August 28, 2010

A few more blocks to consider

More blocks in this quilt include a Balitmore applique and the Dresden Plate.  I love the cottage up in the left corner and the easy card trick at the bottom.  I like the sashing too.  

August 24, 2010

A Sampler Quilt from Sydney

Here are some new ideas for sampler blocks. This quilt was hanging in Patchwork Addiction in Windsor (near Sydney). I got inspired to make my quilt a lot bigger and to consider it for my own bed.

Back from Sydney with inspiration

Hello crafty friends,

It was a wonderful trip with my husband. We saw all the wildlife (dead and alive) and had the pleasure of setting up my sister's sewing machine in her new sewing room. We got started on an Irish Chain quilt using a Kiwiana Toile that she picked up here in Auckland.  It was really fun showing her the cheats to making the quilt grow quickly.  She promises to send me a photo of it on the floor in her living room.

Another inspiration was something I found at Patchwork Addiction in Windsor (NW Sydney). They were crazed about the Dear Jane book by Brenda Papadakis.  It's based on a vintage quilt made in 1863 by Jane A. Stickle, featuring 225 patterns! The methods used are applique, foundation piecing, paper piecing, and good old fashioned traditional piecing. I bought the book and the rulers!  Since I was working on a sampler earlier, this quilt intrigued me... no delighted me!  I bought 3 meters of various cream tone-on-tone fabric to get me started.  I can't wait to get started but first I will have to translate some of the patterns into 12" blocks for my sampler quilt.

August 16, 2010

Heading to Sydney

Hello friends,

I am so excited at the prospect of going to see my sister on Wednesday.  We are going to hit the shops; the knitting, quilting, and craft shops, that is!  I am just packing my suitcase with cardmaking supplies to play Stampin' Up with her and then I have to remember my quilting tools (in case she wants to quilt) and of course I must have a knitting project for those cold nights by the fire!

My darling husband will be bringing an empty suitcase to hold all my craft purchases!

I will keep you up to date on my travels to Rubi + Lana in Gordon and Greta's Handcraft Centre.

August 7, 2010

A Journey Through Craft

This is a new blog with a focus on my journey through quilting, knitting, cardmaking, stamping...

I have a wonderful group of quilting friends whom I journey with on Fridays.  We are working on a sampler quilt where blocks are all different and created from a variety of sources.  One magazine was the inspiration for this quilt and many books and advertisements gave me ideas for blocks, sashing, how to position the blocks, and borders.  This is a work in progress for which I will give tutorials along the journey to completion.

My friends' quilts are gorgeous creations. One is going to be a large vintage looking queen size quilt; another has turned out to be "orphan" blocks to be given away as a special gift.  I can't wait to see the all the finished products. There is so much to learn along the way. I hope you will join me through this blog.