tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86214316375622541502024-03-08T09:54:17.341+11:00Snippets 'n' Scraps...from the fabric of my lifeDihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.comBlogger1102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-8339125599192974692019-11-03T19:11:00.000+11:002019-11-03T19:17:36.121+11:00Well, hello!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm sorry I've neglected you for a while, but life's been a little busy so I've been hanging out on Instagram (@darlingdi) where the posting is faster and easier. Lazy, I know. </div>
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Anyway, I thought a quick summary of the quilt-related things that have been happening in my life since I last posted here might put us back on track again, so here goes.....</div>
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I've been......</div>
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<i><b><span style="color: blue;">...Making </span></b></i>a modern hexie star quilt, coincidentally at the same time as Di B was also making an Australiana quilt from an Emma Jean Jansen pattern for an overseas friend. </div>
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I entered mine in the 2018 QuiltNSW Southern Stars Challenge as "He Counts the Stars", though it didn't win an award. </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">But when I entered it in this year's NSW Royal Agricultural Society Show, better known here in Sydney as the Royal Easter Show, I </span>renamed it "Starring Australia",<span style="text-align: start;"> and was thrilled when it was awarded 3rd Place in the Wall Quilt Innovative category.</span></div>
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It was also part of the QuiltNSW display at Government House on Australia Day.</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;">...Stitching</span></i></b> with St Mark's Quilters, making quilts together for the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning & Care Centre, the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospita, the Children's Ward at Orange Base Hospital and the Palliative Care Unit at the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick.</div>
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It's exactly 10 years since my friend Linda Hungerford (@flourishingpalms) taught her Stitchin' Mission, a 5 week beginner quiltmaking course, to 25 keen would-be at St Mark's, and from that grew our keen St Mark's Quilters group.</div>
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Though I haven't been blogging as such, I have been updating the Pages (see the tabs above left) to record each finished cot quilt, Blanket of Love and humidicrib cover and the makers. They are a very generous, fun and creative bunch!</div>
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I'm not as prolific as most of them, but these are a couple of my finishes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABPQDUfHBpSAJqQmNddEatvSyIl5ZTzAkjyVwNVd6fzYoKoj-UXudTkCDW78Cejzxn3O7fr3zrUydVAH7MyOXHUFSxOBcSsj5y5f0wsFwyjG6UK-LzRteo03rVncuVeoTpVPeV_M-CmKz/s1600/IMG_7490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABPQDUfHBpSAJqQmNddEatvSyIl5ZTzAkjyVwNVd6fzYoKoj-UXudTkCDW78Cejzxn3O7fr3zrUydVAH7MyOXHUFSxOBcSsj5y5f0wsFwyjG6UK-LzRteo03rVncuVeoTpVPeV_M-CmKz/s400/IMG_7490.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;">...Entering</span></i></b> the 2018 and 2019 Quilt NSW Suitcase Challenges.</div>
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The theme for the 2018 challenge was "Running Away with the Amish" and my entry, "Amish Amplified", was voted Viewers' Choice. It seems I had learnt a thing or two about colour and value at those monthly Colour and Design classes I attended all last year with Bob James at My Sewing Supplies!</div>
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As the name implies, the entries are designed to fit into a suitcase, lying flat, and form a travelling exhibition by QuiltNSW across Australia over the following 18 months or so. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx12O-mr-MDHr7c-OnKLx8NcxkLU_Z1ogmmrOYysZLzojjPW_2LD2v2hpDmx7Zb3f3fSSoI3VJtB7mpGs1NeOjRPXotmRrPSKIzICNEQFHdaM05Wq4WHBZJemaXWxPZGHaVOktA32YnKlP/s1600/Snapseed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx12O-mr-MDHr7c-OnKLx8NcxkLU_Z1ogmmrOYysZLzojjPW_2LD2v2hpDmx7Zb3f3fSSoI3VJtB7mpGs1NeOjRPXotmRrPSKIzICNEQFHdaM05Wq4WHBZJemaXWxPZGHaVOktA32YnKlP/s400/Snapseed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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As a modern quilter, I wasn't quite as comfortable tackling this year's Suitcase Challenge theme, "From these Curtains". Entrants were given a piece of no longer used curtain fabric from NSW Government House and asked to create a 40cm square quilt using as much, or as little, of the very traditional fabric as we liked.</div>
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I deconstructed all those petals and leaves, even the coral-coloured bird, and fused them into colour blocks, then applied similar toning fabric "tiles" over them, leaving the tiny scraps of curtain fabric peeking through "windows".</div>
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This was my entry, "Peek-a-Boo Petals", not an award winner, but I certainly enjoyed the challenge. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q4NYFAaFdnPofBmcA-qEmSiMEalOt70lSZsqNKv0zItFIopHm9bvhlh52JQq83yJgjX9i-L41FlFoFtlh3tKAWHdYmEi2WvfCDOJ4msCY2q-qQ32zWjacyPIG91wm5VdIrtnlCXyDfLe/s1600/IMG_6685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1076" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q4NYFAaFdnPofBmcA-qEmSiMEalOt70lSZsqNKv0zItFIopHm9bvhlh52JQq83yJgjX9i-L41FlFoFtlh3tKAWHdYmEi2WvfCDOJ4msCY2q-qQ32zWjacyPIG91wm5VdIrtnlCXyDfLe/s400/IMG_6685.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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So now I have two little quilts travelling around Australia, seeing the sights!</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue;">...Diving</span></i></b> in at the deep end, ruler-free and template-free, to make this improv mini quilt for the Curated Quilts mini challenge, "Connections" in June last year. I called it :The Highway over the Hill leads to Home", a place where we connect with our loved ones.</div>
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Improv piecing is still a completely new experience for me, and I didn't enjoy being out of my comfort zone! I had the most fun walking-foot quilting the background though, inspired by Jacquie Gering's book, Walk. The mini measures 11" x 11"</div>
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I know it's good to stretch myself and learn new techniques, but I really need to loosen up!</div>
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Gosh, there's so much more to tell you, especially if you're not an Instagram follower of mine, but I think that's quite enough for now!</div>
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<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="https://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=2a6d503b-b025-4c15-91a0-6193f26e5367&type=blogger");</script>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-57659956286240446762018-06-09T18:56:00.000+10:002018-06-09T19:13:33.119+10:00Perfect quilting weather!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After a week of rain and hats and scarves weather it was no surprise to wake to grey skies this morning. Were our St Mark's Quilters bothered? Not a bit! </div>
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We turned up the heating in the church hall and, fuelled by Gail O's delicious passionfruit cake and banana and walnut loaf, settled in for a day of stitching and chat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR08Ka7fM4XkjejoZcEfQN8pRnkmlWsH0qiQLU3Mgvyro_zW0TEUeY5WC4R9quSIjywK09DUqNXeBvTJ_UnFkGWFh9Op0PfbEW1MkY2xPLM9FV2ovancHlqGKC6VUKtfumY-BKmCJvr4te/s1600/IMG_8814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1600" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR08Ka7fM4XkjejoZcEfQN8pRnkmlWsH0qiQLU3Mgvyro_zW0TEUeY5WC4R9quSIjywK09DUqNXeBvTJ_UnFkGWFh9Op0PfbEW1MkY2xPLM9FV2ovancHlqGKC6VUKtfumY-BKmCJvr4te/s400/IMG_8814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sophie and Susan have been absent for a couple of months, but they've have definitely not been idle. Susan brought along three finishes - a sweet little Blanket of Love,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovHxa5kqjzpZu_iihaW3Qkfg6lddLdiK1134aTjktNrVwfDJCO7M84oecaFeTe_OFXXz1ajdGQwjuLCHhMfF-9KdlYMk-l4BgtfhQWGOGyw230ZwqTHjYBkY7BOR811lbH8FYYSHMmcUX/s1600/IMG_8816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1600" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovHxa5kqjzpZu_iihaW3Qkfg6lddLdiK1134aTjktNrVwfDJCO7M84oecaFeTe_OFXXz1ajdGQwjuLCHhMfF-9KdlYMk-l4BgtfhQWGOGyw230ZwqTHjYBkY7BOR811lbH8FYYSHMmcUX/s400/IMG_8816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A bright and cheery cot quilt, which it was quickly decided is to be given to a sick little bub in the Prince of Wales Children's Hospital,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeMENPBky3kV9pLscKLR54Nd-44e_hCkuIU6x9XKz5rBSXkB0jNkVfqfZa0NKjmHuE4q6TWCqGLpj6ZjAyJ2FYdt3fs3ELOvjHy6RaBuoCCw8zYbo6hJ0qQM0kdn6zY6ffgMh7jkwQL7o/s1600/IMG_8824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeMENPBky3kV9pLscKLR54Nd-44e_hCkuIU6x9XKz5rBSXkB0jNkVfqfZa0NKjmHuE4q6TWCqGLpj6ZjAyJ2FYdt3fs3ELOvjHy6RaBuoCCw8zYbo6hJ0qQM0kdn6zY6ffgMh7jkwQL7o/s400/IMG_8824.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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And this cute little row house quilt which we'll add to our next bundle for for The Marcia's preschoolers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcnS-EzpDYf5ILYpFp1wVzhSOqtfHyJPvtU-D-pBQVEzyP4DnkkdpsrCIUIxe4H9yKDG2W37Jcttcygj754KmAHZ_t9YXhRE4cCls0Ei8syl9pKDwgv2hbhaMyp94ZtaPGYLbv5n1LmGT/s1600/IMG_8826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1600" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcnS-EzpDYf5ILYpFp1wVzhSOqtfHyJPvtU-D-pBQVEzyP4DnkkdpsrCIUIxe4H9yKDG2W37Jcttcygj754KmAHZ_t9YXhRE4cCls0Ei8syl9pKDwgv2hbhaMyp94ZtaPGYLbv5n1LmGT/s400/IMG_8826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Margaret has done a fabulous job with this soccer-themed quilt, which is also backed with a pattern of giant soccer balls. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2AYVP2TAiUhx48ocPEsWD-Feeb1GyK69e2zb04Ha_n3Iz8kTjHoX0drBJWWva8idt9yUd5B3HPPGjY8QwP8JVFbzrv1RfQbqZYqMMs2FyLI7j_9h1J0kmC-j-viwnkjpu4aOv6Nk4GHt/s1600/IMG_8829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1238" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2AYVP2TAiUhx48ocPEsWD-Feeb1GyK69e2zb04Ha_n3Iz8kTjHoX0drBJWWva8idt9yUd5B3HPPGjY8QwP8JVFbzrv1RfQbqZYqMMs2FyLI7j_9h1J0kmC-j-viwnkjpu4aOv6Nk4GHt/s400/IMG_8829.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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Gail loves a scrappy quilt (don't we all!) and brought along this cheery I Spy quilt. We're always being asked for a few extra boys' quilts, so these two super finishes are really appreciated.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObeH6Nrr_ty60y-lmzl_82NamaXDdji7MSiS6OV81ke3irg7Vj22vNZvSFbvA4dx4Y96epjHzzEoVzTbW67bJ-oY57nhv5CPUb9Xk0GESmLcZjUYOn1CTLyFk086SehlFgbvWUMnq7lPS/s1600/IMG_8822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1249" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObeH6Nrr_ty60y-lmzl_82NamaXDdji7MSiS6OV81ke3irg7Vj22vNZvSFbvA4dx4Y96epjHzzEoVzTbW67bJ-oY57nhv5CPUb9Xk0GESmLcZjUYOn1CTLyFk086SehlFgbvWUMnq7lPS/s400/IMG_8822.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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Finally, Barb brought along a Blanket of Love as well as a kindy quilt.</div>
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For the kindy quilt Barb has used one of Linda Hungerford's original Stitchin' Mission beginners' quilt patterns, Loaves and Fishes. Those meandering quilting lines almost look like the flight paths of the butterflies, don't they?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFF0UQ0UgyJjSq7BAvY9RBgXIt4CW0JtS1VYxw4jMiG2BuQlEsQl2k-5FCsJpl0_zDeA-J2pfIza4s5675fqiZwJuxc_w9hOc2C3rlyaT8By0D09F3vBeqz__6KWMWID7bQQipi-Gt0gH/s1600/IMG_8820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1177" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFF0UQ0UgyJjSq7BAvY9RBgXIt4CW0JtS1VYxw4jMiG2BuQlEsQl2k-5FCsJpl0_zDeA-J2pfIza4s5675fqiZwJuxc_w9hOc2C3rlyaT8By0D09F3vBeqz__6KWMWID7bQQipi-Gt0gH/s400/IMG_8820.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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We love our quilters to bring along their works-in-progress for "show and tell", even if it's not St Mark's Quilters related, and today Gail D had us open mouthed with admiration for the French themed quilt top she's making for a little girl who, at the age of eleven is already a Francophile! </div>
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We each spent time picking out our favourite appliqué vignette. Can you guess mine? Of course it's the pink "ribbon" on the Eiffel Tower!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoztIKYHOK5hL6PHCPVue6kMtBgC45ZtzU41qT9sDZOVsAcS3u-iLN80yTh0qY4RnBGWb5InZ4tvtdJCnihges5Bro9XmBieUD-yjVYnaZ-s5gmyxlp-usUGLxjVxsokJNpmD4xxMkSsj/s1600/IMG_8815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoztIKYHOK5hL6PHCPVue6kMtBgC45ZtzU41qT9sDZOVsAcS3u-iLN80yTh0qY4RnBGWb5InZ4tvtdJCnihges5Bro9XmBieUD-yjVYnaZ-s5gmyxlp-usUGLxjVxsokJNpmD4xxMkSsj/s400/IMG_8815.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately I was too distracted by the food and chatter to take photos of our busy hands at work, but rest assured there are some simply lovely quilts in the making, just like these finishes from today, to be revealed as they are completed in the next few months.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TKaH_uKEc36ArvBEVGm2eFNYAzd5dltVzRub0KvNYXKSYFjlXZoXzm-vqVyCeeCXHWIqc0QABIr8SBO-JUFXnObdnVX9eiGEjymYGluqTt1tKv0MM_gXdfIq7sRYIzgXP5rYQ_lKQzhf/s1600/IMG_8830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TKaH_uKEc36ArvBEVGm2eFNYAzd5dltVzRub0KvNYXKSYFjlXZoXzm-vqVyCeeCXHWIqc0QABIr8SBO-JUFXnObdnVX9eiGEjymYGluqTt1tKv0MM_gXdfIq7sRYIzgXP5rYQ_lKQzhf/s400/IMG_8830.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="https://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=2a6d503b-b025-4c15-91a0-6193f26e5367&type=blogger");</script>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-65278573511963103752018-06-08T22:26:00.000+10:002018-09-01T01:49:47.699+10:00Hello!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're still here! The ladies of St Mark's Quilters have been busy stitching, laughing and making for others, even if I haven't been blogging about our activities for a little while. </div>
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Our March meeting must remain unreported, with me flat on my back missing-in-action, having returned from Quiltcon Pasadena with an unwanted souvenir of California (the 'flu), and Di B not having taken any photos in my stead. </div>
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However there's still plenty to tell, and of course the photos of our finished quilts have been available for some time on the relevant Pages (top left on this blog). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1tisXKXfCABiYdxYgHYrOsCIZV-pxwPxTI8vOcuVpkRdCowCszht_v8fZD94O94yfj4F1IOiqymbR00aj69DF8spOQ7Ax33y3qU1QStoR9NlryP_HmHW339bx_3od87ZZ3NVwlJgtZbp/s1600/Liz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1tisXKXfCABiYdxYgHYrOsCIZV-pxwPxTI8vOcuVpkRdCowCszht_v8fZD94O94yfj4F1IOiqymbR00aj69DF8spOQ7Ax33y3qU1QStoR9NlryP_HmHW339bx_3od87ZZ3NVwlJgtZbp/s400/Liz.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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For our April workshop we decided, for the very first time, to try something different. Everyone was invited, if they wished, to bring along a project they were working on for themselves, not one of our St Mark's Quilters projects.<br />
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This was Gail D's stunning appliqué quilt, just needing a couple more borders to be ready for quilting. I think I should rename that beautiful background colour "Gail D Pink" since it seems to be her go-to shade.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zmCddo2KHB3E66mUkW8BdM8E4-evT61duk5XnGSLSTx5_B95ix-SzeGz7GvixciROUxDUFSSSOTJeiVqfaocQsN8pJQtaUCb5mwf4eqk4eRoFtf7G4LJ9DgvfbrJ3luadXCuIGVDRn-f/s1600/Gail+D+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zmCddo2KHB3E66mUkW8BdM8E4-evT61duk5XnGSLSTx5_B95ix-SzeGz7GvixciROUxDUFSSSOTJeiVqfaocQsN8pJQtaUCb5mwf4eqk4eRoFtf7G4LJ9DgvfbrJ3luadXCuIGVDRn-f/s640/Gail+D+Quilt.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Gail O's Dancing Dollies quilt, for her granddaughter, had us all intrigued by the cute little individual touches she's added. Look at those faces, and the hairdo's!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iMh7sfAAgKCqPjs3Xn0GZzfbS3b4yr0XeuhatRHt6kuCoNcB7dPV_jUVBAj7WrSPJ87p1x1EO8dogka0s9OzATY6QVfq19YPJvp3mi0j-CmLnqV6JeyWxx7cXc6MWX6hIobUKW3Miz7Z/s1600/Gail+O+Dancing+Dollies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iMh7sfAAgKCqPjs3Xn0GZzfbS3b4yr0XeuhatRHt6kuCoNcB7dPV_jUVBAj7WrSPJ87p1x1EO8dogka0s9OzATY6QVfq19YPJvp3mi0j-CmLnqV6JeyWxx7cXc6MWX6hIobUKW3Miz7Z/s640/Gail+O+Dancing+Dollies.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Even if she's not stitching up a Blanket of Love or a kindy quilt for The Marcia, Margaret is constantly working on crafty endeavours to help others. So on this day she brought along her knitting which will become a cosy rug to warm a homeless client of the Rough Edges drop-in centre at St John's Darlinghurst, our neighbouring parish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4SKMQ0f-DqUg9IZHJS3u6-wj62LTwepwKB1LApPCP4FqHqPNQeJNX8s9EjBU3E_6CXyAcuMNJ06vO-VlWD5ezXXOiOGjt0OEAsC5nxhYGl1zUobg2EXZzHRcYQAaXCE3pIqYgYG7OLcf/s1600/Margaret+Blanket+for+Rough+Edges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4SKMQ0f-DqUg9IZHJS3u6-wj62LTwepwKB1LApPCP4FqHqPNQeJNX8s9EjBU3E_6CXyAcuMNJ06vO-VlWD5ezXXOiOGjt0OEAsC5nxhYGl1zUobg2EXZzHRcYQAaXCE3pIqYgYG7OLcf/s640/Margaret+Blanket+for+Rough+Edges.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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With winter approaching, Perdita was stitching up a similar work-in-progress to help someone keep the winter chills out.<br />
