A new look for 2012

I have been tackling the enormous task of cleaning out my Studio...to make room for the longarm. I know I have been a bit of a collect of fabric, but I'm thinking it's borderline hoarding. Not only fabric but books and magazines and other stuff....

two shelves done, three to go

what can I do with Macaw feathers and a half stuffed bear that I started making in 2003

pennies and earrings,

finding space to tackle the cupboard behind

at least I managed to clear the cork board

So far this week I have given away nearly every copy of Patchwork and Quilting from the very first issue. I have about 5 magazine left. I still have 6 and a half boxes of books and other magazines to give away.

and a doll

magazines, books, plaid fabric and quilts

I am inviting the Thursday girls out for the NY's party, as most of them are beginners and they might enjoy finding projects and stories in these magazines. I have also gone through my quilts and decided to give away some of my old sampler quilts, to anyone who wants them. 

Not sure what I'm going to do with these little quilts........

this block is from the Postcard patterns

this applique was designed by Heather, photo from the previous post

I have also put aside quilts from my cupboard to give to all my nieces and nephew. They can choose which one they like.......

this quilt I made for Christine when she was still in hospital I am now giving it too her son as they are expecting a baby girl any day now

 I think it will take me the next two weeks to sort and clean and change around the tables and get ready in the studio........

The big sewing table was screwed to the floor and power boxes were put on the 4 legs.....I have got as far as having the electrician around to disconnect the table.....easier to do now than next week......forward thinking.......

Anyway....If you don't hear from me for a couple of weeks you know where I will be.........

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, happy holiday and safe travel......

See you in 2012

Cathy

Out for Lunch

We had no class this month as Jens and our neighbour had planned to do a bit of work under the Studio, so we decided to go out for lunch instead.

We had a yummy lunch at the Upfront Club, sorry no photos to busy eating, then we checked out the patchwork shops of Maleny....

Here we are at Ann's shop..... Quiltopia designs

Ann with Janet and Sandra

 then we headed out to see Bev at Maleny Magic.

Bev and Lorraine

Kaylene and Bev

We then headed back into Maleny to have ice cream at Colin James in Maple St.....

Usually we all bring a plate to share and have a little party. Last year we played silly word games, and played pass the ugly fabric around, think of musical chairs. If you wanted to participate you had to bring along 1m of your ugliest fabric. Each time the music stopped the fabric was cut in half....so after a while you have all these different size pieces of fabric. The challenge is to then make something out of these fabrics and have it for this years party. The challenge is to only use those fabrics, you can paint, dye, print or stamp whatever. Then you could use anything you liked to embellish. The girls have made some great pieces. Mine on the other hand is still pinned to the design wall waiting for inspiration. I will post a photo of the fabrics next time....

This is part of Heathers challenge

So to give myself a little more time I decided that in January we will have a New Years party instead of a Christmas party. The last two weeks have been such a social time...with going away to Sydney for a weekend and Xmas lunches, dinner and bus trips it's starting to catch up with me.

I had Christmas lunch earlier this month with Heather, Allan, Margaret and Lyn last week and here are the girls showing their finished projects from the year..

Heather showing off the bed throw that she made

 Margaret with a quilt for her latest grandchild...so bright and colourful

I hope everyone is enjoying spending time with their friends celebrating  Christmas......

Cathy

Well... the quilt top is finished.....

Blue Sunflowers

It just has to be quilted now, will leave it until 2012, as I'm in the process of getting the big machine sorted and moved into the studio in January...I have started going though stuff....(and there is plenty of it), to make room.  I have a large sewing table in the Studio. When we bought the table  7yrs ago we decided to have power switches installed on each of the legs so that there were no cords all over the place. It was a great idea, until now when we have to move the table. Oh well...I have just had the electrician around this morning disconnecting the wiring on the legs....it's all done now and I can keep on cleaning.....I hope you enjoyed seeing my quilt, it is made with Kaffe and friends fabrics.....the Sunflowers are my own design........the other blocks are traditional blocks that I drafted with pencil and paper into 15" blocks.......I enjoyed the challenge and very pleased with the result.......

Happy stitching

Cathy

A day out in Brisbane

On Monday the T.A.F.A group and friends hired a small bus to have a day trip to Brisbane. On our agenda was a visit to the Reverse Garbage........

 they certainly do have some interesting stuff here......

So after a little shopping it was off to GOMA to have a look at the Matisse exhibition.

Jenny and I decided that we would break away from the group and visit the Yayoi Kusama display.....OMG.... she has made the most amazing flowers...they are huge and bright and spotty...just loved them.....

Then Jenny and I found the kids room full of spots....... we were given a sheet of dots to place anywhere in this room, so along with other adults and kids we laughed and giggled and put our dots all over the place...... 

can you see the piano

we had so much fun........

Then we went to ......

such beautiful quilts......

Jenny and I then walked across to the Art Gallery to have a look around....

We all had a great day....hope everyone in the group has a very happy and safe Xmas and we will see you in 2012........

A few photos of our weekend......

I had a surprise e-ticket from Jens to go to Sydney last Friday for the weekend. As Jens was already working just north of Sydney all week. So I asked Hanno and Rhonda to look after Koda, and Sandra to feed the chooks....and off I went......

Breakfast....love the background

After breakfast we checked out the information center and bought a Day Pass. With this pass we could use the trains, buses and ferries all day.........

We also caught the ferry to Drummoyne and walked around to find this little shop.....it would have been much easier to catch the bus, but we eventually got there.....

Just before I left home I checked my emails and blogs. I checked out MO website to find the address  and found out that they were having a Swap Day that Saturday.....

Trisha and I

I was having a rummage around in one of the swap containers and when I looked up, and there was Trisha. Trisha is Rhonda's ( down-to-earth) sister. I knew that Trisha went to MO with her group, but I never to expected to see her while I was there.  It was great to catch up with her.....

  It was a bright sunny day to have so many beautiful quilt on display outside.....

I love the way they blend their colours and fabrics together........

Love this quilt

This lady very kindly let me take a photo of her and her quilt

I spent an hour at MO saw so much, and of course I bought some fabric.

Jens and I then caught the bus back to the city and we went to the Apple shop, and then we walked down to catch the ferry to Manly for lunch........

Lunch at Manly Beach

Dinner at the Rocks and a stroll around to the Opera House

On Sunday it was very overcast and started raining while we were walking around the markets.....after a light lunch we decided to catch the train to the airport.

We both had a great weekend...... Thanks Jens xxx