Stitching on a Sunday

As always I start by wondering how it could possibly be 10 days since my last post... but it is and clearly we've been up to tricks! Today was an extra special day of stitching for me....but more of that shortly. Our state Guild had their annual Quilt Exhibition this weekend but I was unable to go as it clashed with another special event and the only day that I could go I was otherwise occupied. Some of that included a sleep over with Beau including some adventures on the cockle train and joining in some school holiday activities at the Whale Centre......

 During the week I also met up with Judy to pick up Maisie's quilt that is now all covered in quilted circles (thanks Jude x). It seems just right to snuggle under a quilt stitching the binding while hearing on the news that we now officially pay the highest prices for electricity in the entire world!!! If you don't believe me you can read it all HERE and ironically it is because we rely so heavily on renewable energy in the way of solar and wind power......crackers! So if that isn't enough we are now going to build the biggest lithium battery in the world as you can see on the front page of our newspaper! I wonder what William Morris would have thought of all of this .......

So while this is going on behind the scenes I've been sharing our love of quilting these past days at our annual week long quilting retreat that is now in its 25th year - Quilt Encounter. There are over 220 participants and 20 tutors and this is the last time I will be teaching here at home. Yesterday I shared a one day workshop on designing and there was a full class of budding designers that I hope will one day turn their drawings into amazing quilts. Sadly I didn't get very many photos.......

 But today I was on the other side of the fence as a student and what bliss that was! Our project was a Japanese style sewing bag under the guidance of Sue Megaw. It was such a treat to have a day with friends who have often been students and of course I just had to use Morris fabrics........

 But there is always an overachiever (!!)......this time from lovely Kells with her pre-prepared panel all hand appliquéd and embroidered from a Yoko Saito pattern...........

 My lid looked so clumsy and plain after seeing hers.........

 and a little large as well next to one of our tutor's samples.........

But I had a wonderful day and I am looking forward to completing mine. These are some of the tutor samples and one bag has a scissor holder and needlecase attached inside with clever stitched on magnetic clasps (I so need some of these.....they would have been perfect for the Peter Rabbit bed runner).................

I also get to be a student again on Thursday hand appliquéing with the Tentmaker's of Cairo and that will be an enormous and long awaited treat! Sharon from Jamestown brought in one of her completed William Morris inspired quilts today in class and how lovely it is........thanks Sharon x

 I was also delighted to receive some more show and tell by the way of emails and this time it was very exciting as both makers had also just received awards.....and both these quilters are men as well.........wonderful! First of all Eddie sent me a picture of his version of "Friends" from the first Morris book but with his own wonderful outer border design....and best of all.....he won BEST of SHOW at the Hot Springs Area Quilt Guild  show in Arkansas! I am so thrilled for him and I am kind of chuffed a bit too! Well done Eddie! .......

And then earlier in the week I had an email from Clint to say his version of "Morris Magic"" (also from the first Morris book), had received an Excellence for the Group Quilt category in the Canadian Quilters National Juried Quilt Show. Clint did the appliqué and his wife the quilting.....how wonderful is that? Well done to you both and so well deserved like Eddie's quilt..........

 I am so thrilled to receive photos and stories....it really means a lot, so thankyou. We are well and truly in the depths of Winter right now. It was 5C as I drove to class this morning and it topped only 11C on the way home. The garden is dull and the trees are leafless but there are still little signs of joyful colour peeking through........

But the biggest joy for us will be tomorrow when we celebrate this dear little girl's 3rd birthday......the one and only Miss Maisie! So until next time I wish you joyful days too x