Retail therapy

A few weeks ago, I bought  18 Bali fat quarters from Keepsake quilting.  I also  bought 200 X 4" charms, my third pack and a few haby items.  Last year I bought 2 packs of die cut diamonds.   I don't know what I'll do with the small charms yet but I'm  still thinking.  I used to buy Bali hearts to make  Caring Heart blocks but they are not on the catalogue any more.  The swing seat is where I'll be having lunch from now on, with the orange tree on my right and the lemon tree on my left behind me.

Holly Hobby

Here are the two dolls someone gave me.  I cut them out,  sewed up the seams and filled them with toyfill.  I hope this little girl is happy with them.  Our extended family is having Christmas day together,  I'm wondering if I should make a cloth doll as I had intended before I came across this in my stash.

A visit

This is Eirto, just 4 months old.  He brought his family to visit us before Christmas as they are all going to Japan for a few weeks.  His mum took this photo, he sat on his dad's lap and 'talked' to me  and smiled at me all through lunch time.  Dad and Mum  put him down for a nap but he was not having that.  Casey was very interested in this new person, but Eirto was not impressed, not scared, just not interested!!

Medallion Round Robin 2009

It's home!!   I love it!!! Pity it is so windy, I couldn't wait for tomorrow when the weather  may be calmer.
During this year various Forum ladies have been doing a border each month on my Hummingbird quilt.  There were quite a few of us and  each of us worked on 10 quilts. we have all  been very excited as our quilts finally came 'home'.

Tapestries from way back

Here is a collection of tapestries I did many years ago. The picture, lower left is an embroidery from Vietnam, a gift from a boarder. The long one in the middle is a swap from a few years ago beautifully embroidered and quilted.

Teddies and their friends

This is my collection of cloth dolls and teddies, some I made and some I received. In the front is the Softie I received some months ago, I called moggie (a cat).  The doll on the right almost hidden, is a childhood doll from when I was about 7yo.  It was a walking, sleeping,  sitting doll, quite something way back then.  The cornucopia is ona the right, another swap on the Forum.

And indoors

This is a Parlour palm I have raised from about 3 inches.  The trophies are 20in tall.  On the wall is a picture of a rusty harvster in a paddock which one of my Forum friends sent me  in a 'Country'  swap.  My husband and I go 10-pin bowling twice a week.  We have dozens of trophies, they have  really only sentimental value.

WOW

OK, Here is the photo of the King Protea.  The shrub is quite spectacular when in flower (about now, October, November) with the Bird of Paradise in flower beside it.

My Garden

This is the front of our house.  At the window is a huge Euca growing over my gardenia.  At the corner are a few Lavenders with pansies in front.  To the right of the steps are more lavender plants, I think we have 8-10 different colours. Our Bird of Paradise is pushing the  picket fence over. We didn't expect it to grow so big. Just out of sight is a King Protea which is the envy of the neightbourhood. The flowers are about 8in across. I'll put a picture up later.

My Garden

This is one of our two last Wisterias.  We are trying to keep it small so it doesn't take over the garden like the others did.

My garden

I thought I'd share some photos of my garden.  Here is part of my back yard, with the little dog going  to see what's going on. On the left are two Washington Cotton Palms which are now quite tall, twice the height you can see.  Behind the dog is a Cocos Palm and an Alexandra Palm. A swing seat at the back is under a Red Flowering Gum tree,  To the right of the dog is an orange tree.  The middle garden has two bird-baths, a pony tail palm and a huge red grevilllea. (This photo is quite old, the seat has been moved and the plants are much  bigger). Dozens of lorikeets, a few galahs , magpies and crows visit us daily.

Row by Row Round Robin 2008

Another of my Beachy quilts. Eight of my friends contributed to this quilt, (Idid one row). Each row had to be done in a different way, eg. baskets, trees, buildings, foundation piecing, applique etc. It has been an amazing experience watching all the different ways the rows were interpretted in the different colourways.

