Lest we forget - Anzac Day 2011

Today is the day Australian and New Zealand people remember those who served during wartime. My late Dad was one of them. He was a navigator with one of the elite Pathfinder force squadrons of Bomber Command - Squadron 582: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._582_Squadron_RAF

Dad often spoke of "his war" and was proud of the fact he survived almost 55 operations - he told me survival rate was just 5, so I cannot begin to imagine the burden and memories he carried throughout his life. He spoke fondly of his squadron leader Captain Ted Swales who received a posthumous VC on their final fateful night - Dad knew that Ted saved his and his crew's lives at the expense of his own. I still have a piece of the very parachute that saved Dad's life that very night.

Dad is the tall one second from the far right

Swales' VC citation reads :

“ Captain Swales was 'Master Bomber' of a force of aircraft which attacked Pforzheim on the night of February 23, 1945. As Master Bomber he had the task of locating the target area with precision and of giving aiming instructions to the main force of bombers in his wake.

Soon after he reached the target area he was engaged by an enemy aircraft and one of his engines was put out of action. His rear guns failed. His crippled aircraft was an easy prey for further attacks. Unperturbed, he carried on with his allotted task; clearly and precisely he issued aiming instructions to the main force. Meanwhile the enemy fighter closed the range and fired again. A second engine of Captain Swales’ aircraft was put out of action. Almost defenceless, he stayed over the target area issuing his aiming instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had achieved its purpose.

It is now known that the attack was one of the most concentrated and successful of the war. Captain Swales did not, however, regard his mission as completed. His aircraft was damaged. Its speed had been so much reduced that it could only with difficulty be kept in the air. The blind-flying instruments were no longer working. Determined at all costs to prevent his aircraft and crew from falling into enemy hands, he set course for home. After an hour he flew into thin-layered cloud. He kept his course by skilful flying between the layers, but later heavy cloud and turbulent air conditions were met. The aircraft, by now over friendly territory, became more and more difficult to control; it was losing height steadily. Realising that the situation was desperate Captain Swales ordered his crew to bail out. Time was very short and it required all his exertions to keep the aircraft steady while each of his crew moved in turn to the escape hatch and parachuted to safety. Hardly had the last crew-member jumped when the aircraft plunged to earth. Captain Swales was found dead at the controls. Intrepid in the attack, courageous in the face of danger, he did his duty to the last, giving his life that his comrades might live”

Dad told me he was that "last crew member". Dad received a 'DFC" for his services -

The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". (courtesy of wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_Kingdom)

It was wonderful to see the grand Lancaster "G for George" in Canberra last year at the war memorial.

Our daughters miss their Pa terribly and their was evidence of this a year ago when our eldest daughter Emily was married. On her wedding bouquet she had a Lancaster aircraft brooch and her Pa's Caterpillar badge.

The small gold caterpillar badge on the left of the photo was given to airman by the Irvin company who manufactured the parachutes. They were only awarded to airmen whose lives were saved by their parachute - so Dad is a part of that club forever. The photos below are displayed on a piece of that silk parachute that saved Dad's life........

We all miss you Dad, Ross and Pa XX

Where have I been?

Whew!........I have had only 6 days at home in the last 30 and I am probably about to hit the wall. It has been wonderful meeting quilters at workshops and at the recent Quilt Convention in Melbourne but it is time for a 'breather'. Thankyou to those of you that I met and thanks for helping to keep that "genius of Morris alive"! It is lovely to be home again and now time to pack the house to move..... and yes - we have finally sold our house after nearly 6 months on the market, but sadly we had to reduce our price by $40,000. Adelaide house prices have dropped 10% but at least we have a roof over our heads.

So I am still "here"..........thanks for saying Hi and asking! I will share with you a little secret....this is a video I watch whenever I am ready to "chuck it all in"!! You might think it quirky but it works for me - enjoy XX

Lots of show and tell

I have been somewhat slow in blogging these past few weeks. Tragic news of Mother Nature's fury once again consumes our thoughts. The utter devastation in Japan is beyond all comprehension. We are the lucky ones and all I have to complain about is that our house is still not sold! We have had a contract on it since the end of January in the hope that a young family will be able to sell their home so that they can buy ours. Looks like that may fall through so back to people traipsing through our humble abode once again - and it's only 7 weeks until we need to move - eek!

