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. . .