Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale and friends.

What a fantastic day to end a very busy week of sewing, three UFO's completed and now the fourth soon to be sent to the quilters after another border has been added. More photo's will be posted shortly of the completed quilts,  I seem to have been on a roll since late January, completing my UFO's, out of seven, only three more to go!!!!, not counting the ones that I am working on at present. Today I drove down to  Mittagong to visit an old friend! Di, we have had a friendship that has lasted for over 35 years and a friendship that is greatly valued.  On arrival into Mittagong, we drove to Moss Vale, a neighbouring town to vist a reviva recycling centre at the " tip", let me share with you, what we got for free! quilting magazines and some great books, photos below! After spending a good hour at the tip, we then drove to Berrima, which is another historical town in the Southern Highlands to have morning tea and visit the Berrima patchwork shop, of course fabric was purchased. We then drove back to Mittagong  for lunch and retail therapy, as well as a visit to the Village quilt shop. Mittagong is a quaint little village in the Southern Highllands which holds a lot of charm as well as spending the day with Dianne, I took the opportunity to catch up with another friend,  Jessica, who lives in Willowvale, a suburb close to Mittagong. What a delightful afternoon with lots of show and tell, cake, tea and loads of fun.

Jessica is making the "Fun Girls Quilt by Bronwyn Hayes! very similar to the Polka Dot girls quilt that I have just completed, back from the quilters and putting the binding on at present.

 The reviva centre at the tip in Moss. Vale and below, just some of the books that were free!

Berrima patchwork shop.

Mittagong Village Quilt shop.

Jessica, cake, tea, show and tell, what a great afternoon, below the "Fun Girls "Quilt that Jessica is making? just love it and well done to Jessica!

My Polka Dot girls, before being sent to the quilter.  I resisted the urge to make it bigger, small in comparison to my other quilts only 71 inches square. I am very happy with the quilting, hearts and roses, will show more photos when binding is completed.

One more border to be added to my appliqué quilt and then off to the quilters, this quilt has been a combination of Chris Jurd, centre, Kim Mcleans appliqué and my borders with the  bird appliqués. By adding extra borders, this quilt is another large one.

"Batik Beauty" completed with quilting and binding, made for my neice, Rhiannon.

In a very happy place with my completed quilts, cannot wait to start other projects that I have in mind,  oh so much to do and so little time!

Salvation Army Quilt appeal for fire victims.

The Salvation Army of Winmalee put out an appeal asking for quilts to be donated. The quilts were for the recent fire victims in the Blue Mountains. This appeal was very successful and the Salvation Army collected over 1,038 quilts, sewing accessories and magazines. These goods were donated from all over Australia and New Zealand. The display of quilts were opened for public viewing in Falcounbridge last week. The Salvation Army displays the quilts for one day only prior to the going to their new home.  The generosity of people donating the quilts were awe inspiring and demonstrates how generous and giving quilters are.

One of the sheds filled with quilts.

Believe it or not this was a cheats appliqué, made stunning by creative machine quilting.

A great number of the quilts donated were hand quilted.

Well done to the quilters of Australia and New Zealand, a quilt made and donated with love and friendship.

UFO's and the end of a journey.

After Lucy's crosses were completed and sent to the quilters I decided to get into my sewing room and tidy things up a bit. Aamazing the amount of fabric that I found in crates, that I  even forgot I  had. How many of us are like that. After my little discovery tour with the fabric,  it was next onto looking to see what UFO's that I have to complete. There is just so much that I want to do and eager to move onto the next project, there is not enough hours in the day. But with some determination  and good intentions I will also finish what I have started. My Incompleted projects are, 1 x Christmas quilt, looked at and was not happy so pulled it apart and will redo it from the beginning, but only have a third of the patern so looks like it may be up to me to complete the last third. One 5 inch hexagon quilt, all hexagons are cut, but not covered, may change the idea of this one, so some thoughts needed, before it is completed. A quilt with hearts, that have all been embroided in burgundy, I have  embroidered  a total of 22 hearts, no pattern as such, so this quilt will also need drafting up. Noodle box is a WIP, steady as you go, not worried about this one. Dear Jane, only has 3 rows to go, to complete Dear Jane would be a bit like Lucy, my other UFO's will be completed more readily and without as much time so she will have to be on the back burner for awhile, my intention was to get her finished in 2013 for the 150th anniversary of the civil war. I saw Dear Jane in Vermont at the Bennington museum in 2012 and this was a highlight for me, we also visited Gettysburg which I would highly recommended.

