2012 Quilt Challenge

This years challenge was a "Round to it", a project you always want to get around to.
This quilt was one that had been in the back of my mind for many years so the challenge was set.
I'd wanted o use Cheddar fabrics and had been collecting them over the last few years and reds are my personal favourites. Based on a vintage quilt the blocks are known as farmers fancy, the centres are hand pieced and the outside borders are foundation pieced.

Catch Up

I'm back as I have run out of excuses , when ever anyone asks me about my blog.
My last excuse when a friend asked was that my camera had packed it in but now I have a new one so I can't use that old one anymore.
Then our computer packed it in but my husband promptly replaced it so there's another reason gone
My daughter gave me an iPad  so I can avoid it no longer
My sister and I have just finished a quilt for my mothers 80th birthday she had purchased a set of BOM patterns but hadn't started, so we had an idea to use the BOM patterns but unfortunately with Christmas and two trips away in October and November we only had 3weeks of January to complete what was a 12 month BOM.
Its a lovely set of patterns called Cottages in common by Lenna Green which had a lot of embroidery and piecing so we simplified it by using small floral prints instead of embroidery and a larger scale floral for the border instead of lots of flying geese.
Needless to say Mum loved it

Rydal

We spent a lovely weekend at a retreat in Rydal NSW not far from Bathurst. Its a quaint little town and the retreat is an old primary school that has been converted. It was great for our group of 18 and was perfect for quilters it had great light lots of tables a huge well stocked kitchen and a large loungeroom with fireplace.
Above is our raffle quilt that was completed on the weekend, I couldn't resist styling it up in this setting.

Here is the front entrance of the School, which is now called Rydal Mount. If anyone is interested for their group let me know and I will give you the contact details.

The old Railway station is converted into a B&B.

The local church

There was a great old show ground to explore.

Wooden boat enthusiasts

Mark and I are now the proud owners of an old timber boat (Huon pine). We joined my sister and her husband and another couple in the venture and have already enjoyed a few great days aboard. Although we have yet to leave the mooring as it has been undergoing a lot of repairs.

Its 32 feet and was built in 1939, so we are looking forward to lots of weekends on Sydney harbour hopefullt cruising around and not just carrying out maintenance.

Note the flag, its an ensign which denotes a private sailing vessel and is original to the boat, as you can imagine I was very impressed its all stitched together and looks like a vintage quilt It has a great outdoor area that seats about 8
The galley is quaint but practical.

Catch up

This blog is becoming tragic! my last post was May, how sad.

It would seem I have been doing nothing and therefore have nothing to post but the truth is I have been busy and life just gets in the way sometimes. Also a daughther doing her HSC and is completely hogging the computer of late.

We attended a friends wedding in Fiji in June and had a fabulous time. The resort was lovely and relaxing so that was pretty hard to take.

My niece Rebecca and daughter Marnie with a few of the locals

My friends Casey and Bert the happy couple. Casey surprised everyne and wore red.

Here I am with the girls, enjoying another night out.

The wedding ceremony

AQC 2011

I was in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago enjoying the Australian Quilt Convention. Here we are with the girls from The Quilted Crow, their display was later voted Stand of the show, well done girls. From left Leonie, Linda, myself and Deidre.

Later that night at dinner from top left Deidre, myself and Sharon, bottom left Linda Chris and Leonie. Thanks for a great night girls.

We then ventured down to Sorrento for a relaxing weekend of sewing, laughing ,eating and drinking-not necessarily in that order. From the left Sharon, Linda, Jill, Helen, Sandra, myself and Margaret

I helped out by quilting some small quilts for Linda, here I am in the zone watched by Margaret.

Sandra busy cutting tiny half-square triangles.

Ann finished this lovely japanese inspired quilt.

Helen worked on this wool applique block from a Quilted Crow Block of the month.

Margaret's blocks took shape on the design wall.

One of Linda's quilts that I machine quilted, all in all a great weekend Thanks again

Linda

Happy Easter

Hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter break as I did caught up with friends and managed to start quilting our raffle quilt.