Last year I took part in a Friendship blockswap. and this is the result. I made 12 blocks in various colourways and sent them to other people. The quilt top looks better in 'real life'
In the background (to the right of the birdbath) is my 'pony tail palm' which has grown to nearly 6 ft since I took it out of its rootbound pot.

Caring Hearts

Since I joined the forum about 5-6 years ago, I have been collecting caring hearts. I alternated the heart blocks with plain or floral blocks and a border of floral fabric to make the quilt bigger.
Blocks of 6.5 inches are made and sent to a co-ordinator. Nominations are given to this member about other members who would appreciate a gift in the mail, for reasons such as condolences (sometimes for our furry children), sickness, congratulations and so on.

A grandson's cot quilt

I found this pattern in a recent copy of USA Patchwork and Quilting, and changed the centre of the triangles to make the quilt into an "I spy". It is a large cot quilt size and may go on his bed when he gets big enough. It has robots and robot parts on the border, and red fabric with white spots on the back.

Two quilts for a lucky little boy

This quilt for our new grnadson, was copied from one I did 2 years ago for one of babies at church. I put a different border on it. The backing is in the fabric on the lower right corner.

Another quilt

At last!! I have been trying to upload this image for ages. I had forgotten where it was. This is Kyoto Circles. I bought the pattern from Keepsake Quilting some time ago. I love the deep sea blues and greens. Putting the pieces together was tricky at first, until I became more organised. I really will have to start taking my own photos, or at least not do photography on windy days..

A new man in my life

Introducing my new grandson, Eirto, only two weeks old, and already taking everything in. He knows that he will be picked up if he grizzles for long enough. He has funny little gestures like putting his fist on his cheek as if he is thinking hard. More about him as he grows up.

Block Swap Mark 1

This is the first Block by Block I have participated in. It was commenced last year but only very recently completed. The name of the pattern in Square dance, everyone had headaches trying to make the pieces fit, only to discover the pattern was a little inaccurate. This one will stay with me because it has my name on it.

Tumbling through the Universe.

Hi,
This is my latest quilt. It is smaller than I meant it to be. The blocks are linked and sewn on by hand on a starry background. A pattern in a book in the AQA library inspired me to try the tumbling blocks. OK, What is the next experimental pattern?

Accessorise

This is my most recent quilt, completed today. The photo does not do it justice. This is a gift for my stylish friend on her birthday which is on Friday. The centre top handbag has a picture of a lion. I had forgotten which football team she supports, the Bears or the Lions, so I put both. The bears are in the corners of the yellow border. There is also a hat in the centre bottom row. The backing is yellow with a wide band of yellow fabric featuring all kinds and colours of ladies shoes. This quilt was inspired by a pattern in an old US magazine.

Visitors

Hi

I had a lovely day yesterday, two lovely ladies dropped by to visit me. From the left, myself and 'the boss', Rosanne (Mrs Moo), and Vicki (Tozz). We chatted and swapped tips, and showed each other our albums. Then I showed them my 'new' sewing room with lots more space. It was great getting together with Vicki again, and meeting up with Rosanne.

Another project completed

Hi,

Here is another quilt, hanging on the clothesline so I can take the photo.

Another Baby quilt

I made this from a pattern in Patchwork and Stitching (I think) for one of the little ones at church. I didn't know if s/he wanted pink or blue so I used lemon and put three girls and three boys on. The sashing stars gave me untold headaches. One of them disappears because the sashing colour is too close.

The ultimate challenge....so far.

Who says the sun doesn't shine in Melbourne. This is my rendition of Michelle Yeo's Dahlia Quilt. It was a gift from a friend to her mother. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice. I may do this one again but not just yet.

Down at the farm

I made this goat from a pattern in either Homespun or Quilters Companion for a swap. It is still travelling around Australia because as far as I know it hasn't arrived even though I sent it a few years ago.

