William Morris in Quilting

More Morris quilts and the USA!

2012-01-24T00:14:00.000+10:30

Hello friends far and wide. I do hope the unseasonal snow is not creating too many problems for you in the Northern Hemisphere. We are in the middle of heat and more heat here in South Australia! I have some more William Morris quilts to share - first from Maureen in the UK. Both projects are from the first book and Maureen also created placemats as well. Maureen also shared her personal cancer journey with me and said it helped her through tough times.......I am glad Maureen and they are all just beautiful

Sadly my packages of quilts are "still missing". But this amazing 'replacement' cushion came in the post all the way from New York........just stunning - Thankyou Eli

And Denise from home made the Peacock quilt for me.....thanks Denise

Fay joined me last year in the 'Morning Chorus' quilt class at an interstate retreat and this is the result. Isn't the graduated background fabric sensational! (I am doing this class soon in New Zealand and I gave away my sample........whoops....have had to do another!!)

During last week my brother sent me a link for an exhibition that was coming up that he thought would interest me.....Stephen Bowers is a ceramic artist and how is this for a collector's piece......well just one piece would be nice......

If you look carefully behind the Australian birds the backgrounds on the plates are William Morris

My final note tonight is this little snippet (!!!)

Yes my arm was twisted and I am coming for a visit to New Jersey to visit the Garden State Quilters before venturing on to Houston. WOW....I might finally meet some of you in person!! But first will be the exciting William Morris tours. More in the coming months - Have a good week

Back drawing and stitching

2012-01-11T00:34:00.001+10:30

Thankyou for all your messages about the continuing saga of my lost quilts. Sadly mine are "still lost". For those of you overseas: Castlemaine is a long way from home and my packages would not have ended up anywhere near there........well I think they wouldn't have!! So for now I am getting back to designing and stitching my way through that list! I have also had a chance to potter and plant in out new courtyard garden.

Tam and Sue............the William Morris rose is blooming!

I've planted one of my favourite trees - a silver birch

...and a Gingko tree

And a sneak peek above and below at the grand baby's quilt! The new parents put in their order for 'Vintage Mickey and Minnie'. Now I am not sure about copyright here and I hope I am not in strife for putting this on the blog....but a few of you have asked what I was doing for the baby!! This design is only for personal use and I have to say I think William Morris designs are far easier to draw and applique than these characters! But I do know Emily and Brett are thrilled with the little peek at the work in progress

Now to the best part of my week...........My wonderful husband has found a new skill!! I hate not being able to help more with the cutting of kits for the Bedford mystery quilt project... so who better to take my place? Larry has found a new skill and just in time before he retires in a few months! Yeah - no more cutting for me! Maybe I can train him to quilt all my quilts as well. What a treasure and such a great cause...

Do go and visit the Bedford Mystery quilt blog for more pics and the latest info (and thankyou Larry XX)

No explanation needed!

2012-01-06T08:52:00.001+10:30

From the ABC news:

"An Australia Post worker in a small Victorian town has been sacked after police charged him with stealing mail.

More than $60,000 worth of property was seized - equating to four trailer loads of items - including WWI and WWII medals, women's lingerie, televisions, jewellery and piles of registered mail.
Peter Martin Jackson, 53, has been charged with obtaining property by deception.
He is charged only in relation to cashing in three Bunnings vouchers stolen from the mail after he was caught on CCTV cameras.
Property and mail has been going missing from the post in the Castlemaine area for the past six years.
Police are now trying to reunite more than 1,000 items with their owners.
Australia Post says it understands the distress caused by the thefts, but says it has rigorous detection measures in place and it is an isolated case."

Special quilts and special people

2011-12-28T18:12:00.000+10:30

SPECIAL QUILTS

When I received an email and the above photos from Ellene in the USA it took my breath away! Sand Hills Quilters Guild - a group from North Carolina, have used the cover quilt design from More William Morris Applique for their latest raffle quilt - what a prize. I was so thrilled and honoured that they had chosen this design AND used fabrics from the Adelaide Collection! And isn't the quilting just sensational as well....and this is the second of my William Morris designs that they have used for charity - thanks to you all and I hope you raise many $$$$! Ellen has shared this for any of you wanting to win the quilt.......

"If anyone wants to purchase raffle tickets, they can send their name, phone number and email address along with a self addressed stamped envelope to me at:

Ellene Place
90 Lake Dornoch Drive
Pinehurst, NC 28374 USA
emplace@nc.rr.com

The tickets are US $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. The drawing will be held November 13, 2012. I will send the ticket stubs back to the purchaser in the SASE."

The above quilt (Morris Magic from Book 1) was made by Margaret Iscaro of Atlanta, and won an award in the AQS 2011 Paducah Quilt Show and it has now been selected to be in the AQS 2012 Art Quilt Engagement Calendar. Congratulations Margaret!

Maria Abbate won Best Machine Applique in the Empire Quilters Guild 2011 show. Congratulations Maria.

Pamela needle-turned this intricate design (!!) and gained an award in a Keepsake Quilting challenge. And you have my admiration for doing it by needle-turn Pamela!

And another winner from the US - Linda Laine Banner. I love how she has cleverly placed and used designs from two of the quilts in Book 1. I think Linda has won a few prizes for her quilt as you can read on this blog; Quilts of Love. Well done Linda!

And closer to home this is Dani's stunning quilt - a 1st place at our local show Festival of Quilts - and she beat Val and myself. Go Dani!! (and I will have another stunning raffle quilt from Victoria when the committee give permission to share - it is a stunner!)

and SPECIAL PEOPLE

I had lunch today with Dani and her Mum Cathie and look what they presented me with.........

Cathie and Dani have become part of the December Angels and are helping me out with replacing my lost samples. Thanks so much girls.....and they went away with a bag full of patterns and fabric to do more - bless them.

And another friend Maree in Melbourne sent me her partially completed tea cozy. I think all my samples are nearly replaced! I just need to purchase the books, design mirrors and a very special pair of scissors that I have now realised were in the 'bottomless' box! (I am sure there is more that I will remember when I go looking)

I also received some exciting news from Edith in Tasmania.......The editorial team from Quilters Newsletter picked my 2nd book More William Morris Applique as one of their TOP TEN books for 2011 - whoopee! Thanks Edie for letting me know.

And my final special person is my doctor (glad we are in 2011 and not the 1500's!). Today she confirmed why I have been feeling so low - no motivation, tired and depressed........that jolly thyroid has gone off the scale again!! So a good cry, up the medication and I hope I am back to my old self.

So with all these special quilts and special people we have gotta be feeling good! I will leave you with a stunning piece of glass art that I would like to get my hands on from Kate Clements of Kansas City Artists Coalition

Thanks for dropping by and HAPPY 2012 if I don't blog before then! X

Somewhere out there

2011-12-22T00:51:00.000+10:30

One of my favourite songs and seems so appropriate for a number of reasons....The past 2 weeks have seemed such a drag and I cannot get myself motivated and I need to! I have taken myself to the Commonwealth Ombudsman to take my lost post complaint further - I have obviously been extremely unlucky to lose three packages - and No they still haven't turned up!

The week leading up to Christmas is always full of mixed emotions. Thinking of friends who have lost loved ones recently and Larry and I also have anniversaries of both our Mum's passing this week. I also have a birthday just before Christmas and I usually spend it doing Christmas shopping or writing the Christmas cards. But flowers from Larry and friends bring great joy. And some more from Lloyd Curzon - I will enjoy watching the lilies open....

So I am trying to get back in the swing of things....I have been so tired from such a hectic year, so I thought I should make myself a list to try and prioritise!!!......

Who it’s for!	Project	Due date
Emily and Brett	Baby quilts (wall and cot)	Before we leave for New Zealand – 2^nd week February
New Zealand	Morning Chorus quilt Replace William Morris samples (lost Aust Post)	2^nd week February
Hawkesbury Retreat	Finish quilting Arts & Crafts Sampler	Before we leave for New Zealand – 2^nd week February
AQC Melbourne	Design and make Mystery class – quilt, runner, cushion	1^st week April
Quilters Companion	Design and make small runner or cushion	Feb 10^th to Sydney
Ballarat Quilting weekend – 2 projects	Design and make Wool applique block holder Russian quilt / runner (finish Hermitage floor)	Early February
Ballan	Design and make Quilt / runner/cushion from Ballarat photos (Town Hall)	Possibly March??
William Morris Tour	Design and make Miniature embroidered Kelmscott quilt	End of June so I can do kits
Berrima Retreat	Dragon Quilt – only need to do design pattern	End of June

Will I be able to do it?? The December angels will be getting their parcels after Christmas to help replace some of my lost items.....so all will be well with their wonderful help. And then today this came in the post from Fay of Simply Stitches in Wagga. She said she just had to do something to help and she had already started this quilt! She even made a pieced background for it! Thankyou Fay

And then last week this was left on my doorstep - thank you Denise (and I know Eli in the USA is making one as well)

So Christmas is "on" in our new home.........

