Home from Festival

Well its been a while since I returned from Houston, it took me a while to get over the jetlag,

round about 2 weeks, and with work and Christmas approaching I haven't had

much time to blog.

We had a fabulous time in Houston, it was amazing to see all the quilts and

all the booths at festival, it was a feast for the eyes and it took a few days of looking around before

I could absorb that I was finally there.

Our classes were fabulous and we learnt so much, it was great

meeting all my quilting heroes. We had about 4 classes with Jamie Wallen, I love, love

Jamie he was so inspirational and a great teacher.

and Linda Taylor was fabulous as well.

Antique Quilts, I didn't think I would be so drawn to these gorgeous

quilts, every day I would browse the booths looking at the amazing

quilts, I ended up buying 2 quilt tops that I will quilt myself, both from the

1930's and 40's

Here's Karen with my teal and red applique quilt.

and this is the one Karen brought.

I also had my eye on another feedsack quilt that was

completed but because I procrastinated??? .....  silly me......

I missed out, I didn't realise how drawn I am

to feedsack quilts, oh well I will just have to make my own.

I did manage to buy some fabric, templates, books, threads, panto's

and other bits and pieces, that in the end I had to buy another

suitcase for the trip home

I knew I was in America when I saw the yellow school bus, you wouldn't think that someone could get so excited over a bus, it just reminds me of the Partridge Family and David Cassidy singing

I think I love you, ha ha!!.................... I know I'm showing my age..........and I know the Partridge bus was not yellow...........Ahh!! the memories. But we did have to usher the kind policeman out the
way so we could get this photo!!. He was very obliging.....he was probably thinking crazy tourists
it's just a bus.

It all seems like a dream now and really cannot believe that
I travelled all that way, lucky I have my photos and quilts to
remind me that I wasn't dreaming.

Hugs
Mandy

Houston Quilt Festival

Have arrived safely in Houston for the Festival and am having a blast.
We have attended Quilt Market and started our first classes of many.
Today we had two classes with Jamie Wallen, all I can say is amazing, he was
Fabulous in every way and I feel I have learnt buckets today, will follow up with
Photos later, looking forward to more classes tomorrow. Will follow up with
More later on my return.

Cheers
Mandy

Houston

Only 4 more sleeps till Houston, I'm so excited, my

bags are packed and all I need

is for Friday to come around.

My Working Space

You know how things get shoved in the cupboard and end up

lost forever, well today I found my hidden treasure's and I say

treasures's as I didn't realise how much was in there.

As my Laundry/Sewing Room are shared......... things

get a little tight on space at times and I have the habit of just

opening the door and throwing things in.

But today I came up with the idea of some shelving at the end of the cabinet

right behind the door.

Brilliant!!.....I am so pleased with my self shelves.......... p.s ...it helps also when

hubby is a cabinetmaker........a girl has to have some benefits, right!!

Anyhoo, my lovely DD decided to help me out in empting all the 

cupboards and sorting out my stash.....what a lovey afternoon I had

finding fabric, folding it up nicely and stacking it neatly

in my new shelves.

I am convinced........ no not really........ that,  I don't need to 

go near a fabric shop for a while.

Shame though, its not going to happen............

as I am a self confessed fabraholic.............sigh!!!!!..........Oh well!!!

It could be worse.

 

 

I was in my element this afternoon with all this

yummy goodness......... even my DD was getting

excited...... she was planning a few quilts

for herself.........Shhh!! don't tell her but I think I

have her hooked.

 

Oh No!.... not two fabraholics in the family. Life's tough hey!!

 

Here she is working on her second quilt in the last month,

she already has plans for number three and four as presies for friends.

It's nice to have something in common, I will post photos

of the quilt she is working on soon............here's a hint, its made with Good Fortune by Kate Spain.

See you Soon

Mandy

30 Sucks - Gift Idea

We all find it hard at times to come up with an idea

for a birthday pressie, but I stumbled

across this fabulous idea the other day on pinterest.

found@sistersstuff.blogspot.com

Perfect present for someone who you just want to

buy a small gift for, but with an added sense of humour.

You can change it up to any number.

Its so easy to make without a lot of effort and time.

(cause we all know we have plenty of that.............ha ha!!)

I bet you will get compliments.

Give it a try!!

Mandy

Lovely

Very simple but very gorgeous, this quilt made by my

daughter for her friends twenty first birthday.

Made from a Layer Cake with "Lovely" by Sandy Gervais and

a narrow border, this quilt is a very simple and easy first quilt to make.

I have quilted an  all over Panto called Hearts in Bloom by Timeless Quilting. 

All in all I think she did a great job and her girlfriend loved the quilt.

Happy Quilting!!

Mandy

Houston International Quilt Festival

Well it's time to fess up, I am so excited as it's only two weeks until 

International Quilt Festival in Houston

and I am going....arrrghhh!!!

I am so excited I could burst, Karen from

Quilts on Bastings and I are heading to Houston for the Show and

some Longarm classes. We have been planning

and booking over the last few months and I figure

I can start to get excited..... a little bit anyway!!!!

(don't let me down Qantas)

We have booked classes with Irena Bluhm, Sue

Patten, Jamie Wallen and Linda Taylor, it will be

so exciting meeting and learning from these icons

of the quilting world.

I must admit I am a nervous flyer and feel a little

trepidation about being so far from the family, after all, it is half way

across the world, but I know

I will have the best time ever.

I will definitely be taking lots of photos and will probably bore

you all with the details when I get back.

So its back to packing and washing and double checking

I have everything, its so hard to think of what you will need and

I'm not good at packing lightly, but I will force myself, as I know I will probably be sitting on my case 

to close it for the return trip.

Happy Quilting!!

Mandy