FNSI

Here's my FNSI for February

I spent over 2 years just buying william Morris fabric and fabrics that toned with it so that I could do the quilt on the cover of Michelle Hill's 2nd William Morris book.
After going to a William Morris exhibition at Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills I was inspired to get started.
I used Craft Cubby's 'Appliquefix' to fuse 4 blocks, and am working on the 2nd of those blocks, here are the one I've finished and the other 3 ready to do.

I have 12 blocks in all to do in this size and then the central block which is the size of 4 of these. This is definitely a long term project.

My dog blog

We have been the lucky pack leaders of a great Spoodle for just over a year now. He has the loveliest, sweetest personality and is a true joy to us.
BUT, not having the energy that I once had we often feel that we don't give him as much activity play as he needs and he is very lonely when we're out.
Yoshi as a puppy

He is 15 months old now, here he is at around 12 months.

SO on Thursday night we acquired a beautiful new family member, we've called her Sienna after her lovely red gold coat and because the name is soft, feminine and a little exotic just like she is.

Here they are on the drive home during a brief respite between licking and chewing on each other. 

 It's amazing how well they get on, like they were litter mates, they just run and play hour after hour, in fact the didn't stop for a minute from 7 am till 11 am on Friday when they finally crashed.

 As you can see.......

The first night home we didn't get much sleep, they were in the large soft crate together and Yoshi was actually a perfect angel (?!) and didn't make a sound all night but Sienna wasn't used to cows and country sounds and so responded to every sound with a bark or two, she quieted when told but the next moooo and she was off again.
BUT last night they were both perfect angels, all their rough house playing stopped the moment they went into their crate and we only heard a few sounds from them when Rob got up for a drink of water at 3 am, they went straight back to sleep as soon he got back.
Such good dogs, we are very fortunate to have them.
Hope you've enjoyed our doggy tails (oops tales) I'm sure they'll be lots more of them as time goes on.

Retro Rita's Reticule

Another competition in France at Quilt en Sud. A textile comp to make a reticule in any way you'd like.
Well I made a 2 part pattern and made up a test one in a cute floral that I've had for a while and not used, once made I decided I really liked the feminine, retro look and decided to prissy it up some more with fun beading and a tassel.
Here's the pics...

Here it is open and then there's a pic of it hanging up. It's about 6" high sitting.
 

Hopefully I'll hear back that the quilt and reticule are to be posted to France for a quilt show later in the year.

ALSO
Roxanne and I joined the local quilter's group Woodpatch Quilter's last Wednesday and had great fun day, we hope to go every week.
We also went to the South Australia Quilter's Guild February meeting and met many nice ladies who love fabric, sewing, quilting and art, so lots in commmon.

I'm really enjoying getting our in the community again after being unwell for so long, some days are good days and some days not so much but when I can I'll be getting out to these fun and friendly places.

Quilt Competitions

My daughter and I have been having fun this last year entering quilt competitions (more on those later).  Last night we finished 2 each and sent off the entry forms and are hoping to be invited to participate...... it's in FRANCE. how cool!

Here's the quilt ....

The Theme set was "The White Line" open to however we'd like to interpret that. This is the statement that went with this art work.

Titled A Thread of Hope.

“When the yawning maw of darkness, despair, fear and depression stretches out to consume me . . .

I reach, I grasp, I cling.

Somedays it's just a thread, almost intangible.

But if I keep hold it will broaden and lead me away – forward to peace, joy and light.

Yes, I cling to hope.”

Here is a detail shot.

 

I finally got out my baby lock felting machine that I spent a fortune on over a year ago and then chickened out on using. Love it now and will do lots with it.

Here's the technique description I sent with it.

Whole cloth painted and then quilted.

The 'dark side' is further textured with felted wools and silks in addition to various threads, netting and lace fabrics and then embellished with 'found objects'.

The light side is textured with appliqued lace, beaded lace and beaded silks, covered with felted chrystal organza and embellished with shiny, happy objects such as pearls, flowers, butterflies etc. and of course the sequined cord is attached across the work.

The work is backed with suitable cotton fabric and the edges hand stitched in coordinating threads.

Had lot's of fun and lot's of agony making it, and I'm really happy with how it expresses my theme.

Now I have to go do some house work and later I'll post the other entry which was for a textile challenge to make a 'reticule'.

A crafty home

I've joined Sandra's 'Cherry Heart' blog for having a pretty crafty home and been inspired to get on with my 'must do' lists. So yesterday I took some photos of my craftroom and the MESS it's in (Bronwyn you'll be surprised, it's sure not it's tidy self). Here goes...

We had the grandkids visiting then several projects finished in a hurry and you know how once you 'stash' some mess in a room it seems to grow all by itself? The above is the outcome.

Anyway, I was home today so I spent some time there this afternoon and now it looks like this . . .  

It still needs the finer sorting that I've been meaning to do for several months now, so I'll post when that's done.

Also this afternoon I got out a quilt top I made several years ago and it's supposed to hang on the wall above the sofa in this room so I did most of the quilting on it, edge quilted around the pink, blue and outer stars. I still have to quilt the white bits, not sure whether to echo quilt or filler quilt, any ideas anyone ? ?

My husband wants me to confess that there is now a big pile of bedding in the laundry waiting to me washed and/or folded and put away and a couple of boxes in the hallway waiting for him to store away tomorrow, but he's still real impressed with what I achieved today.

Doggy Days

It's sooo cute, Rob has gone off to work today with Yoshi in tow (our 4 month old Spoodle). As our girls are still in Melbourne and I was off to work yesterday and today Rob thought Yoshi would be too lonely and has taken him to work.
He must have had a great day yesterday because all he's wanted to do since then is sleep (Yoshi that is).
So the big Iveco van has just driven off with Yoshi's little golden face and big brown eyes looking out the cab window, and in the back is a  bag full of goodies and toys to keep him happy.
Funny..... I don't remember Rob taking the kids to work with him so they wouldn't be lonely???

Technology Huh?!?

WOW   Today with lots of help form my SIL Bronwyn I managed to add a viewer counter, change the columns and add a link including sign up on Friday Night Sewing... Should be lots of fun and a help with UFO's.  Simple stuff for many of you but rocket science for me.
Hopefully I'll be able to add some fun stuff to my blog and keep up with it a bit more now.