Fate or Destiny?

Do you believe that our lives are based on Fate and events happen to us whether planned or not? Or do you believe in Destiny, that we all create our own and it is up to the individual on how their life is lived? I have for a long time believed we create our own destiny, life is what you make it.  There is no such thing as luck or chance, just windows of opportunity that open fleetingly for us to grab.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jafnharr/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Lately I have been wondering . . .
Last Friday I sat at the computer and googled "Textile Design".  I don't know why.  A Diploma course popped up and intrigued, I had a look.  It looked good.
Saturday morning the neighbours dropped in the newspaper for us to read, and I sat down with a coffee to discover "second chance" offers at TAFE and Uni courses.  My mind twigged, and I scanned the pages to find the course I had been looking at had positions available.
My mind became so absorbed while sitting outside with the children playing in the sand, they could have created a three tier wedding cake and I wouldn't have batted an eye.
Today I have been ahming and ahhing about these events.  On a whim I asked my lovely sister to print out the application forms for the course, and she dropped them around tonight on her way home from work.
My dilemma is this.  Do I plunge in and take the chance at what feels like a dream opportunity? My confidence wavers.  Can I do it?  With two small children? Part of me wants to take the risk of feeling failure if I don't get accepted, and feel the potential fear of success if I actually do!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reway2007/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I am laying myself bare here, kind of sending it into the atmosphere.
This blog started as another whim that felt right and now has become something of a lifeline of creativity.  I want to inspire others.  I would love to pass on the excitement and enthusiasm I feel for being a mum, doing craft and sewing, all things decorating and colour.
Doing this Diploma feels like an extension of that.  What a life it would be if I could design and produce my own fabric lines, and create craft/quilt patterns to use them with!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/splityarn/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Any advice???

"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

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.

Jelly Girl

Here is a quilt I made, that is in the process of being hand quilted. I say "process" but the reality is she has been curled up in a bag for quite a while getting crushed!

The pattern I used is called "Jelly Girl" by Fig Tree Quilts, and the Jelly Roll used is Moda "Spring Magic" by April Cornell.  Never thought I was a floral fanatic, but it is starting to become obvious in the quilts I make. The border I chose is by Lakehouse Dry Goods "Doll Dresses Pearl Rose Trellis".

I bought the backing (shown here on far left) at a separate stage, orginally destined for another quilt.  It surprised me to discover later that it is also a Lakehouse Dry Goods fabric, called "Ticking Stripe Petal".  Now all those creases really should shame me into pulling this quilt out of its hiding place to finish it, don't you think?

I decided to hand quilt using a Perle 8 in a variegated pinks/orange/yellow.  It is really nice to work with. Hopefully I can show you the finished product in the near future!! :)

Japanese Linen Fabric

Thought I would show you some lovely materials.
The first I cannot even take ownership for; I bought it on behalf of my Mum the other day, she saw it in a local patchwork shop and couldn't live without it.

I know it is a cotton/linen blend, and I am sure through surfing the internet that it is a Japanese Fabric, but surprisingly it does not have a printed selvedge with the company name and colours on it.  Strange?! If anyone can tell me where it comes from, I would love to know.

But this is the part I love the most - it is double sided! Fantastic! Being a slightly heavier weight, imagine the possibilities for sewing with a reversible fabric. . .

The material below I did purchase myself on Etsy.

I too have an interest in natural and printed linen, and thought even a fat quarter of this could make up something pretty.  I know it is a also a linen/cotton blend and printed in Japan but its origins I am not sure of either.

Japan really has it worked out for beautiful materials, don't they?!

Needle-Felted Blue Wren

The other day Brett's Auntie was hospitalised due to a car accident and will be in there for quite a long time.  I began thinking about a gift I could make to cheer her up.  I remember my time in hospital having two little babies was quite stifling and dull, and I was there during an exciting time!!
Taking inspiration from Laurie Sharp's book "Wool Pets", I decided to craft a blue wren.  I know when I catch a glimpse of those rare little creatures they brighten my day.
Below I have taken pics of the process so you can see how he came together.

My materials, all the tools you need for needle felting

 

The body parts ready to be felted together.

I used a picture of a Blue Wren for reference.  Not exact, but close!

The eyes are ready to be sewn in (two seed beads), to give my wren some character

So there you have him! I threaded some ribbon through his body so Rosie can hang him somewhere and he can brighten the room for her.  He was fun to make; needle felting is a meditative sport, very relaxing.

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!!

Nature's Chorus

Hi!
Thought I would show you a quilt I made VERY early on.  It was the second attempt at patchwork and the first time outside of a class.  I was bitten by the bug and having first learned patchwork with a jelly roll, couldn't resist trying one again.  Moda Fabrics really have lovely ranges in the jelly rolls; showcasing so many fabrics that aren't always possible to buy individually.
The Moda Jelly Roll I used is "Nature's Chorus" as the title suggests, by April Cornell.

Now this quilt could very easily be titled "Shabby Chic" as it is a little rough around the edges, but she is one of my favourites.  I learnt SO much sewing without a pattern and experimenting as I went. And as so many of you crafters would know, just the experience of working with beautiful materials and colours is uplifting and exciting.

I machine sewed the quilt but opted to have it professionally quilted by a very lovely lady.  The pattern is a continuous line of feathers, which I think suits her perfectly!

At the end of the day, I learnt that taking skills from a class and sitting down on your own to use them and break a few of them can be as much a learning experience as being taught by a teacher.  I will no doubt be attending another class around the corner, but venturing outside the square with what I learn afterwards too.

Crafty Cushions

Well I am on my way to creating the "Letter" Cushions for Miss Georgia's bedroom.  It has been thoroughly enjoyable (and surprising!) searching through all my materials for pretty floral prints and spots.  I suppose you could compare it to looking at an old photo album really; forgotten memories and occasions come back to you with each photo.  Much like this, I look at some material having completely forgotten about it and find renewed enthusiasm for its gorgeous colour, pretty print or unique design.
I am currently cutting out the applique letters, ready to iron them onto the background.  Once done, I will search once more for a matching backing to the cushion, then put them all together.

You know the older I get the simpler these ideas seem to me, not as complex and difficult as I would have thought ten years ago.  Age is a beautiful thing isn't it?!