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Penny was embarking on a new hexie project in the prettiest fabrics, and who knows where this will lead?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCy0BHbPBEql9PdLlnbO7LGBhzW0GYopw-hXG141cst6Zt6SrgTb4jDXtgm9vdId18Dx54vE1fcbKu73FUgFF4NqLgtwg8Ib_6PP-EMr0yHNX8BQT7WiuAb0Mn5qgWfo7Sbmyux5a769k/s1600/Penny+Hexies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCy0BHbPBEql9PdLlnbO7LGBhzW0GYopw-hXG141cst6Zt6SrgTb4jDXtgm9vdId18Dx54vE1fcbKu73FUgFF4NqLgtwg8Ib_6PP-EMr0yHNX8BQT7WiuAb0Mn5qgWfo7Sbmyux5a769k/s640/Penny+Hexies.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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With so many skilled quilters at hand, Sue M took the opportunity to ask advice about proceeding with this beautiful hand pieced WIP.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvx9w7oC1BZZD9-zx6E0UXp3d13phXEvPnND-2ETJi1oN5QH8MfCAhuF75RJ3R9O6dHxX2TgASkbzKgkb5VzxdPdnTgLroaxPa2HIyLv0OX-G2gaiW2ZcN3OaWN-Ou6vLT6CPj6O8KdHe/s1600/Sue+M+Hexie+Flowers+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvx9w7oC1BZZD9-zx6E0UXp3d13phXEvPnND-2ETJi1oN5QH8MfCAhuF75RJ3R9O6dHxX2TgASkbzKgkb5VzxdPdnTgLroaxPa2HIyLv0OX-G2gaiW2ZcN3OaWN-Ou6vLT6CPj6O8KdHe/s640/Sue+M+Hexie+Flowers+%25282%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I couldn't help sneaking this happy photo of (L to R) Michelle, Di B, Gail D and Sue M which I think perfectly captures the happy atmosphere at our St Mark's Quilters monthly workshops.<br />
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By our May workshop we were excited to announce that we are now additionally sending some of our Blankets of Love to Orange Base Hospital in rural NSW. Those we make for the RPA Newborn Intensive Care Nursery have exceeded their needs, so it's a joy to be able to help a regional hospital like Orange Base, thanks to the approaches Di B has made.<br />
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Our quilting friend Wendi is a wonderful supporter and encourager, so when she gave us some of her precious quilting fabrics Di B went straight to work and made this Blanket of Love in a simple pattern is that allows the exquisite patterns to shine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSx4vh_884_gEPJteon4_jCb4P6lsNnPFgtSBX1mneKOW9SOVlpHOjOcRbNsdRRL-DKl3FOAFTRqNgw2kjbN6QMw12ymaD_hp-RXlTKPfe2JzLJhu9geLJ_KkYa9tjV_4HcC6ZMeypbr7/s1600/Di+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSx4vh_884_gEPJteon4_jCb4P6lsNnPFgtSBX1mneKOW9SOVlpHOjOcRbNsdRRL-DKl3FOAFTRqNgw2kjbN6QMw12ymaD_hp-RXlTKPfe2JzLJhu9geLJ_KkYa9tjV_4HcC6ZMeypbr7/s640/Di+B.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
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Michelle is in the process of making a sweet cot-sized quilt using this "easy peasy" pattern and kit of woodland animals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPQ6KoHDqEUfxFCzEhRMqQpA0XQ1CGpksEPwzcpZQi1OL3tcz9BNBuxL21ILH991U0FO6GA5dPhbzs8_2umM5EPpvoCIIuiUheP5aySbrVF_c1Pb0SRCQ7etLLa95INbYwAKpHC29-Pen/s1600/Pattern+Michelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPQ6KoHDqEUfxFCzEhRMqQpA0XQ1CGpksEPwzcpZQi1OL3tcz9BNBuxL21ILH991U0FO6GA5dPhbzs8_2umM5EPpvoCIIuiUheP5aySbrVF_c1Pb0SRCQ7etLLa95INbYwAKpHC29-Pen/s640/Pattern+Michelle.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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That brings me to my second piece of news! We are now making small quilts for the nearby Sydney Children's Hospital Children's at Randwick to brighten up their wards and give to sick children and teenage patients. Yep, Di B has again made the necessary approaches, and we are all very grateful to her. </div>
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<i>This means that, across the range of the hospitals that we support, as well as The Marcia autism specific kindy, we are able to make and donate quilts for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, children and teenagers.</i></div>
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This quilt (above) from the amazingly creative hands of Gail O is sure to find a home with a little person very soon.</div>
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Of course we are still making humidicrib covers for RPA Newborn Intensive Care, and there was a collective gasp of appreciation among our gathering in May when Gillian unfolded her latest design!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcSE6wVIjn6mH9G2XQR66XC2fpDx2ewMiQ3j5qOewJeImpf4W8_7ljlSkQ42k2x6sBrLv6VOtUtWVTczft_dNSiph8AVPltRxTX3lm27Z0WtmgY4YIr8QxWA02VowA0YsJawrKDqtkdcD/s1600/Gillian+Humidicrib+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcSE6wVIjn6mH9G2XQR66XC2fpDx2ewMiQ3j5qOewJeImpf4W8_7ljlSkQ42k2x6sBrLv6VOtUtWVTczft_dNSiph8AVPltRxTX3lm27Z0WtmgY4YIr8QxWA02VowA0YsJawrKDqtkdcD/s640/Gillian+Humidicrib+Cover.jpg" width="620" /></a></div>
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Have you seen anything more gorgeous than these four teddies, each one tucked into bed under a different patchwork quilt? What a perfect way to use orphan blocks! </div>
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With all the medical machinery and technical equipment surrounding a baby in the unit, humidicrib covers such as this contribute greatly to warming and cheering the atmosphere and decor for worried parents, and Gillian makes some beauties!</div>
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I'll leave you with this cute little Blanket of Love, made by Perdita, but I encourage you to look at the Blankets of Love, Kindy Quilts for the Marcia and Humidicrib Covers pages of this blog (see top left for links) to see all the latest finishes from our enthusiastic St Mark's Quilters.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKLufoyD6FwIqE95yrilBkANwSa0v9tYKgo8QWbJxb8rlsivsYgapQr1I2ab1n08PsD5hZ-YCIUdq-PipQgHaewwsoQcA_22n8e1N_PhOQxWvfuqxZgDEg07pGocZhQNNb7gRtsYaKatK/s1600/Perdita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="1600" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKLufoyD6FwIqE95yrilBkANwSa0v9tYKgo8QWbJxb8rlsivsYgapQr1I2ab1n08PsD5hZ-YCIUdq-PipQgHaewwsoQcA_22n8e1N_PhOQxWvfuqxZgDEg07pGocZhQNNb7gRtsYaKatK/s640/Perdita.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="https://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=2a6d503b-b025-4c15-91a0-6193f26e5367&type=blogger");</script>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-90959501910262511222018-02-18T21:20:00.000+11:002018-02-18T21:20:12.534+11:00Off and running for our ninth year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We're back!!!</div>
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Sashiko by Gail O.</div>
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Time flies when you're having fun, and that's certainly true when St Mark's Quilters come together!</div>
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There was plenty going on last Saturday when we met for the first time this year.</div>
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Barb was sewing a label on one of her latest Blankets of Love.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2UdeUQoQ4Nx9926oTfhuEnuao5244kLIPtl7VT1Ol_h7BHItvjRAc0zG8F88noOvExkW9fA3n1j4I1ndiQ7IdqpK2Ve52IJPE50d8OVOxqDtVjU-b0tSW1SrVi38TD4HHC1oQe_4gIxL/s1600/Barb+labelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2UdeUQoQ4Nx9926oTfhuEnuao5244kLIPtl7VT1Ol_h7BHItvjRAc0zG8F88noOvExkW9fA3n1j4I1ndiQ7IdqpK2Ve52IJPE50d8OVOxqDtVjU-b0tSW1SrVi38TD4HHC1oQe_4gIxL/s400/Barb+labelling.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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By Barb</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xWVANJKqfZyOc-njjbEnWn9emSA8-zfj9IO9zL3amviwpfjFvZ1HQ_BoZWVYwCvej9o_goAi1cf4wd83DDgQTKjEkt3xCMO9-ZBlKqRbdpV4qxj3Rj0DGNDHPpfKCOYy-CdhhM_2X4Ke/s1600/Barb2+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1584" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xWVANJKqfZyOc-njjbEnWn9emSA8-zfj9IO9zL3amviwpfjFvZ1HQ_BoZWVYwCvej9o_goAi1cf4wd83DDgQTKjEkt3xCMO9-ZBlKqRbdpV4qxj3Rj0DGNDHPpfKCOYy-CdhhM_2X4Ke/s400/Barb2+%25281%2529.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
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By Barb</div>
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Di C was carefully laying out her fabrics and labelling them for a new project (watch this space!)<br />
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Gail D and Gillian were stitching down bindings, that most popular of activities at St Mark's Quilters because it needs little concentration and we can chat and giggle with no worries.<br />
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Sue M was trimming HSTs.</div>
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Susan was machining pretty pastel strips together.</div>
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While Liz knitted, Margaret, our Hexagon Queen, got "quacking" on a new hexi quilt that cleverly matched her outfit!</div>
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Di B has been working on a gift for a very special 'Someone', a Cathedral Windows cushion in the most elegant of pink florals.</div>
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And by the end of the day there were even more finishes. </div>
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By Susan and Sophie</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtOn9muQxJu0cDYBintz1Xk-RF5YJZAbx05UhnZL1o4XyyAfGSurXNICFWqe4-DMSGmGlzJUOxMQWw4fDOKvZdMOnvJ5ehJUV4ADcOxYGrYEF8MranO0b1oEjUjgodfQPksJRebt7cD-2/s1600/IMG_4766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1554" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtOn9muQxJu0cDYBintz1Xk-RF5YJZAbx05UhnZL1o4XyyAfGSurXNICFWqe4-DMSGmGlzJUOxMQWw4fDOKvZdMOnvJ5ehJUV4ADcOxYGrYEF8MranO0b1oEjUjgodfQPksJRebt7cD-2/s400/IMG_4766.jpg" width="387" /></a></div>
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By Gail D</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQJpL3pmhMwAhQEEy4GpaNDBzzLi5YM4Jt8PGwYyOpTo1Ecfx0zq6GRYlLXgktCGyoTCZD3e4aSoUAcJaI9Ye8feV8PZmpS5VBoJa1rRx3CC5yU6e06Rv50Ukozj2E1EYtuvXaWj462nU/s1600/Gillian2+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQJpL3pmhMwAhQEEy4GpaNDBzzLi5YM4Jt8PGwYyOpTo1Ecfx0zq6GRYlLXgktCGyoTCZD3e4aSoUAcJaI9Ye8feV8PZmpS5VBoJa1rRx3CC5yU6e06Rv50Ukozj2E1EYtuvXaWj462nU/s400/Gillian2+%25281%2529.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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By Gillian</div>
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By Di J</div>
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It was a great start to our ninth year!</div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-5657297381034105322018-02-18T20:18:00.000+11:002018-02-18T20:18:32.831+11:00One year ends and another begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here we are in February, starting another year of stitching with St Mark's Quilters, when it seems no time since we were celebrating Christmas with our break-up lunch in the garden at St Mark's!</div>
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As usual there was plenty of colour and creativity with these finished cot sized quilts added to our collection for the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning Centre.</div>
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By Sophie and Susan</div>
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By Sophie and Susan</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH5GuZikCixR41esTlbVLptyu2gab1BXRCKvtIR2iUAA2qmC5pE7B9Bz2Q-kJVpGWQnE0D6f4tKhSk-dmtxFvpLr1yPoY5rLPwARETemXtcYWNGf3JeJMR1QrS6nuLrnUHJSA1ATCBG9O/s1600/IMG_1860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyH5GuZikCixR41esTlbVLptyu2gab1BXRCKvtIR2iUAA2qmC5pE7B9Bz2Q-kJVpGWQnE0D6f4tKhSk-dmtxFvpLr1yPoY5rLPwARETemXtcYWNGf3JeJMR1QrS6nuLrnUHJSA1ATCBG9O/s400/IMG_1860.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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By Di J</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexANqi77EFo-OLBRKjnvNgenjWkmJtsBtY-dZrVUllNXWxzWQO80KOot2Pa-byXnn0gxWpEQlsgixjG5S0w4NHZuvG6fVQ0p8znX51zlcFGMoynWgvA25eQsmE7bEg-MCEwtO3z085dPC/s1600/IMG_1861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1218" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexANqi77EFo-OLBRKjnvNgenjWkmJtsBtY-dZrVUllNXWxzWQO80KOot2Pa-byXnn0gxWpEQlsgixjG5S0w4NHZuvG6fVQ0p8znX51zlcFGMoynWgvA25eQsmE7bEg-MCEwtO3z085dPC/s400/IMG_1861.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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By Barb</div>
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I'm pleased to say we once again have enough quilts to give every child who starts at The Marcia this year a quilt of their very own.</div>
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Over the years some of our quilters have moved out of Sydney, but one of the aspects of our group that warms my heart is how our "absentee quilters" continue to keep in touch with us, and even make quilts for our cause. One such quilter is Cath, who recently gave us these pretty Blankets of Love. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4wPyG_yyky2VcsqQXdY14zuXDsDFaoRl0lTK3PCx8nPQ2ly2LP4g0JPCM35SqVNs1tkGnpAsDTZLG8-nve711K585aH6YmeeBQ_cFt3kGBbPwO8HGuNE8jaee1Dk6iSwripNupK1qUCJ/s1600/IMG_1865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4wPyG_yyky2VcsqQXdY14zuXDsDFaoRl0lTK3PCx8nPQ2ly2LP4g0JPCM35SqVNs1tkGnpAsDTZLG8-nve711K585aH6YmeeBQ_cFt3kGBbPwO8HGuNE8jaee1Dk6iSwripNupK1qUCJ/s400/IMG_1865.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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Liz had made this lovely cross-hatched creation.</div>
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And Gail finished another sweet Blanket of Love in her signature dusty pink, muted style.</div>
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Sue M was busy making a set of bright placemats for a family Christmas gift.</div>
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And Di B put her best foot forward to show off her latest sneakers - in rainbow colours!</div>
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Our quilters ask for nothing in return for their work, they make quilts simply to put their faith into action. But Di B and I like to give each one a small gift at Christmas to show how much we appreciate them, and this year we made magnetic pin bowls.</div>
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It's not difficult to find a tutorial on the internet, if you want to make one for yourself, and they are so useful because the pins cling to the bowl, even if the whole lot slides off the table! Oops!</div>
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Our quilting dogs, Chester and Elsa, made sure they were rewarded with treats too. They always do!<br />
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In January we were delighted to accept a $300 donation from Rotary Inner West towards our batting and fabric, in continued memory of our late friend Peter Crooks.<br />
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It was also time for us to deliver 54 gorgeous little Blankets of Love to Danielle Achikiam, Volunteer Co-Ordinator at RPA Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit, but not before Di B snapped these beautiful shots on a sunny summer's day to show them off in a particularly Australian way.<br />
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Don't our Blankets of Love look glorious hanging from an iconic Hills Hoist, flapping in the breeze beside Sydney Harbour!<br />
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Danielle was delighted with them, and that makes us happy too! </div>
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<br />Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-11456953766043902022018-02-04T15:26:00.001+11:002018-02-04T15:26:49.607+11:00Harlequin Hugs<div>After a couple of months of quilting deprivation, November brought more than enough reasons to do a (careful) little happy dance, not least being able to use my wrist again.</div><div><br></div><div>First was the publication of my first quilt project, Harlequin Hugs, in Quilters Companion #88</div><div><br></div><img id="id_6492_ed02_c4e_a2bf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-35DwI_3o-mo/WnaLhxzP2aI/AAAAAAAAX3A/-hX9VLkKIrs-dxp3RVJ8t-KheOtq0JtegCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><div><br></div><div>When Editor Michelle Marvig asked me to design a project, I knew from the start that I wanted to use fabrics from Vanessa Christensen’s gorgeous V and Co Ombre range to create a sweet cot quilt.</div><div><br></div><div>Having bought a rainbow selection of these from Amy Johnson (<a href="https://amysquiltingadventures.com" id="id_e29c_c667_4979_f5b5" target="_blank">Amy’s Quilting Adventures</a>) when we met up at Quiltcon Savannah last year, all I needed was a little more yardage and I was all set to ‘paint’ with fabric.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_6303_e147_fecc_b56f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-de-grTyE-5U/WnaK4uhXvBI/AAAAAAAAX2o/JkJdwIdezXwHGBk8NRdi0RYNmEwzYvHygCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_31f0_be76_1168_32d9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3anGgE0kfYI/WnaLLVGmZ3I/AAAAAAAAX2w/f4M-BdnkY0Y5ae2g_zkoBVMwktDRdxl6gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>If you’ve seen the direction my quiltmaking has been going in the last couple of years you’ve probably gathered that I’m a tad crazy about creating texture on quilts by adding extra layers of surface interest. </div><div><br></div><div>Well, Harlequin Hugs has plenty of that!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_38d_6f83_7cc_51d1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VMvlfAw1vp0/WnaLCpRimwI/AAAAAAAAX2s/Y_4PuTka44wY2Bc-nEsUlX3f__T3gxAPgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">At the same time I tried to come up with a design that wouldn’t be too challenging for most quilters. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_3ff_25f7_43fd_ae12" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Ow834USFBA/WnaLNYP1kuI/AAAAAAAAX20/V-MGVzC4rCURhyGytWMWCIMoGh7OOKu6gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_8330_df27_b9ba_9810" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZpTIU9CJmiw/WnaLdn6NedI/AAAAAAAAX28/ym2MTt0amRAjploGIc0gtH48p2qB0VcgQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 379px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I was touched by this introduction, and really happy with the magazine photo. Don’t you just love that sunshine yellow garden bench?</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_bf13_3159_fd0d_d8b5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ift6RDLdO1M/WnaLbRoQZlI/AAAAAAAAX24/X_bQhbrHIUsJyXl7IrBMU-ylhNn8k01mgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 415px; height: auto;"><br><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span>It felt good to be back!</div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-25333833515734882762017-12-22T00:55:00.000+11:002017-12-22T00:55:54.165+11:00Long time, no sew!Observant readers will have picked up on the fact that in recent times this quilters blog has been seriously lacking in, well, quilting. So now that I'm very much on the road to recovery, I ought to explain myself....<br />
