My Grandson has arrived!

March 14, 2012, 10:19 pm

Hi everyone my beautiful grandson Saxon was born on the 12th of March healthy and the most beautiful baby in the hospital obviously the best one there.
Such a wonderful experience seeing my son so happy and Kara such a doting new mum, one of the best weeks for my family and now I can officially have a Nanna nap.

We had our meeting for the tour to America the chatter and excitement was excellent. I will now have to check out all the baby outlets what fun. I am now ready to go I had to get my permanent residents visa updated as I have a British passport so I need the visa to get back in, wonder where they would send me if I just had my passport... not really worth finding out.

Let us have a look at some fantastic show and tell.

Megan has finished Hidcote garden, love the colours Blue a favourite of mine.

Wendy has her Antique Applique back from the quilters.

Jan has done so much homework she is the highest achiever this month and she volunteers for The Sydney Guild!

Her cream tea is one of my absolute favourites she has added more rows and made this a very large quilt the colours were meticulously chosen, great work Jan.

My two block of the months on the design wall behind her.

Devine.

Just about finished her Sampler.

This is Jan's adaptation of English Autumn.

Now to Jan at Miranda.

This is her adaptation of this years French Mosaic I love how Jan get's things done by changing the work load, thinking outside the square or should that be inside the square in this case.

Another star for Plain and Fancy, gorgeous.

This is Birds of a Feather a very old pattern Sharon tells me this was about 12 years in the making, is that what realism means?

And lastly Chris made this quilt a few years ago my little garden quilt is tiny but with the help of a photocopier Chris made a giant version looks fantastic.

Thank you for all the emails asking for information for Summer Scholl next year I will keep all of your contact details and will forward information when organised.

I am going back to the hospital tonight so best get ready I am sure he looks forward to seeing me.

Take care,

Karen x

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April news.

April 18, 2012, 6:30 pm

≫ Next: Home.

≪ Previous: My Grandson has arrived!

I thought I had better have a last blog before I head off to the U.S
My packing is going to be organised today seems like the weather is as changeable as ours so layering clothes will be my best bet, always hard to know what to pack especially when you have to take into consideration my very own internal heat waves.
Here are two of my friends Susie and Anne getting hexagons ready for the trip.
I have never seen them work in class this diligently.

On Monday I had my last class at Killara Village Quilts very sad as I have been working there for about eight years. You get to know all the locals when you are in an area that long so I will miss going. The girls in class have all been able to squeeze into classes in Sydney so thankfully I didn't have to say goodbye to them as well.

I will be in Mittagong tomorrow so I had better post last months pictures, sorry it has taken me so long to blog but I needed to get all the correspondence school sorted for two months which was a huge work load but I couldn't go away with May missing, typical mother everything has to be done before I go.

The applique is of block one of The Marriage Quilt.

A blast from the past Megs Lemon and Lime.

Karen with her Bumble Bee and First block.

Here are my blocks so far.

ONE.

TWO

THREE.

Love making this quilt I have read such interesting things about this quilt, the debate on is it African American or not very interesting.

I have drawn a few English quilts and I find drawing this quilt is very unique experience.

Further reading: Signs and Symbols. African Images in African quilts Author Maude Wahlman.

Hart Cottage Quilts: really great reading.

Whille we are reading Barbara Brackmans Blog has some lovely photos of the quilt Irish Circles was based on in the Cheltenham Museum England.

Well back to class this time Cottage Quilt Works.

Two very different starts to French Mosaic.

Ruth and Helen with the centre of Miss Austens Garden.

I am making a quilt with the lovely John Hewson Centre, just love it.

Gina used her beautiful Dutch Chintz fabrics to make her version of the V&A quilt.

Finally Patchwork Plus Miranda, the big news here is that Michelle did her homework!

Robyn is hiding behind her Plain and Fancy.

Michell's version of Bluebell.

Vicky with her version of The Folk Art quilt.

This month I also visited The Camden Guild, I was the guest speaker at the meeting and held a workshop the next day.

Such a great group the meeting was very interactive with everyone participating.

The raffle quilt for 2012 Camden show is a beautiful hexagon quilt so I hope I win that.

