Monday, 25 February 2013

Time in Toowoomba

I have just had two wonderful days with some lovely girls at Lisa's shop in Toowoomba.........

It was a pleasure to meet all of you who came and I do hope your two days were enjoyable. Thanks also for bringing such an amazing "Show and Tell". First is Angela and her lovely version of the William Morris Friends quilt.........well done Angela!

Sally has made this beautiful felted wool bag covered in sumptuous embroidery.........

Beautiful Bev brought in some of her divine quilting to drool over....and all done on her domestic machine.............









Bev is just the sweetest..............
The shop is gorgeous and so was the food.......


red velvet cakes....mmmmmm!
Lisa was a great hostess and after class took me on a little tour to see some of the typical Toowoomba houses.....some 'drive by shots'.....


And this is one spectacular house with a capital "S"!! It is the fully renovated Court House converted into someone's home....WOW!



 These trees are fascinating........

Thank-you so much for inviting me Lisa and we will see you again one day!
The next few nights I am staying with another Bev as we have workshops with Queensland Quilters. It was rather frightening driving in the torrential rain back to Brisbane and many roads were closed with the flooding. So many must be feeling so fragile and it must be distressing to be going through this all again. Six people have lost their lives so far this year from this extraordinary flooding and more rain is expected the next few days. Already some parts have had well over 100mm just today. But Bev took it all in her stride and on the way we visited an amazing shop full of some interesting stories. I will share that tomorrow. Till then stay safe and take care.


Friday, 22 February 2013

On the road again

Yes it looks like I am back on the road once again! This is the last leg of an intensive teaching schedule of the last couple of years. I have only 11 engagements to go and come July I will only be doing 2-3 retreats a year (and 2014 is already booked). I feel that I am not giving anymore and that is probably partly because I am not challenging myself - and I feel that is not a good thing for any of us. I do look forward to meeting some of you though and I thank you for your wonderful support - I hope our time together is of great value to you. Today after a two and a half hour flight to Brisbane and then a two hour bus journey I have arrived in beautiful Toowoomba as the guest of Lisa of Precious Time. I love Lisa's photos as you reach her website.........thanks for asking me Lisa......

On Monday I head back to Brisbane for four more days of workshops with Queensland Quilters. As I was travelling up here today I was reflecting on the change in our lives since Larry finally retired and little Beau joined us. With the reduction in my teaching I have decided it is time that I got back to why I took up quilting....for fun and relaxation and to participate in classes myself!! I have missed this immensely SO I have booked into three workshops already this year.....very exciting for me!! First I am making this little treasure at Country Bumpkin. I know I could probably do these on my own at home but that is no fun!! (photo from Country Bumpkin)
The next workshop came about following some help I received from Judy of Virtual Quilter. In just a few minutes she was able to draw up a quilt design for me - I provided the measurements and presto it was done and all by email!  I told her she needed to teach dummies like me...... so it is all happening and her first workshop will be all about mastering the EQ7 program. If you are interested in joining me it will be held as a weekend retreat at The Sanctuary - so contact Jude via her blog here. And do visit the other Judy at her Virtual quilt site....she has 1000's of designs all done in this program (i think!). I don't think she sleeps though!

In July I have booked in to a class with the lovely Yvette Stanton who is know for her left and right handed embroidery bibles. We will be exploring stitches for raw edged appliqué - and not just blanket stitch!! Yvette has based her design on the Suzani embroideries of countries like Uzbekistan. I found some beautiful work for sale on this link - Silk Road.......(photo from that site)
 I must remember on our William Morris tour this year to share Yvette's work with our guide from the Victoria and Albert Museum - she is an expert on textiles of the Silk Route! This is Yvette's design for our workshop which you can see here - Berrima Patchwork's 'Quilting in the Highlands'..........
So I hope you are looking forward to a class or two this year or just doing a little stitching for pleasure. Take care wherever you are xx

Sunday, 17 February 2013

William Morris (part 4)

William Morris Part 3


William Morris Part 2

These little videos do finish rather abruptly so I have decided to put them in sequence over a few posts today.....



Show and tell

Now I know this blog is supposed to be about all things William Morris, with a dash of May Morris and of course some quilts thrown in.....so to keep it kosher I will endeavour to adhere to that today....but first I do have to share the major event of the day! Beau's parents did an amazing job keeping the Mickey Mouse theme alive.......But I don't think they went to bed last night!
 and you could make your own lolly bags....yum!





One does have to have fairy bread and some more.............
I love the fairy bread but who are all these people?





And then it was time to demolish the cake............




A lovely day.........
Happy times with Mummy and Daddy.......

And Auntie Sophie.....
 ......but I still have no idea why all these people are in my house..........

Emily (Beau's Mum) also had a birthday this week.......

 And earlier this week we were reminded of why we live where we do..........3 minutes in the car to the most beautiful beach and a first experience of the sea and sand for Beau as well. He couldn't have been happier....




So now to the "other life"! Victoria sent me a photo of her version of "William Morris and Friends".....I love the fabrics she chose especially the sashing. Your quilt  is just stunning Victoria and thanks so much for allowing me to share it on the blog.............


So finally back to Mr Morris.....I found these little videos on You Tube some time ago and I am not sure if I have shared them before. This is Part 1. I will put one up each day - they are really well worth watching..........enjoy