What a wonderful year it has been!

A highlight has been teaching classes at Material Obsession. It's always a joy to walk into a shop filled to the brim with inspiring fabrics,  the smiling faces of the fabulous MO team and of course sewing with the lovely, creative women in my classes. 

I always enjoy seeing the quilts hanging at the entrance of Material Obsession. They get swapped around so there are always new ones to see. This is Kathy Doughty's version of Denyse Schmidt's Single Girl quilt pattern. Such a wonderful mix of Denyse's fabrics and Kathy's own Horizons range that is coming out early next year.


Whizz Bang and Beyond is the name of my classes and the participants really have taken these whizz bang blocks to wonderful new places.

These are Jane's blocks... 


She's not afraid of adding ric rac and trims where ever she can. 
Beautiful colours and mix of fabrics. 
I love the mix of text prints for backgrounds. 

 Next up is Marissa's bright, happy party of a quilt! As you can see she's already up to quilting. There are special plans for the center block, lots of fun trims, buttons, yoyos and maybe even some butterflies.
 The sashing and cornerstone fabrics couldn't be more perfect!!

Somehow I miss taking photos of Fiona's blocks. That means it will be even more of a treat when I share photos of them all together. I love how this block looks as though it's been painted. Such clever use of texture print fabrics, and the pieced background makes the block look as though it is floating.
 

Sarah was a late comer to our classes but she has taken to these blocks like a duck to water producing beautiful shining folded fabric stars.

I missed getting photos of Danutas finished top but here are some progress photos of her wonderful work.

I love how each block is different. It just goes to show the variety of ways you can have fun with them.

In another class, Christina and Heather made wonky houses. 







Heather's collection of houses has grown to include a houseboat, church, a Japanese house and more happy homes of all kinds. There is more exciting building to be done in this neighbourhood. Stay tuned.

Helena's blocks are a colourful carnival ride spinning into action.


All I can say is WOW!!!






We had Sue join the class while she is here visiting from the UK. She was such a lovely addition to the class we think she should move to Sydney. That's her on the left and Christina with her big sunny smile on the right. 

The 2018 classes for Material Obsession have been put on their website. If you're interested in some fun colourful sewing good times have a look at the time table on the website here .  I'll be teaching Whizz Bang and Beyond every 4th Friday of the month. That's the class for creative folded points, or yoyo fun, if you're inspired by my other quilts or any other projects you want to have creative guidance with.  Simple but Effective is a great starting point or for those who want simple fun patchwork. I think sometimes we forget how much fun sewing squares or simple shapes together can be. This is a great class for those who would like get their fingers into fabrics and see what it's all about. 

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2018 is already shaping up to be an exciting year!!! First off the rank is a 2 day Whizz Bang! Workshop at Amitie!!! 
I'll be teaching different ways of making my folded point blocks with creative tips along the way.  For more details about the class visit the Amitie website here . I'm looking forward to getting to sew with all the wonderful Victorian quilters. I'll be filling a suitcase with quilts too, and working on some new ones that I'm planning to finish in time to bring.. I do sound excited, don't I  :)



I'm so excited to be seeing Amitie's new premises in Torquay, the beachside town just outside of Melbourne. The photos showing walls of rainbow fabric and big airy classroom look amazing. The Amitie cafe looks wonderful too. If you follow their instagram you'd see the mouthwatering cakes and meals.



More fun news!!! I have 2 wall hanging quilts in Summer Exposure exhibition  at Braemar Gallery in Springwood, Blue Mountains,


The exhibition opened last Saturday and I haven't been able to get good photos yet, so please be patient with me and accept this little snippet of one of the quilts until I get better photos. 



I can't resist throwing in some photos from my walks.


The clouds were particularly spectactlar this day.


From the endless sky to close ups of new growth.

Small moss plants adding green zebra stripes to fallen tree trunk.


I like the way water adds a richness and shine, highlights of colour and reflections.

I'm attracted to interesting textures, 


and I look for lines in a scene, like these crossing trunks


Sometimes it's the leafy lushness of it all. so lovely and green.

I'll leave it there for now. A big thank you for being patient with my irregular blogging. I'll be back sooner than you think...