Thursday, March 29, 2012

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.

Monday, March 26, 2012

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.

Monday, March 19, 2012

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.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

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.

Monday, March 12, 2012

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.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

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.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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.