Moore Patchwork & Quilting

New Fabric

Yesterday I visited a couple of our local patchwork shops and came home with some beautiful new fabrics.

My first stop was Peppermint Stitches and I spied some lovely new fabric from Kim Diehl. 

When I was going through my stash, I noticed that I'm really low on browns and greens in particular,  so the 2 brown fabrics in the front were my first choice.  I love the way she's mixed the pink and blue with the brown. I also couldn't resist the purple with the yellow flower - I always find purple fabric an essential in my stash. It's just a perfect zinger for a scrappy quilt.  I have to admit that the green wasn't really a favourite but it's a nice small print and will be handy.  The red and blue were just too nice to resist!

I then headed off to the Patchwork Tree and came away with some more lovely fabric.  The fabric on the front left is an Anni Downs fabric (it's actually light green) and the green one next to it is a Buggy Barn fabric.  Like purple fabric, I always find black is also essential in my stash - so that one just had to come home with me.  The pink fabric is from Barbara Brackman's 1862 Battle Hymn range.  Pretty isn't it?

Until next time

Lyn

More Fabric

On the weekend we had a friend visiting from Canberra and on Saturday we drove up to the Sunshine Coast.  On the way, I stopped in at Patchwork Angel.

I bought a bundle of fat quarters of Lynette Anderson's Summertime Friends range.

I had seen them on her blog but there's nothing like seeing them in person.

The colours are soft and muted.  I'm not sure what I will make from them yet but I'm vaguely thinking maybe a quilt would be nice?

I will leave them sitting on my work table for a while and play with them and maybe something will come to mind.

Our friend is an avid vinyl record collector - things like Beatles and Bob Dylan - so we stopped in at a shop in Nambour that sells all manner of things 'old'.

In the shop there are literally piles and piles of old magazines.  I couldn't resist buying this Life magazine dated December 17 1956.  It's just amazing to look back and see what was happening then.

The world has certainly changed that's for sure. The ads were very revealing.  Did you know that back then 'Doctors recommend smoking' (that's what one ad said) ? If only they knew then what we know now?

There's also a lovely double page spread on a society wedding.  The gowns were just beautiful.

And current events of the time including the civil unrest (is revolution a better word?) in Hungary and the struggle over the Suez Canal. It made fascinating reading and next time I go to Nambour I'm going to buy another copy of the magazine.

Until next time

Lyn

More Fabric

I know someone who is due to have a baby in December and I've been thinking about making her a cot quilt.  I have a bit of an idea of what I want to do so on Friday I went to Peppermint Stitches to see about some fabric.

 They have such beautiful fabric that I just couldn't resist buying 2 lots. 

I settled on Little Apples charm pack for the cot quilt.  They have some of the prints on the roll as well so I think I will be able to get away with a charm pack and then buy some more fabric for the borders, etc. This range has been around for a while and I think it's delightful.  I guess I was just waiting for a project to use it in.

I've also had my eye on Countdown to Christmas fabrics.  I hadn't planned on making anything for Christmas but these fabrics are just so nice I just had to buy a layer cake.  This morning I spent some time thinking about what I will make and I'm pretty sure I'll make a table centre and some placemats. Mine need updating badly. Will see anyway.

Until next time

Lyn

Beautiful Fabric

The postie delivered another fabric club instalment from Threadbear Quilters and as usual I'm really pleased with the selection.

I was only lamenting to myself the other day that I lacked some nice reds and pinks and was very happy to see just that in this month's fabric club.

I had a lot of trouble trying to pick my favourites but I think the first red one on the top row and the first pink on the bottom row are my choice.

I also really like the brown and pink one just peeking out on the second row. 

Aren't they beautiful?

More Fabric...

A couple of weeks ago I bought a pack of fat eights from Lynette Anderson.

I can't remember the name of the range but the theme is 'sewing'.

The colours are really fresh and I love the prints.

The problem I'm having is that I just can't decide what to do with them. I've had them sitting on my work table since they arrived and every now and then I rearrange them but I still haven't come up with anything!

I'm really keen to use them so hopefully inspiration isn't far away!

Until next time

Lyn

Ruby

Look what arrived in my mail box yesterday -

a layer cake of lovely Ruby fabric designed by Bonnie & Camille.  I've had my eye on this fabric ever since I saw it on Camille's blog.  I really loved the Bliss range of fabric and this one complements it perfectly. I had debated about whether to buy the layer cake or the charm squares but in the end thought that the size of the layer cake pieces will be more useful. 

