Friends

Sometimes special friends come into our lives and I truly believe they are sent to us to learn lessons and humility.  So with this in mind, I have added this cute badge about friends to my sidebar which I picked up over on Paisley Cat.  They have some really beaut pages, badges etc. so do pay them a visit. 
My friend, Shirley, came into my life around 20 years ago and we have learnt much from each other, but she has truly taught me a lot about life  (and embroidery VBG).  It was her birthday on Monday, so yesterday I took her shopping and to lunch.  We had a lovely day out together with no stress, nothing to rush home for, so we could just enjoy the day.
We were excited to find Murray’s art supply and framing shop had moved into lovely new premises in the main street, so we simply had to check it out.
We made a few small purchases and of course Shirley being Shirley had to try her new goodies out straight away. 

She thought she needed brushes………ahem

This her current supply, but never mind, the new ones will not go astray!!
Have a great year ahead, Shirley.  Looking forward to seeing what she creates with her new art supplies.

A Little Break

After the quilt show and all the excitement of the Carnival of Flowers, we decided we needed a little break away and took my darling sister up on the offer of joining them on the Sunshine Coast for a few days.
Sunshine, there was not, but it didn’t bother us.  We still had some lovely walks along the beach and some good old chin wags (new saying just for you Judy)  over drinks and nibblies on the balcony of the apartment.
(you can just get a glimpse of the beach through the pine trees LOL)
The apartment was right across the road (through the car park) from Dicky Beach.  Beautiful white sand and delightful views of our wonderful coastline.
Here is my sister and her husband relaxing by the pool.  Even though it was cloudy, it was still much warmer than Toowoomba.  Yesterday here was back to winter again. Grrrr.

On the sewing front I am working busily on some Christmas gifts.  Can’t show here as that would spoil the surprise!
I managed to make a few small things to sell at the quilt show.  These pincushions were sold quickly and I thank Shirley for assisting in their production and also for eating the right camembert cheese.  ??**  VBG  Thanks Shirley.

I will make some more for next year, so keep eating that camembert Shirley.
Currently in the evenings, I am working on squaring up all my crazy quilt blocks I did several years ago in preparation for finally putting them altogether into a quilt.  Can’t rush these things!

Quilt Show and a Surprise

It has been a busy week.  The housework was neglected as I headed out each morning early to open up the venue for Toowoomba Quilters 2011 exhibition.  It took me back to the days that I was working full time – how the heck did I do that?
There were some really splendid quilts.
This is my utmost favourite by Robyn Ginn.  Robyn is a hand appliquer (appliqueist?? or whatever)  and hand quilter and designs all her own quilts.  This particular quilt is a variation on an antique quilt she saw in a book.

The hand quilting on this quilt is extensive and is just so beautiful.

Kookaburra amongst the hexagon leaves.

The central medallion.  The tree’s leaves are made of little hexagons.
Robyn calls this Quilt “Irish Cream Hexagon Tree” and it is a HUGE quilt.  She seems to ‘whip them up’.

Another friend of mine Pam made this fabulous quilt using Kaffe Fassett fabrics, and we all know how I love KF.  It is also hand quilted.

This hexagon quilt was also a favourite.  It was beautifully and tastefully machine quilted.  Made by a TQ member, Joye.

My friend, Marleen, has finished her sashiko quilt.  Shame on me, I have only done the central part in the same time.
She has put this together like a jigsaw puzzle and called it “The Sashiko Puzzle”  It is stunning in ‘real life’.  This photo doesn’t do it justice.
I got a nice surprise when my blogging buddy Teresa from “All Things Vintage” called into the show briefly one day.  It was so lovely of her to do so,  as her time in Toowoomba was limited.
She is just as gorgeous in real person as in her blog.  It was great to meet her and hope we can meet again one day.

Looking forward to next year now where, hopefully ,I will be able to show more than one quilt!!!

Amongst the Flowers

Shirley and I went to see some of the displays and gardens during the Carnival of Flowers here in Toowoomba yesterday

We visited one of the lovely parks here called Laurel Bank Park and the following photos are taken on my not so good little camera.  These flowers are real !!!  We could not believe the colour and the splendour of the gardens.  They have planted the flowers in some of the gardens to look like cartoon characters.  Soooo  well done.

We also went to a wonderful display of teapots.  I loved all the character and novelty ones.

We also visited the local Spinners & Weavers display.  They had lovely work for sale like felted and knitted berets and hats, flower pins, scarves, felted tote bags etc.etc.  Shirley bought a beret and I was searching for a flower pin just the right colour without success. 
Tomorrow we are off to see some embroidery, a textile art exhibition and Queens Park.
Whew there is so much to fit in.

Some Iris Love

My dear friend, Shirley is home at last.  I have missed her.
She brought me home this great big bunch of mauve iris and a cutting of it to plant up into my garden.  So thoughtful. Thank you Shirley.


Some time back she also gifted me with a bulb of the white iris and it has flowered at last.  Beautiful!

I am not in love with the weeds surrounding this beautiful plant.  Could the good fairy please weed and mulch my flower garden??

My purple Iris.

Our city’s Carnival of Flowers starts this weekend so we are looking forward to having a look around the champion gardens and popping into the flower, food and wine festival in Queens Park.
Also my quilt group’s annual exhibition of quilts starting on Saturday and gong through til Friday 23rd.  It is always a visual treat and loads of fun hanging out with our quilting buddies.  Should be a great week.

TAKE 2

The quilt was finished the label was on and it was ready to enter into the quilt show.
Wait…..
She lays it out on the floor to show off to daughter and arghhhhh wavy edges!!!!
Takes it to quilting friends to look for a no fuss cure, but alas, the news was dim.         Binding must come off, edges must be eased in a little etc. etc. etc.
So, binding is back on apart from about 6 inches right at the end when finicky Pfaff starts to loop again on the back, for no particular reason.  Grrrrrr.  Right!  Turn  finicky Pfaff off, oil it up, and take a break from said machine before serious damage is done to said machine.
Later……….
All done, no more waves and a very happy quilter.

No fabric was purchased for this quilt.  Every leaf is different.

All hand quilted.

Lilian helping Grandad dig the vege garden ready for some summer lettuce.