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The night was dark, the September air was brisk, the other dog-owners had all gone home for dinner, and I didn't want to linger in the park across the road any longer than absolutely necessary. So once Chester the Wonderlab had done his business I bagged it up by the light of my phone's flashlight, and swiftly turned towards home, briefly looking back over my shoulder to call him.<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="https://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=2a6d503b-b025-4c15-91a0-6193f26e5367&type=blogger");</script><br />
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Then it happened in an instant. A concrete bench that has sat solidly in the same place for the four years I've lived here decided to shift just a tad to the left.<br />
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Nah, I don't believe it either, but that's how it felt. First my left knee, then my right shin, then both my hips all made contact with the hard edges of the concrete and I went sailing headfirst over the bench, landing on the concrete base on my outstretched right hand (I had to protect the iPhone, didn't I?) and finally connecting my left brow and forehead with the concrete too.<br />
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I can see it all happening in slow motion in my mind's eye, and it's probably a good thing there were no witnesses - apart from my beautiful Chester - to what must have been quite a spectacularly hilarious tumble.<br />
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In the end, the only damage done was to my dignity, a few bruises and a scraped shin, and black eye that took a whole month to disappear while I wore sunglasses so I didn't frighten the children in the street.</div>
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And a fractured right wrist. And therein lies the rub.</div>
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Fellow quilters will understand when I say the worst possible body part to injure is one's dominant hand - in my case the right. Initially it was plastered, then splinted, and now I've moved into physiotherapy.</div>
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So there you have it. I've done almost no hand stitching since September, and just a little machining last week, and I don't mind saying I'm getting a little twitchy! My physio has advised me for the time being to stitch <i>just during the ad breaks</i> as I'm watching TV, and I've never been so grateful for those annoying commercials!</div>
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Ironically, some very exciting quilting-related things have been happening in my life, and I look forward to sharing them with you.</div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-68520362854557886262017-10-22T19:48:00.000+11:002017-10-22T19:48:09.667+11:00Friends, family, flowers ... and plenty of cake!This week it was my turn to clock up another year of living, loving and creating, but my birthday was relatively low-key compared to the pizzazz of my amazing 90 year old mother-in-law's celebrations I wrote of in my previous post.<div>
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On my actual birthday I enjoyed lunch with four very dear girlfriends I've known for many years. Four of us have birthdays within 5 weeks of one another, so we added to the fun by celebrating together, at the home of one. </div>
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From our table this was our view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and across to the Sydney Opera House. The sun shone, and even the clouds arranged themselves obligingly to look like cotton wool!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I thought that it was quite appropriate that the cake was decorated with tiny pieces of gold leaf, given my friends and I are approaching "golden oldies" status!</div>
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A few days later came another happy, though noisier family dinner with my son, daughter in law and grandchildren, Mr J and Princess 2. I'm sorry, but with these little "moving targets" I didn't manage any photos, except for one of the birthday cake which stayed put, even if it did threaten to slide off its shiny base.</div>
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A last minute rummage in the recycled birthday candle jar drew a blank on either of the digits of my real age, but with a choice of 40 or 82 I was quite relieved that the decision-makers settled on 40, the age I feel (at least on good days!).</div>
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The final birthday stop was yesterday, for afternoon tea with my sister and mother. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw5_RVo6pJr_WMkCy9zFb5IR_2PK5SlPVhM2eAXIWUxQSr2xtN2ocO7c0xa_xFflZoV0fgLQKaBOolfvAX_UtFsfYn5tx4_slRqJ37Y1Vc2AgfZlom9HsfdSewJAuUJ3OTTTFLMzjGNUb/s1600/20171021_145333-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw5_RVo6pJr_WMkCy9zFb5IR_2PK5SlPVhM2eAXIWUxQSr2xtN2ocO7c0xa_xFflZoV0fgLQKaBOolfvAX_UtFsfYn5tx4_slRqJ37Y1Vc2AgfZlom9HsfdSewJAuUJ3OTTTFLMzjGNUb/s400/20171021_145333-1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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If you look closely you'll see that this "cake" is actually a lemon tart, my very favourite dessert (when Key Lime Tart isn't on offer!). </div>
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How about those gorgeous flowers, perfectly coordinating with my outfit? I don't want to take away from the cleverness of my mother's and sister's choice of flowers, but actually, I'm so darned predictable because I just love pink!</div>
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In rather more substantial ways my sister is predictable too: always positive in the face of life's adversities, always generous, and always forgiving, loving and compassionate. </div>
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These little Willow Tree figurines, part of her birthday gift to me, are a treasured reminder.</div>
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Blessed.</div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-68010715899759800492017-09-27T00:34:00.001+10:002017-09-27T00:34:49.178+10:00Two books and a birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Books have always played a big part in the life of our family. From youngest to oldest, we all enjoy turning the pages. Some of us also listen to audiobooks, one edits bestsellers, another is the head book buyer for a national chain.</div>
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And now we have not one, but two published authors! </div>
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A couple of weeks ago I attended the Sydney launch of <span style="color: blue;"><b>Wish You Were Here</b></span>, a seriously entertaining memoir by my talented sister-in-law, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Jobbins" target="_blank">Sheridan Jobbins</a>. </div>
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Sheri has been writing for many years, first as a journalist and then as a filmmaker and scriptwriter, but with this book she's turned the spotlight on herself, taken a period when life threw some hefty lemons her way, and made delicious lemonade. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPidW3_MUHCqtSZUbyLcS02-RMvo9hAKR_54mMkRWW4f1KnM-_yejRok6rxwEjOULdERf3XRcqfUyzIOaVieeK8NcLBFVaa4LTE9vC780UXYPPzQ_oqNY_cS3PkwEOTC3iu5u4g4Cmo809/s1600/IMG_0530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="719" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPidW3_MUHCqtSZUbyLcS02-RMvo9hAKR_54mMkRWW4f1KnM-_yejRok6rxwEjOULdERf3XRcqfUyzIOaVieeK8NcLBFVaa4LTE9vC780UXYPPzQ_oqNY_cS3PkwEOTC3iu5u4g4Cmo809/s400/IMG_0530.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Basically, after her first husband broke her heart, she broke some china before running off to America to find herself, on a road trip across the country in a red Chevy Camaro. Of course I know the ending, but I'm still enjoying being taken along for the ride as I read this positive, life-affirming and insightful 'rom-com'.</div>
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A few days later we celebrated my mother-in-law <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_Jobbins" target="_blank">Joy Jobbins</a>' 90th birthday with <i>another</i> book launch - Life at the Palace.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOBIQs6xefiHxUw2hed8OaTiYf4f-KJEmBX6aBv7jlykIt0E6HkBYYJQwWllFaK4jDVw5XlHBcrXIgVlgml6pB77-N3nj52WuFdOATpRu_p7Iujt1KyU_J0SMhsukj7eFar-qpk8edhmt/s1600/1A_joy_jobbins-7986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOBIQs6xefiHxUw2hed8OaTiYf4f-KJEmBX6aBv7jlykIt0E6HkBYYJQwWllFaK4jDVw5XlHBcrXIgVlgml6pB77-N3nj52WuFdOATpRu_p7Iujt1KyU_J0SMhsukj7eFar-qpk8edhmt/s320/1A_joy_jobbins-7986.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On her 80th birthday Joy, Sheridan's mother, had published <b><span style="color: blue;">Shoestring</span></b>, a memoir of her experiences as a working mother of five, 'tycooning' as an advertising executive in the male-dominated fashion and wool industry of the 1950s, while living 'on a shoestring' in the rural bohemia of Eltham, Victoria. </div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Life at the Palace, A Necklace of Anecdotes</span></b>, is the second of a trilogy she has planned, this time set in Sydney's Elizabeth Bay in the 60s and 70s, where the family found themselves living (for a peppercorn rent) in Berthong, an enormous harbour-side mansion that could not have been more different from Shoestring. </div>
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The cast of colourful characters who lived there, or visited (I was one!), along with Joy's wider professional encounters with the likes of Prince Phillip, Pierre Cardin and Patrick, Earl of Lichfield, makes for an entertaining romp with a touch of the bittersweet, periodically 'interrupted' by other members of the family for a tiny reality check.</div>
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Along with the book launch it was a wonderful afternoon of celebration and dancing, which of course included Joy's theme song "Fly me to the Moon".</div>
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Joy's another positive woman who knows exactly what to do with the lemons life gives her. Margaritas, anyone?</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Wish You Were Here, by Sheridan Jobbins</b></span>, is available at all good bookshops in Australia, as well as online through Amazon and <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Wish-You-Were-Here-Sheridan-Jobbins/9781925475609?ref=grid-view&qid=1506434951709&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> if you are overseas.</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Life at the Palace (A Necklace of Anecdotes), by Joy Jobbins</b></span>, is available in Australia <a href="http://joyjobbins.com.au/life-at-the-palace/" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-56849521319079821082017-09-15T17:59:00.000+10:002017-09-15T18:00:39.122+10:00Let's get blogging again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm truly sorry for the "radio silence" here over recent months. If you follow me on Instagram (@darlingdi) you'll know I'm still alive and quilting, taking photos, working and spending time with family, friends and my gorgeous labrador, Chester (@chesterthewonderlab). </div>
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If not, I hope I can fill in the gaps for you soon, as I break into a rather breathless and ungainly run in an effort to catch up.</div>
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If there's one thing guaranteed to spur me into blogging, it's the opportunity to praise my friends, in this case all the wonderful quilters, past and present, who have been part of St Mark's Quilters. </div>
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Last week marked a rather special anniversary for us. </div>
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It was eight years since the Sunday when did something very unusual for me! I stood up in our church (eek!) and announced to a full congregation, consisting of exactly <b style="font-style: italic;">two quilters </b>(myself and Di B)<i>, </i>that we were about to hold a Stitchin' Mission, five weeks of beginner quilt making classes, to be taught by my friend <a href="http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Linda Hungerford</span></b></a>. </div>
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You can read the background <a href="http://snippetsnscraps.blogspot.com.au/2009/09/all-is-revealed.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">here</span></b></a> . </div>
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Di B and I (Team Di) had each made sample quilts in the weeks leading up to that Sunday reveal, and had them on display, with a clip board on hand to sign up those keen to be part of our venture.</div>
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Something amazing happened!</div>
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Two dozen eager beginner quilt makers came forward to learn to make a quilt for the children enrolling at the brand new <b><a href="https://www.ku.com.au/childcare/centres/kumarciaburgess" target="_blank">KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre</a> </b>(these days known as "The Marcia"), many experienced quilters offered to be helpers in the classes, and several other friends made quilts to the specifications required, to add to the number.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvy_U_cGd7PYeIkiaMjXA15rpPFTX3sPctPku-0j-wUHGq1tgi_OGlzhehbnlpEPEHOQmLcep9zlQOm9fTQBt-wpjbnpcIjgBPI6zg_lYZSDOgx4a8iRbOJ7htNuhivYEmTOkQm2xxDvT/s1600/IMG_1304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvy_U_cGd7PYeIkiaMjXA15rpPFTX3sPctPku-0j-wUHGq1tgi_OGlzhehbnlpEPEHOQmLcep9zlQOm9fTQBt-wpjbnpcIjgBPI6zg_lYZSDOgx4a8iRbOJ7htNuhivYEmTOkQm2xxDvT/s400/IMG_1304.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Heatwave conditions on the last day of class did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of these generous-hearted ladies, seen here with the results of their work. </div>
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Linda's infectious enthusiasm had made the 5 week course so much fun that quite a few wanted to continue, and so St Mark's Quilters was born.</div>
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Over the intervening years a few quilters have come and gone, but we've retained a core bunch of around 12 to 15 ladies who come from near and far to stitch and share friendships on the second Saturday of the month from Feb to November.</div>
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We've broadened our vision and now also make tiny Blankets of Love and humidicrib covers for Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3d7tqJ4xWftPMuQdpnNnBzOqI2kDE9X79v-DAiANicyZOinRKXk4-LbQHRj9uY8KxZ-2s0zeJxZGfkLAoC7fo-FFXryGcuucdmUnCkeoLpSrbZ8aVSxTGWOyw9bAsU6r2DTtbw1ULFsQ/s1600/Quilts+on+bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3d7tqJ4xWftPMuQdpnNnBzOqI2kDE9X79v-DAiANicyZOinRKXk4-LbQHRj9uY8KxZ-2s0zeJxZGfkLAoC7fo-FFXryGcuucdmUnCkeoLpSrbZ8aVSxTGWOyw9bAsU6r2DTtbw1ULFsQ/s400/Quilts+on+bench.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you have a little time, you might be interested in clicking on the Pages tabs to see some of the creations of our little group, an estimated 800+ quilts (not all photographed). Not bad for a group that grew from almost nothing!</div>
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Di B and I are thankful for Linda's initial boost and teaching, and proud to be part of this diverse but passionate group, whose ages from youngest to oldest range over 60 years.</div>
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Before I leave you (but not for long!) I'd like to show you my latest quilt finish for The Marcia. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8mmG_oYLGS2Me3OkjcWFCLIS5NwlWLY96z94fQ5Q9Gpb_ZJIo83ztinqH7vqQxuZbZCL6Axehn1U06DSmkkFQXT7CUoTGbVhhEPT-W3iBEqqWx2Su7dOMSpBzIIdn05cc9qDrNmXvtwI/s1600/Frogs+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8mmG_oYLGS2Me3OkjcWFCLIS5NwlWLY96z94fQ5Q9Gpb_ZJIo83ztinqH7vqQxuZbZCL6Axehn1U06DSmkkFQXT7CUoTGbVhhEPT-W3iBEqqWx2Su7dOMSpBzIIdn05cc9qDrNmXvtwI/s400/Frogs+finished.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I can't claim to have pieced the quilt top, having found it as an "orphan" languishing in our SMQ stash, but it made me smile with the clever fabric choices someone made, and deserved to be finally finished.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn2QNCWwlSSLkPnZ-oh_vRRGUXIffm_lEi6ywVR-xtKpoaIAN1sfAcL51-TQJyLUbKNZU7QqoLlPS5JgqryHNjIau0ebNjq8ef3SxivTSuM3yq6lRZWGWDbOB6uV_3gP1gJlMG0E_V3HT/s1600/Frogs+binding+begun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFn2QNCWwlSSLkPnZ-oh_vRRGUXIffm_lEi6ywVR-xtKpoaIAN1sfAcL51-TQJyLUbKNZU7QqoLlPS5JgqryHNjIau0ebNjq8ef3SxivTSuM3yq6lRZWGWDbOB6uV_3gP1gJlMG0E_V3HT/s400/Frogs+binding+begun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I quilted it (in the ditch) and bound it, and here it is, proving that a quilt doesn't have to be complicated to become a potential treasure for a little child.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlAQDpEW8s_uOZt41lVFiuKqvIEVWnyPxkTKvBmIlxGOOyJvS3eN2ta74Cpceui8CTOR3COHPd41BrOl3jIraw6NNb077XdWK8ucznGpTQsaNhpBzwCtYjFazU_sW8-5tmSOWnFZcCc8-/s1600/Frogs+Just+Want+To+Have+Fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlAQDpEW8s_uOZt41lVFiuKqvIEVWnyPxkTKvBmIlxGOOyJvS3eN2ta74Cpceui8CTOR3COHPd41BrOl3jIraw6NNb077XdWK8ucznGpTQsaNhpBzwCtYjFazU_sW8-5tmSOWnFZcCc8-/s400/Frogs+Just+Want+To+Have+Fun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We don't usually give our community quilts a name, but I thought I'd make an exception this time and call it "Frogs Just Want to Have Fun". </div>
