Wednesday 16 April 2008

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.

Sunday 13 April 2008

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.

Thursday 10 April 2008





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 known 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'.

Sunday 6 April 2008




Some eyecandy from a customer's quilt.

Friday 4 April 2008

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.

Thursday 3 April 2008

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

Wednesday 2 April 2008



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.

Tuesday 1 April 2008



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