Sydney Modern Quilt Guild

Being a stay-at-home Mum and a very new quilter, one thing I have been longing for is a craft group where I could meet like-minded people, learn lots of cool stuff and be inspired.  Having followed blogs for about a year now, one thing I noticed was that in the US there are Modern Quilt Guilds and the stuff they do looks fun!!  About 6 months ago I started searching the internet for a Sydney or NSW equivalent but nothing was around.  The only quilting groups or guilds are for traditional quilters and whilst I could learn a lot about techniques, I find a lot of it quite drab.  For me a quilt is more than just a bunch of blocks, more than anything it's the fabric.  If you've been following my blog for a while then you'd know that I am a bit of a fabric addict (I really need to show you some recent purchases but I am a little embarrassed by my hoarding).

Anyway, you know how it is on the internet, somehow I ended up finding a blog by a couple of ladies who are starting up the Sydney Modern Quilt Guild.  I was super-excited, got in contact with Claire & Suzanne and attended the first meeting a couple of weeks ago!   It was a bit of a hike up to Waitara but the guild is keen to find alternative venues in a more central location, so I'm hopeful that I won't have to travel a long way for every meeting and that it won't put off other people from attending.  Since we were at the pub most people ordered lunch and there was time to chat and meet lots of lovely ladies.  There was some general discussion about the future of the guild (which included sewing days, learning new blocks, swaps etc.) and then time for show and tell.  Not everyone brought something, me included since my only two quilts are with their owners.  Here are a couple of quilts I photographed on the day, I forgot to take down details of the owners.  D'oh!  Please let me know if you have any idea so that I can give them credit for their work:

 I believe this is another Thimble Blossoms pattern - Wild Thing!

Some Prints Charming used in this

It's still early days for the guild so expect the first few meetings to be more about finding it's feet.  If you're a "modern" quilter looking for an alternative to the traditional quilting guilds then you can find more information and fill in the Call for Interest form on the Sydney Modern Quilt Guild blog.  The next guild meeting is scheduled for Sunday, 27 November.


Tell me, do you have a craft group where you get inspired and get "craft-talk" off your chest?

Thimble Blossoms Patterns

Hello strangers.  Yes, it has been quite a long time since my last post.  The longer you leave it the harder it is to actually feel like you can write a blog post again.  After a few weeks of thinking about it I am finally taking the plunge!!  

I wanted to let you know that Thimble Blossoms are having a Halloween 30% off sale so it was about time I bought that Swoon pattern I have been swooning over for months and months.  I have also been eyeing off Jellybean because it's such a sweet girly pattern and looks easy to put together with a jelly roll.  Last of all and a completely impulsive purchase was the In a Jiffy pattern after I found this quilt on Flickr about an hour ago!

Ever since Camille posted her new patterns on her blog I fell in love with her Swoon quilt.  I loved the look of them in her pastel shades from the Ruby collection but then Swoon blocks started popping up over the blogosphere and I knew I really, really wanted to make this quilt. 

Image via Thimble Blossoms

This is my favourite Swoon block in one of my favourite collections - Good Folks (more about that in a another post):

Image via Fussycut - is there anything that lady does that's not fabulous?

For more Swoon inspiration check out my gallery on Flickr.

Here's Camille's Jellybean in Ruby:

Image via Thimble Blossoms

In a Jiffy -  this looks like rainbow caterpillars or worms to me.  What a gorgeous quilt for a new baby.

Image via Eulenstern

Here's another I had previously hearted a while back!

Do you have any patterns that you are swooning over right now but need an extra nudge to buy them?

Styletread - Online Shoes Shopping

It's been a while since my last post, there has been much illness in the house but it all seems to be passing.  Not too long before winter is behind us and all the lovely wintery bugs...  So not much crafting going on here, not much of much really.  The only good thing to come out of spending a few days glued to the sofa is that I got to read a couple of House & Garden magazines that arrive on my doorstep every month. 

Today I accidentally clicked on an ad for Styletread, I am not really keen on buying shoes online since I have really wide feet and buying shoes is a nightmare (nearly all shoes are made to a "B" width and I'm at least a "D" width).  Anyway, I still couldn't help myself browsing the boots, I found these dreamy pair which will never fit my calves in a million years:

Image via Styletread

And then there's this pair which look more like they might fit me.  Trouble is would I be a 9 or a 10 or would they just not fit at all?

Image via Styletread

Do you have trouble finding shoes that fit and are comfortable?  Have you ever bought shoes online with success?

Sydney Opera House - The Ship Song Project

I planned to do this post a few days ago when a friend from my choir group emailed me the link but I've been offline for a couple of days cleaning and getting ready for a house guest who arrived yesterday (163 items in my Reader!).

Anyway, earlier in the year our choir learnt The Ship Song by Nick Cave/Tony Backhouse.  It took a few months to get it right and we performed it at The Ferncourt Fair back in May.  When we nail it it brings goosebumps and I have even had people who hear us perform it say that it also gives them goosebumps.  I think it's one of the best songs we perform and certainly one of my favourites.  Makes all the work worthwhile! 

So here is what I wanted you to see, a fabulous version of a beautiful song created by the Sydney Opera House.  It is best viewed at The Ship Song Project but if you can't be bothered going there you can click on the clip below.  See how many famous faces you can spot!

Market Bag for Mum

It was my Mum's birthday last Sunday.  I'm really into giving things that are practical so I made her this market bag over a week ago and sent it to her (she' currently on an extended holiday in the Med).  Life is quite different there, she doesn't have a car so does her grocery shopping on a more daily basis.  I got the idea from Traci's versions of the Jane Market bag but worked out the basic pattern myself with the help of the free Poochie Bag pattern.  The finished bag is much larger at 14"x14.5".

Click for a larger image

I wish I had taken a photo of the back (no pocket) and the lining (the duck egg blue dot) but I was in a hurry to get to the post office.  The floral is a Lecien I have had in my stash for a couple of years, it's quite a heavy fabric I'm not sure if it's duckcloth.  I only used interfacing (Vilene H640 iron-on fleece) on the straps to give them some padding and I like the dimension it gives with the topstitching.  I also had a play around with no-cord piping in the construction of the pocket out of the same fabric I used on the straps.  It was a complete experiment since I've never worked with any kind of piping before.  The bottom of the pocket where I turned it right-side out is not perfect but a least it's hidden.

I think the bag has got a Cath Kidston & retro vibe but it is quite appropriate for an elderly lady.

There are a few more photos on my Flickr.