Melancholy

It has been very strange, these last few weeks.  We are all feeling the effects of Nicholas not being here - poor Buddy is lying on his bed  feeling sad that his "Big Bro" isn't home and I have decided (shock horror) that I don't like having an Empty Nest.

And after waving the newlyweds off on their honeymoon, things have been very quiet.  They are having the time of their lives travelling through Europe and as they visit each new country, I think of all you wonderful bloggers I have become friends with over the past year. 

I been distracting myself with some sewing.  This quilt top is from the latest book by Kathleen Tracy and is called "The Soldier's Cot Quilt" .  How appropriate for my soldier boy.  I will give this quilt to him at his March Out parade next month, to keep him warm and remind him of home.

And speaking of Civil War quilts and soldiers, this is a quilt I made a long time ago for Christopher's 21st.  It is called Civil War 2 and is designed by Susan Smith.  I finally grabbed it back before they left for their honeymoon so I could get a couple of photos of it.  Oh my goodness, there was a LOT of sewing in this quilt!

I haven't spoken about Browne Sisters Sampler for a while but I have been putting a few stitches in every now and then.

And these two album blocks (one from Jan and one from me) are on their way to Linda from Quilts in the Barn.   They are going to be part of the raffle quilt for this year's Quilts in the Barn exhibition.  The guest artist is Jo Morton and every block will be made from Jo Morton fabrics.  Can't wait till September!!!!

The weather was beautiful over Easter but it has finally turned.  It is snowing at Falls Creek and I can feel the icy chill in the air.  I think I will go sit in front of the tv with a quilt over my lap and sew a few stitches into my clamshells.

Sue-Anne xxx

The Week That Was

I have, surprise surprise, been working on Swan Lake only this time I thought I would have a play with the centre of the quilt.

Of course, Maximus is always there to lend a hand, even when I am quite capable of working by myself.

Here is a glimpse of the centre to give you a bit of an idea of how the quilt will look.  There is still more to place in the centre and lots of star flowers down each diagonal border.

I have also been fabric shopping, just love the new blacks and blues.

I have finished appliqueing the 2 latest blocks for Browne Sisters Sampler - lucky because I have just received the pattern for the next block.

And this is my new/old chair.  I wish I had taken a photo of it before I started.  Imagine 30 years ago, a pine kitchen table and 6 chairs covered in lime green vinyl, very fashionable back then.  This is the only piece left and whilst still quite sturdy, it looked hideous.  It has turned out ok don't you think.

I have been reading everyone's posts, just not doing a lot of commenting this week.  I don't know what is going on with Blogger but  My Blog List doesn't update for a couple of days and then bang, there are heaps of new posts to read.

I am getting very excited!  Only 6 more sleeps till Jan and I get to spend the day with Sue Spargo!!!!  We are off to Amitie Textiles in Melbourne early on Sunday morning and I can't wait.  I'll be there, wearing my Sue Spargo threadcutter that was a special gift, my Sue Spargo necklace and my Sue Spargo earrings with my camera at the ready.  Do you think I may be going a little over the top???

 

Sue-Anne xxx

Overwhelmed!!!

I have been feeling a little overwhelmed this week by the tasks that I have taken on.  Two major quilts, Phebe and Swan Lake, Browne Sisters Sampler quilt, and of course I have my beautiful Klosjes and my other fill-in project, Yo Yo's.  A plan for some time management was needed and last night I spent the evening cutting out hexagons and spools.  This morning was devoted to Phebe.

Phebe is proving to be quite a challenge for me to get started BUT now I think I have had a major breakthrough.  I finally got the centre urn looking how I wanted it to.  I have had this piece of Yuwa fabric for quite a while, saving it for something special, and I think you will agree, it is perfect.  The photo does not do it justice.

I have made a start on the 2nd instalment of the Browne Sisters Sampler and I am enjoying the applique.   The Autumn weather is beautiful here at the moment, top of 30 C but cool in the morning and evening.  I think I might spend some time this afternoon outside sewing hexagons and now that I am a little bit more organised, I feel an overwhelming sense of PEACE (that is until I can't decide on the next "perfect piece" of applique fabric or run out of hexagons to stitch!).

This is Michelle's Positive/Negative 9 Patch.  Doesn't it look wonderful!  We have basically used the same fabrics and Michelle's looks totally different to mine with the lighter, fresher background fabric.  Michelle has made her quilt to fit her huge dining room table.  It looks fantastic Michelle!!!

Sue-Anne xxx

Pets Behaving Badly And A Project Update

Buddy discovered this dinner plate on a stool and decided that there might be something up there for him.  He's just not quite tall enough!

Max has a basket that sits on the pool table.  Everyone knows it is his but occasionally Milo thinks he will sneak a snooze in it.  Milo was sound asleep when Max discovered him there.  He stood over him, squared up his shoulders and glared, then swiped as quick as a cobra.  Milo got such a fright, he jumped, kicked the basket and fell off the table.  Lucky cats land on their feet.  Can you see the terror in his eyes?

I have finished one of my Browne Sisters blocks and  and only have the basket to applique on the 2nd.  I love how it looks after all the frayed edges have been turned under.

I have finally made a start on Phebe after deciding on a 3rd background fabric!  It doesn't look like much I know, but I have traced out over 200 pieces onto freezer paper and have the "coveted" green hill fabric cut out and stuck down.

Joke has told me that Klosjes are not sewn just on Saturdays.  Saturday is the day that everyone shows what they have done for the week.  Valentina says she spends Saturday preparing her blocks ready for sewing through the week.  This is bittersweet news because it means I can sew them EVERYDAY of the week, but if I do, I won't get anything else done.....

Sue-Anne xxx

Browne Sisters Sampler

I was so anxious to finish Rosebud and then when it was done, I went into a panic because I didn't have any applique to continue working on! 

I have been a member of a fabric club with Patchwork on Stonleigh for a very long time now.  Every 3 months we get a fat sixteenth of ten different reproduction fabrics, a newsletter and a quilt pattern.  They have decided for a change to do a sort of BOM (only every 3 months) and it is called the Browne Sisters Sampler.  It is based on an old stitchery sampler, I think cross stitch and Stonleigh have redesigned it into a quilt. 

These are the first blocks that will go on each bottom corner.  I have seen a picture of the sampler but Susan is doing something different in the middle and I think it will be fun to see how it all comes together.  My track record with BOM's (except for Ryland Manor) is not very good.  I tend to get all excited at the start and then fade away and don't finish, so I am going to stick with this one until the end (I've now made a commitment to you all!).  I think with 3 monthly intervals, I should be able to keep enthusiastic and still be able to work on other projects in between.

Sue-Anne xxx