My Mum's old Santa is inevitably surrounded by birthday cards

And this week I also received a wonderful thankyou gift from Heather at the Barossa Cottage. (Aust Post delivered!) Every year Heather sends me a thankyou through the business. So thoughtful and so appropriate (William Morris of course!)....

So with the New Year approaching we can look forward to the "grand baby bump" arriving in about 9 or so weeks!!

Enjoy your preparations for Christmas and New Year. We especially think of those who are missing loved ones or are unwell. Enjoy our new tree - we needed a small one for our new townhouse and this was sold as "an apartment tree"

PS: for those girls who came to Galong....I have designed those quilt borders so do email me your address if you haven't already done so! And anyone from any shops doing the two new block of the month quilts - there are a couple of typo errors....do email me about them! (a sign of too much going on and too little time!)

Till next time XX

I am not alone

2011-12-09T13:33:00.000+10:30

Thankyou all so very much for your kind messages and thoughts. A little band of generous workers are helping me out with some sewing (the December angels!), and in the meantime I am trying to remain positive that all the quilts are still on their way home.
A few days ago I had a lovely email from Maria Elkins who many years ago set up the Lost Quilts website. She had heard via the internet grapevine that I had lost quilts for a third time. This was the first missing quilt which Maria put on her site over 9 years ago when it went missing (and that was registered mail - can't believe it was 9 years!!)

So Maria has kindly done this service again for me as you will see when you visit the lost quilts site. It was then that I discovered that I am truly not alone.

Deborah Kemball is a quilter I have admired for many years. Her quilts are exquisite and all done by hand often using silk. So it was with horror that I read she too has lost this masterpiece - the cover quilt to her book......

Some months ago I purchased Debby's beautiful book just so I could enjoy looking at her masterpeices. Now that book is even more precious.

No closure for me

2011-12-05T18:07:00.000+10:30

The first dreaded phone call came about an hour ago from Australia Post......"the investigation on my missing parcel is closed". This is the first missing large box that had some of these items in it along with design books, notes, fabric and much more (some items I cannot recall at the moment)

And this is the photo from that last workshop with Bunbury Quilters in Western Australia.....you can see some of the quilts on the back wall

I have a knot in my stomach and my heart is racing...I feel so let down by someone???
So I am asking a huge favour "out there". If any of you are reading this and have done any of these items in a class maybe I could perhaps borrow them? One friend has already made me the Peacock quilt (thankyou Denise X). I share my patterns around the world and ask for nothing in return so I wonder what better karma can I spread???!!! If you have been one of those lucky ones you might like to make me a little sample. It does not have to be finished. In return I will send you any pattern your heart desires.

And finally a little giveaway............This quilt is in the SECOND package missing and still under investigation. So to create some warm feelings of optimism I am going to give away four complete sets of the pattern to make the quilt in a lucky draw - and I am sorry if you already have it :-(

Strike three - Australia Post OUT!

2011-11-29T13:04:00.000+10:30

It has happened AGAIN..........this quilt is now missing in the mail. It was in someone else's care and posted back to me the first week of October...that is 8 weeks ago. It has extreme sentimental value as it was lovingly made by Jill who passed away last week (see previous post). Our friend Judy Simcock also beautifully quilted it. So if anyone knows anything please let me know....I think a trip to the police might be my next course of action as Australia Post don't seem to give a .......

Farewell to a friend

2011-11-25T22:34:00.001+10:30

Today we said farewell to a very special friend - Jill. The photo above in her memory is of her favourite rose the pierre de ronsard climbing rose - Jill was the very proud owner of a spectacular one climbing over an arch near her front door. I tried to find an image of one and stumbled across this lovely blog; The Laurel Hedge and then found the blogger is a local from our beautiful Adelaide hills. (fate strikes again)

Now to Jill..............I met Jill several years ago in a class. She was "the stunning lady with the bouffant hair", as only Jill could do! After some time she informed me that she had a "Michele Hill" folder at home and had done many of my designs in tablecloths for friends.....tablecloths?? - my goodness! Over time Jill kept 'popping up' in classes and her William Morris pattern folder was getting very full.

Over time I got to know Jill better and we spent many times together stitching and chatting. She also gave me advice and support in the 'business world' ...always wanting the best for me. When Jill found out I was doing a second book she jumped on board and asked if she could help. Obviously the tablecloth was the project for Jill so she set to and extended my design on a beautiful damask cloth complete with napkins.....

I insisted that the publisher have a photo of all the helpers and this is one of my favourites with Jill having a chuckle in the back with Val........just wish the photo wasn't so blurred. The photos were taken in Jill's beautiful home - roses and all!

Those of you who have the More William Morris Applique book will recognise this image with Jill in the centre. All this time Jill was battling cancer but never complained, in fact Jill told me many times that my designs and her stitching brought her much comfort and gave her purpose during difficult times.

This past year Jill has worked tirelessly to make sure all her grandchildren had a quilt. I have lost count of how many of my designs she completed on top of these family quilts - I can think of ten and at least six of them were large bed quilts. I will try to get photos from the family if I can. Last year while I was away Jill completed two new Block of the Month sample quilts - not content with the cream one she had to do a black one as well......one shop has reaped the rewards from this decision.

Recently Jill gave me some precious pieces of amazing needlework made especially for our 'soon to be first grandchild'. Jill was not only a great quilter but also an amazing smocker and embroiderer. This is what she gave me..........

And I have a beautiful tablecloth made just for me...........

We will all miss Jill terribly but I am so glad I got to share the time I did with her and that I had the opportunity to tell her how much she meant to me (even if I didn't share in her beloved footy!). What a legacy she has left behind for so many to enjoy. Our thoughts are with her husband Peter, her two beautiful daughters Amanda and Lucy and her dearly loved grandchildren.

Rest in Peace beautiful Jill

Reflections, announcements and thanks

2011-11-15T18:14:00.001+10:30

What a year it has been – 15 interstate commitments in just 7 months and it is beginning to show! My haste as I packed the car last Friday resulted in a nasty tumble down our front steps (we have witnessed many near misses so I think hand rails are in order!) Anyway that fall has made these past four days of teaching a bit of a struggle with pain and swelling in one left leg, one right foot and a few more spots :-(..... but “the show must go on”. Virgin Australia were fabulous on the flight to Canberra and provided me with a much needed icepack as I had no time to get medical assistance before I left. So thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you for your care and attention over the last few days . I am glad I am on the last "leg" (!) of this year’s workshop schedule. Here are some final reflections of some happy times….

This was the venue for the Galong Patchworker's weekend at the tranquil St Clement's retreat. This venue run by the catholic church encourages promotion of Art and the setting is wonderful with many works of art on display including this one...

WOW!

Happy campers - above and below

Thanks girls for the fun weekend

I then travelled to Bathurst for two more days as a guest of the delightful Anni Downs from The Home Patch. It was so wonderful to get to know Anni better. I have always admired her unique style and it was so wonderful to share our experiences as a teacher, author and fabric designer and about how we both seem to chase our tails all the time - you couldn't meet a nicer person. Thankyou Anni for your wonderful hospitality and caring nature XX

Such a GORGEOUS shop

Thankyou girls for coming and for putting up with my William Morris obsession!

So to the "Announcement": I am going to be reducing my commitments over the coming months and I have already reduced one of them by no longer representing Pfaff - this will free up some much needed home time. I am also trying to reduce some of my teaching and I am no longer providing patterns for shops (apart from Block of the Month sets).

