Where I have been....

It's ages since I posted - but I've been away in more ways than one!

I got a rotten summer cold 3 March, Dad had a mini stroke and was hospitalised on the 4th, out to dinner on the 7th for my birthday and DS #2 had arrived home from India "as a surprise".

On the 12th, Graeme and I went on a wonderful trip to Syria and Egypt, the Tantalising Textile Tour with Jenny Bowker as our leader. It was wonderful and only marred by me falling off a 4" path 2 steps away from safely leaving Cairo!

After having carefully trodden my way through unmade streets, souks, ruins and the like around these 2 countries I go and break a bone in my left foot and sprain my right with 3 nights left, supposedly winding down in Dubai! Sighhhhh!!!!!

The Dubai hospital system is to be commended (recommended?) for its hospitality and cost! (wonderful and free)

Erk!!!! I have slim legs really (best part of me) It's the perspective!

After being home for a few days it was Easter, so Bridport was on the agenda then home again for a few days before attending SCQuilters' Retreat in Adelaide.

I came home to scaffolding, painters, roofers, electricians. Tomorrow it should all be over and I will be able to bring the car down close to the house and maybe start driving again. Not sure how I will go with a moon-boot on my left foot though!

We saw amazing textiles from all over the Middle East, with several memorable visits. A shop that sells antique textiles in Damascus and a visit to the Tent Maker's Souk in Cairo.

Thanks to the people who have contacted me about sharing my free pattern with their groups. I really appreciate being asked and love to know that you like my simple and easy designs.

Victorian Bushfire Relief Quilt Appeal

Australian Quilters have a challenge to make 7,500 quilts for the Bushfire Relief. It's something we can do that uses our skills and love of quilting. As I was heading off the Melbourne for the Austrlaina Quilting COnvention and had room in my suitcase I had room for a few that were in my "Quilt Bank" (cupboard in Nic's bedroom). I chose quilts that would be suitable for men and older boys. I hope they are loved!

IMG_4458, originally uploaded by FranW.

IMG_4460

IMG_4460, originally uploaded by FranW.

IMG_4463

IMG_4463, originally uploaded by FranW.

IMG_4469

IMG_4469, originally uploaded by FranW.

IMG_4464

IMG_4464, originally uploaded by FranW.

LPQ Raffle Quilt for our exhibition in September

Quite a few years ago a beloved member, June Moore passed away. Among her quilting items given to the group was this pattern by The Rabbit Hutch. I popped it away thinking it would be a great group quilt for future fundraising. 5 members made the quilt and we proudly showed it at our last meeting day. Everyone is really pleased and many reckon it's the best we have ever done! :-)

Collingwood quilt for Fire Relief

Collingwood quilt for Fire Relief, originally uploaded by FranW.

Launceston Patchworkers & Quilters are making quilts for the Victorian Fire Relief. Some tops and finished quilts are being donated and we're also having a working bee making my "C-Section" design in AFL football team colours. This one is a top in Black & White -160cm square.

Procrastination in Pink

Maybe this is what I should call this quilt? I should be constructing 2 backings for quilts to go to the quilter over the holidays.

I cut it out Monday and finished the top today (Friday). I actually did the blocks in about 2 hours, the applique and borders waited a bit due to the Brisbane family's arrival on Wednesday. This is a very old Chook Shed pattern I made in country colours many years ago and have just completed and has been displayed in The Quilt Patch. Some patterns deserve a second chance, this being one. It's now a Country Cupboard design (The Chook Shed girls having gone their separate ways). A very simple design suitable for any beginner. I am not a pale pink, green and yellow person at all, but many, many customers are and samples are sometimes the only way that many can get inspiration for a new quilt, therefore the sample is made not in my colours!

This weekend

Saturday to the Airing of the Quilts at Exeter then onto lunch at Beauty Point.

Sunday, out to historic Entally House for a Garden Festival.
I bought seed potatoes, chives, parsley and thyme - that's a potato salad!

More of my quilts

The Chook quilt is called "Fowl Play" and was made a few (well quite a few) years ago. I'd started making the chooks and sunflowers using enlaraged Chook Shed and Meme patterns in the yummy black, white, gold and reds. Then I went to Perth, WA for a SCQuilter's retreat and did a class with Jan Mullen, so I used the same fabrics. Pure laziness on my part as they were at the top of the heap and easy to grab.

This is a pizza, another challenge entry from a few years ago. I think the topic was "food". This is called "Super-supreme and Sundae" as the top is meant to be a pizza and the backing fabric has icecream sundaes on it.
I played with a Kaliedoscope ruler as I wanted it to have a "round feel" about it. Lots of tomato, onion, capsicum, mushroom, olive and pizza fabrics were used and then some precious chunky buttons from the button box.

Further to yesterday's post with the bright batiks - I have completed 30 more, now have 60. I either don't use 1 (7x7), make 4 more (8x8) or 40 more (10x10) - big decision! I think I have enough fabric to make 30 more, so maybe it will be 81 blocks (9x9).

PPS - I've just found I have 30 more squares cut - it's meant to be at least 90!

I really did want to get onto the Tasmanian Devil quilt, sigh!!!

Because I was a quilter once.....

before I became a gardener, I thought I'd better post a few pics of what I am doing.

Last year sometime new Tonga Batik fabrics arrived and I "needed to use it" so I made a small sample.

The book "Stack a New Deck" by Karla Alexander (That Patchwork Place) had recently arrived and "Cottage Quarters" appealed. I'm not using the sashing.

The sample languished on display at the shop until I needed a project for retreat a few months ago. More blocks were cut out then and nothing sewn until today. I'm not sure how big it will end up, but I don't "do" small quilts now unless they're for a child, so I will plod on until the fabric runs out or it gets to a size I like.

The quilt top on the bed is another almost finshed one. Many of the blocks came from a 9 Patch swap on SCQuilters, my Internet group.

Set with plain pansy fabric blocks it has ended up quite large - 2.1m square, backing done and waiting for quilting.

This one is an "Ami & Michelle" Oz-Dye Arts pattern from years and years ago. I hung it above the spare bed where Nic and Nancy sleep so Miss Maggie and Banjo can enjoy it while they visit in 2 weeks!
The crooked certificate is one Nic won in grade 6 for Mathematics. He took the PhD certificate to his home, wonder why he didn't take this to hang up?

The Vegie Garden

Oh Boy! Is this garden growing!!!

I know it was new soil, I know it's in a sunny warm spot against the wall, I know it has a generous half bag of good Tassie Sheep Poo on it (1.5 metres square in area!)

But I planted the plants - doesn't that count for anything?

"Inspirational" was Rob's description. I bet he wishes he was here instead of travelling around India on his pilgrimage! :-)

Inspired by the success of the first plot and the fact that I still had 3 tomatoes to put "somewhere" my helper prepared me another plot against the fence which doesn't get nearly as much sun, so we'll see. This bit has 3 tomatoes, a punnet of beans, spinach and Pak Choy and I have carrots to go in soon.

I have plans for an expanded garden next year, LOL

By the way, one of my neighbours has told me my tomatoes are too close together, sigghhh!!!!

Scatterdays - "How you see yourself"

I am into this right away - unlike previous months where I have been a slacker!

The subject "How you see yourself" made me have a think, who am I?

Lots of things - they can all wait, but the most important way I see myself over the last few years is a grandmother or Nana as I am called. I love the name and when heard from the mouth of a 2 year old, sends tingles down my spine! I have a few more months before the Divine Miss. M calls me Nana, but with lots of visits she will remeber me.

Of course, I don't see myself as you see me in the picture - to me I am still 28 and slim!