End of a crafty year

2011 has been a challenge on many levels for me and my family. That's why I can't wait to ring in 2012!!

I hope the coming year brings love, happiness, good health and great creativity for all of us.

Andi xxx

Test pattern quilt

And now, here is my final contribution to The Beehive.
A finished quilt made by me and 11 fabulous women.

 

Specifically: Sheridan, Amy, Karlyn, Belinda, Kat, Megan, Julie, Jo, Annabel, Tanya and Megs.

 

To appease my husband (who says "its too busy and bright to have in a bedroom ... or any other room for that matter") I have made the back of the quilt much simpler with just a strip of busy patchwork through the centre.

 

The incredible quilting has been done by Karen Terrens. She is a genius with a long-arm quilting machine!! (And she comes from such a creative family. Her mother is an incredible craftswoman and you just may have heard of her sister).

 

So, now all that's left is to snuggle up with her and enjoy my memories of this wonderful quilting bee.

 

Thanks girls! I'll miss you!!

Andi xxx

PS Why "The Test Pattern Quilt"?  

 

That's why!!

Bye bye Beehive

After 2 lovely years together, the members of the Beehive have decided not to continue with the Bee next year.

Although it has been a lovely bunch of stitchers, making such beautiful quilts together, many of us have new priorities to contend with in 2012 and the Beehive has simply had to take a back seat  :(

These are my last blocks for the Beehive.

 

They are for Megs who is making a very pretty quilt for her daughter.
I'm really looking forward to seeing this lovely quilt come together!

In fact, there are a number of Beehive quilts that are not yet completed so some beautiful surprises will still be coming via the Beehive in the coming year as quilts are completed and shared.

And my 2011 Beehive quilt is now complete. I will be posting pics very soon!!

Andi xx

Quilt - finished and given

For Jake's teacher who had a birthday last week.

All quilted, finished and bound.

 

You can see more info about this quilt in this earlier post.

Hope you are having a stitchin' weekend.

Andi xx

Lucky

I am lucky on so many levels!!
Today, I am lucky to have in-laws whose holiday house is now built and ready for us to HOLIDAY in!!!
We have been madly purchasing furniture so that the house is ready for a Christmas-time visit.

And I was incredibly lucky to find a couple of fabulous chairs being discarded by the roadside a few months back. I knew EXACTLY how I wanted to recover them and where they will live in the new house.

I have only managed to transform one of the chairs so far but here is a shot to give you an idea of 'Before' and 'After' ...

 

And the backs ....

 

From this ...

 

To this ...

 

From "No thank you. I'd rather stand" ...

 

To "Yes please. I'd love to sit and stay for a cup of tea" ...

 

The fabric I have used is Night Tree in Cilantro by Amy Butler.

I'm looking forward to showing you the chairs in situ at the new house. In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing it myself!!

Hope you've had a lucky day.

Andi xx

The festival of Ella

Our Ella is 6 and the last month in our family has been all about HER!!

First came the invitation to see the Prep children showing off their projects for this term.

That is (apparently) a dolphin!

Then came the school circus concert.

Yes, Jake was in the concert too but my 'Festival of Jake' post will be coming in a few weeks.

Then the dancing party for her friends .... My girl is so very shy and retiring  ;)

Of course a fabulous cake was baked. (Thanks Corrie for the inspiration).

 

 

 

Then came her actual birthday ... a Wednesday. I took treats into the school for all the children in her class and after school a small family dinner with a candle in some donuts. 

Ironically, no photos taken that day.

Followed, on the Friday night, by a BIG family dinner with, of course, another cake!

My shy girl!

 

And to top it all off, a ballet concert the next day.

 

Happy birthday my beautiful gingie girl. It is so amazing watching you grow up into a confident, happy and rather feisty girly person.

 

We love you.

xxxxxx

Published!!!

I've been remiss in posting about this but here goes ... I'm in a magazine!!!!!

This one ...

This is my first published quilt pattern and I'm so excited. Here is my 'Scrappy Log Cabin' quilt as it is shown in the magazine ...

 

And here is a photo that I took in my backyard  ;)

You can get a free download of the magazine (online version) here.
The online version doesn't have the full instructions but you can get those by purchasing a copy of Down Under Quilts issue 150 at your local newsagent. They are on the shelves NOW!!

You can find out more about Down Under Quilts by visiting their Facebook page here.

