Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone!

Wishing you all a happy and productive Easter break...

And if you don't celebrate Easter, just have a lovely weekend.

I'm taking some time off from the shop for reflection and relaxation today, Sunday and Monday.

But you can rest assured I'll be finishing off some projects for the annual Maleny Quota Quilt Show on Labour Day Weekend.

I just finished a throw made from Saffron Craig Tree Bird fabrics (my new

quilt it feels so cottony soft).

Tricia used a cute swirly bird pattern to quilt it with too, and it looks great on the striped back.

The Sudoku and Katagami quilts are about to be bound. That's what's on the agenda over the next couple of days.

I signed up for The Naked Bed Challenge - you can see the button in my right sidebar - started on Sarah Fielke's blog. Sounds fun, but so little time... pop over to see how many people are doing it, and join up as well!

We're going to Brisbane on Sunday and staying overnight in a luxury hotel for a little bit of indulgence.

I've just bought a new camera, so will be posting more pictures, and better in the future. Something went wrong with the focus and lens in the last one.

Have fun - you could even grab a bargain Moda precut in quiltopia!design eBay Store sale till next Friday 29 April.

Ann ♥

Last Post from this computer...

I wanted to write one last blog post from my trusty old laptop. We've been throug a lot - I've learnt just about everyting I know about the Internet on this little BenQ. Its got a busted h key, stuck onto the keyboard with sticky tape, so nearly always h doesn't register when I type and I have to correct in editor. I've left the mistakes in this time, for posterity.
Next time I'll be posting from a brand new MacBook!
How exciting is that? I guess it will take a while to get used to and I'm a little apprehensive, but I'm really looking forward to a faster process. Today I'm taking this one in to get all my files migrated onto the new one and on Friday, I'll be able to play with my new one.
Enough of that.I've posted some new photos of Gypsy, that rose quilt that I washed with disastrous results. I couldn't bring myself to actually take photos of what happened to some of the silk squares, but they were really frayed and wadding was exposed. I tried a number of different solutions using large turquoise roses cut form a Valerie Wells fabric and intended to be appliqued on. I even tried making them three dimensional.
I had it hanging in my studio for ages auditioning, and I just wasn't happy. My daughter was quite vocal about how muc she DIDN'T like the roses, their colour, their number etc, but how much she likes the quilt as it is, so....I decided to only patch the spots with the fraying and wadding, and I used some fussy cut roses from a Phillip Jacobs print (also in the quilt). They toned quite well and don't detract from the actual quilt. It will never be a quilt I love... O well.
I don't have a full photo of it yet - Amelia's gone to school camp with our shared camera (hers) while mines getting repaired on warranty.
I've also been working on something new using the beautiful Under the Australian Sun fabrics, by Leesa Chandler. When I saw this range, I was immediately inspired to make ... something. There are so many quilts waiting to be made with these intense, oriental/Australian fabrics.

It's taking shape slowly, with sewing machines being serviced and all the other things that happen in life.
More next time,

xo xo Ann.

Cats and Quilts

Isn't he handsome? Dusty really knows how to charm.
He's sitting on my finished Gypsy Quilt... Before I wrecked it by washing and drying it too strongly. I gave it the usual treatment of a gentle wash and drying in the dryer, but I forgot about the SILK. When I took it out of the drier, some of the silk squares had frayed out of their seams AND their colours had run through to the stylish cream and black back. You can imagine some of what I said alone down stairs in the laundry...
It's now in the process of a transformation, so watch this space _______. I haven't been terribly inspired yet but I've got a few ideas.

It's raining again in Maleny and the cats are in their favourite viewing spot on the ironing board. We've got a big fat tabby feral cat trying to make our home his at the moment, and this morning I discovered him fast asleep on our veranda chair (I'd had suspicions) to keep warm and dry through the cold, wet night. It's very disturbing for all of us, especially the cats.
Happy stitching,

xo xo Ann.

3 Squares

This is the next stage in my 3 Squares quilt. I am making a border of rectangles combining the two sizes of the central squares - 2 inches x 4 inches. Originally I had planned large 4 inch x 8 inch rectangles but when I was writing up the previous post about 3 Squares I realized they weren't true to the dimensions of the original fabric. So I changed them.
I haven't got much further because I've been working on another sampler quilt using French General Rural Jardin fabrics

(it's proved a little more problematic than I expected)

and I'm planning for a challenging workshop in Barcaldine, in outback Queensland, which is suddenly coming up this weekend!
More about all this later,

xo xo Ann.

