Saturday, 15 September 2007

New class sample

I have finally finished my Blessed Beauty Wallhanging I have been working on in between frantically stitching 104 designs for the Nice People Nice Things project. This wallhanging will be used to teach step by step the Colourque method and it will be so step by step I am confident everyone's quilt will look just as beautiful as the original... This class is already filling at Esmes Launceston for the 28th September and at Michelles Sewing Basket on Thursday 15th November (yes I am now coming a day earlier to Quilt Market so that I can squeeze a couple of classes in here with some lovely ladies at Ringwood).


My girls have been busy packing for Guide Camp at Maria Island today. They head off for 5 days in the morning and are very excited. They look so loaded up with full backpacks, day pack and bedding roll, I just wonder how they are going to trek with all of this?? They will be doing activities like snorkelling, fishing, bush walking etc. Quambatook, as it is called is a state camp held every two years somewhere in Tasmania.

It will be just Tilly and I for a few wonderful quiet days together here this week. Lets hope the weather stays fine although we have 6 degree nights forecast.. And I hope to get lots of lovely stitching done - baked beans on toast will keep me quite happy for the week...

hugs for today,

Helen

Tuesday, 11 September 2007

Wedding cupcakes

We were lucky enough to go to a lovely wedding on Sunday in a most serene setting amongst the peaceful bush of Sandford South of Hobart. The wedding cake was made by a friends mother and was made in a style which I love - cupcakes for all... and they were yummy too!

So pretty in pink
Have a look at the blog listed under my 'blogs I read' called 52 cupcakes. she always has the most amazing pictures of cupcakes to make your mouth water..... who doesnt like cupcakes?? dont think anyone will put their hand up to that.
hugs
Helen

Mctavishing

I am very lucky to have a clever sister who is a Longarm quilter and very good at McTavishing. So, many of my wonderful quilts including all of the projects for my Colourque book have been "McTavished' by her. When making up a new design for a class project for Colourque I thought it was high time I had a go. Now I know I should have doodled on paper for a few weeks first, but not me, no boots and all, straight to the project...... I dont think it turned out too badly for a first effort. I am sure I can improve and develop my own style over time....

Oh if you dont know what McTavishing is - it is simply a free machine background quilting filler design developed by Karen McTavish - hence its name. My Daisy Dance quilt which was heavily McTavished (By Tracey) features in her book 'Mastering The Art of McTavishing' which was very exciting.


I then used the Golden Threads magic quilting paper and ironed an original design onto it to stitch onto the borders and then did a little more free machine quilting in the borders..... All on my Bernina baby which I have finally reaquainted myself with.....


mmmm...it was actually quite fun, think I'll play with this some more...


bye for now, hugs

Helen

When Friends Gather

Have just gotten off the telephone from Tracy of Tinkers Cart. Our trip to Townsville next year sounds so exciting, she is really getting some special things happening for all the lucky ladies going to the When Friends Gather day in March 2008. Just writing this quick message to let you know she has gotten up the courage to start a blog. Have a peek here... (for overseas readers Townsville is in the far north of Queensland and is very tropical and relaxing. I spent three wonderful years there with my family on an army posting and am very excited to be going back to visit)

I promise I'll write more soon, have my parents visiting from interstate so they are busy packing patterns and refilling all my half empty pigeon holes bless them... am suffering from the Tassie flu - yes finally succumbed, have poor Tilly on antibiotics with double ear infections, Molly with sore throat and no voice and Tess just being Tess. It is school holidays so they are taking a well needed rest before Guide camp at Maria Island next week...
hugs,
Helen

Tuesday, 4 September 2007

pencil sale

For those of you who love doing my Colourque pencil colouring - if you are in Australia, I notice that this weeks Target catalogue has 20% off all Derwent range. Stock up ladies.....

on another note, I received a lovely thankyou card from Rosie, the last recipient of a Snugglybug Rug. It read:
To the Caring Quilting mothers who made my Snuggly Bug Rug,
I highly appreciated it, its beautiful and made of my favourite colours and designs.
It will keep me warm when I'm cold.
thankyou very much
from 'Rosie' (not her real name)

So its lovely to know that even in a traumatic time for her she took the time to write this card of thanks - I hope it helps her through her hospital visits and treatment sessions, keeping her warm and comforted....

hugs to all who helped once more

hugs
Helen

have you seen this?

This blog link which was originally an ebay auction listing is going around at present. It is a really good read and has made this woman famous.... and begun a whole new life for her. You wont be able to stop reading as so much of it we can associate with in some way, she certainly has a way with words.... There has been some angst on some of my lists, some for her, some against.... I can really appreciate her life and I only have three little darlings but I really admire women who can be just mothers and devote their whole lives to their children.... to explain that, I would do anything for my children first and foremost but I still need to achieve something for myself each day also, does that make me selfish? I think it makes me a better mum....in my case anyway.

http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/
So have a good laugh and a good read, make sure to scroll down to the ebay auction which started it all...
hugs
Helen

Saturday, 1 September 2007

Townsville 2008

wow, yet another post from me tonight. Ro is out listening to bands, girls in bed, will get a few in whilst I have time. Janet of Wildcraft farm posted about the special invitation to

WHEN FRIENDS GATHER ..... A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
Tinkers Cart Quilting Shop invites you to come and join us for a one day Retreat on Saturday March 1st, 2008 at Pimlico Performing Arts Centre


Myself, Janet and Rosalie Quinlan are the guest tutors and this is exciting for me as I spent 3 years in Townsville and would love to go back and catch up with old friends and see how the town has changed. And I will get to meet Janet and Rosalie, friends in passion of stitching if not yet in life and spend a couple of wonderful days with likeminded women. And to make my trip even more exciting it looks like I'll also be stopping off to teach for a couple of days at Eumundi at the beautiful Kindred Spirits B&B - have a look at the website, it looks like Heaven and Sue and Jim have been working on this dream as long as I have known them. Then although not yet confirmed a couple of days teaching in Brisbane before returning home. I will be teaching Colourque(R) projects and beautiful gathering projects (had better get my pencil going again).