With this in mind I do have to say how humbled and honoured you have made me by telling me your stories and your shared admiration for William Morris as well. I am truly touched that I have brought so much joy – especially when some of you have been going through difficult times. It brought me to tears recently when I was told by two quilters that my quilt designs had given them some purpose as they faced the challenges of cancer treatments – thankyou for that and I am glad it made a difference…something I do not think of when I create patterns.

So homeward bound tomorrow for planning more new designs, completing some old ones and for enjoying the company of family and friends once again (and catching up with those who have been unwell). See you soon X

Quilting therapy

2011-11-09T17:58:00.000+10:30

Thankyou for your wonderful messages of support..........I will try to be positive about my things being found in the postal system! Life is still busy as I start to prepare the two new Block of the Month quilts. The fabrics only arrived just over a week ago so I have a little over two weeks (!!) to get them done...........not going to happen Tim....might be quilt TOPS but not sure they will get quilted! Tim from Lloyd Curzon's needs them to display at the Australian Quilt Market in Melbourne so an SOS was put out for some help. Now this person would be 1st on my list but does she like Applique??...definitely not!!

Instead she is the "Piecing queen"......head over to the Bedford Mystery Quilt Blog to see some pictures of her helpers at work (taken far too long ago!!). These girls below gave so much of themselves twice before on projects for the books.............

So whose arm could I twist this time???!! Well thank you to Kay, Kerry, Pam and Judy..............they stitched away all day and completed four blocks.........just fifteen to go girls!! So today was a chance to enjoy the camaraderie of quilting friends once again with machines humming and tongues wagging..........

Hard at work while I prepared more blocks.....

Never enough threads to match the applique....

Finished blocks and dishes to be done!

Kay thought a drop of this might help the progress!

Above is the palette for the Arts & Crafts Sampler and below for the Morris Meadows Sampler............just delicious

And a border that I would love as wallpaper!

Let down AGAIN!

2011-11-08T17:38:00.002+10:30

Sorry but this is going to be a 'dummy spit'!! It looks like Australia Post has let me down AGAIN..............over 7 years since I lost this quilt in the post...........

....and now a package I sent home to myself four weeks ago has gone missing. It is a large box with 7kgs worth of teaching gear. Inside it are design books, quilt samples, mirrors for my designing classes and personal gifts of fabric and the precious cookbook from the Western Australian Quilters' Association. I decided to send this gear home from Pemberton in Western Australia as I had finished classes in Perth and Bunbury and did not need some of the items for Dunsborough....my gut feeling is I will never see any of it again. Here is a little of what was in the box........

It is so devastating to lose all that work and I do not know when I will have the physical or emotional energy to replace it all......months of work down the drain. I know I will have to do it sometime as I need it for the Koala Convention next July.
I also need my mirrors...not one, but two Marti Michell large magic mirror kits which are worth almost $90 and two very precious design books....

I cannot even remember the names of my other design books so if any of you are reading this and have done my design class, please can you contact me and let me know so I can start to see if I can replace them. It is the book with the black cover that I cannot recall.....this one above I can and I think I can still get it...so anyone remember the black book for me please?

On a final note I do know some of you are still waiting on things I promised..........they are on their way all being well with the postal service!!

Australia Post have started an investigation today but I do not have faith in the package being found. I am once again gutted and so sad to be let down again :-(

My Quilt Show shock!

2011-11-06T20:55:00.001+10:30

In my last post I shared my disappointment at the state of my quilt. So you can imagine my shock (and horror to start with!), of discovering that the quilt had received Best of Show at the Quilters' Guild of South Australia's annual show. I am still stunned but very grateful to the judges for what must have been a difficult task. My main supporter stands proudly beside it....thank you Larry X

I look at that quilt now and wonder how in the heck I actually got time to do it all. A lot of hand stitching was done "on the road" and even beading on flights interstate! I am in awe of all quilters and their quilts no matter what shape or size....but I do thank everyone for your support and kind words of encouragement.
I would like to share a few shots from the show....permission granted for some shots and apologies to others - but I do hope you don't mind the little close-ups that I got....enjoy:

Lovely to see "our" beautiful Rachelle Denneny's award winning quilt once again - took out that incredible prize in Houston last year....look at all those ribbons!

And Dani's quilt below from a class two years ago and quilted by Tracey Browning and gained first place in its category. Congratulations Dani!

And love the colours in this Prairie Star....and a male quilter to boot!

I loved Chris McIndoe's stunning Japanese style applique.......and a 1st place winner and a
1st time blue ribbon as well....good on you Chris. It is beautiful!

And Rachelle Denneny shines again with this stunner 'Orchids of the Orient'. Her applique is unbelievable and the machine quilting breathtaking as always...and we love you as well Rachelle..............

And she is as gorgeous on the inside as the outside..........

And below from my wonderful friend Faye......love, love the colours and it is soooooo big!

Another fun friend Kitty who made this stunner below.......

The detail in Kathy Brown's quilts is always captivating. She has done a series of textural quilts with the theme of endangered bird species....and she nearly always gains 'Viewers Choice" Her work leaves me always wondering how she did it. (and it gained 1st place in its category of course!)

And some more of Rachelle's intricate machine quilting....and on a domestic machine!

The challenge this year was "Triptych" and this is the winner from Karlyn....congratulations

above and below:

Mary Williams has found her niche with the use of multiple threads on her art quilts....this was her triptych

And finally Country Bumpkin had a stand and I just adore this smocked dress made in the Adelaide collection fabrics......maybe if the new grand baby is a girl they might loan it to me permanently??!!

Have a good week X

Slowing down

2011-11-01T19:40:00.003+10:30

Oh my I am starting to get tired - must be getting close to the end of the year! I have two more interstate workshops to go and then time for some new creativity - especially for the new grandbaby coming soon! A few memories to share from the past couple of weeks.....

The wonderful Lorraine Carthew treated me to lunch while I was demonstrating at the Queensland Quilt Show......and check out the chairs we were sitting on below! (Thanks Lorraine X)

My thanks to all of you who came and said hello and even brought your quilts to show me.............isn't this just gorgeous? This is from the second More William Morris in Applique book book and so lovely with that embroidery detail.....

And above.....I had the wonderful honour of handing over a $500 prize to Glen Jacklin-Newham who received a 1st place in her category at the Queensland Quilt Show. Glen is the very first person in the whole wide world to receive the New Morris Meadows range of fabrics as her prize - congratulations Glen - your quilt is beautiful

These are some images from the Bacchus Marsh Quilters - above is Margaret's stunning William Morris Sampler and all done by hand! And below the "Happy Campers"

Now to some "not so good news" This quilt that I have been working on for our exhibition is in a sad state of affairs! ......

I put in two long 15 hour days trying to finish it. I had planned to applique vines, leaves and birds in the border but time did not allow that. So I cut it back and added binding and then stupidly decided it needed a border. SO I set to and did a "quilt as you go" border and ruined it! Despite blocking it, it is still bulging in the centre so I decided to withdraw it from the exhibition. One of the committee members would not allow that so I am going to be terribly embarrassed to see it hanging so badly in a few days! When I get it back I am going to unpick it all - a lesson to be learned! Today I had to call Jocelyne Leath on another matter and I shared my story - seems like I should have quilted those borders before I attached them to the quilt centre! Check out Jocelyn's beautiful quilts by clicking on her name while you are here.

So for comfort I am going to share that beautiful story about the fairy brooms in the periwinkles.............thanks Alison for your 'therapy! You can see those brooms in that last shot - enjoy and have a good week XX (and I promise I am getting to all the emails and the posting of things that I promised to do!)

But there's more!!

2011-10-16T21:08:00.000+10:30

I am sorry....I'm just showing off now but the wildflowers are so worth sharing!! Before the pictures I do have to share this lovely bit of an email that I received last night from a friend in Melbourne.......she was referring to the periwinkle plant I mentioned previously......

"Did you ever used to watch "Keeping Up Appearances" and enjoy Mrs Hyacinth Bouquet boasting about her "Royal Doulton hand painted periwinkle porcelain" !!?

.. .. and next time you see a periwinkle take the flower apart and inside you'll find what ordinary folk would call a stamen or some such but I personally know they are fairies' brooms !! Have a look and you will see !!!"

Isn't that just lovely :-)

We leave Western Australia tomorrow evening - home about midnight (partly due to the time difference!), and then I fly out the next morning for the Queensland Quilt Show. Look forward to seeing some of you there.....and thankyou everyone in WA for having us - we love your state! I am sure her Royal Highness will also be impressed!

