Still quilting

Just a quick post, this is what I am working on at the moment, rather large, and taking awhile. Be back when I have finished.

Enjoy your day,
Blessings,
From Jude

Garden visitor

Just a quick blog posting this morning, of a visitor to the garden a few days ago. I took this photo through the window, so it's a bit blurry, but did not want to frighten him away.
Another chilly morning here, and hopefully I shall finish the custom on the machine this morning, so better get busy.
Enjoy your day, whatever you are doing,
Blessings, From Jude

Quilting update

 

I can see that it is almost another week since I have posted, and there are quite a few photos of quilts not shown yet, so before I get to the machine for the day, I shall give you a quilt show.

It is the best job, being a machine quilter, as I get to a quilt show every day, and the people who come into my workroom studio see so many different quilts. I usually hang them up on the wall behind my machine, so that they can “talk” to me and tell me how they need to be quilted, while I am working on one on Max (my machine). I usually get lots of opinions and its amazing how different we all are. One person might love what’s hanging up, and the next lady to come in the door, will say how “different”  it is. I guess we are all “the quilt police” and have such different tastes.  I just love to see what each person brings in.

Below is Rosies’s quilt, and you cant see in the photo, but it is all hand pieced! Made up of 1 1/2” finished half-square triangle units! Amazing! Rosie doesn’t like to waste fabric, and finds it hard to cut into large pieces, and this is her hand stitching project in the evenings.

Above is a quilt made by Marion, for her friend, lots of floral fabrics in this. And below a cat in the hat quilt for Jenny’s granddaughter, followed by 3 more of Jenny’s quilts. She has been having a finishing off session.

Well that’s it for today, the machine is “calling” to me, and I need to head to the post office and the shops later.

The weather here is rather chilly this week, after good rain at the weekend. There was a good frost on the lawn yesterday morning. I am so thankful for my wood heater, and a warm house, and bed at night. I just could not imagine sleeping out at night, and feel for the homeless in our society.

Will bring you an update from last weekends retreat at The Sanctuary another day, with more photos of some great quilts.

Hope you are keeping warm, and those who are in summer are cool.

Blessings, From Jude

July 4th 2013

Just a quick posting this morning, have got lots of quilt photos not yet shown. Below are 2 quilts made by Lyn for her grandsons who where both in winning football teams last year. These are wall hangings, with photos of the day and in the colours of their teams.

 

I have finally finished Pat's blue candle-wicked quilt, photos to come, and have been busy on some edge to edge quilts since then, now back to custom.
Have a busy time coming up this weekend, a UFO retreat at The Sanctuary, with some coming tonight, to make it a 3 day weekend. It's always a good time with a house full of quilters.
The weather is supposed to be cold and wet, so will be cosy with the wood fire going.
So better get into the shower and get dressed, and head over to light the fire.
Have a few quilts to take photos of before they are picked up by their owners, and more work on a Christmas quilt as well.

Enjoy your day, whatever you are up to you, and those in America, Happy Independence Day to you.
Blessings, From Jude

Christian Women’s Retreat

I know it’s past time for a report on the recent Christian Women’s Retreat held at The Sanctuary, but better late than never!

2 weeks ago The Sanctuary was “home” to 10 lovely ladies for a weekend of learning, sharing, laughter and tears. What an awesome time we had.

We were led by Margreet and Barb, in “Discovering who we are”. After filling out a questionnaire, we all learnt a lot about ourselves, why we are all different, and how to relate better with others. We are all part of the body of Christ and all have different roles to play, and it was OK to be “us” and not be like others.

After lunch on the Sunday, we prepared for an afternoon tea, attended by about 50 people as a fundraiser for destitute widows. Margreet and Kym work and live in Varanasi in India. They have a heart for the widows of India, who are often left in the city, and are living in the streets. A few years ago a Widows Home, House of Hope was built and some are living there now, and learning new skills, such as making jewellery, paper making, running a bakery and sewing. If you click on the link above you can read more about this.

Setting up the tables, where jewellery and other products made by the widows were sold.

Above and below, ladies enjoying the afternoon tea.

Margreet dressed in her “Indian” clothes. And below Kym giving a talk about the widows to the those attending the afternoon tea.

Kym and Margreet have returned to India now, after being on leave to visit family in Bordertown. They are making a difference where God has planted them, and I was very happy to be able to help them financially in their mission with the widows. I know that we are very blessed to be living in this country when so many in this world have so little.

Be back with more soon,

Blessings, From Jude

June 26, 2013

I know its time for another update on life, and there is lots to blog about, but am rather busy with this quilt at the moment, so just a couple of photos of Pat's amazing stitching.
It has been basted and I have done the SID of all blocks and sashes. And started on the border. Hope to make good progress today, but as it's still "talking" to me, not sure how much progress there will be!
All the blocks are on point, so that means that all the SID was on the diagonal, so was rather slow going. And it is a very large quilt as you can see in the second photo.
Takes up most of the machine space.

Have been absent for a few days in the city to visit family for the weekend. It is always lovely to see them, and my grandies are growing up so fast, especially the older girls! They are almost teenagers.

And then on Monday I had an appointment for my annual sqeeze, I mean mammogram!
I have acheived a milestone the specialist told me, as it is 5 years since my surgery and radiotherapy.
And apparently that is a good sign! That was good to hear.

Well, it is 5.30am and in an hour a few ladies will be here for our weekly Bible Study. And as I have not yet done any preparation, due to being away, I better open my books! We are doing the last lesson of Philippians, and next term we are doing Samuel. Very challenging.

Will be back soon with a report on the last retreat at The Sanctuary from a couple of weeks ago, the Christian Women's Retreat, which was an awesome time.

Have a good day, whatever you are doing, and stay warm, those who are in the southern hemisphere, it was very cold yesterday morning, and a big frost. Have not looked out of the window this morning yet, but at least my house is warm now. After being away for a few days, and not having the fire going, it was so cold yesterday.

Blessings, From Jude

June 18

 

Once again I have been absent in blog land. Things have been a tad hectic here recently. Am out of bed early this morning and plan a catching up day, back to quilts and firstly an update on the last couple of weeks.

I will start with a retreat at The Sanctuary, although Michele has already given a great report. We all had a great time, lots of sewing, some Downton Abbey watching at the same time, and keeping warm by the wood fire. Some photos below.

Jocelyn trimming her completed blocks, and is now in the process of putting them together. Can’t wait to see this finished, as it is a quilt that she has done in my Decorative Machine Stitching classes.

I think someone “borrowed” my camera to take a photo!! I do prefer to be taking the photos, not be in them! But don’t Helen and I look to be very industrious.

These are Val’s Ring Cycles blocks, done in a Lessa Siegele class. Yesterday I saw further progress as rows are being stitched together.

Christina concentrating hard cutting her star blocks, which are pieced perfectly, and my New York Beauty in progress, started in a class with Lessa Siegele earlier this year.

Some retail therapy at Val’s shop, Maneys of Mundulla.

And on the way home we did the tourist thing and stopped to see the white kangaroos, which Bordertown is famous for.

It’s now 6.30 am and I better get to the shower and change out of the dressing gown. It might not be a good look for the day.

Will report on another retreat at The Sanctuary last weekend another day. It is 3 weeks until the next retreat, so  hope to get some quilting done by then.

The next weekend retreat will be another UFO, work on your own projects time, first weekend in July, if you are interested in some time out at The Sanctuary, please contact me. There are still a couple of spots left.                                                                

And Christmas In July at end of July still has 2 places, so would love to hear from you for a fun time.

Have a good day, whatever you are doing,

Blessings, From Jude