Material Obsession

trip around the garden

ok.  The bags are packed and the house is quiet as I wait for just the right moment to wake everyone up and jump into the travel plans.  I left the shop on Thursday in a panic of "Oh, so much to do."  There are lots of things to do, it's true but I found once I stopped rushing around I just kept falling asleep.  I think I've had about 5 kips in the last three days.  In addition, I have stopped myself and riffled through my quilt books, sorted my fabric and stacked my projects.  Pack?  I think that happened along the way.  However, I did jump up with a start this morning remembering that I forgot to put Sam's favorite jeans in the dryer so he could wear them on the plane.  YIKES.  You know how some kids are about their "special" clothes.
Anyway, I found these photos from last week that I took in our garden.  They are the texture/pattern side of the color story.  For example,stacks of bricks in rows...there is dimension to consider, shadow, pattern, order, shape...
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Where there is one stack there is often another...

There is a random order to this stack.  And then, to throw a spanner in the works there are curved lines to consider.  This could be a good place to start for a summer quilt.

This could, for peace of mind, be considered the man's version of a quilt.  SEE, it's not finished either!!!
There were other shapes to consider as well.  Magnolia bud.  Hmm.  Very promising.

And of course, the bloom which is about twice the size of my hand...

This tree spreads out over a large area and is quite stingy with it's flowers.  It's a lucky day to walk out and find one.  Sam likes this tree.  He has decorated it with all kinds of items.

Summer is a busy time but it is nice in the midst of the madness to take time to think about our projects and to plan.  We may not want to be sitting under a quilt quilting but it is nice on a hot day to dream...and what better thing to dream about than that next project.  Take a moment and look around.
I am off.  Have a great summer and holiday.  To all the lovely material obsession girls, I will miss you. Thanks for a great year of learning, growing and channeling inspiration...we are but one. love always, kathy

POOF!

How much fun would it be to make this!!! Brigitte Giblin brought this gorgeous cushion in today.  Its a new project on offer for next year.  Brigitte's class is always the epitome of inspiration.  Her style is engaging and traditionally based with projects that look like they take a lifetime but actually come together in a few short months.
Last time Brigitte came for a class in the shop Gail had done a few of these Pickle Dish blocks  (one of my favorites!)

But today she returned with all the blocks not only done but appliqued  and bordered up a treat.

It appears to be just jumping off the screen with that dynamic binding on the blocks.
That was our last class for this year but Brigitte is coming back next year and has finished the Carmen Miranda quilt...to be completely revealed later...

Sneak peeks only...

It's been mad in the shop this week.  We can feel everyone stocking up for the summer break like squirrels gathering acorns for the winter.  In two short weeks we'll be resting our weary minds and hands and listening for sleigh bells...Hard to believe it.  Christmas is a bit like Ground Hog Day.  In one minute is seems ages away and then POOF!  it's upon us again complete with all the plans and activities that run us ragged at this time of year.   Anyone got any energy to spare? snooozing awake. kathy

ps And speaking of sleep, here's Duke snoozing &snoring on the new blanket Sarah made him for Christmas.  I think he likes it.

Last Class...

I don't know why but I woke up this morning with Donna Summers in my head singing...Last Dance, the last chance for romance...visions of hip shaking disco dancers in Virginia Beach...enough! I think this song made an appearance in memorial to last night being the last Tuesday night class of the year.
Where did all those weeks go?  The bubbles were on offer and everyone sat back to discuss next year.  Kim has vowed to finish quilting her large Three Ring Circus before next year resumes.  She managed to finish everything but the border last night which was a bonus.  With lots of new stimulation it is often hard to stick to task and finish a project, as we all know.

Others in the class are finishing up projects as well.  They are a shy group but I managed to get over a few  shoulders.

Michelle is quilting her Funky Monkey quilt which she did in Sarah's Barry" Tank pattern..  It is v. fun for her active two year old who has just learned how to get out of bed at night.  Ha.  We all LOVED that stage of human development.  Anywho...that is an easy pattern to whip up for a young 'un and looks fantastic in the funky monkey range.

Kate is preparing a project to take overseas.  She has spent the last three weeks cutting up these blocks from one of our favorite books, Making Antique Quilts.  Now all these bits will go in bags for the plane and soon she will have another quilt to quilt on the stack.  Kate is living proof that even hand piecing gets done in time.

Virginia is adding a gorgeous border to her quilt with this pattern fussy cut into strips.  It is such a nice fabric and will look very effective as a border to her quilt. 
So, congratulations girls!  Not all projects are pictured as there are so many and...truth be told, I am loosing focus with all the rush and madness of the year end and our impending family trip.   Yesterday I was making piles of clothes and projects in a preliminary packing effort.  Then was suddenly distracted.  A few years ago I was given a gorgeous art piece.  The image is an African woman walking with a basket on her head and it is made entirely from butterfly wings!  It is one of those things that sits around for ages while one dreams of what to do with it...and then suddenly, overcome with motivation, I took action and set her in a frame walking across a lovely piece of vintage bark cloth.  (thanks Sheena...as you can see she isn't heading to Ulladuhlla!).  And then, instead of leaning her against the wall for a more convenient moment, I HUNG HER UP.  This is the stuff dreams are made of...finishing projects. 