I owe so many emails and have been slow to put up some of the photos that have been sent to me. Joyce from the USA emailed me to tell me she recently won a prize in the Dallas show for her Kelmscott quilt but unfortunately I was too slow to get a photo from her quilting group site http://www.happyscrappers.net23.net/ She has just emailed me to tell me it has been accepted into Paducah - way to go Joyce - good luck! 

So here is a sample of photos I have managed to save over the past few weeks.......

Above: Charmaine from the USA has also just had her quilt accepted into Paducah - Best of luck Charmaine!

Above: I am sorry - I deleted the maker's name after I saved the photo!

These are a combination of class blocks and the quilt maker's own blocks

Above and Below: Bron from Western Australia has used several blocks from a couple of quilt designs and even got to show it off to Kaffe Fassett on his recent Australian tour as she had

used his fabrics - Wonderful and so vibrant - meet you soon Bron!

Eunice from Canada is on a disability and she asked me if I would give her permission to sell items using my designs. A great thrill and honour and fancy on a stool!

Faye's beautiful interpretation of the Renaissance quilt - so pretty in pastels - just like Faye (a friend now living in New South Wales). Look at that quilting!

Jill used the bunnies from one of my quilt designs to make this gorgeous child's quilt - lucky girl who receives it!

Lorraine has taken a part of the centre block of the Book 2 cover quilt and turned it into a beautiful cushion. Lorraine owns one of our lovely quilt shops - a nice blog to visit; http://www.hettiespatch.typepad.com/

 

A group from North Carolina made this as their Guild raffle quilt and raised over $4300! ($2000 more than they have ever raised - whoopee!). And to top it off they have won not one, but two Group category 1st places in two North Carolina quilt shows. And now they are about to tackle another one of my quilt designs for their next raffle - how wonderful! Thanks for letting me know Ellene

Sheila from the Netherlands obviously had no sleep when the new book arrived! In just a few short weeks she has started the Portiere quilt (above) and also a photo of her Kelmscott quilt from Book 1 in progress (below)

And finally Denise who lives near Niagara Falls - her group used Renaissance for their Guild's raffle quilt and with the left over fabric she made this wall hanging and donated it to the person who sold the most raffle tickets!

I am so thrilled to receive your emails and especially your photos - THANKYOU. It is very humbling and a wonderful feeling knowing that my drawings bring so much pleasure. One day I hope to meet many of you in person - Houston and Canada are on our travel plans later next year!! Loving thoughts to all especially with the sadness around our world at the moment - take care until next time XX



A celebration

The news of the Christchurch earthquake rescue efforts continue to trickle in and at times one can feel guilty enjoying moments while others are suffering........but life does go on and today was a special time with a friend who recently tuned 50. Vicki and Faye are OBSESSED and I do mean obsessed (!!) with Oprah Winfrey. They were both devastated when their names did not get drawn out to attend Oprah's recent visit here to Australia. I must admit we did watch it on the TV and were amazed by it all. So the best we could all do was give Vicki the Oprah commemorative pearl necklace for her 50th birthday! The necklace celebrates Oprah's visit and the final season of her shows. (Thanks for organising it Faye x) The pictures tell it all...........

I am going away for a week in the morning to a quiet place in the country where hopefully I can get some serious sewing done - seems to be the only way I can get on top of things without any distractions! So if I do not answer any emails or the phone that is why. See you in a week! (and enjoy your new gift Vicki XX)

Mother Nature.....why????

How much more devastation can our part of the world take? Christchurch in New Zealand is the sister city to our home Adelaide. Friends who have visited tell us it is just like being at home. We share the same city design through the surveyor general Colonel William Light; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Light
Our cathedrals and English architecture reflect one another......and now devastation. As we watch our screens in disbelief the tears flow once again. So I ask you Mother Nature.......why, why, why? 

As I wandered around my garden in the early evening last night, I came across silence as nature ignored my question and continued as if nothing had happened.......