More wonderful wildflowers

2011-10-16T00:39:00.001+10:30

I can see why people love to do wildflower tours of Western Australia. While I am trying to learn more about them I have come across a couple of sites full of loads of information: Wildflower species and Wildflower society of WA (I was a little worried I might be photographing weeds!!)

On our way driving to Dunsborough yesterday Larry had to put up with me constantly shouting..."STOP!!!".So here is the result......enjoy

Mother nature at her best

2011-10-13T18:26:00.001+10:30

The Gloucester tree did not defeat me 36 years ago but it did today!!! Larry even got a few steps higher than me!

That is another brave soul above - not Larry. His effort is below....

I did manage to get some shots of a few wildflowers that are still in bloom - enjoy the 'eye candy'

The Karri trees are just magnificent.

Larry in the foreground gives you some idea of their majestic size...

We drive to Dunsborough tomorrow and we will visit the famous Margaret River region on our way. Have a good week X

Almost chill out time

2011-10-13T01:33:00.000+10:30

My workshop schedule has been leaving me confused in both day and time....where am I and what day is it??? There are a few workshops I didn't even manage to get photos of...sorry girls! Last week I had to launch a new Pfaff sewing machine in Terrigal north of Sydney and in the process had to present a workshop to 51 people!! What a huge class and thanks to Debbie and her family who helped prepare all the blocks that you can see waiting on the machines.....

At the moment we are in Western Australia and Rebecca, the Western Australian Quilters' Association's workshop convener did manage to get some workshops photos (click on her name for more)

While we were in Perth we caught up with friends. Thanks Denise and Simon for the beautiful dinner (and sorry I left the camera behind!). We also met up with Glenda and Len who we met on our Russian trip last year. These are some memories of our day together in beautiful Perth....

We then travelled south to Bunbury - last time I was here was 36 years ago and my goodness how it has changed! So many million $$ beachside mansions.......unfortunately no photo of the workshop with the Bunbury Quilters but what a lovely place we stayed at.....

Bunbury is full of so many beautiful gardens and roses, roses and more roses

We are currently in Pemberton - home of the giant karri trees. I have wanted to show Larry the 212 foot tree I climbed all those years ago, so more photos of that tomorrow. Above is our little cabin for 3 nights...time to chill out before I head to Dunsborough for another two day workshop.

On our arrival yesterday I soon set myself up with a cuppa to do some more designing and look who came down to check it all out!

Today we took a rail tram that went deep into the forest....I would love to have hopped off to photograph some of the wildflowers that WA is so well known for. Did get a couple of quick shots...

Last of all a visit to a lavender farm where we added a few more calories that we really don't need!!! I've used this periwinkle shape in a lot of my quilts....apparently it is a weed over here....

If you look carefully above you will see the quick shot I got of the blue wren

And an orange wren hiding behind the tree

Blog overload

2011-09-21T22:49:00.001+09:30

It has been a while since I blogged yet again......but we are still ticking and 'spring has sprung'!

So I am afraid there is a little bit of catch up to do....These beautiful images are from Berry Patchwork where Elizabeth had her first ever Retreat.

The backdrop to Jenny Bowker's classroom!!

Magnificent magnolia which we rarely see in my home state

Busy doing his work above!

And this was Jenny's classroom!

Elizabeth....you did an amazing job and I am sorry I will be in the UK for the next event.
Post Blog: I have just edited the text so you can link to the girl's websites - go Aussie Quilters!

great effort guys!

Caroline Sharkey's team

Merelyn Pearce's girls and we were spellbound by this tiny circle of applique....

all needle turn but did it really take 2 days to do!!!

Love the shot of Merelyn and Caroline....was that me you were laughing at??

Jenny Bowker's girls minus a few who were so exhausted they had to go home!

Gloria Loughman's sensational workshop results

and Bronwyn Hayes' girls....what fun we all had!

Now for some final exciting news.....this came in the post for me yesterday from Judy in Queensland (thanks Judy X), with the words inside saying that she hoped it would make me feel like a "real nanna"!! Yes we are going to be first time grandparents in March - whoopee!!

lastly.....I am having some problems with my website so I have put my calendar here on my blog....see the page link at the top underneath the genius!

have a good week /month or whatever X

Quilting in Paradise

2011-09-01T11:21:00.000+09:30

Doesn't that sound enticing??!! I could do with a week of stitching bliss - so much to do and I dearly want to finish a quilt for our up and coming Exhibition - fingers crossed but there might have to be a lack of sleep somewhere!

Does this look like your idea of Paradise? Click on this link to Daku ....the destination of this piece of paradise.....sun, swimming, maybe a massage or two and best of all a quilting workshop thrown in - a whole seven nights and all for less than AU$3000 with airfares included! Now I know it is not a William Morris retreat but if your idea of total relaxation is sunshine, Fijian hospitality and quilting, then check out the courses you can do. In June it is with the wonderful Lessa Siegele (just click on the name) and in August with Gloria Loughman.

Deep breath and sigh.....ahhhh!

More Ballarat and an amazing quilt shop!

2011-08-24T18:09:00.000+09:30

We are now in Broadford before two days with the Kilmore Quilters. Yesterday I went back to photograph the interior of the Ballarat Town Hall...just enough for me to design something special for the next Ballarat Quilting weekend!

Today on our way to Broadford we made a detour to the town of Ballan and discovered one of the most beautiful quilt shops I have ever seen!! Some damage was done as I could not resist some Liberty cotton to make some new shirts - William Morris patterns of course!

It was so wonderful to see so much of the Liberty of London collection here in Oz

And above.....how is this for a classroom?

So light and spacious with the whitewashed walls just as Morris liked....

not just for working but also perfect to set off the gallery of quilts and the bolts of colour

And this is the gorgeous Sue who started it all. She has a restaurant and cafe next door and we were treated to warm muffins and scones.........how I wish this place was closer to home!

Sue is a "displaced RN" just like me who has 'succumbed' and been taken over by other ventures.....

The aroma from the Daphne was hypnotising as we sat in the

sun sipping coffee and indulging in the morning tea treat!

Do visit Sue's website and visit her shop at Mill Rose Cottage and

also the Mill Cottage Cafe...just divine........how lucky are all of you Victorian quilters! We WILL be back Sue!

Enjoy X

Beautiful Ballarat

2011-08-24T17:32:00.001+09:30

The Ballarat Quilting Weekend was as wonderful as it was 2 years ago. Lessa and Faye had a huge class and they achieved some great pieced quilts.....

Pam, Jan, Lessa, Ruth and Faye.

Pam, Jan and Ruth are part of the wonderful committee who have been organising this

retreat for many years - thanks again girls for allowing me to be a part of it all.

And this is the great bunch of girls who put up with my raving for two whole days! We spent time working on a William De Morgan style quilt....thanks for coming girls.....

Larry and I then spent two wonderful days "chilling out" with Jan. (thankyou Jan for your wonderful hospitality XX)
The following photos are images of charming Ballarat which include some desirable Arts and Crafts style houses

Ballarat is full of spectacular buildings and classic architecture with evidence of the fortunes made with the Goldrush and in Ballarat in particular.....

The following ten images are of the Craig's Royal Hotel. It is worth checking the link as the interior is breathtaking. The owners are meticulously restoring it and it was in a travel brochure that I first saw a glimpse of the William Morris style wallpaper. It is very close to the Morris style but I was informed it is actually a French wallpaper.......... it was wonderful to be able to photograph some of the public areas.......

The guest list is amazing and includes Mark Twain and several royals

More Ballarat architecture...(and more quilt designs inside some of them!)

The Art Gallery of Ballarat is well worth a visit. Many artworks from the famous Lindsay family are on display. Five of ten children went on to become famous artists and their story is fascinating.

Love the name of the pub!

I have way more to show but might have to do that in another blog........

Absence makes the heart grow..............

2011-08-20T22:19:00.000+09:30

Well a blog entry is way overdue so here goes! I have missed being home (and missed Larry,) so at the moment we are in Ballarat at the Ballarat Quilters retreat. It is wonderful that Larry could come with me so we could catch up again and he could have some time out from work.
I will have had only 4 days at home in the last 4 weeks but I have enjoyed meeting many quilters who have allowed me to share in my obsession. I started In Brisbane where I met with a group from the Kenmore Schoolhouse Quilters where we spent two days designing. I then spent a day and evening with members of the Queensland Quilters Guild. My host Libby lives in a beautiful Queenslander. (You can have a great read about these houses if you click on the link). Thanks so much Libby for having me for 6 whole nights and especially for the cooking, transporting and wood fires at night!

