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Sunday, October 10, 2010

Clamshells & Armchair Stitching


Well I am more than a couple of days late with my clamshell report.  I have had a terrible chest infection/flu and it has really knocked me about.  I thought I was really lucky to not have caught it all Winter and then bang, it arrived late with a vengeance.  I have managed to complete 3 rows for the month.  This photo was taken with my iphone and I was mucking around with an app I have for photos.


I have also been busy cutting out shells and tacking over the edges so they are ready to applique down.



I have finally started the last border of Swan Lake.  Luckily I had all my hexagons covered and I was able to just sit in my chair all day and stitch them down as I haven't been good for much else.  When I vacuumed the floors yesterday I was thinking how filthy they were, then I realised I had not done them for exactly two weeks! 



This is Irish Circles, a BOM that I am doing through Patchwork on Stonleigh, designed by Karen Cunningham.  This is the centre that goes with the two blocks I showed on my last post.  I just couldn't leave it alone!  I had a lot of trouble picking the perfect fabric to frame the circle and not being able to make a decision, I decided to just leave it and concentrate on other projects.  Of course, that didn't happen and I finally made a decision and kept stitching until it was done.  There are a lot of little appliques to go around the blue circle but I can relax now that I have that centre done.


I also made some blocks for Lizzie (see my last post), and below are some flowers that have started to bloom in my garden.  


My lilac is finally starting to have some decent sized blooms, 


My big pot of pansies that are lasting a lot longer than I thought they would,


My first rosebud for the season,



and this magnificent Iris.  The colour is a deeple purple/brown colour with a pale yellow.  I was given a few different plants from a friend that had divided hers and it has been fun to see what colours they open up to.  I have never seen this colour before.

I haven't been spending much time on the computer over the last couple of weeks but I have been reading what everyone is up to and will slowly get back to commenting when I am feeling 100%.

Is anyone going to Quilts in the Barn next weekend?  Jan, Michelle, Helen and I are going on a road trip next Friday down to Wonga Park and then onto a couple of quilt shops in Melbourne, before heading home and stopping at our favourite Chinese Restaurant for dinner on the way back.  Just click on the link to read all about Quilts in the Barn.  I am really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful quilts from Di Ford and her friends from the Secret Sewing Sisterhood.  Maybe I might see some of you there.

Also, what is going on with Blogger!!!!!  I have had to upload my photos several times.  They seem to have changed the format for uploading and won't hold them.

Now I am going to make myself some lunch and sit down and continue to watch the big race - Bathurst.  There was a huge smash this morning on the first lap where the car rolled several times and virtually disintegrated around the roll cage and it was amazing that the driver got out and walked away.  There was also a kangaroo hopping across the track in front of several V8 Supercars bearing down on him.  Thankfully he got away and hopped back over the barrier without incident.

Sue-Anne xxx

29 comments:

Melody said...

It seems like a lot of us are sewing and watching Bathurst. Sorry to hear you have not been well, it doesn't seem to have stopped you stitching spectacular blocks. I'll be going to Quilts in the Barn and am really looking forward to it.

Nat Palaskas said...

Woo hoo Sue-Anne, glad to have you back. I thought if I didn't see your post today I will email you. Sorry you caught the bugs too. I had a minor one. Glad you are back in the land of living again. Lovely spring flowers to share. Yes, I will be at the Quilt in the barn on Saturday. When are you thinking of going? Would love to catch up. Let me know. Have a lovely Sunday and rest up more - Hugs Nat

jean said...

Hi Sue_anne
Glad you are on the mend. Your circle quilt is looking amazing.

May Britt said...

Love the irish cirkle you have made, It is stunning beautiful. I tried to look up this BOM to see the whole of it but could not find it anywhere.

Cardygirl said...

Hope you continue to improve! Your clamshells are very inspirational, as is that BOM...WOW! Have a great trip to the Quilts in the Barn...wish I was closer as I would love to see them.

Michele said...

Hi Sue-Anne, So glad you are on the mend. For a sick person you have certainly been productive! All your pieces are lovely, but that circle is simply luscious. Can that pattern be purchased w/o the fabric involved in a BOM? Did you hand piece it? Just beautiful. Michele

Elyte said...

Hi Sue-Anne glad to hear you are feeling better. You were missed.
Those circles are stunning.
Have a safe trip to Quilts in the Barn. I look forward to visiting the exhibition on the week end.

Barb said...

sorry to hear you weren't feeling well.
What a busy and wonderful post.
I love your clamshells!
the lizzy blocks are wonderful too.
pretty flower photos -

Marieke said...

