Welcome to MO!

 It's been a few weeks of out of town visitors which is always fantastic!  Yesterday Susan Sally popped in while visiting all the way from Vancouver.  They took a ferry from Manly across the harbour to Hunters Hill and then a bus up the hill.  It was an absolutely glorious day to be on the water I am sure as the weather was so unseasonably wonderful.  It was great fun to meet her and have a chat.  Susan is here with her friend whose name I never got...some people just start talking before they start thinking and I'd be one so excuse me here please for no name,particularly because I kept thinking to ask her name! Thing is when talking about quilting there is so  much to say that sometimes the polite necessities of life get left in the dust of the excitement.  We had a great time showing quilts and tools in person and sharing the quilting life stories.  Quilting makes us all instant friends.

Here we are in blog land, me in my pj's with my morning coffee and all of you anywhere in the world.  It was fascinating yesterday to talk with Susan about her quilting life and to see what it is about the shop that is of interest.  It is also quite startling to mention a fact about life and find that Susan was already clued into the details...hmmm.  Fortunately I am not a private person, fortunately or obviously!  Anyway, I wonder what other quilt shops are like because people are often surprised when they arrive at MO.  We are not a big shop but I guess there is a lot to see in a small space.  

I have borrowed Kate's camera.  My new one still hasn't arrived and I feel as though someone has chopped off my hand.  Things are revving up as Term 3 starts in the shop and there has been a lot to see this week.  Although I spent some time cleaning up, the shop looks very lived in as soon as we open the doors to the classroom. 

Check it out, they are all busy working here, heads down, projects on the go...

Francis arrived back with her main blocks in Liberty Fields completed and is now working on the half square sashing strips...hence the head down at the sewing machine as there are a lot of them!  According to Francis, this was an enjoyable quilt to put together.  Rosalin has been working on her dolls and houses.  Considering two kids and her husband away during the holidays I think this is a huge achievement!  So from here we start looking at connecting the houses and dolls.  This Gwen and Freddy approach to quilting is fun to do but it is a lot more work than people expect.  Once this little bits get made up I find quilters often get stumped as to what happens next.  It's like building blocks...

Rosalin was a bit concerned that the quilt looked bland with so much pink.  So, he first thing we did was find a fabric that would make all the detail of the blocks show up.  Rosalind chose some nice cool blues and greens to contrast with the warm pink backgrounds. Then by playing with some strips of the fabric we started shaping the blocks of the quilt.  It's picking up soon and will soon be it's own suburb!  

One class a day isn't enough so on Wednsesday we rolled into Cut Loose.  Sheena has been working on a border for this work in progress known affectionately around the traps now as Green Acres...(I can hear you all singing about that green countryside!!!! and farm living...)

Can you stop looking at this quilt?  The variety of lines and values really grabs and entertains the eye. 

Simple lines are intriguing as well.  Here is  a simply constructed quilt of squares that is a nice compliment to Green Acres.  The subtle colors work really well against the white.  Cath made this as a gift but was told it wasn't traditional enough.  For some of us that would have been the end of the road for that gift but not for Cath. 

She made it again and used a tone on tone sashing that gives this quilt a real flash back to a bygone era!  There are as many solutions as there are problems out there when making quilts.

On a completely different note, Cath has progressed her tree of life project.  The last time we  met she selected the background and now just look at it!  

Suggestions of life abound!...even the chain style graphic says something here and those pods just burst with possibility.

It was suggested by Cath's son Angus that trees need roots.  Of course they do!!!!

So yes that's nearly a week back at the shop.  Already that relaxed feeling of having rested my mind is gone.  Resting this mind is not a natural state.  However, I will admit that I giggled as I pulled up the blinds last Monday and thought to myself that I love being in a place where creative possibility is just about to walk in the door.  

And as a side note, the voice of reason that lives in our house said it's not a good time for a new dog.  Stomping feet ensued but fingers are still crossed.  dashing to "work" now...kathy

Comments

[broderie]

thanks for a very interesting post and for sharing all the customers quilts. a very good mix of design and colour!

[cardygirl]

Thankyou Kathy for taking the time to show all of us non-Sydneysiders your inspiring shop! One day I will visit in person but it was lovely to see your creative space & all of those wonderful WIP's!

[Annie]

Ah, what a perfect way to cheer myself up....reading your blog and looking at the gorgeous quilts.

It is such a gloomy,rainy summer here in the northeast of the US. Your blog is the perfect antidote.

Thank you,

: )

[pamela]

I am still gearing up to make the doll and houses quilt. Just a few more fabrics and I'll be ready. I love it!