Well it looks like my wireless antennae was fried, soooooo three weeks later and I am no closer to getting it fixed. The technician is still deciding whether he will fix it. Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb. No internet, no emails, no time on the computer.

The disappearing nine patch appeared for a short time yesterday and is turning into an epic. Probably because I missed several sewing days, and I was hoping to be further along than I am. Focused and disciplined are not words that could be used to describe me, however I am trying very hard to take UFOs to sewing days and finish them. So far I have managed to finish two projects. Next week I will have another go and see how far I progress. My idea to to take only UFOs to the sewing days and yes I am allowed to sew them on other days, however I am also allowed to start other projects, in that I have to complete at least one block. My theory behind this idea is that I could end up with a heap of orphan blocks which could also be made into a quilt.

Well I was down to just one Sweetie last night, so we went out on a frog hunt and listened for different frogs. This wee beastie (see above) and several hundred of his kind were very much in evidence last night. He is known as a Moaning Frog (Heleioporus eyrei) for his call go to this link.

We also heard several Banjo Frogs (Limnodynastes dorsalis) see above. These sound like a banjo string being plucked and I will endeavour to find one to record as it is quite distinctive. There was another frog last night that was quite elusive and coming from two differnet directions and quite far off. See how we go tonight, although I think I've got extra sweeties here tonight as well as all mine. I could take them on a frog hunt, however it will be a matter of keeping them quiet. 'Sweeties' and 'quiet' = mutally exclusive.

Friday was a great day as not only was it the last day of the first school term (where has the time gone?) it was the day of servicing for sewing machines in our town. Three very brave sewing machine mechanics, they are some of my favourite people, make their way to our town and sit for the whole day servicing our sewing machines EVERY YEAR. This year I had these two serviced, next year it will be the treadle and the Pfaff. The Pffornicator has had a hard time getting sewing lately and now ........she's sewing like a young thing. I won't say 'like she did when she was new' because it was crap, however now because of the yearly servicing and tweaking, she is a dream and no longer a nightmare. If my machines go away for servicing, I miss them so much so this set up is ideal.
These are those wonderful White Tailed Black Cockatoos that fly around our district and they were feeding on the honky nuts that come off the Marri (Eucalyptus calophylla or Corymbia calophylla) and they were literally on the side of the road. Soooo.....we stopped and the boys took many photos. A really big parrot, huge birds, huge beaks. Just so lovely.
Unfortunately this is not a good photo however, I quilted this quilt for the the mother of one of the owners of Kraft Daze. A lovely shop with lots of gorgeous fabric and happening patchwork workshops in Maddington, West Australia and the staff are so wonderfully helpful. I'm a bit biased as they also sell other craft lines eg. knitting and other things that people do. Doesn't that sound so lame, I'm not interested in other crafty things that people do, so unfortunatley I haven't remembered. Ah I know that they sell lace. They have recently taken over the lease of the shop next door so their workshop space is HUGE and of course the old workshop area is now used for more fabric.

After those quite heavy rains that we had, this very attractive amphibian was found wallowing in the chooks' drinking water. He was rescued as these tackers are not now for their athleticism and ability to jump out of anything.

It is quilted - not bound yet, however well on the way to being used. I really enjoyed making this quilt - probably the combination of making something from Bonnie Hunter's vast array of patterns and half the strips being from BK. The quilt is named accordingly 'Half Cut'.

The quilt, she is quilted. Lorraine used just three fabrics to create this lovely star quilt. The ivory white fabric, is slubbed, very textural with a lustre and it all quilted up very easily. It was quilted using a slightly variegated red/orange 40/3 YLI thread in the needle and a straight red 40/3 Signature thread in the bobbin and the result was pleasing. The pattern is Keryn Emmerson's 'Celtic Scroll'


The days are just packed, and suddenly it is Wednesday. For a moment there I thought that it was Tuesday, however that was yesterday. The green has just erupted and it's all gone a sickly green. The younger Sweeties think that it is lovely, however the sunbleached yellow of the grass was very restful on the eyes, and the garishness of the first grass is stunning. However the mere fact that it has rained is a godsend. The days are divine and the nights are cool, the capsicums are relishing the temperatures and fruiting their little hearts out. We ate the last cucumber for the season yesterday, however I have a great supply of spring onions, nasturtiums, two types of basil and a staggering amount of rhubarb. There might be a last bottling of rhubarb champagne as the lemons have started to fruit again.

Remember it's nearly broad bean planting time - ANZAC day

Some eyecandy from a customer's quilt.

