It Opened and it was Grand, oh and some FINISHES!

The Grand Opening of The Retreat was fun filled and exciting.

Several people came to see what The Retreat is all about and I got heaps of positive feedback.

I also got to have a wonderful weekend with some very special friends and family.

It's one thing to have an idea but actually doing it and then putting it out there for all to judge is rather nerve wracking.

Lucky there was some nerve calmer (I managed to wait until 11am on Saturday which I was advised was a decent time...somewhere)

Due to the GIVEAWAY there are lots of photos popping up of the retreat so I thought I'd show off some of the quilts that I've managed to complete and get onto the beds.

I must say, I had help! It's handy to have mates who love to bind. Very handy.

I'm very proud of the Giant Dahlia quilt.

It hangs on the huge wall in the Studio to really show it off.

I made it with Michelle Yeo in a class at the now closed Primitive Patches.

I had the top done for several years but I knew it needed some special quilting to do it justice.

Kerry from Black Forest Quilting did a brilliant job with the most perfect feathers quilted onto the petals.

I love how it looks - it's even better in person.

'Chocolate Lollipop' was in the pipe works for a long time. It's super busy and crazy and no doubt not to everyones' taste but it's fun and I like fun. It lives in the purple bedroom these days.

There was no way that I could cut up this stunning Amy Butler fabric and same goes for the backing.

My lovely friend Jenny from Bayside Quilting did this one and it looks great.

This quilt didn't have a name other than 'More bloomin Amy Butler fabric!!!??!?' until I took it to Kerry for quilting. After a quick chat we settled on 'Persian Princess' pantograph pattern and I fell in love so meet my 'Persian Princess'

It's a very cool pattern.

Under the influence of Dresden Girl aka Dear Fii I made a quick trip home from craft camp, grabbed some extra supplies and zoomed back. A fortifying sip of champas and I cracked out my dresden templates. I have been stashing hoarding my fat quarter set of Hope Valley by Denyse Shmidt for quite a long time. 

Now that I've cut into it, I actually like it more than I previously did.

So much so, that I now intend on using some of my other all time favourites so that I can enjoy as the patchy, quilty gods really intended.

For some great house pics check out Nic's blog at Yardage Design and Cam has done a post at Curly Pops.

It was so wonderful to see them both as well as Bronwyn who stopped in for some crafty time.

Dates are starting to fill up at The Retreat.

If you're hankering for a getaway, don't forget 20% if you pay and stay before August 31st.

Thanks again for all of the emails, messages and posts of support. I'm a lucky girl.

A HUGE thanks to my helpers - Jules, Fii, B, Faith, Pam, Jude, Gis, Bec and of course my CP boys.

I'm really, really lucky.

Ab xx 

Another Finish for WIP 2012

I didn't realise that I hadn't blogged this one.

Lots of my favourite Amy Butler prints with some off white quilter's muslin. Obviously a very simple quilt but sometimes it's more about the fabric than anything else.

I quilted straight(ish) lines between the blocks and then practiced my stipple quilting in the blocks. It's the first time that I have free-motion quilted on a big quilt and I was surprised I didn't find it harder, which is great because it's encouraged me to do more.

But.... I don't seem to have a pic of the finished quilt and I took it up to The Retreat yesterday. It's the last day of June and therefore the last day to get another entry into the 12 WIP in 2012.

I hope they'll believe I've finished it, especially since I actually completed the binding on the 2nd of June. 

I should have blogged it then!!

It seems I'm dobbing myself in for the actual amount of WIP's I have.

I've already finished off a few that weren't even on my original list for the year.

This is another one of those....

It's a challenge one that I did with my aunts and supposed to represent the four seasons.

I did some stipple and some meandering for quilting as I needed it to be a quick finish. I machined the binding on this afternoon during Harvey's nap and it folded and ready to go to the retreat. 

Pretty floral backing

I got this back from Kerry, the long-arm quilter (Black Forest Quilting, Macedon) and she has done an amazing job. It's destined to be a wall hanging in the studio at The Retreat.