Well I best look through some clothes and dust off my bag but first a cup of tea is in order.

I will not be blogging whille away but when I get back I will pick the best bits for you, hope to meet lot's of quilting friends in the U.S

My grandson is doing well and has put on lot's of weight.

Such a shame I had to cuddle him for ages the other night whille his mother had dinner in peace, fantastic.

Take care everyone, all the girls coming on the tour, see you at the airport!

Karen x

↧

Home.

May 26, 2012, 8:55 pm

≫ Next: Catch up

≪ Previous: April news.

Hi Everyone, I am only now feeling back to normal, it is so hard to get your sleeping habits back on track only the last few days I have been able to stay awake all day.
Anyway I am going steadily through my emails and requests for patterns so please be patient if I haven't got back to you all.
The correspondence school will be a little late my daughter did a great job of keeping track of payments I just need to have a day to get it all straight in my head.
The trip was fantastic a combination of good company great weather and amazing days of sight seeing and textiles galore.
The quilts we saw in the museums: DAR, Smithsonian, Winterthur and The folk art Museum were outstanding one of my favourites was the Harriet Powers Bible Quilt I have loved that quilt for so long to see it was amazing. of course I can't show photo's of these quilts we were lucky we could take photos with the flash off but as with most museums these are for personal use only, all the girls in class can have a look at my photos.
So let us start at the beginning of the tour at Paducah my favourite show to date.
The whole town welcomes the quilters with stores set up all over town with fabrics and antique quilts.
The National Quilt Museum had a lovely display of quilts some basket quilts I would love to make one had baskets only 3 inches so adorable.
And the show was beautiful so many lovely quilts I bought the disc so I can sit and look at them close up whenever I like. So many great vendors just wonderful to see how creative the stalls were.
I am so glad we did all five days we were busy every day the shuttles dropped you off at Hancocks or any stop you liked and were back in an hour to take you to the next stop fantastic would love to go to this show again!
A few in my group visited The Metropolitan Hotel in Paducah which used to be the only hotel African Americans could stay in so a lot of very famous musicians stayed there. We had a fish fry, cat fish, white beans, slaw and corn bread very delicious and viewed quilts by the late Pearl Smith.
At three we attended a lecture by Dr Pearlie Johnson the topic:The intra-diasporic connections between African and African American quilts and the ways in which African American quilters reinterpret African cultural features in their works of art.
Such a great talk one of the highlights of my trip, you know how I love birds in my quilts and my favourite colour is blue well Dr Pearlie told us that the colour blue is a symbol of birds.

Dr Pearlie Johnson in the middle.

We did a walking tour of the lovely historic homes.

Here are a few of the shops.

There was an antique quilt with my name on it in Finkel's pity the bank account disagreed.

We thought we would try the local roadhouse it said welcome and it was half price Margarita night.

Didn't know they came in a bowl.

I did have a few more photos to download but my computer will not do it something about space left so I will have to do some work on that.

Next time we will move on to The Shaker Village and some show and tell from class as I return tomorrow.

Thank you to all the quilters in the U.S for being so friendly I hope some of you come to Australia so we can reciprocate your hospitality.

See you all in class,

Karen x

↧

Catch up

July 16, 2012, 7:54 pm

≫ Next: New Quilt

≪ Previous: Home.

Block four "The Marriage Quilt"

I know its been a while since my last blog but since I arrived home from America I have had three of my children's birthdays a road trip to the country for two weeks, which was fantastic and lots of sewing to prepare for Summer School and class.

Thank you to all the girls who worried about me I am well perhaps a little frazzled but now I am feeling like I just might catch up!

I have had a few emails asking for my patterns at the moment I don't have any for sale correspondence school will start again next year in February.

I have been looking to hire a graphic designer to perhaps make my patterns easier to print and more cost efficient just haven't found the right person yet. I know it is something I can no longer do on my own so that is a step forward as being a Taurus I think I can do everything myself.

I will be posting again soon I just thought I would quickly catch up today and get back to block five of the Marriage Quilt and add the next borders to Plain and Fancy so I can get the next correspondence posted.

