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I have attended lots of quilty things over the past month and will try to share lots of photos with you.  First up was Castlemaine Applique Group and Di Ford's Book Launch.

 Here's Di with Corliss from Threadbear.

This is the cover of the book, it is absolutely stunning and I can't stop looking at it.

The following are photos from CAG Show & Tell.  I have already forgotten who owns most of the quilts so apologies in advance.

This is Deb's gorgeous Phebe, all finished (I'm so jealous!)

I don't know who owns this quilt but it is a Di Ford pattern called "Poppies" - another one on my wish list to make.

This is "Ryland Manor", a design by Megan Carroll and made by me.

The following week, we attended the AQC.  

Here are the girls having lunch on the lawn in front of the fountain.

Once again, not sure who owns these quilts but they were all in the exhibition and are just some of the quilts that caught my eye.

 

These are my purchases from Luccello.  I was doing pretty good, not spending too much until I weakened at the end of the day and bought a kit.

There will be a bit of machine sewing to keep me busy for a while.

Hope you enjoyed the Show & Tell.

Sue-Anne xxx

A Very Special Book Launch

The Friday Girls attended a very special book launch last week at Avonleigh Country Quilting.  Our very own Marg Low has released her first book called Things I Love to Make.

L to R: Michelle, Marg, Jan, Sue-Anne, Helen.

Marg gave us all our own specially signed copy.

I'm extra excited because my quilt is in the book.

Over the Christmas period I did a little bit of Secret Sewing.  Marg had made a beautiful quilt called Magic Circles (pictured in the top photo) in lots of pinks and reds and my challenge was to do one in blues.  All the blue fabrics came from my stash.  There were 99 blocks to make and I am a little embarrassed to admit that I did not repeat one fabric.

I had decided that I was going to make this quilt for a soldier friend who is deployed to the Middle East so I made mine a different size to Marg's.  Once it was completed, I loved it so much I kept it for myself......

The leftover blocks didn't go to waste, they were sewn together and made into a little quilt and then given to my friend's grandson as a christening gift.

If you would like to purchase Marg's book or visit her blog, just click on the highlighted links.  It's a beautiful book and showcases Marg's designs beautifully.  Marg is a very talented lady and we are very blessed to have her as our friend.

Sue-Anne xxx

ANZACS

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

LEST WE FORGET

My thoughts today are with all the men and women in our Defence Force,  past and present, who have been and are currently protecting our way of life.

Sue-Anne xxx

Where Am I Up To?

Has it only been two weeks since I last blogged?

I have finished the centre for Hertfordshire and it sits flat!!!!  I am extremely happy with how good it looks and I amazed that the stripes line up on the mitred corners.

Since my last post, I've had a couple of day trips to Melbourne.  First trip was to the Crow Gathering at Quilts in the Barn.  What a fantastic day we had!  Leonie & Deidre kept us entertained all day, they are so much fun!  Linda and her helpers did an amazing job, as usual, keeping us fed and watered.  And on top of all that, I got to catch up with friends, old and new.

Here is Jan, Michelle and Helen hard at work stitching their projects.

Left to Right - Kim, Elyte, Marina, Linda and me in front.

Sorry I didn't take more photos, I was too busy talking etc but if you hit the links above you will see more from the day, especially The Crows's beautiful quilts.

After leaving Linda's, we called into Needles & Pins, a quilt shop in Warrandyte.  My Saturday sewing group has a challenge this year to make a quilt in 1930's fabrics.  I had the perfect pattern but not one scrap of 1930's anywhere.  This is what I came home with.  They look so gorgeous stacked together like that,, I may have to just start collecting them......

So as if there wasn't enough excitement in the day, look who came into the shop to see her new book for the first time, none other than Di Ford! 

AND GUESS WHO ALSO GOT TO SEE THE BOOK!  We did!!!  As Molly Meldrum would say, "Do yourselves a favour and go out and get it".  It is a beautiful book and I can't wait to get my signed copy from Threadbear in a couple of weeks.

