New Patterns available

I am pleased to say I have finally completed the instructions for my two newest William Morris inspired quilt patterns. They are on my blog site on the 'Digital Pattern Store' page and do read the note at the bottom of the page that explains how it all works. I've now added "Elegance" and "Morris Brocade" in the store........

While browsing the internet the other day I found some more new William Morris temptations but they are sadly way out of my budget! First up some gorgeous new bed linen........

and some wonderful floor rugs and stunning tableware from Spode......

These wonderful pieces (and more), come from the Style Library that carries Morris & Co stock and there is way more to tempt you on that link! I was really thrilled to also see on their site the 'Mary Isobel"  fabric and wallpaper pattern and even more excited to see the acknowledgement to Mary Isobel Barr Smith who embroidered the original piece here at home in Adelaide in the 1890's! This is the gorgeous fabric.........

 And their words............"‘Mary Isobel’ has been adapted from an embroidery designed in the 1890s by J. H. Dearle and shows scrolling acanthus leaves and flowers. The original fabric was embroidered in Adelaide, Australia by Mary Isobel Barr Smith, who probably ordered it from Morris & Co. as a kit. Morris & Co. first printed this design on linen in 2008 for Morris V and then reissued it as an embroidery on silk and on linen in 2011 for Archive Embroideries. This wallpaper version is available in five colourways including a shimmering pale ‘silk blue’ version printed in mica inks."

The original piece is in the collection at the Art Gallery of South Australia that we view during the William Morris in Adelaide tours.......

and this is the piece in its entirety and alongside my very simplified version.......

Speaking of tours I was thrilled to receive an email a few days ago from Renaissance Tours to say they have just opened bookings for two more tours next year (2019) during the months of May and August! We will be having a change of hotel venue in 2019 and a few other minor changes to reflect feedback from the first two tours this year. We will be staying in the city this time at the Playford Hotel that has a touch of the Art Nouveau.........

So if you would like to see more get in fast as the tours do sell out fast! I have three more this year and one starting in just four weeks....all very exciting! All the details are here at Renaissance Tours. While drooling over those luscious Morris furnishings I am reminded that you really need large rooms and a largish home to really make it work...well in my opinion anyway! But I enjoy my little Morris snippets every day.....

 Some windows have shutters but the loo celebrates a bit of Morris!.......

 On the home front we've been fighting off the inevitable winter germs. It has been so chilly with record cold temperatures and even some of this in the Adelaide Hills.......

So I cheered ourselves up with these beautiful poppies that we found at a country store. I love the hairs on the stems that were clinging to air drops in the vase..........

 I've also been hand stitching the bindings in the evenings to some isolette covers to donate to the neonatal unit that cared for little Wade........

 Last weekend I took Beau and Maisie to see the 100 Years Disney Magic on Ice show. It was treat for the three of us and I had bought tickets 8 months ago! They were dressed for the occasion and very excited....

 So another jam packed week for the Hill household so I will finish with little Wade who has also been struggling with the winter cold season but it didn't stop this smile. Thanks for visiting and take care till next time x

Really??!!

Is it really almost two weeks once again since I last blogged??!! I have no idea where the weeks have gone - I guess being Winter the days are shorter? 😝 but I am not sure that makes scientific sense! I guess it confirms our lives are still very busy and certainly having had this wee chap for 3 days this week made the week fly by. One day he even helped me to stitch and he loved feeding the fabric through......

 Larry had a birthday on June 15th so we had a glorious Winter's day enjoying each other's company in historic Hahndorf finding a lunch venue that had a cosy fire........

 There are always hints of souvenirs for tourists.......

 As the years pass us by we often wonder if this is our "forever" home. We bought this home almost 5 years ago but we are still not settled. We've been exploring options that are within an hour of the family but I fear part of the restlessness is that we watch far too many episodes of Escape to the Country! Our budget will never ever be near what we see on that show, but we live in hope of winning the lottery...crazy pair we are as we have had the same six game numbers every week for almost 40 years!! We know we should stop but when one has been in it that long we remain naively and optimistically hopeful! We look forward to far less traffic in a village setting where one can just walk to the local shops. One place full of country charm is just 30 minutes from home so we've visited twice this past fortnight......

 We even sought some divine intervention at this dear Anglican Chapel that happens to have a shrine thought to be the image of the Virgin Mary on the wall. They receive many pilgrims from far and wide and you can read all about it HERE. 

 We love these wooden country style homes but a stone cottage would be just as nice!!

 Nearby are wonderful vistas including this beach that reminded us of Norfolk Island with the pines.......

 and a drive across the top of one of our largest reservoirs......

 It is well and truly Winter here with very chilly temperatures but we could do with some more rain. I found these spectacular images that were taken in the centre of Australia this past week where one would imagine it is always hot and dry (and sorry there was no acknowledgement of the photographer)......

During this past fortnight I received some special gifts in the mail. One came from Monika all the way from the Czech Republic. I had sent her a pattern and as a thankyou she made me this fabulous pincushion that has already been put to use. Thankyou so much Monika x 

 And dear Rosie in Sydney sent me this book and card when she found out I would not be able to see the tapestries in Sydney. I had planned to stay with Rosie and also visit the Sydney quilt show but I was needed at home instead - thankyou so much Rosie xx

So heaven knows if it will be another fortnight before I blog again....I do know that I should have the instructions for these two new quilt patterns written up by then so stay tuned. Take care wherever you are x