Completed projects and Sydney recommendations

I want to show you a couple of things I've been up to....

My only sister, Cyn and I spent some time together Friday working on the "Hanging Garden" quilt top. We had planned on working out the pattern and possibly getting a little of the top together, but we became so enthralled with the pattern that we just HAD to continue and see what it looked like. This is the end result...

Sorry about the dodginess of the picture... every time Liam and I ventured out to take a picture, it suddenly became windy! I decided after trying for two days to just give it a go, and this is what we ended up with.

 I will put up a better picture when I am able to achieve it (it's the perfectionist in me... sorry!)

This is a fabulous pattern - the more we did, the more we liked it. It also goes together quite quickly and could be used successfully for either jelly rolls or scrappy strips, which is what we used. I really enjoyed spending some quality time with Cyn - it is something we have not been able to do

 for a couple of years at least.

I also managed to create some ATC's for our bi monthly swap.... can you pick the theme?

I really enjoyed making these... if you want to know anything more about them, you need to have a guess at the theme, okay? Give me some feedback so I know what you enjoy about my posts. :)

ALSO: Steven and I bought some very cheap flights for a weekend in Sydney, but we need somewhere reasonably priced and clean to stay... can you recommend anywhere to us please?

What should we make sure we see while we are there for out day and a half? I can't wait to read your suggestions!

Chocolate fantasy

During 2009, as one of the professional goals I was required to set at work, I elected to learn more about coverture chocolate, as I had no experience in this field of specialty.
I was fortunate enough to stumble into one of Sylvia's workshops, and was hooked from there!

I have attended three workshops so far. Each one built on the knowledge and stills obtained in each earlier one, and I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. Sylvia explains all apsects clearly and is a very positive and patient teacher.

The rose decoration is made using chocolate 'putty' and is fully edible. It's good to see the cake decorating skills I learnt in 2008 can be used in other areas!

I have to confess that it was a requirement to complete sensory evaluations on each type of chocolate.... some needed several 'checks' to make sure they were of a reasonable quality to offer to my colleagues and family. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.
Which type of chocolate is your favourite?

First Frenzied flaunt for 2010

Here is the first official Frenzied Flaunt for 2010.... I don't have a massive amount to show as yet, as I have spent a large proportion of the holidays preparing projects to just pick up and 'do' during the year.

Firstly, I'll show you a couple of the Peace Quilt blocks I have completed. I plan to always have one or two blocks with me so I can complete the hand piecing anywhere, anytime.... maybe I should log the various places I end up sewing them??!!

Next, I can show you my progress with my "Friends for Christmas" quilt.... I prepared it all for blanket stitching last January, and it has languished ever since. That was until a very clever QDU'er named Rosemary posed a challenge to complete one Christmas decoration or block a month... I'm ahead of time so far, as I have completed TWO! (Don't worry... it probably won't continue!) Here they are:

I'm hanging off with the beaks at the moment because I haven't decided on the best colours to use (and also because I can't find the *&#@$* book to trace them off... SHHH!)

The bits hanging off such as the rest of the tree branches and the RH penquin in the other picture can't be completed until the blocks are sewn together, so hopefully by July you'll see the whole top together. The RH peguin will then be holding its little star, rather than looking a little empty handed!

The next project is a quilt 4 of us are making for a friend of my lovely mate Judy.... Maree is going to let us use her holiday house down by the sea for a sewing weekend in early winter, so we decided to make her a quilt to say thanks. It is a pattern called "Hanging Gardens" that I bought a couple of months ago.

On Saturday, in between lunching and sipping bubbly, we selected and cut out fabrics for the 13 blocks required for the throw size.

Cyn, Judy and I will sew them up and then get together to work out the rest of the top layout. Stay tuned for progress pictures.

Heaven on Earth! (Part One)

Steven and I have arrived back from our postponed 25th anniversary holiday to Tasmania

….. the most beautiful place in the world, we think!

We were blessed with perfect weather, magnificent accommodation and sumptuous food

– it’s hard to know what to leave out, so get a drink, relax and enjoy!

