A non quilty post

I've been tagged by Tracey... and there are rules.... not real keen on rules.... but here goes....

The first rule is that I tell you eight things about me

1. I don't eat seafood - not even a prawn, a fish finger or a scallop and especially not calamari
2. I love shelling prawns so go figure that one out - rather odd huh?
3. I believe that chocolate is a whole food group all on it's own and must be eaten daily
4. I am really bad at keeping in touch with my dearly beloved friends. You know who you are, you're the ones who ALWAYS contact me for a coffee/chat and ALWAYS forgive me my sins
5. I really really hate mosquitoes, especially at 3 in the morning
6. I kiss my cats (eewwww, I hear you say)
7. I think a condensed milk sandwich is acceptable - dare you to try it
8. I am going to be the BEST grandma ever!! Don't know how many years I'll have to wait but I will be the best...... and I am patient.... and I can prove it - I made an embroidered wool pram blanket in 1996. The blanket and I are silently waiting for it's owner to be created.



Don't you just love that??? Fresh eggs.....

But I digress..... another rule is that I tag eight others but I'm squibbing out on that one.... sorry Tracey! Instead I'd like to tell you about eight blogs I visit regularly...


Diane over at Peddlecar Quilts because I was her secret santa and she designs amazing quilts

Lyn at Blue Bird Quilts who writes from the heart and always sends us her 'warm regards'... I love that :-)

Lynette at Lynette Anderson Designs - apart from the fact that she's delightfully generous (think Noah's Ark and Stitcher's Angel) and creative, I think Felix and Hugo have just as big a following

May Britt who is Abyquilt - every post ends with 'Today's saying' and they are always positive AND she shares lots of photos and free stuff - gotta love that...

Chookyblue from Chookyblue - has to be on the faves list, great photos and I love baby cows

Catherine Baynes who is Willow Valley Store because she says nice things about my quilting and she makes me remember the 'olden days'

Karen over at Mrs Martin's Quilt Shop - always something happening AND she likes ABBA

Sue from Sue Daley Designs who creates the most beautiful things AND runs a B & B AND she's a Queenslander - 3 out of 3!

So I'm not really 'tagging' these girls, it's more like encouraging you to check them out if you haven't already done so....

that's it.... no more.... you know all there is to know ........

Just another day, really...

Happy New Year.... and like I just said - Just another day really...... Except that we're back at the start of the circle, ready to do it all again. Enjoy the warm summer months (and complain when it's 35degrees celcius), enjoy the show as the leaves change during autumn (and get a little anxious because winter is next), enjoy digging out the quilt I started hand quilting the last winter and sit by the heater with a nice hot coffee (and make a pact with myself that this year it will be finished), enjoy the wash of colour as the spring flowers start to show their happy little faces (and scold myself for not planting more!). Then cringe in panic when I realise that christmas is only a few short months away - AGAIN! Must seem odd to read about where the seasons sit in the Australian calendar because in other parts of the world it's snowing. Right now.

Enough of that... here's Robin's 'Journey of a Quilter'. Custom quilted with no ditch quilting at all, just pretty scrolling borders on each block to soften the effect.

If you're interested in free stitchery patterns, I have a new project for 2009 at Willowberry Designs...

happy quilting

Cheryl xx

2 weeks of quilts

I've been a bit busy the last few weeks - here's the proof!

'Boxed In' - quilted with Belladonna in dusty pink

'Flower Fields' - quilted with Alfresco in cream (Flower Fields is a Kookaburra Cottage pattern, very simple and pretty)

Sharon's 'Christmas Story' - custom quilted (with lots of ditch quilting, plum puddings, stars and holly) in mid beige

'Portobello' quilted with 'Blossom' in dusty grey/blue

'Many Thanks' - custom quilted with mid beige

a lovely fat scrolling feather border...

daisies running across the quilt

and three more but the customers haven't seen them yet so I can't show you.....

Two more quilts

The first one shows the pretty 'blossom' quilting pattern and the second is quilted with 'ribbons and roses'.

The girls were allowed out for a dig around the garden this afternoon - Nisey always shows off when the camera is ready but Bevvy and Shelley are far too busy doing chook things to stop and say 'cheese'.....

Rain, a short break and the world's biggest quilt - even bigger than the last world's biggest quilt

So much beautiful, soaking rain this week - over 5 inches (125ml)!! And still more to come. Our dams are below 10% capacity for the city so it's making everyone smile.

Today I started quilting the new 'world's biggest quilt'.... it's HUGE.... my quilting table is 14' long and there's only 1' spare at each end while I quilt this one. It's a bit of a challenge too, so here are some progress photos.

You can see the ruffled sashing around every block

I quilted in the ditch with a pretty heart and diamond motif in the centre of each 6" square

The quilt is a simple design but what makes it different is the gathered sashing and extra gathering on the ruffle - VERY tricky!! But by taking it slow and steady, this little tortoise will hopefully win the race by tomorrow afternoon. I'll add some more photos when it's done.

happy quilting

Cheryl xx

One more done...

Val used soft gentle florals with a deep sage green lattice

Quilted with 'Ribbons & Roses'

and today's job? Make a start on Jenny's great big quilt, I'll need a big breakfast first!

There's a big sale on ....

at Candleberry Country. Natalie's got some really terrific bargains so go check it out.