Hatched and Patched

Photos Done!!

The day of rain was only a day of rain, not a week, so as far as doing photos for the book, all was well. I do empathise with those of you who have had no rain for SO long - I hope you all have a freaky day of rain soon!!
Well, after the rain comes the wind, and wind we had!! Very hard to take photos with wind, so decided to take many pics inside, even though the lighting is not as good. The house now looks as though removalists have been and thrown furniture about and upended boxes galore. Will our home ever look like home again?? Poor Tim has had everything thrown from his room, as this is where we tried to take some very important boy pics. He is sleeping in Samantha's room while all the craziness continues, so he is a very happy chappy! That is his favourite place to be come bed-time.
Anyway, over a thousand photos and two days later, I think we have eveything covered. I tried this photo on the front cover and am thinking this may be it!

Now comes the arduous task of choosing photos and planning the pages. I just hope my computer can stand up to the challenge...
Anni

It's raining!

Have you heard the tale of hanging the clothes out to make it rain? Well here's a new one. Whenever I set a day aside to take photos for my book, either a mini cyclone comes to visit, or it rains!!! Yesterday was the most gorgeous day - just like a warm spring day. Of course I was inside stitching the last few details on the last few projects for A Boys Story (YAY - finally done all the stitching), instead of gardening.
Today the rain is bucketing down, and looks as though it is here to stay - hmmmm.... I should have saved the stitching until today, as there is nothing more lovely than sitting next to the fire stitching on a cold wet day.
Here's hoping tomorrow will have a few dry spells so some photos can be taken. Isn't it silly? Usually we're praying for rain!!

Sorry - a very murky pic looking outside my window while I write instructions - at least I'm putting good use to my time....
Oh, and by the way, you have all convinced me to make up a new book with the bag and notepads from the gatherings I went to. Thanks for letting me know your thoughts! Much appreciated.

A New Family Begins.....

Some of the more extroverted (and slightly crazy) women at the Jukejema Quiting Retreat decided they would all challenge each other into making the quilt from my book A Family Gathering. It started off as a small affair, but by the end of the weekend, ten of them decided to play along.
They all have to have their quilt complete for 'show and tell' night next year, otherwise they have to take an icy dip in the pool at the retreat - not nice in the winter months!! So I'm thinking I'll have to make another trip down there, just for a laugh, and to help warm up those blue lips after the swim.

Good luck to all  you crazies!!

Nowra Workshop

I feel as though I have just been on a holiday!! Kim, from Jukejema Quilting Barn in Nowra, hosted a quilting retreat in a gorgeous secluded setting just out from Nowra. The outlook was breathtaking, and the women (like most who venture off to sew for a weekend), were SO friendly.
I was invited along with 3 other designers - Natalie Bird (from The Birdhouse), Natalie Ross (from In Stitches), and Janelle Wind (from The Janelle Wind Collection), which was just wonderful, as all our styles are different, so the women had a huge variety of projects to work on. I would have been totally bamboozled as to what to make if I was participating.
The women in this workshop were super keen and stayed up late on Friday night and Saturday night to make the most of their time off (up to 1.30 am!!!!). It was a very casual affair with jim jam's and slippers on. The food was spectacular and the company even better.

The tutors & organiser from left - Natalie Bird, me, Kimmie (from Jukejema Quilting Barn), Natalie Ross, & Janelle Wind

The friendly group who took time out from their busy lives to have fun fun fun!  Note what we all had to put up with in the background - how did we all cope??

I taught the bags and notepads shown in my previous posting. Of course I was too busy ogling and not spending enough time taking photos, so remembered just as everyone was packing up, and after most had left, but did manage to take two pics of things complete.

This is Jill's version of my bag which was made in Kaffe Fasset fabrics - it looked spectacular!

Cheryl made this notebook cover for someone very dear to her out of fabric left over from a quilt she made. It was her first time of doing needle-turn applique, but I just DON'T believe her!

My projects for the workshops unveiled

I have been to two workshops over the last month, and used these designs in the workshops. One is a bag with box pleats, the other a set of notepads for shopping lists, journals, notes etc.
I made the bag up in two different colourways, having stitchery and applique at the top of one, and woven wool applique & punchneedle at the top of the other.

I am now having a dilemma as to how to put these patterns out for sale. You have to let me know if I should make them just as a single pattern, or if I should make up a purse and sunglasses case etc (ie things that belong in a bag), and make it up as a small book, like 'The World As It Should Be', which would work out just slightly more cost than a pattern, but using more pictures. This would also mean I would take a little longer to release these instructions. I am the world's best at sitting on the fence, so PLEASE help me with my crisis. Any advise would be most appreicated.
Thanks
Anni