Hope you are having a lovely Monday.
Andi xx

Winner!!!

Congratulations to Simone who said:

I look for modern quilts that are realistic to make. They can be large or even complicated quilts, but if there is an explanation that could be followed with great photos, a layout diagram for blocks, I get inspired & I am a sucker! The other thing I love is fabric colour & pattern size suggestions (small, medium or large scale prints). 

I have emailed you to send me your address so that the kind people at Chronicle Books can send you a copy of Little Bits Quilting Bee by Kathreen Ricketson.

Happy stitching!!
Andi x

DIY chic geek quilt

When my 7 year old son asked for "a periodic table quilt" for his next birthday, I was a bit flabbergasted. Where to start???

But trusty Mary came up with the perfect idea ..... get Michelle to print the design with her fancy shmancy (and extremely awesome) new fabric printing business and ask Cindy to help out with creating the digital file. (I LOVE my crafty friends!!!)

So I went along last week to Frankie & Swiss headquarters to experience the magic in person and the amazing light and airy space took my breath away!! Here's a few examples of the space and the amazing pieces on display ...

 

This is the beautiful dress made by Cindy. 

Look out for Cindy's classes where she teaches how to make this dress!!!

   

    

   

Yep, that's Cam's fabulous 'Granny Square' fabric

   

   

   

   

 So once we had the file just right, we started to print ...

 

And to give you an idea of scale, here is Michelle and her lovely sister Jacquie setting up 'Flo', the huge printing machine .... 

 

 

 

Yesterday I sewed on a border and ... voila .... instant single bed quilt top ...
 

 

 

   

 

Now I just need to find the perfect backing fabric and get it quilted and bound before January.

I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!

So what do you think? Do you have a chic geek in your life who would love this in their bedroom? Maybe as a cushion?

Andi xx

Book review and GIVEAWAY!

You know Kathreen don't you? She's the WhipUp chic!!
And she's written a quilt book. Yay!!!

The first section of the book looks at communal quilting projects like quilt bees, friendship quilts, etc. Lots of great ideas here!

In the spirit of this communal project, Kathreen asked a number of bloggy quilty folks to be involved in creating the quilts for this book. My contribution was to sew the quilt top for this quilt ...

 

The second part of the book gives some quilting basics followed by the main section of the book with quilt projects using pre-cut fabrics. Everything from charm squares to jelly roles to fat quarters.

When I buy a quilty type book, I usually just peruse the pictures for inspiration rather than reading the 'how-to' bits ... so I really LOVE a book with fabulous photographs. And this book doesn't disappoint in the photography department ..

 

   

   

Like what you see? Well you might be lucky enough to win a copy of this book ... courtesy of  publisher Chronicle Books!
Just leave a comment on this post telling me what you look for in craft books! (No "pick me" comments please!)

Also, please make sure you include an email address and let me know where in the world you are.

I'll draw a winner this Friday 18th November.

This blog tour has been going for a week or so already but if you would like to visit any of the blogs on the rest of the tour, you can find the whole list with all the links over at this post.

Happy blog hopping!
Andi xx

Edit 18/11/11: The prize has been drawn and comments to this post are now closed!

Bag in a day!

2 Saturdays ago (I know ... I'm a rotten blogger these days ....sorry for the delayed update) I spent a fabulous day with a bunch of ladies eager to learn all about bag making from the master herself.

I have made a few bags before but knew that I had A LOT to learn about finishing things off nicely, using interfacing and other tools of the trade.

Nikki's studio was literally dripping with gorgeous samples and inspiration ..

Nikki is an excellent teacher. Always encouraging and always with a clever little trick to teach.

Here we are busily working away ....

 

   

   

Hi Cathy!!

Here's my work area .... do you detect a bit of a colour theme? (I'm so predictable!!) 

 

Nikki was also a very patient and calm teacher ... even when I accidentally steamed up her cutting mat causing it to buckle. QUICK .... get the weights on to it!!!! (Coolest weights ever!) 

 

And here are some of our finished products: 

 

   

Can you guess who this belongs to? He he!

 Thanks Nikki for a gorgeous day. I learned so much and had a lovely time doing it.

 

Nikki and Cathy have more shots in their blog posts. (You MUST check out Cathy's gorgeous bag. Somehow I managed not to get a shot of her gorgeous fabric).

Have a lovely Tuesday and try to drop by again tomorrow for a book review and GIVEAWAY!!

Andi xx