Retreat at Kurri Kurri

Put aside Fri 29th - Sunday 31st July 2016 to join Katrina Hadjimichael and I for a relaxing weekend at Hotel Academy, Kurri Kurri.

We have joined forces and designed a great weekend of quilting, friendship and fun.

The venue is superb. Everything from the great lighting in the large conference centre to the lovely food, open outdoor spaces with Kangaroos and grape vines, comfortable lounge areas for relaxing in the evenings, table and chair areas for sewing, and choice of accomodation types combine to make this a great weekend.
A choice of accommodation types gives you the opportunity to choose the level to suit you needs. All accommodation is comfortable and even the basic rooms afford the luxury of having several small bathrooms available for privacy. Ask for more information.

I have 3 projects for you to choose from. Contact me - patchwork@tpg.com.au 0408 966196 if you need more information or would like the retreat package to be sent to you.

OUT OF THE BOX is a partially foundation pieced bed sized quilt

ON THE REEF and OVER THE HILLS
There are two small (21in x 34in) wall hangings.
Both are raw edge applique featuring my technique that produces a really neat finish (not at all raw). The Butterfly can be made separately and attached to give a 3D effect. Both have optional embellishment, including heat treated Tyvek, embroidery stitches / textured wool etc.

Katrina has a fabulous traditional quilt for you to make. Contact Katrina directly if you are interested in her project kat.had@bigpond.com.au 0448 602332

Join me for a retreat

I'll be teaching workshops at 3 great retreats over the next few months.
These are fun and you'll learn new techniques.
You'll get to know me a little better and make some new friends too.

Rocky Retreat is held in Rockhampton from 5th - 9th July
More information from rockyretreat@gmail.com

South Australia Quilt Encounter is held in Adelaide from 11th - 17th July and run by S.A. Quilt Guild
See their web site for full details www.saquilters.org.au/quilt-encounter

Misty Mountain Getaway is held in Dorrigo NSW from 19th - 24th September
Their web site has full details www.mistymountaingetaway.com

I'll be teaching some of my newest raw edge applique projects. The photos are of just a couple of them. E.mail me for more information patchwork@tpg.com.au
My raw edge applique looks really smooth and neat and is very easy to achieve.
Why not book in for a workshop.....I know you'll enjoy it

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.

Better late than never

I've just started my Christmas break.
Imagine this...4 weeks of doing exactly what I want to do, when I want to do it...bliss.
Now I have time to catch up on all of the little things I don't often seem to get around to doing through the year, such as posting about Norfolk Island getaway.
It was wonderful, such a cohesive mix of quilting, friendships old and new, scenery, history, food, and good times.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped to make this 10 days to remember, from Rowena and her hardworking crew to the quilters, my lovely friend Lorraine(the happy shopper),and of course my hard working, long suffering, very willing bag carrying other half John.





Norfolk is quite small, about 4km x 8km and time is handled differently over there, there is no rush for anything.
There is only one roundabout and only 3 street lights (all placed around the roundabout.
A 50km speed limit all over the island and the fact that cows have right of way makes for leisurely trips wherever you choose to wander.

4 places left for Berry retreat

It's not too late to join me for the Berry retreat fri 5th - sun 8th Sept.
there are just 4 places left.

See photos of the projects I'll be teaching on this blog - Chrysalis and Fallen Petals are on the post dated 20th July and back a bit further on the post for 17th nov 2012 you'll find a photo of Blue Gum Creek.

All of these small wall hangings are easier than they look. My technique for raw edge appliqué is easy to master and gives a great result.

Give me a call for more details 9654 9463 or e.mail me patchwork@tpg.com.au
Or contact Berry Patchwork and talk to Elizabeth about booking in for this great weekend

Kununurra, crocodiles and rum cake

I taught on a quilting cruise earlier this year and met Su from Kununurra.
Su invited me to go to Kununurra to teach a workshop to her group and I took the opportunity to go there during the cool season a few weeks ago.
What a great town, such a good sense of community there and what a lovely group of quilters, they looked after me so well. Kununurra is very close to the Kimberley and right on the Ord River. I took an extra day to do the tourist thing and took a trip along the Ord River, my first encounter with crocodiles in the wild. It was just beautiful...so much wild life and stunning scenery - must go back there for a longer visit.
The rum cake was delicious, sorry no recipe - it's a secret family recipe.

