Material Obsession: Diversity!

Sometimes we buy a book on impulse and leaf through it and then, well, never go back to it again. When it comes to fabulous duo of Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston that is never the case. These two do it right every time by producing a book full of fun ideas that can be mixed and matched to make quilts as individual as they or YOU are yourself.

Faye has gotten to the point now where she has worked through the people, houses and trees in the book and yesterday she turned to the parts department of book one and started cutting an array of shapes for the side borders in this quilt.

Rosalind is already quilting her version of this quilt having made her way through the parts department. Her daughter anxiously awaits this quilt and has already identified the princess cloth version of herself in the quilt.

It never ceases to amaze me how individual these little Collaborative quilts become as they evolve before the makers eyes. Often, they are a bit more work than anticipated but never less fun.

Another book getting ruffled pages at the moment is the new one by Jean Wells.

Last week in Cut Loose we all got our our copies, turned to lesson one and got busy with some scraps. As you can see, the results are as varied as the women that made them. A few simple exercises in this book reinforce a lot of the interesting new techniques available today.

Diversity is the key to life at the moment. From Collaborative work to intuitive and then around the block to applique. My friend/sister-in-law, Gai just got this Lollipop Trees quilt back from the quilters. Pictured here with the lovely Will, . How gorgeous does it (they) look! This one goes to Grace as she completes her HSC year of study. You go girl!!! If you knew Will you're smiling at the stoic pose! How mature they get when they turn 7, (hey happy birthday dude!) This quilt was a big adventure for Gai as it is her first real applique project! If you can believe that! Iit is fantastic to see it finished despite a full family life.

The next two projects swinging in from left of centre are Sheena's and Cath's from the Brenda Smith workshop a weekend ago.

Both made from scraps.both scream their maker's names and both are made using handy tips and techniques that Brenda has up her sleeve. There is one more session in this round of Brenda Smith workshops. If you are interested in signing up email or ring us to put your name on the list.

Now Kelle was away in traveling in Europe but has gotten over jet lag and the re-entry process and is now progressing her Sue Cody quilt. It's soft and pretty and will be a long lasting family treasure.

At the same time as the applique progresses this was happening in the next room. Francis has pulled this out of the stack to make a few additions. Stumbling blocks are often an opportunity for creative solutions. Francis looked a this quilt and wasn't happy after a lot of piecing. After reviewing the options, she has decided to applique some flowers onto the stripes. The roundness of the shapes breaks up the stripes and is a good solution to the problem that Francis had with the project.

This past season I have dodged the flu bullet so many times I nearly thought I was a super human. However, when it got me I went down like a lead balloon and completely lost this past weekend. I spent hours in bed with swirling ideas in my head surrounded by the frustration of mounting laundry and the need to go to the grocery store...not to mention loosing my sewing time, and what happened on The Bill Saturday night? What happened at the dance on Friday night? How did the Athletics go? Where is everyone? What amazed me most was that on Sunday when I still couldn't lift my head off the pillow, my teenage boys, when all the sport and dates were over...well they loved lying on the couch doing NOTHING but watching rugby. This is their life I thought in amazement. How strange to be so full of life and to love nothing more than a bit of sport on the television. I did get to see some sport and have a bit of a fly on the wall action to their banter. That and the only good thing about being down and out is getting up again to hit the floor running!

One last thing! Do you have a stack of quilts that you have made over the winter? If you do why not book into Kim Bradley's class on Saturday and machine quilt finished projects under her supervision. Her classes have been great for getting people started but if you haven't practiced enough or would prefer to get going while she watches, we still have a couple spots available on Saturday from 10-3:00pm. She is happy to help you get started on your project and that is enough time to well and truly get one on the way....what a GREAT idea!!!! If you are curious about it give me a ring in the shop and we can talk about it. Off and running...kathy