Class in the UK

I am very excited to announce that I will be teaching at The Bramble Patch in the UK in September (1st and 2nd). I will be teaching my Breaking the Drought quilt which was originally commissioned by Janome as a showcase for the wonderful 6500/6600. It was used in their advertising and was also a Houston Finalist.

The workshop is an opportunity for beginners and intermediate quilters to really play around with their machines (any brands) and learn to use some of those strange stitches they have never touched, try bobbin work, raw edge applique and other techniques. Free motion quilting is also explored. The piecing is simple and it is a really fun quilt to make and very freeing and satisfying.

It is definitely one of my most popular workshops and I love seeing the variations that my students come up with.

For those of you in Australia who are interested - I am teaching this workshop at Quiltlove and Berry Patchwork in the next few months and all information can be found on my website in the Workshops Section.

So if you are in the UK and would like a little piece of Australiana - please come to the Bramble Patch for a wonderful workshop.

Playing

I have wanted to try this technique ever since Jane Dunnewold's article in Quilting Arts about July last year. As I am still feeling a bit low and certainly lacking any urge to be creative I thought I would just have a play and try it today.

Basically you work with a 5" square of black craft paper and cut out shapes with a craft knife or scissors. Shapes are then reversed as if they have been folded out on a hinge.
One rule is to keep the corners intact.



Quite like these ones

Some worked and some didn't and I'm not sure how I will move forward on this technique although there is something percolating in the far reaches of my creative brain which may come to fruition.

Shapes need to be more balanced I think in this one.

This one needed more detail but too fiddly for me with craft knife and sticky glue fingers.

Think I prefer working with fabric. Have any of you tried this technique as well?

Mixed Emotions

Yesterday I closed a loop and finally got my degree from The National Institute of Dramatic Art which I went to 30 years ago. When I went the course was only a Diploma and about 10 years ago they made it a degree course and offered a Conversion Program for previous graduates. I had never bothered to do it but when they announced it was the last year I bit the bullet and did the additional work just to get the bit of paper.

Yesterday was the Graduation Ceremony and an interesting step back into the past for me but I think I have closed that loop now.

My first friend in my first job in theatre was a lovely lady Gabrielle who, although she returned to England many years ago, frequently returned to spend summers in Australia as she loved the heat and the Tennis Season. We last saw her 18months ago when she splurged her money on a first class ticket out here and we spent New Years Eve on Sydney Harbour and had a wonderful time. We knew she was unwell with Breast Cancer but she never talked about it and remained positive.

This morning we got the call that no one wants to get - she had died peacefully and quickly. We have lovely memories of our last time together.

Sleep peacefully Gabby - we will miss you.

Painting in the Sunshine

Today was so sunny and warm - a perfect autumn day that I thought I might do some painting for a project that I have in mind.

You can see that these must be the colours that are in my head at the moment as they are similar to the beading I showed you yesterday. That is coming along well too.

This piece had some tape put on and then brushed over with paint. When dried, the tape removed and then other paints added in strips

Washed with diluted paint and then stencilled with a couple of Lumiere Paints

Light hand dyed piece with blotchy ink marks then stencilled over the top with mesh

Diluted inks painted on with Japanese brush. The sort of brush that looks like a 4 or 5 brushes joined together.

Scrunched up then washed over with a few inks which have merged.


A fun few hours which hopefully will generate the inspiration needed for my next piece.

Beading Work in Progress

I have been a bit slack in posting photos of my recent quilts as they are usually for a show or publication so hopefully I can show them soon.

However, in my spare time, I have been doing a little beading so thought I would show you the work in progress. It is nice to work on small pieces which are more portable rather than enormous quilts occasionally.

This did start off as a jewellery piece but as usual - I kept going so it will probably be a framed piece. The centrepiece is a button(?) I bought on my first trip to the Houston show about 5 years ago - see nothing gets wasted but I am glad to be able to use it finally.

Mothers Day Classic

The Mothers Day Classic is on again this year. This annual event to raise money for Breast Cancer Research is a worthy cause.

Having lost too many friends and family to Breast Cancer I have sponsored my friend Maggie. I am sure she would appreciate more sponsors if you feel so inclined.

KD LANG

We went to see KD Lang last night. It was her final concert on her Australian Tour which has been happening for a month.

I loveher voice and she did not disappoint although I have to admit - her 'patter' was a little tired and her jokes fell a bit flat but I can completely understand this after saying the same thing night after night.
However, her voice still haunted me well after I got home.