Libby in front of her Queenslander.
I did not pay attention to its age but it was definitely over 100 years old.

I also finally caught up with Judy who I have been corresponding with for a number of years and she generously shared a day with me showing me some Brisbane sights...thankyou Judy. She teaches locally and also shares in all things 'William Morris' and has made many stunning William Morris inspired quilts.

I left Brisbane and headed for Sydney and then took a 3 hour train journey to Newcastle where I spent another fun filled weekend with quilters from far and wide. Before the workshop I took this little tram/bus on a one hour tour of Newcastle..........the following are just a few memories taken on my mobile phone (no room for the camera in my luggage this time!)

Fiona and Jessica (no website I'm sorry), did an amazing job organising the workshop and each participant had a kit ready for them and some extra goodie surprises! It was a great weekend as you can see!

WOW!!! ...and my brain has totally left this talented quilter's name behind....I am so sorry!

It was time to move on again this time to Maitland for another two days of stitching for Rhonda of Southern Cross Needlework. The Hunter Valley region and the central coast of New South Wales is an area we have never explored - but we will be back as tourists in the future. Thankyou Rhonda for organising such a beautiful place to stay.........Bronte House in Morpeth. It was just bliss!

Rhonda's little shop is delightful and has some inspirational interior decoration......

And this is a plant I have never seen before.......just stunning

So I have a few more days of teaching in Victoria so I will share more photos later....have a good week whatever you are doing.

Inspiring embroidery

2011-07-31T22:01:00.002+09:30

During my week in Berrima I had a visit from Phyl who attended a class with me last year. I have had an ambition to incorporate more embroidery to my applique for several years and recently I have dabbled a little with chain stitch and my very favourite - the pekinese stitch (which I love to bead as well). Blanket stitch can get a little monotonous so I have tried using simple embroidery stitches to the edge of my raw edge applique.

Well Phyl has done it just as I have dreamed of doing it - and all on her William Morris Garden quilt. Have a look at her stunning work (and thankyou Phyl for allowing me to share it)
On the applique you will see chain stitch, pekinese stitch, feather stitch, coral stitch and others. Some of the stitches have also have been whipped...just stunning and so appropriate for the period of Morris....

Talented Phyl is on the left with the gorgeous Sue

So much more exciting than just blanket stitch don't you think?

(and Erica....I am so sorry I missed you on Tuesday too!)

Beautiful Berrima

2011-07-29T16:22:00.001+09:30

It is hard to believe I have been in Berrima for almost a week. Thanks to the girls who joined me in classes..........I hope you have taken away all that you came for (beside the calories!). Check out the morning tea one day..........yum!

Tam is a fully trained chef in her previous life (before quilting!), and the lunches are always a treat.
Check out Tam's blog at Berrima Patchwork to see images from the first class. Here is one example of embroidered applique - and it is not blanket stitch!!

On my day off I had the privilege of visiting Harper' Mansion - click here;
Harper's Mansion for more info complete with an image of the garden maze. A few of my photos.......

Mmmmm........maybe a quilt design??

A cheeky kookaburra above the pond (and not one goldfish in sight!).

Take care......missing you all at home XX

William Morris Tour itinerary is now on the web

2011-07-23T19:26:00.000+09:30

The detailed itinerary of the William Morris tour is now on the web! Check it out at this link; http://www.whitecrofttours.co.uk/2011-tours/william-morris/
It will be sensational!

I am writing this from the Southern Highlands of New South Wales in a very chilly Berrima - they had snow last week and snow is expected again next week!http://www.berrimavillage.com.au/
I am a guest of Berrima Patchwork http://www.berrimapatchwork.com.au/ and have a week of workshops ahead of me .......and of course tonight I am doing last minute preparations! Stay tuned for pictures later in the week......

Thought I would share these images of two beautiful cyclamen that we received in the past week or so for our new home - just stunning and thankyou Raelene and Kitty XX

Music and flowers

2011-07-13T17:07:00.000+09:30

Thankyou so much for your emails, messages and cards..........

We still have holes in the ceiling and wall but the unpacking is almost done!
Last week I received some beautiful flowers (thanks Faye, Vicki & Marg). The tulips have been wonderful to watch for nearly a week but sadly they are now tired. The pink tulips stood up straight but the other type decided to weep their heads from day 2 and never opened - nevertheless they have still been stunning.............

Our moving date was changed three times and resulted in some disruption to classes and events. One of those was as a guest of the Modbury Community & Craft group to assist in their fundraiser for the Biggest Morning Tea. Sadly I could not attend but instead I lent a suitcase full of my quilts to share. Yesterday the quilts came back home and as a thankyou I was given this amazing hand painted tray - it is one of the blocks from the Adelaide Collection quilt! Just stunning and now has pride of place - thanks so much girls (and Tony the artist)

I will leave you with my favourite image of Jane Morris painted by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. They had an intriguing relationship and I do wonder if the Morris daughters were Dante's or William's!

If you click on this link you will see more of his art work with the music as a bonus!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_41ogbDfV6Y&feature=related

Have a good week

Show and tell

2011-07-05T23:21:00.001+09:30

Goodness me - two posts in two days!! Over the past few weeks I have not only been slow to blog but also to share some amazing show and tell that has been emailed to me during that time. So here are a few images:
Below are images of the Macktown raffle quilt - from the Scrapbag Quilters of Northern Illinois. You can see it better at this link; http://www.scrapbagquilters.org/commserv.html
It was such a thrill to hear from this group who adapted the design from my Morris Magic quilt...

And Judy from Queensland has become a great internet friend who has done another splendid job on Portiere....

And I also had an email from Lesley of Grandmothers Garden in New Zealand: http://www.grandmothersgarden.co.nz/page/38-about-us
She sent me a photo of their version - machine appliqued by Betty McLean, hand-embellished by Heather Clark and professionally quilted by Linda Young.

....and Penny from Canada has done another stunning quilt using William Morris blocks in embroidery.......

Trudy from the US has been emailing me for several years and I was amazed at how jungle/animal prints could be used on the Artichoke cushion - even handmade fringing....

Jackie from Washington State has also been a long time internet friend who does incredible needle-turn. The first block is from a design by Katie Friesen - another William Morris fan who designed the stunning Ode to Morris and Expressions of Morris quilts. The other two blocks are from Floral Fantasy - so you really can needle-turn those intricate points (but not me!!)......

Judith from the Australian Rugmakers Guild used the centre design of the William Morris & Friends quilt to create this hooked rug - amazing!

And I finally got to meet Maree (another internet friend; http://www.mareew.blogspot.com/), at the quilt show in Sydney - was that last week???!!!
And Margaret in Washington State - oops I mean Texas! (Jackie is in Washington State)......we will meet one day soon!!

Now for my final show and tell.......remember that plumbing problem from my last post??? Look at the fancy architectural features we now have in our very new house.....(!!)

And there is my Portiere on the wall!

:-(

Home Sweet Home

2011-07-04T13:30:00.001+09:30

Well this blog is for all you friends who wondered where I have been! Home Sweet Home has been bittersweet and we have a few issues to still get sorted.......but the photos probably tell a different story. Don't get me wrong - it is wonderful to be finally in 'our own home' but the plumbing leaks, there is no phone line, no Internet apart from the very slow wireless, the roof sounds like it is going to blow off when it is windy (which is often!), and there is builders dust, dust and more dust- and I am suffering from a second cold for the season! But how lucky are we to have a warm bed and a roof over our heads?
So these images are for those of you who have been asking - including friends who came and said hello in Sydney at the Quilt Show....'here 'tis!

Welcome to our townhouse as you walk up to the front door....(that wall on the left is the townhouse adjoining us)

.... entrance looking though to back

...turn left at the entrance hall and the den/lounge just for Larry

....walk further down the passage to the kitchen/dining/family and sewing area. I don't want to have a "studio"..... I do have office space but I like to sew where the 'action is'!

