Travel Plans

I don't get out much.  Most of the time my world comes to me at the shop.  Our "new" location is such an easy trip from the city that every day we have the pleasure of visitors.  Secretly, I love the open eyed look and often that little sigh of relief when they have arrived!  Then there is a bit of shock because the front room, although filled with delight, is a bit small...then they head down the hall or downstairs to find more.  Last Friday the house filled with visitors from as far as Canada and Europe to Melbourne and Queensland.  We had a very nice visit with Cathy from cabbage quilts and Liane from berry red stitches for most of the morning.  

It's a new age phenomenon to get to meet bloggers.  We know so much about each other before we meet.  There is much to talk and learn about face to face.  I enjoy these encounters and fortunately was able to spend some time chatting about quilts, family and projects.  All good.  Cathy has just started teaching at a pretty shop in her area called Treehouse Textiles which sounds gorgeous and a real destination.

Also last week was a big tick off my list as Clare from Quilters Companion and I finished our Old Quilts Made New dvd.  This has been a fun project that considers the many ways to look at traditional quilts and make them modern.  This has always been my favourite source of inspiration for quilts...to study what my quilting sisters of yesterday thought was important to quilt about and then to make it my own...my own cover version.  We are lucky to have lots of tools to make this transformation easy so we talked about that too. It was a thrill to be able to take this process to the dvd format although always a nerve racking experience because I just can't use a teleprompter.  Cross fingers...open mouth and hope the right things come out!  Now if you can't visit the shop you can travel through the idea on your own with the June edition of Quilters companion dvd!!!

I always enjoy working with Clare.  We have done lots of projects over the years since she became editor of the magazine.  She manages my enthusiasm very well and even though I sometimes feel a bit over the top I know she can handle it.  A fun part of the filming is getting hair and makeup done.  I wondered about 35 mintues into the process how frightening I must look without so much work done every day.  (Then the next day I found myself laughing in the mirror as I threw on my makeup in my usual two minute fashion.) Then as she was working on my hair she wondered why I was going grey and not covering up.  Well, I was a bit stunned.  Should I care?  On one hand I like colouring my hair for a change but I am curious to see the grey.  It is like a milestone in my life and I am not afraid. Or at least I try not to be afraid of looking my age.  And...well...I declare the grey hair the new blonde!  Besides, grey matches most of my clothes these days.  Protesting too much?  pass the dye...

Sometimes our travels are simply visual.  This quilt  is one of Sue Cody's patterns,Ying & Yang, a medallion quilt with a strong sense of whimsy and made here by Kim.   The medallion takes us away to a foreign place and time while the hot colours and that Anna Maria border bring us back to now. 

Robyn took my Guild sponsored workshop last year and has finished her Soul Searching quilt...front above and back below.  Not only that but she machine quilted it herself!  We can see in a glance what Robyn's stash looks like.  The black and white or neutral area is quite strong and supports the colour areas nicely.

Robyn gave herself a challenge to use that sashing fabric in every block which she did and then on the back as seen here.  That inspiration fabric gives continuity to her quilt and makes it hers!

Jessica is in the process of making this creation.  No doubt she is making this quilt her own with clever twists on traditional blocks and a wide variety of fabric textures.  From the minute I met Jessica I could see she is a deep end swimmer.  There is no sense of insecurity as she forges ahead manipulating design into her own demonstration of individuality...forging her own path.

The Starting Blocks are designed to take you off the beaten path as well.  This month Cath has used some of our new wools and made an Aboriginal inspired, wagga style piece of art.  A few quirky stitches and a fun backing and this piece is done like a sunset on a horizon.

Some of the Starte Blocks reflect influences from other countries like last month when we visited Uzbek Patches in mini form.  Although I have never been to Turkey the appeal of the Uzbekistan geometric patterns is obvious.

From Turkey we go to Africa where the birds and the elephants roam...as the world shrinks and we get to know each other but the folk art customs of our individual spaces.  We share, we grow.

Penny came to class with this quilt she picked up while traveling in Burma.  The Kantha style quilting is just a tactile fascination.  Simple blocks, great fabrics all finished simply with casual elegance.

