Colourful Copper Friday

Wow, Robyn certainly set some of us a challenge this Colourful Friday.  Copper seems to be harder to find.  I dont think I have anything other than our old coins that would be copper, so I have hunted for copper coloured items.  Here goes:

Firstly the jewellery I wore to my daughter's wedding is a copper colour.  The large flower was pinned to my handbag, and my daughter made the bracelet and earings to match the copper thread in the top I wore.

Secondly is the copper tones in this pottery.  I took them outside so the sun would reflect the colours more.

And last

There definitely is a copper tone in this little guy's hair this morning. 

Why not pop over to Robyn at Daisy quilts to see how everyone else met the copper challenge.

Giveaways are fun. So are Giraffes

Pop over to Designs by Fee and see what beauty she has there in the shape of a giveaway. While there, sign up for her newsletter - I am sure you will be pleased you did.

This is it - part of the giveaway - "Fresh Cotton" by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda

Recently I have been working on:

I have had this pattern of the giraffe from the Pattern Place since just after it was released, but I didnt do too much with it, as I wasnt sure how to go about getting the giraffe to look "right". Recently there was a class at Sew This and That, and going along gave me the confidence to keep going on it. I have now attached all the spots etc, and it is now ready for the grass to be added and then the borders. We have a second class next week to tackle those parts.


But here she is so far:

I am very happy with the fabrics.

The head is looking good too, though the white highlight on the eye will bring her more to life. The patterns are beautiful, very lifelike, and not so difficult once you get started. They just take quite a bit of time cutting out the shapes.

I Spy quilt is finished

It is a wet weekend here so what better way to use the time than looking out a UFO to work on.  This quilt has been in the making for 4 or 5 years.  I was making it for one of my grandsons, but realised it was not the right one for him.  So I left it - for way too long.  It took only half a day to complete.

 It is an I spy quilt using bugs, butterflies, and other crawlies.

It is a reversible quilt made Quilt As You Go. 

And it is on the bed.  Which side to put up?  Blue now, red next.

One of my beds had a pink quilt on it, yet I have 5 Grandsons and only 1 Granddaughter, and it is mainly the boys who come for sleepovers at Gran's house.  Now there is a more suitable quilt on the bed.

What a good idea

This month's project at the Sewing Club at Sew This and That was to make an ironing mat/carry bag. 

We used Thermaflec for the ironing surface, 2 layers of wool wadding , and the outer fabric.  It is a good size (around 18 inches square) for using in classes, with our mini irons. (I posted about receiving my mini iron for Christmas here.)  I used the same fabric on the outside as I used for my cutting mat/ironing board.

After classes, there is no problem with taking home a hot iron, which always seem to take too long to cool down to a comfortable temperature to carry.

Fold the mat up, do up two buttons, and it becomes a handy little carry bag.

Now I thought that idea was quite brilliant. 

I am ready to go to a class to try it out !!!

My colourful Friday

After a busy week working at the computer a bit of light relief is in order.  Hmm.  Might see what dots and spots I can find around me.

Firstly, my giraffe.  She lives in a corner so is a bit hard to photograph properly.

The little men on the train have dotty eyes and dotty buttons.  And the wheels are dots too.

The border fabric for Zac's Transformer quilt is wheely spots.

My machine embroidered hummingbird picture has dotty wattle.

The butterflies on my Butterfly Bliss quilt and Harry's little ladybird are spotty.

And my gifts from Fee and Vicki are dotty - dotty cupcake, spotty fabrics.

To see more spots and dots visit Daisy Quilts

International Womens Day

Yesterday we attended the Maleny International Womens Day Luncheon , (this year was the 100 year celebration) organised by their local patchwork store, Maleny Magic Patchwork and Quilting, so most of those attending were quilters    There was good company, interesting speakers, enjoyable food and wine, quilts to check out.

These quilts in the background were made from blocks donated in past years.  There were more of them but I dont have photos of them all.

This shows some of the quilt blocks which were handed in this year.  Such amazing variety, and with the colour theme of purple, green and white, the quilts look amazing when assembled.
The quilts are used to raise funds for Women's issues, and are shown at quilt exhibits around Australia and in other countries.


 The highlight was hearing Susan Briscoe speaking of her passion for quilting, and particularly Japanese style textiles and design. She is also such a generous person, we were able to "touch" and photograph her beautiful work, and she happily signed the books we bought. If people bought a number of her books, she would sign each one of them. 

My friend Cheryl had bought 3 or 4 books, and each one was signed for her.

The two books I bought.....

have been signed.

Words cant describe Susan's handwork.  It is so beautiful,, her sashiko work is beautiful,

 the applique is worked with such fine stitches

and her choice of colours and fabrics is amazing.

The Maleny Magic Patchwork and Quilting store is to close in midyear.   The owner of it is the main organiser of the luncheon, so she is unsure if it will continue in the local area in future years.  She has always sought out and invited such interesting speakers, and organised such a wonderful event,  that it will be sad to not continue.   But as they say, "All good things come to an end".  We will have to wait and see.

Out to Lunch and ......

Tomorrow is International Women's Day and my quilting group has a table booked at the lunch in Maleny (Queensland).  Guest speaker is Susan Briscoe.  She is such a talented designer and textile artist, and will be talking about her "inspiring Japanese Quilting Journey".  I think it will be very interesting. She is doing teaching workshops while here also.

We were asked to make a 10 inch quilt block in the women's colours of purple, green and white.  After coming home from the Nutters picnic I hunted out a block to make. 

It is called Alpine Cross.  It rather took my fancy - lots of half square triangles. The blocks are used to raise funds for Women's issues.

Maybe there will be a visit to a Patchwork shop or two on the way home ???  I may have to twist the arm of the driver - or maybe not, she may be keen to check out Maleny Magic Patchwork and Quilts.   Or some of the other places we will be passing on the way.

The damp windy weather didn't dampen the spirit of the day !!!

It just took an alternative venue out of the showers and wind - it just took 4 (+ "Jenny") Nutters and a group of bloggers and Craft Forum members - it just took some yummy coffees, lattes, cupcakes - it just took lots of laughter and chatter, and hugs all round - to have a fabulous, fun, memory filled morning.

The cameras were clicking madly, but they kept smiling. 

So good to see "Jenny" joining in the fun and action - in the middle of the chatter.

Enjoying a latte 

 -  and those yummy cupcakes. 

Thank you Fee  for our beautiful cupcake of fabrics, and Vicki for the pin wheel. 

 It was great to finally meet blogging friends in person.  Teresa was one of my first blog friends. 

A very helpful hubby manned the cameras for our group photo, until the shower of rain had us all back under cover.

I also gave the girls the sewing kits I made, and some fabric packs.  I remembered to take a photo of one of them but not the other bits and pieces.

Thank you Dawn, Fee, Vicki and Joy for arranging this opportunity for us to meet up.  It really was a wonderful day.