 

Our thoughts and our hearts go out to everyone touched by this catastrophe...........

William Morris at the V&A

I thought I was so clever inserting that video in the last post so thought I would share this one that I saw a few days ago. (I didn't realise it was so easy!!) This video is simply blissful!! Three minutes from the genius himself! Enjoy..........


William Morris: The Early Years from chacha design on Vimeo.

Quilting in Florida

I get lots of emails from all around the world and sometimes it is just someone desperate for a pattern that they haven't been able to source. I have been known to send patterns all around the world for 'nothing'..........mainly because I really don't have the facility set up to receive small payments and by the time you bank a little overseas cheque it takes weeks to clear and it gets gobbled up with the bank charges. Recently it has become a little expensive as here in Australia we have to pay a $9 US security screening charge - and that is on top of the jolly postage!! But I do enjoy the sharing - that is what quilting is all about. Sometimes you hear back from people and sometimes you don't and SOMETIMES you get a wonderful surprise in the mail! So in future I am asking for a swap :-)

The gift above was from Marilyn from South Carolina early last year. And I have had some gorgeous black and white brocade fabric that is tucked away waiting for a special project.
Yesterday I received the most amazing Temari ball made for me from Trudy in Florida

Isn't it just stunning and it even has it's own little stand! Thankyou Trudy. This beats any dollars in exchange for a pattern!! Trudy also sent me a link to a lovely video of quilts that feature some of her work. I hope this works!!

If not go to this link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKh-ObmZ7OE


And finally have a little read about the history of Temari Japanese balls here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temari_(toy)
and there are a stack of photos if you just type in Temari in Google images  

Collecting and sewing

Thanks for all your messages and emails (and even a phone call~!), about my previous post - some of you are very observant!! I am not and never will be a perfectionist and I have a very bad habit of laying out my work 'by eye'. I know I should have had my pattern under my background with the lightbox showing me where everything should go......not me!! (do as I say in the book - not as I do!!). I mostly use my eye and presto - mistakes! But I have decided to leave the mistakes - too lazy to do it all again. I have even been known to throw something out rather than unpick it - what a bad girl!

Today in our morning paper there is a story that will touch your heart. Maxine Millbrook from Cardwell (one of the worst affected regions in Queensland), says Cyclone Yasi has "broken my heart and I am 86 and can't start over again". She goes on to share her losses and includes the fact that the only pair of shoes she has is the pair she is wearing. Her lounge is now a beach, covered in sand with all her belongings destroyed. But miraculously two cross stitch samplers that she worked of her dogs remained hanging on the wall. AND........you will not believe this...."But one of my most special things is my sewing machine and that is still sitting on the table, virtually untouched". What a special lady.

So it made me think of how precious our sewing machines are to us as well. I am sure that would be something that would have to stay behind in a rush evacuation, but maybe these small sewing treasures that I collect on my travels would just fit in my bag?

I know over the coming months many of us will be busy sewing quilts for the survivors up North and also making up sewing kits for our fellow stitchers.
Bless you Mrs Millbrook XX

Russian floor quilt

Hermitage Museum courtyard on our visit 2010

I have spent the day over the design table placing applique pieces of my first Russian floor quilt. I have had Sky news on all day with thoughts once again to our fellow Aussies in Queensland. Their night of waiting must have been long and arduous as damage was predicted be on a level akin to Hurricane Katrina. 180,000 homes are without power but thankfully no deaths reported yet. The crop devastation will be widely felt and all our thoughts are with those affected.

So to the quilt - I have spent hours placing and pressing .....but alas I have made several stupid errors! Perhaps the recent anaesthetic has affected my brain (!!), but more likely my lack of concentration! They are not obvious to start with so I am not sure if I might just leave them for viewer intrigue!

 This is my inspiration - a section of floor at the Hermitage Museum St Petersburg. I still need to design the border but will applique and piece the blocks first.

 The block above is the only correct one! There are 4 blocks that are about 22 inches square. Below are the four blocks laid out together- if you can see the obvious errors let me know and I will re-do them......maybe!

You can take a tour of many museums around the world with the new Google Art Project; The Hermitage is just one........enjoy; http://www.googleartproject.com/