Notice the quilt in the background.  It is called the Unknown Quilt and is a Max & Louise design.  Its gorgeous and now another one I want to make someday.

Next up is Buddy, just after arriving home from a day at the beauty parlour.  We tried out a new groomer and he will be defiinately going back there.  Don't you love the little blue bow!  If my boys saw it they would say it is far too sissy for him but I think baby blue is his colour!

The very next day we celebrated Jan's birthday.  She'll probably kill me for putting a photo up but I think its a nice one.  We all put in and bought her a beautiful leather wallet.

Floral Beauty blocks

So then my other trip to Melbourne.  My darling little brother, who will be 50 this year, crashed his bike in a motorcross race last Sunday and had to be airlifted to hospital.  He suffered a compound fracture of the Fema (I saw a photo and it is something I would not wish on anyone) and they also discovered a fracture in his spine at T1.  It now turns out that the T1 fracture is an older injury and the surgeons have decided that it is stable enough not to warrant a fusion.  He is so lucky to not have a spinal injury.  His leg is not too good and I think there is going to be a lot of work to be done to get it alright again.

Waiting to be picked up from Rose after I got home was this quilt.  It still has to have the binding on and then I will have something for Show & Tell at Castlemaine.

Lastly, I am babysitting my Grand Doggy Lucy over Easter.  We were watching the football last night together and couldn't resist taking a photo with my scarf.  Christopher is a Hawthorn supporter so I can't wait till they play each other and I can send him this photo ha ha ha.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter - hope the Easter Bunny brings you lots of chocolate!!!!

Sue-Anne xxx

Not Another Project????

Just when I thought I was being strong and not starting any new projects, along came a sewing weekend with Susan Smith.  I did resist and not start her beautiful Sweet William quilt but instead made a start on St Neot Band Sampler.

I started with wayyyy too much fabric!

But at least now I have made a start.  This will be coming along with me tomorrow as the girls and I head down to Linda's for the Crow Gathering.

As well as the great company and divine food, there was also a fabric stall and this is what I came home with (as if I need any more!).

Hertfordshire is going well.  I have pieced the linen into the circle and now I have to piece this piece into another big circle.  Please cross your fingers everyone that it all goes well for me.

It is still hot here and I think the weather is catching up with everyone.  I am still trying to walk regularly, getting out early to beat the heat.  Max decided he might like to walk with us the other day, somehow I don't think he would go well with a lead attached....

Sue-Anne xxx

This & That

This is about the only current project I have to show at the  moment.  I bought this beautiful antique linen last year at the Sydney Quilt Show specifically for the centre of Hertfordshire by Megan Carroll. 

I have been machine piecing and  finished this quilt, got it quilted by Rose at Pandora Quilting and sent it in the mail last week to a soldier friend of Nic's who is currently serving in the northern hemisphere where it is a little bit colder than here.  

Whilst looking for something to blog about, I saw this quilt, Washington Sidewalks.  I made this quilt last year.  It is an old fabric club pattern from Patchwork on Stonleigh and I bought the fabrics specifically to make the quilt when the shop closed down.  We have nicknamed the quilt Downtown Abbey.

Not a lot has been happening here as the weather this summer has been HOT.  Poor Buddy had to have a rest on the way home from his walk and managed to find about the only green patch of grass around town.

This is, or was, the beautiful big tree fern outside our window, under our pergola.  Usually, it completely screens the window and the ferns underneath make a cool hiding spot for the cats.  Not so now.  This is the result of the weather we have had and is just a sample of how our entire garden is looking.

Sue-Anne xxx

* I have turned the Verification mode off so you dont have to worry about those pesky little words and numbers.  I did however, set it to only accept comments from Google Account holders as I have been having a huge problem with spam.  This has solved the issue for the moment (fingers crossed).