"Leanika" by Dena Designs

So I was trawling the internet instead of doing something productive, and discovered this fabric range that I had to show you.  Designed for Free Spirit Fabrics by Dena Designs, the range is called "Leanika".  It is so whimsical and pretty, and appeals to the bird lover in me - love the bird motif!!

Aren't the colours fresh and pretty?!

I am a big fan of these design motifs

I saved my favourite till last - love love love it!!  Now, if I only I had the money, time and pattern . . .

If you would like to see more of this range, or other Free Spirit Fabrics, click here

Loch Quilt Display

Last Sunday we went for a trip to a tiny country village called Loch, located in South Gippsland, Victoria.
I had never visited this area before and loved the little town; it is small but full of character and very pretty.
Loch has an annual "Quilt Hanging" day, when they display quilts made by the locals down the main street.  Festooned from shop fronts, in windows and even in the Fire Brigade Station, it really is a colourful sight!

The talent of the quiltmakers is very obvious here, there was such an array of different styles, techniques and colour selection.  What an inspiration!

How did those two cutie-pies get in the pics? ;)

The driving force behind this display is a local quilt shop called "Quilter's Barn".  It is something of an institution, having originated in the barn of a local farmer and gradually expanding to the current premises on the main street.  Julie Wallace is the maven behind this enterprise, and from humble beginnings she has become a fabric designer, quilt designer, sought after guest speaker and successful business woman.

It so so great to see such success coming from a small country town, where too often these days they seem to be dominated by opp shops and boarded up windows.  What a fantastic woman Julie Wallace must be!

If you would like to see more of the Quilter's Barn, stop by here

Children's Books

Ok, so I feel a book review coming on.  Today's review is a little different though, because I thought I would show you books by authors/illustrators that I LOVE reading to my children.
Sam Williams is an author/illustrator of many children's books - until recently I thought "he" was a "she"! Naughty me for making assumptions - but his illustrations are so sweet!!

This is a library book we have recently borrowed so it is getting lots of wear and tear at the moment.  We have Sam Williams' "Bunny & Bee's Forest Friends" in our home library, so I snapped this book up at the library knowing it was going to be a lovely book to read.

The photo does not really do this picture justice.  It is so colourful and imaginative.

With illustrations like these children's imaginations can really soar, and I think it appeals to the inner child in all of us.  Don't we all still secretly harbour the hope that tiny worlds such as this really do exist?

And I think Georgia and I would both agree that Patricia MacCarthy's "Dewdrop Babies" series is the best of all.  The colourful pictures are scattered with glitter and the stories are just beautiful.

I am quite lucky because I get to indulge in these amazing worlds under the guise of an enthusiastic mum!

Unfortunately I could not find a website dedicated to Sam Williams great work, but if you would like to see more of the Dewdrop Babies, go be inspired!

Millie's Quilt

When I first discovered Millie was sick with the likelihood of not getting better, I decided to make a quilt in her honour.  Originally I hoped to bury it with her in the hopes that she would give me enough time to make it, but that was not to happen.  I think it will be nice to have a quilt that resembles her comfort to me - a constant reminder of her at home.

This quilt has been quite a different construction.  Rather than working from a pattern and labouring over colour and pattern selection, I walked into the craft store and kind of "felt" my way through the range of materials.

Quite different to my usual choices; I was guided by the idea of creating a rainbow of colours, full of brightness and warmth.

I cut the material into five and half inch squares and experimented with different layouts to find the one I liked the most.  Eventually the quilt materialised . . .

This is a snapshot of the quilt top.  I wanted to create a randomness to the pattern with loads of colour.  I decided to do some larger feature blocks of the material I loved the most.

Even the backing became experimental.  Instead of buying a length of material I decided to use up the material scraps and sew them together in strips.  Very economical! I have bought purple material to sew on each side of the panel, and will be attempting machine quilting for the first time!!

At this stage I am still not sure how the quilt will finish, and as with most things at the moment, I feel numb when I look at it.  But I hope in time it will give me happiness, just like Millie did.