Only a sneak peek for now, you should come and see it.... 

Remember The Retreat OPEN HOUSE is on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of July.

Contact me for address details.

Abbe x 

Hallaluja, there's been progress

I got started on one of the baby quilts yesterday. I'm doing some wonky stars in some very girly fabrics. I'll get back to that this afternoon...thank the gods for nap time!

The other night, on a whim, I decided to try my hand at some free-motion quilting. I did a class here a couple of years ago and liked stippling but I couldn't get the tension right on the machine - looked good on the front of my practice piece but it was a knotted shambles on the back. The same thing was happening again so I

decided to do a funny thing and READ THE INSTRUCTIONS....

Absolutely amazing what you can learn.

Anywho, a quick stippled whiz about on my practice quilt sandwich and I grabbed the Cowboy quilt top, some batting and backing and spray basted it. I then hand to do motherly duties, all the while excited about getting stuck into the machine quilting.

Finally, it was bedtime for the monster and I could have a go and....

Voila!

It took about an hour.

It's far from perfect but I love it.

As soon as I was finished I was feverishly looking around for another quilt to throw on the machine.

I came to my sense and had a calming chocolate milkshake instead.

In the meantime I have machine appliqued the 'On the Move' blocks and basted the 'Faves' Amy Butler quilt. I'm trying to find the right thread colour to match the striking pink backing but have been thwarted by closed quilt shops so far. I have been making great progress with the WIP's and still feel really enthusiastic about getting things finished.

And this guy. Shucks, I just love him.

Even though he's turned into a vampire.... 

Check out those fangs!!!! 

It looks hilarious.

Nearly nap time...I'm heading for the sewing room while Mr Fox deals with Master Fox.

Ab x

It's time I exposed myself

Don't be rude, I'm showing my WIP's not my arse!

I am challenging myself to get all of the following projects finished.

Last year was supposed to be the year of finish but then I had the best kind of start (Master Harvey) instead so I was completely and utterly distracted.

So I invite you to look at the inner workings of this very distracted sewist....

My favourite Amy Butler fabrics quilt. It's possibly to be long arm quilted, possibly to be machine quilted by me...Anyway, the backing AND binding fabrics are sitting with it so it's semi organised.

Another Amy Butler quilt (there's three, I was obsessed ;o)

Also has backing ready to go. I will get this long armed.

'On the Move' cot quilt. I finally stuck the appliques on the other day, I need to raw-edge applique them and of course piece this one. It too has the binding and backing fabrics sitting with it. There are at least six babies that I need to create for this year (not including making a quilt for my own...the one that is yanking on the laptop right now. I guess I'm finishing this post later)

Several hours and a bedtime later....

Un-named red and white quilt for my friend Lisa. Already gifted and then taken straight back so that I could quilt it. Anyone noticing a theme?

The final Amy Butler, also un-named (I always name my quilts, usually with a pun) and unquilted. I'm planning to hand quilt this with Perle thread. I'd love to have this finished and being used this year.

This green and white number is the toile quilt. Um it's been a finished top for a very long time. Dare I say at least five years. Oops. To be long arm quilted when I find a backing. I'm considering scalloping the border so I think that's held back the finishing.

'Cowboys' is another top that 's been languishing in the 'Tops to be Quilted' container. I really wished I'd bought bolts of the red with white spot - it's the scrummiest colour. This will be for one of those many babies. I'm banking on a few boys at least.

This is 'Chocolate Lollipop' in the Walk the Line pattern by Sarah Fielke (I think. It was in Australian Better Homes and Gardens some time ago). Must piece it.

'Birdie Stitches' was a stitch-along on the LMS blog. I ran out of steam but plan on using the blocks for a girl baby quilt.

The 'Rainbow Connection' is a zig zag quilt. I think it's going to be for our bed...who knows? Much piecing to be done.

A table runner that I practiced hand quilting on. It has needed binding for quite some time and it'll give me an easy finish.

Another one for a baby-to-be. Simple but very cute panel. I'll machine quilt it.

Oooh look another panel. As above.

