I'm late, I'm late for a very important date

In true White Rabbit style, I'm late to the tea party. 

Sarah Fielke of The Last Piece put out a call (some time ago!) for anyone willing to make her a tea cup block or two to contribute to a special version her 'All That and the Hatter' quilt for her birthday. Astonishingly, no-one (other than her Mum) has ever made her a quilt. Perhaps her wonderful talent leaves everyone too intimidated to think of quilting for her?!

Sarah designed 'All That and the Hatter' for her most recent book, Hand Quilted with Love. Latest news has it that she has another book waiting in the wings, cowritten with Amy Lobsiger - can't wait for that one.  Sarah has been inundated with tea cup blocks from ladies the world over, and is on a feeble promise from me! At last, I have found some sewing time and can be true to my word. Blocks are on the way Sarah :)

To the Post Office for me.

No time to say "Hello, Goodbye"

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

Source

Bathurst blog meet

I have returned from one of Chookyblue's infamous blog meets re-inspired for sewing, blogging and socialising, none of which I've done for some time! It was a great time reconnecting with old friends and putting faces to so many names.

Especially lovely to see Peg and Dale (and their namesakes) from Club Quilt again. 

It was wonderful to meet Lynda in Wonderland. Lynda (centre)and I have read each other's blogs for ages, and she recently got me out of trouble with a project when the instructions were less than clear. 

Beautiful gifts were exchanged in Chooky's 'Make it, Bake It or Fake It' swap.

The Show & Tell was jaw-droppingly good. Lynda showed us her Gingham Girls quilt - so much work in this. She stitches beautifully.

Michelle had several beautiful quilts on the go, and I was especially taken with this happy yellow piece. She says it is a fusion of several designs. Lovely!

And Susan's creations were something to behold. They are ¼ inch (I kid you not!) hexies on the left, and her divine version of Irene Blanck's 'Floral Beauty'. 

At one point in the afternoon, I was talking to Peg & Dale and conversation turned to how our memories are failing as we age - surely not! I proposed a theory that it's not so much that we are forgetting things, but that there is just so much more to remember these days. We nodded in solemn agreement. I then left, forgetting to pay for my lunch! I am sticking to my theory!

Here is a list of the talented ladies who made it to Bathurst 2013 ... just so that I don't forget :) Everything that I've neglected to write about will be covered in their posts I'm sure.

Kris @ BaiSiNoLil

Suze @ Bear's Mum

Donna @ Chookyblue 

Fiona @ Dragonfly-Crafts

Sonia @ Forever Always 

Peg @ Happy in Quilting

Anni @ Hatched & Patched

Kylie @ Indigo & Quince

Janice @ Jannimary

Ann @ Lavender Blue Stitches

Jan @ Little Red Hen

Lynda @ Lynda in Wonderland

Sue @ Quilting in Stitches 

Anita @ Riley's Ramblings

Sandy @ Sandy's Patchwork Angel

Kate @ Show & Tell

Karen @ Stashing with Style

Susan @ Thimble Stitch

Hope I've not forgotten (!) anyone. Apologies that I've pinched photos from everyone. I was so busy remembering everyone's names that I forgot to take photos! Look forward to chatting with you all online soon. Bloom x

A living treasure

We took some time out from what seems to have been the busiest school term ever to wander with some lovely friends in their garden on Sunday.

 

Sometimes it seems God smiles upon me and gifts me with a moment of perfect light for taking photographs.

Late Sunday afternoon was such a time,

our friends' garden basked in a warm glow.

Our friends bought their property about five years ago from an elderly couple who were obviously avid gardeners and serious plant collectors.

Their garden is a real treasure! With each season, new delights emerge in wondrous succession.

 There are so many plants in this garden that are unfamiliar to me. I love the challenge of working out what they are, seeking clues from unfurling buds, or new leaves. 

As Australian gardens burst into springtime bloom, our friends' garden is spectacular.

 

There are sweet surprises waiting at every turn!

The daffodils form a veritable sea in every shade of gold.

There are countless different varieties, 

some with peachy pink, frilly trumpets ...

 

... others with simple, electric orange centres ...

... and around another corner, these sparky Pheasant Eye beauties!

The resident Crimson Rosellas kept a cheeky eye on us as we wandered the garden. 

 

 No doubt they will have their way with the fruit trees at a later date. For now, the orchard is in glorious bloom.

 

  

The magnolias were magnificent,

especially bathed in the warm, afternoon sun.

Both the pink and white varieties of Magnolia stellata were true to form,

shooting starbursts from bare branches.

 Now if you happen to have made it to the end of this rather epic post and like a horticultural mystery, try this one on:

This unusual specimen sits quietly in one corner of the garden. It has the  most wonderful cream and green mottled stem.