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(Apologies for the Cyndi Lauper ear worm that will probably stay with you all day!)</div>
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<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="https://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=2a6d503b-b025-4c15-91a0-6193f26e5367&type=blogger");</script>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-28523484276365046982017-04-16T21:47:00.000+10:002017-04-16T22:22:16.495+10:00My A to Z of Quiltcon Savannah {Part 1}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning, as I prepared to ruin a second batch of sugary, buttery pralines in my quest to replicate the delicacies that had me salivating in Savannah (don't worry, I saved them just in time!) my thoughts turned to Quiltcon 2017.<br />
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I realised it's been a month since I arrived home, high time I took up the story of my amazing USA holiday where I left off.<br />
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If you haven't already done so, and you don't mind a few 'spoilers', you can always pop across to <a href="http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Linda's blog</span></b></a> and read on. Unlike her scatty and disorganised friend here, she has conscientiously kept up with her blog posts, already sharing all the fun we had at Quiltcon and beyond.<br />
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So here's Part 1 of my <span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="color: blue;">A to Z</span> of Quiltcon 2017 highlights</b></span>!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>A</b></span> is for <span style="color: red;"><b>A</b></span><b style="color: red;">wards Ceremony</b>,<b style="color: red;"> </b>early on the first day, necessitating a pre-dawn start for our drive from Hilton Head to the Savannah International Convention Centre. As slides of each award winning quilt flashed up on the screen there was much cheering for the winners, but I was most excited for <b><span style="color: red;">Aussie</span></b> quilters <a href="http://twocatsquilts.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/bling.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Katherine (Kat) Jones</span></b></a> (@twocatsquilts), winner of Best in Show, and <a href="http://theelvengarden.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/on-quilt-shows-and-ribbons.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Jess Frost</span></b></a> (@elvengardenquilts), winner of 3rd place in Improvisation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMKS39DGdF1jjbZuSSZyFEMU9SvhVBdQy45oAlKCVV5Z8x1AnSDbmQg9F8fNG0vzYT7YzWYKwrbSTyc_OtKugtU7_1BVDcs1nTHqYtGVEY9Z-_rSH0SIaPx73I1WGS9jchCLI8U7gQzEp/s1600/IMG_4642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMKS39DGdF1jjbZuSSZyFEMU9SvhVBdQy45oAlKCVV5Z8x1AnSDbmQg9F8fNG0vzYT7YzWYKwrbSTyc_OtKugtU7_1BVDcs1nTHqYtGVEY9Z-_rSH0SIaPx73I1WGS9jchCLI8U7gQzEp/s400/IMG_4642.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Scattered" by Jess Frost</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: red;">B</span></b> is for <span style="color: red;"><b>"Bling"</b></span>, Kat's stunning <b style="color: red;">Best in Show </b>winner. Measuring just under 100 inches square, it looks like a giant princess cut diamond. Kat paper pieced each of the four segments with an identical pattern, but using different shades of solids to cleverly replicate the subtle play of light on a real diamond. If you think it looks amazing here, believe me, it's breathtaking in real life!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTfn_2VXuD8pD8g9E6RkbqJefNZ9WZUgTUSzDZSEuJ9RfAbIT9WtPnY6ulEvQofqqyHukD9xPc6LJcyp1W1eqELq_ozoIUJIQ3sDf5mvjz9xcKYt6gSHWmCT4UbatszZ4CsIxQxJJNPKw/s1600/IMG_4467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTfn_2VXuD8pD8g9E6RkbqJefNZ9WZUgTUSzDZSEuJ9RfAbIT9WtPnY6ulEvQofqqyHukD9xPc6LJcyp1W1eqELq_ozoIUJIQ3sDf5mvjz9xcKYt6gSHWmCT4UbatszZ4CsIxQxJJNPKw/s400/IMG_4467.jpg" width="391" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bling" by Katherine (Kat) Jones</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: red;">C</span></b> is for <b><span style="color: red;">celebration</span></b>, something we Aussies do well! At the end of day 1 we were more than happy to raise a glass to Kat (centre in this photo) and Jess (back home in Australia). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu9RILUYnHqeggdQ6FZhzJLPK3AunnDbY2Rdg2dfBiexnusJyLruUq2FgiV6NYJpE5IMKLdTIFVlInamJgh1qb7UO9jbp9KlxrJ4vwbgP2Chu1ukeUPpkIAR5v3CLChn2RFrk19YmcBaV/s1600/IMG_4579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu9RILUYnHqeggdQ6FZhzJLPK3AunnDbY2Rdg2dfBiexnusJyLruUq2FgiV6NYJpE5IMKLdTIFVlInamJgh1qb7UO9jbp9KlxrJ4vwbgP2Chu1ukeUPpkIAR5v3CLChn2RFrk19YmcBaV/s400/IMG_4579.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(L to R) Michelle Hickson, Di Jobbins (me), Katherine Jones, Lorena Uriarte and Monique Nugent</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: red;">C</span></b> is also for the warm and generous domestic machine quilting diva <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://christaquilts.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Christa</span><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: red;">Watson</span></a> </span>(@christaquilts), whose book, "The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting" (co-authored with Angela Walters), is one of my most valued references.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-RHV5tWD_iFNvrFpVJiw1koHcT1IRigbcfqEvO_7GC_LfWzzR1NbDABwLT9r1GxVb9nyyYT6TWzFKxIqjBBStJwBJ-uByKs-NngRdZlnzlv-RrpuirUfeNrKS0tkmsFvCa0F9WZpQZJG/s1600/IMG_4747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-RHV5tWD_iFNvrFpVJiw1koHcT1IRigbcfqEvO_7GC_LfWzzR1NbDABwLT9r1GxVb9nyyYT6TWzFKxIqjBBStJwBJ-uByKs-NngRdZlnzlv-RrpuirUfeNrKS0tkmsFvCa0F9WZpQZJG/s320/IMG_4747.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Christa Watson</td></tr>
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Since we live on different continents, and I may never have the opportunity to take a class with her again, I was super keen to soak up as much knowledge from <a href="https://christaquilts.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Christa</b></span></a> as I could.<br />
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So I attended both her lecture "Quilting on your Home Sewing Machine: Tips and Tricks", and her 3 hour class "Free-Motion Alternatives to Straight Line Quilting".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkSjcMrZnEEFkfjhGUKaDAWZ-5Lw4nY2D3Y-F3Uycv-WsOUGj5ouLInt6WVYQBMJSZ8zF4pI9Vvo0_7YQpHgypw4mDp4wB0Ps3szN-XdglBqdSF_4_kkqwLg2XbioIAAgqccd3crV9WF3/s1600/IMG_6338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkSjcMrZnEEFkfjhGUKaDAWZ-5Lw4nY2D3Y-F3Uycv-WsOUGj5ouLInt6WVYQBMJSZ8zF4pI9Vvo0_7YQpHgypw4mDp4wB0Ps3szN-XdglBqdSF_4_kkqwLg2XbioIAAgqccd3crV9WF3/s320/IMG_6338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Her spray basting technique is one I'm definitely planning to try, and I was encouraged when she said she uses the same favourite double-batting combo as I do (cotton on the bottom/wool on the top). Yay! I was doing something right!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn88NFH2bbNZ3wZmizEIvN_GDZbtUm4x27vwZ4DNpgm1_YKjzsyetBlwpxjDL2dg07um_6yMZDb-VD_JJ4KHE6En1ubVK8476j3jokeSfHl29eZWxBICfMqA7WvpiG4qpEEmnGFXaTpzEu/s1600/IMG_6331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn88NFH2bbNZ3wZmizEIvN_GDZbtUm4x27vwZ4DNpgm1_YKjzsyetBlwpxjDL2dg07um_6yMZDb-VD_JJ4KHE6En1ubVK8476j3jokeSfHl29eZWxBICfMqA7WvpiG4qpEEmnGFXaTpzEu/s400/IMG_6331.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In her class she patiently taught us more than two dozen machine quilting designs, starting with drawing out a pattern in our sketchbooks, to machine stitching the design on a pre-prepared quilt sandwich. </div>
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She even allowed us to fondle her quilts and see her work up close, without a white glove in sight!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMajWe0tTSQH2Y8RHdLm9-4lfwUagF3bINzHGR4POenD9Td1NNNeF-Ad5g9gi6MRlIQImkM3p5inzgg7mZhc2bOqNkpCClrfBYIpBLQaf3_p858nfxwVhVfiiRqHtaFgdJ8Zh236ZotO1g/s1600/IMG_6332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMajWe0tTSQH2Y8RHdLm9-4lfwUagF3bINzHGR4POenD9Td1NNNeF-Ad5g9gi6MRlIQImkM3p5inzgg7mZhc2bOqNkpCClrfBYIpBLQaf3_p858nfxwVhVfiiRqHtaFgdJ8Zh236ZotO1g/s400/IMG_6332.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xWiaBvGai76QLAjRCMT7suiivC7axbQTtnHXUV-BoIHxz443OQLwSgSJlvVsphsgVFtdLmm50nxqTK5axfa29PLxUpvUxKKTXD2fBi1BsG1EnXT6VHRQirdAv5_YXwUUGdQfqpYk8NPc/s1600/IMG_4765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a> I'm in love with Christa's geometric chains, swirls (above) and pearls (below).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf89nkWvndZLQ68tu1s0lY6PgTh2ilNB6MYTXOjpbLffHOFNVWlKxQqA4ZsB-NJjq64sSvdLtnJ5gZvo6P1nqJIRRCQJJY2CKIooZHF8CjWr7yoesiiJCJ35jOCPGTuYF4gmkj4Mr7LOg/s1600/IMG_4820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf89nkWvndZLQ68tu1s0lY6PgTh2ilNB6MYTXOjpbLffHOFNVWlKxQqA4ZsB-NJjq64sSvdLtnJ5gZvo6P1nqJIRRCQJJY2CKIooZHF8CjWr7yoesiiJCJ35jOCPGTuYF4gmkj4Mr7LOg/s400/IMG_4820.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Pebbles and jagged stipples (below) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZlId6yHNHu8_DytkS44jS-tLBZkSOMC9xIldcnMnBKRtqocZiW-O5L4F8Ml_ZhlfZhH0iWELjXc4s_NSuskYAQ9ASCwRHCLOGWylazmfB0iOsTZG8eGXEPERlj95MfbIkk7uvLeNsYuz/s1600/IMG_4821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZlId6yHNHu8_DytkS44jS-tLBZkSOMC9xIldcnMnBKRtqocZiW-O5L4F8Ml_ZhlfZhH0iWELjXc4s_NSuskYAQ9ASCwRHCLOGWylazmfB0iOsTZG8eGXEPERlj95MfbIkk7uvLeNsYuz/s400/IMG_4821.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And switchbacks, pebbles and swirls (below)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTn5x7WrVDLOEYfg5ey3I04QfmZ9fRQlNOppUOvrOglVk8pCHFZwPGy9PtTWhKLqF4fsMno2xAKdMYsodVUH-g9rWLjPcj3EYZ1X1j6KwQO5wUaYCmVP6huBAoAg1-9aRS2ARRt_iEdjk/s1600/IMG_4828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTn5x7WrVDLOEYfg5ey3I04QfmZ9fRQlNOppUOvrOglVk8pCHFZwPGy9PtTWhKLqF4fsMno2xAKdMYsodVUH-g9rWLjPcj3EYZ1X1j6KwQO5wUaYCmVP6huBAoAg1-9aRS2ARRt_iEdjk/s400/IMG_4828.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>D</b></span> is for <b><span style="color: red;">domestic</span></b> machine quilting , the subject of the hands-on class I took with <a href="https://kathleenquilts.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Kathleen Riggins</span></b></a> (@kathleenquilts), "A Cheater's Guide to Free Motion". </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqfL1nE9X4EADQsoFZOb1Q_6pcUM1BhNvkbg6mKXltkPEBH4Fx_2-yVtqvdtILgdQvJOi9iu8Az6Lts-Z6XXoJ9UUxXQH5lPoI61hXAWC9B2LtISxBlK9jCidEZV1iu5FHQ6oFb5gdSR2/s1600/IMG_4465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqfL1nE9X4EADQsoFZOb1Q_6pcUM1BhNvkbg6mKXltkPEBH4Fx_2-yVtqvdtILgdQvJOi9iu8Az6Lts-Z6XXoJ9UUxXQH5lPoI61hXAWC9B2LtISxBlK9jCidEZV1iu5FHQ6oFb5gdSR2/s400/IMG_4465.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Kathleen Riggins</td></tr>
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I may have been overdoing the quilting tuition just a tad, but, having flown more than 15,000km to be here, I was going for the full-immersion domestic machine quilting experience, keen to learn from <i>all</i> my quilting icons! </div>
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I drool over pictures of Kathleen's work on Instagram and I follow <a href="https://kathleenquilts.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b>her blog</b></span></a>, but she's a longarmer, and I only quilt on a "mature-aged" domestic Bernina. So when I saw last year that she was teaching a class at Quiltcon using<i> domestic, sit-down</i> machines I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2yGol6EvfiBY8EPqL8UUUscWmIWls8bBwgeUp9_CwMyPIxflg9e6v49LswGllsMFFqRk1XVyUSK7ev0JPe9HB73CcbQTfA2NCh90haWeF8QDvPnCs7wGV2Z5pu-UeAkZtZDHQoDgVly5/s1600/IMG_6316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2yGol6EvfiBY8EPqL8UUUscWmIWls8bBwgeUp9_CwMyPIxflg9e6v49LswGllsMFFqRk1XVyUSK7ev0JPe9HB73CcbQTfA2NCh90haWeF8QDvPnCs7wGV2Z5pu-UeAkZtZDHQoDgVly5/s400/IMG_6316.jpg" width="386" /></a></div>
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Here are some of my bumbling attempts at swirls and pebbles. Kathleen's class taught me many things, but most importantly the need to practice, practice, practice!</div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">E</span></b> is for "<b><span style="color: red;">Every</span></b> Quilter is a Teacher", the featured lecture by keynote speaker, <a href="http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Angela Walters</b></span></a>. While dazzling us with slides of her amazing quilts, she also shared how her husband's grandpa, a quilter, had been her mentor. A warm and charismatic teacher herself, she encouraged us to nurture other quilters along this creative path. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjKTEh9VZ5i6tIvdCSiEEe3J3r4yRfo5vWeCCy28_f6_oGhnfSO78o_NwY4RlnjIfpv6P3Vw2iRxSxj0hzoz0mGmbfMtyRgm9sdhR7TrwKnwssLNyS0c8Xnle6T1T5PLJVjgW7bj_qD_w/s1600/IMG_4749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjKTEh9VZ5i6tIvdCSiEEe3J3r4yRfo5vWeCCy28_f6_oGhnfSO78o_NwY4RlnjIfpv6P3Vw2iRxSxj0hzoz0mGmbfMtyRgm9sdhR7TrwKnwssLNyS0c8Xnle6T1T5PLJVjgW7bj_qD_w/s400/IMG_4749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Angela Walters (Don't you love that quilted chevron tote of hers!)</td></tr>
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And she was happy to pose with this breathless fan-girl. How lovely is that!<br />
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More soon ;-)</div>
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On our day here we saw a little of both town (with a horse and carriage guided tour) and country (visiting romantic Magnolia Plantation).<div><br></div><div>The advantage of a guided tour is that it allows you to see all the highlights, and feeds you the history as you go. However the disadvantage is that there's no time to jot anything down. Consequently this post consists mainly of photos I snapped along the way.</div><div><br></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_1093_db12_a60b_366e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-99nGEq3Gibg/WML_yTYUTXI/AAAAAAAAXWg/_UIZOXCYUyI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 478px; height: auto;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our tour started near the old Charleston City Market, and as we walked through on our way to meet our horse and carriage I couldn't resist photographing these bright wire bowls from Africa. I have one of my own at home, and the workmanship of the women who weave the plastic coated telephone wire into the bowls is amazing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8e09_ca6e_f756_6d48" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OXlUKmxe69U/WML_ydB5JBI/AAAAAAAAXWk/RJ8kFVakjkM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 477px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is just a sampling of the gracious historic homes we passed by on our tour.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_b7b4_da97_9afd_db4c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PFCau10Q9pE/WML_zdzfBbI/AAAAAAAAXW4/AetHPZaLScQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 480px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_5a3f_610e_15cf_c7e0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c9jyRljGsIs/WML_ygL1m7I/AAAAAAAAXWo/XNk-Mf44Ed8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 479px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These pretty houses are part of what's known as Rainbow Row, for obvious reasons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_87a2_23d2_752c_4433" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-agaxNjD595c/WML_y9l82iI/AAAAAAAAXWs/9114Wm6Mt6M/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 498px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the end of the ride we tipped the guide, but when we asked the horse if he'd like a tip too, he said 'Nay!'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f6b4_463a_c779_eb56" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6DiwR-EBSYU/WML_y95XSqI/AAAAAAAAXWw/XA4rDP7jk_M/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 478px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;">A short drive out of town took us to the beautiful plantation of Magnolia Gardens. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_2eb6_e570_b301_4054" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KWofstL4WzQ/WML_0bDk43I/AAAAAAAAXXE/YKmhM-RnhwU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 480px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was quite a wild garden, with nature only just held I check, but the driveway reminded us so much of the movie Forrest Gump, and live oaks were everywhere, Spanish moss dripping from their branches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ad7a_3d7a_ebe0_4022" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qovEhzSF1dY/WML_z-XAOWI/AAAAAAAAXW8/wo06HJ9z2Vg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 488px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we saw magnolias blooming, of course, as well as azaleas and camellias.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_d293_9038_c5b2_4ecc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pxlu33dF2Hs/WML_zSju-PI/AAAAAAAAXW0/sGPHjEwTcFI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 491px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">I added another alligator warning sign to my growing collection.