I'm still here!

Just a few photos of some edge to edge quilting that I have done this week, to show you I am still here, and have been busy. Have had a few people ask, as I haven't posted for a week. Still busy with the book work, have managed to work my way from July 2010 to June 2011!! And now am working on July 2011 until Dec 2011. Will I be glad to get it done, and just remind me to keep up with it next time, and not let it get so far behind. Has been an interesting process, adding up the renovations at The Sanctuary to get a total cost. I sort of knew where I was at, but seeing the actual figures on paper is a bit different!! Also had a battle with Quickbooks as I have changed the program when i upgraded my computer, and transferring has been interesting, and trying to change the invoice template!! Everytime they update software, it means a whole new learning curve. Last year I changed from Office 2000 to Office 2010, and boy what a difference, I think they took something that was so simple and made it into complicated. Probably just me, and older!! age, and not having the time to spend working it all out. Even my quilting machine is computerized, and a learning curve each time there is an upgrade.

Well thats enough rambling from me, I really do like working with computers, it beats adding up columns of figures and makes writing a letter so easy when you make a mistake!

The photo above and the one below is the top and back of a quilt Di made for her Geelong supporter friend, and quilted with a cats pattern also.

These photos are the Cat in the Hat quilt, front and back, i managed to find a pattern that had the hat and other stuff from the quilt.

Di is a teacher and reckons her students will love this quilt.

This is a quilt made by Sue, for her granddaughter, and uses lots of blocks done on an embroidery machine.

Well I better go and get dressed ready for my day, have another custom quilt to finish today, a trip to the post office, and hopefully time for a few jobs across the road. Summer has been hot this year, not like last year, when we received lots of rain in January. It is lovely and cool for a couple of days, and then warmer again.
Thanks for enquiring about me,
Blessings from Jude

Pat the "angel"

Haven't put much on the blog lately, but am still here. Working on my overdue bookwork for my appointment with the accountant soon.
So while I have been sitting on my....., Pat has been here for a few days, using my machine to quilt some quilts. Photo above is Pat, finally sitting down and surveying her work.
Our local patchwork group has a sub group called the Gumnut Angels, who make quilts for those who are sick, or donate them to worthy causes, all made from donated fabrics, so they are mostly scrap quilts. We meet once a month to sew these quilts, and I usually quilt them, but have been a bit "slack" lately, and haven't had time amongst the renovations and customer quilts to do them. The pile has grown so Pat volunteered to come and quilt them as she is the only one here that knows how to operate my machine. They all had edge to edge patterns quilted on them. Now it will be up to some other "angels" to come and put the bindings on.

So now its time to get back to the book work,
Blessings From Jude

Lorraine's quilts

A couple of quilts done last week for Lorraine, she will be putting the bindings on, stitching away in this horrible hot weather that we are having. I say roll on winter, and I will try not to complain when its really cold. Hot weather and I dont get on well.

Blessings from Jude

Gwen's Kelmscott

Well I finally got the quilt off the machine late Sunday evening, put a couple of e-e quilts on for Monday, and spent time taking the basting stitches out and look what I found..... little bit not quilted!! Gr!! But thanks to having zippers and still being pinned onto the quilt, it was an easy fix today to put it back on and quilt the last little bit. I dont always put basting into a quilt, but these Kelmscotts are blocks on point, and so I baste across the blocks to make sure they all line up ok, this was quite good, but blocks on point is a good way to sometimes get the quilt "out of square". Well thats my story anyhow. Bottom photo is the finished quilt on my bed, with the light coming in across the quilt and the flash turned off to show up the quilting. Will be going to Adelaide tomorrow and will meet Gwen to deliver her quilt. Hope she likes it.

Sure has been a very hot day here today, with a strong northerly wind. Not nice outside, so after shopping and the mail run this morning it has been a day by the aircon, catching up on paper work, then over the road to water the garden.

Hopefully it will be cooler tomorrow, about 30 will be just nice.
Blessings from Jude

Still at it

This another Kelmscott quilt, been steadily working on it all week, can see the end soon I hope.
Just doing all the background fill.
Thought I better let you all know that I am still here, after not posting for over a week.
And have just switched the machine off, its Saturday night, should look at the bookwork,
but I think the Kindle might win out for a short time, before an early night.
Tomorrow is another day.

Blessings From Jude

More Show and Tell!!

As a follow up to yesterdays post, which has received a lot of comment, I have one more photo, no names, and no faces, (lol)
of 2 of the dyed pairs of knickers being modelled! They look great don't they.... I mean the colours of course!!

