Friday, July 13, 2012

Quilting Cruise workshop

I have been working on four different versions of my second workshop on the 2nd Australian Quilting Cruise next January.  My workshop is titled Bali Treasures.  I will be going to Bali on a fabric and cultural tour with a group of Canberra Quilters next September.  I will be looking for batiks to put together as kits for this workshop.

The second version is adding turned applique machined onto the background using monofil thread.  They could also be needle turned.


This design does not have to be done with batiks.  My third version was made using 9 fabrics from the Essentials Too Damask collection.  These colours were not colours that I would usually use.  It is good to get out of your square sometimes.

I collect cat fabrics and had a piece with 3" squares with cats and a matching allover fabric for quite awile in my stash not knowing what to do with them. The 3" squares were perfect for this design.  Needless to say I did not use the coordinating fabric from my stash but took the fabric to 'Simply Stitches' in Wagga and chose eight matching fabrics to complete the project. I was happy with the resulting quilt.


Bookings are going well on our 2nd Australian Quilting Cruise.  Our adds in Quilters Companion and DUO Quilts came out this month. However, the group price freeze that we have for the cabins on the ship is ending on Monday.  The cabin prices for any future booking on our cruise will unfortunatly go up then.  If you are interested in this cruise if you book befor then you will get the old price.  The deposit of $450 is fully refundable until the 15th October.  If you book now you have until then to change you mind if necessary.

If you are interested in coming on this fabulous cruise with myself and Amand Daly contact our booking guru, Lorelle, by email. lorelle@thecruisecrew.com Alternatly you can contact me at russeldr@bigpond.com

A Quilting Retreat at Sea is a great way to combine your passion for Patchwork and a pampered holiday together. 

Until next time

Dorothy

Friday, July 6, 2012

Australian Quilt Cruise Workshop Preview

Amanda Daly's second workshop is a memory quilt of the cruise.  This quilt offers offers techniques including raw edge applique, raw edge reverse applique, partial seams. The picture shows the New Zealand version.  There will be a choice of this a Pacific Island,  with gecko's turtles, hibiscus flowers and palm trees etc, and an Australian version, will be gum leaves, flannel flowers and banksia etc, as well.

In the Round - New Zealand Version
I am working on my second workshop and will have it posted soon.  This uses batiks however it can also be done in a variety fabrics.  At the beginning of September Tony and I are going to Bali with a group of quilters from Canberra.  We will be visiting the batik factories and I hope to bring back fabrics to put together kits for this workshop.  I am also going to do a version with turned machine applique.

Happy quilting

Dorothy

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Australian Quilting Cruise Update

Keeping Warm
Here we are six months out from our next Australian Quilting Cruise.  It is almost snowing here.  In fact one of the ladies coming on the cruise was speaking to me at lunch time and it was snowing where she is at Kanama, near Batlow.  Just thinking about curising to the Pacific and being able to quilt on the way is waming me up.  My animals have taken position by the fire.  They are not venturing too far from the house.

We have to date 15 quilting ladies plus some partners and friends booked on the curise.  We have a lot of publicity going out over the next couple of months so if you would like to come or would like more information please contact me.

I have been busy in my sewing room putting together quilts to show for my two classes.  I have managed to finish quilting one of them.  Seven to go.  Have done (or will do) four variations on each of my classes.  You know quilting rooms are very hard to keep tidy.  I seem to have fabrics everywhere.

Amanda has posted some of her samples on her blog.  Hop over there and have a look. http://amandaspatch.blogspot.com.au/

I am still waiting on the batics to arrive for one of my workshops.  Will post the finished quilt when I have it completed'

With the school holidays upon us and snow not far away we have a lot of bookings.  Just after the holidays I have 7 ladies from Albury coming for a retreat so we will be very busy over then next few weeks.  Still hope to fit in the patchwork.  Seem to be sewing later at night. 

Will keep you posted on the quilting progress over the next few weeks.

Until next time

Dorothy