It Doesn’t Take Long…

…..for this

to become this

I must say though, they did take their time with this one – it’s been a week! – but there were several men there taking out the “good” bits and pieces, hopefully for recycling!  More changes to the neighbourhood.  That’s now 10 blocks that are vacant or currently being built on within the couple of km’s radius.

This birthday keeps on coming….. dinner with the erstwhile work mates the other night and…..

Will show you what was in it at a later date, but don’t you just LURV the wrapping, and the colour of the card envelope – so me!!

Happy stitching

Meredithe

The Jubilee Quilt Project

Not long ago I came across a lovely blog written by Lori called Humble Quilts.  (Anyone doing or interested in Dear Jane seriously needs to check out this post!)

Not only is Lori a talented quilter, and a thoroughly nice person, she was born in 1962, same as yours truly.  What a wonderful year that was!  Lori decided that it might be a good idea to make a “Jubilee Quilt” to celebrate this milestone and with all the feedback, Lori’s started a new blog dedicated to this very thing.  Being a 1962 baby I’ve joined the fun, but my contribution will have to wait until after Beguiling Billings.  There is a quilt brewing in my brain however……..!

So to join in the fun and see what we’re all up to click here!  It’s going to be very interesting and exciting seeing the progress of each quilt!  Some are already started!!

Happy stitching

Meredithe

Stitching – Part 2

Saturday was our first day for 2012 at Patchwork of Essendon with Robyn Falloon, and we had some new ladies join the group!

As per, RobynFromTheCountry has been a diligent student over the break.  She picked up the Miss Marple Mystery Quilt patterns at the last class and came back with this…….already!…..

for the centre and these…..already!…..

as the start of her blocks.

AND, RobynFromTheCountry has been to a class with Michelle Yeo and produced this

which will be one of four.  Plus there were murmerings about a couple of borders only left to make for another quilt.  She’s so good this girl!

Kaye and I have been so busy with our Mrs Billings quilts, that we were sadly behind with our homework.  Must say it was lovely to have a break from Beguiling Billings; just spread myself out, indulged in a colour change, and completed 3 blocks for Miss Marple instead.

Jackie and Ann were the new girls and they had the great joy of deciding which of the HUGE number of Robyn Falloon projects to tackle.  After much discussion, lots of chat and laughter, Jackie is going with this project and already had some fabrics to play with.

Ann had the added delight of choosing fabrics from the shop for her new applique, and with all of us putting in our two bob’s worth, this is what Ann will be starting

we (don’t you like that?  we!) added to the pile as the afternoon wore one, so Ann will be spoilt for choice when it comes to fabrics!

Ann also had these lovely bags (you know I’m a sucker for a bag!).

(Had to show you both sides, ‘cos they’re different!)  Marketing people have it all wrong, you know.  These are actually make-up bags; they’d have a much wider audience if they marketed them as patchwork accessories too!!

Then Ann brought out this petite darling

Can you guess what lives in here?

A tape measure!  Have you ever seen anything more adorable!  Wonder if Lucy could whip up a pattern for one of these?!

Sally was working the shop on Saturday and had hopes of making a few more of these small Drunkard’s Path blocks

but every time she sat down, a customer arrived – which is not a bad thing!  They’re very sweet blocks in the 1930′s prints.

Miss Kaye had her fabulous pink market basket with her (which contained her Miss Marple blocks that she worked on), and I just NEED to show you what it looks like.

Coveting that basket badly I am!  Notice the matching accessories tucked inside?

Happy stitching

Meredithe

Stitching – Part 1

Last week was a very busy week for stitching.

I took my birthday quilt over to the shop on Friday to show the girls who had participated in making blocks how it all turned out (and to say a BIG thank you in person).  Did I tell you I received a quilt for my birthday??!!

While there, Jan had a finished top to show me.  She’s made it from one of the template sets I designed for Victorian Textiles (Hanna).

And hasn’t it come up a treat!

Just love the fussy cutting.

Then it was on to my regular get-together with “the girls” this time at Mrs Macs where we had some delightful extras; her daughter Miss S with her two littlies Little Miss S and Master B (more on them later!).

Miss S had some fabulous show and tell for us; it’s not that long ago that we lured Miss S over to the dark side and she’s taken to patchwork like a duck to water, even with two littlies to take care of (and Mr S too!)!!

This was inspired by Natalie Lymer‘s new fabric range “Woodland” which Miss S fell in love with and bought just a little of!

