Look at Me - I'm Sitting

Haven't I grown! I'm nearly as big as my Daddy's giraffe - that's him behind us!
I have my Mummy's cheeky grin!
Bye bye from Sean!

1954

I found this old photo (1954) of my childhood home - it's no longer there. The area behind the house, up the hill, is now covered by "posh" housing and Swansea Road out the front is a four lane divided road!
The flags were strung up for the visit to Lilydale of Queen Elizabeth, in 1954.
Life was so much simpler then!
Liz

Quilt Aid 2009

Remember the swatches of Sachet Pot Pourri fabrics I posted recently? Here is a little sneak preview of my block contribution to "Bluebird of Hope", a quilt made up of 12 blocks by Aussie designers. The proceeds from the sale of the pattern go to World Vision, for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hosital in Ethiopia - a most worthy cause!
Helen Stubbings of Hugs & Kisses, is currently editing patterns, and she kindly sent photos of all the completed blocks to the designers - and I am impressed!!!!! I'm going to make one myself - I just have to have this lovely quilt!!!!!
Keep posted and all will be revealed!
Liz

Christmas Time for Teddy Bears

Do you remember last year, on July 31st, I posted a photo of a new Christmas stitchery design? And do you remember that I said it would be finished in a couple of weeks? What happened to it, you ask? I was waiting on some fabric in the mail, and when it arrived it was not what I expected, so instead of making a botched job, I decided to wait for something nicer to come along.
Today I have been working at my kitchen bench, cutting and arranging little squares of Nancy Halvorsen Christmas fabrics from her new range, " I Believe in Santa". Yes - it is a work "still in progress", and yes, it will be finished before June this year!
Here are a couple of sneak preview photos.

I hope you like it!

I'm off to play with fabric now!
Liz

Rainy Day Play with Fabrics

It has been the perfect day for staying indoors, so I've been playing with fabric all afternoon! Outside it has poured raining! The gutters were overflowing and we were gratified to see that a modification David made to one of our downpipes was working successfully! He extended the gutter to divert the water from the roof into the garden - we could actually hear the plants sighing with relief!
This is what I made - with scraps from my stash - I can feel a pattern emerging - I have already drawn up more designs, so watch this space!
"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to sew I go....."

Fabric Find

I'm always on the lookout for that unusual piece of fabric and look at what I found! The photo shows a fat quarter - there are five (or is it six?) tape measure prints running down the length of the fabric, with two different sized dot prints in between. I just had to have it! I bought it at Patchwork with Gail B, at Bayswater, here in Victoria. It is a veritable Aladdin's cave of patchwork delights! And there's always a friendly hello! Worth a visit.Oh, and I don't know what I'm going to do with the fat quarter yet!
Liz

XLN Fabrics

Here they are! The fabrics from the Sachet Pot Pourri range, from XLN (see previous blog!!!).

Mystery Project

The photo shows a lovely bundle of fabrics from XLN - it's the Sachet Pot Pourri range - lovely muted colours in florals, spots and some paisley. Very pretty. I'm really excited because I am taking part in a charity project, along with some other Aussie designers - can't say much yet, but it should be up and running in June. So keep an eye on this blog and all will be revealed!
Hmmmmmmm ......... my computer is not cooperating! I'll have to post the photo later. Sorry, sorry, sorry!
Bye for now!
Liz

Water Babies

We laughed and laughed! The lorikeets had a wonderful time in the bird bath - actually submerging under the water like little submarines! It shows how hot and dry it's been. The bushes in the background give the appearance of a beautiful green oasis - it's actually clever planting of water-wise plants.
Today we have gale-force winds, dust storms and the threat of bushfires all rolled into one!
Can't wait for tomorrow - 19 degrees!!!!!! Might have to wear something warm ...... and hopefully some rain - any rain at all will do ...... I wonder where my umbrella is.
Liz

Quilt Convention

I spent last Thursday with my friend Sue at the Quilt Convention - it was held for the first time at the "old" Exhibition Building in Carlton, a beautiful venue. However, there was disgruntled muttering to be heard from quite a few customers - not enough parking; queues to get in were just far too long; too hot (no air-conditioning); too cramped (even though there were unused open floor spaces behind partitions; the stand layout did not lend itself to a good "traffic flow" of customers; not enough food outlets and not enough choice of food; not enough seating........ I hope the organisers get it right next year.
But apart from all that, a good day was had, and I met quite a few friends! Caught up with my "ex" teacher friend Lynn - yes, Lynn, I'll email you soon! Also Elaine and Julie - great to talk to you! Helped out at The Patchwork Tea House stand for an hour or two to give the girls a break. Said a quick "hello" to Rosemary and Heather from Stitch in Time; Sandra from Foothills Fabrics and Threads; Gail, Rebecca, Russell and Kay from Patchwork with Gail B. My apologies to Heather and the girls at Barossa Quilt & Craft Cottage - they were busy every time I went past!

Photo - A very proud Grandpa with a gorgeous Sean!

Bye for now,
Liz