The concert was in the State Theatre in Sydney which is an amazing old theatre which has been kept in perfect condition. These photos are from their website which is worth a visit to see the virtual tours of the different areas

Wonderful News - Doubled

My great news this week is that I don't need back surgery. This has been hanging over me for a couple of months. Consequently, as I has not planned anything for a period of about 6-8 weeks later in the year just in case, I am now facing a long period of inactivity. Well not really, but no teaching or shows booked. I guess I could just chain myself to the sewing machine but that might wear thin after a while.

So we have decided to go on a trip to the UK (that's the other news). Peter is English and so is quite keen as he has family and friends there and I have only been for a few days for work which didn't count.

I have, on the off chance there might be a group or store interested, sent my resume and class information to the UK Guilds but it is pretty short notice (September). Of course most places are already well organized but I thought I would just post it here in case.

We have no itinery yet so if you are interested in getting more details about a workshop or talk please contact me.

Back from Coffs Harbour

I have just returned from teaching at Be Creative by the Sea Retreat at Coffs Harbour on the north coast of NSW. What a wonderful experience - fabulous resort, delicious and plentiful food, great workshop venues and enthusiastic students.







I taught my designs Hidden Triangles and Opal Fire and each class produced an amazing variation of quilts. I can't wait to see the finished masterpieces. Here are a few of them.






Also as an added bonus I got to spend time with some of the absolute stars of Australian quilting teachers.

I had a wonderful time and have fingers crossed that I might be invited back.

I have been sewing

I have just finished a new quilt which I am quite pleased with. I can't show the completed picture yet but here are a few steps along the way.

Lots of fabric strips - I worked in five different colour families and used a combination of silks, hand dyes, linen, velvet hand painted and anything else I could find from my stash. I stabilized the slippery ones before cutting them into strips.
For each colour family I created a needle felted piece to add to the texture - also cut into random strips

Start of the layout - each block is either 2in square or 4x2in




I will show you the finished quilt as soon as I can.

My Baby

My baby has sent me some photos of his workplace. OK so he is not a baby but a grown man but to me he will always be my little boy. These photos have made me realise this.

Another Long Lunch

On Saturday I had my second luxurious lunch in 3 days. I don't eat this well for months on end but suddenly two in a week. Wonderful
We ate at Summer Salt which (again) is on the beach - Australia has a lot of beaches.

The view was from ground level this time and enhanced by a constant stream of kite surfers, wind surfers and hang gliders as well as the occasional intrepid surfer but it was a bit chilly for a dip in the ocean.

The food again was magnificent but the best part was the way we all got out our cameras as each course arrived. We must have looked like a bunch of geeks but we didn't care.

It was another 4 hour epic but I loved every second with my wonderful friends and great food. Who could ask for more.
Main Course - boned Lamb Shank with oyster mushrooms on a bed of garlic mash

Another main - rib eye steak

Desert - Bombe Alaska with strawberry ice cream inside.

Again - only toast for dinner.

Combination

My friend Rebekah has done my Fabrications and Beading workshops and has combined her skills into this wonderful quilt. It is now on it's way to friends in the UK but I managed to get a few shots before it went.
Sorry some of them are a bit out of focus.

Delicious Decadence

Today we were naughty and took the day off to join friends at a lunch put on by Delicious Magazine at Jonah's Restaurant at Whale Beach in Sydney. It was a little cloudy and a long drive but when we got there.

The food was wonderful as were the wines and I am not normally a drinker. This is the menu.

First two courses were small but delicious.


This is the view from the restaurant overlooking Whale Beach which is a bit of a millionaires playground I think. The houses in the area were enormous and had wonderful views over the ocean.

The best part of the meal was the desert. This pannacotta was creamy and luscious and wobbled in a way no food should.


We had a wonderful day - nothing like a four hour lunch to make you all warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks to Pennie for inviting us - can't wait for the next one.

Now what's for dinner???

Opal Fire

Opal Fire was the first quilt I designed using my own fabrics. It is a strip pieced wallhanging which only needs a few fat quarters and a longer length for the borders. I have seen it made in many colourways and sizes.
While I was teaching on the weekend - one of my customers came in with her version which is a wedding present for her son. She said it just grew and grew and she really enjoyed making it. I think she has done a wonderful job don't you?

Even the back is magnificent.

I am teaching this at Coffs Harbour in two weeks so I am sure I will see lots more wonderful versions.

Weekend Away

I had a lovely weekend in the Blue Mountains. Not really mountains by normal standards everywhere else but it's just what they are called. The blue refers to the blue haze given off by the eucalyptus trees.
The most famous landmark up there is the Three Sisters which we visited int he morning before class.