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_120a_ecc0_a1ec_ecb7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C8g1poZ_Tkc/WML_0GWeV4I/AAAAAAAAXXA/LJ47FmqNSks/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 490px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">And gasped at the stunning reflections on the still waters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8cc0_3eee_be74_9d99" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qiKY1-w1IqQ/WML_1lEavPI/AAAAAAAAXXQ/s9ptBoJa3AY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 498px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This Plantation has been in the grounds of the Drayton family for fifteen generations, and the Rev'd</div><div style="text-align: center;">John Drayton developed the gardens in the 1840s.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The house is interesting, though only a small part of it is original, having succumbed to fire during the Civil War.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8e8a_62bb_e232_2dc8" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bs3OZ0FG0ubXyJ3wMZdJ2YOwjXDKSmtoMJTxOQ_zr5iZiDXXedL6XD3GhMU8k8yxt1iiYlTwTz3Mv24t0xbaiD9qI0jD1g1dfrvR4Zrqx1My1cui1B6IVE_6XIwKsMuXGFKTM081bjkB/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 510px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">African slaves worked on what was originally a rice plantation along the Ashley River, and the slave huts where they lived have been preserved.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8caf_2525_6bab_b572" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lFoFkJOaApc/WML_0xbFAJI/AAAAAAAAXXI/v6KpK9btPDA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 502px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">By the late afternoon it was time for us to move on to our next stop, Savannah, but not before taking a look around this quaint little roadside store, the Carolina Cider Company.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_af36_df9_252_4c45" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pEQCjINudpw/WML_1rPiCjI/AAAAAAAAXXU/Ifa-8uf8hM0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 510px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, we did buy a snack for the onward journey!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_54b3_a3de_ef1d_79b6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PT6qEa3WU2M/WML_1qd32QI/AAAAAAAAXXY/1sEk5xCFqVE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 509px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div> <br></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-37250691919381344912017-03-10T20:18:00.001+11:002017-03-10T20:18:10.625+11:00Going to all the places - The Biltmore EstateThe first stop on our road trip to Quiltcon, Savannah was the fabulous Biltmore Estate at Asheville, North Carolina, designed by Richard Morris Hunt, and built by more than 1,000 workers for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. <div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_e44_d5c4_fa3f_3947" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s65DUCRaVLo/WMJvP_tnYwI/AAAAAAAAXVc/-WikRJpOiCE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 460px; height: auto;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Are we there yet?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The gently winding road through landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted's artfully designed forest was clearly designed to build excitement for visitors to Biltmore, with each tantalizing bend promising, but never quite delivering, a view of the house. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wasn't too bothered, though, as it was early morning and we were treated to scenes like this, with the late winter sunshine beaming through the trees.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f4cb_6317_d5d1_716" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xdly6DQStvo/WMJvPl7ZW-I/AAAAAAAAXVM/3UFD71lj_sk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 457px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was to be our first view of Biltmore, from the top of a kind of stone belvedere. It</div><div style="text-align: center;">was reached by climbing up the deep but shallow steps of the 'rampe douce', built this way to accommodate horses and buggies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_e1bf_2421_8409_2eed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i_c8U1mqNLg/WMJvQlyaMwI/AAAAAAAAXVU/LebyIRBvnrM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 503px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below is the view looking behind us, and <i>up</i> the hill.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_bff1_b4_aa2d_f5d5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-goD5lKNma3M/WMJvPkFofYI/AAAAAAAAXVI/u7yC4Bk-ZsY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 462px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Biltmore is BIG, though apparently Vanderbilt called it his 'little mountain escape'. It's designed to resemble a French chateau, and everything about it showcases its owner's wealth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ca97_fae8_6e4f_d3d1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iuEWj2YXzXY/WMJvQkpt_QI/AAAAAAAAXVY/Js9lwVTMpBA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 465px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unusual architectural features intrigued us, like the gargoyles, and the upward sloping windows in this picture with their similarly inclined shallow balconies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_52e_36ca_d858_366f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-98W7N1cSPRs/WMJvQq9qnZI/AAAAAAAAXVQ/WXBrL7XXtgI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 469px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Once inside, we found that they not only followed the incline of the staircase, but each window had a door giving access to its mini-balcony.<br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ce92_7398_7f2a_5f9d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hb830oBaVw0/WMJvRuWnzfI/AAAAAAAAXVg/3RFBnTTTPT4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 466px; height: auto;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You could get lost in the shrubbery in the ground floor Winter Garden..<br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_57db_9d5f_40ba_4f76" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8CeyHV-qvI/WMJvSM9z4CI/AAAAAAAAXVs/9Q58XXWgsak/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 479px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Becoming the owner of a 250 room house at the tender age of 33 years must have made young George Washington Vanderbilt II quite the eligible bachelor, and just three years later he married 25 year old Edith Stuyvesant Dresser. They had one daughter, Cornelia.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_c220_4b01_25c1_74f3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eTVDTjFFCKE/WMJvR3jjreI/AAAAAAAAXVk/fB0lGuMWX0I/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 495px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The house was designed for lavish entertaining, with a grand dining room with a vaulted ceiling 7 stories high!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_89d9_f3a0_6f3c_b4ca" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m3x--9W-zP0/WMJvRypPrSI/AAAAAAAAXVo/d1zfOqtRQH0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 499px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were told this room is decorated at Christmas with a 35 foot tall illuminated tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">The two-storey library was exactly the kind any houseguest would appreciate, especially the likes of writers Edith Wharton and Henry James who are known to have stayed there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_4ec_749e_783d_d492" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5kgzWshZgv0/WMJvS4WCZWI/AAAAAAAAXV0/R8rY5u--zyo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 501px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_43ec_e5e1_7546_5bde" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fqv0_8F8LQo/WMJvTHcCprI/AAAAAAAAXV8/CizqWPW8k3c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 508px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The bedrooms upstairs were grand. This one, the Louis XV room, is where Cornelia Vanderbilt and her sons were born, and had a fabulous view across the front lawn and beyond. When we were there the morning sun was streaming in, making it warm and cheery and it was easy to see why it was chosen as the birthing and recuperation room.<br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8cf6_4c08_54ef_c5a3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEVpDhRFYvyqlbVkjbQ_CXrAdRRryVAvis2EEl63s2Hx9gVRXkYduleDC-U1zccssjqQ1zsTNz9L_6jkrjHzt2tau36iX1QKQEF9JxJ9YFQGUJvCXk5Igg73voMrlzG2mLaePtEG46hGr/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 515px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Biltmore has had plumbed bathrooms and flushing toilets since the beginning, as well as both AC and DC electricity installed. Every mod con, in fact.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_f6a2_7e09_f174_5136" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZZrjb7OCM6w/WMJvS72YSfI/AAAAAAAAXVw/Qw8mJX7mlL0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 520px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Below stairs was just as fascinating as above, just like Downton Abbey. Look at all those gleaming copper saucepans! There was one of the earliest walk-in refrigerators, cavernous storerooms for preserves and other staples, a rotisserie kitchen and a rather grim looking laundry. We also saw where some of the servants slept and dined.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_8391_3ce5_28d0_38f1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jW5me3c4sLM/WMJvTkNQazI/AAAAAAAAXWA/2zON_nYKvEk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 519px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Biltmore was one of only a few homes to have its own indoor bowling alley, complete with protective walls jutting out so the hapless servant whose job it was to retrieve the balls and re-set the pins could pop behind and not get accidentally collected by a wayward bowling ball.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_4b57_eb31_7c66_9c22" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZnMeQ5etgJY/WMJvTpyvKJI/AAAAAAAAXWE/oHVFJnBACZc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 533px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was even an indoor swimming pool, complete with underwater lighting and heated with steam. The ropes hanging down in the left of my photo were for less confident swimmers to hold onto.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">You'll notice the pool is empty in this picture. This is because it has a leak and doesn't hold water any more. We were told that a few years ago it was filled for a special occasion, only to find that the next morning it had completely drained away!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">It must have really been something in its day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_a29f_ef48_e2e1_ef48" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DVaCiZ9_PU4/WMJvT_sNUFI/AAAAAAAAXWI/K6aQ1C9Hamk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 541px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadly, Biltmore's heyday of hosting house parties and lavishly entertaining lasted only a short time. George Washington Vanderbilt II died unexpectedly in 1914 from complications of appendicitis.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_bb1e_cad9_6915_d0e3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VWY2A070OwE/WMJvUe4EaNI/AAAAAAAAXWM/MsxFLAv-_Ig/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 542px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">But the Biltmore Estate is still in the Vanderbilt family, even though none of them lives here any more It's the largest privately-owned house in the United States, and well worth a visit to see how a wealthy American family lived at the beginning of the 20th century, when no expense was spared!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-84843757229156122272017-03-08T12:39:00.001+11:002017-04-06T15:41:26.899+10:00Tasting all the foods<div style="text-align: left;">
Warning! Calories ahead! Just reading this post may cause drooling, lip smacking, food cravings and a serious case of the munchies.</div>
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On our weekly Saturday morning trips, in the golf cart, to the produce markets at Brownwood, <a href="http://www.flourishingpalms.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Linda</a> and I have bought farm-fresh veggies and fruits for her to juice for our breakfast each morning. So healthy!</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_704b_4d63_f371_7607" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n6SRhaO8R34/WL9gwV1IE8I/AAAAAAAAXUI/qBXTGPDR-14/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 470px;" title="" tooltip="" /> </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In fact, from my very first day here in the USA, eating and drinking has featured highly among my holiday adventures. Linda's husband, Dan, an excellent home cook, has made it his mission to expose me to the widest assortment of dishes, drinks and sweet treats possible, and I've willingly co-operated!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here's just a sampling of Dan's home cooking... Texan lasagne, Cajun salmon, Chicken Tetrazini, Waikiki meat balls, and breakfasts of pancakes, and eggs with hash browns (not shown 'cos I ate them too fast!). Linda's salads, a meal in themselves, and her amazing home made bread, have been mouthwatering accompaniments!</span></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_a555_aa20_394d_fa4b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pX2djhotaYI/WL9gwSkmhhI/AAAAAAAAXUQ/35mLUeEED4A/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 481px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); text-align: left;">Here's my favorite, pizza with pastry made from scratch.</span></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_78d4_39e2_299f_9a4b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pXnFL5EuGzg/WL9gwd6YdaI/AAAAAAAAXUM/7eG3cQqnVIo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 500px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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However, I confess, dear reader, this isn't the whole picture, and my sweet tooth needs a serious reprimanding!</div>
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With only a nanosecond's hesitation I've gobbled up warm roasted cashews covered in cinnamon, waffles an inch thick(!) and maple syrup, and big, soft sweet pretzels studded with crushed almonds. </div>
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I also have a serious crush on the king-sized pecan pralines we found in Savannah. The Savannah Candy Kitchen a little too obligingly gives away free samples, and with one bite of these warm, sugary, nutty candies I knew resistance was futile! Alas, it's destined to be just a holiday romance....sigh.....because I doubt if I'll find any back <span style="text-align: center;">home.</span></div>
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I'm not much of a drinker (I only drink on days of the week ending in 'y'). However, my drinking horizons have been widened with margaritas (at Universal, Orlando), Yuengling beer, 'Two Men in a Glass' (a mix of Arnold Palmer Iced Tea and Jack Daniels), and pina coladas. I've also had Cuban coffee and an old fashioned chocolate milkshake at Johnny Rocket's here in The Villages.</div>
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They said I mustn't pass up the chance to try a Cuban sandwich, and they were right! This one came from the Cuban Cafe and Bakery in the historic part of St Augustine, and was a delicious toasted bun filled with ham, mustard and cheese.</div>
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Then there were the BBQ restaurants, where you ordered your pulled pork, beef etc by the quarter pound! I passed on the Fried Gator Tail, but did have the pulled pork with 'Damn Good Corn Puddin' from the menu pictured below. It lived up to its name!</div>
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Are you ready for dessert yet? How about flan, a Cuban caramel treat, pies of every kind from a roadside shop in North Carolina, or pineapple soft serve ice cream from St Augustine.</div>
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Or a really, really special treat, enjoyed at Linda's neighbour Becky's home, cannoli filled with whipped cream and chocolate chips from Ferrara, a New York Italian pastry shop.</div>
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The least said about how much chocolate I purchased at Chocolat by Adam Turoni in Savannah the better. </div>
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'Mouth-watering' about sums it up!</div>
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I've also conducted extensive research, in the name of science of course, to find the best Key Lime Pie. </div>
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And I hereby declare the winner .....(drumroll).... the Publix supermarkets Key Lime Pie!</div>
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Now, in case you're imagining I'm the size of a house after a month on the 'Florida diet', I'm mighty relieved to tell you that both Linda and I have actually LOST weight! I think it has something to do with all the walking we've been doing as we've travelled around Florida, North and South Carolina and Georgia. </div>
