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……

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.

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……..

Well - nearly here again!  Christmas is only nine days away and this year I have decided not to send printed cards, envelopes and stamps - so to keep in touch it will be E-cards only.  Every little bit to retain our living trees and forests - and to reduce paper consumption and waste is worth it!!

My sewing group celebrates Christmas every year with a special dinner and a Kris Kringle exchange of hand made gifts.  This year we are all making cushions and I am feeling a little twinge of apprehension posting this photo of my contribution as it is still a few days until we meet, but I think the secret will be safe for the next couple of days…..

I was thinking ‘country’ for this cushion but as usual - too many ideas and it was difficult to know which way to go with about four possibilities lined up!  Eventually, I found some charm squares which started the project and it ‘grew’ from there.  I enjoyed adding the simple embroidery, some buttons from my collections - and a tassel or two of course! I hope my recipient loves it - otherwise I can take it back because it looks simply perfect on our guest bed!

Once a month, we explore some fascinating designs and share ideas in the two classes at Patchwork of Essendon.  Our numbers were a little depleted today due to illness and family commitments and we did miss those who were unable to attend. 

I remembered to take the camera this time!  However, we were so absorbed in creative discussion and activity during the morning class that I completely missed the opportunity to use it!  Sorry girls! 

So the afternoon group was duly coaxed into posing with their work and although reluctant at first, their beaming smiles in these photos indicates the happy mood of the session.  Although eyes and ears were tuned in to the abundance of ideas that were shared today, Annie (above) managed to get some stitches into the precious quilt she is making for her daughter. 

Merideth nervously squared and trimmed all nine finished blocks of this exotic design with a Middle Eastern tile effect.   And below she has arranged them so that we could not only admire her blocks but also the additional designs created when they are butted together. Well done Merideth - you have made some wonderful fabric choices and we will look forward to seeing it stitched together next time. 

Although Mandy has taken just a tad longer than planned, what a gorgeous and generous birthday present (below) she is making for a special friend. Annie could be dropping some hints there too….

Congratulations to Robyn Fagan on the completion of this large 40″ x 40″ reverse applique block! She has very kindly offered this photo of her block for the Bon Bon blog. 

I am so pleased that I have shared my Pas de Deux  pattern with the Saturday group at Patchwork of Essendon. The design, inspired by a gorgeous mid 19th century quilt,  was a marathon to complete on paper and takes a considerable time to transfer to fabric before a single stitch is placed.  

However, the girls are so prolific with their work and most have finished this centre block and are now working on the even more challenging borders. They all deserve a medal and I cannot wait to see their tops finished and quilted. Mine, of course, is plodding along with obviously too many distractions from other PHD’s impeding my progress! 

I hope that I can include some additional photos of their work soon.