More Photos

This cute little friend was my offering for an Easter swap, teddy in disguise as the Easter bunny.

I actually did this one twice.

Hope Grows

This design was in the first American Patchwork and Quilting magazine I bought. It is 80" square, and covers our big sofa. Making the large appliques was easy, but the three rows of sawtooth made me grind mine. Roses in the middle and a matching rose stripe border really impressed my quilting lady and she suggested she do custom quilting. Expensive, but worth it.

Scrappy Snowball - nine-patch.

This is another scrappy quilt. I have lots of small scraps, I need to someday make a kaleidoscope (sp) quilt with them. Most pieces are too small for a braid quilt.

Baby quilts

This is the first of the baby quilts I did. All of the baby's family loved this one and I enjoyed making it..

Pussycat, Pussycat.

The lady who ordered this quilt gave me photos of her cat, which I put in the middle. All the cats were hand appliqued on, some were only 2" big (or small). I found cat-crowd fabric for the border and backing. I made another without a family cat some months before this one but forgot to take a photo of it. There's my Jack Russell (as a puppy) on the top step.

Fans

This is the other quilt that was auctioned at the Church Fund-Raiser. This was also in one of the Country Craft and Decorating (or sister magazines) a few years back, in different colours, I think it had bubblegum pink sashing and borders. I don't necessarily make a quilt in the same year of the issue. But I do need to acknowledge someone.

Woof

This was an order. It had to have the family dog of the new owner on it. I appliqued cut-out dogs and made apliqued tumbling blocks, the border is quite amusing.

Angels

This quilt was for the granddaughter of a friend. Side-on of course!! Roses were appliqued around the border.

Baby quilts

I made this one for one of the babies at Church. There were 4 babies that year, they are all walking now.

This quilt came from one of Julies Wallace's books. I'd like to make more from those books. I gave this to our son as a wedding gift, as he married a Japanese girl. I'm thinking of making another one, (just thinking).

Fairies in the forest

This came from one of Patchwork and Stitching's Kid's Quilts issues. It used some fairy fabric which isn't available now. It was a very fiddly job. Sold

Jewel Box

This is the Jewel Box quilt, published in Country Craft and Decorating some years back in cream and florals. Light at that time of day made the blocks fuzzy. I donated this quilt and another one to the Church last year for a fund-raising event. They were 'won' in a silent auction

Teddies

Oh Dear.... I think I'll have to do my own Photography. The president of Australian Quilters Association challenged me to do a miniature quilt for the Box Hill Show nearly 18 months ago. This is what I came up with. It is 14" square and all hand done. My Jewel Box quilt was in the same show.

Tropical fun

This is the Courthouse steps. The photographer (dh) did not tell me I had the quilt side-on. I maxchine-appliqued the dolphins on using the reverse side of the fabric which was more mottled. This one was sold at a Ladies day at church.

Scrappy - 9-patch goes Irish

This one was done a while back and was snapped up almost immediately. The top was made entirely of scraps, I had to buy the border, backing, batting and binding.

Garden Ladies

I made this quilt a few years ago, from a pattern in Quilters Companion, I still have the issue. I am about to do the same one again in similar colours. I altered the shape of the ladies. They were too grown up for the preschooler who received the quilt. My lounge room is still in an untidy state - clean but untidy. Creativity and neatness are not seen together.

Rosy Star

It's just amazing! I put this photo up without really trying. The pattern came from a 2007 issue of American Patchwork and quilting magazine. I used leftover fabrics from another quilt also from the same magazines. This quilt is currently decorating a table in the Community Hall of a retirement village where I go to do my volunteer work

Memories.

Hi
On Sunday night we had visitors to dinner. A young lady who was a frequent visitor to our place some 5 years ago, came to Melbourne from Japan for a 1 week holiday, to spend time with friends she had met while studying here. Our son decided that he and our DIL would come over for dinner as well, he speaks Japanese and DIL is Japanese. We had a great time. Our son has turned into a really good cook. Amazing!

