I'm Back

It's been such a long time since I last posted but you'll be pleased to know that I'm back blogging and crafting again.  After much deliberation I decided that study wasn't for me.  2 1/2 years was long enough and the stress it was causing was getting too much to cope with.  So... I quit!  I feel so much better without having to have my head stuck in books constantly.  I now feel that I have my life back again and being able to indulge in my passion for craft again is very liberating.

I haven't done a whole lot since quitting but I'm beginning to get there.  My 'puter got sick and so did I.  You really don't realize how much you rely on your 'puter till it's out of action.  I lost everything including all my contacts (which I might add were not backed up) and being my main source of storage was devastating.   It's been a long haul getting both of us well again, still not complete but getting there.  AND I have now got an add on so I can back up.

In the process of setting things up and getting programs back on I decided to revamp my blog.  I hope you like it.  It is still a work in progress though.

Not much happening on the quilting front although I have visited a couple of patchwork shops and did buy some fabric.

These two fabrics I bought from Chandler's Cottage and I just had to have them both even though I never buy bright colours like the purple.  Do you have ever have times like that where you just have to have something?  Leesa has the most wonderful to die for fabrics.  The purple/green one is from a range called 'Born to be Wild' and I think this will end up being a bag of some sort.  The brown/pink is the border print from Leesa's new range by Robert Kaufman called 'Under the Australian Sun' and I'm thinking possibly a strippy quilt, at least I bought enough if I decide to go that way.  If you have any other suggestions they would be most welcome.

Have a lovely crafty day.

Shelly

Taking a Break from Study

Wow, it's been a long time since my last post. Life has been very busy for me and unfortunately has not included any quilting. I have been studying a legal course for two years now but over the Christmas break I decided that it just wasn't for me. This lead me to transfer into another. I'm now studying my diploma in beauty therapy. Yes, I know, it's a huge change, so different but I absolutely love this one. One of the downfalls of study is homework and I have been so hard at it that I have barely seen the light of day. Mind you unlike the other course, I find that I really want to do the homework. There is so much theory to learn that the old grey matter feels like it's going into meltdown. So glad it's school holidays right now. At least there is a bit of a break, although I still have three large assignments to complete with lots of research.

I have been working on one of them all afternoon but then I figured that I should think about something else for a while and came to see what's happening in the blogging world. There has been a lot of activity I missed and it's been great just reading other blogs and getting my head out of the books for a while.

I will be away for the Easter break and I doubt if I will get any sewing done but still I will take some with me just in case but I'm feeling like I will probably just veg out when I have nothing to do.

Like I said I haven't done any sewing for a long time which means I have no photo's to post this time. Maybe after the break I will have some holiday shots.

Why is it?

Every time I think I will get some sewing done something always gets in the way. I have been getting into technology a bit lately. I have been reading about some of these technical things which has created in me the desire to learn how to work things properly, like my new mobile phone that has internet capabilities. I think I will just try to do this or that; the next thing you know I have spent most of the day playing around trying to get things to work, only to find that there is a problem with the carrier. Or like when I think I must work out what my iPod is capable of doing. Again, I find that I have spent the morning just looking at iTunes and not getting anything else done. Today has been one of these kind of days. Well, tomorrow I am going to get some sewing done! Famous last words.

As I said in my last post I would put up some photos of Margaret McDonald's quilts she exhibited at the 'Quilts in the Barn'. These are just a few of the photos I took.



This one is all hexagons with some pieces fussy cut.


An example of some of her applique work. One day I will do something like this.


A mariners compass, gorgeous! I have a thing for mariner's compass and it is on my to-do-list.




I'm having a blank as to the name of this block, but it is all hand pieced. Just wonderful.



And another example of her stunning work.

I had a great day at the exhibition and thank Margaret for allowing me to post some photos of her quilts to share with you all.

Meeting New Friends

Last week I went to see an exhibition of quilts by Margaret McDonald which was held by one of the members belonging to the online group Reproduction Fabric Lovers of which I am also a member.

The exhibition was excellent. The quilts were stunning as you can see in the small snippet below. I have more photo's but won't put them up until I have permission from Margaret to do so. Margaret is a quilter who has some wonderful quilts many of which have patterns available to buy. Not that I bought any but they are really nice. Much of her work was done by hand and I admire people who hand piece as it takes so long to complete. The quilts inspired me to try things I might never have had a go at before; like using the bright yellow she used in the New York Beauty. I really need to think outside my comfort zone and try something new, but I like using dull colours and feeling comfortable. Don't you? Maybe one day I will get brave, just not today!





The photo is of Linda, who held the 'Quilts in the Barn' exhibition, myself and Dorothy also a member of the group. We met for the first time and had a few laughs getting to know each other. It will be great to catch up with them again now we 'know each other'.

I couldn't resist the temptation to buy a little fabric. Threadbear, one of my favourite shops was there. What else was a girl to do!

I saw the "Civil War Bride" quilt in real life and it is wonderful. I did resist buying the pattern however, but feel I may regret this later. Oh well ......... I guess I can get it another time.

What's happening.....

What have I been doing lately? I had to work today, as I do every week and you know....... it's getting to be such a chore. I really can't wait until I retire so I can have more time to do the things that I love. But I fear that will be many years away; if ever!

Over the last couple of weeks we have been celebrating birthday's for my DDIL, DSIL and my DD so things have been very busy.

I've been working on my Dear Jane blocks when I can, but they are not happening very quickly as I don't get much time these days.

This is a small wall hanging I started last weekend for my sewing room. So far it measures 9", somewhat smaller than I was planning. I miscalculated the size of the flying geese and decided to just keep going anyway, instead of starting again with the size I had in mind to begin with. Now, I don't know if to add any more rounds or just leave it as it is. I quite like it - but it is so small. Perhaps I could turn it on point again; add a pieced border or maybe some applique.......... I am open to suggestions. What do you think?

What else? As if I don't have enough UFOs I started a new one - as you do! When you have so many already, what's another one I say. I made three blocks on Monday and will make at least another 13. I want this quilt big enough for my bed. When I have made a few more blocks I will post a photo.

So that's what's been happening in my life lately. Till next time.........

Re-location Sale

Somerset Patchwork & Quilting had a sale over the last few days because they are re-locating their shop and I thought I needed some retail therapy so along I went to see what might inspire me. The photo above is the result. I was going to put it below but it just wouldn't go where I put it. If only I could figure out how all this technical stuff works!

I'm planning to make a double wedding ring quilt and I bought the blue fabric with leaves and the brown fabric in the middle (the other one is red, it's not very true to colour) to use for the links in the rings. The rest will be scrappy with a light background. Solid I think but possibly a small shirting print.

My Dear Jane Blocks

I said in my last post that I would put up a photo of my Dear Jane blocks. I finally figured out how to get photo's onto the computer and then upload them.

These are the blocks I have completed so far. I started this project so long ago I would hate to admit when. Like many of my projects it sat languishing while I started others. I must be the queen of UFO's.

Guess what? I just discovered when I took the picture that the block in the top centre is samller than the others. Obviously, I made it the wrong size and didn't check my measurments; now I need to re-make it. I should learn from my mistakes but probably won't.


The one I am working on at the moment is an applique block but it will take a while as I can only applique during the day these days; I just cant see well enough at night any more even with the daylight lamp. I could tell as I was working last night that you can see the stitches and being the perfectionist I am, it just isn't good enough. I will have to learn to lighten up I know, but it's really hard.

I think maybe it's time to start another project. One that I can machine piece. One that will be much quicker to make, mmmmm............ I wonder what?