This is my favourite blue glass jug handed down through the family….

August brings our second “The Farm” session and Jan and I will be sharing all things to do with “Urns and Vases”.

A fascinating history surrounds these vessels and we will explore some of their many styles, uses and the importance they have brought since very early times through to the present day. Along with this background, we also appreciate them in the context of patchwork, applique and quilting - sharing textile examples on the day, and be tempted by the new “Urns and Vases” Pattern Collection which will be handed out exclusively to those attending.

The photos shown here are a few of my favourites from home.

Richly decorated urn which looks wonderful filled with flowers or fruits.

Sweet Victorian jug

Stay tuned for a posting and photos to come after the event……

An idea brewed a year or more ago and after many months of planning and several ‘business meetings‘ with Jan Baker, we were able to present a fabulous day last Sunday. Twenty six quilters from around Victoria converged at Taranaki Farm on a chilly winter’s morning loaded with bags of sewing and quilts to show - and perhaps a little unsure of what to expect!

Some in this group had experienced Jan’s knowledgeable and inspiring presentations at her previous Quilt Study Groups held some years ago. However, our idea was not to replicate these previous sessions but rather to focus on reinvention and augmentation with a practical, creative and skills based aspect as well. It was evident from the first moment that socks were being blown off by Jan’s incredible knowledge of quilt history and seeing some of her fabulous collection during her wonderful morning presentation. We were taken into a magical world of antique quilts and the social history surrounding them.  She shared a few of her antique doll quilts as well as her amazing present day re-makes of these - and it didn’t end there!!

The day’s theme was simply “Leaves” and we discovered endless creative and imaginative interpretations of leaves in shape, form and texture, and in colour and design. We realised the vital part leaves play in our quilt designs and of course, nature and daily life! Without leaves our lives and our quilts would be very depleted and dull!!

In the photo above, Jan is discussing this gorgeous 1840’s early Baltimore style quilt which was one of her collection but I am now it’s fortunate and devoted custodian after I purchased it from her a few years ago.  I have drafted all blocks and borders for this quilt and many of the quilters in my classes have started (and some have even finished) their twenty first century version of this quilt - including Barbara Varnava’s traditional red and green interpretation (assembled), and Barbara Walker’s blocks which have a print background and a variety of fabrics used -both of which are shown in the photo below. We think it is a special privilege to link the 1840’s origins of this quilt to the quiltmakers of today, with a reinvention of these patterns and an appreciation of the skill and creativity of quiltmakers of 170 years ago.

I presented the afternoon session which included a collection of patterns which I hoped would stimulate ideas and an urge to create!!  The Leaves theme gave me the opportunity to really think about this vital element in our designs and to present a Pattern Collection of six options from complex to simple - and for everyone there to take home, think about and perhaps make one, some or all (hopefully not none but we don’t want to put pressure on anyone so that is ok too)!!

Jan gave out little pieces of ‘challenge’ fabrics which was heaps of fun and these can be incorporated in the blocks.

I created a ‘double’ leaf wreath pattern with a un-fussed simplicity for applique-ers which I think will be gorgeous when made up.  Rose has already started this one! Can’t wait to see it developing……

For those who love piecing, the lovely weeping willow block offers a beautiful suggestion of leaves in geometric form. It could not be easier to construct and I do hope someone in the group loves this block enough to get cracking on it so that we can see it next time we meet.

I also added a few easy one patch pieced and appliqued blocks as great portable projects for those on the run!

The leaf theme was also calling out for an elegant ‘tree’ block in this collection. Again, I hope one of the girls takes this project on as I was delighted with this design!

And finally, a challenging applique design which I believe someone has now started! It has several possibilities so I am looking forward to seeing what is done with this one! Jan suggested that I leave some elements out of the pattern so that some thinking has to be done to finish it! I thought this was a fabulous idea and that is what I have done with these pattern sheets. Can’t wait to see what happens…….

Here we are below as I present the Pattern Collection!  I wonder what everyone is thinking!! The proof will be in next session’s pudding I expect!!!!

Despite the chilly air, the sun brightened the day and we enjoyed great views of Mt Macedon!  Quilters always seem to enjoy wonderful conviviality, food and inspiration from one another’s work.  Jan made a generous batch of American cookies which were happily shared around, and just a few crumbs remained of my apricot and pine nut cake.

Below: quilters doing what they do best…..  stitch, chat, eat and drink!

At the end of this wonderful day, many appreciative comments were received and my favourite one was….. ‘I went all goosebumps when the old quilts came out!’ . This is spot on the money isn’t it!!

Thank you to Michael Baker for his multi skilled talents including valuable technical expertise, and these great photos! And Sparkie won some more hearts (and pats) and displayed first class doggy behaviour as always!