 The tradegy is that I only have 3 rows to go, but to make one square 5 inches in all, takes about 4-6 hours and I do not have the energy or commitment at the moment! I am thinking about it.

Below is the original Dear Jane, housed in the Bennington museum in Vermont.

Gettysburg bus, a tour highly recommended.

Cannon's housed in the Gettysburg museum.

Gettysburg Battle fields.

Oops !!! got a bit lost in reminiscing there for a moment, this holiday, a total of 4 weeks, travelling west to east in America, was an amazing time with our very dear friends, Sandy and Steve.

Back to unfinished projects.

On my discovery tour of unfinished projects, I also uncovered the embroideries that were completed a few years ago for a quilt designed by Bronwyn Hayes, "Polka Dot Girls"I am pleased to share with you! one days work on Monday! This quilt is on the way to completion, this is what I have done so far.

Another block will be completed today hopefully, prep has been completed. My daughter- Inlaw "Cara " was pleasantly surprised by pretty,  I Usually do civil war or reproductions quilts. Maybe this will inspire me to do The Gingham girls also by Bronwyn Hayes, a present bought by the family a few years back.

I also uncovered quite a few embroideries for bags, sewing kits and needle keeps, not much work needed to complete these, small achievable projects, so in between doing hexagons for the Anne Levens quilt by Margaret Sampson, these will be completed.

With the help of the lovey Anne Murray in a class with Chris Jurd last week, I completed the Stable bag, thank you Chris Jurd for doing the stippling on the bag.

As well as my own  UFO's I have bought quite a lot of UFO's from other quilters as well, I Unearthed 1 x mini quilt with a 1930's vintage check and a completed quilt top from Chris Jurd, bought from the Springwood quilt show last year. I will be busy completing these as well. In the past my first stop at the Springwood quilt show has been Alexandra's table and then onto Chris and Co's table as there is always lots of bargains available.

Talking about the Springwood Community Quilt show and unfinished projects,!! Lucy's Crosses has been returned to me from the quilters, looks great, binding is on,hopefully it will be selected and entered into the Springwood quilt show, so you will all need to attend to view my quilt,  as well as many others, always a popular event.

Springwood Community Show held on the 25, 26 and 27th April

Mark the date!

    On the 24 th February at 1649hrs, the last stitch was sewn into my Lucy Boston quilt. The 56 squares took 19 months to complete. 6 weeks of intensive  sewing, finally saw approximately 2,000 one inch squares combined to combine the 56 squares. The journey has ended with Lucy, which was a great journey and fun ways to fussy cut fabrics. Now for the borders and off to the quilters ready for entry into the Springwood quilt show.

Lucy 's crosses.

A successful morning tea this morning, with a greet, meet, show and tell from all the talented quilters of Windsor Downs. 

Lots of great quilts, on show, a little sneak peek at what will be displayed.

Double wedding ring, from a very talented Gail.

Another double wedding ring, Wonderful  work Joyce .

Star pattern. Wonderful colour combinations, great work lyn.

Appliqué vintage garden hearts. Well done sandy.

Viv's has done some great embroidery and appliqué on her Gigham girls.

Virginia's creative fussy cutting and some wonderful hand piecing.

Fabric very light in colour, so did not photograph well,  but as always some amazing embroidery by Rosemary, her large queen size quilt was stunning.

