Monday 28 January 2008

From the sublime to the ridiculous!

Hello everyone. My apologies to you for my absence. We have moved house & despite our best efforts, we are having issues with our Internet connection at the new place. In desperation, I am doing a quick post from my husband’s work computer. Please forgive me for not responding to comments in the interim until the Internet issues at home are sorted. I am a little worried about living up to the name of this blog now that we have moved. We have moved from our big, meandering country garden:to a new suburban block:Nothing like a challenge - laugh with me, or I’ll cry! So there may be a distinct lack of ‘bloom’ photos for a while. The good news is that the Botanic Gardens are close by, so I may have to visit there for my flower ‘fix’ for now. Hope to be back stitching soon. Love to everyone, Bloom.

Sunday 20 January 2008

The blessing of friends ... especially friends who stitch!

This lovely thing arrived for me yesterday from a special friend. It was stitched for me as a most thoughtful gift in sympathy for the passing of my Dad last year. The sentiment, "Flowers for pleasure, memories to treasure" is just perfect. Thank you Wendy - I just love it. I especially love all those tiny french knots on the ric rac - very impressive! I am wondering whether it is as obvious to others as it is to me that Wendy has Dutch heritage. Perhaps it is the blue & white theme, but there is something very dutch about this cushion in my mind. I have several good friends with Dutch parents & The Netherlands has a special spot in my heart.

WIRSP #4

This is my progress on a what will be a particularly slow, but very satisfying project. I am making these blocks at times when I am busy & have little time to sew, but just need a little 'fix' at the sewing machine. The blocks are made entirely from my scraps. I was inspired by this quilt from Crazy Mom Quilts who in turn was inspired by Melly & Me's scrappy cabin challenge. There will be something very satisfying about creating a quilt from 'nothing'.

WIRSP #3

This is block 1 of many of a quilt for the boy in my life! I would like to get it finished before he thinks it is 'uncool' - he is nine, so I don't have too long! The pattern is called 'Tim's Things' and is by Anni Downs of Hatched & Patched. It has very cute stitcheries of 'boy stuff' like frogs & tractors & cricket bats.

Saturday 19 January 2008

WIRSP #2

This little number has been in progress for some time. It is a wonderful design by Carey Golledge and was published in Australian Homespun #36. It is called 'Memories of Heathcliff' and is made from Moda's Wuthering Heights fabric range. Why am I stalling on this one? Those dreaded pinwheel blocks will not behave & I am stumped on borders!

Quilt-a-long block 9

Friday 18 January 2008

WIRSPs?

May Britt has issued a WISP challenge for January, and it has been inspiring watching girls from all over the globe finishing projects left, right and centre! I am hoping February might be my WISP month, once everyone is back at school. I thought I would show you some of my WISPs, or are they more aptly named WIRSPs - Works in RIDICULOUSLY slow progress! I bought this lovely kit almost exactly 12 months ago, and call it my 'Just Because' quilt, just because it was pretty & I liked it (a 50% off price tag also helped)! It is the first kit I have ever purchased. The blocks are done and it is high on my 'to do' list as it shouldn't take too long to finish - famous last words!!

Wednesday 16 January 2008

Tuesday 15 January 2008

Hey Jude

This is the lovely 'Jude the Obscure' rose by David Austin. I must confess, I had no idea about the naming of this rose but a quick bit of research & I now know it was named after the novel written by Thomas Hardy in 1895. The only Hardy novel I have read is 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' which I studied at school. I remember it being unlike anything I had ever read and was dark & disturbing, but entrancing - I couldn't put it down, wondering what could possibly happen next. It would be interesting to read it again all these years later.

Monday 14 January 2008

Gifts for my littlest blossie

I love Rosalie Quinlan's designs and when she released her range of dollies & accessories a few years ago, I promptly purchased the entire set of patterns. I set about to make all of them for my youngest daughter, but have as yet only managed these:My version of "My Dolly" Kinder bagand "My Dolly" Lollie.
And dollies must be comfortable, so I made a little pillow to match. The heart stitchery is from a Bareroots pattern called Flower Quilt #51.

Friday 11 January 2008

Pretty & pastel for a little princess

I had a request a couple of days ago from Danetta to show you the quilt in the second photo of my header, so here 'tis:This is a cot quilt made for my niece and is a simple stitchery design by Sue Brennan of Weigela Design who I have previously mentioned here and here. Unfortunately, her designs are not available online, but I can email an address and phone number to any Australian girls who are interested. She could certainly do phone orders within Australia. Hopefully, clicking on the images will show you more detail of the stitchery designs.

Thursday 10 January 2008

Quilt-a-long blocks 7 and 8

My Mum is quilting-a-long nicely and loving every minute of it, even flirting with the idea of buying more background fabric to make extra blocks - go Mum!

Wednesday 9 January 2008

What girl wouldn't be seduced by these?

This is one of my most favourite roses & is called 'Seduction', a romantic, girly blend of the softest pink & pearly cream, and frilly to boot. That significant wedding anniversary has come about quickly (yes, it's today) so perhaps a vase full of 'Seduction' roses is appropriate! Be assured, the champagne is ice cold & I am promised something yum for dinner. You won't be surprised to learn that the 'Love Quilt' has not progressed very far. I will have to sign up for May Britt's WISP challenge I think!

Tuesday 8 January 2008

Blast from the past

A warm, breezy summer day here today, perfect for washing & drying quilts. These are two of my earliest quilts, made as cot quilts for my first daughter who is now twelve. I was obviously in a 'blue & pink' phase! I still really love these quilts & they remain in constant use as 'cuddle up in front of the telly' quilts.We are waiting with bated breath for the hot, hot summer we are used to here in Australia. The temperatures have been kind so far, mostly mid to high thirties (celsius) but we usually have a few weeks of well over 40 degrees at this time of year. "Bring it on - we can take it" ... she declares boldly from the comfort of an air-conditioned home!

Sunday 6 January 2008

Teddies, all in a row

Some years ago now, I made this teddy bear swag for the newborn son of one of my good friends. I have to say he was not quite so 'newborn' when he finally received this gift! Perhaps 2008 will see me put some 'pep in my step' & finish projects more quickly? Hmmm, probably not! How cute are these teddies? The pattern is by Buzzy Bee Buttons and is called 'Teddy Line up Swag'.

Saturday 5 January 2008

Stitching friendships

In the sad absence of stitching news this month, I thought I would blow the cobwebs off some old projects to show you.This was a joint project with a lovely friend of mine that we stitched together about three years ago, and was a gift for a mutual & special friend. It is Bareroots Cozy Table Runner #101. We had such fun putting this together & made enthusiastic and rash promises that we would each make one for ourselves one day, but of course, we haven't!
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