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Category Archives: Fabric

Purple Shopping Spree!

shopping spree!

This week at Spotlight I found some gorgeous fabric plus some co ordinating fat quarters

shopping spree!

…some jewellery findings

shopping spree!

and gorgeous tree decorations ….I know its only October but they are purple!

Am thinking half hexi quilt for the fat quarters….skirt with butterfly border for the fabric…leaving enough to border and bind the quilt of course…must get one’s priorities right!

Hope you are having a safe peaceful weekend….its freezing here in Sydney…well at 17 degrees celcius it is a change from the near 30 celcius we have had lately. A good temperature to start on quilts for the many affected by the disasters in our region this week.

This was brought home to me while I was in Spotlight on Thursday. A lady in her thirties was weeping silently as she spoke into her cellphone in a corner of the store. She had obviously tried for the quietest place in the shop…or maybe the place with the most compassionate shoppers…who knows …but as she huddled in the quilting nook she wept… her desperation at not being able to get through to any of her family in Samoa so palpable…it took my breath away.

I turned away to allow her some privacy and when I returned there a few moments later she was gone. We can donate money at present and donate our time to making quilts which can provisde a warm hug.

When words are never enough, or too much, a quilt is a wonderfully therapeutic thing to have. But I would ask everyone to consider what they make…I like to make beautiful quilts and I see no reason why disaster quilts should be any different…lets not swamp these colourful communities with drab quilts which we have salvaged together from our rejects or leftovers. It is not that hard to get a scrap quilt going in a colour scheme which will actually enrich people’s lives…not just keep them warm and alive…. by celebrating the power of colour and art to heal. And all those prayers and positive thoughts stitched into the quilts help too, even if it is only we ourselves who benefit at the time.

Cherri of Cherry House Quilts is hosting a fabulous giveaway of Amy Shimler fabrics for Robert Kaufman which would be wonderful for this purpose…can you imagine the joy a child in those colourful communities would get from that fabric…and the family of that child?

The giveaway finishes on October 7th, Cherri and my birthday. Good luck!

Oh and its a challenge giveaway…I love those!

Fabric finds me…the blues

Sometimes I think fabric finds me…not the other way around! So I thought I would share with you my wonderful collection of  thrifted and vintage fabric. If I have metres or scraps to spare I am happy to sell you some of  it….please do not be shy about asking me for some if you like it. It will be a lot less expensive than buying new …even with postage and you will be helping save the planet …and me as well! Just email me to let me know.

The first one is a Sanderson lookalike from 1982.  I have 50cm x 140cm piece of this lightweight cotton, it is screen printed and dated 1982. It is by House ‘N Home Fabrics and Draperies Inc.

House 'N Home Fabrics and Draperies Inc

Then I have this gorgeous piece of  German made chintz with a HUGE print….this is a really big fabric sample which is about 130cmx100cm….now what to do with it…would make a great table topper or a big bag or a table runner. Available

Fabric finds me

Then about two metres of cotton chintz…shabby chic style bouquets. Available

blue chintz

Then two metres of what might be Liberty Of London…fabulous quality lawn. Available

Might be Liberty Of London

The EDITH Toile , an exclusive design for ASCRAFT fabrics 1992
8 metres of lightweight upholstery weight fabric found in a thrift shop. Available

Ascraft

Dragonfly Horses goes home

Dragonfly horses on its way to the UK

Today I packaged up Jan’s future grand daughter’s quilt which she won in my second bloggiversary giveaway. Dragonfly Horses is now jetting its way  to Devon to hopefully cheer up dear Jan while she recuperates from her surgery. Should not be too long before her grand daughter is born as well….a busy time ahead.

Dragonfly Horses Flies Away To England

This quilt took a lot longer than it should with my husband having a near nervous breakdown due to the work issues at the charity where he works but I finally managed to find the peace to work on it….or rather…the quilt gave me peace as I stitched it….very therapeutic.

Draonfly Horses goes home

It was made using remaining pieces of the fabric from the quilt below

Horses Quilt

along with dragonfly fabric given to me by my dear friend Ester. The butterflies on the back and binding were found by my husband who is ever vigilant for fabric for me.

I mentioned before that after I completed the quilting …perle cotton, medium stitches I started swirling circles all around the back edging…in chain stitch…just to keep things interesting!

going in circles

So this long overdue quilt is on its way to Jan….with so much love and thoughts of the baby to come all mixed in with memories of past quilts made using some of these fabrics.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jan ….if you lived nearer I would wrap you in the most wondrous of quilts as you recover from your surgery…surrounded by your loved ones in your garden. As it is this goes with my love, my prayers and my sure knowledge that this is a turning point in your life and one that you will handle with your usual wit and grace.

May God bless you and protect you, and the new baby, always

Jan is having corrective surgery on her leg on Tuesday to repair the aftermath of her surgery for cancer years ago.

Mix and Match

wip

I have returned to sewing with a vengeance. Here is my latest tote WIP. At the moment I am ready to quilt the bag and handles. Tonight I found the wadding I needed in the garage and as soon as I finish sewing the binding down on Dragonfly Horses I will start on the quilting. Am thinking pink perle cotton in a largish stitch.

wip

In the background are our new Marie Claire mix and match dishes. My nerve damage was affecting my hands so badly we had to get a different dinner set. I had been using Corelle the shatterproof servingware but when I dropped the dishes etc, which is often, the things exploded upwards and remnants richocheted almost blinding me on several occasions. So the solution, mix and match porcelain which is a reasonable weight and does not explode when dropped.

wip

The fabric I used for this bag is Moda Soiree which I won from Miss Mabel Studios some months ago in a giveaway. It was a charm pack and easily went together in this bag as the work of choosing co-ordinating fabrics was already done for me. Unlike the Marie Claire seringware which took two shopping trips …one to the city and one to Bondi Junction!

This bag is for a silent auction at my friend’s son’s high school in October, the bag should be just right for Summer 09.

Love Those City Quilts

My flickr friend Cherri sent me these wonderful patterns and Moda charm squares

win

which I won on her blog after she celebrated her 2nd year in business as  Cherry House Quilts.

City Park Pattern Cover

I adore these two quilt designs and am hoping that Cherri will organise a quiltalong at some stage.

City Blocks

 

It would be wonderful to have a quilt along under the tutelage of someone like Cherri don’t you think?

Florin

Here is her quilt which was published in the Spring 2009 issue of Quick Quilts. Sherri called this quilt Florin from her Coins Range, Quick Quilts called it Gilded Asian Elegance …I just call it Splendid, as is all of Cherri’s work.

You can find Cherri on her blog, her pattern shop and here is her flickr stream. I do not know of any other pattern designer in any of my groups who has been so delightful to know, nor so generous in her praise and appreciation of others work. Her generosity also extends to the readers of her blog where she regularly hosts giveaways. Go visit Cherri, you will be inspired, entertained and treated as a member of the family.

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