Hatched and Patched

Back on track with a new quilt...

Hi everyone

Since my trip away to Houston I have been feeling very snoozy (it took me SO LONG to get over jet lag this time - was it jet lag? hmmm.....). I have spent much time just dribbling over the new fabric I bought whilst in Houston, thinking and pondering, then WHAM, my head came alive and I felt together again. THANK GOODNESS!!!! Back into the swing again!!

One of the ranges I grabbed over there was Whimsy by Fig Tree Quilts. I just loved the fun feel it had, so just HAD to make something from it. I only had 10 inch squares, so decided to make a baby's cot quilt. Because of the simplicity of the fabric, I thought I'd make my images a little simpler too - light and breezy!

Anyway, I finished the quilt top today, and this time I thought I'd send it away to get quilted, rather than trying to quilt it myself. I have some other new designs up my sleeve and just HAVE to create those instead, although I do LOVE hand quilting. I can't wait to see what Belinda does! 

The Lovely Designers at Houston

I have my favourite storeholders I love to visit whilst at Houston. I love to visit Teri at Whimsicals, Renee at Liberty Star, Alma and Barb at Blackbird Designs, Kathy Shmitz and Sue Spargo to name just a few. They all had gorgeous new designs on show, so I was in heaven....

This is Kathy Shmitz, and her stall was stunning! She had cut out birds from paper and had them hanging from wire all through her stall, and had little tea lights everywhere which were surrounded by paper 'crowns'. Her new patterns were gorgeous. I was particularly taken with her door hangers of the bee skep and birdcage and her bird needlecase (on the front of her table). Her stitching is devine!

 

In my eyes, Barb (left) and Alma (right) are two of the friendliest and most talented people on this planet. If you didn't know, they are the designers behind Blackbird Designs. They had a new Pomegranite quilt (on the bed behind us), and a gorgeous new cross-stitch book with acorns and heart and other wonderous things. They also have a new fabric range coming which uses all my favourite colours, so I can't wait for that!! I was lucky enough to pick up a layer cake bundle, so here's a sneak peak - LOVE IT!

Here are Renee's two new patterns which I will have to find time to make???!!!  Her stand is always so well thought out and free of clutter. I didn't take a photo, so sorry 'bout that.

...and last but not least, here is a sneak peak at Whimsicals new fabric range - it's all to do with angels and is very soft, with a slightly primitive feel - I just love her work. Again, I didn't have my camera with me whenever I ran into Terri, so no pic of her beautiful stand either - very sad!

HOUSTON QUILT MARKET

If you've been wondering where I've been lately through lack of postings, it is because I have been travelling half way around the world again with Pete to the Houston Quilt Market. Jet lag aside, we had a funfilled time catching up with friends we have made over there, and spying new bits and pieces to play with. I also had a stall there where I released my new book and caught up with some of our overseas customers.

This year I noticed a slight swing towards the French fabrics - could it be due to the Moda range of French General's Rounerries?? I found some stunning antique French fabrics but quickly put them back on the stand, as each small piece was over $200!!!!  Maybe next time.....

Anyway, I took all of my latest things over in my suitcase and set up my stand which had absolutely no props whatsoever unfortunately. Some store holders go to SO much detail in setting their stalls up that it almost looks like a piece of home. I just felt like I could sit down and start stitching in their booth (hold back there Anni - might cause an upset!)

Pete will tell you he spent the WHOLE show manning my stall while I flitted about gathering and looking, which is probably true, but HERE"S PROOF I was on my stand for at least five minutes ha ha.

And here's yet more proof I was on my stand for longer than five minutes, as Barri Sue Gaudet (from Bareroots) came over for a chat. She has been working on a stunning new book which should be out soon - can't wait for that!

I'll post more pics of Houston soon

Happy stitching

Anni

A few things made....

Just recently I had two people email me with things they had made and thought I should share.

Firstly Rebecca Beattie (who used to live in Bathurst and sadly had to move away), sent me this great picture of her daughter Zoe, getting ready for Christmas.... I wonder who she is giving herself away too... I thought this pic was just too cute so had to share it around - I guess you CAN fit a fair bit into the Here Comes Santa sack (and I am speaking from my own experience there too!)

Amanda Hickson then sent me a gorgeous card she had made from the A Gardeners Journal book for her husband. I thought this was so creative and love the colours used. I love seeing everything you all do, and love seeing how you change things to make them uniquely your own.

I have been wanting a gallery of all of your work for some time now, but just have to stop Pete (husband and computer guru) long enough to set one up for me.....some day..... I do have a few things stored away for this momentous occassion....
Talk soon
Anni

MY BOY BOOK IS HERE!

Woo hoo - I'm SO excited!! My printer down the road has excelled this time and printed the book in record time! So it's ready already!! There is something to be said about printing locally. Our printer had his workers work double-shifts and had it out within the week so we could send a few boxes to USA in time for Houston Quilt Market! We picked up some boxes yesterday afternoon and Pete and Deb are now busily packaging all of the pre-orders to send out to shops. Hopefully you'll see it in your local shop soon.

