Backyard Visitors

The rainbow lorikeets came in for breakfast en masse today - sometimes there are only 2 or 3, sometimes none - the menu must have been enticing this morning.

What! All gone! It doesn't pay to wait your turn in the lorikeet world.

Finished!

These three quilts have been made for a friend's grandchildren.  Sadly she passed away about a month ago.  She knew I was making them for the kids.  I had made two for her other grandsons a couple of years ago. They've all been machine quilted with large stippling & so remain quite soft & cuddly.

And here are the backs - I like to piece the backs using left over blocks, strips, larger pieces - it works for me - hasn't made the stash any smaller of course.

Souvenir Tea Towels

                  

These are souvenir tea towels that have been given a life other than drying dishes.

I didn't even them up or hem anything - just joined them the best way I could.

I now have two tablecloths for our outdoor table & I think they look pretty good.

Whoever said knitters were boring!!!!!!

http://dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2111518/

Check out this link - thanks, Rachel for sending it to me!  This is an amazing artist & one that certainly has a great sense of humour.  Hope you enjoy it.

Everyone needs Retreats

My 'friends' always have a go at me about accomplishing a lot of finished projects on retreat.  I copped it all again this time - comments about over achievers were flying around & I wasn't the only one to receive these 'barbs'!  The above item is a "Waiting Bag" made for littlies to fill with stuff they can play with while waiting...... Apparently these are kept in the car or Mum's bag & hauled out when needed.  I will be showing a group of young Mums how to fuse & then stitch (probably just a running stitch) the applique.  Worked out this prototype on the weekend. Owl is taken from a pattern "Hooterville" by Brandywine Designs. http://www.brandywine-design.com/  He's so cute!

These two quilts were made from a Layer Cake (10" squares of a range of fabric).  Completed with large stippling but looked really ordinary - so I decided to add applique which will be blanket-stitched by hand  & then they'll go to a friend's little children.  Think the applique has really made them nice looking quilts.  Also managed to get binding on to 4 small quilts - give a 'tutorial' on 3 different ways to make Flying Geese.  Some of the girls are making a Sampler Quilt under my instruction (I too am making it as I have never made one)  It's an interesting exercise.

Retreats are a wonderful break shared with lovely friends & allow us to sew, drink, laugh (oh, the jokes & stories), eat and sew some more. If you've never been on one - try it - you'll be hooked.

SoTA12

Congratulations to everyone who has been selected for this year's Show - I am sure it will be a wonderful showcase, AGAIN,  of our talented QueenslandQuilters' members.  Sadly, I & a few others will be getting counselling as we missed the cut. 

 I am forever amazed, delighted and inspired by the artists around me - those I follow on their blogs, my MailArt friends, my quilt groups - all wonderfully talented, supportive and  just plain fun to be around -I am so lucky.  Thank you for sharing your talents (whatever they may be) with me.  Wish I had a photo to go with this!!!!!!!

PS - A group of us are going on Retreat to Toowoomba this weekend - can't wait.

Flying Geese

Made this as one piece, Flying Geese were foundation pieced, then I chopped it into 2 in order to make postcards for MailArt 365.  It was part of a challenge for ATASDA www.atasda.org.au/qld.htm last weekend - our inspiration was a poem on birds and autumn.

Funghi

Love the different shapes & colours of funghi - this one so simple.

This one a veritable cluster!!

Bat Plant in Bloom

We have two of these Bat Plants that HofM has lovingly cared for - they are loving the rain.  This is the bud & the flower is just starting to appear.

She reveals her glory - it is an amazing flower!  Each of the middle bits will open & reveal stamens (I think that's what they are)  The whiskers feel glorious.

Each one of those acorn shaped buds will also open as another piece of the flowers & it's a wonderful deep purple/red/black! The colour of the photo is pretty true.  Such a complex flower.