I'm going to use this fabric for a quilt incorporating my Love Is.. stitcheries. I have some Bliss fabric and will combine it with this Ruby fabric.

Hopefully it will be very pretty.

Footy over (almost)...

Have to admit that I am pleased to see the end of the footy season.  As much as I enjoy watching the games I think the season goes on for a really long time.  I am however looking forward to the World Cup (rugby) matches coming up.  They are getting down to the 'business' end now. To be honest, I'm not confident about our chances - I'm really trying hard to be positive but so far our matches have been disappointing.  Hopefully they've left the best to last.

Until next time

Lyn

 

Fabric club

I was very excited to receive another fabric club instalment from Threadbear Quilters.

My favourite are the ones on the bottom row.

I especially like the pink one in front and the brown one behind it.  The pink one has some red flowers on it which just gives it enough contrast.  The brown one has some pink and red flowers.  I love the combination of pink and brown.

In one of Kathleen Tracey's books, she has a lovely quilt made in pinks and browns.  I keep looking at that and plan to make one just like it some time in the future.  (notice my vagueness?)

Val McDermid...

Was very excited while visiting Mary Ryan's on the weekend to discover a new Val McDermid novel featuring my favourite Tony Hill.  The new novel is called The Retribution and features a serial killed from a previous novel.  I've already started reading it and am pleased that it lives up to my expectations.  It was nice to be re-acquainted with familiar characters including of course Tony and Carol, as well as Carol's team of detectives. I'm enjoying it immensely!

Cleaning up..

I'm having a bit of a studio clean up at the moment and this morning I went through a basket of patterns and found some more Chook Shed designs as well as a pattern from Little Quilts.  Do you remember Little Quilts?  They actually got me started on  making small quilts and I especially appreicated their advice on how to choose fabrics. I put the patterns on top of my pile of 'to-do'.

I just read an email from Dianne of Goulburn and she was saying how Wendy Brigg started her off on dolls and redwork stitchery (me too).  I think it's good to reflect on our beginnings in craft and appreciate how far we've come.

Anyone else have a particular designer that started them off in a craft?

Until next time

Lyn

Fabric Club and Stuff

I was only thinking last week that I hadn't received a fabric club instalment from Threadbear Quilters for a while then on Friday guess what arrived? Yes, my fabric club.

I was really happy with the selection - although I usually am anyway.  But this time, I was really, really, happy.

My favourite fabrics are the ones on the bottom row.  They are just beautiful.

I love the pink, red, and blues.  In fact, I've already used each one of them in a new project I've just started.

I'm very pleased.  Now I will be impatient watiing for the next fabric club instalment!

 

Re-organise...

I've just spent the afternoon re-organising my studio.  I started some mixed-media art classes a little while ago and I have been collecting quite a bit of art supplies. The problem is that they are all put away in a cupboard so every time I feel like doing some art, I have to take it all out and then when I'm finished I have to put it all back.  It takes the enthusiasm away because I usually try to fit the art in between other things.  I might have 1 hour to paint, but that's reduced to 30 mins by time I set up and then pack down.

Anyway, to overcome the problem I have set up an art corner in my studio.  I brought in a small table and moved a cupboard. I then put my paint supplies on the table and my other bits and pieces in a big plastic container under the table.  It all looks very organised at the moment and will mean I don't have any excuse not to do some art.

Rabbit Hole...

Last weekend I watched the movie Rabbit Hole starring Nicole Kidman.  I have to admit that Nicole Kidman has never been a favourite of mine, so I was really surprised to see how good she is in this movie.  It's a story about grief and how a couple deal with the loss of their son.  It's not soppy in anyway but very real.  Nicole Kidman is excellent as the wife who can't move past the tragedy but through her contact with a young man involved in the accident she's able to face the future with a bit of hope.  Really enjoyed it.

Until next time

Lyn

Fabric

I was doing some stitchery and ran out of the colour I was using so thought I would duck down to the patchwork shop for some more.  I resolved that I wouldn't look at any fabric but march straight in and buy the thread and then walk straight out.  But my good intentions proved to be no match for a pile of fabrics I saw sitting on the counter.

