a bit of whimsy

I have been aware I needed to update this blog, but I was trying to get some work finished to post here! Neither happened, but this week is the last week of the month so I have been busy writing fabric club, busy doing the next blocks for the Browne Sisters sampler ( a little delayed as I glued block one onto the back of the fabric). Meanwhile I have had another trip to Melbourne to the doctor for me and to check on my father.
He started his second round of chemotherapy last week and is going along reasonably well. just not coping with the amount of his time being taken up with doctors visits, and missing out on golf.

I had a long wait myself at the doctors last week and realised I needed another very simple project to take along with me, so I went back to that huge pile of quilts I want to make before I die ( I will have to live a very long time)  and found a piece of beautiful whimsy. I have drawn most of the quilt and we will pack it as a block of the month, until we run out of the same fabric, then it will be on the waiting list for a pattern sometime next year. Whimsical quilts are my favorite things as I collect American folk art. I made the Finches years ago and now this will be a very exciting project for me.
Now I had better get to Monday night quilt class. Douglas is coming with me tonight.

back to work

Its February today and I cannot ignore the pile of mounting work, and tell myself I am too tired to touch it any longer. Summer school was exhausting and Christine and I are still hoping to find our brains. Despite all the hard work it was lovely to see so many of you and we hope you enjoyed yourselves.
Karen Cunningham brought along lots of gorgeous quilts and inspired me to embrace the year ahead once again.
I am mindful not to take on too much this year, as I have my father very ill, and I know I will have to increase my trips to Melbourne, so along with my own doctors visits to Melbourne, I am imagining quite a few trips in the car.
Summer school ended and two days later I had to go to Melbourne, then arrived back home and then my husband and I went to Hobart for four days. It was gorgeous, beautiful and cool, quiet and relaxing. I am glad I dont still live there, but its possibly my favorite place to visit.
There is a wonderful art supplies shop in Hobart "Artery", and as I also love to draw, I made my annual visit to the store. They have probably been there for years, but I found some great pencils, "progresso" graphite pencils. They are woodless pencils, finished in a lacquer, but absolutely wonderful to mark dark fabrics. They are easily sharpened and with a bit of sandpaper, the point can be kept sharp. Best thing is they were $1.70 each. I bought a silver and a white one, but they came in all colours.
Somehow I think we get a little ripped off with our quilting pencils! I have to go to Melbourne this weekend, so I will search for them down there. Now I have discovered them I need back up supplies!

In my few hours I have done anything, I started on my Hope Valley quilt. I had a pack of 25cm strips of each fabric, so along with my stash of black and white shirting fabrics, I am slowly piecing a quilt. It will be large as I am determined to use up fabric this year, and I just wanted a new quilt to put in the car. I had a pile of 2 1/2" squares left over from a few quilts, so that determined the size of the corner triangles. A big effort this week might see it finished.The collection is such a happy one, I love it.

Now I must get back to work, tonight I have my Monday night girls back for sewing. We have a new member Portia, born in the break, so I hope she comes with her mum.

Susan x