William and May Morris tours update

I cannot believe it is nearly 2 weeks since I blogged...obviously life has been very busy! Some of my busyness has been designing a new quilt to go with a new range of fabrics with Jason Yenter - started quilting the mystery quilt for AQC - had meetings at the Art Gallery of South Australia for a proposed event (which will now be in the first half of 2017!), - organised workshops for 2015 and beyond - answered numerous emails and of course thought about projects for the William and May Morris tours which are less than 5 months away....eek! I did have to make a panic phone call as all my flights for the tours were cancelled as Virgin announced that they are no longer flying to Hong Kong from Australia (and more bad news tonight with thousands of job losses with Qantas).

 Helen from Whitecroft tours emailed me some days ago with very sad news for one couple who had planned to join us on the May Morris tour and are no longer able. As a result there are now vacancies, so if you are thinking of joining us please send an email to Helen at enquiries@whitecrofttours.com.uk. I would love for you to join us.....you will not regret it! There are also a couple of vacancies on the William Morris tour and it may be some years before we decide to do them again - so last chance folks!

 Of course our week was also full of a very special birthday and he had his very first haircut for the occasion. Apparently he sat as still as could be until he got the giggles because the scissors were tickling his ears! I 'whipped up' a very quick quilt for the occasion to reflect his love of Disney Cars. I was dreading the large borders but doodled a bit and created a few accidental patterns........

 Birthday cake time with his Dad trying to prevent the candle blowing before we had finished the singing!!.....

 Beau is starting to show a few traits of the so called 'terrible two's' but thankfully not very often....the face says it all!....

 and he has learnt to do the pose!.....

 I also had a meeting this afternoon at this incredible hotel which I can proudly say is in my home town......

This is Thorngrove Manor a unique medieval style boutique hotel that can proudly boast being listed in the Small Luxury Hotels of the world list. Ken and Nydia have lovingly created this magical place over the last 30 years. You can read more about their journey here. Well I have had the absolute honour of being asked to make a king sized quilt for the aptly named Kings Chamber! It is very William Morris inspired so I am absolutely thrilled to have been asked. They are both passionate about the true ethos of the Arts & Crafts movement and every piece of this architectural creation is high end and hand made - so what a thrill that I can leave a little piece of me there! I will share the journey with you over the coming months. Do visit their website as it is full of amazing photos. These are the windows in the Kings Chamber and they come all the way from Scotland - very Pre-Raphaelite and in a Morris style.......

So tonight I am preparing for a unique retreat at Stanwell Tops - My Creative Escape. Every participant gets to do a mini workshop with three tutors and in my classes they have been provided with pre fused and cut kits ready to go (and at no extra cost too!). So I had better skid-addle because I need to pack as I leave first thing in the morning. Till next time, take care wherever you are x

Life's little blessings

As I write this entry my chest is heavy and my head is throbbing, as just a short time ago my life almost came to an end! A car went straight through an intersection and give-way sign near our new home and for some miraculous reason I avoided the car crashing straight into my side. Sophie our youngest is very intuitive and has sensed that very spot would be fatal for someone one day…..and I have also just found out our other daughter experienced the very same scenario last night! Sophie has reassured me that someone is watching over me - so for that I am grateful (You would not have wanted to see my hysterical reaction to it all when I got home though - shock and adrenaline are indeed frightening!).  I have reported it and will await a followup phone call on Monday as the signage is very unclear and confusing. Makes one realise how life can be over in one single second and all because of someones else's inattention and bad driving! So now to the wonderful things that our precious lives have brought us these past couple of weeks. We have had two birthdays this week which allowed me to get out the William Morris accessories and china for some special girls! We also spent some time together sewing as we all love quilting so it was a very special day……...

 Our eldest daughter Emily had her 32nd birthday which we also celebrated in the new dining room. Beau enjoyed it all with his favourite Aunt Sophie who he affectionately calls "Dee Dee"………

 Good practice for Beau as he turns two next week!

I received an email this week from a lovely friend who wondered what lives in the display cabinets she could see on the wall in our first house photos (last blog post). Well here it is! The cabinets are made out of recycled baltic pine dated from 1890 and the wood was rescued from a building undergoing renovation in an older area of Adelaide (well so the label says!). They are perfect for the treasures I have collected. One houses articles from around the world - especially special thimbles, and the other 'a few of my favourite things'………

So I think it is time for a strong gin and tonic as I reflect on how fortunate I am and we are. I keep getting flashbacks of the accident scenario and how miraculous my escape was……so I hope you are safe and well wherever you are. xx

Home Sweet Home

Well we made it!! We are like a pair of 'pigs in mud', 'two peas in a pod' and of course as 'happy as Larry' (no pun intended!!) Despite the awful heat our actual moving day gave us a little reprieve with only 34C.  We are in yet another heatwave but are so lucky and grateful to have glorious air-conditioning and a lovely new home. So here are the first lot of transformation photos………Jackie had left the place so sparkling clean so that things could go straight into cupboards (thank you Jackie and Andre xx). No front of house kerbside images until I've transformed it in the cooler months….lots of roses I hope! The tiles throughout have been transformed with new grout so this is the hallway looking back to the entrance…

The lounge room (waiting for those Morris curtains…only I didn't have enough fabric so instead we will have William Morris padded pelmets and tiebacks with matching plain underneath)

And for the very first time we have a formal dining room …… so happy!!

 The family room - kitchen - play area - sewing corner….more happy, happy!! I have never had a studio and personally it has never appealed to me. I think I would feel shut away so for me this is bliss…..and I am looking forward to new internal window shutters for this area too….

 we did some painting before we moved in with a "coffee torte" colour on this feature wall………….

 Jackie's beautiful roses…..."Elle"

A room for the little ones (with the computer which Beau has already claimed!!)…think I need to make a more appropriate quilt for the bed though as he will be in it soon!

More bedrooms……

 And finally outside. My plants are not too happy not having a verandah….that will come later along with the new window treatments so for now they have to be shaded by the umbrellas……

 Thanks for sharing our journey…I can feel my sewing machine calling me……..xx