Thanks also to Ben, Nina and Maya for setting up tables and chairs, getting the urn going and for giving us their space for the day. And special thanks to Stan for his constant great support - and for mowing, tidying, trimming, fetching and carrying and more! We all appreciated it very much!

We meet again in August with the theme “Vases and Urns”.  I have my pencil sharpened already!!

“Pocket Full of Posies” is my NEW Block of the Month which is being launched at the Australasian Quilt Convention at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne opening TODAY.

It was such fun to make this quilt in the muted hues of these fabrics.  I delivered it to Annette yesterday during the set up at the convention and I am missing it already!  Of course, my photos never seem to do quilts the justice they deserve and I am sure you will agree that the colours are a little brighter on this quilt in ‘real life’.

This Block of the Month will be available this year only from Fragrant Cottage in Warrnambool. If you are interested you can visit the Fragrant Cottage stand at the Convention or give the shop a call for more details.

Go to  www.aqc.com.au  for Convention information  and www.fragrantcottage.com to reach the shop.

Our ‘Gentle Art’ (of Applique) classes over the past two days have certainly been an inspiring visual delight, with an extraordinary amount of work being produced and shared.  We have been eagerly watching Joan’s progress on her reverse applique ‘Pas de Deux’ quilt top and how exciting it was to see it today as the applique top inches towards completion. She is working on the corner border elements which link it all together and it is wonderful to see that she is thinking of quilting designs for the next stage in this quilt’s story. She absolutely deserves medals for endurance and persistence with this quilt - especially with a few trials and tribulations throughout the journey so far.

Although many have started this design, Joan has led the way with this project and she has kindly allowed me to photograph it to share with you. Friend Barbara is shown here holding a corner and as you can see Joan has a tiny amount of work remaining at the corners to complete the continuous and flowing border design. (You may also recall seeing Robyn Fagan’s centre block earlier on this blog.)

And here we see a corner detail where Joan has just a little more work to go……

Joan is contemplating borders here as she holds her ‘Airs and Graces’ blocks (below). The dual directional blocks are intentional and the finished quilt will drape elegantly over a sofa!

and below, Joan’s beautiful version of ‘Elizabethan Rose’…

Below: Barbara holds up her finished ‘The Blessings Quilt’ assembled blocks…  now awaiting those applique borders!   Beautifully scrappy and happy! Great work Barbara!

These are some of the many patterns which we are working on in the Gentle Art classes.

Last weekend, I was hosted by lovely Sadie Moffitt (below), President of Murray River Quilters, during my Applique Technique and Design Workshop in Wodonga. Struggling with little voice and a pesky cough, Sadie dosed me up with honey, hot water and lime juice which came from fruit on her prolific lime tree.

Sadie chose irises and hand dyed fabrics for her applique and as you can see it is shaping up beautifully. Impressively, she also dressed in ‘iris’ colours!

Amanda, below, was inspired by an Art Deco perfume bottle which belonged to her grandmother.  Her wonderful drawing evolved on Saturday and here she is spread out on the floor on Sunday bringing the piece to life with an exotic fabric colour palette.

The floor seemed the favoured place to work - Merideth also enjoying some creative time on hands and knees.

Helen, below, chose bright tulips in this lovely memory piece. The inclusion of one of her  grandmother’s doilies is Helen’s plan and will make it a very special tribute.

And here, tulips and Dutch Delftware captured Michelle’s imagination …..

And below, Ruth had a struggle to keep her shirt on with it’s wonderful design inspirations.

Such a crazy life!  Every minute is totally occupied and sometimes I wish I had ‘two for one’ on offer!  But never fear - I am here working solidly in the background with a new BOM receiving it’s finishing touches.

Don’t you love this photo as an inspirational still life?  It is one of my very favourite plates and the image is simply delicious!! The colours are so rich and saturated and I am sure there is a quilt of some sorts in there somewhere!!

Of course, I am creating lots of new drawings and our ‘Gentle Art‘ classes are producing the most amazing and prolific collection of gorgeous quilts that you can ever imagine. I try in vain to keep up with the stitching but it is such joy to see the most fantastic work emerge from these groups. Last week we had four finished quilt tops - all with mountains of applique on them.  Another marathon piece with hundreds of hours of applique also featured in our show and tell but had suffered a nasty injury when scissors (it’s owners..) accidently cut a gash in the border causing much anguish. We all offered ’sympathies’ and ’suggestions’ and hopefully set the wheels back in motion to finish that very last little bit of this fabulous quilt.  I must remember the camera next time…..

A new design on the drawing board………

…. and a stack of fabric with heaps of possibilities ………………. so I will get back to it now……..