only a week or so apart. I think it was our biggest load ever. This is only a part of it. I think there are about 40 tubs of gorgeous fabrics.

Then of course we needed to have lunch and went to our favourite hot pot restaurant where we dropped lots of goodies into this deliecious pair of soups.

One side is spicy and the other vegetables and mild. The white lumps are garlic gloves and the red berries are goji berries. Everything absorbs the soup and it is truely delicious.

We also went to the nursery to buy a trolley load of plants destined to become part of our continuing collection of dead things but we try. We have tons of mulch arriving today which needs shifting - another fun day.

Combination of Processes

One of my customers Lyn asked for a 2m piece of Aurora fabric to make something special.
She sent me the photo - she has combined stained glass applique of a Desert Pea flower with Ricky Timms Convergence cutting and my fabric.
Doesn't it look terrific. This is a detail shot.

Fabrications and Latrobe Valley Workshop

I have just come back from a weekend in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. Although threatened with freezing cold weather it was actually delightful and I had a great weekend teaching Fabrications. What a wonderful collection of Fantasy Fabrics the ladies made and we had a lots of fun and laughs.



Here is Heather playing with the layout of her blocks.

The food was supplied by a local group and was plentiful and luscious. I tried to be good but how caould you resist this sort of spread appearing at regular intervals.

Janet brought along her Breaking the Drought quilt which she had finished. The embellishments are terrific and she has done a wonderful job hasn't she?