Tula and Noosa!

I've just returned from a short sojourn north to 

Noosa,

The Noosa River on Wednesday morning!

where I was lucky enough to be present at 

Tula Pink's talk and trunk show in Brisbane!

Note the owl pendant which echoes her designs

What a delight it was to hear her talk about her 

career, 

her design process (paint chips included) and even 

the story behind the Elizabeth range;

for example the pelican is a symbol of motherly love.

All her quilts are quilted, by Angela Walters, 

with double polyester batting....

"Why a double layer of batting?"

 I hear you ask.....

Photography takes away a certain percentage of the 

texture created by quilting!

This is from her 'soon-to-be released' range- Slow & Steady

The double batting puts it back!

Part way through Tula's presentation, 

I remembered I owned this sweet piece of Hushabye 

fabric...

which is now rare and out of print.

I think I may frame it!

I may have made a few purchases, to 'enhance' my 

stash!

While visiting my friend Marg, we may have indulged 

in some sunshine, a margarita...

and a delightful lunch at Maison de Provence in the 

Noosa Hinterland!

And in other exciting news, I won a class from 

"Amitie" with Michelle Mckillop,

 using this fabric for my colour palette.

I'm looking forward to starting something new....

and look forward to sharing it with you!

Happy days, 

SUZ

Coming to a Blog near you...

-the Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop....

From 1st October - 30th November we are hopping all 

over the world,

EPP-ing in some fantastic locations.  

Check out the full list here and be sure to check out 

the other participants. 

On 30th November it's over to you to link up for a chance to win these fabulous prizes! 

Sponsored by Paperpieces.com, FabricwormPink Castle Fabrics ,  Marmalade Fabrics, the Fat Quarter Shop, WantItNeedItQuilt, and Aurifil.

Full details for competition entry can be found here.

In preparation, I had great fun looking through 

photos of my recent travels

 and making these....

A cool drink on a hot Paris morning

at this great site....

Guggenheim Museum- Bilbao Spain

A Nyons Market, France

A Metro Station, Paris

It's not my turn until 20th October....

A Melbourne Park, late Autumn

Which palette will I choose?

Which fabrics will I choose?

 And which block pieces will I use?

Kite pieces?

Pie pieces?

Hexies?

or something totally new?

Be sure to pop back on 20th to find out!

I have been doing a little hand sewing....

Now waiting patiently for the postman to arrive...

Happy days....

SUZ

And the WInner is....

Thank you to all my followers, and those who just popped in for a look, 

who visited during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day (week)!

I loved reading your answers.....

Exotic things like Macaroons, Les Miserables and Amelie!

Or the everyday ones relating to pastries and coffee!

I could have given away my mini quilt countless times and wish I could send 


something to so many of you!

But there can be only one winner....

RACHAELDAISY!

Her answer really resonated with me, especially as it had 

things that I hadn't heard of, 

things I'd like to do again 

AND things I can only dream of!

Rachael your mini quilt will soon be on its way!

And because I can't do a post without a photograph....

I have finally cut into my "Sherbet Pips" stash!

Better late than never, hey!

Happy days!

SUZ

I've Lost My Head!

Despite Protests of "How could you?!" and "NO!!" 

 I have not changed my mind!

My header is being given away!

I have just completed the hand quilting on this mini quilt (measuring 19 inches 

square) and it's ready to go....

Pretty binding and a simply pieced back....

I used Auriful variegated cotton thread to quilt it....

And it is looking for a new and loving home!

So this giveaway will NOT be playing host to Mr Random Generator!

You will need to think of a creative answer to this question.....

"Where, in Paris, would like to go (or somewhere you have been) and why do you want to go there?

Simple, huh!

Many of my regular followers will know of my love of France, especially Paris, so give me some other great reasons to go back!

I will choose my favourite answer sometime on Saturday 17th December and mail my your header quilt away before Christmas!

Happy Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

COMMENTS NOW CLOSED!

SUZ

Giving you the Heads Up!

Yes, that's right!

I'm giving away my header....

as part of Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day !

Because I really love this mini you will need to get your thinking caps on!

(i.e. NO Mr. Random Generator) 

 I'll probably need a new header now!

But, nothing like a facelift, hey? 

And to get you in the mood....

Happy days!

SUZ

Stars Over Paris II

I have completed another block for my modern sampler....

And this, I must admit, may be the the last one!

I think I am quite 'over' this colour palette, for the moment, at least!

Now, I would love these blocks to sit on my design wall while I thought about 

how I will put them together!

But as I don't have one, they will languish in a pile and probably keep me awake 

at night thinking about it instead!

Suggestions gratefully accepted!

Happy days!

SUZ

Bits and Pieces!

I've had a rather productive week!

I LOVE this block!

Its called "Snow Blossoms" and I found it on Quilter's Cache...

But I originally saw the idea here on Flick'r.

Krista has lots of wonderful variations on her photostream

I've had my Michael Miller Eiffel Tower print for ages....

 (Almost two years from memory)... and I was really scared cutting into it!

As it is fussy cut, there will probably be a lot of waste.

But not as much if I had foundation pieced it.

I did a practice one first and then decided to cut the pieces individually.

Not sure whether I will make any more of these blocks or even if I have enough fabric to make more of the same.

Perhaps I could make more in a similar colour palette?

Or even use the same fabrics for a variety of block designs?

I also finished machine quilting and binding on my pram quilt.

And edge finished the fabric for my Embroider-Bee blocks.

Now to decide on some embroidery patterns....
 I finished this pin cushion which is a gift...

I'd cross stitched the cherries AGES ago and decided they needed to be loved a 


little bit more!


And the Dresden wedges from Lily's Quilts QAL have had a bit of a facelift.....

Their size was a bit overwhelming for me so I have split them into four and have something different planned... 

Until next time.....

Happy Sewing!

SUZ

Look what I've found!

A wonderful new shop in Melbourne...

It hasn't been open for long but I only chanced upon it while 'blog-hopping' 

recently:

l'uccello

It advertises itself as selling vintage haberdashery and fancy goods

Don't you love that - 'fancy goods'?  So old fashioned!

I had reason to be in the city and decided a visit was in order...

And, of course, purchases were made.

Many items are imported from France... 

cotton reels, thread, braid, buttons!

And they had French General fabric by the metre, made up into lavender 

bags, and other pretty things!

I succumbed to these....

For winding embroidery thread on to....

They were wickedly expensive but I couldn't resist sewing accessories this pretty!

And they do, of course remind me of Paris!

And there is nothing wrong with that, is there?

I'm sure I'll go back again....

Do you have a favourite shop that you like to visit, just because?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

I'm in love!

...with this fabric!

It's a LakeHouse Dry Goods by Holly Holderman seen here!

When I saw this in my LQS (Patchwork House in Hawthorn),  I knew it had to come home with me!

Of course, it reminds me of Paris with its Eiffel Tower... 

and tea cups.....  

and French words like bonbons and ...

patisserie...

And it's such a pretty color!

It's almost like being there...

Now I just need to decide what to make from it!

Suggestions?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

My Favourite Mug Rug

Madame Samm had a little secret contest running on Flick'r!

So I couldn't show you one of my recent creations-

But its over now so here it is!

It features little fussy cut fabric bits of some of my favourite things- 

bikes, and cherries, butterflies and owls, poppies and ladybugs!

And of course Paris had to get a look in there somewhere....

...on the back!

(I love this fabric!)

But I can honestly say I probably have enough mug rugs now!

But what are some of your favourite things?

Happy sewing!

SUZ