Hope you are all well and stitching away,

Karen x

↧

New Quilt

July 31, 2012, 5:43 am

≫ Next: Spring at last

≪ Previous: Catch up

Hi everyone great news I finished a new quilt today!
An Irish Medallion "County Kilkenny" All ready for quilting I can almost hear you all asking what fabric to buy so you will need a lovely border always nice to find a stripe and a smaller print fabric to go with it. Alright 3 mtrs of border and 1 mtr of matching small print, my quilt is c1800s my border is a copy of an 1820's fabric.
I had my border fabric for about seven years you know the fabric you cant cut up well I had five yards and I used all of it the width of each stripe was fourteen inches and I could only cut three down the length so a little drama today as I didn't have enough to mitre but I found a solution.
You will also need fabric suitable for broderie perse: birds, baskets and flowers.
This is not a replica of an old quilt so Mr google wont find it.
This will be one of the quilts for Summer School.

There is other exciting news Michelle did her homework!
Such a shock she even received a star, such a busy girl its wonderful when we get time to just sew.

Michelle

Here are more high achievers.

Jan is behind her blue Nottingham quilt.

Bev and Sue with their Hidcote Garden's.

Karen with her Nottingham Quilt.

Chris with the centre of Miss Austen's Garden.

Here is a lesson for you all this is my mum and dad unpicking machine quilting she had done on her Irish circles quilt.

Make sure you choose a quilting pattern you like have a look at the samples on display or study quilting on other quilts to better judge what would suit your quilt.

Such a cute photo but in reality it took a week to unpick threads everywhere even the bathroom!

Here is Denise an outstanding student from Port Maquarie yes I only see her once a year and look what she gets done. Plus every year when I teach in Port it falls on Denise's birthday so she comes to class as part of the celebration I am always so happy to see all the girls each year.

Jester Quilt

New England fall.

Anna

I just cant make out who was behind this beautiful Anna Quilt but another Port Maquarie girl.

Let me know who it is!

I had afternoon tea in Port at the lovely Tea rooms.

Well it is time for bed its 10.30 and I am in Sydney for the next three days with a lovely evening planned at the Camden Quilt shows opening night on Friday.

One of my favourite shows just love the atmosphere and lovely quilts to view.

I will leave you with a photo from my trip to America this is the children's garden in the beautiful Longwood gardens PA

Goodnight all,

Karen x

↧

Spring at last

September 4, 2012, 1:06 am

≫ Next: Summer School

≪ Previous: New Quilt

The weather is finally warmer I have sat outside to eat my lunch twice this week, so tired of the cold it has been a very long winter.
Thank you to all the girls who emailed me last week asking how I was my medical procedure is over and I am much better nothing serious or scary just annoying as the cyst on my back was in such an awkward spot and large I didn't mind not being able to do housework but not able to sew was the pits!
I was home a week and unable to do my homework for class, but today I made a start here's the proof.

My sewing room.

Block six of The Marriage Quilt is on the way.
Fabrics in the foreground have been chosen for next major works inspired by daffodils, tulips and other spring flowers.
I am loving all the old brights that are available at the moment Rhonda from Post Office Patchwork Glenbrook gave me a bundle of Pomegranate by The Rock Mountain Quilt Museum 1800-1850 by Bluehill fabrics just delicious.
Glenbrook was my first classes after my week off so here are the girls and their homework.

First two quilts are Ruth's.

Lucy Boston.

French Mosaic

Liz just needs to finish her mitred corners on French Mosaic.

Pru didn't want a Cream Tea so here is her Green Tea.

Just love it!

My Summer School samples are almost ready just need a few bits and pieces to organise and your emails will be sent.

I will see the girls at Quiltsmith tomorrow and then on to Miranda for Thursday Friday so look forward to catching up.

I will be keeping up with my blog now!

Stay safe everyone

Karen x

↧

Summer School

September 23, 2012, 12:34 am

≫ Next: Summer School Bookings.

