Still Quilting!

Hi there friends, I'm still quilting here, hand quilting of course, and it takes time. I'm out to the margin of the quilt on two sides, and I'm beyond thrilled with how it's looking:

I took this picture under the ott-lite I quilt with, so the fabrics are looking all washed out - it's much more vibrant in real life :-)

Let's hope I can get some more done tonight - I'm sure I have the energy. After an early start for Camo's tennis this morning I had a nap this afternoon, and right now I'm all hopped up on caffeine!!

In tennis news, Camo had two big wins this morning, he and his partner won their doubles 6-2, and then he won his singles 6-3 against a boy he hasn't won against before. So proud!

There is not much more to share in pictures at the moment, but I did see something fun recently - almost like a quilt sighting:

While quilting one night I was watching the old original Footloose movie, and there the scene where the kids are moving the flour sacks around before the big dance, I noticed that the sacks were patterned like the feed-sacks of old. I have a small collection of feed-sack fabrics, but I didn't know they were used so recently. How fun!

And the final thing for today, on Thursday evening I gave a talk to the ladies of the Quilters Guild about my journey as a vintage style quilter. They asked me last year, and I really only left my preparation to a week before the presentation. I was beyond nervous - it's hard to get on stage in front of up to 200 ladies, but it was actually really fun and everyone laughed in all the right places. I call it a success, and I needn't be so nervous if I need to do a talk in future.

Well, that's it from me, I'm heading back to the quilting hoop. Chatter soon!

Random bits and pieces ...

First up, I would like to wish all the wonderful Mothers out there a very happy Mothers Day for tomorrow, I'm very much looking forward to spending the day with my little people, my Mum and my Nanna, it's going to be a great day. I hope you all get to spend some time with, or be in touch with those that you love! <3 p="">
Since I was away, after seeing so many wonderful quilts and fabulous fabric eye candy, the only thing I've been interested in doing was attacking my stash and getting some piecing done. But before I start something new, I really MUST finish something else, so I've been working hard at the appliqué on my Montmellick top:

The finish line is now drawing so near that I can almost taste it. There are only the corner blocks to complete appliquéing, and then the final border to add. This project will be hand quilted, so it's not really a finish soon, but the top is in the last stages of completion, and that makes me happy!

And while I've been stitching away, I've had company. It seems like Gracie will call any surface a comfy bed:

I wonder what she was looking at? Because she was deliberately not looking at the person behind the camera! This is the trolley I purchased recently, but had deliberated over for a while - can I tell you that I'm just thrilled that I bought it! It has been so very handy, and great for keeping bits and pieces tidy and ready to put away at a moments notice. Thrilled!!

And while stitching last night, I noticed something I hadn't seen in quite a while ... a quilt sighting on the TV:

I do wish TV pictures didn't come out so blurry - but I'm glad I managed to get it somewhat. This sighting was on the movie 'The Birdcage' - an oldie but a goodie. Do you remember it? It stars Robin Williams and Nathan Lane - and this is the father of of the bride (Gene Hackman) fleeing thru a window. I hadn't seen the movie in a long time, and certainly never noticed the quilt in this scene before. It looks like a variable star set on point. A lovely two colour vintage looking quilt.

In other news - my week has been busy getting back up to speed with kid stuff, sport, work and guild - and I'm just now starting to feel like my fabulous holiday was an amazing daydream. I still have much to share, and I'll just show a couple of bits and pieces from the five days I spent visiting with my wonderful friend Linda at her home in San Jose.

Linda was such a great friend to take me out and about to lots of shops I wanted to visit - I always like to get to the Walmarts to pick up cosmetic/toiletry items that I just cant get here - visits to Costco, Kohls, Nordstrom Rack and Macys were on the cards too. We visited the outlets in Gilroy - I spent a lot of time at the Coach, Levi, Gap, New Balance and Forever 21 stores. Heavens, I think I accrued half my luggage allowance in this first week!

Here are the shoes that came home with me ... only six pairs!