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More on those travels soon!</div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-82273833250286016912017-03-06T10:56:00.001+11:002017-03-06T11:16:20.304+11:00Going to all the places - Homosassa Springs<div><br></div> <img id="id_3418_84fb_20e4_92e7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3_Zgescn2aE/WLylqP5cjRI/AAAAAAAAXSI/K5Fq0Gvhe6g/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 495px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"> <div><br></div><div>Visitors to Central Florida have been heeding this advice for around a hundred years, so Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park was a must-see on Linda's itinerary. </div><div><br></div><div>It didn't disappoint! </div><div><br></div><div>Here I saw so many animals, birds and mammals that I've never seen before, though the prize for the prettiest has to go to the American Flamingos, who entertained us with synchronized wing flapping, squawking, and running to and fro en masse, as if heeding a secret signal.</div><div><br></div><div> <img id="id_4396_fe45_ab51_76a8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ETxuL7BTouk/WLylrpI65JI/AAAAAAAAXSc/bWJMUZLunpI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 493px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div> <img id="id_7a89_52bf_c159_6c78" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dnE8Hupml9c/WLylqLePBeI/AAAAAAAAXSA/CVoJEWsvaaI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 503px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div>Those funky flamingos went camera-shy just as I was taking Linda's photo, which is ironic since she's their biggest fan! Seriously, who wouldn't love designs with these gaudy beauties on a quilt, a mug, paper clips, clothes, or in your garden?</div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ba86_2968_8326_7860" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QSN3dVtl3No/WLylqwcmMGI/AAAAAAAAXSM/-Pu6EFKtl40/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 409px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were pelicans, ducks and other kinds of bird life.</div><div> <img id="id_ccf1_1c36_1f53_f62" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LIVTV2RzKoI/WLylqehjHkI/AAAAAAAAXSE/lD-9FpkGVjE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 536px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>A cheeky otter showed off for us, while the fox relaxed in the shade and the snakes (thankfully) stayed behind glass while glaring at us disapprovingly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img id="id_1e08_de88_8c63_2819" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LwFd7ViSvhg/WLylq-vnLWI/AAAAAAAAXSQ/lhEZnOLDdQ8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 445px; height: auto;"> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">There was even an American eagle, displaying his very own patriotic flag.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_fc0c_f4ac_286b_759d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FXucfgshSo4/WLylrKNtmsI/AAAAAAAAXSU/Ra5TUtJ8hh8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 444px; height: auto;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">The bobcat paced his enclosure, looking sleek and dangerous.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_533d_d344_83ea_9e6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z27Zy1XpSCg/WLylrmy5yTI/AAAAAAAAXSY/0UW7APuwQPs/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 530px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And there were plenty of these mean old alligators!</span></div><div><br></div><div> <img id="id_2b8d_b43_33e0_7045" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ep4qZww6K2c/WLylr-03zBI/AAAAAAAAXSk/kuVuDaRvM9c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 559px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div> <img id="id_4b25_22ac_d6fa_d5cc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-feY8ZgLDMRo/WLylrw6ByyI/AAAAAAAAXSg/4enRVJ2xW6o/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 560px; height: auto;"> <br></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">All the animals in the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park are native to the Florida region, with one exception, Lou the hippopotamus. 58 years old Lou is a former movie star. He needed a place to live out his retirement and the Park was granted special permission to house him. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like so many human retirees he enjoys the Florida warmth and spends his days enjoying the sun, occasionally slipping gracefully into the water for a dip. He doesn't sign autographs, but if you stand in a particular spot to take a photo of old Lou he might shower you with a different sort of gift, one requiring you to have your clothes dry cleaned!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_dab9_2afb_afea_6d7d" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBDTqyE1CmpfYmIupGeUk8awlh_R9Xxg8_EA5feY4hhOu233ikSuJ-FNIXWl3IUP-XEXdDgSz__nAZ51E07ZCMZFIeW-ruiAr7dLJUvPcTDvBFfhbVUs8aMGmy6MM1TPSVjwY1c-akf4A/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 530px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">The most popular attractions at Homosassa are the manatees, huge marine mammals that take shelter from the cold ocean waters during winter, and gather in the Sprngs. If I was asked to describe one I think I'd say a manatee looks part-sea lion, part-whale, part seal, and part-trunkless elephant, with a little bit of mermaid thrown in. They're sometimes called sea-cows. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">These pictures give you a little idea and, as you can see, people can even pay to go swimming with wild manatees. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_ca02_8ad7_25df_2350" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7hQIw1l2_4E/WLylsbj-CmI/AAAAAAAAXSo/QAtwRSuEl3U/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 531px; height: auto;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Better still, one of the recreation centers in The Villages has this beautiful manatee mural on the wall.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_a058_ae4c_efe0_6139" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ochHd_6j8sI/WLyls5B2TtI/AAAAAAAAXS4/UeBjcK-VepA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 591px; height: auto;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a familiar looking manatee!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_fe39_528b_bbb3_6312" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EjNGdY548wM/WLyls299ycI/AAAAAAAAXSw/9G73tiSgvdo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 567px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: left;"> We took a boat for the return trip to the park entrance, through a stunningly beautiful waterway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_20d4_3ee7_78cd_f1bc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9B3PjATpio/WLylszhxbsI/AAAAAAAAXS0/eateLNHzqdU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 570px; height: auto;"> </div></div><div>These people were on a boat traveling in the opposite direction.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_761d_c7cc_1507_98c8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kQCBC9LEgzo/WLyltpemjTI/AAAAAAAAXS8/AURyt4E9uUo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 574px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_576_b15_6f21_8adc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wn1IrYglKX0/WLyltq9mddI/AAAAAAAAXTA/W8ykU48I4vI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 574px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Waldo the alligator, sunning himself on a pontoon, bade us a fond farewell. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">He was smiling anyway, even if he might have been thinking we'd make a tasty dinner.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="id_41a7_cf30_f422_ff57" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nccb3BAFiZk/WLyltv5icZI/AAAAAAAAXTE/2dOo26woOMY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 362px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><font color="#2979ff">THE END</font></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br></div><div> <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-24721811457642419502017-03-05T09:07:00.001+11:002017-04-06T15:36:07.302+10:00Going to all the places - Walt Disney's EpcotMy holiday so far is best described as "incredible one day, amazing the next" as <i>trip planner extraordinaire</i>, Linda, leads me on new adventures every day. Our day at Epcot was a highlight (among many!) of my first week here.<br />
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Like umpteen quilters before us, I'm sure, we quickly spotted the design possibilities in that huge Epcot ball!</div>
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<span style="color: #f50057;"><b>Spaceship Earth </b></span>took us on a ride into the future.</div>
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Then we went through <b><span style="color: #f50057;">Advanced Space Training</span> </b>(passed up the weightlessness experience!), and through the magic of flight simulation, we blasted off into outer space and piloted our rocket to Mars and back. It was amazingly realistic!</div>
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<b><span style="color: #f50057;">Soarin',</span></b> however, was our favourite! We were hoisted high and, in a surround sound 3D sensation, 'flown' all over the world! We zoomed over the Great Wall of China and flew under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, dropped in on elephants in Africa and just missed clipping the Eiffel Tower as we whizzed past. A great ride for 'kids' of all ages!</div>
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After getting caught in a late afternoon downfall (resulting in my very silly hairdo) we sought refuge in the <b><span style="color: #f50057;">Disney/Pixar Short Film Festival</span></b>, a hilarious and ingenious experience with 3D glasses.</div>
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We "visited" England, where these minstrels were playing outside the pub.</div>
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Germany, </div>
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Italy, and the Doges' Palace in Venice,</div>
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And the USA where these singers entertained us and we sat in on <span style="color: #f50057;"><b>An American Adventure,</b></span> a moving presentation of American history. </div>
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We photographed complete strangers meeting Disney characters... </div>
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We found Nemo, and saw manatee up close!</div>
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And we continued, as quilters, to be captivated with that amazing Epcot ball.</div>
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By day...</div>
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...and by night.</div>
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As the sun set slowly in the west... </div>
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... we danced across paving stones that sparkled like stars as we made our way to the exit. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I really loved our day playing at Epcot, and taking a break from adulting!</span></div>
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I'll be back soon, after a few more adventures!</div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-72858287106669813322017-02-19T20:58:00.001+11:002017-04-06T15:34:13.617+10:00Threads of friendshipOf all the amazing experiences I've enjoyed during my first week in The Villages, meeting a whole bunch of Florida quilters at two separate events has to be the highlight.<br />
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I was invited to give a presentation to the Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild on Monday evening, and the ladies couldn't have been lovelier to me. At the end of my "Meanderings of a (Moderately) Modern Quilter" their President, Karen, thanked me with this cute Pixie Basket of threads in really useful shades. </div>
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Unfortunately the app I'm using to blog on the move on my DiPhone doesn't allow me to embed links, but if you'd like to make one of these for yourself you'll find the free tutorial here -<a href="http://fabricmutt.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-pixie-basket-tutorial.html?m=1" id="id_7cd7_82ee_6b0d_329d">http://fabricmutt.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-pixie-basket-tutorial.html?m=1</a> </div>
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I didn't take many photos on the night, but you can see how talented they are from their special Show and Tell of modern mini quilts.</div>
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I'd seen Karen's Metro Area quilt top (from Elizabeth Hartman's book, Patchwork City) on <a href="http://www.flourishingpalms.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Linda's</a> blog last year, so it was a treat to see it all quilted and finished.</div>
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You can read a full report of the meeting (with more photos) here - <a href="http://centralfloridamqg.blogspot.com/2017/02/feb-meeting-pre-quiltcon.html?m=1">http://centralfloridamqg.blogspot.com/2017/02/feb-meeting-pre-quiltcon.html?m=1</a></div>
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The following day I gave the same PowerPoint presentation and virtual trunk show at Big Cypress Quilters.</div>
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Great fun followed, as I showed how to make my favourite cathedral windows style pin cushion, while Linda acted as my 'stunt quilter' doing the machining on her Bernina in between my demonstrating the steps.</div>
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I loved Mary Lou's enthusiasm!</div>
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There was Show and Tell here too, and I couldn't help but be amazed at these stunning Quilts of Valor, made for veteran servicemen.</div>
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You may like to read <a href="http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/jam-packed-week.html?m=1" target="_blank">Linda's latest blog post</a> for her perspective on the same events.</div>
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I'm so blessed to have met quilters around the world, and to have made firm friendships with some, initially through our common interest in quilting, but often finding we have much more in common, as Linda and I do. </div>
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It's been a huge step for me to travel across the world on my own, and I've been touched by the hours she's spent, leading up to my arrival, making sure my days are jam-packed with incredibly exciting adventures, sights and experiences.</div>
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You can imagine how welcome I felt, then, to be greeted with a little group of gifts on my arrival - a Dunkin' Donuts Florida mug, a portable lamp to help my stitching, some quilt patterned pencils, and this beautiful Essential Wristlet (pattern by Dog Under My Desk) and Fabio Zipper Key Fob (by Lazy Girl Designs), the last two, of course, made by Linda herself.</div>
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That <span style="color: #ec407a;"><b>PINK</b></span> and <span style="color: yellow;">YELLOW</span> fabric will always remind me of my holiday and the Florida sunshine we've been enjoying! ☀️</div>
Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-27699180664486989482017-02-17T03:23:00.001+11:002017-04-06T15:28:08.863+10:00The time of my life!<img alt="" id="id_cf95_36f6_8e3a_c0db" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cY7TUzH4B8U/WKXRxczOgSI/AAAAAAAAXPQ/KoHlIJJwJGc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 353px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Sunrise on Monday found us here, at this beautiful nature reserve, looking to spot an alligator in the wild. The wildlife was plentiful, and noisy. Sandhill cranes, ducks and frogs provided a dawn chorus as <a href="http://www.flourishingpalms.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Linda</a> and I scanned the glassy lake for tell-tale ripple. In the end a v shaped ripple and a couple of head bumps were all we spotted, but I'm hoping there will be better 'gator sightings elsewhere (at a safe distance!).</div>
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I'm told we might even see them in the water at Sumter Landing, where the Villagers gather in the evenings for live bands and line dancing beside a picture-perfect lake with artfully placed row boats that never go anywhere. Such a pretty place!</div>
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I've had some delicious meals here, including authentic southern barbecued pork with corn fritters, a delectable strawberry and beets salad with goats cheese and almonds, and Mexican quesadillas. The very best, though has been Linda's husband, Dan's home made pizza on a base he makes from his own recipe. Cheese, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, black olives ... oh my! Accompanied by a cold glass of Arnold Palmer iced tea and Jack Daniels, it's a wickedly indulgent treat.</div>
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Ive also been introduced to the delights of key lime pie. </div>
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In case you think I'm on the slippery slope to carrying home 'excess baggage' ... I've taken up line dancing! Well, at least I survived my one hour Ultra Beginner class.</div>
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As you can see, I'm doing the 'full emersion' experience here at The Villages. More to come!</div>