The photo above shows part of the track to Liffey Falls, a beautiful waterfall which is well worth visiting if you are in the area. We spent quite a while relaxing here, just soaking up the atmosphere.

The first night, we stayed at Lemonthyme Lodge, near Cradle Mountain. It is tucked away on a gravel road in western Tasmania. The lodge is surrounded by forest and has several walks you can undertake. The evening meal was inspirational….

Much to Lana’s disgust, I selected …

“Tender and succulent char-grilled wallaby rump dusted in Moroccan seasoning

and placed on a vegetable frittata, topped with Chef’s tomato relish

and seasoned with red wine vinegar and sumac dressed salad”

The photo doesn’t do the meal justice – it was mood lighting in the restaurant! Steven had Crispy skinned grilled Chicken Breast which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Dessert? We shared a cheese platter and a platter of mini sized desserts that were heavenly!

The next morning, after a relaxing walk to the fern glade on Lemonthyme, we headed for Cradle Mountain. We had managed a flying visit on our postponed honeymoon nearly 26 years ago, but had more time on this trip. Neither of us were sure how Steven would cope, but we chose the Dove Lake circuit, which was not in existence on our first trip. We walked about 8.5 km that day, but enjoyed every moment – this area is SOOO stunning, in so many ways!

We fell in love with this tree… it contained several beautiful burls, which Steven loves to work with…

After such strenuous activity, we desperately needed a rest…

this is what awaited us at Wheelhouse Apartments in Strahan..

This was one of the most stunning places you could ever hope to spend a few days.

After a luxurious spa bath, we settled in to watch the sunset with

fresh fish and chips and a bottle of Tassie bubbly… what more could you want?

What an amazing lady!

I have to boast (and feel very humbled at the same time) about a special parcel that arrived from Julie.

Inside was this mangnificent Spring time quilt....

It is a stunning piece of work, as the following photos will hopefully show....

I am totally amazed at the care taken with the fabric selection and applique placement, the precision of the machine applique and the intricacy of the stippling and border machine quilting..... I definitely got the better end of the deal, and feel a little guilty now!!

But wait, there's more! (no, not a free set of steak knives)

Julie somehow managed to become my Friendship Bag swapper, and this fantastic set that I had ogled with envy was sent to me also.....

Julie has become a special friend over the last couple of years, even though we have not met in person. She is a fellow member of Scquilers, and gave me some very useful advice when I was starting off my blog. She has been a fabulous ear over the last 12 months and has kept me grinning with emails and in awe of her projects - I'm an incredibly lucky person!

What a fantastic weekend!

I have had such a wonderful weekend....

here are some photos from the conference centre I escaped to - it is in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges

The centre was surrounded by gardens - several plants were in flower and looked stunning in the early morning light:

The staff were excellent, the food was magnificent and the company inspiring...

what more could a girl ask for?

I did TRUCKLOADS!!!

1. I sewed the quilt top for Rob's 21st together - here is a photo of the top mostly completed - I finished it and piecing the backing fabric together very late on Saturday night, so forgot to get the official "top's finished" photo. Sorry!

Chris has taken it for quilting - she plans to use a gold thread, similar to the one used in the corners of the sashing (that aren't in this picture!) in an oriental design - I can't wait to see it!

2. I made another two gift sewing bags.. if you look closely, you'll see that I still need to do the tidying up and thread the draw strings. One day, I'll make one for myself!

3. I started quilting Steven's quilt - the photo doesn't show the quilting super clearly, but you'll get the idea. Steven made me up a template for the spirals which makes them very efficient to mark.

I took a few items I no longer wanted and sold many of them. That meant I had money to spend on this fabulous new book!

The weather was calm and sunny, and the whole weekend sped by much too quickly!

I will look forward to next year.

A flaunt before I run away.....

I'm off for the weekend, on my quilting weekend (I missed it last year due to Steven's illness) so I thought I'd flaunt before I went. I have lots to show you

The quilt from Penny arrived. It is beautiful, and she has done such a lovely job of its construction and quilting - I need to match her quality of workmanship to finish it off, and then Liam is lucky enough to have been given it - such a wonderfully generous act on Penny's behalf.