...so behind the 'action' is my sewing corner......(you can see back to the front door)

i will try to keep the sewing corner tidy!

upstairs to his bedroom......

...her bedroom

and the spare room/office/storage area upstairs.............

and you do not want to see the stash behind those doors!!!

And this is what I have been working on. It is an unfinished drawing from William Morris......I have finished it for him! This is the photo of the drawing that I took at Kelmscott House last year.....

I was demonstrating for Pfaff in Sydney and quilters asked me if this was a new project for a third book - I think not! Instead I have decided it will be a bonus pattern that anyone doing a workshop with me over the next year or so will get as a bonus gift.......enjoy

Homeless but happy

2011-06-03T17:19:00.000+09:30

We are not really 'homeless'.......just not in our intended home! A week has gone already and fingers crossed our new place will be finally completed so we can move in on June 17th! It took three days to get packed and have everything put into storage. So I thought it was time to blog again and to share with you a little of where we are staying - thanks be to Lessa and Roger Siegele!

Port Elliot is a seaside town south of Adelaide settled in 1852; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Elliot,_South_Australia

This is one of my favourite new homes

Youth hostel

That is one serious verandah!

The charm of yesteryear

There are many walks around the bays and many mansions competing for a coastal view:

The front above and back view below

And above ....someone builds in front of you and you lose that view!!

You can buy this beauty above for $800,000 plus

Above maybe a father, child and the dog!

And above is our weakness of being here!!

Roger and Lessa's camellias

And the flowers bring me to a final note of sadness as we think of David, Kimberley and Nick .....you are in our thoughts on the sad loss of Penny yesterday. What an incredible lady with an amazing amount of courage - sadly she lost the battle and it is so unfair as she was far too young to leave this world........

Quilt Market news

2011-05-15T09:31:00.000+09:30

What a trooper Tamsin is http://www.berrimapatchwork.com.au/blog/...........here are the photos she sent me and check her blog as the pictures are a little bigger......

Below: Tim from Lloyd Curzon's; http://www.lcurzon.com.au/ on the left with

Jason and a lifesized paper version of one of the quilts!!

And Tam even persuaded Jason to send me a message....a little teary for me but thanks so much Tam and Jason! You do have to do some neck exercises to watch it - new technology for Tam but I am sure I wouldn't have even known how to start!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62874447@N06/5719660245/

Finally here is a close-up of one of the border prints and the two BOM quilts:

Spring quilt market - Salt Lake city

2011-05-14T09:43:00.000+09:30

Some very exciting news is about to be launched! I have been working with Jason Yenter for the last 5 months on my second fabric collection - how lucky am I? It was a great thrill to see some paper samples a few weeks ago and my drawings turned into fabric. Those of you lucky enough to be going to market this weekend will see the first images at the "In the Beginning fabrics" booth - please say Hi to Jason for me!
But for those of us not so lucky I will share some pictures as soon as I can. Two Aussies I know have travelled over there...........
Tamsin from Berrima Patchwork; http://www.berrimapatchwork.com.au/ and she has promised to email me some photos of the booth as soon as she can.
And Leesa Chandler; http://www.chandlerscottage.com/ is also there and I believe she is delivering a hug to Jason for me!
So for now I will leave you with a few blocks of two brand new Block of the Month quilts I have designed using the collection. One is in the style of William Morris and the other in the Arts & Crafts/Art Nouveau style. So stay tuned for more news!

Life's Challenges

2011-05-12T07:58:00.001+09:30

Just when you think things are organised life throws out yet another challenge! We received a late night phone call early this week to tell us we need a BACK-UP plan.....this actually meant we will be homeless for 3 weeks!! We move out of our home in 2 weeks but our new home is now delayed by another 3 weeks!! The building schedule had already been extended by one month so now between May 27th and June 17th we will be living 'in limbo'. The storage scenario and costs were just the beginning of our dilemma especially as we have a piano.

I also received a phone call from the local press last week telling me I had been recommended to them by our real estate agent for a story on our new place. Now that story is incorrect with the scheduled moving date and goodness knows where they got the "international quilter" title bestowed on me - I suspect from our agent!! The full story is at this link;

Affordable sea change a drawcard for south - Local News - News - Southern Times Messenger

Some last views of our front garden on a Summer evening

And just for a little comfort - have a drool over this latest brochure from Morris & Co..............Mmmmmmmmm

http://www.william-morris.co.uk/images/brochures/Morris%20Archive%20Collections.pdf

Autumn brings colour (and colds!)

2011-05-06T17:47:00.001+09:30

Thought I would start on a bright note of the Autumn shades that I will miss from our garden when we move. The ornamental crabapples, japanese maple, liquid amber and glory vine are finally showing their autumn splendour..........we hope the new family who take over our home enjoy it all too.

Now to the 'not so bright note' but with a touch of humour.......
(and "bright" as in "dumb"!!)

I finally succumbed and have had a week of the dreaded 'lurgie'.....which is the Australian slang for being 'infectious' complete with the razor blade throat, cough and splutter, blocked ears......you get the picture?!! Having been in my sick bed I decided yesterday it was high time I got going, so I put on the bath and then 30 minutes later went to enjoy it. Goodness knows where my head went over that half hour because I was greeted with a river coming at me down the passage - I had forgotten to turn the taps off!!! There are now 22 towels drying on the line (thanks Stan for helping!), and a god awful noise of a massive blower drying out the carpet...well at least the new owners will have wonderful clean carpet and it sure made me get well jolly fast!!

I had the great honour of opening Burra Quilters exhibition last week. The quilts are hung exquisitely in the local art gallery which is so aesthetically pleasing. To see quilts hung in this setting and to have them recognised as "ART" is truly satisfying. It was a wonderful evening of wine, chatter and admiration. Thanks for inviting me girls (and men!)

Visit the website for a few more images; http://www.burragallery.com/2440

Tour One booked out!!! Tour Two by demand!

2011-04-30T17:50:00.001+09:30

Oh my gosh........or some sort of expletive like that!! Can you believe the William Morris Tour is booked out in less than a week!!! As we say in Australia...."crikey"!! Helen has just emailed me with the exciting news - so due to the popularity of our friend Morris she is going to organise a second tour from September 23rd. So if you missed out on the first one I suggest you hurry for the second!

Thankyou to those of you that I know personally who are coming - won't it be sensational?!

We are in the middle of chaos and mess at home packing...........so much sentimental stuff that I simply can't take, so I am taking photos of it all before it goes to another home. I will miss my William Morris blooms (above) and I have not been able to order a new one from my usual Rose nursery, so I do hope I can source it elsewhere.

I hope you are resting in peace William Morris - we certainly aren't!! I am sure you are wondering what all the fuss is about!!

When I had lunch at Kelmscott last year this is where I sat - you could even touch the curtains!! I can't wait to return and share it all with you

The Tour - its official!!

2011-04-28T21:24:00.001+09:30

Well I can finally tell you it is time to sign up!! This is a quick run down on just some of the places we will be seeing....but first of all this is where we will be staying in the Cotswolds - Dormy House Hotel a 17th century restored farmhouse - how divine:

Check out the website; http://dormyhouse.co.uk/

Now to just some of what we will be seeing.....the images below are mine unless otherwise noted where I have put a link underneath to show where they have come from - do visit the websites for more info;

The V&A - up close and personal with William Morris textiles

and below the William Morris tea rooms

Above: Rodmarton Manor; http://www.rodmarton-manor.co.uk/

Above: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Kelmscott Church, and Kelmscott Manor

Above: Kelmscott House

Oxford and Exeter College

(Exeter College was closed when I was there last year much to my disappointment!)

Wightwick Manor

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-wightwickmanor/

It is very exciting and Helen has done an incredible job organising it all - we have been able to correspond from the other side of the world on the internet - just amazing ......thankyou Helen! She tells me there are also a number of 'secret surprises'!!
For more information go to the page set aside next to 'Home' on this blog.

Lest we forget - Anzac Day 2011

2011-04-25T13:32:00.002+09:30

Today is the day Australian and New Zealand people remember those who served during wartime. My late Dad was one of them. He was a navigator with one of the elite Pathfinder force squadrons of Bomber Command - Squadron 582: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._582_Squadron_RAF

Dad often spoke of "his war" and was proud of the fact he survived almost 55 operations - he told me survival rate was just 5, so I cannot begin to imagine the burden and memories he carried throughout his life. He spoke fondly of his squadron leader Captain Ted Swales who received a posthumous VC on their final fateful night - Dad knew that Ted saved his and his crew's lives at the expense of his own. I still have a piece of the very parachute that saved Dad's life that very night.