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Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-29621620211383656762017-02-14T21:44:00.001+11:002017-02-14T21:44:05.463+11:00It's another beautiful day...<img id="id_edf8_edde_e5b_5705" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bXxaS_M1Iqg/WKLfc5Pz1XI/AAAAAAAAXNo/ICvQFUMOa2w/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <div>... in The Villages, Central Florida, where I'm enjoying the generous hospitality of my friend, Linda Hungerford (<a href="http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com/?m=1" id="id_7454_9649_931f_d87f" target="_self">http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com</a>) and her husband, Dan. </div><div><br></div><img id="id_80ed_ddb9_6581_622c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zFUPkiKdjZI/WKLfZYbGI_I/AAAAAAAAXNA/NHqtUoCCzys/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <div>This truly is a picture-perfect part of the world, where the artifice of the built environment, combined with the genuine warmth of The Villages residents, has had me pinching myself with excitement since I arrived here on Friday night after a 30 hour journey. </div><div><img id="id_24e2_1f40_db48_d581" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lNpyahUreP8/WKLfZsJAB1I/AAAAAAAAXNE/FwwdiyB-lRk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> </div><div>We were out early on Saturday morning shopping for fruit and veggies at the markets in the Wild West themed village square of Brownwood, and saying 'Howdy' to the locals. </div><div><img id="id_ec84_9050_7866_a3ee" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PeqmOZV3vIo/WKLfbS5EZvI/AAAAAAAAXNU/8X0EdbKFXtM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> </div><img id="id_567f_2693_cebc_ed74" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rxfm2cY0J5M/WKLfaL2pRbI/AAAAAAAAXNI/DihJudzXaHc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <div>Stepping into the Sales office for this part of The Villages is like stepping right into a Western movie, with authentic decor including armchairs upholstered in alligator skin, distressed leather couches, steer heads on the wall and Tiffany glass ceilings.</div><div><img id="id_63b8_ef06_e6a9_998c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YK8aFYDJiuk/WKLfai9bLwI/AAAAAAAAXNM/LGs9_P17zLw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_665_dcf9_2d50_8506" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BzoQJMzyA3g/WKLfbPgqwII/AAAAAAAAXNQ/rSEdCQ5tus0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5e15_6e51_7e91_e5a2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-leNkI5A2vuQ/WKLfbwjquFI/AAAAAAAAXNY/OM8eFVN0cO0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> </div><div>The entrance to Brownwood is guarded by magnificent bronze cattle.</div><img id="id_ba54_38c6_d819_41a0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4miANx_hpBA/WKLfb7UtuLI/AAAAAAAAXNc/a13Fe9b6des/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <div><br></div><div><img id="id_105b_6974_8859_3fc8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MkB3xSckNM8/WKLfc6s-6LI/AAAAAAAAXNk/ECsm2FV_h0g/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br><div>And look who I found! A bronze pup looking so much like Chester that I had to give him a hug.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c7d9_4a47_45bc_7c27" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q7kjXssy9U0/WKLfclxAZlI/AAAAAAAAXNg/nCdgdxsWITQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-11348718659363332172017-02-12T11:14:00.001+11:002017-02-12T11:14:18.039+11:00In betweenThis post comes to you from the darkened cabin of a Qantas 380 Airbus high above Western Samoa. Finally I have time to exhale, count my blessings, and catch up on some sleep!<div><br><img id="id_b524_af44_7460_c711" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jzDE3k0NVlE/WJ-o00mjewI/AAAAAAAAXMQ/osSNSiXsX9Q/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <div><br></div><div>I'm one finger typing on my DiPhone, on my way to Savannah, Georgia, and Quiltcon East, via Florida where I'm excited to be meeting up with Linda Hungerford (Flourishing Palms) for some adventures. <div><br></div><div>It's a strange feeling, after dreaming of making this trip for so long, and I can't believe I'll be landing in LA in just a few hours.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_cfcb_b928_7ab5_90f0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5CwiExyzMVM/WJ-o1HCeEDI/AAAAAAAAXMY/0OZwSO4Soj8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br><div><br></div><div>My Quiltcon entry, Levitation Fascination, wasn't one of the 400 or so modern quilts accepted into the show, but I'm OK with that since the standard was very high. It's already won me a rosette for Viewers' Choice at the Modern Quilt Show Australia last November, and I hope I can enter it in a few more shows yet.</div><div><br></div><div>Isn't that the cutest rosette you've ever seen? I'm looking forward to spending my prize, a $50 gift voucher from My Sewing Supplies, when I get back home.</div><div> </div><img id="id_d593_667f_cd89_a5b9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zmabZMaZ394/WJ-o2U0DptI/AAAAAAAAXMo/6sZ32Y-EP84/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <div><br></div><div>There will still be thrills ahead for us, and a potential prize winner, since one of Linda's three Quiltcon entries was selected for inclusion. Yay!</div><div><br></div><div>Also on our itinerary after Quiltcon is AQS Quilt Week at Daytona Beach, Florida. This time I'm extremely happy to tell you my other rosette winner from last year, Out of the Square, has been juried into the show, along with several others from Aussie quilters. There will certainly be plenty of quilty eye candy for this shutterbug to photograph, so watch this space!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b559_92b6_caa6_3ee5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fbajDDSELLY/WJ-o1FVpaxI/AAAAAAAAXMU/o9T8QPPkM4Q/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>Those fabulous rainbow shades are all from Karen Lewis' Blueberry Park range, and I love how they worked together.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_953a_48b2_bbd_521a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6G1vA-zZAjM/WJ-o1ibjydI/AAAAAAAAXMg/0F5F4CVWxbU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div><br></div><div>Out of the Square won the award at the Sydney Quilt Show for Best Modern Interpretation of a Traditional Quilt, sponsored by Melinda Smith of Quiltsmith, and I've already spent some of my $500 worth of gift vouchers on those glorious solids I used in Levitation Fascination. </div><div><br></div><div>As an aside, the wool batting I used in Out of the Square was Nu-Wool, of my Sydney Quilt Show prizes for Taking Liberties, my 3rd placed wall quilt from the year before. One quilt's rewards contributing to the creation of another - I love that! </div><div><br></div><div>If you're not a follower of my posts on Instagram you'll be reading most of this news of last year's awards for the first time. I certainly had some catching up to do! </div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For a litttle fun, here's a computer-generated pattern from www.makelight.com showing the colours I used in the quilts I posted on Instagram throughout the year.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">You're probably surprised at the amount of yellow, but I'm finding myself adding a little (or a lot!) of this sunny colour to most of my quilts these days.</span></div><div><img id="id_46ba_a7a1_20_53b1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImt1ynNe4rTzUqnh1SXnxkoQId4qNwMgwciX0iwSImxIGwIOyp-jd9OXBYWNzY-tLhlbppfoaJmSStap4_DvY7TSmG1VXbYSWBNFnmyTEcBInnGKMIMY9n9GqJpDc4IbL0slQuYxuZ6IE/" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div>At the same time I'm looking forward, hoping for a year of creative satisfaction - not necessarily involving awards!</div><div><br></div><div>How's this for creative satisfaction: my baby granddaughter, Princess 2, joyfully tossing around some of my pretty fabrics. I hope to make a quilter of her one day.</div><div> <br></div><img id="id_e789_484f_3722_ae47" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-crYoaW7VOHU/WJ-o14XhIWI/AAAAAAAAXMk/gypk-N6q1pk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <div><br></div><div>Last year I chose JOY as my Word for the Year. It didn't go too well. In my humble opinion, joy is something that has to be sought. It's there to be found, if we only approach what happens to us with the right attitude, and I confess I fell into the trap of negativity far too often last year.</div><div><br></div><div>So I'm once again making JOY my Word for the Year. Yes, I'm giving it another go, because it's worth finding.</div><div> <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><br></div></div></div></div></div>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-46882020249333303902016-11-30T20:07:00.003+11:002016-11-30T20:07:53.810+11:00Smiles all round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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What a day we had for our St Mark's Quilters Christmas break-up lunch recently! </div>
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The sun shone brightly, if a little too warmly, and we had all the essentials: puppies, yummy festive food, and lots of fabric. </div>
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Michaela's smile said it all, as she obligingly posed with her web-pieced kindy quilt (in progress) to show <a href="http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Linda Hungerford</a> how well she's put into practice her Stitchin' Mission lessons learnt seven years ago.</div>
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The only stony face in sight was this rather pensive fellow on the church wall.</div>
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We welcomed our newest recruit, Elsa, Di B's new golden retriever puppy, and I'm happy to say Chester was a complete gentleman. He even dressed for the occasion in his Christmas bandana, made by Di B. </div>
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After a tentative introduction the two of them went on to play happily all day.</div>
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Chester even allowed Elsa "win" their wrestling match.</div>
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With our Autism Puzzle quilt for The Marcia finished, this was the perfect opportunity to photograph it in the garden where the children play after church.</div>
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We're very happy with the way it's turned out. It's been a long time coming (we designed it ourselves) and in the new year we plan to present it to the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre to hang in their reception area.<br />
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Of course there were other beautiful new quilts too. Like this Blanket of Love from Sue M.</div>
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And this sunshiny one donated by our quilting friend Claire who made it in memory of her friend's little bub who passed away in childbirth. </div>
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Her friend didn't want a Blanket of Love for herself, preferring to have Claire donate it instead to RPA Hospital, so in a thoughtful gesture, Claire also made a perfect miniature version of this (already tiny) quilt to give to her friend to keep.</div>
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Gail O ran up this pirate quilt, sure to be a hit with a little person at The Marcia next year.<br />
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And Gillian couldn't "bear" to stop at just one teddy Blanket of Love.</div>
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There were more, but I'll pop them on our Blankets of Love and Kindy Quilts pages in the next few days where you can see them. Here's a little taste.</div>
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Lunch was a fancier affair than usual, as we co-ordinated to bring delicious food, both sweet and savoury, to create a Christmas party. The table looked wonderful!<br />
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I'm continually surprised to meet quilters, and hear that they follow Snippets 'n' Scraps and look forward to seeing what our St Mark's Quilters have been up to. It's incredibly heartwarming to our group, so we want to say a big "thank you" and wish you all a wonderful Christmas, wherever in the world you are.<br />
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May you know God's love for you at Christmas and always.<br />
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<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="http://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=2a6d503b-b025-4c15-91a0-6193f26e5367&type=blogger");</script>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-84894305061668402302016-11-09T13:55:00.000+11:002016-11-09T13:55:21.905+11:00We love our workThe cricket's on the radio, carols are playing in the supermarket, and there's barely a space left in my engagement calendar. Yes, Christmas is almost upon us, and with our Christmas break-up workshop and lunch this coming Saturday it's high time I caught up with sharing our St Mark's Quilters' October doings.<br />
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There were some truly amazing kindy quilt finishes.<br />
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Di B brought along her cot-sized Paint Box quilt, beautifully quilted on her domestic machine.<br />
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Sue M was working on the placement of pieces for her gorgeously scrappy hexagon "I Spy" quilt.</div>
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Michaela was stitching down the binding on her latest kindy quilt.</div>
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Perdita was cutting sashings.</div>
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And Michelle, Liz, Margaret and Gail were just concentrating hard. You'll see some of their beautiful finished work if you click on the Blankets of Love and Kindy Quilts for "The Marcia" tabs above.</div>
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Our lovely Barb usually drives down all the way from the Central Coast to be with us, but sadly she couldn't make it. </div>
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This time Susie W won the gold star for coming furthest - from Orange! We've missed Susie since she and her DH retired and drove off for a tree-change earlier this year, so it was wonderful to have her back, if only for a visit.</div>
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Di B and I continued our tag-team process as we started on the binding for the Autism Puzzle quilt we're making for the reception area of the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre at Liverpool.</div>
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Creating quilts always makes us happy. Sometimes it's laugh-out-loud happy, especially when we're working together. Sometimes not. </div>
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Even making a Blanket of Love gives us deep joy, trusting and praying it will warm the heart of a grieving parent. Only rarely, though, does it become 'personal'.</div>
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A friend contacted us recently with a special request. Some friends of hers had just lost their much-wanted and loved baby girl, born far too early, and she wondered if we had a Blanket of Love she could give them.</div>
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We chose this pretty starry hexagon quilt made by Gillian, stitched on a personalised label to the back, with the bub's name, and sent it to her parents (via our friend) with much love from St Mark's Quilters. </div>
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We've never met this family, but being able to make this little gesture felt so good. </div>
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One of my most satisfying quilt finishes this year has been these two cot-sized quilts I made for my young friend Alex's twin baby daughters.<br />
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Though they were possibly the worst kept secret ever because I couldn't resist sharing sneak peeks on Instagram, I wanted to wait until they were in Alex's hands before sharing here.<br />
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Alex likes to keep her home decor to a restrained palette of grey and white, with splashes of colour. So last year I made this grey, white and yellow quilt for her newborn baby boy, Atticus.</div>
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Knowing that this time she was expecting twin girls, and being something of a pink-lover myself, it was a no-brainer to choose a pink and grey colour scheme. </div>
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Both quilts consisted of basically the same design, scrappy triangles of pink bunting fused and machine appliquéd to a whole cloth background. The girls are fraternal twins, so I wanted their quilts to have a similar appearance so they look matching in their cots, but with easily spotted differences so there are no mix-ups when they're older and want to quickly grab their own quilt to snuggle under while watching TV.</div>
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This quilt belongs to baby Harper Emerson Indiana, and the background fabric is white dots on grey.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZ_EKUURnZpUsS7wJJKPIpHQ00ZD_-uzqpExl0FaCEPUiAGdgJMgU4g8mPd-BWR_z3-5J6EUac1YpA9PMn6xGvdVATZCR3KNgZ9hjgGcuXmesB0cfG9_L2OM4nIB-RKIqDA_Bg2hB2Dnp/s1600/IMG_0619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZ_EKUURnZpUsS7wJJKPIpHQ00ZD_-uzqpExl0FaCEPUiAGdgJMgU4g8mPd-BWR_z3-5J6EUac1YpA9PMn6xGvdVATZCR3KNgZ9hjgGcuXmesB0cfG9_L2OM4nIB-RKIqDA_Bg2hB2Dnp/s640/IMG_0619.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
