Counting every LITTLE finish

When I look at the very small list of finishes for this year, I need to count every LITTLE finish...

So, let's celebrate this little quilt, which is now quilted and bound. I would like to have a wall of miniatures to post at some time...

It's time to start quilting another mini. There is something about finishing a piece isn't there? I'm just raring to go onto something else!!

Stimulating the Senses at Quilt Camp

It was a special time for me over the Mother's Day weekend. I went on the Phillip Island Patches Weekend away - it's Quilt Camp really. We stay in a school camp, our meals are prepared for us... we relax, chat, socialise, and sometimes even sew!!

Upon arrival Friday afternoon, we unpacked the hugely overloaded car (poor little Kermit) into our sleeping quarters, and moved our sewing supplies into our designated workshop areas. After fish and chips on the beach for tea I finished quilting this little mini quilt - remember this??? It's been a heckuvva long time in between stitches!!! The binding was ready to hand-stitch down.

The next day we settled into our workshops. I enrolled in the Caroline Sharkey "thread and painted landscape" class.

Basically, we chop perfectly good fabric into little pieces. Like so...

This (above) will be the greenery in front of the water - I am using a photo as a guide to "build" my landscape. I've included lots of tulle pieces to add texture and depth. Actually, this photo isn't very accurate. It's much more green than blue.

These little bits of fabric will be used on the water. The little pink scissors are what we use to cut all the little snippets or confetti pieces.

With so much snipping it was necessary to take a break - numerous walks were required, and enjoyed... breathing in the seaside air.


The smell of spray glue and hot sewing machine oil made stimulated us all... but conversations couldn't be sustained while sewing machines were making zoom zoom noises... Music filtering into the ears surely assisted the creative process.

The R-rated coffee machine (adults only) sure was a hit with a lot of campers. Personally, I thought the drinks from the machine tasted disgusting. But, I'm a kid, and I'm not supposed to use it anyway...

Different people were constructing different parts of the scenic landscape. This is how a tree went together.Saturday night dress -up. The theme for the weekend was flowers - these are the flower children.

Every now and then I glean a little inspiration from somewhere... like these toadstools growing in the kiddy playground.

Olga Walters (legendary quilter and quilt teacher) have some sort of bond... we really only see each other on these weekends each other.

But as you can see, we are kindred spirits...

Not sisters... but sisters... :)
My dear friend Rosie introduced me to these weekends away.... They bring such blessings and joy.
Show and tell from everyone in my workshop.
Of course we stopped at a cafe while journeying home... and because it was Mother's Day we were treated to special cookies.
Jocelyn said this cookie was meant for me because the swirls matched my Maori koru pendant.

Blessings, blessings, blessings.

And now, I feel inspired to keep sewing!!

Shaded

I've covered the upper part of the lamp shade, complete with ribbon trim, ric rac, coin detail and Kaffe Fasset fabric.

The base is yet to be painted... it won't happen overnight, but it will happen.

A slow patch

I must be going through a slow patch (if you will pardon the pun) with my crafting... It's been really hard to pick up a needle.

Normally, I would say sewing soothes the soul.... perhaps it is already soothed? Perhaps I am just too busy with so many things going on in an active life.

So, there is just this one lonely block finished. Grin.

Oh yes, it was a very slow patch.

The trouble is...

I am having difficulty finding time to get my head around the actual finishing of some projects.

I am still working on:

1. the Garden Song quilt


2. hand-stitching borders on the 12 Days Of Christmas


3. re-covering the lamp shade


4. Tis The Season stitcheries are complete, the surrounding fabrics need to be selected, cut and sewn

and.... here is the problem. I haven't focussed on my list of 5 for so long, that I don't know what is on it!!

I guess, I could pull out My Stars for hand-piecing... I really need something on the list I don't have to think about... something I can just do.

So, what do I do in the face of already owning one UFO for each year of my life? Start something else of course.

Oh boy.

At least it's only a little "oh boy".

This is what I started. A cushion from the first William Morris book by Michele Hill.

I chose one design from the "Friends" quilt for the cushion.

Okay, that's fused. Now I have to get out the machine and stitch it! That's the other problem, I haven't had the sewing machine set up in its usual place.

I really need to get my priorities right! Or is it, that I am prioritising in the right way of late?

I can't even work out what the trouble is.... LOL.

I can't really talk on here about the other projects I am working on.

I have 2 secret projects in progress.

One: I am designing and making a Mystery Quilt from Kaffe Fasset fabrics for my LQS. Oh, drool, and pat. I am becoming drunk on the fabrics!

Here is a little snifter at what I mean. Glorious colour! I am playing and playing. Yes, I am taking some photos of my progress, but I can't really share until the quilt is no longer a mystery!! LOL!!

Two: I am taking part in a challenge with my girlfriends at the blog Mission India-possible. In May, I will be able to show you what I did in February... In June I will be able to show what I am doing this month!!

Bear with me, while I work on these secret works....

I've had a few non-quilty projects competing with my time of late.

Have you seen my new blog? "My Bohemian House". It's a journey of my home decorating, and related thingies.

I am covering a lamp shade with Kaffe Fasset fabric.

It's the first time I've really tried to use a hot glue gun. I nearly stuck the gun onto the lampshade!!

I have successfully adhered satin bias around the top and bottom of the lampshade, and a coin trim around the bottom edge. I am going for the gypsy-caravan-boho type look.

The fabric has been hemmed top and bottom, but I think I need to unpick and adjust the bottom hem. Then I will run a ribbon through the sleeves I sewed in, gather the fabric to fit, and hot glue gun into place.

All I need are the arms of Shiva and I will be fine!!