≪ Previous: Spring at last

I have spent most of today sending emails for Summer School.
If you have not received the information please email me so I can send one out, apologies if I missed you, the list is so big!
I love the beautiful basket quilt Susan is teaching another pattern for my retirement, I bought Auntie Green at the Sydney show and that is calling my name perhaps I should buy the fabric for it just in case.
We are having dinner at The Paragon again it was so lovely last year, should we ware vintage clothes? I think yes.
Our technical class is just about booked out it is interesting in these days of glue and supposedly new fast techniques for everything our most popular class is taking the time to improve hand stitching.
I have tried lots of new ways to sew quilts but I always go back to stitching the way my grandma did its the only way I really relax. I can almost see the young quilters out there rolling their eyes at me, we are all different and there are no rules saying how you should make your quilt.

Let us look at some quilts.
This is my Folk Art Quilt hanging up at Quilt Smith, Melinda is one of the few shops who have a wall big enough.

One of my students had her Folk Art Quilt in the Sydney show, the picture of her quilt ended up in Quilt Mania.

Vicky from Miranda designed this quilt herself.

Here are the girls at work in the Blueberries shop Wyong.

Marion's quilt. My design Antique Applique.

All the Plain and Fancy quilts on the go.

Anna just put a bag of skittles on my desk and I cant stop eating them.

Sharon has nearly finished Miss Austen's Garden.

Carol finished French Mosaic.

Helen's Folk Art.

Annette Nottingham quilt.

I love watching my designs turn into these beautiful quilts it is so satisfying to see all the different versions.

Well my son is coming for tea and it is now 5.30 so I best get on, my other son Jake or horizontal as he is affectionately know has only been up a short time and thinks its lunch time.

I will be at Cottage Quilt Works next week so hope to have plenty of show and tell.

Take care everyone,

Karen.

↧

Summer School Bookings.

September 29, 2012, 10:22 pm

≫ Next: Precious Quilt.

≪ Previous: Summer School

Hi Everyone,
Such a lovely long weekend and nice to have some time at home.
I hope to get the last two blocks sorted out for The Marriage quilt but I really should be doing my tax....so boring.
Yes you are getting a new post rather quickly but I am avoiding my paper work plus I am not looking forward to discovering how much I have spent on fabric.
Two of the classes for Summer School are fully booked but there are still places in other classes.
I have had questions about what type of fabric to buy for the broderie purse on County Kilkenny so here are a couple of photos to help.
I do have some birds and baskets left so always happy to share.

My Lovely border.

Also for the girls doing Miss Porter and John if you want little sayings in your blocks you might look some up.

We had a great time at Cottage Quilt Works last week and the new fabrics just kept being delivered a great time to shop.

Here is some of the girls work.

Plain and Fancy.

You don't always need a stripe to fussy cut.

The miss Austen's.

Three great panels to use for this quilt and the pattern allows for any size.

Bev finished Anna and Miss Austen's garden.

A very inspiring three days!

Finally from my Concord group Julie has finished her version of The folk Art Quilt.

In my last blog I mentioned I bought The Auntie Green pattern at the Sydney show, I bought my pattern from Irene Blanck and it is a really great pattern, cant wait to start.

Well there is no getting around it I will have to do my tax now I have run out of excuses.

Have a lovely long weekend girls,

Karen

↧

Precious Quilt.

October 9, 2012, 11:18 pm

≫ Next: Catch Up

≪ Previous: Summer School Bookings.

Hi Everyone,

My friend Kate brought her lovely antique quilt to show me this week, we discussed the fabrics and design and how best to take care of it. It was then left on my couch to admire for the rest of the day while we stitched. Meanwhile hidden on the couch, my cats had decided there was nothing special or precious about this quilt of beautiful silk, lucky for me Kate is also a cat lover so no drama.

Here is the fabric I mentioned would work for County Kilkenny, it has just arrived at Quiltsmith you would need 2.5 mtrs and 1 mtr of a coordinating fabric.

Here is Lindi's Plain and Fancy centre.

Love the colours.

Jan our blue fabric girl is finishing her Lucy Boston quilt.

I loved Elaine's box of circles for her Plain and Fancy quilt.

Well that's all the photos, I have to pack for my next three days at Blueberries and I believe there is to be a big sale!

I will be emailing the invoices out on Monday for Summer school as well as Correspondence school.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend I am looking forward to seeing Jackie and all the girls in Wyong tomorrow.

Karen x

↧

Catch Up

November 29, 2012, 12:35 am

≫ Next: Follow up

≪ Previous: Precious Quilt.