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... and here is Harper asleep on her quilt. I like to think that's a tiny smile of contentment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEaGoDT09nYCNbA_30tXgZdxjeyoD-_ZvXXSisAl9n8mSAAI6Qd4Ka1pH8ZU790dBmmQY8FetJoedZIL0RQHgVk2emV9ANzfw7MnPO_P4CmzlYSfkwSpNa6t-xOT5zFMNYRDwrGqIZQTE/s1600/IMG_8344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEaGoDT09nYCNbA_30tXgZdxjeyoD-_ZvXXSisAl9n8mSAAI6Qd4Ka1pH8ZU790dBmmQY8FetJoedZIL0RQHgVk2emV9ANzfw7MnPO_P4CmzlYSfkwSpNa6t-xOT5zFMNYRDwrGqIZQTE/s400/IMG_8344.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The really fun part of making these quilts was being able to cut loose and try out lots of free motion quilting fillers. Some of the designs came out of my imagination, having seen something similar on the internet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAq9UAC4J5HcrvwTdlYCTXumff43pD5Arny4__Mzn7ZHvhy8ai-IGIs3sV-_SiuPNZWD5InLzE1ai_i85znbDCWxdDIi4sHtL3dQg35TIRTNwO1-YJNMi5RnQQByD_akt7srApYDzCctE/s1600/IMG_0620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAq9UAC4J5HcrvwTdlYCTXumff43pD5Arny4__Mzn7ZHvhy8ai-IGIs3sV-_SiuPNZWD5InLzE1ai_i85znbDCWxdDIi4sHtL3dQg35TIRTNwO1-YJNMi5RnQQByD_akt7srApYDzCctE/s400/IMG_0620.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I like the way the matchstick quilting lines in this circle throw the flying geese design up into relief.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWF6IVXV_MldGyZvVXl76ijKeUFtlXTGqFsxa9djuTaszht-khb-oqWT03Oi1AD5rcbmNtpFAdEj1pT1TGQf5s_czAnzS5JIjPoQG4YmRpGJddcXC9UNcMinmyk-hpvpi3EF6kYRk71Ol/s1600/IMG_0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWF6IVXV_MldGyZvVXl76ijKeUFtlXTGqFsxa9djuTaszht-khb-oqWT03Oi1AD5rcbmNtpFAdEj1pT1TGQf5s_czAnzS5JIjPoQG4YmRpGJddcXC9UNcMinmyk-hpvpi3EF6kYRk71Ol/s320/IMG_0621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some designs, like this next one, were created with some high tech help, in the form of the Westalee Spin-e-fex Snowflake templates. Along with a ruler foot to my sit-down domestic sewing machine, a vintage Bernina 1230, it was really quite easy to stitch this pattern.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv61K7gBNUNqKfql6BddbeEQ4sZSL6_eekL6aiCKwDGHPc5S4X6Nz9lv1dLncY_zlzuiCCh1ONOv9E1KIG6iXDyk5n-dxEEua0GgMxbGRE76WVv5Yo035LSnhIXxwNzcLRg6DrAYxFIG9/s1600/IMG_0622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv61K7gBNUNqKfql6BddbeEQ4sZSL6_eekL6aiCKwDGHPc5S4X6Nz9lv1dLncY_zlzuiCCh1ONOv9E1KIG6iXDyk5n-dxEEua0GgMxbGRE76WVv5Yo035LSnhIXxwNzcLRg6DrAYxFIG9/s320/IMG_0622.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But not all my tools were sophisticated. I also had some very low tech help, five bowls of assorted diameters that I kept close at hand and drew around (with my Sewline air-erasable pen) whenever I needed a new circle. It's fun to improvise!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NyQW4vNtaXxhSuwELAAvcJPKzYBsTHAp36H2JWoM4MGtgMvDtfyGil6t-qLDgbwfhFWIVsTjzMdpPZYc1GDFUEHsL3w3hLS5pNsXiwb4UNBCi-nseIJZKhVlk8e5FHFTXpVi0tocFemm/s1600/Circles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NyQW4vNtaXxhSuwELAAvcJPKzYBsTHAp36H2JWoM4MGtgMvDtfyGil6t-qLDgbwfhFWIVsTjzMdpPZYc1GDFUEHsL3w3hLS5pNsXiwb4UNBCi-nseIJZKhVlk8e5FHFTXpVi0tocFemm/s320/Circles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This quilt belongs to baby Calliope Florence Eleanora, and the background fabric consists of tiny white stars on grey.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dCSh35PiQq6g4Oa7mnKnl0xEyw5hlwYYC9ob4PcTCwu5U4Of6AAk6A8fPk4DiMemtpbIhDpYJuz4uKp9XtY5wihUMGsGqFMdQBaQj0mRHWdGAwwq5HjC4Boh9bdQs9Wv6sGnSDLLjQ7_/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dCSh35PiQq6g4Oa7mnKnl0xEyw5hlwYYC9ob4PcTCwu5U4Of6AAk6A8fPk4DiMemtpbIhDpYJuz4uKp9XtY5wihUMGsGqFMdQBaQj0mRHWdGAwwq5HjC4Boh9bdQs9Wv6sGnSDLLjQ7_/s640/IMG_0623.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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...and here's Calliope herself, fast asleep like her sister :-)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vDemUTDRjYEKP-UWkUHAdxJd2s3fhj3uzsWo1ZLsEVRO9dFnV-jzgA6RxhKIiRn1bFouB4Vs10Ig425lgl7SmczaN9xHCiyj_rYVtTq_YJP8_pXOymU5TJOAO1Ptc7pJo4nQNQIom7jX/s1600/IMG_8346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vDemUTDRjYEKP-UWkUHAdxJd2s3fhj3uzsWo1ZLsEVRO9dFnV-jzgA6RxhKIiRn1bFouB4Vs10Ig425lgl7SmczaN9xHCiyj_rYVtTq_YJP8_pXOymU5TJOAO1Ptc7pJo4nQNQIom7jX/s400/IMG_8346.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Grey is such a useful shade, and a great foil for any colour, whether pastel or bright, but it's not very easy to photograph. So here are a few more detail shots showing the quilting more clearly from the back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xS21HiVgGIxlQPvJvZ07S-LIphejkU1ABzsjGmsV5LOXgTMNCn9DKJlG7onI2RMhRCjZfYHqAsI9ZF1nyKkmmJ2mfOnxogW1CKqvYyouWc1620zgR3qMSTq63FvhSCDVwBwpCyK995so/s1600/IMG_0625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xS21HiVgGIxlQPvJvZ07S-LIphejkU1ABzsjGmsV5LOXgTMNCn9DKJlG7onI2RMhRCjZfYHqAsI9ZF1nyKkmmJ2mfOnxogW1CKqvYyouWc1620zgR3qMSTq63FvhSCDVwBwpCyK995so/s400/IMG_0625.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCggxBCkRxwnJ35_M_cfCFAX-3i4R2dqUfaO97AsiFtliA6dSLz6EP4FBAGHS8kV5afdOA7MADNj9RYfPmXiqjAUskyjTY3HswFoECi6fUutb0UHxcx7ZoxPBMAuWm6cp8WtgpeNALC6id/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCggxBCkRxwnJ35_M_cfCFAX-3i4R2dqUfaO97AsiFtliA6dSLz6EP4FBAGHS8kV5afdOA7MADNj9RYfPmXiqjAUskyjTY3HswFoECi6fUutb0UHxcx7ZoxPBMAuWm6cp8WtgpeNALC6id/s400/IMG_0626.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yFleNp6YPEWV6Bh7X7GYEctB3Th9i29faNgr1-m6Rxh23aA2MTm904UJ6lC1X8fJIILx6Gg6q7lhMkbsuE6OOjxCkze6eHeJi_lnBQV9TNVUVCoivhuQZ9h7lHRAI_-7kiBY2UicgJMX/s1600/IMG_0628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yFleNp6YPEWV6Bh7X7GYEctB3Th9i29faNgr1-m6Rxh23aA2MTm904UJ6lC1X8fJIILx6Gg6q7lhMkbsuE6OOjxCkze6eHeJi_lnBQV9TNVUVCoivhuQZ9h7lHRAI_-7kiBY2UicgJMX/s400/IMG_0628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh, I do love how Harper and Calliope are already snuggling into their new quilts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOZs7pNF4uu50Lfg4CfkZbjOmXkjICBLpCrCAzh0F1I2EGmg1sKfIEtMpw318l6ZB0lsloCkVe5_WHEaQnUz4EkV7hN9ct6bUGTVQ3w4NgBEKDflFQZyo2PvqXn7lvMfYns9spYfD0TX8/s1600/IMG_8349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOZs7pNF4uu50Lfg4CfkZbjOmXkjICBLpCrCAzh0F1I2EGmg1sKfIEtMpw318l6ZB0lsloCkVe5_WHEaQnUz4EkV7hN9ct6bUGTVQ3w4NgBEKDflFQZyo2PvqXn7lvMfYns9spYfD0TX8/s320/IMG_8349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggch9UsUawrACv_4JCOWZCZud9HFs71olHLcwdz5NMlOFfFpzNb3sP4UYvMrFkM6185_DyiHaVrLXMmPFFay1Z4fHUhbrObVzOFIWwqFo4LZaRsV_IOwIo1I7u_4jYQUxodBCDZ1EQDE6M/s1600/IMG_8351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggch9UsUawrACv_4JCOWZCZud9HFs71olHLcwdz5NMlOFfFpzNb3sP4UYvMrFkM6185_DyiHaVrLXMmPFFay1Z4fHUhbrObVzOFIWwqFo4LZaRsV_IOwIo1I7u_4jYQUxodBCDZ1EQDE6M/s320/IMG_8351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harper's Quilt</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calliope's Quilt<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">* * * * *</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-10926396637124241412016-09-22T14:49:00.000+10:002016-09-22T14:51:08.503+10:00Happy birthday, Di B!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's my colourful quilting buddy Di B's birthday today, so this post is all about her.</div>
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She's far too modest about her amazing quilt making talent, and doesn't have a blog of her own, so by way of a birthday surprise I'd like to share her latest, and greatest, quilt finish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXZbCO75RqaXOXBp6iTfO0tsd-DLL5U3bZkAovMKNdqYFlNHzqDf3_8muKlDrkftV_cQornhUVbainXiUQRd5Dhk_5gewS6QNoS9YxcdCETdEVEH22VVtXzRXcKxiRPK6Qa7eUFMKRvdo/s1600/DSC_0344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXZbCO75RqaXOXBp6iTfO0tsd-DLL5U3bZkAovMKNdqYFlNHzqDf3_8muKlDrkftV_cQornhUVbainXiUQRd5Dhk_5gewS6QNoS9YxcdCETdEVEH22VVtXzRXcKxiRPK6Qa7eUFMKRvdo/s640/DSC_0344.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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For her version of <a href="http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/" target="_blank">Julie Herman's Jaybird Quilts</a> pattern, Arcade Game, Di carefully chose fabrics from <a href="http://www.karenlewistextiles.com/" target="_blank">Karen Lewis</a>' Blueberry Park range in shades that would combine to accentuate the 3 dimensional effect of the baby blocks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_TNoVkId8aqD2GhyphenhyphenLa8ypbZehsQqLZcYW6EhbGyYlt9Ode5byuH4NuYV7KvXtG1wIj2YjFuqRwTg1PvOJ_0ZOPEr5AShxIcRj1voYHo0oJEtHMCzpYn3amlOrtApm5hVRNU8kFOBMeqr/s1600/DSC_0352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_TNoVkId8aqD2GhyphenhyphenLa8ypbZehsQqLZcYW6EhbGyYlt9Ode5byuH4NuYV7KvXtG1wIj2YjFuqRwTg1PvOJ_0ZOPEr5AShxIcRj1voYHo0oJEtHMCzpYn3amlOrtApm5hVRNU8kFOBMeqr/s400/DSC_0352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The day of our photo shoot couldn't have been more perfect, with plenty of sunshine to light up those colours and reveal the fabulous custom quilting by <a href="http://www.artisan-quilting.com.au/" target="_blank">Linda Billett of Artisan Quilting</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAApaleBPNEC_zhVhrC6tFCFS2WaJhYEmJWFsEoNY7gqxkFDzlSGpF2W9n1VQWfam3v3uxLrZYbWV1vkhztgdMyrCQfiMOEUv5fI4DllazLUhv-VQI3eTTQHwDfpe63oraOeqXqHn8a1Z/s1600/DSC_0393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAApaleBPNEC_zhVhrC6tFCFS2WaJhYEmJWFsEoNY7gqxkFDzlSGpF2W9n1VQWfam3v3uxLrZYbWV1vkhztgdMyrCQfiMOEUv5fI4DllazLUhv-VQI3eTTQHwDfpe63oraOeqXqHn8a1Z/s400/DSC_0393.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0wPLVYaNHizVPMPZa6iVz3iKlzupGaKGyRTO5d2ZGE9mboWouNsj19cZIq1m77cpZeYi_SgvJrCnjFPptidrp9aghoBlWOSrw532rVI5VLgu9cOjGsNuG2kakoY_0as19rdjHHOfFx4y/s1600/DSC_0373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0wPLVYaNHizVPMPZa6iVz3iKlzupGaKGyRTO5d2ZGE9mboWouNsj19cZIq1m77cpZeYi_SgvJrCnjFPptidrp9aghoBlWOSrw532rVI5VLgu9cOjGsNuG2kakoY_0as19rdjHHOfFx4y/s400/DSC_0373.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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With Sydney Harbour's deep blue water glinting below a perfectly cloudless sky it was this photographer's dream setting. </div>
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In an effort to be a little "arty farty" we draped the quilt over a garden bench.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewhdkMXftBQDRVBpn8PNIpNgSOEp9HzjhN3_HiJadooHnqzgdf1PBN6LvFO2XWSNnS0uU6l55F03trBBQsF1QD7QyWiRqR9Fjtoy_CK49OV-s54rDkVlXW6uiu7XwD5mFAUgN_ied-8eK/s1600/DSC_0349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewhdkMXftBQDRVBpn8PNIpNgSOEp9HzjhN3_HiJadooHnqzgdf1PBN6LvFO2XWSNnS0uU6l55F03trBBQsF1QD7QyWiRqR9Fjtoy_CK49OV-s54rDkVlXW6uiu7XwD5mFAUgN_ied-8eK/s640/DSC_0349.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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We tossed it nonchalantly over the rails of the jetty.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHELIXnHH-vvU0bfedB9dhD2BkGLnMamCnIlVrWC5my9JbOxmpgRbT50EbY9wO2QtU2OLgJdNFLCzARTcbbz4O8fPubj_cBSBnvW5HnJLpWa-DdsVPB0Io_6C6Xs3n8-4Bo7eoGTFwaFv/s1600/DSC_0364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHELIXnHH-vvU0bfedB9dhD2BkGLnMamCnIlVrWC5my9JbOxmpgRbT50EbY9wO2QtU2OLgJdNFLCzARTcbbz4O8fPubj_cBSBnvW5HnJLpWa-DdsVPB0Io_6C6Xs3n8-4Bo7eoGTFwaFv/s640/DSC_0364.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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We spread it over a table.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzFeWkWbsjiD23k4_jRBUOlA7xIady0iunHzKlr8gQ_SkpGD8_GQxprt3FPhbWCMIuxne_elX64vruKELd7EOGd35fGbrFZ_VRXFVfzmv9xrllDnKUHd1MfpH3rUEco6nbbvswC4PiUhx/s1600/DSC_0372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzFeWkWbsjiD23k4_jRBUOlA7xIady0iunHzKlr8gQ_SkpGD8_GQxprt3FPhbWCMIuxne_elX64vruKELd7EOGd35fGbrFZ_VRXFVfzmv9xrllDnKUHd1MfpH3rUEco6nbbvswC4PiUhx/s640/DSC_0372.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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And I imagined it as an inviting tablecloth with a party of friends gathered around for brunch in the sun. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8083bZ8wHnkOO8fNSSnPSaLlWHiUcjVXsyrBEIPQT672vFL-7tQHKoAmBUexULGAU_tF1yuesJMGJrPQYL_ss_V5QjEHcgQlNnPOt8vJ8AlQDxxmds9dQ3kE1ncNg0elf8-RqPAjdx7H/s1600/DSC_0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8083bZ8wHnkOO8fNSSnPSaLlWHiUcjVXsyrBEIPQT672vFL-7tQHKoAmBUexULGAU_tF1yuesJMGJrPQYL_ss_V5QjEHcgQlNnPOt8vJ8AlQDxxmds9dQ3kE1ncNg0elf8-RqPAjdx7H/s640/DSC_0377.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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This quilt, however, was destined for something much more special. Di made it with great love for her grand-niece, Annemieke, who lives in Holland.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0wPLVYaNHizVPMPZa6iVz3iKlzupGaKGyRTO5d2ZGE9mboWouNsj19cZIq1m77cpZeYi_SgvJrCnjFPptidrp9aghoBlWOSrw532rVI5VLgu9cOjGsNuG2kakoY_0as19rdjHHOfFx4y/s1600/DSC_0373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0wPLVYaNHizVPMPZa6iVz3iKlzupGaKGyRTO5d2ZGE9mboWouNsj19cZIq1m77cpZeYi_SgvJrCnjFPptidrp9aghoBlWOSrw532rVI5VLgu9cOjGsNuG2kakoY_0as19rdjHHOfFx4y/s400/DSC_0373.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcR-DgeTS1AiIQVVwII8-yfER5MHZfVJkPWlVLyRFe4rK8Gr9FaIrjIY6ungo45XZwG7JcZMatsRpfGXO26g5RV-Eskx9u3rxoR3GYWk7_Zkb9PIGpuQ3iShrq2HdrXIFIogEuO02vv6w/s1600/DSC_0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcR-DgeTS1AiIQVVwII8-yfER5MHZfVJkPWlVLyRFe4rK8Gr9FaIrjIY6ungo45XZwG7JcZMatsRpfGXO26g5RV-Eskx9u3rxoR3GYWk7_Zkb9PIGpuQ3iShrq2HdrXIFIogEuO02vv6w/s320/DSC_0395.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Faced with many colours, and wondering which one to pick for the binding, Di chose this fun stripe and used them all! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXTEMkdIbyKG6cwpRrqYb5rRlVJQRWWQUMhyK01s_JcozXjltUGo00zkrxpm8CW32o8wCJd6QSBSUQ3FvZeh6s7Sxl_0kUhqdjqhdmFVaA5TPOmbRPwXZXEba-mtharue3iUmlNyp7_g3/s1600/DSC_0402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXTEMkdIbyKG6cwpRrqYb5rRlVJQRWWQUMhyK01s_JcozXjltUGo00zkrxpm8CW32o8wCJd6QSBSUQ3FvZeh6s7Sxl_0kUhqdjqhdmFVaA5TPOmbRPwXZXEba-mtharue3iUmlNyp7_g3/s400/DSC_0402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc1G4ozDXpztYMGSRCOv1xPlkroWk4oB56oskt9bGIZ7VqV9bT8h0jMX841SoJ4k9B2pulVBmIXCD4D1U98PVuU4vVvtyXxhZEi229o5YYUPP-HMngUeFJLZKe9Se1bAtdnr9KgVZ3M47/s1600/DSC_0404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc1G4ozDXpztYMGSRCOv1xPlkroWk4oB56oskt9bGIZ7VqV9bT8h0jMX841SoJ4k9B2pulVBmIXCD4D1U98PVuU4vVvtyXxhZEi229o5YYUPP-HMngUeFJLZKe9Se1bAtdnr9KgVZ3M47/s320/DSC_0404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All that Aussie sunshine has now been wrapped up in this beautiful quilt, and it's settled into its new home, on a little girl's bed on the other side of the world.</div>
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Did Annemieke like her new quilt? </div>
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No ....... she <i><b>LOVED</b></i> it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAePWjkvtT99HxEWFnGbLwUdiF55hPl-cKiRATJTojqfSE2Xgrnn3LXcg_psvtUL6n4lMij3sdrIIakYFT4yeedz7w5CNopstnJSfbFi0Eusf047H1Tc_iAeXghfQg72ZY4m2W5K-v4RL/s1600/DSC_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAePWjkvtT99HxEWFnGbLwUdiF55hPl-cKiRATJTojqfSE2Xgrnn3LXcg_psvtUL6n4lMij3sdrIIakYFT4yeedz7w5CNopstnJSfbFi0Eusf047H1Tc_iAeXghfQg72ZY4m2W5K-v4RL/s400/DSC_0339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Take a bow, Di B, you deserve it. </div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">H</span><span style="color: orange;">A</span><span style="color: lime;">P</span><span style="color: blue;">P</span><span style="color: magenta;">Y</span><span style="color: red;"> B</span><span style="color: orange;">I</span><span style="color: lime;">R</span><span style="color: cyan;">T</span><span style="color: magenta;">H</span><span style="color: blue;">D</span><span style="color: red;">A</span><span style="color: orange;">Y</span><span style="color: red;">!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW23MgC_kjp1o7hofxCtE61M7QpcZEqrvLGGcJSa_S4NzRqzrX1EvCE7Jpx3kzSk9Rflg7T4aNXnMd5uAmqQTAzl_urKOHCUR5ekJESTiwfhorh0P1-xEF3xp0-S-jvNdDPL5fe8KJ9aR/s1600/DSC_0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW23MgC_kjp1o7hofxCtE61M7QpcZEqrvLGGcJSa_S4NzRqzrX1EvCE7Jpx3kzSk9Rflg7T4aNXnMd5uAmqQTAzl_urKOHCUR5ekJESTiwfhorh0P1-xEF3xp0-S-jvNdDPL5fe8KJ9aR/s400/DSC_0361.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<script type="text/javascript">var _sttoolbar = {}</script><script src="https://w.sharethis.com/widget/stblogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">stBlogger.init("http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=2a6d503b-b025-4c15-91a0-6193f26e5367&type=blogger");</script>Dihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13889316253491109814noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621431637562254150.post-13110239466793511692016-09-11T00:38:00.000+10:002016-09-11T00:38:56.526+10:00Fast forwardWhile our industrious St Mark's Quilters have been working hard over the past two<br />
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months, I've been a tad slack as far as blogging is concerned. So here's a quick catch-up ...<br />
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Quilting is always a perfect midwinter activity, made even more enjoyable when it's shared with friends.<br />
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We've tried new techniques and designs, like Di B's free motion quilting.<br />
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And Sue M's oversized "I Spy" hexies, the perfect way to use novelty scraps. I can't wait to see this one finished!</div>
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Don't you just love Gail O's hand pieced diamonds using these sweet Lucy Atwell style fabrics teamed with fresh minty green?</div>
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<i> </i>We've also encouraged each other, like Margaret admiring the quilt Michelle is making for her grandson. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We've hand stitched plenty of bindings.</span></div>
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We've made a start on a special quilt for the reception area at The Marcia.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">And w</span>e've kept our energy up with some truly delicious baked goods from the kitchens of our quilters.</div>
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Most importantly of all, we've enjoyed being together, sharing a laugh, and helping others by creating some amazing quilts.</div>
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The 'icing on the cake', so to speak, was when we received this beautiful 'thank you' gift from the KU Marcia Burgess kindy, for autistic children, a folder full of heartwarming photos of the little recipients of our quilts. </div>
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To see the individual finished quilts, pop over to the <b><span style="color: red;">Blankets of Love</span></b> and <b><span style="color: red;">Kindy Quilts for The Marcia</span></b> pages (see tabs above). </div>
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