And the leaves have really interesting white markings. Hmmm, intriguing! Clues anyone?

I will no doubt coerce my friends into sharing this special garden with me again soon! A very lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon :) 

Meet Amelia

I'd like to give a shout out to a lovely young girl I met at a local market on the weekend. Amelia Herbertson is in the last throes of her university degree in Graphic Design, and is newly establishing herself as an artist and printmaker.

Amelia's work is beautifully detailed and shows a level of quality and care that belies her youth. This exquisite lino print bird made its way home with us, and is settling in nicely!

You can find Amelia on Facebook, or over at her blog, and her work in her Etsy Shop. Please pop on over to her, say hello and encourage her in what will surely be a bright artistic future.

A meeting of minds

After a two week absence from the blog while we travelled about the countryside, I have so much news that I'm not sure what to post first. But the undisputed highlight of our travelling, for me, has been meeting up with some long-time favourite bloggers.

After jokes-a-plenty from my family about meeting my potentially axe-murdering cyber friends, they were relieved to find that Lenora of Lenora Jenkins Designs and Linda of Gum Vally Patchwork were, like me, both far too busy with fabric and stitching to consider serious harm to anyone!


We met at Linda's shop which has been meticulously and thoughtfully built from materials recycled from an old church.

It is a perfect setting to showcase her beautiful selection of fabrics ...

... with enticing bundles and bolts at every turn.

It was very special to see Linda's astonishing 'Dear Prudence' quilt, painstakingly constructed from teeny, tiny hexagons. It is a magnificent thing!

And Lenora's wonderful designs graced many of the walls, this aqua and red 'Ruby' one a particular favourite with my girls.

Flushed with confidence and enthusiasm for converting 'virtual' friends to 'real' ones, we then met up with Ric-Rac Jodie and Flower Garden Annie at a very hip little place called The Upholstery Gallery.

All photos are courtesy of The Upholstery Gallery website, as I was far too engaged in vital and stimulating conversation with Annie and Jodie to take photographs (or to spend money, much to my Sweetness' relief).

The Gallery was an Aladdin's cave of treasures which kept the kids  exploring while we chatted.

Without exception, Lenora, Linda, Annie and Jodie each warmly welcomed me and my family, and we could all have talked fabric, stitching and gardening for days. 

We shared coffee and stories and lots of laughs. Hours passed like minutes in their company! I left them all reluctantly, but in the firm knowledge that, even if limited by cyber connections, warm friendships can be forged and that the online loveliness of these women is only affirmed by actually meeting them!

Something to read with your Saturday morning coffee

The very first issue of Etzcetera magazine arrived in my inbox today. 

Etzcetera is a brand spanking new digital publication headed by Australian talent, Kim Archer. The first issue is free for your reading pleasure, available at their website. It is a fresh and inspiring read, true to their theme of 'craft ... lifestyle ... family ... home ... you'!

I am especially excited about this release since the Stitching Editor is none other than Janelle Wind, one of my favourite Aussie designers. Warmest congratulations to Kim, Janelle, and all the editorial staff and contributors on a thoughtful and visually beautiful launch issue. I will certainly be reading it with my coffee in the morning.

Thinking of our Queensland friends

There is an awful feeling of impending doom here in Australia today. There is a severe cyclone due to hit the far north Queensland coast this evening. How much can the people of our beautiful northern state endure? The state is just recovering from devastating floods, and now this. I am old enough (just!) to remember Cyclone Tracy which hit Darwin on Christmas Day in 1974. And this cyclone is shaping up to be just as destructive.

 

To my blog friends in the path of tropical cyclone Yasi, we are thinking of you and praying for your safety.

Amazing coverage of Yasi's approach here.

And posted to the Queensland Police Facebook page - typical Aussie bravado!

In the nick of time

Having promised Janellybelly way back in the year that we would do a bag swap, she has finally received hers, just in time for Christmas!

In a deal that works well for me, Janelle chose the fabrics and I made the bag up for her.

She chose a gorgeous range of fabric called 'Zest' from the Stonehill Collection by Donna Wilder for Fabric Traditions. The pattern is 'Frilly Dilly' bag by Janelle Wind.

I hope your Christmas preparations are fun and stress-free. I have finished my shopping which is always a relief.

Things are otherwise a tad stressed in the Bloom household right now. Our harvest is not in yet. And there is a lot at stake financially for us. However, I keep reminding myself that we are in a much better position than many other families.

We are supposed to have Christmas with my husband’s family on the South Coast, but that is all hinging on harvest happening in the next few days. We have a contractor lined up, and providing he doesn’t break down, or get bullied into harvesting someone else’s crop instead of ours, and it doesn’t rain, he will be here very soon.

Hopefully, I will be in a better place for my next post!