• I posted my summertime quilt






• Completed Steven's quilt top - I'm hoping to get some of the quilting done this weekend
  





• Made a special bag for Karen based on Leesa Chandler's "Sip and Sew" kit









• Received the wonderful blue table topper from Sandie (more about her to follow!)











• Sent my friendship bag and a label to Claudia in Milan, Italy
  
  
  
  



• Made a proverb ATC - any guesses what the proverb is?
  
  

  
  

• and lastly (I think) made a couple of quick birthday cards..

OK - I'm off for a lovely weekend.... I hope yours is wonderful!

Late Flaunt - is it still Friday somewhere?

The last fortnight has flown by since my last flaunt, but I actually DO have some completed projects to show you, as well as some "in progress" ones.....

Firstly, here is Julie's completed quilt:

I took this photo very late at night - her photos are MUCH lovelier, so go and have a look. I really enjoy doing the 3D centres - they are SO easy, but add another dimension.

My "In the Good 'Ol Summertime" quilt is now winging its way to Pennsylvania - here it is below:

I have also made progress on Steven's quilt, and I must say, the Curve Master has proven its worth.... the blocks needed a little trimming (due to my dodginess!), but went together beautifully - I'm pleased with the almost continuous appearance of the rivers:

The ochre border has been added.....

but I plan to use Cinzia's suggestion, and am in the process of needleturning the rivers over this border. I will be finishing with a border of the blue, so I'm hoping it will look like all the rivers run into the border, if that makes sense.

I have a mountain of work to do, but want to get the top together by Monday so I can get it machine basted - I'm going to hand quilt using perle cottons. I am hoping to take it away with me on my quilting weekend in two weeks :-)

I also need to get Rob's top together so I can get it quilted. He (unknowingly!) helped me select the backing for it, now I have to prepare and post some labels for the Pommie rellies to write on to go on the back of the quilt. His cousin, Rowena is also now living in England, so I have to make sure they all get a chance to write on them and post them back to me.

Another dream for the holidays is to complete the landscape quilt I designed at my Gloria Loughman weekend in February - I'll see how I go.

Now, off to look at the other flaunters - have a lovely week, won't you!

First flaunt for a while

Sorry - I've been in limbo for the last few weeks, not able to get my head around anything much..... the last year has been so intense and stress filled that I think it is all now hitting me. In one more week, my year 12's will have submitted their major assessment (worth 40% of their final score) and I will be on two weeks 'holiday'..... :-)

I haven't had a chance to do much in recent weeks, and the few chances I've had I've squandered, not able to motivate myself properly, preferring to seep like an ever increasing blob into the couch.

I HAVE made 6 ATC's for my group's Haiku swap, as shown below.....

I've also made some progress on Julie's quilt..... I had planned to machine quilt it, but decided it may look more presentable if I hand quilted it.... don't look too closely at the stitching!

Here is a hint of what the front looks like - the sun was streaming through when Liam and I were photographing it...

I hope to post it next week, fingers crossed!

My plan for the holidays (apart from cross marking SATs, preparing revision work for my year 12's and catching up on corrections) is to get both Steven's and Rob's quilt tops together. I also need to complete the Summer mini quilt which will travel to USA and the friendship bag, which will fly to Italy. I'll keep you posted.

A punctual Friday Flaunt?

Yes, I know..... it's not usual for me to actually be able to show anything on the actual day, but this week - I've managed it!

The curve master arrived, and really IS worth the money - I managed to sew over 30 blocks in a fraction of the time I had expected, due mainly to the fact that you did not need to pin the blocks for them to turn out well.

We laid out most of Steven's quilt blocks in a variety of ways, as shown below. I still need to sew about another 15, which I'm hoping ot do this weekend, as I need some sanity time.

Which one do you prefer??

Layout 1

Layout 2

Layout 3

The five of us have voted here - leave a comment and give me your opinion please!