Some scrummy, girly fun fabrics for girl baby-to-be (the only one I know what the sex is...because her mum accidentally told me - oops!) probably a simple star pattern.

I'm hoping to start (and finish) this stitchery, well the whole quilt actually, with my favourite wenches B and Jules.

Finally Swoony. I've never made a quilt for my one true love and it's really about time that I did. His favourite colour is blue and mine is green so I'm hoping to make it a perfect fit for both of us.  

So that's me exposed.

Eleven, yes ELEVEN tops to be pieced and/or quilted.

Five quilts to be started and finished....um, also at least a few other for the remaining babies.

Eeeek that probably means TWENTY QUILTS to complete.

Bugger.

Oh well, I'll be a super sewist (my new word) in 2012.

Wishing you all good luck and productivity with all that you begin this year.

Abbe :o)

Ps. I am linking into the 12 WIP's in 2012 created by AJ. A bit of extra motivation for me.

Finishes (finally!!!)

I've gone back and looked at old photos and finally found that I bought this Anna Maria Horner Flannel in February 2010. I started cutting out the quilt in June 2010 and now I have finally finished! Woohoooooo!!!

Simple squares, finished 7.5 inches.

I quilted the top to the batting, in the ditch.

Then I 'bagged' or pillowcased it to add the back.

I tied the back on at all the corners where the blocks meet.

It's a simple but gorgeously soft quilt. I think I've already said it but I would definitely recommend this flannel, it's gorgeous.

Another finish, just completed this morning while my assistant looked on.

My first Amy Butler bag.

I'm not completely happy with it. I read all the instructions about ten times and I went slowly, step-by-step which is a bit unlike me but I still found it hard. I think the pattern is a bit out but I fudged my way through.

I checked the AB website at Bianca's suggestion and there were corrections to an awful lot of Ms Butler's patterns. It surprises me that there can be so many mistakes, especially from someone who I consider to be at a high/professional level.

And because I can't resist showing off my bestest craft ever... 

Yep, that's just a little bit of cheek ;o)

Ab x

Oh yeah, I meant to blog that

A hankering for hot cakes.

 Turned into this.

Yum!

Then we did a bit of this. We all need mags for inspiration sometimes.

Then I finished this top. About bloody time, I know. It has been sitting in rows for ages. Loving it.

I promise it's much brighter and fab in real life. My camera has a knack for bleaching colour from everything. I'm on the lookout for a big girl camera. Any tips of do's and don't would be greatly appreciated!

And yes I'm still working on the Purple Wonder. Sporadically.

And this is a tease because I am a tease....

Another relaxed day today. I'm being sucked in by the lameness of the midday movie then I'm going to sewing heaven (upstairs where my sewing space is) and gonna play.

Then I'll top of my day with a sewing session with some local ladies. Nice.

Sew well peeps,

Ab

Warm fires and luscious smells

So it's cold. Not super 'I think my bones are going to snap' cold but cold enough.

Give it a month or so and it'll be that cold!

The fire is being lit most afternoons so I'm back to the routine of lugging wood and wishing I lived in a house with decent insulation and instant heat.

Having said that I recently came home to these lovelies to enjoy...just because.

Yep, that man is a keeper!

This tea pot and the tea came from my friend Lisa. My Christmas present that she kept forgetting to bring when we were meeting up. I love it. Perfect for real tea. I absolutely love the colours on the pot.

and I'm totally going to use the tea tin which has three compartments. Perfect some sewing notions.

Visit my friend Michelle for her latest tea purchases.

Remember this?

I made it for Mr CP but then I thought it wasn't going to be big enough so I got discouraged and didn't give it to him for Christmas like I'd planned.

Then he read some old blog posts.

Then he asked where his laptop bag was....

and it fits!

Apparently gifts come to those who ask :o)

And Amy and I have still been bonding. I added some love and the extra contrast made this sing rather than the humming from before. Love it!

I just got an email about 20% off Amy Butler Midwest Modern and MM2....do I dare?

Sew well Lovelies,

Abbe x