I couldn't resist the spottiness.  Before I knew what was happening I was handing over my credit card.  So much for just buying thread.  When I thought about it later, it was kind of stupid going into my favourite patchwork shop to buy thread and thinking I could just ignore all those beauitful fabrics. I was setting myself up for failure.

But, I'm really pleased with the spots and do not regret buying them one bit.  Not sure what I will make with them but I know it will be good.

 

The King's Speech....

Had a terrible day last week. All morning I felt like I was swimming upstream against a strong current.  By lunch time I felt overwhelmed and just wanted to shut myself inside for a while.  I think it qualified as one of those 'doona days' described so well in the Tucked In book.  But, instead of heading for bed I headed to the DVD shop and hired the movie The Kings Speech.  I missed this one at the movies and was pleased to see it sitting on the shelf.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Geoffrey Rush (Aussie, Aussie, Aussie) and Colin Firth (forever Mr D'arcy) are brilliant. The story was engrossing and the fact that I could recognise some historical events just added to the enjoyment.  Watching it gave me the oomph I needed.

Until next time

Lyn

 

Fabric and hexagons

My fabric club instalment arrived from Patchwork on Stonleigh yesterday together with their newsletter announcing that the store is about to close!  I was so shocked and saddened by the news.  I've really enjoyed receiving my fabric club and will really miss it.  I wish them well in their new endeavours. 

So this is my last little fabric pieces.  As usual they are just lovely.  I especially like the 5 fabrics on top and in particular the purple one at the front.  I love using purple fabrics in my scrappy quilts - purple always adds a bit of zing.

I also like the pink and brown fabric under the purple.  It's quite unusual and it too would be nice as a bit of zing. The yellow one with little red bits is also very nice. 

I'm really sad that this is the last lot.  I think I'm in shock!

 

 

Hexagons (crochet)...

If you remember, I started to crochet a hexagon granny blanket and called it my summer project.  Well, autumn has now started and my blanket is not finished.  I blame the slow progress on my knitting revival.

But, when I put them out today to have a look, I was pleasantly surprised at how many I've actually made.  I've been weaving in the ends as much as possible as I go so that means that there won't be as much to do later.  I knew I wouldn't be able to face having to weave in all the ends at once. I'm thinking that I might start joining them together now that I have a nice selection of colours.

Maybe all isn't lost after all.

 

Radio National...

I was listening to Life Matters on ABC Radio National yesterday and the delightful Ita Buttrose was the guest.  It was nice to hear her talking about 'manners' and their importance.  She also talked about her experience working in the early seventies when things weren't quite as easy for women.  What a role model she was.  I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her again and the best part - they finished the interview by playing the Cold Chisel (love them) song Ita.  What a hoot!

Until next time

Lyn

 

Dream On ... yo-yos

I often buy charm packs of fabric without any particular project in mind, but just because I find them so useful.

This lovely pack called Dream On really caught my eye a few weeks ago simply because the colours are so 'fresh'.  I bought them at Peppermint Stitches after seeing a quilt there made up from the charm squares.

The other day I was sittting in my studio thinking about what to do when I suddenly had an urge to make yo-yos.  In my defence it was a very hot afternoon and I didn't really want to venture far from the air conditioned comfort of my studio so sitting on my comfy sofa making yo-yos seemed like a good thing to do.

 

 

I wasn't sure what I would do with them, but before after making a few, I thought another cushion cover was in order.

I made some 4-patch blocks as well and will simply decorate the blocks with the yo-yos. 

Sounds simple enough doesn't it?  Hopefully it goes together that easily as well.

 

 

Hexagons....

When I visited Mum the other day, she was busy making some hexagons.  She really likes making hexagons because of their portability and the fact that they take small amounts of fabric making them a great way to use up scraps. I've been thinking about making some myself ever since.  Then the new Kathleen Tracy book has a lovely dolly quilt with some hexagon blocks which clinched it for me.  I just have to make some hexagons too.

I bought some hexagon papers today from Patches - I really like these papers.  They are all cut precisely to the same size which makes joining easier; and they are re-usable.  I bought 3/4" and 1" papers.  The 3/4" ones will be for the dolly quilt and with the others, I'm thinking of making a tablerunner or table quilt.  I have some lovely new fabric which I think will be perfect in hexagons.

Until next time

Lyn