3 Squares

At the moment I am working on a few new projects. I don't know what it is, but I seem to start a project, then lose interest while it's still in progress. I'm having to force myself to carry through...

Anyway, this one is called 3 Squares, and it's inspired by a Keiko Goke fabric I bought at Melbourne Quilt Market last year. I bought 3 different colourways of this amazing fabric, knowing there was a ready made quilt in there somewhere.

The fabric print features two different sized squares, 1 inch and 2 inch, and a rectangle combining the two measurements, 1 inch x 2 inch, printed in three distinct sections across the width of fabric. You can see it here, with its crayon -like colouring effect. I love the textural look and the subtle colour combination.

So, I sketched up a rough quilt plan combining the three different shapes. Then I chose some fabrics that toned with the colours in the 3 Squares fabric.
I divided the 3 Square fabric and cut it into its three distinct sections
I made a centre panel of 100 2 inch squares as the smallest size square. These squares included the 1 inch part of the original fabric.

Then I cut some squares twice that size, finished 4 inches, to make a border around the 100 square panel. The fabric print 2 inch squares were used here, and the blend in size with the 2 inch mosaic of the centre squares so they seem to extend outwards.

Originally I planned a third border of 4 inch x 8 inch rectangles to extend and finish the quilt, But I changed my mind on this because when I put it up on the wall I realized it didn't reflect the original fabric correctly. So I altered the original plan and made a wider 4 inch square border, and I'm now finishing with a 2 inch x 4 inch rectangle border... which I'm still working on.
I'll put the next steps up soon.
Enjoy the process,

xo xo Ann.

Three Things I'm Working On

I wanted to let you see three works in progress that have been taking up my time lately.Here they are in order of finished-ness:
The first one is my second commissioned quilt for a boy. I've decided on this medallion star centre and a number of borders. It's been a bit slow going, but I want to finish the top over Easter.
The second is a strip pieced hexagon quilt. I decided to use only fabrics from my shop - beautiful ones that for some reason aren't selling well. As soon as I started working on the quilt top, people stared noticing the fabric - and buying it! So I took the top home and finished working on it here so I'll have fabric to make some kits with. It's now ready to be basted...my least favourite part.

And the third is one I started over a year ago! Dolly's already found it where it waits between quilting times,- usually at night in front of the telly. This one I made from a pack of indigo and red Shweshwe squares. I used a gorgeous Prints Charming red and white fabric in the sashing. For almost a year this quilt has existed as a top and been used as a table cloth to cover a trestle table. It's already a bit dirty and stained... I'm free hand quilting it with an off- white sashiko thread (to stand out against the bright white background).

It should be finished very soon, with a binding in the same red and white fabric.
I have given myself a couple of days off over Easter and I have so many things I want to do including:

1. working on all the above quilts
2. adding colour the stitcheries for The Sewing Circle quilt which I started at the same time as my blog - just over a year ago
3. gardening in my jungle of weeds
4. catching up with friends and spending time with my daughter
5. writing a shop newsletter for Quiltopia and updating my contacts list
6. updating my eBay store
7. reading some blogs!
8. writing some blog entries!
9. ...and the list goes on

Oh yeah, and FINISHING my book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - only another chapter!
That's what I'm going to do right now.

xoxo Ann

Last Weekend

Last weekend was one of those weekends when you feel like all you do is work. Do you ever feel like you just can't catch up? I really needed to clean the house, but I'd set up my cutting table to baste quilts in the middle of the lounge room, and although I finished a few quilts on the Saturday night, I still had one to go on Sunday. I was tired on Sunday... but I did end up finishing basting the quilt. It's a top I made almost a year ago from African shweshwe squares. I've decided to hand quilt this one with sashiko thread.

The pile of basted quilts. Isn't that red one a lovely backing? it's from the Moda Rouenneries range and I used it for the indigo, red and white quilt above. You can also catch a glimpse of the large applique flowers and fish one from a few posts ago.

And here it is again! I'm trying to decide on a quilting thread for it, and Dolly's helping. In the end I chose the pastel variegated Signature thread to blend the pastel background strips. The flowers have already been free machine appliqued with a black thread to make them pop. (I've finished it now and love the look of it, even if I do say so myself - very different style of quilt for me... but I'll tell you more about that in my next post.)

Finally, I finished this little fairy Baby Wrap. I really made it to show case the fabric, but it's so simple and could be done with any print you don't want to cut. I just had to put the red half square triangle borders on the top and bottom. When I sew those, for some reason I feel happy. Perhaps that's what quilting is all about.
Do you like the background? It's the lovely shabby chic shelf full of fabrics in my boutique.
Have a good week ,

xoxo Ann.

