Unexpected Treat

Why do you never explore your own city? Today I suggested a visit to a Tapestry Exhibition (I love not having to go to work) at a gallery on Observatory Hill which is one of the oldest areas in Sydney. Not only were the Tapestries absolutely stunning (no photos allowed I'm afraid) but close by was the Sydney Observatory.


which has to have one of the best views in the city overlooking the Harbour Bridge.

These fig trees are hundred of years old - if only they could talk.

These steps lead down to some of the oldest houses in Sydney and they are still in use but I expect are very small. That is a front door right at the bottom.

This is the copper roof inside one of the domes of the observatory. It is multicoloured as some of the copper has been replaced.

I have travelled on this wonderful curved road cut out of solid Sydney Sandstone hundreds of time but never been able to look down onto it like this.

Coffee Fix

We have been very naughty and bought a coffee machine - it was a bargain on an Australian online auction site and has all the bells and whistles including even grinding the beans. I have to try not to overdose on caffeine.



I have been continuing to sew madly (with the occasional coffee break)for my exhibition and here is another piece. This is hand made felt with additional embellishment of beads.



If someone could tell me why Blogger is only showing me HTML code now I would be really grateful. It is driving me mad.

More Playing

Here is a Beading class sample I have been working on for a while. I think I might call it finished now. The problem with beading is that there is always more room for a couple more beads.
For those in Sydney I am teaching this Creative Beading class at Logans in Leichhardt on 8th August. It's a one day workshop and all the stitches on this sample will be taught (as well as many others). It's a fun day and a great way to learn the basics of Beaded Embellishment.

MIXED RESULTS

I have had a great couple of days in the studio. I have given myself permission to play and play I did.
I spent a day and a half working on a pieced quilt top with the result of throwing the whole thing in the bin. It was done as a prototype for a magazine project and all I can say is thank goodness I didn't do it. I made so many mistakes I eventually starting laughing at myself. I made errors in fabric choice, cutting , pieceing and anything else I tried to do. Throwing it away made me feel much better.

Today I had better luck and worked on a piece I did a few months ago. I had a great time quilting it and then cutting out the unwanted organza.
Do you think it needs some beads??


I have also been beading some felted & quilted pieces for the exhibition and I think they are coming along quite well. I will show you when they are finished.

Colour Ideas

I was wandering around a bookshop today and came across this book. I was so impressed by the concept and execution that I bought it - and I need another book on colour and/or beads like a hole in the head!


The author Sandra Wallace is a renowned artist in the UK and this book only came out in March so you may not have seen it yet but check it out if you get the chance. Of course have a look at Sandra's work on her website too.

Bagdad?

Some things get me thinking - I have just checked my blog visits and noticed that I had a visit today from someone in Bagdad. Call me curious but surely they have more important things to use their 4 hours of electricity on than looking at pictures of my brief holiday.

Ahh - mystery solved - there appears to be a Bagdad in Australia - you learn something new every day don't you?

Sad news today for one of my great friends Sarah Smith - a prolific and talented quilters in Maine. Her 12 year old son was hit by a car and although relatively ok - he has a badly broken leg and of course a long period of recovery and adjustment for the family. Sarah - my thoughts are with you all.

Beach Textures

I am doing Sumptuous Surfaces online course with Sharon Boggon (well so far I have only read the first week's notes and bought some basic threads). One of the requirements is to find an image for the first project.

I was looking for something suitable down on the beach and this is what I came up with. I also really liked the banksia seed pods ....decisions decisions!

Time in the Sun

We are spending a few days up the coast with family. Just north of Coffs Harbour is a piece of heaven called Angourie with the most beautiful beaches



I even got up before dawn to get this photo of the sunrise but it was hidden behind a tree

Monday Rain

I love the wet weather especially as it is filling our dams but not on a day when I had 20m of fabric needing drying for a special order. The sun would come out and so we would rush it out and then the skies would open up again. In the end we had it draped all over the living room much to the amusement of the repair man who arrived.

I am thinking of having a trading table at the local Embroiderers Guild exhibition and so asked my quilters list for advice on whether or not it would be a good idea. I was astounded at the number of quilters/embroiderers who responded (mostly positively). It is very interesting how we don't stick to one interest and the generosity of advice was greatly appreciated. I have decided to go ahead with the stall as there seems to be a lot of interest in going outside the normal traditional embroidery.

I also found a few pieces of work in my studio which I think will, with the addition of a few beads, will might possibly frame up well for my exhibition which is not too far away.

Quilters gathering

I had a lovely lunch on Satuday with members of the Southern Cross Quilters.

Jean had brought a quilt top made from our fabrics using Brenda Smith's Synchronicity Pattern.
It is for a baby quilt and so lovely and bright.


Liz brought her beading which she started in a beading class. I think we have another beading convert here too.

Opal Fire

Heather McMaster liked her first small version of Opal Fire so much she decided to make a large one. I love the additional border.

I am teaching this as a one day workshop in Sydney at Logans Fabrics in Sydney in July and November if you are interested.

All done

It has been a great few days but the Sydney Show is now over. It has been really wonderful spending 5 whole days just being with quilters and friends and even my children. Everyone has been so great and supportive and we have had a fabulous time. It takes so long to build up to it and then it is over.

I have the sore feet to prove it but the packing up went really smoothly and tomorrow I will (slowly) go through everything and put it all away.

Now I have a couple of months to concentrate on creating some new pieces for my exhibition at the end of August. I will also be spending this time teaching which I love.

Life is good - well it will be better when I get a good night's sleep and my feet stop aching.