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

26th January, 2013–Australia Day

 

Today is Australia Day, and what better way to celebrate than a sewing day. Today there was 10 of us for a fun day of working on our own projects. Lots of laughter, and sewing, and sharing, and of course a lunch of “Aussie” food.

I still have not worked out how to do the linky thing to connect other sites, but if you go to Michele Hill’s blog (http://williammorrisandmichele.blogspot.com) you can check out her post on being Australian. We are fortunate to live in this country.

I have a neighbour who came to Australia from the Ukraine many years ago, and he has always flown the Australian flag and has been disappointed that we don’t seem to appreciate the great country we have. So this year I decided we would celebrate being Australians and bought lots of flags.

Above is Pauline and Val being patriotic. Val’s ribbons are the Australian way of “making do”, using what you have, and she’ll be right mate!

Above, my letter box, and below my neighbour’s large flag.

Flags attached to our sewing machines.

Helens Aussie hat.

And what is more South Australian than Farmers Union Iced Coffee.

Lunch included meat pies, sausage rolls, tomato sauce, fritz, meat loaf, and of course we had Pavlova, trifle, and vanilla slice and not forgetting lamingtons.

So whatever you are doing, enjoy the rest of your day, there are still 3 of us here for the evening, and a few more coming back tomorrow and maybe Monday as it’s a public holiday for us. I think there are a few Aussie things leftover for tonight, and a bottle of something a tad stronger than the Iced Coffee!

Blessings,

From Jude

January 23, 2013

My apologies to those who have missed  me on the blog and keep checking in. I dont know where time has gone, its almost end of January, and doesn't seem long since the leadup to Christmas!
We had a sit and sew day a couple of weeks ago, which was a lot of fun, and I achieved a few finishes ready for the quilter!!.
Below are 2 photos of some of the girls. Seems like we have to shut ourselves away from the daily activities to actually get something done. I know if the girls weren't at my place I would probably be quilting a customer quilt, which is good to pay the bills, but is not enough to "fill up my tank".
I felt so good on the Monday after that weekend, and was ready to load up the next quilt.

Below is a photo of Ruth's New York Beauty quilt, made for a wedding present.
The fabrics are so busy, that it's hard to see the quilting in them, but the plain fabric shows up well.
(And the backing was very busy also).

Well, its time for bed now, need an early start in the morning to water both gardens, before another warm day tomorrow. Since our spell of days over 40deg, it has been lovely in the 30's, and tomorrow will be in the high 30's and thats far enough for me.

It is Australia Day on Saturday, and we have another sewing session planned, complete with the Aussie flags and Australian food for lunch. Looking forward to the weekend, and I wonder how many more WIP's I can get ready for the quilter! Of course, my quilter might have them in her queue for a long time yet!!! But I will be happy to get them to that stage, as I have some new things I want to get started on!

Thats all folks, until next time
Blessings
From Jude

January 16, 2013

 Below are photos of Di's quilt, My Journey, which has the most amazing little hexagons hand stitched in the centre of the block, and the fabrics are fussy cut. They are so cute.



I spent ages doing a posting at lunch time, and then it would not publish, it timed out, so this time I posted the photos and now am editing it with the words. Not sure what I raved on about earlier, but this will do for now.
I shall post later with a report of our sewing weekend, which was Friday and Saturday, but went on until Sunday evening as well. It was sew good!

Be back, have a good day,
Blessings
From Jude

January 11, 2013

I have decided that it’s easier to date my blog posting rather than come up with different titles all the time. There is only so many ways one can say “More quilts”!

The weather this week has been more bearable, although maybe we have adapted to the heat after our 45deg last Friday, anything seems cooler. The nights have been reasonably cool for sleeping, which makes the days easier if you are not so tired.                     Today is supposed to be about 35, and I have the air con going already as I expect to have girls here today and tomorrow for a “sewing session”.

I have switched “Max”, my Gammill off until Monday and looking forward to finishing some projects for me.

Below are photos of recent quilting, gone out the door to customers.              

Above is Jill’s Caramel Twist. The sashing peepers will be turned over and stitched down in a twisted arrangement. Simply quilted with a block pattern and separate border.

This is a quilt made by Jean for a friend who is not well.

And this is a jelly roll quilt made by Val. Lovely colours!

Well better get too and start my day, need to put “stuff” away so that there is room for another 8 people. It is easy to spread out when you have the whole room to yourself, if fact I have really taken over 2 rooms of my house!

Have a good day, whatever you are doing.

Blessings,

From Jude