Velvet Pears by Susan Southam

Ok, Book Review today . . .

If you have a love of gardens and need fresh ideas or are new to the hobby and would like some inspiration, this is the book for you!

Less like a "step by step" and more of one woman's account of making her dreams a reality, this book is a little like dipping into someone's personal thoughts, loves and ambitions.

I really fell in love with Velvet Pears; the story, the gorgeous photographs, and the idea that anyone can hold a dream in their mind of something special, and make it come to fruition with a lot of hard work and passion.

The book is set out in seasons, and the author describes her experiences gardening within each one.

Just look at these colours, as a crafter I can find a lot of inspiration for future quilts, as well as my future garden!

Maybe it is Susan Southam's love of full blown roses that attracted me to the book (they are my favourites!), or maybe it was the beautifully crafted book that was lovely to hold and to read.

Whatever the reason, "Velvet Pears" has motivated me to visit Susan's garden "Foxglove Spires" in Tilba Tilba one day.  It is top of my Destination List! If you would like to see more of her place go here

Violet Sky

Well I must be a sucker for sunsets.  Never thought I would be posting pics of them here, but looked out the window last night and saw this.  Had to take a photograph . . .

This is why we live in the country - the sky is just magnificent and when you think "now that's a beauty", along comes another night like this.  We had a very hot day, about 41C, and the cool change had just come through.

Ok, just one more, I promise

Mother Nature is surely an artist.

Treasure Chest

While searching through my boxes of materials for Georgia's letter cushions, I pulled out these beautiful fabrics.

Love Love Love them!

On a family outing day last year I plunged into a patchwork shop while my husband had the children's attention and had a good look around.  I stumbled upon this pack of charm squares by Moda Fabrics and thought they were absolutely beautiful. So two packs later of "Whisper" by Sentimental Studios (can never have enough), I stashed them away for the day when inspiration hits.

The best of a beautiful bunch

I was particularly taken with this charm square, it is such a lovely watercolour print.  It's funny how sometimes fabric finds you, and sits there waiting for a purpose - the pattern to match it perfectly.  Other times it is the pattern that grabs you and you begin a quest for the right material!

Some more inspiration came from The Fat Quarter Shop through the mail one day.  I just love how the bright cheery colours jump out and smile!

I purchased a Moda Honey Bun version of "Swanky" by Chez Moi, thinking the cute little floral and spotty prints would suit it perfectly.  I am thinking of a miniature log cabin, combined with squares of contrasting colour.  Can't wait to try these out, but have committed to finishing my current projects first!!

The Fruits of Summer

Sitting outside after putting the children to bed, I noticed the sky changing and moving rapidly.

What an inspiration for colour, light & texture.  The photographs probably don't do the sky justice; it looked like floating pink, blue and yellow glowing fairy floss.  If I waited long enough, I would catch a dart of lightning passing through it.

Another common sight over Summer: the humble tomato. . .

They may be small, but boy do they taste spectacular!!  More flavour in one of these little puppies than kilos of the supermarket variety.  My husband and kids have done a great job raising them.

And one last pic, this time a Christmas present from my wonderful mother.

Isn't this a brilliant idea?! Knowing we have nothing but a dust bowl in our new place, Mum thoughtfully planted a mini vegetable patch containing lettuce, capsicum, thyme, marigolds, nasturtiums, basil, chives, and I am sure something else I can't remember.  It feels like my little patch of green - love it!

Oliver's Rocket

Here is a quilt I made for a friend's one year old boy.  It is called "Oliver's Rocket" which the mum wanted to be the central theme (Oliver's nickname IS Rocket!)

I borrowed much of the idea from one of my favourite books; "Material Obsession" written by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke; and much of the fabric is from the Prints Charming range.  What beautiful material to work with!!  The actual rocket panel is screen printed by Prints Charming and I was aiming to follow the funky look with bright colours and patterns.

I hand quilted this one which was lots of fun, as the red stars have swirling patterns around them, and backed it with a beautiful bubble print that Oliver's mum particularly liked.

It was sad parting with it, but I know it went to a good home