WIPs & Postcards

I worked so hard at the retreat - designed this one, cut it out & started appliqueing - it's only small - A3 - should be ready for Inner City Circle's Quilt & Textile Temptations Show on the last Saturday in August (just had to get a plug in) at Milton State School.

This is my attempt at a Row by Row for the Queensland Quilters night group.  Was not at all happy with what I had done - tea dyed it on the weekend (bit happier now), added the green borders (can almost live with it) - auditioning the rusty red border (what do you think?) - not sure if will deserve an outing in public at the Quilt Show in October - see how it turns out once quilted.

Love making fabric postcards -

Tried a new technique in a small scale -

Vleisflexed the elephant -

Jen donated a piece of white fabric so I could use the pink shape....

Tried a little bit of creative stitching using the fancy stitches on my machine - this was a great way to finish off the weekend.

Finished quilt tops

I was really pleased with work achieved at the Retreat - this top is ready for a couple of small bits of applique, then it will be quilted .............

Well - this one - PPP (Purple Paddo Patchers) girls asked me to give instructions for a sampler quilt.  I had never done one so thought I had better do the blocks as well, grabbed a bunch of coordinated fat 1/4s - was not really happy with the resulting blocks - they looked so boring.  However, now that the top is finished - I quite like it, it turned out much better than I thought (perhaps a bit like teenagers - you give them sound building blocks, maybe boring blocks, let them mature a bit & voila! you have a pretty decent adult...... one day!) Next step basting & then quilting.

Retreats - Aaaaaaah!

Aaaah - the serenity!  The mist rolling in - but it wasn't cold - it was great at James Byrne Centre, Highfields (just north of Toowoomba)

This is a Catholic Conference Centre - was Jen seeking divine intervention or asking her muse for inspiration?

Aina finished this from go to whoa on the weekend - when they turned the lights out to go to bed on Friday night, they found that the orange in the middle of the quilt - glowed!!!!  This is for a baby - we're not quite sure what effect this will have - who knows, it might even be calming.  The find caused lots of laughter & we all witnessed it after dinner on Saturday night. Wonderful weekend with a great bunch of girls!

Playing with paint & collage

Didn't like the first paint job - so added lace, piece of fabric & paper & covered it all with Modge Podge - happy with it now.

Trying to be brave & use paint - background painted, then paper collage & modge podge finished it off.

The background was a piece of art painted by a 7yr old for me - it came down off the fridge, got cut up, made a postcard & sent it to the artist.  Love the way this turned out.  All 3 pieces have added to my MailArt 365 project - am now up to #271!  Counting down.

SoTa13

Well, my "Women of Africa" didn't make it in to the exhibition - but I don't have to go to any extra therapy sessions for rejection as the other one I entered did make it!!!  Will post photos after the Opening in April. http://www.queenslandquiltersartquilters.blogspot.com.au/ - all information is on the Blog for 2QAQ (Queensland Quilters Art Quilters).  Nineteen from thirty-four entries were selected - looking forward to seeing the other quilts - it's always an exciting exhibition.

One for Baby & One for ????

This is a great pattern, 'Hooterville' by Brandywine Design www.brandywine-design.com - now basted & awaiting quilting.  This will be for my niece's child due next month.  Might even have it finished before the event!

Started as a mystery quilt with Sherwood Stitchers - we received monthly instructions - don't think I got all of them - but have designed this using some of the blocks we were given.  I will add a black border.  I have thread painted the day lillies and hopefully, will be game enough to be creative with my quilting.All from my stash too......

Time to focus on positive things.........

The above photos were taken during our trip to the UK & Europe in 2011 - just to lift our spirits a bit.