HOME IS WHERE.......

I had a great days thrifty shopping just lately, and thought I would show you what I bought home.

I was after a new tablecloth for my little outdoor setting and found this little lovely

When I got it home and examined it, I discovered this has all been hand sewn, not mass produced but lovingly hand stitched, even all the open work and the baskets....such a treasure. I am glad I found it and will treasure it for more years to come.

The plate was just up my alley too, those who know me well have seen my plate decorating style. I love to use them as little works of art, and massed together they make quite a display.

Trouble is I thought this wall had just the right balance, so where and what am I going to do with these!

Dont you just love the sentiment written on the home plate, the design makes it look like a sampler, and I feel a bit mushy every time I read it.
The second plate is by Rob Ryan, a paper cutout artist who makes no apology for his sentimental words. ***sigh****

Yes, more of his works. They are amazing when you remember the original artwork has been painstakingly cut from paper.

So thats that wall space taken, hmmm still no ideas for the new plates yet.
Oh well lets leave that delightful problem and let me show you a little ebay purchase from a little while back.

I just loved the colour, it was wild and whacky and bigger than I thought it was when I purchased it, but its all good, it has a place in the sewing room holding all my other little knick knaky things, so I dont have to search all over the desk trying to find that packet of needles.

And that dear folks is a tidy desk, it does NOT look like that right now. 

Hehe....someone is demanding my attention, I bet not many people have this interruption from their dog, cat maybe but not dog, unless it too is a little chihuahua........I am a wee bit dotty about these pups but who could wesist that widdle faacce...daaawwww.
OK I will go now.....before you all get more than a little embarrassed by that nutty middle aged woman and her pooch. Anyway I think I just heard the car pull up, my daughter has just gone out for her first solo drive after getting her licence, I am trying to stay distracted whilst not freaking out!!!!! the joys!!!! Can I tell you sometimes its was easier when dinner was at 6.00pm and all were tucked up in bed by 7.30pm. But we all must grow up and that includes me. 

RED and WHITE......

I had a glorious Sunday in the company of two like minded shoppy quilty friends. 
I was invited to accompany them to the annual Quilts in the Barn quilt hanging, to soak in the lovely barn atmosphere and its surroundings.
......and because I offered to drive ....lol. 

I had never been to this well known event before but my blog savvy  companions have made the trek many times and promised it would be a sight.
Apparently because we here in Australia are a smallish blog community these pictures will be appearing on many other blogs, but what the hey, YOU may not have seen them before dear  my
blog people so here goes

This is an original 1930's quilt, our reproductions are amazingly similar are they not? 

 Some little quilts.....They look great grouped like this, gives me some ideas. I thought the red and white was such a great contrast.

 Love the styling.

A teeny tiny bed....sigh, reminds me of my childhood wish to own a dolls house.

Hehehehe.......this is Debra taking a photo of me taking a photo of her. 
Check out her blog http://mypatchworkpalace.blogspot.com.au/  .
You may see her picture of me taking a picture of her!! 
There were a lot of ladies taking photos for their blogs.

Another original 1930's quilt.  the design is still so modern and graphic. 
I have always said good design is timeless, wonder what quilts of our lifetime will shine on through the decades?

This just spins me out man! I think they put this one up high so we didnt get hypnotised.

This one is on my to do list, I have discussed this with my stitching girls and one insists that I have something in the corners of the lone star. I was not really thinking along those lines until I saw this. 
Is it just me or do you eyes see things moving when you stare at this too long. Again such a classic.

These were also my picks, you dont see too many white on red.
I believe it is possibly because red is the most unstable dye in all manner of things. I hope modern dyes are proving to be more reliable but I do believe it is the red fabric you REALLY REALLY should WASH before using, many will bleed.

After that I needed a cuppa and a sitdown, we had some lovely refreshments there and all proceeds for the weekend went to charity, so as they say win, win.

That dear folks is the tail end of my post.

Thanks for dropping by.

THANKS NOW I FEEL BETTER!!!

I really do appreciate the comments that fellow bloggers have taken the time to leave me. It is the sharing of these little crafty moments that make me glad we have such interests that keep us sane.

Because sometimes I can be a little

(not the fat free part....the 2 minute part)

When I want to be more

the slow and steady part....not the old crock part! 

But I did manage a small project finish...well two actually and that made me feel a little better....cos I do love a finish.

A little kit from an English cross stitch mag, designed by Emily Peacock......check out her website she has more wonderful designs, and she was the designer of my HUG tapestry also. 

...and a small pin cushion from Robyn Rich, the photo doesn't show all the detail, but thems all french knots.

I also kept up my goal to chip away at the nosegay blocks, and they are coming along....only 3 to go...yay.

I kept a photo of the finished quilt near my sewing machine to also keep me motivated, I have had this on my list since 1993! so you can see why I got impatient a little.

Anyway, this blogging has caused me to meet some wonderful crafty souls out there , and I have never met a crafter I did not like.

Oh and I just couldn't resist this either

CONTRAST

I have actually finished something this week. These are the tale of two quilts that hung around my sewing room for a looooong time. 

One I thought would be the ONE, the one for me, girly and pink and rosey and all good things for me. And I ended up not liking it one bit.

I fussed and fussed getting the right fabrics, I even tea dyed the strips to get the right tones, I hunted high and low for the border and waited to learn how to do a scallop edge.

When it was completed as a top I hated it, after that I showed it no love, I backed it with some fabric I had lying around, I patched up old batting scraps and told the long arm quilter lady, she could do as she saw fit. Cheryl from CA Quilter, did a wonderful job, but I am still ambivalent about it. 

Hold on here it is..........

This is my number one daughter modelling said quilt, if you are observant you will see at this stage I hadn't actually finished the binding, it took me a long time because it wasn't a quilt I loved so much.

The puppy boys on the other hand deem it good enough, could be they are just camera hogs. Meet Maxy and Bailey. Maxy is the long hair, Bailey the short. I adore these munchkins as they came to us when we needed love and distractions. Yes they are yappy at times, but at others they are loving and snuggly, think of them as a catdog, small enough to curl up on your lap yet you can take them for walks. They really motor along. Enough of the gushing.

Sorry another cheesy shot just snuck by me.

This on the other hand I am much more happy about. I made it from a charm pack bought years ago, called Chloe's closet, and I modified a pattern I found in a Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

It demanded some precision cutting and accurate seams but I didnt find it too stressful. The star in the middle is created by sewing small squares to each corner of the white rectangle across the diagonal, then flipping and cutting. The rest is all done by the placement of the blocks and small blue squares, and like magic it comes together.

Up close the square blocks appear to float over a background trellis. Well to me they do.

What this tale of two quilts has taught me? I love contrast in my quilts, no soft dreamy neutral colours for me. 

That is not to say that I still dream of these but I am not always happy with the results.

What do you prefer?

arrrrrggghhhh
number one daughter is forcing my hand. She takes  no prisoners and has set up my blog. Am I ready for this, don't know so here goes.