So, I then turned around and chanced to see a blank wall just waiting for another African inspired piece.

Antibellum Bling no longer sits rolled up on a wardrobe.  It has a home on the wall just like I pictured it would. Ah, Bliss.
Now as long as no one mentions termites I'll be ok today, my last day in the shop for the YEAR!  That is if I can keep myself away tomorrow and Thursday when Brigitte Giblin and Sue Cody are teaching their most inspiring classes. 
It has been a long and exciting year at Material Obsession.  However, it is time to rest the weary mind and fingers and spend a few hours chatting over the much loved drink my mom and I discovered in a Japanese restaurant in NYC....Vodka, Saki martinis!!! The drink you have when you only need one and it comes with a snacky cucumber slice as well!!!  Does one ever loose the thrill of opening the fridge in your parents home?  Of becoming the kid again after the trials of adult life?  Of getting abused by one's brothers for the obvious faults that have been there a lifetime?  Of DAD JOKES...and in my house there are many?  It seems a bit early but I am pausing to remind myself that Christmas is about the loving spirit...not the presents...and I am NOT just saying that because I haven't been shopping yet!!!! AM NOT.  am not. 
Take a moment to enjoy the feeling.  Love always, kathy

Material Obsession Class List 2008

Here is our new class list for 2008. We have a wide range of exciting and fun classes from beginners all the way to experienced quilters.

Let us know if your interested in any of them by email [email protected] or call us on 02 9817 2733.

Download mo_class_list_2008.pdf

photo recap of Swap Day '07

Coffee, tea and treats...

Quilts on display....

Jewelry and bags and more quilts...

and Sheena's corner of vintage beauty...

A little bit reproduction and little bit rock and roll...

Class bookings being discussed and booked...

and heaps of quilting buddies that we love all day long...

swapping stories and goodies all day long.  Thanks to all the glorious friends that make a day like this fun and not work!!!Thanks for sharing, kathy and sarah

Persistance pays off...

Margaret enjoys the symphony, little twins and...hand piecing.  She devotes a lot of her time to others.  Over the last year she has diligently worked on this Piece-O-Cake quilt and finished it yesterday.  It's soooooo sweet.  One can only wonder what Margaret will do now.

Jane started this applique project nearly four years(in one of our first workshop classes) ago for her son.  At the time, it was a massive undertaking with a very clear plan full of questions about how to bring the idea to life.  Over the years Jane has popped in to do cot quilts and other projects, all the while enduring the question, "Is it done yet?"  Well, yesterday bright and early she walked in with it finished in all it's glory.  Just like we pictured it...


Some things just take time to brew and grow and some things just happen seemingly over night.  Kim, in my Tuesday class has a few projects that are seemingly never ending and dragging her down.  We are all starting the same project in the class next year so the plan is to finish up as much as possible over the summer.  So, Kim whipped this up using those adorable Funky Monkeys and was able to say, this one is finished!

Quilts aren't the only thing that take time.  My young fella "graduated" from the junior school the other night.  We were privileged on the night to see a presentation of the boy's favorite school moments and their dreams for the future which were modest (NOT).  Many wanted to be lawyers, some to play sport for teams like Liverpool or to represent Australia in hockey, rugby or cricket, athletics or swimming.  One wanted to cure cancer, another to be a dentist like his dad, one to be an author and one to grow up and make more money than he could spend in a life time.  Hmm.  Sam wants simply to do his best at work and play.

Brewing quilts and children all seem to take a long time and then WOW, they are something to behold and marvel and we have something to review, enjoy and relax back with...Having said that, there will be no relaxing today as we host our third annual SWAP DAY/ Open House.  Wait for it...and in the theme of cooking over time our NEW CLASS LIST is ready for next year.!!!!! It is full of as many ideas as we could muster to take everyone on a creative journey.  Specific recipes or open ended travel with fabric, it's all there.  On top of that, we stripped the shop yesterday afternoon to make stacks (and I mean stacks) of great fabrics on SALE!  Mail orders are on sale as well and all kits are priced to go as well.   Hope to see you there.  Good things come to those that wait and that reminds me of my biggest, longest awaited triumph this week...the new bedroom! Not completely done because I need a minute to make curtains and hang some things on the walls but nearly....and enough to sleep tight.

Geez, spot the shinny runners!  Don't give up, it all gets done in time.  have a great weekend. kathy