Does it look the same #2

This time it's a Bill Granger peach cake

Let Me Count The Ways

I love half square triangles. They are so versatile and fun to use but I have never made a whole quilt using them. As I was in need of a project over the summer I had a go using a lovely pile of green fat quarters gifted to me by lovely Sew and Sews member, Michelle. And with scraps of cream solid I started my triangles with no idea where I would end up. And what fun I had.... I discovered a lovely pattern and quickly completed a flimsy. I love it......

A Quickie

Cushions are such a fun and quick way to say thank you or happy birthdayy. I had a lot of fun making these cushions for my friend Lee from G'Day Brooklyn. The fabric is the fabulous Surface Art material. They had a sale near my house recently and I bought a kilo of fabric....

Why We Do What We Do- or how do I pay for this.....

There is a constant conversation between quilters as to what makes us quilt - why do we do it.  For me I love the mechanics of choosing fabrics and patterns and the satisfaction of seeing it come together. The final quilt is just the end point - but sometimes you can have too many 'end points' in the house. I have made enough over the last three years to fill my house with quilts for every purpose and I have given as many as I can for birthdays, babies and friends. The issue for me becomes how to make this a sustainable hobby that doesn't drain the family coffers - I am always being told - they are so lovely why don't you sell them..but it is not that simple. My experience on made it was disastrous and my market experience was not much better.  But the economic reality is that the cost of the material, batting and cotton for a good quality quilt with Adelaide bought fabrics runs into the $100s and adding the cost of time onto this makes my work too expensive for most people. I love making scrap quilts for friends and colleagues from the bits left over from other quilts and that is something I am always happy to do  for example every single piece of the quilt I made for Fee came from left overs from other quilts) But there are times when one longs to work with brand new fabrics, planned and considered as a whole. The answer to me is low cost commissioning.  Making quilts for people that covers the cost of the fabrics, cotton and batting giving me the chance to buy and sew with glorious materials and leaving lovely scraps to make other quilts as well. I know it is not an economic way to ' make money' but is a lovely way to make items that people want and fund my hobby. So I am up for the challenge. Here are a few of the quilts I have made for the cost of materials only and I am still so happy they are wanted and loved

..... anyone out there want a quilt?

Home James

I have mentioned before the work of Fee Plumley, Technoevangelist and her project the really big road trip. Last October on a train travelling to Strathalbyn I offered to make her a quilt. It's taken a while but it has been lots of fun. Scraps and bits from all my other quilts and my first go at applique. Her logo was huge and red and fun and although the direction is a bit skewed it looks like the real thing. 

It was a great summer project and today at Writers Week I finally caught up with Fee to give her the quilt.  There's a grin on her face to show how much liked it and it was fun to make a quilt for a gift that was appreciated. Next Monday as part of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations she is out again doing knitting and crotchet and sewing with Canberra crafties. I'm sure they will all have a great time and I wish I was there....