A Busy week...

Last weekend I was lucky enough to attend a 2 day workshop with Margaret Sampson George at Linda's
Last June Linda a held a similar weekend with Marg and I started Jane Pizar. This year Marg brought with her lots more ideas for new quilts, but wanted to continue on with Jane Pizar. Marg has drafted some patterns for the surrounding blocks and I made a start.

Instead of piecing all the elements in the centre of the circle, I just pieced the star and appliqued it to the background. I also appliqued the narrow brown print circle.
Jane Pizar has a huge variety of fabrics and this block contains fabrics as different as one from Bonnie and Camille's latest collection April Showers and a small piece from the Clarissa White Alford Collection for the Shelburne Museum by RJR.

Last night I made a start piecing my 2nd block.

I bought these 2 packs of hexies as inspiration for me to make one of Mrag's other quilts, one day.

More photos from the weekend here and  here.

 

This week I also made a little pin cushion for my sister. I used Liberty fabrics.

I found the free pattern here.




Today I went back to Linda's with about 25 other ladies to look at antique quilts and blocks....and some quilts and blocks inspired by antique quilts. Sharon and I both brought our CCCQ blocks and we spread them all out together.

My blocks on the right and Sharon's on the left.



And from the other end of the table...Sharon's blocks on the right and mine on the left..

 Now for a little bit of nature.

Alpacas at Linda's.

Notice the little baby black alpaca bottom centre! :)

Birdlife on a walk near home..

A lovely walk along Balnarring beach on Monday. You might be able to just see Phillip Island on the horizon.

 Lastly, something from my garden.

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

A little note to say thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last post. Much appreciated!! :)
I tried to reply to everyone. Thank you Sally and Tina; I couldn't reply directly to you because you are "no reply-commenters".

A wonderful weekend!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of learning from and being inspired by about 20 other quilters.

Bev and Linda organised 2 days of fun, hand stitching, talk, yummy food, friendship, sharing and inspiration led by Marg Sampson-George from Sydney.

I have been drawn to the Jane Pizar quilt for some months now and when I heard it was one of the quilts Marg was offering I jumped at the opportunity! You can see a picture of the original Jane Pizar quilt here on Barbara Brackman's blog. I love the centre medallion, but also the huge variety of smaller blocks which surround it.

Both mornings the drive up to Linda's was beautiful with sunshine contrasted by frosty roadsides and fields. As I drove and the sun warmed the leaves of the overhanging gum trees small droplets of water fell on the car.

We were greeted by a spacious, well lit room with large tables and a cozy, warm fireplace. (which I managed to sit nice and close to!!)

Marg shared with us several of her stunning quilts and while talking about each of the quilts she dicussed their background history, colour and fabric selection and how they were constructed. All of Marg's quilts had an enormous variety of fabrics with different weaves and from different eras, but the fabrics all worked together.

As we chose a pattern and began selecting fabrics Marg came around and spent time helping each of us individually with our fabric choices. Everyone had bags, baskets or even small suitcases of fabric!!

Several times during each day we would walk around the room and admire what everyone was making. The variety of fabrics was enormous!

So far I have completed the inner circle of diamonds.

  

Once again I have chosen lots of French General fabrics, but there are also some Dargate fabrics and other repros. Although many people construct this section using English Paper Piecing I made templates and hand pieced.

Most of the fabrics have been selected for the 2nd round.

At the end of Sunday several people brought quilts from home for a show-and-tell.

Thank you Bev, Linda, Marg and everyone else who was there on the weekend! The best weekend in ages!!! :)



I have rarely used Google Reader in the past, but I have signed up for Bloglovin and claimed my blog (see previous post) There is a new button in my sidebar.
After reading Chookyblue's post I will probably use Feedly, just in case sometime goes awry with reading from my blog list or dashboard.

Back soon with lots more sewing. :)