Annual Relaxation

Our annual break was another relaxed relief. No quilting from me, but I did learn a few crocheting tips from Louise and folded quite a bit of paper

Sewjourn always looks inviting with interesting bedspreads in all the rooms.











Leita started piecing together some black and whites.























Louise made a great start on her Mums quilt































Leita started laying out her poof.
























Anne sewed and sewed, you can see the end result on the wall.









































Everyone enjoyed using the new wall for laying out their work and seeing each others work
























Leita played with more fabric
















We all enjoyed the good food and many cuppas together.






















A Little bit of paper folding from me and some crochetting by Louise.

A lovely weekend away

We're just back from our annual weekend away at Sewjourn.  So much eating and laughing and shopping to be done.  We barely had enough time to sew, but we did.

This is one of two tops that I made. More photo's and stories to follow from other group members.
Including the spider incident please.  : )
Louise and Anne are to be awarded bravery medals.

Two quilts nearly done at last

These two quilts seem to have been hanging around for ever.  The blue and pink quilt is for my daughter K, and I will give it to her this Sunday, her 16th birthday.

I now have the binding machine stitched and all I have to do complete the hand stitching of the reverse, which will be tonight's job.

This quilt is for my sister and her new husband for their first wedding anniversary at the beginning of November - yes, it was a wedding present but it's a bit late.  I'll post a better photo after I give it to them - no peeking!

This quilt also just needs the binding hand stitched on the reverse and its done.  Then I can finally put the quilting away for a while and get back to the writing.  Maybe.

Vickery Retreat - Part 2

On the Friday night I made this cute little bag from a kit I bought at one of the Craft Shows a couple of years ago from Wabi-Sabi Designs.  Complete with fabric, cord, beads and instructions.  Don't know why it took so long to make it as it was a very easy and satisfying project.  The magnolia tree was in full bloom at the front of the house and the backdrop is the reserve across the road.

On the Saturday I pieced these blocks for a quilt for my daughter.  Over the past week I have completed the top and back and have started machine quilting it.

Louise's lovely hand-pieced hexagons.  She is auditioning some crisp white fabrics for the 'points' of the stars.

Leita was making 9 patches from these strips of delicious jelly roll.  She also completed a pieced back for a bright batik quilt.

Anne worked on these half-square triangles.  Made from a Kaffe charm square pack (or two) and co-ordinating shot cottons.  When completed it will grace one of the beds at the retreat.

Overall, a very productive weekend away!

The Vickery Quilt & Craft Retreat, Alexandra (Part 1)

Last weekend, Anne, Louise, Leita and myself spent 2 and a half days at the Vickery Quilt & Craft Retreat in Alexandra.

Anne and her business partner, Beverly, have set up this retreat in Alexandra especially for groups to indulge themselves in their favourite crafts.

There is a large purpose built work room with plenty of lighting, seating, and power points to sew or anything else you can think of.  We kept meaning to spend some time in front of the wood heater, curled up on one of the couches with a book or a magazine but were too busy sewing!

I wish I had more photos of the inside but I'm sure Anne has some she can post and I am told the website will be up and running very soon, which will contain more information, photos and details of how to make a booking.  There is room for 10, but with only the four of us we were able to spread out and really enjoy ourselves, with our sewing machines whirring well into the night.

The town of Alexandra is only a 5 minute walk and has lots of interesting little shops and cafes.  We even managed a tram ride at the local Tram and Timber Museum which was open for a market on the Saturday morning.  And on the platform we even bought some quilting fabric which we put to good use.

A big thankyou to Anne and Beverly for the opportunity to test run their new venture.  We had a wonderful time!

Dress finally finished

Front View

I finally finished the dress this afternoon.  Made from New Look 6864, it's taken me a while but I'm pleased with the result.  Ready to wear when the weather gets warm!

Back view

Group quilt almost finished

Here are some great pics by Karyn of our group quilt which we plan to sell or raffle for charity. The quilting by Lucy Thompson of "Lasting Creations" has really added character to the quilt.

The back is plain with a strip of blocks like those on the front. Now we have to choose a binding fabric. Any suggestions?

Crochet & Flowers

Finally a picture of the ufo that is now finished. It's very simple but very warm! Also some new camellias which always bloom later than the others - these are my favourite.

Lovely Labels

When I was young my Nanna used to say 'she has tickets on herself' when she saw someone acting in a proud manner or believing themselves to be above other people.

I was never sure what that meant.  I imagined that the person she referred to had labels, or stickers, or train tickets stuck all over their clothes. 

So now I have these lovely labels for sewing onto my quilts and clothing that I make for myself and others.  I hope Nanna wouldn't have thought me to have 'tickets on myself'. 
Today I went to Spotlight and bought another summer dress pattern and top pattern and fabric.  I figure if I start sewing for summer now, by the time it comes around I should have some nice clothes. With posh labels!

Crochet Bug

I've got the crochet bug at the moment and I'm working on some granny squares - even though I've plenty of other things I should be doing.

Group "Crystallisation" Quilt

Here is the progress on our group quilt which we will sell or raffle for a charity when completed. Last week I prepared the plain backing fabric and added in the strip of blocks down the centre, then ironed both the front and back and snipped off all the hanging threads ...big job! It is ready now for machine quilting and we thought a wavy all over design, nothing floral, would suit.

Friday Update

This week Michelle was working on her latest 1920's lady stitchery and designing her daughter's drunkard's path quilt, Louise was threading in the 100s of ends from a UFO - a multi-coloured crocheted rug - and Anne cut the extra chenille squares for her Kaffe Fassett pastel charm square quilt and laid it out on the floor. Much pinning and sore knees later it is ready to sew!

This quilt will have a narrow white, and then a larger floral border, and is designed to go over a white doona.

Leita called in for a cuppa and a break from moving house!

Another Quilt Finished

This Rocket Quilt for my young nephew in Brisbane was well received and led to a new doona purchase and bedroom makeover that his mother said was overdue!

More Buttons

Playing with my "Inheritance"

I have my mothers button collection, accumulated in the days that buttons were removed from worn out clothing which was collected for fundraising and sold as rags.

Karyn's latest quilt.

Louise's Baby Quilt

Wordless Wednesday

Today's Projects!

Number 1.

Louise's Birthday

No. 2

Leita's circle quilt

No. 3

Louise's circle quilt

Both from the same pattern but strikingly different quilts.  We are all using this pattern to make this hand stitched quilt.  Will be great when they're all done.  We will have to display them somewhere.

No. 4

Anne's rocket quilt

I traced off Block of the Month number 9 - the last one.  I'm on the home stretch and next month should receive my last parcel, the rest of the fabric to complete the quilt.

Pictures to follow.

Took pictures of everyone else's projects except my own. : )