And I have also been confirmed to teach at the HMQS show in Salt Lake City in May of 2008 so shaping up to be a busy year already... I will be teaching Blessed Baltimore and Mini Lace classes in Utah. Hopefully I'll be able to source a couple of more stores or places to teach between there and Market which is in Portland Oregon next year.

bye again, I really do need to fold a few hundred Huggettes which were supposed to be done tonight for an order to ship on Monday.

Helen

therapy of stitching

I met a lovely lady yesterday who came to my home studio. She hasnt had a wonderful life and has struggled through much of it battling things many of us have just not had to deal with. However, she has found stitching and has finally found happiness and passion in it. It has given her confidence that she can achieve and she is a whole person of goodness and strength. This reinforced my belief that stitching and the stitching community is therapeautic and all my work is worth it if it helps just one person to live a happier life...

on that note, my Stitching in the valley has been postponed to the 28th October. This is a day of stitching, sharing, caring and working together as women to make a difference to our lives and others.

stitch on girls..... and pass your passion to many

hugs
Helen

Spring tease

Thursday wasnt quite Spring here but we were teased with a beautiful day, didnt last long as today (the official first day of spring) brought rain and our normal 9 degrees..
However Thursday also was the day I got both a new phone and a new camera. Havent had time to read any instructions yet but being the first day of spring today I just had to play and find some small evidence that Spring is going to come. My garden still has mostly its winter coat on but there are some tiny peeks of a new year appearing..... Lynette, I'd still suggest a coat!

sorry there are so many but I was so excited it takes lovely macro photos and it was free! And so far my vegie patch has survived the frosts.
Happy first day of Spring everybody - my favourite season, full of new life and new beginnings.
hugs
Helen










tags x 3

Okay so I have my 3rd tag now and they are all different challenges so I'll start with the last one first!



This one came from Tracey at Plumcute and Tracey this is a rookie tag for me also so see how we go.



Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.



okay so my middle name is short and sweet - Lee



L - learner - I am constantly thriving on learning new things. I was not too bad at school and got a few awards for learning here and there. I was a person who liked facts and definite answers to things so Maths was good, English was my poorest subject... And of course I loved art but had to drop that for music, my first passion and profession for 13 years of my working life. I believe that there is always something new to learn, no-one will ever know everything about a single subject or the world and life in general. If we think we do our life will stop evolving.



E- enthusiasm - I dont think I have been a person to give up easily. I wouldnt say I was a perfectionist, actually far from it. I am easily swayed by people telling me about myself and struggle to remind myself that I am doing okay in life. A lot of things dont and havent come easily to me, I have had to persist on trying but it is worth it in the end. When it comes to ideas in stitching, seeing the positive in people, seeing the effect my creations can have on others and seeing the stars in my girls eyes, I am enthusiastic about my life so far, my family and my passion.



and another E - mmmmm... energy...... physical activity is my downfall. I have never excelled at sport and would rather do almost anything than go to the gym - well it is my last priority in my time poor schedule. I do love a nice walk in the bush (and we have the best bushwalks down here in Tassie) and have had to challenge myself physically many times in life (particularly in the Army).... however, that doesnt mean I dont have energy.... for life... Just hope I can keep on keeping on for many years to come.. My next challenge to myself is the Overland Track...





So thats tag one.



Tag two rules - this one I was tagged by Sarah

RULES - Post rules before giving the facts - Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves - People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules - At the end of the your blog you need to tag eight people and list their names - Leave them a comment on their blog, telling them they have been tagged and not to forget to read your blog.

1. my first career was as a soldier
2. I first fainted whilst watching my dad's toe being cut off by the DR (he was very accident prone)
3. My favourite chocolates are Cadbury Boost bars and Black Forest Chocolate
4. I have been a Coles checkout chic and a Bilo night shelf stacker
5. I built my first house at 18 - well I paid for it to be built, I just build the deck and shed.
6. my favourite flower is the Rose
7. I am married to a rock drummer
8. if I didnt use hair colour monthly I would be completely grey.

and No 3 from Lynette
Okay now this one I have to tell you another seven random things about myself and then tag 7 other people who have to do the same!

so here goes
1. I have an addiction - anything sweet
2. I have another addiction - anything involving stitching
3. I have three girly girls and I love them all
4. I grew up on a farm surrounded by swamps near a small town of 1500 people.
5. I got my licence the day I turned 16 and my first car and pride and joy was an EJ Holden.
6. My greatest phobia is snakes - and I grew up surrounded by tiger snakes, one of the worlds most dangerous..
7. I wish I had studied Art formally and hope to do it still one day. Never too late to learn.

Now to tag lets see, 5 + 8 + 7 people, I dont know that many with blogs so am just going to do a few and they can choose which tag to do....

here goes, Tracey, Karen, Lisa, Leonie, Donna and I'll have to think of a few more later...
hugs
Helen