Did you see that week?

The one that just whizzed by while I wasn’t looking?

My life this week has been full of both marvellous and mundane moments, but I’ve never been too busy to take my daily photos for Fat Mum Slim’s Photo a Day Challenge, and here’s my weekly round-up (it’s even a little quilty!).

Day 8 – Something beginning with T

Tomatoes planted as seedlings by Boak the week before he died, and watered, staked and tied by me. They’re fruiting in abundance, and it’s an absolute joy to collect them each day. To make a salad I add baby bocconcini and torn basil leaves (also from Boak’s veggie garden), drizzle with extra virgin olive  oil, and top with ground pepper and sea salt. Yummmm…. 

Day 9 – Paper

Gift-wrapping paper printed with antique quilts. I love it so much I may never use it!

Day 10 – 1 o’clock

Day 11 – Water

One from my archives – floating on the Dead Sea during our trip to Israel and Jordan last year. What you can’t see are the life guards on the shore with loud hailers making sure everyone floats belly-up! Try to float face-down and you risk swallowing this water, or getting it in your eyes, and you could be very ill. The ambulances are already lined up nearby!

Day 12 – Surprise

Mr J loves playing with this jack-in-the-box when he comes to visit.

Day 13 – Circle

A block from a beautiful free quilt pattern, Circles of Life, designed by Jenny of Elefantz an couple of years ago. I must confess although I’ve finished all the embroidery this quilt is still a work in progress. Maybe I ought to do something about this state of affairs. Very soon.

Day 14 – Something yellow

I’ve been piecing these cheerful hexagons together to make a block for a group quilt being made by members of the Sydney Modern Quilt Guild. I’ve made two blocks, the other one being bright pink! The design is semi-secret for now (it’ll be on display at the Sydney Quilt Show in June) but let me just say it will be gorgeous!

 Di

Bear with me

It’s that time of year again, and over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing with you some of the goodies I’ve been making for our craft stall at the St Luke’s Care fundraiser.

As usual, the ever-generous Di B has been stitchin’ up a storm too, and if I can twist her arm I might also tantalise you with some of her gorgeous handmade items.

And while I have your attention, I’d like to tell you about the prettiest little giveaway I’ve seen for a long time. Jenny of Elefantz is giving away an original stitched and coloured framed design called “Flowers for Sale”. Pop on over to her blog and enter the draw.

Jenny’s designs are so simple, sweet and inviting, and I enjoyed stitching some of them last year.

Now here’s a chance for you one of us to own a Jenny of Elefantz original!

Di

BOMs away!

Most of the Block of the Month quilts I’ve seen in the past have been expensive, time-consuming and required me to commit to a lengthy contract. I’ve always imagined myself burdened with the pressure to keep up my “homework” each month lest I fall behind. I have enough pressure in my life, thank you very much, so consequently I’ve steered clear of BOMs.

Until now.

Circles of Life by Jenny of Elefantz is great value (unbelievable, in fact), runs over just 6 months (perfect for those of us with commitment issues) and is the sweetest little embroidered and pieced quilt I’ve seen in a long while.

Better still, Jenny has cleverly broken up the monthly assignments so that they are do-able for even the busiest person. That embroidery is so portable that it can be whipped out whenever there’s a spare moment.

This month’s BOM was in fact six! But they’re all mini-blocks, and took no time at all. As you can see, I haven’t quite finished my homework yet. I need to trim these blocks down and machine a border around each one.

Circles of Life is just one of the delightful little patterns Jenny publishes in her Elefantz Home online magazine every month.

Are you working on Jenny’s Circles of Life quilt too?

Di

Circles of Life

I needed another quilt project like a hole in the head, but when Jenny of Elefantz unveiled her new Block of the Month, Circles of Life, back in June I fell in love with it – and with the fabric range she chose. You might recall I wrote about it here.

(You might need to sit down before you read what I have to tell you next…)

In a complete reversal of my usual form, I’m actually keeping up with each BOM as it appears in my monthly Elefantz home online magazine!!!

 

This is the latest block, Circle of Life.

And these are my two previously finished blocks, Sewing Circle…

…and Circle of Friendship.

Working on these blocks has given me so much pleasure, as I think about the meaningful circles in my life.

It’s also been my pleasure – though in an entirely different way – to make these two blocks as a contribution to Sarah’s gift to Amy.

 

Take a look at Cathy’s blocks here. Sarah has been overwhelmed by the response to her call for blocks, such is the compassion and generosity of quilters the world over. She has more than 160 blocks, but is very happy to accept more.

Email her at sarah@sarahfielke.com for the details.

* * * * * * * * * *

And now I have a special request…

If you live in Blacksburg, Virginia, or know someone who lives there, could you please leave a comment below, with your email details? I’d like to ask you a question. 

Thank you,

Di

Circle of Friendship

In an unheard of act of self-organisation I’ve completed my second Circles of Life BOM 3 weeks ahead of time! Woohoo!

It’s amazing what you can do when you’re having fun – and I sure am with this quilt.

My various circles of friendship are very precious to me, including my online friends around the world.

Di

Circles of Life

Take these delicious fabrics (add a few extras from your stash to spice things up a little).

Blend with these pretty threads.

Add in the delightful new online quilting and embroidery magazine, Elefantz Home, from Jenny of Elefantz, and you’ll have all the ingredients for a beautiful new Block of the Month quilt, Circles of Life.

I’ve never dome a BOM before, and I really shouldn’t start another quilt but the first time I saw Jenny’s quilt (in Issue 1 of Elefantz Home) I fell in love with its freshness and references to the significant “circles” in our lives.

You can subscribe to Elefantz Home here for just AUD4.00 a month and receive at least 3 of Jenny’s patterns every month in your inbox, or buy the BOM block patterns alone from Jenny’s Etsy shop where you can also buy back issues of the magazine.

A large part of my attraction to Circles of Life was Jenny’s fabric choice – Fresh Palette by Carrie Nelson for Henry Glass – but when I went Googling I became increasingly more desperate as shop after shop had sold out. It seems I wasn’t the only quilter to have fallen in love with Fresh Palette.

I eventually tracked down my fabrics at the appropriately named Desperate Quilters.

They couldn’t have been friendlier, especially when my credit card was initially declined. (Note to self: Don’t order fabric on the internet at 2am when you’re past typing straight *lol*).

I’ve pulled several extra fabrics from my stash, and I’m more than happy with the result so far. This summery look is brightening my winter days. Would you like to join me?

You’ll have to wait to see my second completed block, Circle of Friendship, next time

Di