WOW!!! What a weekend!!!

From the minute we arrived till we left on Sunday afternoon, it was non stop fun! fun! fun!!!!

The ladies who run the Ballarat Quilting weekend do an amazing job, keeping us entertained, fed and watered. Friday evening, we shared a buffet dinner, followed by tutors show and tell, then show and tell from past years.
First thing Saturday morning, once breaky was over, we headed to our class room. The quilt below was what we would be working on for the weekend. Its called Drayton Hall. Designed by Di Ford, inspired by a quilt belonging  to Janet O'Dell.

Straight into fussy cutting hexagons took most of the morning, lunch in the communal dining hall, then more stitching in the afternoon, piecing those hexagons together or prepping our broderie perse centres. Here is a photo of our group. Only 8 of us, we had plenty of one on one attention from Di.

Janet, who owns the quilt that inspired Di's, was also at the retreat, and she came for a visit.

We spread the quilt out on the floor in one of the rooms, and were able to get up close and personal.

Here is a close up of some of the fabrics.

One of the ladies in our class, Ros, brought along a baltimore quilt she has been working on.

And these are some of her fussy cut hexagon patches she has made for a different quilt.

Saturday evening was the gala dinner in the ballroom, with a nautical theme. Many dressed up. We had several mermaids, some coral, a few sailors and many in striped shirts.  Raffle tickets were drawn during the course of the evening, and l was fortunate to win a metre cut of a mustard Jo Morton fabric.

Then we moved over the the Adelphi Theatre, where a special guest was waiting to entertain us. Monica Dullard, comedian, has us rolling in our seats with laughter for  an hour and a half. l haven't laughed so much in a long time. Though not a quilter, "Muriel" as she called herself,  had done her homework and really gave us all a ribbing.

Here she is dressed in her polyester floral dress, showing us her favorite Big Bonds cottontails.

Sunday saw us bright and early back in the class room, this time working on our broderie perse, or cutting our fabrics for the diamonds. After seeing the original quilt, l had decided to "stay true to the original", and am doing mine as squares.

Here we are at the end of the weekend, with show and tell. All the different classes met in one of the rooms and we took turns showing what we had made over the weekend. There was some great show and tell.

There was around 100 women who shared in the weekend. l went knowing only a few, but came home knowing many. New friendships were forged, old ones renewed and strengthened, and wonderful contact made with like minded women. What more could you ask for from such a weekend!!!

l will be back later in the week to share some of the other show and tell we saw.

Thanks for visiting,

Linda.

Ballarat Quilting Weekend.

Some time back l booked in with my friend Bev, to attend the Ballarat Quilting Weekend. In the past, this has been such a popular quilting retreat, they used a ballot system to choose attendee's. Bev and l found out that one particular class had not filled, and we could just ring and book in as they were keen to fill the class. It was our good luck that the class was being taught by Di Ford, who just happens to be the exhibitor we have for Quilts In The Barn this year. We managed to have a sneak peak at the quilt recently and snap a few quick shots, which you can see below. There is a hexagon centre, surrounded by broderie perse, a scalloped border, and then trillions of diamonds, followed by a lovely squares on point border.

When it came time to choose my fabrics. l started with these 2 packets of Civil war tribute fabrics l bought in Houston last year. Just love them. Then when looking back at the quilt photos, decided that there was not enough color variety, so l went digging in my sewing room last night.

l decided that l needed to choose what colors l wanted to use, as piles of fabric grew around me. Then inspiration struck in the guise of a basket of purple fabrics l had been collecting for a special quilt. So based on the above colors and with the help of my purple basket, l decided on purple, red, brown and pinks. Not your pretty purples, reds, browns and pinks, but the muddier dirty ones. As you can see below, the piles grew beyond expectation,  and now instead of a small pile of fabrics, l have a bag full. They say variety is the spice of life!!!!! Probably not all fabrics will make it into the quilt, but l can see several scrappy quilts coming out of the bag in the future.

Playing with fabric is so much fun. The part l don't like is cleaning it back up after the event, and trying to fit it back on the shelves whence it came from. Needless to say, that job is being left for another day.l need to get my priority's right. l have a retreat to pack for and the girls will be here in less than an hour. Di is picking us up, so a chance to pick her brains on the way, or just share lovely quilty chatter.

Thanks for visiting.
Linda.

P.S. Kathie, you will be pleased to know the photos enlarge again. Don't know what l did!!!!

Paper Piecing hexagons

I've been paper piecing these hexagons for some time now. Its a great take along project. l managed to do around 100 this past weekend when we took a big drive in the country.

Looking at this collection of hexagons, l decided its time to start putting them together. And that's where l am undecided. Do l make the traditional flowers, or just put them together randomly?One thing l do know for sure, l am only going to use Jo Morton fabrics. l have quite a collection, that gets added to every time Jo puts out a new range, and l would like this to be tribute to a great fabric and quilt designer who l am lucky enough to call a friend.

So what's your opinion? Flowers, or random? l would really love to hear!!!

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

New Home for The Quilted Crows.

