Stolen Moments

On a regular basis we get excited about the delivery of this magazine. The pages are always full of images from far and this time near that are guaranteed to click on the brain. 

On Friday Kim opened to this page which started a ripple effect of delighted squeals...

Quilt Mania was here in June for the NSW Quilters Guild show and this is one of the quilts that they photographed.  It is hard not to share the moment with Kim as we had watched her make it in Marg George's class all year.  It was a quilt full of choices made lovingly for Kim's daughter.  This is the kind of quilt that makes the mind wander as we see things we recognise as well as the original interpretation of an traditional quilt.  The madness of the applique and the border capture and hold our attention as the details slowly become visible. 

That wasn't it for the squeals either... A version of Fly Away with Me by Marg George,one of our popular block of the month programs appeared in the magazine as well having been completed in her class.

This quilt, Mad Birds and Hexagons, was made by Kate who has a great eye for traditional quilts.  You can see more of her work at her blog, Empty Fields.   Kate did a beautiful job and quilted her fingers to the bone to get it finished for the Sydney show.  It is a fun quilt full of whimsy and delight and I am sure Kate is mighty happy to see it here in this magazine!  We sure were. 

 
It shrinks the world to see all these familiar quilts in our favorite patchwork magazine.  Maureen Teager, Marilyn Bell and of course Chris Jurd's  Lots of Dots were a few we had picked at the show as favourites as well.

Traditional influences are all the rage living alive and well with lots of new fabrics being used effectively.  Excited squeals are usually the sound of Friday morning regardless of magazines.  Particularly when Margaret pulled out her recently finished top.

Its only been a few weeks since we last saw this in bits and pieces.  The final border brings it all home adding a nice soft frame for all the pieced sections of the quilt. 
Check out these diamonds and triangles full of variety and a reminder that patience is a virtue.  It is a lesson to note that time put in equals reward.

Even the corners have something special going on.  But wait...there's more and I don't mean a pack of steak knives!!! She also finished this one!

These quilts are seemingly in progress forever and then voila! there they are finished.  There are things brewing in every corner.  Take this unassuming box...

Look inside Pandora's box and find a treat in side just waiting to become something exciting.   

It all starts here...

These papers are the base for all this fabulous work.  Hexagons are somewhat hypnotising as they suddenly grow from an idea to a quilt.

 Maree has also achieved a point of near completion with this beauty.

 Hidden in the cut out shapes are fabrics new and old telling a story of dedicated fingers and a finely tuned eye for detail.  Each piece is lovingly selected to create the overall vision of balance.  It is funny to think back to a day when Maree brought in the fabric in the circles that inspired the entire quilt.  It is a bit of a mind warp to watch these quilts come to life blending the past and the present together.

 

So on an early Sunday morning I found myself sitting here with a head full of other people's quilts staring at my design wall for 45 minutes.  Just staring at it in a complete quilt trance.  Saturday night I got home from work...a most enjoyable day spent  meeting lovely quilters and rearranging the fabric walls.  I don't normally work Saturdays and although I had a stack of laundry and a few places to clean up around the house I headed off to open the shop feeling like it was a bit of a treat.  It felt different to the weekdays that are so full of ordering, cutting, teaching etc.  Anyway, I got home, made the dinner and entered my sewing room feeling rather lack lustre and tired.  HOWEVER, I had had an idea in my head so I picked up my rotary and once I took the first cut it was all over but the shouting and  I cut out nearly the entire quilt!  I went to bed happy.  It is now Monday and a few of the small pieces have fallen to the floor...a sign of neglect.  The weekend had loomed ahead as a big open space to create and now it is a memory of time spent doing other things.  The best intentions madly vanished.  I am sure you know how it feels.  Too much to do...too little time.  I hate even thinking let alone saying that but...BUT there is always hope that one day I'll wake up and think...hmmm...I think I'll just sew all day today with no regard to other responsibilities.  For now those carefully cut bits are just a teaser of stolen moments to come but COME THEY WILL!  k

Comments

[Pia Merete Hansen]

Hi Kathy!

When are we able to buy a new book from your hand?

:-)

[Cathie Dein]

Just love those quilts of Marg Sampson - do hope they become BOM for us poor folk who don't get to do her classes. What a lovely Blog I always enjoy reading your blogs, do keep them coming. Cathie D

[Kathy]

Hi,
I have to say we have that quilt as a bom right now! As soon as I met Marg I started talking to her about a bom program and it took us 18 months to get it together. Making mail order programs from what happens in the shop is my main objective in life these days as I see the need. I think I sent you a package today! Is that right? Thanks for your email. Kathy

[Bluquilt]

Oh my goodness - these quilts are extraordinary! Thanks so much for sharing them.

[Cardygirl]

Beautiful & inspiring quilts as always! Lovely to see some in print too. Hope your design wall continues to inspire & give respite!

[Elizabeth E.]

I empathize with your piece at the end, describing how a day that has sapped energy, can still be salvaged if a rotary cutter is picked up and used. I feel that way tonight, so after reading your blog, I'll pick up my cutter and slice for an hour or so, until I turn into a pumpkin.

Thanks also for the "quilt show"! How fun for your quilters to see themselves in print. Excellent day, yes . . . yes.

[Patsy from California]

OK - so now you have me addicted to hexagons! They are the most relaxing things to make and the possibilities are endless. I am building a design wall full of them in all sizes but at this point have no idea what I am going to do with them. My current project has lots of greys and tan solids, so in the eve I make hexies in the most insane color combos. Thanks again for exposing me to new ways of combining traditional methods with a modern, contemporary sensibility! You are awesome!

[Cathy]

I love that mag! Margaret and Maree's quilts are incredible. So much beautiful and inspiring work in all three of them. Gorgeous box of hexies. I hope you get some unscheduled sewing time soon Kathy. xo

[Frieda Anderson]

Hey, nice to see all those fabulous quilts.

[Heather Bright]

What beautiful quilts! I love them. The fine, detailed work and the wonderful fabrics and colours are intriguing. Thank you for sharing.

[Moncler Outlet]

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[griffey shoes]

I have never read such a wonderful article and I am coming back tomorrow to continue reading.

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