Dad is the tall one second from the far right

Swales' VC citation reads :

“ Captain Swales was 'Master Bomber' of a force of aircraft which attacked Pforzheim on the night of February 23, 1945. As Master Bomber he had the task of locating the target area with precision and of giving aiming instructions to the main force of bombers in his wake.

Soon after he reached the target area he was engaged by an enemy aircraft and one of his engines was put out of action. His rear guns failed. His crippled aircraft was an easy prey for further attacks. Unperturbed, he carried on with his allotted task; clearly and precisely he issued aiming instructions to the main force. Meanwhile the enemy fighter closed the range and fired again. A second engine of Captain Swales’ aircraft was put out of action. Almost defenceless, he stayed over the target area issuing his aiming instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had achieved its purpose.

It is now known that the attack was one of the most concentrated and successful of the war. Captain Swales did not, however, regard his mission as completed. His aircraft was damaged. Its speed had been so much reduced that it could only with difficulty be kept in the air. The blind-flying instruments were no longer working. Determined at all costs to prevent his aircraft and crew from falling into enemy hands, he set course for home. After an hour he flew into thin-layered cloud. He kept his course by skilful flying between the layers, but later heavy cloud and turbulent air conditions were met. The aircraft, by now over friendly territory, became more and more difficult to control; it was losing height steadily. Realising that the situation was desperate Captain Swales ordered his crew to bail out. Time was very short and it required all his exertions to keep the aircraft steady while each of his crew moved in turn to the escape hatch and parachuted to safety. Hardly had the last crew-member jumped when the aircraft plunged to earth. Captain Swales was found dead at the controls. Intrepid in the attack, courageous in the face of danger, he did his duty to the last, giving his life that his comrades might live”

Dad told me he was that "last crew member". Dad received a 'DFC" for his services -

The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". (courtesy of wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)

It was wonderful to see the grand Lancaster "G for George" in Canberra last year at the war memorial.

Our daughters miss their Pa terribly and their was evidence of this a year ago when our eldest daughter Emily was married. On her wedding bouquet she had a Lancaster aircraft brooch and her Pa's Caterpillar badge.

The small gold caterpillar badge on the left of the photo was given to airman by the Irvin company who manufactured the parachutes. They were only awarded to airmen whose lives were saved by their parachute - so Dad is a part of that club forever. The photos below are displayed on a piece of that silk parachute that saved Dad's life........

We all miss you Dad, Ross and Pa XX

Where have I been?

2011-04-18T09:16:00.000+09:30

Whew!........I have had only 6 days at home in the last 30 and I am probably about to hit the wall. It has been wonderful meeting quilters at workshops and at the recent Quilt Convention in Melbourne but it is time for a 'breather'. Thankyou to those of you that I met and thanks for helping to keep that "genius of Morris alive"! It is lovely to be home again and now time to pack the house to move..... and yes - we have finally sold our house after nearly 6 months on the market, but sadly we had to reduce our price by $40,000. Adelaide house prices have dropped 10% but at least we have a roof over our heads.

So I am still "here"..........thanks for saying Hi and asking! I will share with you a little secret....this is a video I watch whenever I am ready to "chuck it all in"!! You might think it quirky but it works for me - enjoy XX

Lots of show and tell

2011-03-16T23:21:00.004+10:30

I have been somewhat slow in blogging these past few weeks. Tragic news of Mother Nature's fury once again consumes our thoughts. The utter devastation in Japan is beyond all comprehension. We are the lucky ones and all I have to complain about is that our house is still not sold! We have had a contract on it since the end of January in the hope that a young family will be able to sell their home so that they can buy ours. Looks like that may fall through so back to people traipsing through our humble abode once again - and it's only 7 weeks until we need to move - eek!

I owe so many emails and have been slow to put up some of the photos that have been sent to me. Joyce from the USA emailed me to tell me she recently won a prize in the Dallas show for her Kelmscott quilt but unfortunately I was too slow to get a photo from her quilting group site http://www.happyscrappers.net23.net/ She has just emailed me to tell me it has been accepted into Paducah - way to go Joyce - good luck!

So here is a sample of photos I have managed to save over the past few weeks.......

Above: Charmaine from the USA has also just had her quilt accepted into Paducah - Best of luck Charmaine!

Above: I am sorry - I deleted the maker's name after I saved the photo!

These are a combination of class blocks and the quilt maker's own blocks

Above and Below: Bron from Western Australia has used several blocks from a couple of quilt designs and even got to show it off to Kaffe Fassett on his recent Australian tour as she had

used his fabrics - Wonderful and so vibrant - meet you soon Bron!

Eunice from Canada is on a disability and she asked me if I would give her permission to sell items using my designs. A great thrill and honour and fancy on a stool!

Faye's beautiful interpretation of the Renaissance quilt - so pretty in pastels - just like Faye (a friend now living in New South Wales). Look at that quilting!

Jill used the bunnies from one of my quilt designs to make this gorgeous child's quilt - lucky girl who receives it!

Lorraine has taken a part of the centre block of the Book 2 cover quilt and turned it into a beautiful cushion. Lorraine owns one of our lovely quilt shops - a nice blog to visit; http://www.hettiespatch.typepad.com/

A group from North Carolina made this as their Guild raffle quilt and raised over $4300! ($2000 more than they have ever raised - whoopee!). And to top it off they have won not one, but two Group category 1st places in two North Carolina quilt shows. And now they are about to tackle another one of my quilt designs for their next raffle - how wonderful! Thanks for letting me know Ellene

Sheila from the Netherlands obviously had no sleep when the new book arrived! In just a few short weeks she has started the Portiere quilt (above) and also a photo of her Kelmscott quilt from Book 1 in progress (below)

And finally Denise who lives near Niagara Falls - her group used Renaissance for their Guild's raffle quilt and with the left over fabric she made this wall hanging and donated it to the person who sold the most raffle tickets!

I am so thrilled to receive your emails and especially your photos - THANKYOU. It is very humbling and a wonderful feeling knowing that my drawings bring so much pleasure. One day I hope to meet many of you in person - Houston and Canada are on our travel plans later next year!! Loving thoughts to all especially with the sadness around our world at the moment - take care until next time XX

A celebration

2011-02-25T22:55:00.000+10:30

The news of the Christchurch earthquake rescue efforts continue to trickle in and at times one can feel guilty enjoying moments while others are suffering........but life does go on and today was a special time with a friend who recently tuned 50. Vicki and Faye are OBSESSED and I do mean obsessed (!!) with Oprah Winfrey. They were both devastated when their names did not get drawn out to attend Oprah's recent visit here to Australia. I must admit we did watch it on the TV and were amazed by it all. So the best we could all do was give Vicki the Oprah commemorative pearl necklace for her 50th birthday! The necklace celebrates Oprah's visit and the final season of her shows. (Thanks for organising it Faye x) The pictures tell it all...........

I am going away for a week in the morning to a quiet place in the country where hopefully I can get some serious sewing done - seems to be the only way I can get on top of things without any distractions! So if I do not answer any emails or the phone that is why. See you in a week! (and enjoy your new gift Vicki XX)

Mother Nature.....why????

2011-02-23T08:24:00.000+10:30

How much more devastation can our part of the world take? Christchurch in New Zealand is the sister city to our home Adelaide. Friends who have visited tell us it is just like being at home. We share the same city design through the surveyor general Colonel William Light; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Light
Our cathedrals and English architecture reflect one another......and now devastation. As we watch our screens in disbelief the tears flow once again. So I ask you Mother Nature.......why, why, why?

As I wandered around my garden in the early evening last night, I came across silence as nature ignored my question and continued as if nothing had happened.......

Our thoughts and our hearts go out to everyone touched by this catastrophe...........

William Morris at the V&A

2011-02-19T00:23:00.000+10:30

I thought I was so clever inserting that video in the last post so thought I would share this one that I saw a few days ago. (I didn't realise it was so easy!!) This video is simply blissful!! Three minutes from the genius himself! Enjoy..........

William Morris: The Early Years from chacha design on Vimeo.

