Bendigo Blue Quilt

This week, I've been inspired to pick up a crochet hook... for the first time in about 10 years.  After winding my way through a few crochet-related blogs, I found a terrific tutorial on an easier way to even up the borders surrounding a quilt made from crocheted hexagons,  Lanas & Hilos (Guatamala).  The lime green and lavender in her quilt is very fresh and spring-like. I thought about creating a small lap quilt, along the same lines.

This led me to Attic 24.  Her pattern for the crocheted hexagons (see above) is a bit fiddly, 'til you get the hang of it.  These delightful blue yarns were discovered as left-overs in my almost-forgotten knitting stash.  There is a mix of 4ply and 8ply,  and I picked up a few extra colours from a knitting shop in Bendigo, yesterday.  

We were there to visit the delightful "Grace Kelly: Style Icon" at the Bendigo Art Gallery, in central Victoria.  They do terrific exhibitions there... we were spell-bound for nearly 3 hours.

So, naturally, tonight, while relaxing on a chilly Autumn  Sunday evening at the conclusion of a wonderful weekend, we chose to watch Grace Kelly and Ray Milland in the DVD:  "Dial M for Murder" - Marvellous!

Hamburg Hexagon Quilt

In August 2010, when my husband attended a science conference in Hamburg,  I asked him to bring home some fabric. These lovely, clear, spring-like solids caught his eye (sunny yellow, mint green, candy pink, apple green, and cherry).  I drew up a basic design for an English-pieced hexagon quilt.

Some co-ordinating prints from Amitie Textiles, Bentleigh,  and a lovely floral tone-on-tone cream fabric from The Quilters Patch, Moorabbin, completed the picture.  My husband kindly used his laser-cutter to cut out hundreds of perfect hexagons from both paper (1.5in), and fabric (2in) - precision itself.

Hexagon Quilt

This was my stand-out favourite at the Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, 14 April 2012.



        

  

I especially like the Borders & Corners







Quilt Convention - Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton

Last weekend I visited this gorgeous building.  The Australian Quilt Convention was in town for four days.  I enjoy visiting, to check out any new gadgets, for ideas, to pick up un-put-downable fabrics, and to just immerse myself in the wonderful atmosphere of my favourite past-time.

"Violet Garden Quilt".

Designed, machine-pieced & machine-quilted by me. Inspiration was from a gorgeous violet floral print found at a craft show... I picked up two fat quarters, and waited for inspiration....

It seemed to  evoke images of fragrant violets nestling in the cool, dark shade of a disused, rustic country train track (hence the rail fence block used).  The violets are trailing across swathes of summer grass, in the deep purple shadows of late afternoon. Both sides of the purple & orchid satins were used, to add reflection and light. (Feb-May 2008)

Jacaranda Quilt

Most of the hand-quilting is done, apart from the large border.  Then, I only have to do the binding. The end is in sight!

Fabric originally bought in Ipswich, Qld in November 2010... not surprisingly, the "Jacaranda Tree" flowering season.  The blues / greys symbolise the surrounding mountain ranges, around Moreton Shire / Marburg.

A long time between drinks......

While I haven't spent much time over the past few months studying my new subject "Blogging 101" - I have been stretching my technology muscles over the past few months:  mastering my Kobo E-reader (which, wonderfully, lasts over 2 months on one battery re-charge);  learning to navigate my new Smartphone (HTC Incredible S), and yes... even  getting a Myki card!   I also learned how to upload photos from my Smartphone to my Facebook page... and opened a Flickr & Picasa accounts.  (Now... how do I remember all the passwords???)

Do I get a "Gold Star" for effort?

Let's see if I can work out uploading actual photos (of my creations and works in progress) to this Blog!