End of year wrap up

What a busy year 2015 has been and how rapidly the years are passing us by, in no time at all it will be Xmas and then the end of 2015 and into the new year. 2016. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and an even more wonderful New year.

My year has been quite productive and eventful with lots of travel and many quilts completed, as well as the birth of our first grandchild, I have a lot to be thankful for. On the work front, changes are being made, in the middle of 2016 NETS will be relocating to Bankstown, a further distance to travel for me, looks like my day will be starting even earlier now.

Let's look at what quilts and travel  I have completed this year.

January I travelled to Japan and visited the Tokyo quilt show.

February, I finished Field of Dreams and Birds in a basket, I picked them up from the quilter in April just in time to be entered into the Springwood quilt show.

Field of Dreams

Birds in a basket.

I traveled April, May and June to France, spent time in Nantes to attend Pour L'Amour du Fil, then onto Paris, England, Wales, Scotland, Spain ,Portugual Morrocco and Abu Dhabi.

Lots of hand sewing with 6 pointed diamonds and tumbling blocks, for my "Heathton" quilt.

I made a panel quilt for my grandson, first of many, his  mummy is fascinated by monkeys. 

June 2015

More monkey's

Pinocchio 

Beatrix Potter

Woodland Creatures.

Many more followed, Woodland Creatures, made for a friend.

July, I finished my version of MSG, Anne Levens quilt, 1740 one inch hexagons and 16 lozenges, quite a large quilt, 2.9 mtrs long.

My red and white embroidered quilt, bought as a quilt top from Houston last year, I had it quilted and then put the binding on, I am delighted with the finished product.

July also saw me finish my version of Chris Jurds strippy sampler.

July, I made a quilt for my niece Nicholle' s birthday, this quilt only took me a week, aptly named

" Henry", oh and can you tell, she likes cats.

August I dabbled with Zen doodling and made a couple of cushions for presents.

August the 15th our gorgeous grandson was born, pure contentment on Sarah's face.

I Picked "Geisha Girls" up from the quilter, I actually completed this quilt in April as well, I had it custom quilted which took 4 months, now bound and completed.

In September I travelled to Toowoomba for Festival of flowers and visited 3 quilt shows as well as spend some quality time with my sister.

To be continued....part 2 coming soon

September happenings

What a busy month September has proven to be, DH and I are busy planning our big adventure for next year, where Paducah, Kentucy will be  another thing ticked of my bucket list. I am busy attending quilts shows, flower festivals and finishing a number of UFO's. Enough to keep me out of mischief.

At present in Sydney, there are a couple of quilt exhibitions on at present, one in the Manly regional Gallery and another in Gymea,in the Hazelhurst Gallery, both are great and well worth a look. Manly has an exhibition of quilts from the collection of Annette Gero, this is a great collection of wartime quilts, mainly made from military uniforms, lapels, wool and intricate hand work. Photos were allowed to be taken for personal use only and not for social media.

Manly Regional Gallery

 Hazlehurst Gallery has a great collection of early Australian made quilts, no photos were allowed to be taken, I did manage to purchase the book, called "Labours of Love", which has photos of the quilts exhibited. Hazlehurst gallery is a great place to visit and have lunch. The quilts mainly from late 1800's were hand pieced or EPP. I have just completed one similar to one of the quilts on display, a quilt made with fussy cut shapes to make a hexagon.The quilt made by Fredriricka Mary Josephine was the inspiration for the Springwood quilt show raffle quilt in 2012, varied slightly with a centre reproduction panel, The quilt was called "Homage"

My finished version of FMJ quilt.

Another quite large quilt, measuring 2.97 mrts by 2.47mtrs. 

Entrance to Hazelhurst Gallery

Cafe and eating area.

 The year 2015 has proven to be a very productive year for me in finishing UFO's and making a couple of quick quilts for gifts to give to family. I have also dabbled into some Zen doodling, which has proven to be quiet therapeutic and created some cushions. Adult colouring books are quite the rage these days, a wonderful way to bring a little calm into very stressed lives.

I am in the midst of setting up a sewing area, rearranging my fabrics so that it can be a bit easier to find my fabrics when commencing another project, as I have so much fabric, I have set myself an amazing task. Whilst doing some tidying up, it is time to purge and get rid of some fabric as well. Windsor Downs annual garage sale is on the 14 th November, so the perfect opportunity arose to have a big clean up.

In the middle ofSeptember, 

 I took the opportunity to fly to Toowoomba to visit my sister and enjoy the festivities with "Carnival of flowers". The carnival celebrates a whole week of flowers, garden competitions, quilt shows, teapot extravaganza, clivia shows and craft demonstrations. My sister and I had a great time attending all the events that the carnival f flowers had to offer.

I will share with you a couple of quilts from the three shows we visited.

Aptly named "Cathederal Windows" all hexagons.

Susan Smith design" Stonefield"

 I had a wonderful time with my sister, touring gardens, visiting three quilt shows, teapot display and arts and craft at Geham.

The Geeham school hall where the arts and crafts display was held.

Me in the grand champion garden in Twoowoomba

My sister Esme, being a wonderful companion and holding her sisters purchases, interesting, seeing I bought a lot of plants and will be flying home .

Well this post has been in the making for awhile, got kinda busy with spring cleaning etc, now we are well into October, time to get a move on.

I will leave you with a photo of my adorable grandson.