Too many years ago to remember I came across a redwork quilt by Australian Bronwyn Hayes and decided that I JUST had to do it. Anyway as with most quilts, I decided that it was too small and resized it all and it was bigger.
It is only partially quilted, someones quilt was urgent and this gem hasn't been back on the machine yet.
2006 ......... hmmmmm not that long ago in the scheme of things, just a heartbeat in the evolution of time.
The photos aren't that flash as the Sweeties and I were working against time and the sun was going behind the trees and also I was standing on the edge of an ants nest. I did what is called 'the meat ant dance' and lost all reason. Again.

Whaaattt! This is something that I help with and the time has come (the walrus said) for the Boddington Music Festival

The Boddington Music Festival enters its fifth year of bringing the Rock to Boddington, Western Australia.
This year, we're Rocking our biggest line-up yet, with Blue Shaddy, Kill Devil Hills and WAM superstars Jebediah!
Check out our website at http://www.boddmusicfestival.com/ for more information.
Boddington Music Festival 2008

Date: 5th April 2008

Location: Boddington Old School Oval

Before

After

I don't know if you can see the difference between before washing and after washing. Thankfully all this now needs is a binding and it is finished. This is one of those 'Bullseye Quilts' with the raw edges. I made one the year that my Mum was dying, so in this quilt there are pieces leftover from that; pieces of the boys' clothing; some fabric from eBay and also the Op Shop.

Today I received a lovely package from Ginger's Quilts. I was expecting the hexagons, however I had a surprise of four lovely pieces of fabric. What a very kind and lovely thought.

Another one bites the dust and this one sparkles like a jewel.

Yesterday we had over 30mm of rain and this is the result.

This is the customer's quilt that the youngest Sweetie wanted to snaffle. I was going to freehand the feathers in the outer border, however the Hairiest Sweetie wanted his ute tonneau (see edit below) fixed and the only way I could do two things at once was to get the computer to do the outer border. Looks good, as does the ute cover. Bit of a story with the ute cover as part of the cover was missing and there was no matching weight or type of fabric lying around the house, so I sent him to the Op Shop to look for an old bag, fake leather jacket or lady's dress boots. He went off bemused and came back with an old matt vinyl bag, which I took the back out of, chucked the rest and sewed it the 'new' bit into the ute tonneau. All finished and a very happy Hairy Sweetie. Every now and then I have to show that I can sew other things besides quilts.

EDIT

TONNEAU /tʌˈnoʊ/ [tuh-noh] –noun, plural -neaus, -neaux /-ˈnoʊz/ [-nohz]

1. a rear part or compartment of an automobile body, containing seats for passengers.
2. a complete automobile body having such a rear part.
3.a waterproof cover, generally of canvas or vinyl, that can be fastened over the cockpit of a roadster or convertible to protect the interior.

I have been beavering away on my 365 (Insanity) Challenge and have nearly caught up with writing them on the fabric. I have sewn six of the columns, and have come up with a plan to have 2" strips in between the columns. If I don't do this the quilt will be 93" x 64" and that is too long and narrow for me. Soooooooo if I have 2" strips on the outside and 2" between the columns I will end up with, a big quilt, ummmm a quilt that measures, 98" x 97".
I quilted the Queen of the May quilt for Liz Arnold of Lizard of Oz and ordered some of her project packs and shape packs. The link for Queen of the May block and picture below.Liz's pack are always of the highest standard. Very detailed and comprehensively written.

I made myself a pincushion when I was in bed with the 'flu. This is the tutorial from Abyquilt's blog

So Close

There are 10 of the little suckers to go, so I will wait for a quiet interlude and enjoy the final stretch. The reason why I also writing this entry is that gingerquilts left a lovely comment offering me more of my addiction, however I was unable to reply as it just bounced right back, sooooo gingerquilts if you are reading this please email me again.

I ran out of available blues when I was down the donga but had a stash of hexagons hidden down there so I started making these. I see a main body of hexagons appliqued onto a border of dingy blue. I also see a strippy quilt, with the feature fabric replaced by these hexagons. I especially see a woman consumed.

The Day that Was

Well I still feel ill, however I have partially stripped two doors, a small cupboard and nearly spun a bobbin of alpaca fibre. So it's my own fault. And the hexagon count is at 157. That means....................23 to go.

Hexagon Fest

The lurgy that the Sweeties had, has a new host and I'm not a very hospitable one. I wasn't able to go for my bike ride this morning so I'm pretty miffed. Yesterday I made more 1/2" hexagons for my Christmas Wreath and no, I'm not giving this one away. I've already completed the middle wreath and I need 180 hexagons for the outer blue border. This is what 103 1/2" hexagons look like. These papers are available through Lizard of Oz and they get everywhere, so be warned. Some of these hexagons have been used three times and are a bit floppy so will be retired. I'm thinking of making a quilt with this size hexagon, just with all the little bits of fabric. It might be a very small quilt, but it will be fun doing it. I think I need to get out more.

