If I do say so myself ....

.... this is a pretty fabulous bag I've just made.



100% reversible.





Pockets inside ....



.... and out!



Love it!!

Happy stitching.

Andi :-)

You shouldn't have ....

..... told me about the 25% off sale at GJs, Cathy.

Look what happened!!!!


Breaking it down a little:







Gulp!!!

My name is Andi and I am addicted to fabric!!!

Melbourne Quilt and Craft Fair

Had a brilliant time today at the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair with the lovely Kate from One Flew Over


You should have seen the queues to buy tickets:


At morning tea time, we caught up with some other lovely bloggy ladies (My camera didn't take a great shot so pop over to Cathy's for a better pic)


Front row (L-R):

Rita from Red Pepper Quilts, Lurline from Lurline's Place, Kate and me.

Behind (L-R):

Rita's sister Karen (a long arm quilter from Northcote who won some quilting awards at the show today), Muriel from Yellow Roses, Cathy from Cabbage Quilts, and Bronwyn from Whippet Good.

It was so lovely to meet up with some of the people I've only ever met on the interweb!! Thanks girls.

My credit card took a bit of a beating today.

I got some Applique Wonder and some Miracle Fabric Sheets ...

... some divine books ...


..... of course some fabric.
I found these beauties at Kelani Fabrics which is definitely a new favourite place to shop.


To add to this yummy haul, I bought some Valori Wells Urban Flannels to make a baby girl's quilt.


Not bad for a morning's shopping.

There were some lovely quilts on display as well. In particular there were some amazing log cabin quilts with the tiniest little logs (some as small as quarter of an inch).

Here is a montage of some of the quilts that caught my eye ....



Can I just say that although I appreciate the copyright issues being discussed of late on various blogs, I am of the belief that if you put your work up for public display, you can't complain about people sharing images of your work (as long as no-one is profitting from your original designs).

So, please enjoy these images but don't copy any original ideas and go off and make a squillion dollars selling them as your own.

Thanks,

Andi :-)

And we're married!!!!!

More photos to come when I get them from the photographer.

Andi :-)

Bags! Bags! Bags!

I've been learning lots about making bags.

These are for 2 little girls turning 4


This one is for a bigger girl turning 24


And these ones are for me!!

Happiness is .... Russian Dolls in the lining.


Mine were made using this tutorial.

Have a great weekend!!

Andi :-)

Shall we get together?

I find its always so much nicer to spend your savings with like minded friends. Don't you?

So, if anyone would like to catch up at the Melbourne Craft & Quilt Fair for a cuppa, a gasbag and some supportive shared retail therapy, I am available to meet on the Thursday (Day 1) at 10:30 somewhere central.

Any takers? (Please leave your email address)

Any suggestions for a meeting place?

Andi :-)

Happy 4th Birthday Teal

My first piece of improv.
(Made entirely from the scrap box).






Andi :-)

My first (finished) quilt

Camille over at Simplify and Carrie over at La Vie En Rosie have had a very cute idea.

Quilters share pictures of their first quilt and most recent quilt and tell about something they have learned along the way.

Well, my first quilt is yet to be quilted. I pieced a queen sized quilt top BY HAND!!!! And now I hate it so much I can't bring myself to quilt it .... or even photograph it to show you.

So, I tought I'd show you the next quilt ..... the first one I actually finished .... in September 2000.

This used to hang right in front of our bed and my partner found the kaleidoscope pattern quite meditative so it has been named "The Meditation Quilt".

Even though it has lots of mistakes (see inner border, bottom-left, as a classic example) and the fabric choices are no longer my 'pick', I still love this quilt for its richness of colour and its place in my quilting history.

More recently, I completed this quilt:


It was created in honour of the Old Red Barn Co's recent quilt along.

The fabric choices have changed, the stitching is more precise (having discovered the joys of a quarter inch foot) but one of the biggest differences between these 2 quilts is that the second one is quilted by ME!!!

In recent years I have learned how to quilt (both by hand and machine). I really love it.
There is something so special when every stitch in a quilt is stitched by you.

If you haven't tried quilting and are addicted to machine quilting services (like I was), please have a go at quilting your own work. Find a great teacher or mentor to show you the ropes and enjoy the satisfaction of sewing every stitch .... yourself.

Andi :-)

Quilt Along all stitched up

I've finished the quilt from the Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along.


I really enjoyed making this one and hope the new owners will treasure it.
(I know them very well and feel confident they'll appreciate it and love it very much).


All folded up and ready to be given.



Andi :-)

Challah Cover

We are getting married in a couple of weeks. (Not that I'm stressed or anything)


My cousin and her husband (Rabbi Ian) are coming all the way from Leeds (yes, in the UK) to Melbourne to celebrate with us (and to perform the ceremony).

As a token of our huge appreciation, I have decided to give them my 'Old Red Barn quilt along' - quilt (nearly finished now) and a matching Challah cover.

Challah is the traditional egg loaf eaten by Jews as part of the Friday night sabbath (Shabbat) meal.

The front has the word "Shabbat" appliqued on it in Hebrew lettering.


A floral quilting pattern...


and a plain cream backing


It measures 16 inches by 21 inches.

I hope they like it.

Andi :-)