My Big Day Out

For years my children attended Big Day Out, Homebake and various other music festivals in and around Sydney.  At Gulli's birthday party I mentioned that Sydney Quilt Show was coming up and Diann would be visiting from Brisbane.  Michael commented that this is my annual festival and he's so right.

Diann and I had a wonderful few days together - I didn't take any photos at the Quilt Show or during the weekend.  We spent Thursday night in Sydney to save on travel time.  Our hotel turned out to be an experience that we can laugh about.

Loved the Quilt Show this year - more stalls to visit and quite a few new vendors, which was great.  The hall was very crowded from mid-morning till mid-afternoon but I think it's terrific that so many people love to visit.  I found everything on my list except for one book, which I was able to purchase on-line, so I'm a happy little shopper.  The quilts were spectacular and it was so lovely to see quilts made by people with whom I've become friends over the last 15 years or so, especially when they are prizewinners.

We stayed at the show until the very end then met up with Chookyblue, Deb and some others for a drink and dinner.  Such a lovely way to end the day.  Saturday we didn't seem to do a lot - Diann stitched some hexagons then tried out one of the Sachiko stitcheries she bought at the Quilt Show; I did some crocheting and Mum came for afternoon tea (bringing cake, of course).  The weather all weekend was spectacular so on Sunday morning we had breakfast in Shellharbour and then visited Karen so that Diann could go shopping in Karen's cupboards and then it was time to go home so Diann could pack before we headed off to the airport.

On the way home from the airport I called in to visit Elizabeth, Matt and ChaCha to drop off a couple of little presents I picked up at the Quilt Show and also ChaCha's new cardigan.  When she outgrows it, I'll change the buttons and Gulli can wear it.  Bendigo Savanna is beautiful, soft alpaca/wool mix.

I'm almost finished a little bolero/cardigan for ChaCha - this one has knitted lacy edgings and just needs sewing up.

Last Wednesday, my Swoon quilt arrived from Sarah.

I'm so happy with the wavy line quilting.

I thought this quilt would suit a wavy edge so bought a special ruler to try it out.  A few other tools were needed for the corners.

Had a day off on Monday and decided it was the day to be brave and have a go at the wavy edge.

Tickled pink with the result.  The binding is now sewn on but I need a few nights to stitch it down.

I'm going to have a try with the scallop edge on the little Fresh quilt after it's quilted.

Karen has been busy quilting a couple of cot quilts that have been ready for 2 years or so.  They both have new homes to go to.

"Shoo Fly"

"Retro" designed by Camille Roskelley featuring Jacob's Ladder blocks

Friends and Family

I had a great few days last week spending Thursday with ChaCha and Diann arriving that night.  I picked up ChaCha early Friday morning, then we all headed off to the Sydney Quilt Show where we met up with some other friends.  I only bought a kite-shaped template and Jen Kingwell's new book "Jenny from One Block" - very responsible shopping.  ChaCha had a great time charming anyone who stopped to have a chat - she wore her crocheted overalls and they were a big hit.

After dropping off ChaCha to her Dad, Diann and I visited Michael and Gulliver then drove home.  Some friends came over for lunch on Saturday - my birthday Moet disappeared very quickly.

I needed to cut some puff pastry into relatively equal sizes - quilting rulers have a multitude of uses.
 

We spent the evening with our knitting then Sunday lunchtime was here all too quickly and it was time to drive back to the airport.

Not much sewing last week but this week I made a tiny Dresden plate (just under 4" diameter) to go into a quilt I'd like to make later in the year

 

and I've sewn together the blades for the Piccadilly Circus Dresden Plates.

I hope to start appliqueing the centres tonight.

Some Luxury 8 ply wool ordered from Bendigo Woollen Mills arrived earlier this week.  The colours are wonderful and the wool is so soft.

Started crocheting some of it last night and it's so lovely to work with.  The hexagons will be made into a fun and funky present for someone I love.

Fireworks

Fireworks is finished!  A friend I from Instagram and I made a Fireworks quilt each.  Amy's is called her Valentine quilt as it's in Bonnie and Camille pinks, reds and greys - it is very pretty.  My Fireworks is very bright Holly Holderman fabrics.

The Sydney Quilt Show was held recently - so many beautiful quilts on show, especially the Red and White Challenge Quilts.  A lovely day out with Karen and Paula.  Of course, there was a bit of shopping

and then some more essential shopping for supplies when I visited Karen last week.

The last three blocks for the Thimble Blossoms Scrapply Sampler have been made - setting instructions will be available later today and I'm looking forward to putting these blocks together.

In amongst a few trips to Sydney I've been making a very scrappy zig-zag quilt and another Kaleidoscope quilt using lots of pinks from my stash.  This one can be quilted once I find some backing.

"Little Chicken Feather" is ready for basting and quilting - will be lovely to have this one finished.

More Blocks

Arrived home on Monday night to find a package from Quiltmania in the mail - so excited - Anni Downs' new book.

The book is fantastic.  The main reason I wanted the book was for the bag pattern - there are so many beautiful designs for projects of all sizes.

Finished off some blocks this week:  "Scrappy Trip Around the World" and "Goodnight Irene"

Have a few quilt tops to sew together over the next weeks but I could be tempted to start something new as I have blocks for at least 2 more quilt tops already cut.

I believe my "Tone it Down" quilt is going onto Sarah's frame tomorrow - very exciting.   Backing fabric for "Scrappy Trip" has been bought.  Hoping I have a large enough piece of backing fabric for "Goodnight Irene" already in the sewing room.
 
