STUDIO EXTENSION
February, 2012
Our big news for 2012… we’ve added a new studio extension to the railway carriage. The builders handed the build over to us for finishing touches after Christmas and we proceeded with mucho sweaty painting work during the January ‘scorcher’… to be saved by cooling dips in the pool when it all got too much!! The result is an inspiring and spacious studio for us all to enjoy.
A picture speaks louder than words…
SPRING RECYCLING
October, 2011
Recycling pre-loved fabric into quilts is as dear to my heart as creating scrap quilts with leftovers. This Spring, students recycled fabric from a variety of sources in two classes – Kimono Makeovers & Dark Nightz.
Unique, vintage kimonos and yukatas were given new life in Kimono Makeovers. The ‘horizontal strippy’ design makes good use of the wonderful ‘lengths’ found in whole kimonos and showcases varied and exotic fabrics simply and beautifully – in classic Japanese style.
Cottons and slippery fabrics, men’s ties and woollen suiting from op-shops… all were cut and pieced in contemporary free-style fashion to make Dark Nightz.
Both classes were a great success and great fun… there will be more next year!
A FRESH ‘NEW LOOK’
September, 2011
Quilting Matters’ website has been given a fresh new look… plus a weblog to keep you posted with what’s happening in the studio.
Over the years those on our database have received regular newsletters with tips, updates and photos. I thought it was time to ‘get with it’ and keep you posted with pictures via a weblog rather than clogging your inbox with large files. Of course, you’ll continue to receive your regular newsletter… without the clutter!
2011 to date
Below are just some of the projects that have kept me happily stitching by hand and machine to date this year…
Nine-Patches & Snowballz was an Autumn class with great student results. My blocks are currently back on the design wall for final block setting and to audition for border treatments. I particularly enjoy this part of the process… especially when I step back and allow the quilt to tell me what it needs! This is normally not a speedy process, rather one of observation over time. A quilt can sometimes be on the design wall for a week or more… allowing time for quick peeks or long contemplations.
Cut Loose – Logs is just one of the many blocks made for our five week Cut Loose course early in the season. We explored Jan Mullen’s exciting freestyle techniques for cutting, piecing and setting blocks. My Cut Loose blocks are still competing for time on the design wall. Ahhhh… so much to achieve and not enough lifetimes!
Hexagons by Hand was stitched on flights to/fro Sydney… I like a hand-sewing project when I travel and this ‘quilt-as-you-go’ project was ideal to pick up and put down at whim. I used a large black and cream print for the hexagon fronts and framed them with very narrow borders of shot cottons. The shot cottons double as the backing, making the quilt completely reversible.
