Dreaming of "one day"

The slogan "we are all in this together" reminds us that this virus is still lurking and to be grateful for what life brings us today. So many have lost jobs and livelihoods and I too have been affected in a small way. I had a series of lecture events that have of course been cancelled or postponed and only this past week I should have been enjoying the company of guests who were looking forward to seeing our beautiful city in our 8th William Morris in Adelaide Tour. I just went online to get the link and also read that my tour in August has been cancelled. So like many my trickle of pocket money has dried up but we can only hope that the November tour will go ahead so I can share some of our special Morris collection.......

 So I've diverted those disappointments by "dreaming of one day" and getting back to stitching. The palliative care quilts pile has grown and since early March I have stitched 17 quilt tops. Faye has been incredible with all her machine quilting and last time I spoke to her she had 40 donated tops waiting to be completed! These bright ones she quilted for me are now finished......

And Lessa who has led us through this journey thought I might like to do some quilting on these donated hand embroidered blocks that she turned into two quilts. My quilting is by no means perfect but I'm glad I could finish them off...again for the palliative care project......

 

 Another quilting friend Rachelle dropped by during the week and she too shared the disappointment of cancelled workshops, events and classes. If you click on this link Rachelle Denneny Designs you will see some of her very fresh, bright and modern quilt patterns that she sells. Rachelle also turned this difficult time into something positive by starting a mystery quilt online - the third in the SA Quilters Guild series that you can see HERE. You can also join in with the other 700 quilters (!!) - it is not too late as it starts on Friday! Rachelle then decided it could be a way of raising funds by providing a donation option to her favourite charity Backpacks 4 SA Kids that help the vulnerable in many ways. And if that wasn't enough she then decided to hold an online auction for the same worthy cause! So I put my hand up and have donated some Beatrix Potter goodies including quilts from my book. Rachelle has a wonderful way of putting the images together.....

 And this cushion I made is going to a new home as that was auctioned yesterday. So with the mystery quilt donations and the auction (that is on every day and doesn't finish until this Thursday evening), Rachelle has raised over $7,000AU! An amazing effort and I am glad I could help.........

 My fabrics are all cut up ready to go for the mystery quilt instructions that start on Friday so the "dreaming of one day" thoughts can be tucked away for a while.....

Larry and I were blessed with our 42nd wedding anniversary during the week so we dropped by our local cafe to pick up some delicious tarts to bake at home for lunch. When we popped in there was a gorgeous cupcake and chocolate gift box waiting for us from them.......how lucky are we?.....

Another day we ventured out for a drive and enjoyed an impromptu lunch at another favourite spot. We are so very lucky that we can dine with restrictions still in place, but this time there was no-one so we could sit inside......

These past couple of weeks here at home the weather feels like early Winter with very chilly days and lots of rain. The garden is certainly looking like Autumn but we still don't see our row of three ornamental pear trees changing colour. They have been in for a couple of years now and the label assured us of "reddish- purple autumn leaves and beautiful white flowers in spring". So we are "dreaming of one day"! But there is glorious colour in the oaks, crepe myrtle and birch.......

 The roses are now finished and I managed to cut a few last blooms. So we "dream that one day' life returns to some kind of normal.....what ever that might be. Take care x

Warm and fuzzy 🤗

This post is simply 'warm and fuzzy' as today it is Mother's Day here in Australia. We had a little celebration with our daughters yesterday and of course with the little members of the family that have made them Mums too......how very lucky we all are. I did some baking the night before and we shared some bought treats too.......

 During the week Wade had a little party too in the cubby house I built for him. It is so lovely to see his nurturing side......he certainly makes us 'warm and fuzzy'........

 This book that I have just completed also made me somewhat 'warm and fuzzy' as it is set in 1920 and weaves the story of loss post WW1 - a great read. Wake by Anna Hope

 There is also the anticipation of being 'warm and fuzzy' snuggled under a quilt with winter just around the corner. Recently the neighbour's peach tree lost much of its leaves in just one very cold and windy night......

I think in this time of isolation there has been an awful lot of 'warm and fuzzy' home baking happening even at our place......maybe comfort food in these difficult times?.....

 I am always 'warm and fuzzy' in my sewing space especially when the results are for those in need. These are the latest hospice quilts continuing with my random piecing and now waiting to be quilted by Faye.......

 And these following quilts are especially 'warm and fuzzy' as the blocks were from a lady who died recently and were then gifted to me. She had only prepared 18 blocks for the Kelmscott quilt I created in my first book "William Morris in Appliqué" and I can see why she gave up as there are 41 appliquéd blocks required in total. I donated my quilt for a raffle and I often wonder if the person who won it actually enjoys it........

 So the 18 partially completed blocks I received meant I could create two quilts of nine blocks each set in some of my Morris stash fabrics. After I took photos I discovered two similar blocks together in the bottom row so some unpicking and re-stitching and they are now ready for Faye to quilt as well.......

 Of course one is always 'warm and fuzzy' when the postman brings treats! A gorgeous card from a special friend to just say she was thinking of us (why oh why can't I think of doing things like that??!!), and another stunning machine embroidered card that came with a very special face mask in William Morris fabric of course........

 I also get 'warm and fuzzy' when quilters take the time to send me their stories and photos. First is from a workshop many years ago of a small wall hanging that Helen has turned into a bed quilt. Thankyou Helen for sharing your lovely version.........

 And this is from Denise who adapted the wedding quilt belonging to Beatrix Potter's parents that I did a version of in my latest book "Stitching with Beatrix Potter". I just love it as Denise has used Australian flowers and her inspiration came from Sonya Else of Soul Heart Designs from her "Australian Mandala" series. Thankyou Denise - your quilt glows..... 

And closer to home a special friend Rosie completed her 'Renaissance' cushion. This was the centre of a very large quilt of the same name I made many years ago.........it looks just stunning Rosie.......

Our local Guild SA Quilters have also been sharing some 'warm and fuzzies' in the way of online Mystery quilt workshops to help quilters in this time of social isolation. Hundreds of participants have come from all over the world and it has been a wonderful way of connecting and sharing in our same passion. President Chris O'Brien designed the first quilt "Casa Felix Mar" and Lessa Siegele the second one "Pick a Box" and I was lucky to be one of the quilt testers of Lessa's design. It was a clever block that could be turned many ways creating a huge number of variations. There was a lot of seam pressing for accuracy and we found open seams worked best. So I delved into my Morris stash and this was the result once again quilted by Faye! .......

So I think that is it for now so wherever you are I am sending you some 'warm and fuzzies' hoping you are safe and well x