Another package arrived yesterday - prize from the Nowra Quilt Show - a honey bun of some Moda fabric.  Lovely surprise.

Busy weekend coming up - there's always something happening at my place.

Melbourne 1

Time passes so quickly - this time a week ago I was on a plane heading to Melbourne.

It was so lovely to spend some time with Helen, Jenny and Norreen.  Wednesday afternoon we followed the Chocolate Walk around the city but our first stop was l'uccello  - such a beautiful shop.

Helen - l'uccello's new concierge

I bought a large spool (maybe for a pincushion one day) and a birthday present for Jenni.

In the Block Arcade on our Chocolate Tour, we came across Hopetoun Tea Rooms - such beautiful cakes and goodies in the window and such a long queue each time we walked by.

 A bit of shopping from Thursday's road trip:

Patchwork Teahouse

Amitie

Friday we visited the Quilt show and I was able to meet up with some lovely blogging friends.

Fiona, Norreen, Me, Jenny, Helen, Shez, Sharon, Sylvia

Only bought a few things at the show

including this:

So looking forward to it being delivered.

Gingham Girls - 2nd Last Block

Met up with the stitching girls last night - had a great time and managed to do a good amount of stitching.  Second last Gingham Girls block is finished.

Phone photos with flash are a bit orange

I've been stitching Pies and Tarts for what seems like forever (on and off since 2009) and last week made the decision that I just wasn't going to finish it and it should go to a new home.

I have a feeling that a couple of other half-done quilts may move house too.

Last night Pies and Tarts left the building and moved house.  I feel great, the new owner is very happy, so it's an excellent outcome.

New lunchtime stitching is Rosalie Quinlan's Best Friends Forever BOM.

Wonder how long the attention span will last with this one?

7 sleeps till the girls and I go to Melbourne!

Big Weekend

Slowly recovering from my big weekend in Sydney - had such a fantastic time.  Always so lovely to spend time with friends with no real itinerary/agenda, except to visit the Quilt Show and go to Kristen Chenoweth's concert.  Very few photos were taken.

The Quilt Show was wonderful this year - so much talent on display and many tempting goodies to buy.  Lorraine, Diann and I did our bit for the economy, especially Lorraine.  I found everything on my list, so was a happy shopper.

Lorraine was in charge of the purse for the weekend  - we even had change at the end of our time together.

Enjoying post-quilt-show/pre-dinner drinks.

Had some time for a bit of knitting - squares for the "Wrap with Love" annual project.

Lorraine left us on Sunday morning to travel to her next destination and Diann and I spent the day in the city before it was time to take Diann to the airport.  That evening my friend Barbara came up to Sydney and we stayed in a lovely hotel.  On Monday morning we went to the cafe where Michael is the chef for breakfast then spent the rest of the day shopping - once again was able to buy everything on my list (plus a couple of extras).

Monday evening we met up with Elizabeth and Barbara's husband at the Opera House for dinner followed by probably the best concert I've ever been to.  Aside from having The Most Incredible voice, Kristen Chenoweth is genuinely delightful and this was so evident throughout the concert.

Back at the salt mines yesterday - was a bit tired by the afternoon.  Thank you Diann, Lorraine and Barbara for such a fantastic weekend - loved every minute.

Extra Long Weekend

On Thursday, John and I met up with 3 friends at Darling Harbour to attend the Quilt Show.  We had a great day - a bit of shopping (wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills, pattern from Thread and Ginger, kit from Hatched and Patched, templates from Punch with Judy to make Candied Hexagons, Bernina stitch-in-the-ditch sole plate for my walking foot and a few other bits and pieces).

Some of the quilts on display were spectacular and so lovely to see our local girl (Merrilyn Pearce) take out Best of Show once again.

At lunchtime I quickly said hello to Chookyblue and Cardygirl, then met up with Chookyblue and Fairy Girl for afternoon tea - a definite highlight of the day.  Really looking forward to meeting up with Chookyblue and our other on-line friends at next year's quilt show.

We didn't spend as much time at the quilt show as we normally would because we went to meet up with Peta and her Mum while Peta tried on a dress she would love to wear for the wedding.  So exciting.  Peta has found a dress she loves in a Paddington Boutique - sadly the dress is too big but Peta is talking to the designer about having a dress made in her size.  I just hope Peta can have what she has her heart set on.

Friday was a Mental Health Day to recover from my rushing around on Thursday.  Spent some time finishing off the outline stitching on Vintage Valentines and then started shadow quilting inside the blocks.  I knew the space outside the appliques needed to be quilted but I wasn't keen on meandering or stippling.  Never having done shadow quilting, it's been a matter of jumping in at the deep end and just having a go.

Saturday morning I decided to be brave and try out the BSR attachment - what a difference!  My stitches are still not perfect but so much better than without the BSR.

Did some more quilting yesterday and now 9 blocks are finished.  3 more smaller blocks to go and then the central medallion - will need to move to the dining room table to be able to manoeuvre the quilt more easily at that stage.

Yesterday afternoon Michael rang to say he and Peta have bought a ring - more excitement - antique ruby and diamonds.  They pick it up this afternoon.  Mum, Jenni and I went to the pictures yesterday afternoon to see "Bridesmaids" - I didn't know much about the movie only that it looked funny from the previews on tv.  Definitely not a movie to see with your mother or your daughter.