January 21, 2018

Journeying into 2018


2018 has been around for a few weeks but for me it feels as if it is just starting! We enjoyed a fabulous Christmas with 26 of our wonderful family together. We then decided we would have a bit of a ‘holiday-at-home’, watching cricket, occasionally tennis, sewing, reading, doing as little of the normal housework as possible and generally being lazy. 


But reality is hitting and it's time to start facing the year ahead. We've had some ceiling fans installed to cope with the intense heat and humidity of our Queensland summer, so there's no excuse not to be up and going! 


There's been plenty of 'Thinking Quilting' happening. I have been working on a commissioned quilt with lots of applique and stitching. Then I decided to try to wash my big king size bedroom quilt for the first time. Only problem was, it wouldn’t fit in the washing machine. Tried the laundry tub, and it wouldn’t fit in there either. The final resort was the bath, so I filled it with water, added plenty of Wool-wash, and with lots of pushing and shoving and lifting and dunking, managed to give it a wash. Thankfully, the black fabric didn’t run, and hubby was around to help me lift it onto the clothes line. The quilt came up beautifully and the fabrics are positively glowing – so job done!


It’s stone-fruit season here, so that means it’s preserving time. The prices have been quite high so I’ve been holding off, hoping and waiting for them to drop, which they have done in the last couple of weeks. So now I have four months' supply of peaches preserved and a few packets of frozen diced mango, plus a couple of jars of peach jam. Next on the to-do list are plums!


One of my quilts is on the front cover of Aust Patchwork & Quilting magazine this month, Vol 27 No 11. The quilt called ‘Cottage in the Garden’ is made from the Cottage collection of Tilda fabrics.


It has been very well received on social media so I am quite excited.


I couldn't help but put a cottage in my quilt to follow the fabric collection:


I hope you enjoy seeing all its various components.


If you don't have access to the Australian magazine scene, I plan to put the quilt in my Craftsy Store in a couple of months.


I have placed the quilt on the wall at the front entrance of the house and I’m very pleased with how it looks ... and I can enjoy it every time I walk past!

I have decided not to offer a Block of the Month programme this year, so I have left all the patterns for the 2017 Hand-Picked wardrobe free in my Craftsy Store. I have some ideas for random free patterns this year, so keep on the look-out.

Happy Stitching.
Val

10 comments:

MartinaM said...

Wow, wonderful works. i love the quilt.
Martina

Little Penpen said...

L@@k! At your quilt on the cover of the magazine!! Congrats! It is beautiful!!

sunny said...

What a beautiful quilt on the magazine cover!! Your applique is always so pretty. I'm glad you had a lovely holiday, and them some relaxation time before jumping into the new year.

rosemaryschild said...

Your quilts are amazing - what great colors! Congrats on your cover publish! Thank you for sharing, Susan

Rosemary said...

I love that new pattern, Val. Can hardly wait til it's available for purchase. Unfortunately, I am unable to find a copy of the magazine but will happily (not to happy, though ... lol) until it's available to buy from you.

Fabric, colors, design ... that's what it's about!!

Rosemary said...

I love that new pattern, Val. Can hardly wait til it's available for purchase. Unfortunately, I am unable to find a copy of the magazine but will happily (not to happy, though ... lol) until it's available to buy from you.

Fabric, colors, design ... that's what it's about!!

Createology said...

Hard to believe you are having a heat wave while we are very cold in Winter on this side of our planet. Your KS Quilt is stunning! I adore your Cottage quilt and Congratulations on being the Cover Feature. Blessings for 2018...<3

Nanna Chel said...

Lovely to see you back in Blogland, Val. I feel I have been lazy as well but it has been hot I must admit. 26 for Christmas is a lot but I am sure you all had a wonderful time together. All the best for 2018.

Anonymous said...

Love the quilt on your bed also the one in the magazine is lovely. Wish it was easy to get those magazines where I live. Enjoy all of your time relaxing.
Carol O Sent


Susan said...

I always like seeing what you've been canning. These jars look amazingly fresh and delicious. That quilt is beautiful, and it would make a great QAL! I'll be looking for the pattern to become available.