Talent from the UK

Thought I would share some talent from the UK.......It is just wonderful to receive emails from all around the world since the release of the book. Maureen in England sent me these photos.....such a wonderful way to use blocks from the 'Morris & Friends' quilt - an 80" table runner and a beautiful cushion.

Thankyou Maureen for sending me the pictures of your stunning work and also for allowing me to share your photos with the rest of the world. Good luck with the exhibition coming up!

I haven't been idle

Busy times have been a plenty...........we have had our quilt exhibition 2 weeks ago and what a show it was! Congratulations to Best of Show winner Beth Roberts for her incredible mosaic quilt which took her 4-5 years to complete. It consists of thousands of 1/8 inch silk pieces!! And congratulations to Rachelle Denneny as runner-up to Best of Show.....her quilting is exquisite. You can see the winners at the Quilters Guild of SA's website;

http://www.saquilters.org.au/festival-of-quilts-2009.htm

Speaking of machine quilting.....I am definitely not an expert - in fact I don't enjoy the quilting part at all. I can machine applique all day long but the quilting.......not for me. Anyway I was thrilled to be asked to make a block for Heather Bartsch (of the Barossa Quilt and Craft cottage) to be made for her 60th birthday. Well wouldn't you know it...no-one came forward to quilt the quilt.....and me being me..........sucked in again!! SO I have had some more free motion feather practice!! Heather's reaction when she opened the quilt made it all worthwhile.

This past week we have been in Robe in the southeast..........

http://www.robe.com.au/

It is the most charming place and we have been visiting every year for 25 years..........I love the old whitewashed cottages and galleries and cafes and shops etc!

I was working though and it was good place to be so I could focus without the phone and the computer!

New acquisition at the Art Gallery of South Austrslia

Christopher Menz, the Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia is giving a lunchtime lecture on November 3 to discuss a new acquisition of a Morris carpet. The image above is a watercolour version of William Morris' Redcar Carpet. (1881-1885)

The Gallery's Redcar Carpet (252cm x 376cm), is a modified version with a red background and was donated by Tony, Philip and Julian in memory of their parents Fayette and Jock Gosse who are descendants of Robert & Joanna Barr Smith. Robert & Joanna were one of the biggest international clients of Morris & Co. The couple had several homes in Adelaide which they decorated extensively with Morris furnishings. The carpet is thought to have been commissioned in about 1890.

Toowoomba girls

I have been emailing Judy Carrow from Queensland for some time now as we share our passion for William Morris. Judy has been teaching a group of 'kindred spirits' and this is the result of one of their sessions. Go girls - your work is beautiful and I love hearing how you are going via Judy. I feel like I am there with you - isn't it wonderful to keep William Morris alive?!!

Thankyou for allowing me to share your work and photo with the world X

Friends

Aren't we blessed with friends in our lives? I have a 1953 copy of "When We Were Young" written by AA Milne. In it are many poems - this is a favourite written in 1940:

THE FOUR FRIENDS

Ernest was an elephant, a great big fellow,
Leonard was a lion with a six foot tail,
George was a goat, and his beard was yellow,
And James was a very small snail.

Leonard had a stall, and a great big strong one,
Earnest had a manger, and its walls were thick,
George found a pen, but I think it was the wrong one,
And James sat down on a brick.

Earnest started trumpeting, and cracked his manger,
Leonard started roaring, and shivered his stall,
James gave a huffle of a snail in danger
And nobody heard him at all.

Earnest started trumpeting and raised such a rumpus,
Leonard started roaring and trying to kick,
James went on a journey with the goats new compass
And he reached the end of his brick.

Ernest was an elephant and very well intentioned,
Leonard was a lion with a brave new tail,
George was a goat, as I think I have mentioned,
but James was only a snail.

I have several friends that are making projects for me - I am so grateful for their unconditional support. Here are three of five girls who are working away with minimal instruction. To watch them select fabrics with their own ideas and interpretation is just wonderful. We are all obsessed with William Morris and it brings us together as we share in his amazing designs.

Thankyou Country Bumpkin students

I have just completed day 3 of 5 days of teaching at Beating around the Bush. http://www.countrybumpkin.com.au/batb.php

It is amazing to think students have travelled so far.....from Ireland, England, The Netherlands, Poland, Dubai, South Africa, USA, New Zealand and all around Australia (and maybe others I can't recall.)

Today I was presented with this incredible bouquet of flowers from the students in my class..........something I will always remember. Thanks girls.......you were a treat to teach!

Working hard

I have been busy designing new work and preparing for Beating around the Bush which starts this weekend - http://www.countrybumpkin.com.au/batb.php
I found these luscious furnishing prints and I am making ????? for those in the 2 day classes!! All will be revealed later!

And yesterday I had a wonderful email with this photo. It came from Judy Carrow, a quilter from Queensland who has been teaching machine applique using designs from the book. This is Judy's quilt and cushions - just beautiful. It is lovely to see designs reworked............I only usually ever see my own so if you are reading this and have ever done one of my patterns please send me a photo. This is the first time I have seen the 'Morris & Friends' quilt re-made, apart from my own.

Have a good week

Thankyou Judy for keeping the genius of Morris alive and for allowing me to share your stunning work.