Autumn Leaves

I have been soaking up the sun. I love Autumn, glorious sunny days... and enjoying these two lovely books that I bought recently. Each book has 11 beautiful patterns by Monique Dillard.

 
My Autumn leaves table runner is done except for the quilting and binding.

Our guest speaker at guild meeting on Saturday was Bren Brophy, Curator of the KZNSA Gallery. He spoke about Durban artist, ceramist and embroiderer, Hendrik Stroebel and shared images of his amazing work. His wonderful collection was created over the last 17 years. Incredible detail on such a small scale. Each piece is hand embroidered and set in his beautiful ceramic frames. His next exhibition will be held in November this year, I'm definitely going.                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                 

added these to my stash

      

Books I have enjoyed reading;

Oil on water - Elle Matthews

Under the mercy trees - Heather Newton

Joonie - Rayda Jacobs

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

On my design wall..

This is what I have been working on. My first table runner.

I found the pattern in one of my Australian country craft magazines. I love piecing and applique together in a quilt. I used 5" charms from my stash.

So now I have to add the leaves and vines - the vines are embroidered chain stitch. I used my GO! Baby  and Rose of Sharon die for the flowers and leaves. I used 24 flowers instead of 36 as in the pattern - they are much smaller.  I have two finishes. I hand quilted my two mini quilts

Lately it has been kind of hectic here. My son and daughter flew home for my husbands birthday. Lots of entertaining family and friends, a huge family reunion, three funerals and lots of shopping with my daughter.
Now I'm happy to get back to my sewing. I hope all mom's had a wonderful Mothers Day!

Happy Easter!

 This lovely pattern is free from Red Brolly Designs

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Mini Quilts

Lovely rain and a few cooler days, I managed to get some sewing done. I enjoyed sewing these paper pieced blocks, a bit fiddly to start and I messed up on the first two but finally got it right, ready for quilting and binding.


                                                                    2-1/2 " blocks

also finished these fun blocks. Pattern, 12 days of Christmas from Temecula Quilt Co -
have to decide on sashing and borders.

                                                           3-1/2 " blocks

I have wanted these rulers for ages. Next on my list is the dresdan ruler.

 My wrist pincushion that I have used for years was looking drab - so I used my Go! cutter and felt.

                                                              from this

                                                                    to this
                                                                      

I love  The Quilt Show.   They allowed  free access to their shows on the weekend and I really enjoyed the ones I saw- lots of good tips. I especially enjoyed Sue Nickels and Sue Garman's work - gorgeous quilts and wonderful inspiration.
I've just seen the weather report for tomorrow - 32C hot and humid. Luckily its a public holiday so its off to the beach I go!  

I can't believe its Autumn

Despite the unbearable heat and humidity that has sapped my energy, I have been busy removing the applique paper  tearaway stabilizer from this quilt top that has been sitting on the shelf far too long. This was a BOM by Cotton Tale Fabrics in Hillcrest. It's going to be a challenge quilting all that cream background.

                                        88" x 88"

I have started a miniature snail trail, paper foundation piecing. I am using charm squares from my stash. Each block is 2 1/2 inches. I have completed 6 blocks - 8 more to go.

    
and I have completed the last Red Brolly stitchery.

                                           reading this book

 Some lovely free BOM's in blog land - click on the buttons in my sidebar. So many that I would love to do.

Happy New Year!

Christmas and New Year with my family in the Western Cape was wonderful. Now I am trying to get back into the swing of things but this heat wave is not helping.  I started stitching the final Red Brolly Christmas stitchery and I have several tops that I want to baste and quilt but that will have to wait for cooler weather. So today I have my stash of ice lollies, lots of blog reading to catch up on and I am looking forward to all the new happenings in blog land.

 May you all enjoy good health, peace and happiness in 2012….and quilting! 

 Hi and welcome to new followers :))

Funky Flowers

                                                            77"  square                                                                                      

                                                                                          

A quick post to show my quilt. I have been so busy there is hardly any time to blog as I have been trying to finish this quilt - at last it is done and ready to give to someone special ( not mentioning names) ;)).
I'm off on holiday until the 9th of Jan.
Warm wishes for a peaceful and blessed Christmas!

Durban Hosts COP17

What  a violent storm we had on Sunday night with heavy rain that caused flooding and extreme damage to hundreds of homes, several people where killed when their houses collapsed. Not normal weather for this time of year.  More than 20,000 delegates from 190 countries have arrived in Durban for COP 17, the 17th session of climate talks. Everyone is trying to catch a glimpse of famous people like Angelina Jolie, Leonardo di Caprio, U2's Bono, Al Gore, Richard Branson and Prince Albert. I'm staying home and avoiding the crowds.
My sewing machine died in the middle of quilting my funky flowers quilt - will have to take it in for a service tomorrow.

Finished these two stitcheries from Red Brolly and Bronwyn has posted the final stitchery on her blog - button on my sidebar.

October/November is fete season.  I found this lovely bright bag at our local fete. Its fully lined and perfect for my take along projects like my stitching and knitting.

I couldn't make this for R4.00 = spacious 15x19"

I was given a new knitting pattern- jumpers for aids babies.

Very easy pattern, its knitted all in one and I have 7 ready to go.Families are so poor their babies are sent home wrapped in newspaper.

Books I have read lately..
Bruno Chief of Police - Martin Walker
Fault Lines - Nancy Huston
The French Gardener - Sante Montfiore
The Soul Connection - Anne Jones
La Cucina - Lily Prior
Angels in my Hair - Lorna Byrne

Late Season - Christobel Kent - read by Karen Cass
A Handful of Honey - Annie Hawes - read by Rula Lenska

Stitching...

Weekend rain and cool weather, perfect for sewing. I have finished my shweshwe top.

 
I've been stitching a lovely design by Bronwyn from Red Brolly Designs - click on the button in my sidebar for this free pattern

And I made the cutest little thread catcher, just what I needed for those thread tails.

  Lisa from Primitive Gatherings shared this lovely project on the Moda Country Fair blog hop.