Blue and Yellow Quilt together

It didn't take long to put this together. It is the disappearing nine-patch, which began as 6" squares sewn into one large nine-patch that is then cut vertically and horizontally to create 4 blocks. These smaller blocks are then turned about different ways to create the pattern. Now that this much is completed I think I need to add a border to it. Have been looking for fabric that suits and decided on blue.

Mum's Xmas quilt

Here on my design wall is the beginning of Mum's xmas quilt. Her house is all blue and yellow, which determined the colour scheme, and she once admired a quilt with birdhouses on it, so that's where the theme came from. Now that I have the stitcheries a certain measurement I will be filling in the gaps with disappearing nine-patch blocks. I saw the idea in a magazine a short while ago and thought it perfect for this project, however, I am actually flying by the seat of my pants with this one, and am not sure how it will turn out. Keep posted to see! Could be fun.

Bucket List Brigade

With much help from my daughter I have put up a little picture of a bucket for The Bucket Brigade. If anyone would like to join me on this adventure, please do. We can all support each other, inspire each other, share ideas and be winners. Copy the pic if you wish, and put it on your own blog site. If you have a list of goals, put them on your blog, then work your way through them one by one. Before you know it you will have obtained your goals and YOU'LL FEEL GREAT.

Love Letters

Here is the completed quilt top called 'Love Letters'. I bought the kit at The Patchwork Teahouse in Warburton, after first seeing it on the Fabric Frolic when I frolicked with a friend in 2005.  I have had a lot of fun making this quilt because there has been no time line, no desperate need to finish it by a certain date, so I have plodded along with it as I please, enjoying the process. Instead of embroidering the lovey dovey sayings according to the pattern, I chose to address my 'letters' more personally. One has my maiden name and childhood address, another has my husbands name and childhood address, and the third is addressed to both of us at our current address. I found a fabric with stamps on it, albeit U.S. stamps, cut them out and blanket stitched them in place. I had to make my own monograms too, which I dud using Derwent pencils to colour in the letter and embroidered around the letter with floss, finishing them off with a couple of embroidered flowers. Since doing that I have learned that the pencil will probably wash off.
Now I will send it off to be machine quilted, then I will have to complete it with a prairie point binding.

52 Week Bucket List

I've wasted 15 minutes trying to get this photo to stay rotated and refuse to spend more time on it so here it is, albeit sideways. This is my 52 week bucket list all worked out. It has turned out to be more of a 'finishing' plan for the nest 12 months, after which I should feel pretty good about myself. I think what is holding me back at the moment is the large number of unfinished projects I have. They make me feel guilty, so dealing with them all will clear my way to move forward onto bigger and better things. I feel good about the list.
Now - to work out how to put the list on this blog properly.

Bucket List Brigade

I had to post again! I'M SO EXCITED. I was talking about writing my bucket list and then discovered that Frazzledsugarplum has already done it. How inspiring! I have to keep using exclamation marks to let you all know how excited I am! This is great stuff. Congratulations Frazzle, that's a fantastic list and so much of it is already ticked off as done! Now I have the inspiration I need to do mine. I will spend time today writing my list and perhaps the first thing on that list has to be "Work out how to put the list on my blog". (Am so computer illiterate)

Maybe we could start a group - the Bucket List Brigade.

I was TOLD to buy fabric!

You may not believe this, but this morning my husband phoned from work to say the US exchange rate was so good I should buy some fabric. How wonderful is that!

Thanks for your comments re the book idea ladies. I so agree.

Am thinking of putting up a list of things on my bucket list, here on my blog, then marking them off as I achieve them BUT, I'm really scared to do it because it would make me so accountable. I thought it would be interesting to have one thing per week for a year. Maybe the first thing should be "overcome the fear and enjoy life!!"

Craft Fair inspires book idea

Here I am at the Blue Willow Cottage Stand at the Craft Fair, Royal Exhibition Buildings Melbourne, with my two books, The Maria Challenge Quilt and The Elizabeth Challenge Quilt. I was also handing out invitations to my upcoming book launch on 30 October for The Caroline Challenge Quilt.
While sitting there I was able to observe the public at close hand and it was while doing so that I was inspired with an idea for a book - A Guide for people on how to Behave. Instead of left and right pages I would have right and wrong pages. The wrong page would demonstrate the bad behaviour, such as gaping yawns without covering one's mouth, children who don't know how to say 'thank you' - so mummy does it for them, people leaving the public toilet in such a state no one can use it after them. Do you get the picture? I'm sure you do. I think the problems come from a variety of reasons - some people are just lazy even though they know the right thing to do, others don't actually know what the right thing is, and some are just pigs.
I wonder what your thoughts are?

Craft Fair

Back to the Craft Fair today to do book signings. It has been a busy week with plenty of work to do. I have finally taken my book to the printer (yes - I do leave things to the last minute) and have the proof to read this weekend, but I have also been working each day at the Craft Fair. The plan is to complete the proof reading tonight after the fair, go back to the printer tomorrow and organise everything with them, and spend this coming week trying to catch up.
Somehow I have a feeling the plan may not make it into my world of reality.

I'm back! And will be at the CRAFT FAIR

Phew! What a long three weeks this has been. Someone used up all our internet gigs in the first 10 days and we have since had to go without. It has been most inconvenient, to say it nicely. At last I am back, though, and heading into another busy two weeks. In fact, I will be working the next 12 days straight, as I do my usual paid job Mon-Fri and from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 I will be at the CRAFT FAIR doing BOOK SIGNINGS. I will be at the Blue Willow Cottage stand from 10am to 2pm. The fair is at the old Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton. Perhaps I'll see you there.