Miss S cleverly thought up the design herself, drew the mushroom houses,

started stitching

and there’s been no stopping her!

Then she found this fabulous design

on Quilt Dad‘s blog (a new blog to me, but wow, can this man quilt!)

Ain’t she clever?

We’re just SO proud of you Miss S!!

Helen was working on her new quilt top,

which is going to be a real eye-catcher!

Mrs Mac is now addicted to these little machine pieced Ohio Stars which are the next border for her “Phebe” quilt.

And she made this one especially for our Helen!  Can you see why?!

Helen had this very cute little bag with her

which is a handy hold-all for pencils, markers, etc.

And what about our little visitors?  Well Little Miss S was very happy with the dress ups and turned herself into a pretty fairy, complete with wings

and busied herself looking after her “family”

(knew I’d taken my birthday quilt for a reason!)

Master B then showed off his new crocs

which are, of course, in one of my favourite colours!

After this little family left, we hit the road to venture out to a new patchwork shop.  Under The Mulberry Tree started life as an on-line store, and, seemingly reversing the current trend, have now opened a shop front.  And it’s so yummy!!  Just look…

Mostly featuring the fabrics and patterns of Leanne Beasley, Rosalie Quinlan and Natalie Lymer and, as you can see above, a whole cabinet of Cosmo threads, it’s a feast for your eyes and heart.  If you’re a fan of these girls and live in Melbourne (or are visiting soon), treat yourself and makes tracks for Ferntree Gully!

Some All of us came home with a bag of goodies – how could we resist!!

Such a fun day!

Happy stitching

Meredithe

That Bad One Click Again!

It’s such a trap reading other people’s blog, isn’t it?  I see things, and think, hmm think I need one of those.

And so it was when I read Marian‘s blog the other day and found myself clicking onto Kathleen‘s blog, where I read about a pattern she was re-printing called “Clarissa’s Garden”, and….

well, you can guess the rest!

The mail arrived this week and I felt very special.

Fancy being First Class International?!

Then when I opened the package….

there they were.  Oh, did I not tell you I bought a second pattern too?  Well, it seemed such a shame to just send one to the other side of the world, so the “Olivia Loves Baskets” came along as well.

But something else also fell out of the envelope

A little starter pack of charm squares!  How lovely!  Thank you Kathleen.  These have been put safely inside the pattern to be used in the making thereof.  (Another post-Billings!)

Happy stitching

Meredithe

New Furniture

Well, not so much “new” as “revamped” – but just as exciting!

My friend Louise was at stitching the other week, and I gave her some very sad and tired stool seats for recovering.  Not only is this girl a quilter, gorgeous, and a laugh a minute, she’s also VERY talented on the upholstery front.

I’m ashamed to show you how the old stool seats looked, but unless I do, you won’t see the astonishing contrast!

So here’s what the old seats looked like… (just scroll down quickly, OK?)

and here’s the new ones that Louise brought with her when she came for lunch the other day.

I had some very early Amy Butler pieces which were the perfect size, and I’m just SO thrilled with the  result!

And, NO, you can’t sit on them…. well, not yet anyway – they look too good!

Thanks Louise!

Happy stitching

Meredithe

A New Toy

I have a new toy.  It’s not quilt related (WHAT? I hear you say in shocked response!), but it does resemble an overly large rotary cutter, just not quite as sharp – which is just as well.

Do I have you intrigued?

The reason for this purchase is that I have become quite ticked off by the mutterings, rumblings and, dare I say, cursing that happens whenever a certain person uses, or should I say when he tries to use the whipper snipper.  Hence the whipper snipper makes very few outings and our lawn edges are sadly overgrown.

So I buyed me (I know that’s not correct English Ma Kettle!) one of these

and old fashioned, huff and puff

Hopefully now, our lawn edges will go from this

to this

I made my purchase on Valentines Day and the man who served me at the check out of one of those big chain hardware stores was a Big, Beefy, Burly Bloke with Lots of Tattoos.

“Just this, love?” he asked.

“Yes thanks”, says I.

“Ere”, he says,  “have one of these”, passing over a lolly bag.  “I know they ain’t hearts, but they are red!”

So I partook of a red jelly frog with a thank you.  Who was I to knock him back!!

I’m thinking this new toy will be good hearty exercise.  Who am I kidding – it’s going to be a LOT of hard work!  Now…. when will I fit this in??????  Could be light relief from Beguiling Billings!

Happy stitching

Meredithe