Demise

I needed a picture of a pint glass, unfortunately all the ones I could find either had beer/Guinness in them or were empty with froth on the sides. Picture of a glass? Why? For the past 14 years my one constant companion has been a pint glass full of water. I dislike intensely drinking ANYTHING. However after much research and trying out of all possible combos ie hot water, warm water, cold water, flavoured water I found the best solution was a pint glass, filled with normal water and two straws. The two straws enabled me to drink the water as fast as possible and it was great when I was in bed as I didn't dribble water everywhere. Yesterday my pint glass hit the kitchen floor and smashed. There is a story behind this glass you see, from a time when I, and the world, was much younger. It was a time in 1994 when the Hairiest Sweetie and I, along with out beloved daughter Nina went to the UK to visit friends and relatives. It was while we were staying with a friend in the lovely village of Fladbury on the river Avon that we were out walking on a public footpath through a cow paddock (field) that I spotted my pint glass cushioned in a cow pat. Obviously some one had left with local pub with their drink, finished the drink and then hoicked the glass. I picked it up and the rest is history. So I'm after another pint glass, just like the one pictured above. It would be great if I could find another one in a cow pat, while with the Hairiest Sweetie and Nina. Wishful thinking.

Higher Duties

Last weekend the Hairiest Sweetie and I were called to higher duties and went with the two younger Sweeties plus another two young Sweeties, belonging to other families, on a camping expedition. We all had a ball. As one of the new Sweeties had never been camping before, he was excited to say the least. The Hairiest Sweetie and I slept very well when we finally arrived home. Where did all OUR energy go?

I promised BK this recipe - it's for savoury impossible quiche and a family favourite that's great hot or cold. I normally double the recipe and keep one for school lunches.

1/3 cup plain flour

1 1/2 cups milk

3 eggs

2 rashers bacon, chopped

3 green onions (shallots),chopped

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

130g can corn kernels, drained & rinsed (I use frozen corn-works well)

2 tabs of chopped fresh parsley (I've run out of parsley-works well without)

Oil shallow 23cm round flan dish (I use a square one as well-works well). Whisk flour and milk in medium bowl until smooth; whisk in eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients; pour mixture into prepped dish. If I'm making two quiches, I spoon the solids kind of equally between dishes and then pour over liquid. Bake in a moderately slow oven (160 C/325 F) for about 1 hour or until set. Can't freeze or microwave this one.

BK also asked for a recipe for muffins. A great one to play around with and they freeze really well and are a great lunch box addition

One of our pumpkins grown hydroponically, it weighed over two kgs.

Over 10l of tomatoes

Only 1 rockmelon.

With regard to the curcubits - next time I set up the hydroponic system, I'll put the curcubits on the corners as I think there was a problem with cross pollination. The cucumbers were all right, however there wasn't too much of anything else and I think the bees were getting confused.

This weekend the Sweeties are ill and all horizontal and have been for a while and I'm the last (wo)man standing. They'll all probably get better when I get it and go of to work/school and leave me to groan alone. Between you, me and the gate post there has been A LOT of groaning. Maybe a tad too excessive, but hey, they are Sweeties.

A picture of the Sweeties when they were feeling better. And standing up. And smiling.

Christmas Wreath

A long time ago, like January last year I became all excited (again) and found these little hexagons by Lizard of Oz, and I embarked on many journeys always carrying these little hexagons with me. They have been everywhere because they were so handy to carry, even if I was riding my bicycle I could take them with me as they are so small and light. It was one of these trips that I decided that it was to be for Blogless Kathy. I finished the piecing and then prevaricated big time with how to quilt it. In the end I took a leaf out of Lazy Gal Quilting and did the Baptist Fan treatment. I did mine with Aurifil 12wt variegated yellow thread (not that it is very clear) and fairly large stitches (I'm out of practise)
At the end I was so excited to give it to BK, I forgot to photograph it, and I had missed Christmas again, so BK took these photographs for me. The quilt that it is hanging on is one that BK created from a Dresden Plate Swap that I organised to teach people the different ways to create Dresden Plates and primarily how to draw their own, BK as usual has done a magnificent job quilting her quilt and experimented with trapunto whilst doing it. The hexagon quilt is titled 'Christmas Wreath' however BK is using it everyday where it can be seen.

I had so much fun that as soon as I finished BK's I commenced another, which is for my family.

