Returning to Quilt Norfolk

I'm heading back to Norfolk Island again this October for Quilt Norfolk.
I just love Norfolk Island, and I'm sure you will too. Why not join me for my new workshops
"Sewing in the Secret Garden" and "Stitches Galore". These are mostly hand sewn projects, very relaxing...just like the Island itself.

Norfolk has plenty of history, beautiful scenery, friendly locals and great restaurants and cafe's. Time seems to pass more slowly there.

My friend Lorraine joined me last year and seemed to enjoy the shopping (see photo). Hubby also loves Norfolk Island, particularly the restaurants.

Stitches Galore
Make up at least two unique hand stitched fabric panels. These beautiful textural pieces will be embellished with hand sewn stitches, using a variety of threads, beads and unusual fabrics and embellishments. At a later date, make the panels into small quilts, covers for journals/diaries, cushions, bags, or a multitude of other items.
There will be several different styles / design ideas to choose from, and the pattern booklet will give plenty of ideas for using your works of art, including stretching them over an artist’s canvas for a quick and easy wall hanging.

Sewing in the Secret Garden. Make many delightful sewing accessories and iPad/Phone/Kindle/Samsung Tablet covers, all based around the easy Secret Garden Block. Whether you choose the sewing accessories or the device covers, either way you’ll probably also like to make the diary/ note book cover. All of the patterns can be adapted to any size.
There are so many choices, you’ll need to pick out the ones you really like and make the others later.
The pattern booklet will include full written instructions and diagrams for all of the accessories. See photo below.

In the Misty Mountain

I'll be teaching again this year at the Misty Mountain Getaway, to be held in Dorrigo NSW from Saturday 20th - Sat 25th September.

Why not join me and other great teachers for a relaxing and creative weekend, or full week in the Misty Mountains....just beautiful.

One of the workshops I'll be teaching this time is my "In the Round" series of quilts. It's a very versatile pattern with many options. I've posted photos of "Around Australia" and "Around New Zealand". Other options are "Around the Pacific Islands" and in a couple of months (before the workshop) there will also be "Around Asia" and "Around Africa" to add to the choices.

Of course it's always possible to create your own unique theme.

For more information and bookings, contact www.mistymountaingetaway.com I'll put a link to this website at the bottom of my blog page.

1.618 Textiles Across the Tasman

A few months ago, while teaching at S.A. Quilt Encounter, a group of teachers hatched a plan to form a friendship / challenge group. We call ourselves "Textiles Across the Tasman" and the group includes

Katrina Hadjemichael, Rachelle Dennenny, Pam Furniss, Kay Haerland and Amanda Daly as the Australian members and Jacqui Karl and Juliet Fitness as the New Zealand members.

I persuaded the group to include 1.618 to the name and to set down the size and shape of the quilts to conform to the golden ratio (1.618 ratio of length to width). Those of you who know me well, might already be running for cover when I get started on this topic. I've been passionate about using this ratio as a design tool along with the related Fibonacci Number Sequence for years.

We had a bit of a shaky start but finally we have all finished our first challenge. The theme was "Pattern" and after initially playing around with other ideas and getting nowhere fast, I finally decided to keep it simple and depict a paper dressmaking pattern. In what seems like a past life, it is so many years ago, I used to make my own clothes (with more enthusiasm than skill). So I created pattern number 1618. This is quite a different style for me, no raw edge applique and no fabric folding.

The other ladies are now (or shortly will be) uploading photos of their quilts onto our newly created blog;

www.textilesacrossthetasman.wordpress.com - take a look and visit every 3 months for more finished challenges.