Since I've been home, I've been going thru my shoe collection, and I've already sorted some for the trash/donation. It's a tough job, but I really must do it.

I spent moments at home in the sunshine while Linda was working - I always love to be on squirrel patrol in the yard.

I realise that squirrels are really kind of a pest in the USA and other places, but we just don't have them here in Oz. Personally, I think they're kind of adorable - but I've never been up too close and personal with one - I may have a different perspective then :-)

On Tuesday evening I was able to visit with Linda's quilt group, and I could hand out the spiderweb placemats I had made for them all. I do love to make gifts for people, and I was so thrilled when Gerri and Nancy presented me with a table runner they had made for me:

Isn't it just lovely? The fabrics are just gorgeous, and it's pieced and quilted so nicely - thank you so much Gerri and Nancy! xox

We were able to visit some more with Gerri at the quilt store she works at later in the week, and that is when I posted the picture of the tumblers up on the design wall from a few posts ago.

Santana Row was also on the list of places we visited during the week: a delightful high end shopping mall:

We both laid a few dollars down in Crate and Barrel, had the most amazing coffees and pastries at the Left Bank Brasserie ... and I tried on the  most gorgeous shoes in Kate Spade ... which were sadly not in my budget on the day ... but I have pinned them to drool over in the future :-)

Linda and I did so many other fun things together that week - we went and saw Cinderella at the movies, had pedicures, lunched out at every opportunity, and just generally hung out together. The things girlfriends do all the time - but all the more special because we don't get to see each other that often.

Then on Saturday, we set of for our adventure in Memphis ... and I'll fill you in on that next time!! Chatter soon! xox

Quilt Sighting #6 and Appliqué Update

It has been a while since I've reported a quilt sighting - though I have had a few that I've forgotten to report. Has anyone seen the quilt on the episode of Auction Hunters? It had motorcycle parts wrapped in it. Ohhh the horror! I was in such shock that I forgot to take a picture ... but anyways ...

This quilt was in a recent rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond. If I recall correctly, I think it was the episode where they decide to be healthy at Thanksgiving. It's such a sweet quilt, take a look:

I've always wanted to make a Lone Star quilt, I've made a block or two, and of course the tree skirts, but never a whole quilt. Some day it will happen, you just can't rush these things ...

And here's where I'm up to with the BOM appliqué. It's fair to say that I've relaxed a little about the broderie perse - I'm not being as fussy with it, and it's actually coming along quite well.

Does anyone know if the size of the flower motifs is exactly the same between the Dutch Chintz and the Petra Prinz fabrics? With some of my motifs there is just no way that the pieces would fit in the spaces between the stems, or between the stems and the scallops. I wondered if the chintz flowers and leaves were maybe a little larger ... but I'm fairly certain the answer is that my placement is not quite good enough. I've used different motifs where things just won't fit, and I'm happy with how it's coming along.

I've now seen part two of this project, and I'm really looking forward to getting started on it - must finish the first instalment though! Chatter soon xox

Quilt Sighting #5

On Sunday I flipped on the TV after being out for the aftenoon, and caught the very last part of the movie 'Little Women'. I had no idea it was on, or I'd have Tivo'd it. This was the version with Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon.

It was just playing the scene where sadly Beth is dying. It always chokes me up, but I held it together enough to get a few snaps of the quilt on her bed. It looks so pretty, I wish I could see it better. 

The quilt looks like it has been beautifully hand quilted, and you can see a little of the applique in the next picture. Such a sad scene.

I'll have to make sure to see this movie again in its entirety, as many ladies have commented on the quilts that feature in it.

So, before the movie, Kath and I were visiting Wohlers that Sunday, I've been on the lookout for a candelabra  I didn't find what I was looking for on the day - but they called the next day to let me know they'd found some for me - they're not really vintage looking - so I'm not sure they're exactly what I'm thinking of, so I will probably keep looking. I sadly missed out on one today at auction, but I still have two and a half weeks to find the perfect thing. We're having a formal dinner party again, and IMHO half of the fun is the planning and searching for the perfect things.

