Toowoomba Quilt Show

Carnival of Flowers is a great time to visit Toowoomba Not only do all the gardens look wonderful, but the Toowoomba Quilters Club also put on their annual Quilt Show.  Being a member I spend quite a few days at it.  Hanging the quilts then demonstrating or white gloving.  This is their fourth year in the Salo Centre and the exhibition just keep getting better. 
I must admit my input with insider knowledge of how Queensland Quilters Inc hang their show helps!

Back into Quilting

I have been able to get back into quilting, after being away fromit for four weeks.  It has become my sanity saver from the organisation of our State Quilt Show.  I was lucky  enough to do a couple of quick semi customs before I started into a large "Rose of Sharon" quilt that the owner wanted crosshatching and feathered wreaths on.






 Sometimes it helps to have the right tools.  My crosshatch rulers were designed by another APQS machine owner and made by her husband. WhenI ordered them from the US the postage was thesame for two sets so I have a spare set if an APQS owner desires to do crosshatching.

I have tried various tools to help with stitching around the outside of applique but found I kept coming back to using my finger.  So I found an old soft leather thimble I had made, it did a great job and lived on the laser post between uses.









This was a large quilt and I cannot get a full shot even on my bed so just some snippets.  Quilted with Cairo Quilt a Cotton Thread.

Spring has Sprung - the grass ain't ris!

Our Dry Summer ( Spring) has definitely arrived.  In the last three weeks I have gone from Flannelette pyjamas, bedsocks and 3 blanket wool doona with quilt - to light cotton 3/4 pj's, 1 alpaca blanket and quilt.

Plus I have rearranged the wardrobe for the change in seasons.  All the long sleeved to the back and the sleeveless and short sleeved to the front.  Boots are away, sandals will come out soon too.  Now to finish washing the winter woolies and pack them away for another eight months.

Could use some rain, as with the heat, the grass and gardens are looking thirsty. Shall I empty the tanks on them in preparation for some fresh rainwater?

Boots, Lace and a Wedding Dress

My daughter's wedding was held last weekend without any problems. Trying to pacify a 15 week old who was starving while mum was having photos taken, was the worst happening.

Spending time with my family and friends, feeding them in the evening after the wedding, with a BBQ and the next morning with Fresh Waffles and Bacon, from an Apartment. No troubles.

 This small pocket in the hem of my daughter's dress was made with the lace from my own wedding dress. She asked for one of her dad's blue hankies to put in the pocket.  It fell out as the bridal party walked from the apartment to the restaurant we were having the ceremony and reception at. Her husband found it, when he left the reception to go vote!
 I  used the three buttons from my wedding dress on the back of her dress.

For something blue I sewed a Bluebird of happiness to her hanging loop.  This bluebird was purchased while I was an exchange student in the US forty years ago.

I decided to put silver seed beads on the scalloped lace edge of the bodice. Glad I didn't put them around the hemline too.

My daughter and I had found a lovely country setting for her photos last time I was visiting so by the end of the day the hem of her dress was very dirty, not only from the dusty road but also from the way they photographer chose to pose some photos.




I love this one.

I Quilt

Must be getting philosophical with the approach of my daughter's wedding.

Either that or my Pure and Applied Mathematics from years ago is coming back to me!