The view across the valley is wonderful and peaceful and at this time of the morning the only noise was the screaching of a flock of cockatoos in the valley.

We were doing Breaking the Drought which is a great way to get to know your machine. You embellish fabrics before cutting them up. One of my students was an English lady called Chris who was leaving for home the next day but said the class was one of the highlights of her trip. Lovely to think a little piece of Australia was going back to England.

The class was held at the Stitching Post which has a wonderful collection of fabrics and embroidery set in a lovely house with a beautiful garden. These grape leaves were turning into their autumn colours.
I am going back in August to run a Fabrications Workshop. Maybe you would like to join us.

Subscribing to Blogs

I am one of (apparently) 50 million blogs currently on the net - I wonder who counts them? I spend far too much time scrolling through them and going from link to link and getting inspired, amused, amazed and often overwhelmed by like minded souls and their work. I have recently started using Blogger Reader to let me know when my favourites have been updated but was still a bit confused about how to use RSS Readers.

This You Tube Video has made it all a bit clearer to me so thought you might find it useful too.

Hope you subscribe to mine after you watch it.

Off to teach Breaking the Drought in the chilly Blue Mountains this weekend.


I am really looking forward to a few days in the crisp mountain air and I know Peter is looking forward to two days of trawling through the book stores up there too.

FORTY THOUSAND VISITORS

Big moment today - sometime this afternoon someone in the US (I think) was my 40,000 visitor to this blog. I am pretty impressed with this milestone. Thanks to all of you who visit regularly - I really appreciate your comments and inspiration.

Prompted by yesterdays post Linda has sent in a photo of her kookaburra quilt made with some of our fabric.

Thanks Linda - he is very cute

Fabrics coming home

I love it when people send photos of quilts that they have made from my designs or our fabrics. Today I have two to show you.

Gail has made my Outback Nights quilt as a present for her son and daughter in law to celebrate their anninversary. She even managed to get it finished well before time. Her son and daughter in law love camping in the outback so this design really appealed to Gail.


Chris has made this quilt using our multicoloured fabric for the wide middle border. This quilt has been made for a dear friend fighting a battle with cancer as a gift for her partner. I hope it will give her great pleasure.

Goodies by Mail

I love it when parcels arrive. I have recently be tempted (it wasn't hard) into looking at Book Depository web site. I loved it as it not only gave a direct link to Amazon UK to compare prices, it doesn't charge shipping - even all the way down under.

I ordered three books a week or so ago and one arrived in 5 days and the other two arrived today - about 10 days. I am still waiting for an Amazon delivery I ordered two days before this one.

This is what today's mail brought - both very yummy and inspiring for when I get a chance to do some beading.

Oranges and Lemons

My latest quilt has just appeared in this months issue of the Australian magazine Down Under Quilts.
It is called Oranges and Lemons because I really liked the fabric set we dyed and they reminded me of lots of bright citrus fruits.

It is a simple strip pieced quilt cut into diamonds with a border.
The quilting is straight line parallels (well sort of).

It made the the cover of the issue which is wonderful but my scanner is not working so I can't scan it to show you.

It is available as a kit but until this issue of the magazine expires I am unable to sell my pattern separately so if you are interested but not in Australia I will supply a copy of the magazine.

Wonderful Exhibition

We went to an amazing exhibition on Tuesday at the Annandale Gallery in Sydney. Zadok Ben David is a sculptor who works in metals in the most intricate detail. These two pieces outside the Gallery were larger and life size (as was their prices - over $100,00) but were absolutely stunning.

Inside the exhibition was mainly trees and plants. All exquisitely executed and detailed. Tiny plants of paper thin polished metal on one side and accurately painted on the other. Only a few inches high and some were displayed in mirrored boxes showing both sides.

The two terrace houses next door to the Gallery had really wonderful mouldings on the doors and windows. Look at the two different faces on the adjoining front doors.

Wednesday saw me having a wonderful long lunch with Erica where time just disappeared as we talked and talked and talked. I love my life which allows me to spend my days like this.

Bag for Sale

I recently went to a Spencer & Rutherford sale and was seduced into buying a really nice bag. Unfortunately it just isn't me - I am just not the handbag type.

I have one daggy bag and I use it for everything. I just can't be bothered moving stuff from one bag to the other to match an outfit. Those that know me well just know that I am not an matching outfit type of person.

Anyway - I have listed it on eBay - it really is a lovely bag but just not for me. I have only used it once.