Better run, Lizzy is on her way over - time for some stitching and to catch up on all the news! xox

Quilt Sighting #4

We got one! I mentioned this quilt in my first 'Quilt Sighting' post - it's the gorgeous one from 'When Harry Met Sally'. I remember the first time I glimpsed it - it was love at first sight!

Appliqué has always been a love of mine, and maybe, just maybe I'll make a replica some day. I'll have to watch some more and see if I can get an idea of what the sides of the quilt look like. I'm not sure if the picture above indicates half blocks around the edge, or if there are full blocks and a whole lot more bed we're not seeing. I'm on the case people!

Sightings ... two kinds!

I have a feeling that I'll be seeing quilts EVERYWHERE now! While watching a Tivo'd episode of Frasier the other day, I caught a glimpse of yet another quilt. This one was in the episode called 'Momma Mia' where Frasier and his date are visiting a country cabin.

Something I have just learned with my TV - when you pause it - it blurs. Not cool!

And here is my blurry close up. It looks like a Puss in the Corner block with alternate Pinwheel blocks. Cute :-) Have you been watching out for quilt sightings? Any you want to share??

On to a completely different topic: Of course you know that I'm a fiend for shoes - I was shopping at the plaza today, and these sweeties stopped me dead in my tracks! And when I learned that they were reduced from $120.00 to $23.00, well, it would have been irresponsible to leave them there! Perfect for the party we're going to tonight - every girl needs a bit of bling!

Alrighty, it's Camo pickup time, better run! Chatter soon :-)

And more!

How fun that I'm not the only 'quilt spotter' out and about. Of course I knew I wouldn't be, but what I didn't realise is how many quilts have been spotted - there are so many! I've been thinking on it since I posted about the movie quilt, and wouldn't it be a fun job to be a stylist on a movie set? I'd love that kind of work ... but not a lot of call for it here in 'lil 'ole Adelaide I'm sure :-)

And in a complete act of serendipity, the movie 'The Proposal' was on TV tonight - it was much mentioned in the comments of the last post. I tried my best for you, and got a super blurry picture of the quilt. May I present the Babymaker! My picture does it no justice - it was beautiful to see. While I'm on the subject of beautiful things to see ... Lordy, has Ryan Reynolds always been so ummm defined?? Hello abs, very nice to see you!!

Anyways, back to the quilt :-) ... I Tivo'ed the movie, so I'll try and get a better pic on the weekend - it's not easy. My hat is off to blogs like Hooked on Houses who always get great interior shots from movie houses. This quilt spotting could become my cardio I'm thinking ... yeah ... I clearly need some exercise *lol*

And just to show that I haven't been watching movies and slacking off 24/7, here is where I'm up to with my hexagons for Mrs Billings final border. I'm officially half way! YAY!

I also have some shopping spoils to share, but it's getting late here, so I'll save them for the next post. Chatter soon! xox

A fun find ...

So, I've been piecing and working on hexagons lately ... the same stuff I seem to have been working on forever! I promise when I have something noteworthy to share, I really will share it!

And because I seem to have a very short attention span, I've done things in-between like: Clean out the Tupperware cupboard (OMG!), rearrange my thread rack into colours (LOL), and a little bit more noteworthy, dumped a whole pile of old pictures out of the iPhone. Which brings me to my pictures ...

Quite a while ago, I was watching "You've Got Mail" on the TV, and at the point in the movie when Kathleen is home sick. When the doorbell rings, she gets out of bed, and OMG! Quilt sighting!!

How cute! Looks vintage! Must make!

I was pausing the TV all over the place and trying to take pictures - probably confused the Tivo terribly, but I got my (blurry) close-up too. I'm still in love with this quilt, and it's somewhere on my ever-growing 'must make' list.

Isn't it fun to have quilt sightings on the TV and in the movies? I have a feeling there was a really neat applique quilt in 'When Harry met Sally' too. Do you watch for quilt sightings? Do you have a favourite? :-)