Sorry no photos of the quilting group, having problems loading it. Will try again tomorrow.

Berry Retreat

Berry in the spring!
What could be better.
Join me and other great tutors for a weekend of creativity 7th and 8th September.

Choose one of my small projects and learn a bit about my design process. I use the proportions of the Golden Ratio and it works for me, I'll explain how.
The two quilt in the photos are in addition to Blue Gum Creek (photograph on the retreat flyer), all three projects are raw edge applique and I specialise in making raw edge look really neat and finished.
Will I see you there?
Contact Elizabeth at Berry Patchwork for more details - www.berrypatchwork.com.au

Australasian Quilt Convention

I was so tired at midnight last Sunday, after travelling home from teaching workshop at AQC, I couldn't muster the strength to carry my many suitcases into the house. It took another 2 days to get them unpacked. Perhaps I'm not as young as I used to be, or maybe I just had a great time and burnt the candle at both ends....yes! I think that's it...I'm sure of it.



The photos show the magnificent efforts of my workshop students. The miniatures class laboured for many hours to make a handful of 2in squares for "Licorice Allsorts" a 12in square miniature quilt, including the tiny 3/4in Cathedral Windows. The "Blue Gum Creek" workshop saw the 18 ladies cutting out tiny flannel flower petals for the reverse applique, much patience was needed for both workshops, thankfully all of the ladies were very eager and a delight to have in the classes.
Thank you ladies I know these workshops were a bit of a challenge at times, and thank you also to our ever cheerful, helpful and talented quilt angels - Margaret, Esther, Val and Suzanne, and PFAFF technicans Christine and Patrick.

Have you ever been to AQC? In previous years I have only visited for the day (yes, up at 3.30am, on a plane for Melbourne by 6am, at the show all day then the return trip, arriving home late - tired but happy). I've always had a great time, but there is just so much more to AQC. This year I danced my feet off at the Gala Dinner, enjoyed the entainment at the dinner and the welcome cocktail party (even when the tutors had to walk the cat walk), the lunches complete with beautiful fresh flowers on the table were great, and then we hit the restaurants in Lygon Street, not to mention making new friends and renewing old friendship, while finding time to do some retail therapy and view some wonderful quilts in what I laughingly call my down time.

More tales from the voyager

Captain Ryan showed interest in what we were doing down in the conference room He visited a couple of times, and even casted his vote for the best quilt in the challenge.

We sailed into Auckland harbour at around 5.30am - not many cruisers up on deck for this, though I wouldn't miss it. Come hail rain, or shine, I'm always a keen onlooker when the ships sails in and out of new and interesting places.

While in Auckland we caught the ferry across to Devenport to visit Cushla's patchwork shop (a great shop. We passed the knitted poles on the way.

Even Kung Fu Panda was wearing patchwork shorts. He also visited us in the sewing room - had difficulty getting through the door, but with a bit of push and a squeeze he managed it.

The weather was mostly good (and calm) though day seemed to turn into night as we sailed out of Wellington.

Voyagers return

Cruising the Islands and New Zealand on The Voyager of the Seas was fantastic . . . with great company, food, cocktails, ports of call, shopping, entertainment, walks on the deck at sunset, time to read and chat and enjoy our 4pm happy hour sessions, new friendships...oh! and of course some quilting.
I had intended to make at least one storm at sea block . . . where did the time go?

Thanks ladies and partners, John and I had a wonderful time.

I can't relate all of our tales of adventure, or post the thousands of photos taken . . . here are just a few.

Most of the 36 ladies on board rallied for a photo on the stairs
View from the walking deck
Australia Day at Sea

There will be more to follow over the next couple of days - ladies ... as I said on board, please feel free to download any of the photos I post for this trip.

When we left a couple of weeks ago the country was facing terrible bushfires (we still are in some areas), now we return to devastating floods.
I know that some of you live in or near the flood affected areas...my thoughs are with you, I do so hope you are all O.K.