This is just a sneak peek at what will be on offer in September at Quilts on the Downs, I Am pleased to be associated with these talented ladies.

Road trip to Castlemaine.

At last, the long awaited day, a road trip to Castlemaine to attend an appliqué class with Margaret McDonald and Di Ford. The classes were being held on the 15th & 16th of February. I was lucky enough to get into a class on the Sunday 16 th February. DH and I drove to Wodonga on the thursday and stayed overnight with my brother. Whilst in Wodonga, we visited Carolyn's quilting room and had lots of eye candy to view. Carolyn's quilts are amazing, especially the replica of the V & A sundial quilt. The girls present at the time were working on Di Fords ,"Route 66". I had great delight in showing them my Lucy Boston, "Patchwork of the Crosses", which I might add, has taken 1 month of constant sewing to get all the rows together, I hope to finish soon, as I want my life back!!!!

Friday found us travelling to Barnawartha to stay with friends, Jan and Col. A perfect opportunity to get all the girls together for a sewing day with show and tell. DH left us girls to go on a wine tour with his clients that live in Barnawartha as well. So pleased that he had something to do, as I was not sure how he would have tolerated eight girls, eating, sewing and chatting, what a fantastic day, had by all and to be surrounded by such talented ladies. Valentines day as well was celebrated with heart shapes from watermelon, chocolates and strawberries.

Let me share with you some of the work that the girls have been doing, what inspiration!

Vickii's quilt, hand quilted, her version of an antique quilt.

Vicky's gorgeous appliqué quilt, Below is vickii's own design inspired by Albury, the wording is reversed appliqued, perfect!!!

Jan is doing Di Ford's marriage quilt.

Sue-Anne's Irish circles designed by Karen Cunningham 

1930's challenge

Sue-Anne's Joy of life (Rosalie Quinlan)

Ryland manor by Sue-Anne  ( Megan Carroll)

Helen's Walnut hill farm (Susan Smith)

Marg's Sarah Sampler

We also had a celebrity in our midst with Shelly who recently had her design "Jugs and Dishes, published in Quiltmania no 99. Not to miss an autograph opportunity, when sewing with Shelly, what does one do!!!

Jan 's version of Walnut Hill farm.

Jan's Civil war 2 (Susan Smith)

Jan and Col live in a historical heritage house, that used to belong to a doctor, barns, stables and a carriage house, encompass the 10acres. A gorgeous setting in the Barnawartha area.

Shelly 's "Floral market,

And Shelly's gorgeous bag, patterns are available. http://skellywagsewing.wordpress.com

We left Jan's on Saturday to drive to Castlemaine , when we left it was torrential rain! very much needed moisture! due to the dry conditions, over most of Australia. We arrived into Castlemaine at about 1.30 pm, drove straight to the tourist information centre, with two purposes in mind, visit threadbear patchwork and Shades of Grey. At the Threadbear patchwork shop Petra Prins was making an appearance from 1-3 pm, so armed with her book off I went to get an autograph.

Shades of grey which is a wire sculpture place, and on each occasion we have visited Castlemaine, they have been closed, maybe third time lucky.....next time.

The class was held on Sunday and commenced at 0930 hrs, the room was divided into two areas, and a choice of two teachers, one with Margaret McDonald and the other with Di ford, with a changeover in the afternoon. What a wonderful day with different techniques of appliqué being taught on a quilt with the same centre, and each designer doing their own design on completing the quilt. Di and Margaret were wonderful teachers and had a lot to share.

The goodie bag from Threadbear was very generous as well as being well fed and watered. A good day was had by all.

Margaret's centre of "Charlotte Louise"

Margaret getting ready to share her expertise!

Di teaching us her techniques and her quilt "Sutton Grange"

Di's centre...

Overall it was a great couple of days away, with new techniques being learnt with some retail therapy as well as a few days away with DH. While away DH and I had the pleasure of experiencing some local cuisine as well as the local culture.