Get well soon! You did use your sicktime very well. Great centre on the Irish circles! Good fabric choice! Are you still working on the klosjes? Enjoy the rest of the race!

Karen said...

So sorry that you have been feeling so bad.
The Irish Circles caught my eye and I love it! I am not familiar with that BOM.

julieQ said...

Keep on keeping on getting better! I really love your clams each time I see them...the colors are just so gorgeous to me. Very pretty red stars there!

Anonymous said...

I'd been wondering where you were and how you were! I'm glad you are feeling better....you shared way many things today! Gosh...loved every bit! Your clams are intriquing, stars glorius and oh goodness don't even get me started on the others that I'm drooling over!

Miriam said...

I hope you recover very quickly from your chest infection.
I really love your Irish Circles block.
Gorgeous flower photographs. My first irises bloomed this week too.
Can't wait for Quilts in the Barn!!!

Jossie said...

Hi Sue-Anne. I left a comment yesterday but it seems that Blogger is playing tricks again.
Hope you are feeling better again. Take care!It is a great post with beautiful clamshells. The Irish circle is gorgeous and so are your flower pictures. So different from our gardens now.

Shirley said...

Hi Sue-Anne,
Irish Circles is going to be amazing. Well done on the clamshells. Hope you are on the mend now I have missed you.
Love Shirley.x

Stina Blomgren said...

Oh.. you get better soon... and do take care.. it seems like you have had good therapy ... lovely sewing... keep on with that!!

katrien said...

hope you are feeling much better by now.Amazing yor circle block,very nice clamshells.And the lovely swan lake.

Anonymous said...

hope you are feeling better, your stitching is just beautiful and along with a couple of friends, i am going to 'quilts in the barn' on friday. jean was coming with us also, but not now, sadly! hope to meet you there!

Siobhán said...

Everything is stunning, Sue-Anne, but oh my goodness! I can't get over your clamshells and the Irish Circles. Beautiful! I hope you are on the mend soon. Take care of yourself!

Deb said...

Wow have you been busy. Your Swan Lake and Irish circles look fabulous. Hope to see you at the show.

Valentina said...

Oh Sue-Anne, I am so sad to hear you were so ill! I hope you are feeling better and stronger everyday. Especially with such a fun trip planned! Oh my, you guys will have such fun!
I am totally in love with your clams. They are GORGEOUS!!!
and swan lake AND irish circles! Fabulous work!
I was thinking of you all of sunday(10-10-10) as I finally took the plunge and appliqued something special for my Klosjes. Oh, Sue-Anne it was thrilling and I think you'll be proud! Thank you, teacher!
:)

Cathi said...

Your clamshells are beautiful -- glad you were able to work on them even while not feeling great. The Irish Circles is stunning.

yvonne said...

Wat ben je met veel dingen bezig!!!!!
En allemaal even mooi!!!

groetjes yvonne

grendelskin said...

Your clamshells look terrific! I continue to be surprised at how much time I spend on prep and how little time it takes to actually stitch them in place. And your Irish Circles work is beautiful! Hope you are feeling much better, the only upside to getting ill is that you have to sit still and maybe get some stitching done! Your trip sounds like lots of fun, enjoy yourself!

Annemieke said...

Beautiful circle! And I love the flower pictures. Sorry I shocked you with the number of 144 klosjes. That would be a lot for one week. Hope you will be better soon.
Groetjes
Annemieke

Unknown said...

Oh Sue-Anne, while all the spring bulbs are in bloom in australia, we here in canada are putting the gardens to bed for the next 5 months.
Love all the quilts that you've posted, I think it's the colours on the hexies that make it look so good as I'm not a fan of them, but your clam shells look fabulous!
Get better.

antique quilter said...

oh your irish circles quilt center is just beautiful, WOW!!!!!!
I am so impressed, is that a pattern thtas available on line?
your garden looks beautiful and glad your starting to feel better hopefully now your all better!
Kathie

*karendianne. said...

Your talent is just... well it leaves me in a state of Awe! Irish Circles is the latest example of that and steps iit all up to the next level. Gosh.

Friend, I'm so glad you're starting to feel better and I thank you for taking the time to update us on all the delight. ...including how your garden grows! Warmly, *karendianne.

RG said...

Hi Sue-Anne,
I'm late in commenting but I've been pretty head down... so here I am now.

So sorry to hear you've been so crook... being 2 weeks ago since you posted this now, I do hope you are fully back on board...
Looks like you had a wonderful time at Quilts in the Barn. Such beautiful quilts.

As always your beautiful work inspires me and I simply love looking at what you are doing and am amazed by what you achieve. You go girl!!