I'd like to say that I have a reliable memory. But no, I forgot to attend a very important meeting (to me anyway) tonight. I also forgot to do some sewing today. By the time I had attended a meeting this morning, had my lunch, gone to the gym, the post office and the supermarket, and checked the forum, the day had almost gone. Next thing I knew my little dog was jumping at me asking for his tea, which he has a 5 pm every night.

More photos

March already!! As the year flashes by, I find myself with more and more to do. My husband reminds me that I am supposed to be retired. My attitude to retirement is that I can ado what I want when I want and there is no-one to tell me to do my tasks in any specific order. There is no shouting, berating or workplace abuse. If the atmosphere is not pleasant I can simply walk away. A luxury I didn't have when in employment.

There are still photos of early quilts to show everyone. Most of them have been sold or given away. Some are gifts for babies of friends and some designs have been requested, the new owner wanting the family dog or cat to be featured.

Woof, woof, I just love attention.
Photos!! (runs into room and sits down). Is this my best side. My name is Casey. I suppose you realise I am the boss in this house, even though I'm not three years old yet. I decide when Mum and Dad go to sleep, I wake either one of them up so I can go chase possums during the night or just have a stroll around the garden. I like to get up early, too, so I wake Mum up by jumping on her, she knows she just can't win. Next comes breakfast, then walkies. This is when I take Mum for a run. Keeps her fit, you know. When we get home, I join Dad in bed until he gets up. Ahhhhhhh, such is life!!

Quilts
This is my FIRST quilt, the Broken Dishes pattern. I hung it on the clotheseline to photograph it but the wind was quite strong, and I didn't want to leave it for another day. It is still not finished. Someone suggested that I hand-quilt it. I didn't know about the various thicknesses of batting then and started quilting in the ditch, sort of stab-stitching it from each side. I have done about one quarter of it over about 4 or 5 years. A work in very slow progress.

Medallion Round Robin 2008 This is the Medallion Round Robin I participated in last year (2008). I took the photo when it was windy because I had procrastinated for too long already. I love the way the last member did a 3/4 Dresden Plate on the corners. Must take it along and show it to my quilter friend.something wonderful to keep and show my friends.

Stitchery and Applique Block Swap This is my stitchery and applique Block swap quilt, using the Square Dance pattern. The blocks are just pinned to the design wall. I think it was sewn together as is. I hid it from myself and couldn't take it to be quilted. Next time I will take it with me. It's quite colourful and it's all mine, it even has my name on it

Another Photo
This is one of the "kiddie quilts" I have done for sale, I always know that there will be a Grandma ready to buy a quilt/playmat for some special someone.

Photos???

Hi
I have selected a personal photo to put up. I also have many photos of quilts that people have asked to see. Must look into that, it may be easy enough for me to do. The Medallion Round Robin quilt that has just been completed still hasn't been photographed, I need someone (or two someones) to hold it up while I take a photo. Might do that tomorrow. Until next time, adieu.

trishserendipity

Hi
Here we are again, a day later. Phew, I didn't know I could do this, starting a Blog. Next challenge on the agenda is putting photos of my 'creations' here for all to see. I'll have to take a photo of my favourite 4 legged friend Casey as well. He likes to be included in all the excitement. His next favourite activities are walkies, eating and napping. Oh, and cuddles. Lots of them.

trishserendipity

Hi
I'm Trish, I retired and now spend my days sewing (hence the name). I also read, attend quilting club and spend much time on an internet forum. Since I joined, the quality of my work has progressed beyond my wildest dreams. This is because of the advice and encouragement of the members. (Stand and take a bow, ladies). I have made a number of quilts, cushions, gifts and toys. Sometimes my choices end up as UFOs because I try a pattern a few years beyond my experience. But....if I don't try, I won't know.
We have two adult sons, two beautiful duaghters-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters. We are so blessed.