Of Sketches and Bullies

Been trying to work out exactly what design I want to use with all those lovely fabrics I bought while at Wodonga.

I have an idea to piece a background in tone on tone whites and then applique in creams and bones. Been researching and sketching and have come up with a few ideas. Originally I wanted a butterfly perched on a dandelion and some pumpkin leaves and flowers around but found this was very cluttered so I dropped the dandelion.

Now I have come up with the butterfly on a pumpkin flower and a couple of leaves. This shows some of the fabrics I am trialling - thought the flower would need to be darker more orangy tones and the butterfly the softer tones. The leaves and vine would be more mid to dark tones.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Not sure how big I will make it yet - possibly a little over life size (the sketch is B4 so just a little bigger) - and not sure whether to do needle turn or raw edge. I am leaning toward raw edge because of the amount of little pieces there are going to be. The ol' blanket stitch on the machine is my favourite stitch especially in the same colour as the fabric.

Bella has settled into the household really well. Fozzie is no longer afraid of her and they play together most of the day. Fozz gets a bit aggressive when food is involved but I feed them in separate rooms so as long as I don't give them food together we have eliminated that problem.

Bella is an absolute Diva! She really attacks poor Fozz and he ends up putting his foot on her to settle her down, no sure what he will do when she grows up! She alsodemands attention when she thinks you are ignoring her; and she also likes to sleep under my computer desk. So Fozz is under the workdesk and she is under the computer desk when they both decide they are too exhausted to play anymore.

Back Home

Well I am back home after my wonderful 9 days with my sister in Wodonga.

We both had a fabulous time although the weather was horrid - they were into there 3rd or 4th week of above average temps hovering around 40 and not a drop of rain in sight! The dam is down to 20% there and we in Sydney complain at our dam level.

Still the heat aside it was great. We spent 90% of the time scouring all the local patchwork shops - I have in mind a new quilt/wall hanging and it will be on white tone on tone background and made from various shades of cream and off white - so we scoured the countryside looking for FQs and fat1/8ths to use in it.

I want to make a white pieced background with applique in creams and off whites of a butterfly on a dandelion head with pumpkin leaves, vines and flower alongside. Been making lots of sketches trying to get the right layout and proportions.

We searched the shops in Albury and Wodonga, then took a trip to Beechworth, sidestepping into the wondrous sweet shop there, and plundered the shops at Wangaratta to find all these lovely fabrics.

We also spent some time with my niece, her husband and their family (they have three wonderful boys - all autistic) and went to the movies (saw The Golden Compass). Finally we indulged a little and went to a Psychic Fair and had our futures told.

I took my sister's quilt with me on the plane and she loved it. I was so pleased. It blended in perfectly with the colours in her bedroom - creams, burgundies and pinks.

Then on the day we went to Beechworth I was trying to see something she liked to buy her to say thanks and went into a shop that sold things made from Alpaca. We saw the most wonderful scarves all felted onto silk using hand dyed alpaca wool.

My sister was immediately drawn to a lovely grey one and so I bought it for her. It was expensive but it was so beautiful and well worth the money to see her delight.

What was even better was that it looked lovely draped across her bed on the quilt I had made!

Sadly the pictures don't do it justice - it is light as air and is the softest hand dyed grey silk with the dyed alpaca that ranged from soft grey to dark grey, with hits of wonderful blues, turquoise and pinks.








On the home front, the boys and Marrianne managed to contend with their Dad and peace reigned reasonably well.

The dogs were all happy when I got home - I did miss them a lot - and Fozzie has certainly got over any fear he had of Bella - they spend all their time playing together. Fozzie no longer hides in the bathroom, except when he just wants a rest from playing. Bella collapses anywhere so it is a matter of watching where you walk! She also likes to lay under my computer desk.

Nathan was here for a day and so it was a perfect opportunity to 'snap' them both together while they were both quiet!