Light Relief

For some very light relief yesterday we went to see Fool's Gold. The oldest youngest sweetie was 12 yesterday. Matthew Mc spends a lot of time making sure he looks great - very nice for us - and some of the sea scenery was gorgeous. It was so bad it was good. The younger sweeties thought that it was great and the oldest sweetie thought that he had seen better many times.

So just a bit of eye candy.

As it is a long weekend here - Labour Day - I'm just cruising and having a general cleanup, so I thought that I would show a quilt that went outside of my comfort zone. It was made for a Machine Quilting challenge. The pattern was supplied and the colour had to be red and white. I don't do white real well and combined with red, too stark, too primal and the quilt ended up being too small. However there you go. I called it 'I'll give you a daisy a day dear' as I finished quilting it on Jed Strunk's birthday, who unfortunately died, in 1981, due to an aeroplane crash(why doesn't that surprise me) at the age of 45. I really like the song.

I found the daisy fabric on sale in the dress fabric section and it is a tightly woven poplin. It was even on special. Two years ago I gave to my good friend Sharon W as she had commented on the quilt and loved the starkness. It has gone to a good home.

The daisies are freehanded and the butterfly is a Janice Heitbaum.

I experimented with no Stitch in the Ditch. Probably a quilt this size is ok without.

Busy Having Fun

This is what I have done so far on one of the applique borders for the School House Quilt. I was thinking of making four of these. BK and I were talking, yes I still talk to her even though she is such a superb quilt maker she's still my friend, and we came to the conclusion that it was better for me to finish quilts how and when I wanted to because there would be a better outcome - that is, I'd be happier with the outcome. These days there is such an emphasis on quick piecing, time saving devices, and how many quilts were finished and so often these things should be savoured. By all means quick piece etc, however take bits out and enjoy the process and revel in the beauty of the creation of the work. It also helps to be a journey focused and not destination focused. Do whatever gives you joy, I think that is what I'm trying to say.

I think that this is the final setting for the Bonnie's Super Bowl Bargello Quilt. I like the look of the edges. Really what should have happened is the bargello should have oozed out into the outer border, however I only had so many squares left over from the centre, so that's what happened. The youngest sweetie reckons it's the best top I've ever made. I'll pay him later, he's such a cutie.
I bought some Amy Butler and Jane Sassman fabric off eBay and didn't have enough to make two quilts and I liked the fabrics too much to cut most of them up so I did this. The beauty of this was that it took me three hours. Maybe it looks like it too, however I still have the fabrics in sizable pieces to enjoy looking at. The younger sweeties think that it is really great. They're so lovely and I've trained them so well to hold up quilts and tops. Although they mutter a bit these days, however I just pull rank and ask them who's cooking dinner?
This is the Michael Miller fabric I was talking about the other day. Blue with orange dots - looks great nestled in there.

Dilemma

I have a dilemma about the borders for the Super Bowl Bargello - in truth I have no idea what Super Bowl is except it is something to do with watching men play some form of sport - I am quite happy with the pieced 4" outer border. However, there is part of me saying that another border would be the right thing. Hmmmm. Any ideas?

This is the wee beastie that has been my partner in crime for almost 25 years. Also known as the 'fornicator', although I must say that we both have settled down over time and no longer give each so much angst. There were times when I thought that she was going to be the most expensive boat anchor, ever. I bought her not long after I purchased my first car, and all things being right in the universe, she was more expensive. I had my priorities right. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times that I have used the embroidery stitches, any embroidery that I have done I have done by hand. So if and when I have to replace her, I will invest in a machine that is a straight stitcher, needle up/down, and a reverse button.


This flower is one of my favourites off the Marri tree, Eucalyptus callophylla, they are late this year by about four weeks, when they flower the smell is quite lovely.

Visitors

I am quite delighted with the Stat Counter that sits quietly on my side bar and counts the visitors that come by. Not by the numbers, I've never been driven by outcomes and numbers, but by the all the different countries that people are visiting from. I log on every day and am surprised. Today I was surprised by a visitor from the Untied Arab Emirates and Hawaii. A while ago I was delighted to have visitors from Panama(this prompted a search on Google maps to find the Panama Canal) and Alaska(which I know isn't a country, however it is big enough to be). Panama is a bit of a catch cry here, from the movie 'Sahara' loosely based on the Clive Cussler book of the same name, 'A Panama' gets you out of a very sticky spot although it costs quite a lot including the cigar.

It is doing wonders for our geography skills.