Hi Everyone,

I think it's official, I am the slowest blogger on Earth.
My holidays are coming and then you will all be sick of me blogging on all the time!

First off the latest Quilt Mania issue 92 has my Trundle quilt featured on Sharon Duffys bed (page 42). This is the second quilt I designed to teach 14 years ago and is still a favourite of mine, it would have been nice to see my name as the designer of the quilt and a phone call from Sharon asking permission to use it. I really love this magazine it would have been a lovely experience to have a quilt in it but so disappointed my design has ended up being passed off as Sharon's work.

I have been to Temora for a weekend workshop, such a beautiful country town and the girls were so welcoming and soaked up every bit of information I could think of.

Here are some photo's

Sonia with her finished Irish Circles.

Happy students playing with fabric.

Shop owner Helen at the back.

Sorry it is taking so long to get the patterns you all ordered ready but I promise they will be posted before Christmas, thank you to everyone who made me so welcome in Temora I hope we will do it again.

Back to my regular classes Sandra has finished two quilts.

Miss Austen's Garden using lovely Dutch Chintz fabrics.

And Hidcote Garden.

Anne has finished The Nottingham Quilt.

Jan has finished her Turkey Tracks I love this quilt mine is on my bed.

Robyn decided to get her Trundle out and finish it.

Vanessa is really loving stitching her French Mosaic on the Train going to work,

there will be a flower in the middle.

The end of year classes have been very productive, lot's of eating quilters are very good cooks, Lisa made the most wonderful macarons and Bev's shortbread is legendary.

Thank you all for your gifts and cards it is such a nice time of year.

I saw this angel in the window at the back of the Mittagong shop and thought it was lovely.

I have more photo's to show you so will blog again very soon but it is tea time and all that talk of food has made me hungry.

Goodnight everyone,

Karen.

↧

Follow up

December 3, 2012, 3:55 am

≫ Next: A little bird.

≪ Previous: Catch Up

Well I have had so many emails regarding my Trundle quilt thank you girls for your support and opinions.
There has been a lot of emails sent to me with questions which I have answered personally but thought I would also share with everyone as it has been an interesting topic.
Even though a quilt is made in class or a pattern bought the artistic works remain copyright to the designer. If you then publish an image of a copyright design omitting acknowledgement of the designer it is assumed the work is yours (passing off)
The magazine was brought to class to show me my quilt design"The Trundle"which makes it a recognisable design not a version of it.
I know many of you have had similar experiences and like me feel disappointed but hopefully our conversation will result in someone having the courtesy of asking permission to use our designs.

The other questions are about the quilt it started off as a quilt to cover my sons trundle bed (I also needed a second sample to teach)
When I finished the centre I liked it so much I just kept making more borders eventually it ended up being big enough to cover my queen size bed.
The quilt is designed to sit perfectly on a bed each border covering a different section.
The quilt belongs to my son Tom as it was started for him so when I have finished teaching the design it will live with him.

It Is late at night I had such a wonderful day with my Monday Glenbrook girls.
Robyn made us High Tea for our end of year party and it was delicious I think I am still full, I will post some photo's next time. Thanks girls for a lovely day!
Bye for now,
Karen

↧

A little bird.

December 3, 2012, 5:35 pm

≫ Next: Happy New Year

≪ Previous: Follow up

Hi Girls,
I wanted to show you what arrived a beautiful flock of little birds.

The very talented Alexandra Callow made these she sells her hand made goods at markets and some quilt shows. Her work is so sort after I ordered my birds a year ago so I would have some for gifts and lucky door prizes for Summer School.
The markets in Blackheath are the first Sunday of the month at Blackheath Public School, she is also at The Springwood quilt show.
Look how they arrived.

It really is a shame to stick pins in them.

All is underway for Summer School the hall is booked I have our lunch menu really yummy.

Cottage Quilt Works is coming Quiltsmith , Patchwork Plus and of course Post Office Patchwork wow best stat my shopping list.

Also a great Speaker for Saturday night dinner with a focus on Antique quilts.

This is for The Springwood show committee a couple of years ago my design Blue Bell was used as the raffle quilt. The girls made it in beautiful soft English colours it looked lovely.