The Boy Book Complete

YAY!!!!! It is FINALLY done!! I had a few dramas with computers over the last two weeks and didn't think my book would ever be complete. Actually, I was wishing for the good old days where everything was type-set and and applied by hand (how old am I sounding?!?!?) My computer simply died, then I destroyed Pete's (my husband's) hard drive - oops, then went back to my computer when it was fixed, destroyed that again, then went to Samantha's (daughter). Luckily, Pete is a techno-head, so he held my hand and made everything better - aaaaah...
The book is now in the printer's capable hands, and he assures me it will be ready to take to Houston for Market. Fingers crossed!!!
Anyway, here are a few pics of what is in the book. There are quilts for babies, boys, teenagers, fathers and grandfathers, as well as a toy, pj bag, hot water bottles, sheets, towel, cushion, framed pic, and a door hanger with some funny remarks about who may/may not enter the young masters hovel.
I hope you like the quilts below. I haven't shown you pics of everything, but I think you'll get the idea...

Above: The cover with everything added.
Below: A not-so-good photo of the Boy Story quilt. I'm computer illiterate enough to not know how to crop the picture I actually used in my book for the blog, so unfortunately, you will have to put up with this one. Tim's toy cow 'Melvin Do' (was Melvin Moo, but Tim had other ideas) is his very favourite toy, so had to go on his bed for the photo. He's looking a bit bedraggled, but I guess well-loved....
One of the hot-water bottle covers is also shown here. They are super-easy to make. Samantha wants me to make her one in bright retro colours, so I'll show you that when it's done.

My toy robot, made with felt, so there are no fiddly raw edges to worry about. I made him all by hand using a whip stitch, but I guess you could also sew him on the sewing machine??! The cot quilt from the book is hiding in the background of this pic. I made it a bit brighter than the other quilts in the book, and was really fun to sew - I guess a change is as good as a holiday as they say!

This is called The Old Worn Quilt. I did this one using flannel, and it is SOOO cosy (and easy to make hee ho). It was meant to be for the older man, but one of my friends wants to make it for her son. I like the fact it is versatile!
I hope you like everything so far - I'll show you more soon!
Until then,
Anni

Photos Done!!

The day of rain was only a day of rain, not a week, so as far as doing photos for the book, all was well. I do empathise with those of you who have had no rain for SO long - I hope you all have a freaky day of rain soon!!
Well, after the rain comes the wind, and wind we had!! Very hard to take photos with wind, so decided to take many pics inside, even though the lighting is not as good. The house now looks as though removalists have been and thrown furniture about and upended boxes galore. Will our home ever look like home again?? Poor Tim has had everything thrown from his room, as this is where we tried to take some very important boy pics. He is sleeping in Samantha's room while all the craziness continues, so he is a very happy chappy! That is his favourite place to be come bed-time.
Anyway, over a thousand photos and two days later, I think we have eveything covered. I tried this photo on the front cover and am thinking this may be it!

Now comes the arduous task of choosing photos and planning the pages. I just hope my computer can stand up to the challenge...
Anni

It's raining!

Have you heard the tale of hanging the clothes out to make it rain? Well here's a new one. Whenever I set a day aside to take photos for my book, either a mini cyclone comes to visit, or it rains!!! Yesterday was the most gorgeous day - just like a warm spring day. Of course I was inside stitching the last few details on the last few projects for A Boys Story (YAY - finally done all the stitching), instead of gardening.
Today the rain is bucketing down, and looks as though it is here to stay - hmmmm.... I should have saved the stitching until today, as there is nothing more lovely than sitting next to the fire stitching on a cold wet day.
Here's hoping tomorrow will have a few dry spells so some photos can be taken. Isn't it silly? Usually we're praying for rain!!

Sorry - a very murky pic looking outside my window while I write instructions - at least I'm putting good use to my time....
Oh, and by the way, you have all convinced me to make up a new book with the bag and notepads from the gatherings I went to. Thanks for letting me know your thoughts! Much appreciated.

A New Family Begins.....

Some of the more extroverted (and slightly crazy) women at the Jukejema Quiting Retreat decided they would all challenge each other into making the quilt from my book A Family Gathering. It started off as a small affair, but by the end of the weekend, ten of them decided to play along.
They all have to have their quilt complete for 'show and tell' night next year, otherwise they have to take an icy dip in the pool at the retreat - not nice in the winter months!! So I'm thinking I'll have to make another trip down there, just for a laugh, and to help warm up those blue lips after the swim.

Good luck to all  you crazies!!

Nowra Workshop

I feel as though I have just been on a holiday!! Kim, from Jukejema Quilting Barn in Nowra, hosted a quilting retreat in a gorgeous secluded setting just out from Nowra. The outlook was breathtaking, and the women (like most who venture off to sew for a weekend), were SO friendly.
I was invited along with 3 other designers - Natalie Bird (from The Birdhouse), Natalie Ross (from In Stitches), and Janelle Wind (from The Janelle Wind Collection), which was just wonderful, as all our styles are different, so the women had a huge variety of projects to work on. I would have been totally bamboozled as to what to make if I was participating.
The women in this workshop were super keen and stayed up late on Friday night and Saturday night to make the most of their time off (up to 1.30 am!!!!). It was a very casual affair with jim jam's and slippers on. The food was spectacular and the company even better.

The tutors & organiser from left - Natalie Bird, me, Kimmie (from Jukejema Quilting Barn), Natalie Ross, & Janelle Wind

The friendly group who took time out from their busy lives to have fun fun fun!  Note what we all had to put up with in the background - how did we all cope??

I taught the bags and notepads shown in my previous posting. Of course I was too busy ogling and not spending enough time taking photos, so remembered just as everyone was packing up, and after most had left, but did manage to take two pics of things complete.

This is Jill's version of my bag which was made in Kaffe Fasset fabrics - it looked spectacular!

Cheryl made this notebook cover for someone very dear to her out of fabric left over from a quilt she made. It was her first time of doing needle-turn applique, but I just DON'T believe her!