Remember this post back here?

Remember these photos?

Well, l am pleased to let you know that The Quilted Crow had their grand opening in the church on the Saturday. l was unable to make the grand opening, but if you pop over to the Quilted Crow blog, you can see some wonderful photos of how they have managed to turn an empty space into an amazing shop that just makes you want to get on a plane and fly straight there, or even move to tassie, so you can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere they have created.

Congratulations, Leonie and Dierdre, on being able to turn your dream into reality. l am so excited for them, and can't wait to go visit again.

Pop over and have a look, and if you leave them a message, tell them l sent you.

Thanks for visiting.

Linda.

P.S. More photos can be seen here.

Blocks in the Mail

l have been sewing. Nothing just for me, but some blocks that will be swapped with others from an online group l belong to. l have them bagged ready to post. In return l will get 30 basket blocks made by about 20 women, all taking part in the swap. Its very exciting getting the parcel back in the mail, not knowing what l will find when l open it.

l have also been prepping these 1/2 square triangles, for a border on a quilt that NEEDS to be at the quilter on Monday. Its heading off to Sydney, asap, as a magazine project, so can't show you any more than this at the moment.

l make my 1/2 square triangles slightly over sized, then trim them for a true measurement. It just makes sewing them together better, in my opinion.

l also name all my rulers and scissors, as you can see in the photo. Makes packing up at a class so much easier.

Thanks for visiting,

Linda.

The Last Of The Fun At The Fair!!!!

This quilt is called Homage To Sallie Ann. Made by Gillian Thomson, it won a red ribbon in the Mostly Applique 2 person Category. The quilt is designed by Di Ford, her inspiration came from a quilt made by Sarah Ann Nelson Edwards in the 19th Century.






This Quilt is called Red And Green. Designed and made by Marlene Bieniak, it was based on the Whig Rose Block. It won a blue ribbon, and was entered in the Mainly Applique Amateur Category.


This Quilt, called Finding The Way, was made by Carolyn Konig. Inspired by the Francis Scott Key Family Quilt, seen at Houston.It has almost 3,000 triangles. Entered in the Traditional Professional Category, it won first place, and also won the award for Retaining The Tradition.

This Quilt called Flowers For Dorothy, was made and designed by Anthea Bradley. Entered in the Mainly Applique 2 person category, it won 1st prize, and also came runner up in Best Of Show.

This quilt, made and designed by Linda Steele, won among other awards, The Best In Show.

It was entered in the Open - Mixed Technique Category. Many agreed with the choice of winner, others most defiantly didn't

This quilt is called Circles From The Past, designed and made by Sandra Thomas. It was in the Traditional Professional Category.

This Quilt is called 25's Enough. Made and designed by Helen Hayes, it was entered in the Traditional Professional Category. The Sunburst block is taken from the SS Larken Quilt pattern, purchased from The Shelbourne Museum.

Well, that all folks!! l hope you have enjoyed the photo l had to share. l could go on for ever, but!!!! Of course there were many many other quilts on display that l didn't take photos of. Some just didn't appeal, or held no interest. That doesn't take away from the fact that they were lovely quilts.

l need to get busy with my camera again, and take some photos of what l have been working on lately. A few swap blocks and a quilt for a magazine later in the year.

l am also in the midst of a mini shop hop, as l tour the country, dropping off flyer's and raffle tickets for our up coming Quilts In The Barn exhibition. Its a busy few weeks, not much time for sewing, but loads of inspiration as l visit all the local quilt shops. Someone has to do it!!!

Thanks for Visiting,

Linda.

More quilts from the Fair!!!

This quilt is called Repro meets Retro, made and designed by Kaye Hoffman. It won a blue ribbon in the Traditional 2 person, both professional category. This is one of my favourites

This quilt is called Insanity On The Goldfields, made by Rhonda Coates. Its a reproduction of the C1860 Salinda Rupp quilt. Pattern by Liz Lois.It was in the Traditional Professional category.

This quilt is called Aunt Millies Garden, made by the Riviera Quilters Inc, and won the blue ribbon in the Open- Group Quilt category. Its a pattern by Piece of Cake Designs.

This is Civil War Bride Quilt made by Ronnie Heagney and was in the mainly Applique Amateur category. The pattern is designed by Corliss Searcey from Threadbear, based on an antique quilt.

This quilt is called Miss Ollies Folly, made and designed by Susie Hipke, it was in the Traditional 2 person Amateur and Professional category. The centre block is a Kim Diehls design, from her Simple Traditions book.

This quilt is called The Perfect Star, made by Maria Campbell, with inspiration from Chris Serong, it was in the Traditional 2 person Amateur and Professional category.

This quilt is called Etales Sur Paris, made and designed by Debbie Edmonds, it won a blue ribbon in the Tradition 2 person, amateur and Professional category.

That's all for today, l have one more set of quilts from the show, and l will be back in the next few days to share them. l hope you are enjoying the photos.

Tell me which one has been your favourite so far and why!! Its always interesting to hear what appeals to others.

Thanks for visiting,

Linda.