Please remember that any photos, images or text on this blog remain my property, but if you wish to use any that you see, feel free to contact me for permission. Thank you for respecting my request and enjoy your visit.......Joy

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A revamp....

of my blog.  As if I haven't enough things to do - I have to go and revamp the blog.  Thought it was looking a tad tired.  Had a look at the new Blogger bits and pieces, followed some directions, made a few mistakes and had to go back and correct, but think I have now finished.  I like the background - just a pity you can't see the whole picture of the ocean - looks fabulous, but of course the blog itself has to go on top. Made the columns a bit wider and have been able to put a frame around the photos - I think it makes them clearer - what do you think?
Anyway, have had my play for the day (actually it is am at the moment, so think I should go and get my beauty sleep!).  If you are reading this please let me know if you like what I have done or prefer me to go back the 'old ways' of the previous settings....
Thanks,   Joy

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Finished siggie quilt

I'm a member of the Australian quilting on-line group called Southern Cross Quilters (or Scquilters for short) and they have a retreat each year, held in a different part of the country.  Last yeat (about this time) it was in Adelaide and I was supposed to go. Long story.  Anyway, one of the activities they have for us is a 'siggie square' swap.  Those that want to go make as many as needed - last year it was approx 70-80 (last year I don't remember back that far....).  A dear friend Lee-Allan went and she got as many squares for me as she could, also had each person put their name and address on an envelope, so I could send mine back to them.  A lot of work for Lee-Allan and much appreciated by me.  Well, after putting them together in a reasonable way and quilting it I managed to finish the binding yesterday - Yay!!! Here is the finished result:
Sorry about the angle of the image, but I don't have a bigger wall to put it on and I have to take the photo from an angle in the doorway of the spare room. Anyway I'm happy with the results.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

What the Postman delivered today -

was two parcels - one with my long awaited copy of  the awe-inspring book '500 Art Quilts' and the other the first issue of 'Down Under Textiles' - a newly locally published textile magazine.  Both have been on order for a little while and I was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten me.....  Have heard others had received theirs a couple of weeks ago, but mine were still coming.  Happy now - the only question I have is which one will I read first???

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

My International outgoing mail...

I can now post a pic of two cards that I recently sent overseas.  Have just heard they have arrived at their destinations.

The first one here is a postcard sent to Liz in Kansas USA, for the StitchinFingers FPC group birthday swap.  I used a piece of Indian woven cotton for the background and added some beads and stitching.  A similar one was sent to Susan in Lancashire, UK.  Sorry Gina, if you're reading this, for your birthday next month, I will have something different for you.

This ATC is also for a Stitchin Fingers 1-1 swap for the month of February - subject was Black and White with one other colour.  I chose to do a stylised applique tulip and used the 'other colour' for the edging.  Unfortunately the edging is a lot brighter than it shows here - I used an embroidery thread for the stitching.  It went to Hopscotch in North Wales, UK.
I am also participating in an International Block Swap on Facebook.  It is a centralised swap and there is approx 100 of us in this swap, being co-ordinated by Ruth in Canada.  Today I posted 102 blocks to her.  The rules for the squares was - 6.5 in finished;  white on white for the main piece and batiks for the corners.  The more variety the better. This is a sampling of 4 squares that are in my parcel winging their way across the big pond between us and Canada.

My local Aussie PO has been really pleased to see me lately - all my mail has been international - have to keep the posties of the world in employment!  I do love getting mail from these swaps, it sure beats the 'window-faced' envelopes which usually have bills in them.