More Morris in Adelaide

First of all - thank you to those of you who emailed and commented with that last post - it will help me. The stitching has begun and tonight I was wondering why I wasn't using wool thread on my wool appliqué.....so I might have to try that. For now I have been using a variegated perle cotton.......

But this post is really about the Art Gallery of South Australia's gift shop........and as promised here are the photos. It has been decorated in William Morris wallpaper...Brer Rabbit and just in time for Christmas. Thanks to the staff for allowing me to take photos to share with you......

 I had a lovely lunch at the Gallery introducing Beau to my delightful Aunt Shirley and my cousin Kirsten....they spied something in the corner...........

 Then I took Beau for a look at Christmas in our Mall............

 Our famous balls............

 A sign of a letter posted to the man with the beard by a little one.......

 Our mall also has four delightful pigs. They have the most wonderful names....Horatio, Truffles, Oliver and Augusta......

So I hope this finds you well and happy in your part of the world - till next time take care X

Wool Applique progress

After an enjoyable weekend of tracing, cutting and basting I have all 16 blocks ready for embroidery.......

 I am very happy with the black linen background but I am now in a dilemma as I have nine urn blocks and seven wreath style blocks. And the bottom left hand block worries me....do I separate them and make two small wall hangings minus that block??

Maybe I will just go for it and put the whole bang lot together and I am thinking of covering the block seams in a nice bright ric-rac...what fun. I already have a bright striped binding ready to go as well. Below is my very first folk style quilt that I made in 1995 - so good to utilise these designs on a smaller scale and I can't believe that I designed the quilt 17 years ago. 15 years ago William Morris kind of took over and now May Morris is waiting in the wings!

So back to the wool appliqué - I am ready to start the fun bit - embroidery and beading with my handy little reference books ready to go and one of them I purchased 20 years ago!!

 Yesterday I had the most pleasant little creature come in the mail............

How lucky am I? This beautiful gift was lovingly made by one of the girls who came on one of the William Morris tours this year....thank-you so very much Denise and I can't believe you knew I have a thing about ladybirds!!
I hope the world is treating all of you well with some luck just around the corner too X

Ready to do new things

It has been a very hot day here today with strong dusty winds as well....and friends in the UK are currently feeling the chill and the floods. Last night on our ABC news we were informed of the dire state of our planet in relation to the arctic ice melting. This always results in differing views and I am following the debate HERE. I do know we seem to be having a lot of major climate events and that our seasons have definitely changed.

But today was a good day (for catching up with friends),  but also for my purchases - some delicious wool felt pieces from Hettie's Patch which I have now felted. (I gave away all my felted wool in a workshop last year because I didn't think I would use it again!!)
I am always concerned about using wool felt which is very different from felted wool. The wool felt tends to stretch and I would also be concerned about washing it once it is in a quilt....so today it was washed and dried in a matter of minutes! I just love the texture and colour of these pieces........and the thick texture after felting.....

I first bought a bundle of felted wool about 5 years ago just because the colours were very 'William Morris' - then I used them in this quilt 3 years ago and just loved it......no fraying and so easy to work with....

Well I have moved on from machine appliquéing the pieces to applying by hand as we did with the New Jersey girls recently.....

So where to from here and why these new pieces I have prepared? I have resurrected two Folk Style quilts that I designed in the 1990's. I have reduced the block size to about 10inches and I just think these will be perfect in this felted wool!. These are the original quilts (scanned photos only as I have given both quilts away and never took good pictures of them)....

 (Below is where this second quilt now resides- a holiday house belonging to my hairdresser!!)

I also purchased some beautiful linen today that I think will be perfect for the background.....

And even more linen with the embroidery threads all waiting in preparation for the all important May Morris embroidery trial!!

While I was retrieving my threads I came across my 'antique purchase' at the quilt show in Houston - I couldn't afford an antique quilt so instead I had a little fossick amongst some antique doilies and I came across this little table-runner - I love the simple but effective embroidery........

So I have plenty to keep me out of mischief for a while. I hope you do too X