February 20, 2013

 

Well here I am again, 3 times this week!

This will be a quick posting before I head to bed, so thought I would do it before I shut the computer down for the night.

This is Faye’s quilt, lovely fabrics, simple piecing, but very effective.

And these are the plants I purchased a couple of weeks ago to add some colour in the bare patches in the garden at The Sanctuary. It has been a hard summer for the garden, hardly any rain, and lots of heat. I have added the water, but its not like that which falls from above.

This is Kath’s Irish Chain quilt. Very pretty fabrics, quilted with an edge to edge pattern.

And below we have two photos of Faye’s quilt,(a different Faye to the top photo!) Ring Cycles, a Lessa Siegele workshop and Faye used Kaffe Fassett fabrics.   I quilted circles and CC’s and a flower pattern in the hexagons. This is a quilt that you need to see at a distance or from an angle to “see” the circles happening. Close up you see the hexagons and 9 patches.

Well this was going to be a quick posting, I hope Faye will be happy now the quilt is posted. I think Faye is happy with the quilting on her quilt!

We are in for some more rather hot weather in the next few days,

Catch ya next time,

Blessings From Jude

February 18, 2013

Don't be shocked because it's only 1 day since a posting!!

Today has been a HOT one, topped just over 41deg, which is getting past what I can function productively in. This afternoon I attended a funeral at a nearby town, about 20 minute drive.
I have to comment that this was the most inspiring, uplifting farewell service I have attended!
Magnificent testimonies by the family, and the greatest legacy left to them by their mother was her faith and the example she set for them. A wonderful life well lived. It was a priveledge to know you Rhonda.

Tonight I have spent some time in the scheduled retreat page of my blog making some changes and adding more photos.

EQ7
I have scheduled an EQ7 retreat, taught by Judy Butcher of the Virtual Quilter fame. (http://virtualquilter.wordpress.com) Go and check out Judy's creations, usually at least one new one each day, and sometimes more. If you want to learn more about using this software I would love to hear from you. Bring your laptop with Electric Quilt 7 loaded and Judy will show you how to design your own creations.

There are still a couple of spaces in the Statler Users Gathering in March, and a couple in the Longarm Quilters Time Out retreat in April. Come and spend time for you, with no distractions and fully catered for.

(I will need to make a change to the workshop scheduled with Faye Packham in August, as I now realise I booked that for the weekend of my parents 60th wedding anniversary. And I think that is too important to miss, don't you? More details to follow.)

That's all for now, be back soon with some more quilt photos. Loading a custom tomorrow, and having a coffee out in the afternoon with a good friend for her 60th birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU JEAN, HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Blessings,
From Jude

February 17, 2013

 

I thought that maybe it was time to update the blog, and I was surprised to find another week had slipped by. The weather has been rather HOT again and looks like staying that way for another week at least. I feel so unmotivated and look forward to a cool change. It seems so long since we have had some decent rain, and pouring the tap water on the garden just does not have the same results.

I was also surprised to see that I have hardly posted any quilts since the start of the year, so have a few in the files for you. These all go back to January sometime, and yes Faye, I shall get to yours soon.

Below are a couple from my pile of PHD’s. I reckon that they sound much more intelligent than UFO’s or WIPs.

I started this quilt as a BOM from the Quilt Basket at Victor Harbour back in 2003.   It is called Country Gardens. I must have had more time back then, as I started doing the applique by hand blanket stitch and had only done about 3blocks, and sewn the logcabin backgrounds for the rest of the blocks. A couple of years ago I had a friend who wanted some hand sewing to do, so I dug out this quilt. We made a bargain that, if she finished the blocks, I would keep 6 and she could have 6 and we would both have smaller wallhangings. It did not take long for Ann to finish the stitching, and the finished blocks were shared and sat around for a bit longer. Late last year Ann died, and I ended up with her 6 blocks back again. So I thank Ann for what she did, otherwise they would all still be in the box unfinished.This quilt will be one that reminds me of my friendship with Ann. One of my January tasks was to stitch all the blocks together and add some borders. Now, it is in the queue at the quilting lady’s house (that means me!!), not sure how long it will take to finish now.

And another one of my PHD’s, started in a Celtic Knot workshop with Gina Burgess back in 2004. I did 3 of the knots, and had a long skinny piece, so added side borders and it also is at the quilters now!

Below are 4 customer quilts which I did in January, which seems such a long time ago now.

Next blog update will be quilts from February, so will be back in a few days.                    I just hope that the power does not go out and the air con keeps working so I can do a couple of custom jobs this week.

Hope are keeping cool wherever you are,

Blessings, From Jude

February 10, 2013

Once again I have been reminded about a lack of blog post, so my apologies to those who faithfully check in on me. I can’t believe just how far gone the year 2013 is already!!

Must be the old adage of time flying when you are having fun. Looks like I need to post some more quilting photos, seems to have been awhile since I did. Have been churning out a few since a couple of months of “light duties” following surgery, and am now back into the swing of things.

Had a trip to the big city last Friday for Valuation day, which is always interesting, and then had a lovely lunch with 2 good friends. Was a great day, and also saw my mum and dad on the way home. We have had some lovely weather, not too hot and not cold. So it’s nice to be out and about.

This weekend has been another retreat at The Sanctuary, and what a great time it was. So many laughs and fun amongst the participants. And another great array of quilts.

Above is Pauline, who must be the neatest sewer in the room. I don’t know how she manages to create in such a tidy space, everything neatly placed around her, no threads lying near or on the floor!! Bit different to the rest of us. I know my space is very messy when I am sewing.  Which reminds me of a posting on facebook last week, which said “I’m creative, you can’t expect me to be neat too!” and had a photo which looked almost like my sewing area. I do like to tidy up in between projects, but not while I am in the middle of something. Are you a tidy worker, or a bit on the messy side??

Above is Pat, pressing, and looking like she is thinking very seriously about what to do next, and below is Sandy, concentrating on getting her quilt finished.

Discussion around the cutting table and a cuppa for Marie.

All lined up for the obligatory group photo, some having more progress than others, but all having achieved great results and having had a great weekend. As I wasn’t there all the time, the stories I did hear were good ones, and I think better not told. What happens at retreat, needs to stay at retreat I am told. But, what a waste of some good stories!!

So it’s back to quilting again tomorrow, a week of edge to edge quilting, and our local group’s angel quilting day coming up on Thursday.

Till next time

Blessings, From Jude