One of the residents here is this species of frog commonly known as the Slender Tree Frog, or alternatively Litoria adelaidensis. We have quite a colony outside the back door in all the greenery there. They don't live in the water like the Motorbike Frog(Western Green Tree Frog)they tend to live on the verges of water bodies. The biggest I have seen was 40mm, normally they are ~20-25mm in length. I was particularly taken with this one as I could seen the spots on it's body. They normally keep themselves very tidy with their legs close to their bodies. They call is the most piercing shriek - thankfully they don't do that very often.

This is a buttonhole applique w/o the buttonhole yet. It is one of Liz Arnold's of the Lizard of Oz

called 'Garden Party'. I've changed it a bit but putting it on point and using black.

School House Block Swap

This 'blog entry is to answer May Britt questions and fulfil Swooze's desire to see the whole quilt. A few years ago I fell in love.........well this was after that and I came across Piece o' Cake Designs by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins. These designs were quirky and bright and appealed to my need to walk on different tack. Long after that I organised a school house block swap, of which I'm the only one who hasn't finished, but that's okay 'cos it was and still is fun, as I decided to put my set of swapped blocks in a skewed setting and combine it with applique. As you all know all 1/4" aren't created equal, so I added triangles and skewed them to disguise this fact. One of the block was 11" before being sewn into the quilt. The quilt still has another border to put on and it includes some more applique - I can't have too much of a good thing - so it's taking longer.

Mine is the one with the yellow windows, meaning there is always on light on at my place because I tend to chew the candle at both ends. Next to my good friend Diane, who has a 'thing' for Fossil Fern.

So where do all these designs come from?

This one is from the pattern called 'Briar Rose' featured in Po'C's book Flowering Favourites. In the book it is set straight, however I thought that a medallion effect would add some interest and movement. Most of the flowers are scraps given to me by the other swappers. The lovely blue daisies, I can't pass a good daisy by, came from the 'Daisy' pattern from 'Stars in the Garden'. Some of the fabrics in the daisies have a lot of history for me. The fabric here came from a good friend, and I combined it with some yellow from one of my first quilts.

These following for designs come from the book 'Contemporary Classics in Plaids and Stripes' and the pattern is called 'Pretty in Plaid'. Again some of the fabrics have history for my family and I.

Hope that this answers all the questions and the pictures are okay.

Blogless Kathy's Bargello

My friend BK is a wonderful person for many reasons, one of the reasons is that

she is soooo good at is finishing things and the little Blogger has done it again. BK has even bred herself a tall family so that they don't need to stand on things to hold the quilts up. That's organised!
I wish I had her finishing genes. So BK has very kindly agreed for me to post the pictures of her finished quilt. This gives me a bit of a breathing space while I work out exactly the right border treatment for mine. The damn thing is even bound!!!!!!!!
This blurry photo is part of a joke. BK and I were shopping for fabric. Nooooooo BK was buying it all - got to remember the stashbuster thingy - and some divine Michael Miller sang to me. You know how that happens, very siren like, in Spotlight or at your favourite LQS. A glazed look comes over and it ends up in the trolley. How? It's magic. When the salesperson asks 'how much', you pick your favourite number and multiply it by.........a lot. Well there we were and BK was GAGGING at my fabric choice, however it's payback because I sent her a strip in the swap and it had to be used in her scrappy bargello. Sucked in. It's the blue one with the orange spots, in between the pale green and the mid blue print. Looks quite tame there, it's an eyeful in real life.
I got the 'ckeck spelling' to work! Can't you tell ;-))))))?

Needleturn Applique

These images are from a quilt that I started so long ago, that I am embarassed to tell you exactly when. However, something might be happening with it soon. Or might not. The designs are from Piece o' Cake, although not with their applique technique as it is too convuluted for my mind.
The red and white polka dots, see above, are scraps from the matching dresses that my Mum and I had when Mum was 30 and I was eight. Mum's dress was a sleeveless princess line, to show off her lovely figure and mine was an A-line to allow for plenty of movement. I was always delighted when we wore our matching dresses together.
Maybe all these fabrics are painful on the eyes, however they are all scraps and I had such a ball. There are several applique blocks in this quilt, all garish and in your face just the way I like them.
Reverse applique is a wonderful technique.
PS Is anyone else having problems with 'Check Spelling' in Bugger, oops, I mean Blogger?

Treadle Singer Sewing Machines

A few 'blogs ago I mentioned that I had a treadle sewing machine that I was using to sew 'crumbs' together.
Anyhoo, I was researching for a friend with regard to her treadle sewing machine and thought 'I should find out about mine.
My friend's machine and mine were made in the Kilbowie Factory of the Clydebank Scotland Sewing Machines.
Hers is a 27K made