And below is one photo of the latest quilt off the machine, Matilda's Station, an oldie, but a goodie. Next up is another Kelmscott, and then a few edge to edge. Am ploughing my way through the long overdue bookwork, slowly but surely. And telling myself I won't let it get so far behind again.

Well, its Friday, after 5pm, so I reckon it is finish up time, so have a good weekend, whatever you are doing,

Blessings, from Jude

School holiday activity

My friend Helen has had her daughter's family from Queensland here for the holidays, so thought it would be a good idea to introduce one of her granddaughters to the art of dyeing fabric. A couple of her other grandies sounded interested, so Helen approached our local "dyeing" guru Marie, of Holly Handdyes if she would teach them what to do. Then a date was set, using the facilities of "The Shed" at The Sanctuary, which has been set up for this purpose.The purchase of some suitable things to dye, some fabric lengths, some singlets and a pair or two of undies and by the time the day arrived, there were 6 of Helen's grandchildren here for the day. And they knew what they wanted, no plain pale colours for them, stripes, spots, and bright colour was the order of the day! And they could make as much mess as they wanted in the shed. Must say, they were very tidy and not messy at all.

They started cautiously as Marie explained the process,then the diagonal stripes were commenced on the singlet.

Now we are all more confident and having a go, in the photo below you can see the white denim Just Jeans jacket that was found at the op shop is undergoing a colour change.

By lunch time they all went off with their containers and bags of dyed articles, spent the afternoon washing and drying at Helens, and then returned for "show and tell". Below they are proudly showcasing their "new" clothes. Well done.

I think that Helen has a date for tomorrow to sew some trousers using the dyed fabric. A great holiday activity and something that will be remembered.

Blessings, from Jude

Learning more about blogging

Well, this blogging world is a whole new learning curve, and takes a lot of time out of my day.
Have been trying to work out for awhile just how to add pages to the blog, and today I finally found out!
So you may notice a few headings at the top, one to contact me, one is some background info about me, and the other is a page that lists planned workshops at The Sanctuary for the year ahead. This way all my advertising can direct people to my blog for details, and then to contact me for more information and bookings. But after working that out, I feel like I have accomplished a marathon. And the quilt is still waiting patiently on the machine for my attention!

While on the subject of blogs, I would like to thank all those, whoever you are that visit my site.
The statistics tell me that there have been just over 2,000 pageviews since I started. Quite amazing really, so thanks for that, and I hope you have found something of interest to keep you coming back.

In my online travels last week, I came across what I thought was a very interesting statement.
QUILTING RETREATS ARE LIKE INPATIENT REHAB.
I like the sound of that, and hope that you will consider coming to The Sanctuary for a time of Inpatient Rehab!

Well, enough from me today, hope you enjoy whatever you are doing,
Blessings From Jude

2012!

I can't believe that we are into 2012 already, just seems like yesterday that I was getting ready for Christmas!
Christmas was a lovely time with family, on Christmas day and the day after when my family all get together.
Mum had another bad time couple of days before, but all was well Christmas day and since. Thankyou all for your good thoughts and prayers, its a great to know that people I have never met are following mum's progress. Thankyou.

I have not been entirely idle over the break, below is Sherrel's quilt that I have finished (Jane Austen's bonnetts). She is coming to pick it up this morning.
And the bottom photo is what my family gave me for Christmas, a Kindle!! Maybe that explains why I haven't updated my blog since before Christmas! I have read 3 books, it is so much easier to hold when reading in bed. Books are so cheap to download, and lots of them are free or 99c! Modern technology is amazing, and takes some keeping up with.

The weather here this week has been awful, temps the last 3 days around the 43degree mark, which is rather HOT!
I am thankful for airconditioning. Today is supposed to be cooler (?) at 38! Looking forward to tomorrow though, back to 24. Will be lovely and hope to spend some time in the garden. Have been watering in the cool of the mornings.
There are clouds out today, so could also get a bit of rain.

New Years Eve was spent at The Sanctuary, enjoying an evening with friends in front of the airconditioner.

Have another quilt on the machine today, Matilda's Station, which is always a fun quilt to do.
And also needing to spend lots of time catching up on my bookwork, as the accounts have been a job that I have "put off" and am running very late getting stuff ready for the accountant for the year 2010-2011!! So better get off this computer, and get Max (the name of my Gammill) working after I turn the sprinklers off outside.

So I wish you and your family's a great 2012, full of all that you need, good health, good friends, enough work to do, and some time for yourself.
Blessings from Jude