As a thank you they gave me a lovely Rose to plant in my garden, here are some roses I picked it is doing really well, thank you girls.

Is it normal for cat's to eat petals? Ruskin seems to really like them.

Some homework from Cottage Quilt Works.

Anne has finished her little Austen quilt.

Elizabeth has nearly completed last years BOM Plain and Fancy.

We have new quilts to make next year and our marriage quilt to finish but there is also two older patterns on offer as well.

Eye Candy and Petunia the girls who have already made or started these quilts are feeling like they are ahead.....a very good feeling.

Petunia

I also brought along to class my very little Calico Garden to show the girls my quilting as we are going to do some hand quilting classes next year well I should have known now we all want to make Florence Petos lovely crib quilt, why not!

I bought my pattern at The Shelburne Museum in 2005 so contacted Frances Quinn to let her know we would be making the quilt in class and that we would be buying our patterns from her, perhaps some of you online would like to join us.

If you are in class the shop's will bring in the patterns for you.

Not a great photo but the site is www.hooplapatterns.com

If you have the book Enduring Grace by Celia Y. Oliver the pattern is in the book.

Looking forward to doing the crib size.

Florence Peto made her quilt using all scrap pieces so I thought I would use my small precious pieces I keep in my Trunk, very messy sewing room!

That is all for today I have the day off and then I will be in Sydney for a few days doing last classes for the year at Quiltsmith and Patchwork Plus. Perhaps I might get some Christmas shopping done in Miranda Fair.

Have a great week everyone

Karen.

↧

Happy New Year

January 25, 2013, 6:14 pm

≫ Next: Autumn in Blackheath.

≪ Previous: A little bird.

Hi everyone,
I know its been a while but at the end of last year I was in need of a holiday so I closed the door of my office and spent all my time with my family and friends.
I also needed time to create as I had a design for a new quilt in my head all year I had my ideas book full of photos, drawings lots of notes but no time to get it all together so I spent days drawing cutting out and searching for just the right fabric I am really happy that my quilt is finally on the way I can relax and sew now.

Summer School 2013 was a great success it is so good to catch up with all the girls even though I only see the interstate girls once a year its like I saw them last week we had a fantastic five days.
The shop's were outstanding supplying everything we needed and some things we just had to have!
Thank you Quiltsmith, Cottage Quilt Works, Post Office Patchwork and Patchwork Plus.
Tutors Susan Smith and Rhonda Pearce did a great job we all learned a great deal.

All the little birds found a good home our lunch time show and tell was again very inspiring.
Our catering was by Kara this year which was so delicious I am very disappointed now I have to make my own lunch and no morning tea in sight.

O.K it all sounds so easy so here's some home truths, I did wear my dress inside out on the last day,
I woke poor Lorraine (patchwork Plus) at 2.30 in the morning to check someone turned off the irons as I was about to go to the hall in my PJ's and my son's were supposed to help pack up the hall but went to a bucks party the night before and couldn't be found...thank god for friends a big thank you to Susie, Anne and Anna the four of us packed up in one and a half hours!
Thank you to all the girls who just helped when they noticed I needed it and Colleen what an angel wish you lived in Blackheath.
The helpers Yvonne and Lesley once again SS can't do without you.

So here are some photos I will post the dinner later as my friend had to do the photography she will put it on a stick thingy so I can share them with you.
Melinda from Quiltsmith was a fantastic speaker her antique quilts were gorgeous.

Summer School is booked again for next year first day will be 15th of January 2014.

Helpers Yvonne and Lesley.

Rhonda's Technical Applique class.

Everyone is really concentrating

The girls in the corner sewing with me Sat- Sun.

Well it was 38 on our quilting day but everyone loved hand quilting.

Susan's class making their dear little baskets.

Wed- Thurs with me.

We had some interesting vases on the tables.

Sisters Cherree and Leanne all smiles.

But when Cherree went early to have lunch with her family poor Leanne was left to be a Nigel.

We really did have a lot of fun!

Happy Australia day to everyone I will be back at work this week so I will see you all soon.

Take care everyone,

Karen x

↧

Autumn in Blackheath.