2015 year of happenings

August is the month of birthdays in our family, as well as a few friends, it appears that I am surrounded by Leo's. What is special about the month of August is  delivery of our first grandson, born to our eldest son Nigel and his partner Sarah. Logan Anthony Raymond Hacker was born on the 15th August, weighing 3.1kgs. It was love at first sight, such a gorgeous little bundle.

 

 

 

Nannys first cuddle, sleeping and settled

Nigel and Logan baby photos, so similar in looks when born.

 

Such contentment, mother and son, my favourite photo.

Poppy having first cuddles

  Father and son

Father's Day celebrating three generations on the Nepean Belle

Nearly a month old and finally Uncle Alex has a cuddle.

One month old, focusing and smiling.

Being first time grandparents is wonderful and procreation from your children never ceases to amaze me.

Camden Quilt show- The Spirit of Anzac.

Being 2015 and the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli, the Camden quilt show, this year is dedicated to the Spirit of ANZAC.

The Camden quilt show is always held on the first weekend in August.

The quilt show coincides with an antique market as well. It is usually a great day out with plenty to do and see. 

Camden is a lovely little village on the outskirts of Narellan in the south west of Sydney, with many small boutique shops and great cafe's. The drive along the Northern road usually takes 1 hour but on the way there was is a lot to see. My fist stop is at Luddenham where a little trash and treasure market is held in the church grounds. It is always on the first Saturday and it is rare, not to go home without a bargain. Next stop is Cobbity markets, this is a lot bigger market with all sorts of fine produce, collectables and quality handicrafts, also a great time out to grab a coffee and some delicious treat for the journey.

Upon arrival into Camden I park, pay my entry into the hall where the quilt show is held and I head straight to the stall holders table, where on display and for sale are fantastic handmade goods, fun is had by all and lots of handmade goods are purchased. 

Below are just a couple of quilts that I really liked.

English Blooms by Christine Burrows, a Margaret Sampson George pattern.

Summer Flowers by Nadine Capaldi, inspired by Sue Cody.

Noodle Box by Michelle Colbran, a design by Chris Jurd, this quilt was hand and machine quilted by Michelle.

Fire and Ice by Birgit Hoffman

Vintage Bloooms By Janette Looms, made and quilted by Janette, this quilt features 552 different fabrics.

Viv's Heritage Sewing Collectables

Viv at her stall and all the wonderful sewing memorabilia for purchase, a great selection of collectables, all sought, bought and beautifully restored by Viv herself, with the wonderful help of her dear hubby Ernie. 

Viv's stall is always beautifully presented, great to fossick through and pick up a bargain. The sewing memorabilia is sourced from all over the world.

Viv with her offsider, Virginia.

I hope you enjoyed the journey, until next time.

"Lest we Forget"

On the countdown

My how time flies when you are busy having fun, making and creating. I cannot believe it is 7weeks since we have returned from our holiday.  Our next holiday is being planned, we are off to Mexico and USA, ending our trip with 4 days in Paducah, Kentucky for the annual quilt festival. It will be wonderful to visit Hancocks fabric shop. In early June, I attended the Sydney Quilt show with a few friends. I must say the new venue at Glebe Island is very bright and loads of space, not sure but I felt that attendance was down in numbers as well as less stall holders.

This year was a red and white quilt challenge and lots of bright quilts were featured as well.

Below are just a few of my favourites.

This quilt was done by Merelyn Pearce, very intense stippling,also won the R &W category

Just love the redheads also, made by Colleen Harradine, so many others that were wonderful and hard to photograph all of them.

The Aussie true blue quilts were so creative and a pleasure to peruse.

Anzac quilt done by the Central Coast hand weavers, spinners and textile arts "Under pinned Anzac" won the group quilt.

Another favourite was "Round the Garden" by Wendy Williams.

There were many great entries, such a delight to look at and gather inspiration.

On the 5th July, my son Nigel and his fiancée Sarah, had a baby shower for our eagerly anticipated grandson, only 6 weeks to go before we meet our little man. I must say the baby shower was a great success and he will be one very spoilt little boy with all the wonderful gifts given by family and friends.

Both his parents are also getting very excited as the time of his impending birth draws near.

Kerrianne did a wonderful job of making the cake. The cupcakes were delicious.

Nigel and Kylie also shaped a fruit bowl into a baby, yummy fruit salad.

Not hard to guess what we are expecting in August.

With the impending birth of our grandson, time to whip up a few quilts, monkeys seem to be a favourite with the expectant mother.

Pinniocchio quilt

Beatrix Potter fun

Just a little red and white of my own, I bought this quilt top in Houston last year, circa1920-30's, I have just had it quilted to finish it off, I am very pleased with how it has turned out.

Great to own a vintage red and white quilt, a little history,  I Might call it " Lost Property "

Embroidery is stem stitch, and very nicely done.

Finally back from the quilters, continuing on with my normal tradition, not a small quilt, 2.9 metres long. This is my version of MSG "Anne Leven's quilt featured in Quiltmania 

Progress on my African quilt, modelled on Chris Jurds strippy sampler, I'm nearly finished.

What was that "!!!! I am finished, off to the quilters on Tuesday.

This one measures 3.3 metres long.

This was a challenging quilt with lots of creative blocks, a pleasure to sew and I must say I am happy with the overall effect. until next time!