It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

(Apologies to Mr Dickens)

The last week has held some real highlights and some major lowlights.

With a family trip planned to Ballarat to visit some lovely stitchy friends for a picnic, and then some good old family fun at historic Sovereign Hill ... what could possibly go wrong?

Well to start with, Mr Patch Andi came down with tonsillitis and couldn't come along.
But we pushed ahead with our adventure, leaving the Mr to get a couple of days of much needed rest.

We (my kids, my parents and I) arrived in Ballarat at chez Ric Rac late on Tuesday morning where Jodie and her son Connor were the hosts with the most.

Jodie had even 'made' bikkies for the kids.

We were soon joined by Kate and her girls, Rachel and her Maya and Lizzie. We all wondered off to the local park for a picnic.

Here are a few more shots. (Check out all the quilts we bought to use as picnic rugs)

Annie joined us a bit late as she was rather busy finishing her latest creation!!!

There was even some impromptu creating going on ...

After the delightful picnic, I sent my parents and kids off to check in to our accommodation while the girls took me to visit a local icon.

Oh the pretty fabric ....

I was seeing spots!

(These pretties came home with me along with a few other delicious selections!!)

Thanks Emma for being so very hospitable.

SUCH a very lovely afternoon! Thank you to everyone for coming along and playing with us city folk!!

Soon after leaving Ballarat Patchwork, I got a grumpy call from my dad wondering when I would be resuming my parenting responsibilities. Oops!!

A happy family dinner followed, then back to the hotel to rest up for a fun day of gold panning and ye-olden-days-lolly-eating the next day.

Unfortunately, my Ella woke up with a tummy bug so she and I went straight home, leaving my parents to take Jake around Sovereign Hill. They had a lovely day.

We'll get back there one day .... all of us!!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Andi xx

A 2010 crafternoon

I have been remiss in not posting about a lovely (cr)afternoon spent with Bec and her daughter Sibby last week.

Bec and I shared in a super cheap fabric deal and we took the opportunity for a fabric hand-over and had a bit of a catch up!

I didn't manage to get any shots of the kids but here's a bit of what we got up to:

Bec gave me Ella a divine vintage book with the most awesome illustrations.

And she also gave me a vintage pillow case with the sweetest print on it.

We played with lots of Hama Beads

Ella did a bit of this:

while the bigger kids did a bit of this

and just as Bec and Sib were leaving (and having a nibble on some walnuts), Bec mentioned making walnut shell boats ... so Ella and I did that too

A lovely time had by all.
You can read about it at Bec's blog too!

Happy new year to all.

I hope you had a sparkly one!

Andi xx

On a roll

I just couldn't rest until it was finished.

I made the back using left over bits from the front and some solids I had in my stash.

The quilting is a new approach for me, thanks to inspiration from the fabulous Ashley of Film in the Fridge. She uses this sort of random line quilting to wonderful effect. Like on this quilt.

You can see the quilting much better on the back.

And for the binding, more scraps from the front. The scrappier the better, I say!!

I hope you're having a crafty Monday too.

Andi xx

A new generation

I was basting a quilt this morning and my littlest one asked if she could help.

I suggested she put in some pins for me.

She found it quite tricky. Her little fingers are not quite adept enough to do the job.

But I'm glad she wants to be involved.

I must admit, I've been having little fantasies of never having to baste a quilt again. My little helper can do it for me.
;-)

Hope you and your families are having a lovely Christmas day.

Andi xx

Piping

Practicing some new skills learned here and here:

Using some tools of the trade(s):

A bit of an improvement from the original, I think:

It wasn't all that bad to start with but it certainly wasn't 'me'.

The new fabric is Echino purchased here.

Have a happy christmas and a great weekend!

Andi x

Well, maybe just one more quilt

Even though I have summed up and signed off for 2010, I got my hands on a fat quarter stack of Momo's "It's a Hoot" and a charm pack of "Just Wing It" by the same designer and a quilt instantly designed itself in my head.

I had to sew it IMMEDIATELY. You know when you get into the flow and can't stop until the thing is done?

I am hoping to teach some classes next year at Amitie (the happiest place of them all) and one idea is to have a class aimed at sewists who don't want to dwell on perfect points and following rules. This would be a class aimed at people who want to learn the tricks of fast and furious (but still rather gorgeous) quilt making.

Patchwork where your mistakes don't get re-done. They get hidden away or simply embraced. Besides, who will ever actually notice???

 

This is the quilt I thought I'd teach. Would you be interested in a class like that?

Andi xx