Visits from travelers, visual traveling, imaginary traveling and soon...real traveling.  John and I planned our trip to France yesterday.  What an amazing experience it was to walk out of our hotel and over to Notre Dame on the computer!  We will be traveling to London to visit friends then to Paris for a weekend and then to L'Amour du Fils.  Now that my big projects for Sydney are all ticked off I can concentrate on packing for my classes.  I'll be teaching two quilts from my book...titled Making Quilts...the promise of joy.  I get excited just thinking about holding the book in my hands.   Making the quilts was just a part of the trip.  Then John and I headed "out back" hoping to capture the light and spirit of the Australian landscape while doing the photography.    Quilt Mania has done a wonderful job with the design layout and patterns. Oh la la!

So, I have started piling up my clothes, gathering my class supplies and now as that tiny bit of adventure excitement starts to bubble up inside I sit and listen to a French language cd while quilting.  The line that sticks in my head is: Je suis desolet!  or I think I am lost!  Hopefully I won't have to use that line or "Avez vous un cigarette?"  However, "Ou es le cafe" sounds good...pardon my French.  In actual fact the most used line will most likely be, "parlez vous Englais?"  HA.  Crack me up.  If you are over there, and I know some of you are...book into my classes so I have a few familiar travelers to play with!  ta ta for now...k

Comments

[David]

I'll be there ;-) Have a safe and fun trip.

[fiberchick]

Bon voyage! "Je voudrais un autre verre de vin" is a very useful phrase... Will you sell your CD? I have a subscription but they don't ship the extras for overseas readers...

[cynthia]

Wow, you quilts are always full of inspiration!!! I am in awe of your creativity.

[Judy]

Wow, always love your blog, I am waiting for the kaffe fassett strips to come out in pattern. you share so much of everyones work, and we who live in the country luv to see it, thanks

[NYC Hotel]

What a great information in this blog, I like to way your description and i just follow your instruction.

[Cathy]

Awesome to see you again Kathy, and to soak up inspiration from you and your beautiful, colour saturated shop. Thank you for having me for so long when you were so busy! It was fabulous to meet Liane too and spend time with her on the bus back to town. I simply cannot wait to get your book in my hands either, I've just bought your other two again so I could give them to a friend. I cannot recommend them enough!! xo

[Susan]

Another delightful read. You do indeed have travel plans.... just wish I knew where to get this book without spending major bucks on shipping...time will tell.

I have the Moda fabric that Robyn used front and back. I checked as it seem quite improbable that the fabric would make it into all the color blobs. And it DID... that was a real eye opener to me.

[Meg]

Je suis désolée is actually "I'm sorry";...a phrase I unfortunately use just about daily. Je suis perdue would be "I'm lost"... not terribly useful, as it'll be greeted with an enthusiastic flood of directions, in French of course;)

[Liane]

Thanks for spending time chatting on Friday when I visited and also for the mention on your blog. Your shop is beautiful and I will definitely be back to visit again on my next trip. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you both.
By the way, I really like the grey - I thought you looked stunning!

[cardygirl]

Lovely visitors indeed! Lots of inspiration as always...love the soul searching quilt...it is stronger like mine! You look great for the DVD shoot...grey hairs demonstrate wisdom and should be applauded. Have a great trip! Loooove Sue's medallion!

[Lush]

Hey Kathy
Would love to have full details of your teaching gig in Paris.
Who would have thought that I would have had to wait till I was in London & you in Paris before I could finally (maybe) get to do a class with you?? LOL
Cheers
Lorraine Trezise

[Vicki hart]

Have fun stranger! Ps love the burgundy dress mmm

[Logan]

Wow! The quilts!!!

http://www.loganmakesamess.com/

[Elisabeth Fuchs]

I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine in Nantes, Kathy. We'll all speak that common language : fabric and thread!
See you soon!
Elisabeth

[Cocktail Bar In London]

Always really like your site, I am awaiting the kaffe fassett pieces to come out in design. you discuss so much of everybody's perform, and we who reside in the nation luv to see it, thanks

[Boston Hotel Rooms]

Wow! These handicraft things look more attractive. I got some wonderful collection like this from Asia. Actually one can use some beads also to give this clothes more glow.Also, one can use the dry pieces of wood and some fabric colors too.

[Cheap Flights]

Great lists for a travel plan. Looks good and those handicrafts and the designs were amazing. Loving those and will definitely look for more.