May 8, 2013, 9:41 pm

≫ Next: Lovely day at Julie's

≪ Previous: Happy New Year

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all well sorry for the delay but I have been changing my technology and it has not been easy.
I lost a few emails so please forgive me if you had no answer and send me another.
The poor girls in class have had to listen to all the winging so I know they are glad its over, the apple shop has also had its work cut out but now I should be able to blog from class everything seems so fast now.
Its Autumn in Blackheath the colours are lovely.

I have had a birthday my grandson was one in march and my son turned thirty so lots of family celebrations.
The lovely girls in the Concord group bought me beautiful flowers which just happened to go with fabrics I bought: Mill Book Series by Moda quilting friends always know your colours.

Congratulations to Karen Ross her Sampler won viewers choice at The Springwood show.

These photos were taken a while ago but show and tell from Blueberries.

Bluebell

Miss Austen's Garden.

Plain and Fancy.

Choosing fabrics at Glenbrook of course you need a tin to put your sewing in.

The concord ladies.

Julie used one of the centres from Reproduction Fabrics for her Miss Austen.

May used her collection of dutch chintz for her plain and fancy.

Cottage Quilt Works.

We really have had lovely panels to work with this year.

Elizabeth's lovely French Mosaic.

I have two girls who have finished the Marriage Quilt so far all stunning.

Plain and Fancy has been a very popular pattern.

Hope you had a nice time catching up with the show and tell. The shops are bursting with new fabrics so many lovely choices and now I can blog on the spot you will get to see more of them.

On Tuesday I visited the Sydney Aquarium and loved the colours of the coral so here's a peek.

Summer School projects are going well The Redleaf has a special rate for accommodation just mention your coming to Summer School.

Hi to Diana and Luci from the U.S who will be making their first Karen quilt, thanks girls.

Take care everyone,

Karen x

↧

Lovely day at Julie's

May 24, 2013, 3:31 am

≫ Next: Quiltsmith day.

≪ Previous: Autumn in Blackheath.

Georgia has been hard at work on her Lucy Boston.

Julie has finished her Miss Austens Garden.

Beautiful quilting by Belinda Betts.

May has her Plain and Fancy finished lovely quilting by Kim Dolan.

We are so lucky to have these talented quilters to finish our quilts.

Wendy and I getting her next block sorted for her Marriage Quilt.

This is my first post from my phone so hope it's o.k

What a great day full of show and tell.

Quiltsmith tomorrow looking forward to class and as always lovely fabrics.

Karen x

↧

Quiltsmith day.

May 25, 2013, 6:44 pm

≫ Next: Long weekend.

≪ Previous: Lovely day at Julie's

So much work done yesterday!

Karen has her Marriage quilt together and has started her borders.

And Helen is ready to sew her blocks together.

Anne has her County Kilkenny together and will start her quilting now it's winter.

Natalie is having a finishing off year and has found her box of beautiful fabrics she bought for English Autumn and decided to make it next.

I think hers will be an English Spring.

I am home today getting ready for my three days with the girls at Cottage Quilt Works it's lovely to spend some time near the beach much warmer than here.

Here's a photo from my sewing room,I love my bird paper clips can't seem to use them so cute in the packet.

I received a beautiful cook book yesterday so I might try to make something today, for those who know me this probably will not go well but I will let you know the results.

Take care everyone,

Karen

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Long weekend.

June 7, 2013, 6:16 pm

≫ Next: Maitland workshop

≪ Previous: Quiltsmith day.

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all having a nice long weekend. I am home so I intend to sew and sort out the last two borders on my Marriage quilt.

Its been great fun choosing fabrics for the new whimsical wool quilt nothing like retail therapy. I noticed Cottage Quilt Works has some lovely wool squares for the quilt have a look at their blog.

I also bought a great book by Sue Spargo called creative stitches which has fantastic instructions for embellishing the wool pieces.

We will be starting the quilt in August so you have plenty of time to gather the fabric.

Here we are destroying Patchwork Plus finding just the right fabric.

Lorraine's Cream Tea is so beautiful I love two coloured quilts.

Suzette has nearly finished her quilt.

Deb was sewing her binding on her French Mosaic.

Vanessa has the centre of Eye Candy And Miss Porter and John finished.