Cheese Cake

My neice was married recently. It was a beautiful wedding for a wonderful couple.
You don't know the couple so the photos are not of them.
The pick of the photos I took on the day are below.
The wedding cake was a Cheese Cake (with the emphasis on "Cheese", rather than "Cake") - very impressive.
At a pinch my husband and brother in law could probably have filled in for the flower girls.
The night time view from the reception at (Ripples).
Congratulations Cathy and Johnny...My wish for you is a life time of health and happiness.

It's big, I mean really big!

Hubby and I travelling into the city today for a great Christmas party lunch at Walsh Bay. I always enjoy the River Cat journey and today was made even more enjoyable when we spotted "The Voyager of the Seas" sitting at circular quay (dwarfing the overseas passenger terminal, the Opera House and all the city buidings surrounding it).

This ship is seriously large (the largest in the southern hemisphere, I'm told). We felt a rush of excitement as we watched passengers getting ready to board this magnificent ship.

Our turn will come soon, when Dorothy Clee and I set sail for Noumea, Fiji and New Zealand taking with us 34 quilters on our wonderful quilting cruise adventure.

Not long to go now. It's almost time to start counting sleeps, yet there is still so much to do, quilt project samples to finish, kits to prepare, more anticipation and excitement to build up. . .

What makes me happy?

It's probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I just love my washing line!
I think I must have the best ever washing line with flannel flowers everwhere.


We live on a very bushy / rustic 5 acre block in Sydney's north west, nothing grows in the garden unless it wants to be there and we certainly don't plant much or fuss over the trees and plants or water them, though I must admit I do talk to them a bit.

We have plenty of Aussie animals and birds visiting and this all adds up to a feeling of tranquility.

Yes, this is one of the things that makes me happy. Rather than finding the time to smell the roses today, I found the time to be delighted by this scene when I aired a couple of my quilts this afternoon.

AQC

Blue Gum Creek is one of my favourite quilts.
Designed to depict a local area where flannel flowers abound and peace and tranquility rein.
I draw a lot of the inspiration for my quilts from the Australian landscape and this is a prime example.
I'll be teaching this quilt as one of my projects at the Australasian Quilt Convention next April.
The other workshop I'll be teaching is "Making miniatures" My 12inch square quilt "Licorice Allsorts" is the quilt I have chosen for this workshop.
Have you ever visited AQC? I love it, Melbourne of course is a great place for a visit and the Royal Exhibition Building is a magnificent venue for this wonderful event.
I'm looking forward to April...will I see you there? (Don't forget to book in for your choice of workshops before the end of November while the lower prices last).

Quilt Norfolk

Just wanted to share a few photos from the Quilt Norfolk Getaway last week. Hubby (John, the one with the long grey beard) and I have just returned from a really enjoyable 10 days on Norfolk Island with a really lovely group of people. I taught two workshops over 4 days and along with the other tutors, Michelle Yeo, Meredith Budd and Meg Orr and the wonderful Quilt Norfolk organisers led by Rowena we had the luxury of having many other days to explore. Quilters from all over Australia and from New Zealand (some with their husbands) all shared a little bit of what the locals call "Norfolk time". Norfolk Island is very small, only about 1300 residents on an island about 8km x 5km. It has a rich history and is very beautiful. Animals have right of way on the island so with cows and chooks and geese roaming around it's a blessing the speed limit is set so low. It's such a great place for a peaceful and relaxing break. I sometimes think I could live there, but then I return home and remember all the wonderful things I love about where I live in my little peace of bushland heaven.

Last but not least

This is the last of the 3 quilts for the cruise. I designed them specificially for the cruise to mark the occasion. Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and Noumea are all captured within these three quilts. (The New Zealand and Pacific Island version of "In the Round" are shown in earlier posts). The cruise is getting exciting close...and still so much to prepare. I love the far flung places I get to visit when I'm teaching. I'm off to Norfolk Island at the end of this week to teach at the Quilt Norfolk Getaway. 10 days of heaven. This is another place I could certainly be happy to retire to.

In the Misty Mountains

The Misty Mountain Getaway was really enjoyable. I taught three workshops over five days and visited Bellingen on my day off. I think I now know where I want to retire to. Thanks ladies for a wonderful week THe photo is the view from the balcony at the Dangar Falls Lodge (home to the tutors for our stay In Dorrigo. Wonderful