A week of Gifts

This week has been full of gifts - both giving and receiving and I've especially been on the receiving end. First up a huge, huge THANKYOU to Chelair of Moda Fabrics for the very generous and gorgeous gift of William Morris fabric! Some time ago I did email Moda to see if they might be able to help me and after no response I was thrilled to finally get a reply. This 2017 Moda V&A Collection is just gorgeous and I am thrilled to have some. I have a yard and half of two prints that I will use for borders in two larger quilts for the new William Morris book....lucky me!.......

I can't wait to see the rest of the range in the shops in October so buy up when you see it as I am sure it will sell fast! I am also enjoying playing with these beautiful fabrics from Curzon Fabrics. The pearl lustre is just divine and I am using them in several quilt projects in the new book too. It is so hard to capture the richness of them but believe me they are divine (and don't fray either).....

We also received gifts during the week, this time for Beau and Maisie. Two parcels arrived from Victoria (thankyou Aust Post for delivering!), and enclosed were the most delightful wooden animals. They are so beautifully made and Maisie was especially entranced with them as she had recently been to the zoo...........

 And among the collection some Australian animals too........lucky kiddies and thankyou Dot x

 Yesterday at sewing Denise handed me a large bag of dolls house furniture....another past-time that Maisie and I share and today we unpacked it together and added it to the existing household.......thankyou Denise x

 Also during the week we were giving gifts to Maisie on the occasion of her third birthday. Those three years have flown and it is so lovely to see her little personality blooming. I left the camera home so the phone had to suffice........

 After unwrapping our gifts Maisie had a quick change of clothes before the other guests arrived.......into two skirts and her slippers!!.......

 Emily and Brett captured the day and despite the wintry weather they had a special day at the zoo.......

During the week I received a lovely card in the post from Goldfield Quilters thanking me for my donation of two books for their library....here it is Heather and thank you so much for taking the time to write to me....I don't have a return address so hope you see this!.......

 Teaching for me finished on Tuesday and sadly I was too unwell to do the class with the Cairo Tentmakers on Thursday. I have been waiting months to do this special class so I was very disappointed. These are some of the photos from their Facebook page that were taken during the event.......such stunning work and many of these pieces now have new homes here in Australia.........

 On Tuesday in class I was thrilled that Julie brought in her finished version of 'A William Morris Garden'. Julie added tiny beads to enhance her beautiful appliqué........

Julie also brought me a very special gift - a Morris necklace made by her daughter at Wild Sage Designs........thankyou so much Julie...

 Gael also brought in her completed block from the design class two days earlier........can't wait to see more Gael! And then on the right an image from Dianne who was also in the design class....thankyou girls and enjoy designing your own quilts......

I did finish my work bag from Sunday's class and decided to add pockets to the outside so it will carry all I need when I am hand stitching (and more!)........

 I was thrilled and honoured to be a part of the 25 year celebrations at Quilt Encounter that included some of my designs ending up on a sewing machine! Bernina supplied several sewing machines as prizes and the machines were adorned with art work including sections of one my quilts. The top section is from the very talented Julie Haddrick and I am sure she was chuffed to be asked as well. Every time the new owners open their bobbin case doors they can think of William and May Morris sunflowers...well my interpretation anyway!.....

So I am hoping this coming week will bring me some positive news with the gift of new knowledge in relation to my jolly ticker. I'm in the middle of a few tests and during the week I struggled with one of them. I am not so thrilled with a future life on nitrates so I am hoping the cardiologist can find someone who specialises in micro-vascular disease and coronary spasm without these drugs ... being an ex RN doesn't help either (!!). The cardiologist's rooms are close to where I grew up and I do so love this architecture.....

So I will finish with these two precious gifts...we enjoyed their company today.......(and one day I must get the piano tuned and restored ....maybe when I win the lottery!)......