Lorraine will be at the Sydney show so visit The Patchwork Plus stand and say hello.

Just a few pictures from Wednesday at Quiltsmith.

Lindi is making one of my really old patterns Birds of a Feather such a cute little quilt.

Jan has finished Miss Porter and John and Lucy Boston.

Lenore has worked hard on her blocks for Eye Candy.

Lynn has also finished Miss Porter and John.

How beautiful! Carol has finished her Marriage Quilt.

Also Barb has finished her Plain and Fancy.

Well best get in my sewing room and tidy the desk so I can do my borders.

I will be at the show on Wednesday so hope to catch up with some of you there.

A great couple of weeks!

Karen.

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Maitland workshop

July 4, 2013, 8:51 pm

≫ Next: V&A exhibition.

≪ Previous: Long weekend.

Hi everyone,

I hade a wonderful time with the Maitland quilters last weekend.

The weather was rainy but the agricultural collage Tocal was the perfect setting to sit and sew.

I have known most of the girls for many years so I really felt at home.

Here they are hard at work.

Some were making Anna.

And the others brought along machines to sew Miss Porter and John.

So fast and accurate.

And in the corner Neryl and Helen were sewing the raffle quilt which is a beautiful Miss Porter and John.

Thanks girls I had a lovely time I can't wait to have a dinner party and use my new origami skills!

I am home today sewing one of the new quilts and you know trying to tidy up my fabrics yes once again it's like shifting deck chairs on the titanic.

There will be lots more scrap bags for Summer School.

I also need to vacuum as I am looking after my grandson Saxon tomorrow love my day with him!

I found these snow drops in my garden no wonder we love to appliqué flowers they are so beautiful.

July is the month I take time off from the road and organise my patterns for next year so I will do more posts from home.

Missed you last week Julie hope you are home.

Take care and have a great day.

Karen x

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V&A exhibition.

July 24, 2013, 12:34 am

≫ Next: Back to work.

≪ Previous: Maitland workshop

Hi everyone,

Today I finally saw the V&A quilts and they are beautiful I actually felt a little teary standing in front of The Sundial quilt.

The Brisbane art gallery have done a fantastic job with the exhibition.

Entrance to the show.

Lunch was great in the restaurant they even have a quilted pavlova desert really yummy.

My credit card loved the pop up shop!

This is our haul and we are going back on Thursday.

Anne

Susie.

We are sewing tonight with a good supply of chocolate and coffee.

Brisbane is really lovely and as I left home on Monday with a dusting of snow the warmer weather is lovely.

Goodnight to all,

Karen

↧

Back to work.

August 3, 2013, 6:03 pm

≫ Next: Spring at last.

≪ Previous: V&A exhibition.

Hi everyone,

My first week back at work and we are starting whimsical wool it's always fantastic to start a new project.

Hope you all have your baskets packed with all your lovely wool pieces.

I will be teaching this quilt at Summer School on Friday so don't be upset if you live too far away to come along to class.

Yesterday after class the girls and I popped down to Penrith to have a look at the quilters gathering held at Panthers.

Lovely to wander through a venue filled with quilting stalls only.

Here is Rhonda with her pop up shop.

Congratulations to Rhonda her beautiful Baltimore quilt has been accepted to the Houston show!

Lorraine from Patchwork plus also had a lovely little shop.

You always seem to meet up with friends when you go along to these events so I had a lovely time.

These photos are a bit late coming but here is the show and tell from my group who do a yearly workshop on Janet Edmonds farm.

Annette's friend hand quilted her Durham quilt.

Beautiful hand quilting!

Chris has her Miss Austen ready to quilt.

And Archy has quilted hers.

Here are Carols quilts. I love all the hand quilting her quilts are so soft and just beautiful.

Thank you all for a fantastic few days it was lovely to catch up with Janet who runs the best workshops on her farm. Lynwyn and John who looked after us all with wonderful cooking spoilt us all you arrive home and the first question you get is what's for tea?

Today is very windy and cold in the mountains so I am going to have a look at the craft market have some breakfast then come home and sew.

I suppose I will have to decide what's for tea!

See most of you all soon,happy stitching and have a lovely Sunday.

Karen x

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