Fabrications Handbag

One of my students on Sunday has also done my Fabrications course and decided to use the technique to make a bag.
She had bought a lovely shirt and wanted a bag to match so she created her Fantasy Fabric and made it the central point of the bag.

Doesn't it look perfect.


Thanks Lenice.

Embellishing Class

Today I taught my Enchanting Embellisher class for the first time at The Purple Patch in Sydney. We had a full class of eager embellishers, all of whom had needle felting machines but had not really had the opportunity to have a good play with them. Here are half of them hard at work.

We ran through a variety of techniques and then in the afternoon each student just played around with an idea or combination of techniques. Not one was similar and the variety was amazing. There was not one broken needle all day and fabrics and yarns and foils and rovings were tested with abandon.

These were my leaves done on water soluble stabiliser and then stitched with metallic thread in the bobbin.


Here are some of the wonderful pieces. I think I learnt as much as they did and it was amazing to see the change from the tentative first needle punches to the exciting whirring at the end of the afternoon.




There is another class scheduled for later in the year at Purple Patch but if you are interested in something sooner please contact me as I think there are lots of machine owners out there that would really like the opportunity to have a play and learn how to best use their new toy.

Back Down to Earth

After all the excitement I have returned to Terra Firma. Actually Peter laughed so much every time he looked at me in all that makeup that I washed it all off the minute I got home. But thanks for all your positive comments - you made my day.

Anyway while we were in Paddington (where the studio was) we needed to kill a little time on the setup day so had lunch in a garden cafe. This was the most pathetic lemon tree which was in the garden near me. It was only about 1metre high and well and truely had seen better days. Check the price tag!

We also went into Dinosaur Designs which has the most beautiful jewellery but I couldn't afford any of it - even on my dvd star pay! These are a couple of shots of bracelets in the window. They certainly know how to play with colour.

We finally went to the Australian Centre for Photography where there was an exceedingly depressing exhibition of people in Russia who had been affected by Chernoble and other radiation 'pollution'. They also had the New Scientist Eureka Finalists and they were really wonderful.

On the way home we were passed by this father and son team while we were stuck in the traffic. I think Dad was doing most of the work.

Exciting but Exhausting

Today I did something I have never done before.

I filmed a DVD for Quilters Companion Magazine about beading and hand dyes. I was excited to be invited to do it but of course very nervous.

I had the obligatory touching up of the roots and manicure done last week and a new project completed.

Armed with a pile of quilts and beads and fabrics we set up yesterday and today I was there bright and early for the filming.

There was a lot of setting up to do but of course the best part was having my hair and makeup done. I don't think I have ever had so much makeup on - even down to the false eyelashes.

We had a nervous start but once we started to ad lib I relaxed a little and hopefully it will come across as interesting.



You will have to wait till July to see it.

Dyeing Threads

A couple of years ago I purchased a selection of yarns to try out for dyeing but of course it was a bit fiddly so I put them aside. I did, however, get as far as tying them in even hanks and labelling them with tyvek. Unfortunately I bought them from Rooby's Web of Thread which no longer exists so even if I liked them enough to do more I am probably unable to find them.

Anyway - I had some leftover dyes and armed with a You Tube Video of yarn dyeing I thought I would give it a go.




Here they are rinsing


Not too bad - there are some white gaps still but they will be added to the pile of things to use sometime.

Seaside Village has Arrived

Just received the latest copy of Australian Quilters Companion which has my latest quilt Seaside Village featured as a project.

I really like this one - it is bright and cheerful as well as being dead easy. The issue also features a DVD of Deborah Louie demonstrating Machine Quilting so even better value.

I hope this quilt appeals as we have dyed lots of blues and greens for the kits.

What do you think? Comments appreciated.

Weekend Workshop

I spent the weekend with the Riviera Quilters in the lovely (but very warm) Victorian country near Bairnsdale.
We had a great couple of days and my beading class certainly seemed to enjoy themselves. We had students at all levels but they all created wonderful pieces. Here are some of them looking quite happy. How could you not enjoy this wonderful atmosphere in the Australian bush.



The venue was the Coonawarra Farm Retreat which had lots of great activities for families and more active people than us. The pool was quite popular in the heat but the horse rides and flying fox remained unused by the quilters.

There was a lovely view outside the workshop rooms - reminiscent of Tom Roberts classic Australian paintings. We were woken in the morning with the cackling of kookaburras and cockatoos which was then followed by the laughter of a lot of happy quilters.



A drive back to Melbourne into the sunset on Sunday topped off the weekend - I won't mention the 6 hour wait at Melbourne Airport on Monday.