Quilting in Florida

2011-02-18T23:48:00.002+10:30

I get lots of emails from all around the world and sometimes it is just someone desperate for a pattern that they haven't been able to source. I have been known to send patterns all around the world for 'nothing'..........mainly because I really don't have the facility set up to receive small payments and by the time you bank a little overseas cheque it takes weeks to clear and it gets gobbled up with the bank charges. Recently it has become a little expensive as here in Australia we have to pay a $9 US security screening charge - and that is on top of the jolly postage!! But I do enjoy the sharing - that is what quilting is all about. Sometimes you hear back from people and sometimes you don't and SOMETIMES you get a wonderful surprise in the mail! So in future I am asking for a swap :-)

The gift above was from Marilyn from South Carolina early last year. And I have had some gorgeous black and white brocade fabric that is tucked away waiting for a special project.
Yesterday I received the most amazing Temari ball made for me from Trudy in Florida

Isn't it just stunning and it even has it's own little stand! Thankyou Trudy. This beats any dollars in exchange for a pattern!! Trudy also sent me a link to a lovely video of quilts that feature some of her work. I hope this works!!

If not go to this link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKh-ObmZ7OE

And finally have a little read about the history of Temari Japanese balls here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temari_(toy)
and there are a stack of photos if you just type in Temari in Google images

Collecting and sewing

2011-02-05T11:48:00.000+10:30

Thanks for all your messages and emails (and even a phone call~!), about my previous post - some of you are very observant!! I am not and never will be a perfectionist and I have a very bad habit of laying out my work 'by eye'. I know I should have had my pattern under my background with the lightbox showing me where everything should go......not me!! (do as I say in the book - not as I do!!). I mostly use my eye and presto - mistakes! But I have decided to leave the mistakes - too lazy to do it all again. I have even been known to throw something out rather than unpick it - what a bad girl!

Today in our morning paper there is a story that will touch your heart. Maxine Millbrook from Cardwell (one of the worst affected regions in Queensland), says Cyclone Yasi has "broken my heart and I am 86 and can't start over again". She goes on to share her losses and includes the fact that the only pair of shoes she has is the pair she is wearing. Her lounge is now a beach, covered in sand with all her belongings destroyed. But miraculously two cross stitch samplers that she worked of her dogs remained hanging on the wall. AND........you will not believe this...."But one of my most special things is my sewing machine and that is still sitting on the table, virtually untouched". What a special lady.

So it made me think of how precious our sewing machines are to us as well. I am sure that would be something that would have to stay behind in a rush evacuation, but maybe these small sewing treasures that I collect on my travels would just fit in my bag?

I know over the coming months many of us will be busy sewing quilts for the survivors up North and also making up sewing kits for our fellow stitchers.
Bless you Mrs Millbrook XX

Russian floor quilt

2011-02-03T16:12:00.001+10:30

Hermitage Museum courtyard on our visit 2010

I have spent the day over the design table placing applique pieces of my first Russian floor quilt. I have had Sky news on all day with thoughts once again to our fellow Aussies in Queensland. Their night of waiting must have been long and arduous as damage was predicted be on a level akin to Hurricane Katrina. 180,000 homes are without power but thankfully no deaths reported yet. The crop devastation will be widely felt and all our thoughts are with those affected.

So to the quilt - I have spent hours placing and pressing .....but alas I have made several stupid errors! Perhaps the recent anaesthetic has affected my brain (!!), but more likely my lack of concentration! They are not obvious to start with so I am not sure if I might just leave them for viewer intrigue!

This is my inspiration - a section of floor at the Hermitage Museum St Petersburg. I still need to design the border but will applique and piece the blocks first.

The block above is the only correct one! There are 4 blocks that are about 22 inches square. Below are the four blocks laid out together- if you can see the obvious errors let me know and I will re-do them......maybe!

You can take a tour of many museums around the world with the new Google Art Project; The Hermitage is just one........enjoy; http://www.googleartproject.com/

New quilt - new designs

2011-01-27T17:43:00.000+10:30

First of all - thankyou so very much for your get well messages and cards - I am slowly getting back to 'my old self'! Thought I would share this rose with you called a "Mothers Love". It was given to me by a friend when my Mum passed away 2 years ago. The blooms this week have been simply stunning.....

Thought you might also like to see a new quilt I have been working on while I recuperate. It is based on the tile designs of William De Morgan - a friend and work colleague to William Morris. De Morgan leased land from Morris at Merton Abbey where he produced his ceramic tiles. Most interesting reading at this link;

http://www.demorgan.org.uk/de-morgans/william-de-morgan

This is the quilt in progress - all the applique ironed on and now ready to stitch.......

I think I am going to use a narrow black sashing around all the blocks and border. I photographed many De Morgan tiles when we were in Birmingham last year at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery; http://www.bmag.org.uk/birmingham-museum

They have a fantastic collection of tiles and also a comprehensive Pre Raphaelite Art collection. Check it here; http://www.preraphaelites.org/

Here are the original De Morgan tiles and then my interpretation made very simple for applique:

Have a good week X

US and UK quilters waiting for book

2011-01-22T19:55:00.000+10:30

Thankyou for all your emails..........I am so sorry that a lot of you overseas are still waiting on the book. In the USA and Canada the distributor is Brewers and in the UK Search Press. The latest information I received from the publisher is as follows:

Brewers shipping company collected the stock on 7 Dec with expected arrival in NY 3 Jan and Chicago 12 Jan. How long it takes for stock to get through US customs we don’t know.
(I am not sure of the progress in the UK - the books are shipped direct from the printer in Singapore and not from Australia). Any more updates I will let you know - thanks for your patience and understanding.

And I can't believe I am sitting at my computer writing this to you all. Yesterday I had my gallbladder removed only 2 days after seeing the surgeon- the wonders of modern medicine!

have a good week X

Loving thoughts to all in Queensland

2011-01-12T18:58:00.001+10:30

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this dreadful flooding. We are all so used to watching this happen overseas and now it is on our own soil. I have no words right now - just deep sorrow and love for everyone,
Michele X

The books are REALLY here!

2011-01-05T19:13:00.000+10:30

Well the day has finally arrived and I just wanted to share the news with those of you who have been patiently waiting. Bill, our wonderful distributor is going to be a very busy boy for the next week delivering stock to all the local shops. He phoned me today to tell me he was picking them up so I met him at his first delivery point - Patchwork by Sea. Terry got a quick photo of the very first autographed book to be sold in the shop! Bill also told me all the staff at Country Bumpkin were very, very busy packaging and posting all the outstanding orders - so please enjoy when it arrives XX

A look at my place and more

2010-12-31T00:51:00.003+10:30

It is way past midnight and soon to be New Year's Eve. It is too hot to sleep and currently 32 degrees (89 degrees Fahrenheit). We are expecting a 'stinker' today - 41 degrees (106 Fahrenheit!), but we must not complain as our thoughts go out to everyone in Queensland who has been affected by the worst floods in 150 years. And also to those overseas who are affected by the bitter cold and snow - it is certainly a time of stressful weather extremes. You can read and see more about the floods here;
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s3103866.htm

For now a glimpse of what we did over the last couple of days. Our daughter Emily and her husband Brett hosted Christmas this year and this is how they greeted us! Even the dogs were dressed for the occasion! It was a wonderful day - thanks guys XX
We have had our house on the market for the past few weeks - after 25 years it is time to downsize. It is not an easy time to sell and because we need a long settlement we have initially advertised on the Internet only. A few people have passed through but no offers yet. These are the images taken several weeks ago by our agent for the internet:

So it does get you thinking - why doesn't it sell? We only have one bathroom and people want two but maybe it is this neglected room...... Some years ago the old master bedroom became a sewing, office and general clutter room. The agent didn't know what to make of it so he called it the 'utility room'. He took no photos of that room so you must try to imagine there are awful green walls, a few tables, cupboards, ironing board, fabric etc, etc! So two days ago we started the makeover of that 'utility room'. Some 'stuff' went out to the rubbish and some to charity and some to storage! So we mixed up a concoction of leftover paint, bought some new curtains and even a couple of bargain prints of what look like peonies! So now it is a romantic master bedroom again........

Our first 'proper' open for inspection is in 2 weeks so we hope it sells!

So Happy New Year to you all and stay safe and well.