Cats and Quilts

Enter, the Cats...

Dusty

and Dolly...

make their first appearance for 2010, and they'd like to wish you all a Very Happy New Year, I'm sure!
They're both snuggled in their favourite spots. Dusty's on a quilt on my bed, and Dolly's taken over a quilt top waiting to be ironed before basting, on my ironing board. (it looks a bit like a surf board here.) It doesn't matter what's on there, Dolly will be with it - even a steaming iron.
The quilt at the top is an old one, Clare Valley Rainbow , when I was still practising and trying out traditional machine quilting patterns on my sewing machine. My wobbly vine stems always bothered me, but it looks quite nice in this light. I bought a pack of gorgeous fabrics which reminded me of the Clare Valley wine growing area in South Australia, from Frangipani Fabrics when they first opened in Darwin years ago. Then I proceeded to make a medallion quilt.
The next quilt has been in progress for about a year now, and has spent most of it's uncompleted life as a table cloth to cover up a trestle tabe when my shop was temporary. Now I've moved in, I have proper furniture and I can finish the quilt. It's quite nice, made with South African Shweshwe indigos and red.
I seem to have a lot of quilts at the quilting stage - actually at the basting stage, which I hate! I've spent nearly my whole weekend hours not at work, pin basting. What a dreary bore...
Now I have to get dressed and vacuum, yes, on a Sunday!
But I have had breakfast in bed while reading Memoires of a Geisha my latest book club book. I'm surprised that , although I've read it before and seen the movie, I'm enjoying and am gripped by it as much as before, maybe more.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

xoxo Ann

Sweltering Summer 2010, Baroon Pocket Dam

It's been REALLY hot here, and Maleny is usually a couple of degrees cooler than Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast! We went for a picnic with friends from Darwin, to Baroon Pocket Dam.
The Kookaburras are very cheeky there and often swoop down to grab your sausage from its bun while it's en route to your mouth!
Here's one just waiting for the opportunity...

Black swans also joined us on the lake. I altered this image a little - it's a bit like a lino print now.

The water was so clear for this little flock of swans.

And here's something I'm working on at present, to fit the summer mood.

We've finally had a bit of rain today and things have cooled down a bit for now. Thank heavens for air-con in my shop!
Hope you're keeping cool too,

Ann xoxo

Heirloom Hexagon Quilts

Just finished a workshop for my Heirloom Hexagons Quilt (pictured in the sidebar to the right). Many of the girls have finished their quilts now and I've put together a collage of some finished and WIPs. They all looked fabulous, luscious and brilliant!

The blocks are made quilt- as- you- go so the quilts are reversible. A design wall comes in handy for co-ordinating both the top and the back of the quilt.

When the hexagons are finished the pile up like a stack of delicious fabric pancakes, good enough to eat.

Finally, when you machine sew your finished hexagons together... Voila! Your heirloom quilt is finished!
I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop over three days and plan to do another in February 2010. Maybe I'll see you there.
Til next time,

Ann.

Fall in Spring

Look at this glorious cactus flower! It's spring in Maleny and this is one of my Christmas Cactuses flowering. It's scabby looking, unremarkable plant but every October it manages to push out about 4 gigantic buds which open into these lovely honey filled flowers. I brought it up onto my veranda so we can enjoy the flowers while they're here. at the end, they drop a big sticky glob of honey. For beautiful flower photos and quilty, crafty ideas, visit Flower Garden. Truly inspirational!

Speaking of Spring, Halloween is not in Fall over here! I love Halloween. It all seems so romantic and mysterious to me, but I've only been Trick-or-Treating with Amelia a few times when she was little. Her father is Canadian, so she grew up with all sorts of Halloween traditions in a country only just beginning to celebrate it.
Now for a current Autumn(Fall) themed WIP. I've just added this fantastic Alexander Henry Halloween fabric to my stock and I had to make something... Decided to use an idea out of Jane Hardy Miller's new French Braid book, French Braid Obsession for the border. It came together surprisingly easily, just with fabrics from my stash and stock. It's about 1 x 1.25 metres. Quite fun! Now I have to quilt it, and quickly, before the 30th.

You might notice the new button at the top af my side bar. It's a Quilt Festival Blog for Autumn 2009. I haven't put a quilt on yet, but am just deciding which one. Click on the button to join or just see some inspirational quilts from hundreds of generous quilting bloggers. Don't forget to leave plenty of appreciative and encouraging comments!
Have fun,

Ann.