Top New Story!

I am pleased to announce my involvement in a new website that just went live on 1 November 2007 at www.onlinequilter.com. This is the premier web address for quilters and the world’s first web-only quilt magazine and daily newspaper. For a modest annual subscription, you get a world of content without any advertising.

Quilters from around the world exhibit their work, designers get your attention with their latest creations, online gallery shows are exciting to view, and you can learn so much about our wonderful quilt heritage. So much to tell you about, but I really think you should visit the website and decide for yourself.

I invite you to visit my special section, The Gentle Art of Applique, for my latest designs, my new blog, and lots of hints to improve your techniques. I am having a great time and I know you won’t want to miss a single page. I would also like to introduce Michelle Yeo, another OQ Designer and piecing expert who specialises in curved piecing. I must tell you about a very unique page, “Designers Show & Share” – this is where tutors are invited to display their work and provide contact details. Does your group need a guest speaker, lecturer, or workshop leader? Would you like to be included in this directory? Become a member and take advantage of this great resource.

There is a wealth of information waiting for you at www.onlinequilter.com and I invite you to join me for all the fun.

Pattern Prices REDUCTION

GREAT NEWS with price reductions on patterns! We also include Super Specials for multiple pattern orders.

I am really pleased to be able to offer reduced prices on most patterns. Your support is making this possible and you need to be rewarded. Check out some new designs as well.

After nearly a year of negotiating and planning, I recently made the trip from Melbourne to Brisbane then Darwin and Kununurra in the Kimberley area of Western Australia. Maria Lines co-ordinated the weekend in conjunction with Pam Barrett at the Wyndham Community Centre so that I could conduct an appliqué workshop for the group in Wyndham – 100 kilometres north west of Kununurra. The workshop was attended by ladies from Wyndham and Kununurra and Maria herself travelled 1800 kilometres one-way by car to be there!!

The weather was extremely hot – 38 – 40 degrees Celsius every day but it did not wilt the enthusiasm of this wonderful group. I enjoyed sharing my skills and techniques and they certainly shared their great hospitality and good humour. Stan made the trip with me which was a great help with the limited luggage allowance in this remote part of Australia. He also filmed the workshop and interviewed several of the ladies. Segments of this can be viewed on the onlinequilter.com site.

Pam Barrett is a wonderful woman who co-ordinates many programs at the community centre and we became aware of the extreme remoteness of this town and the difficulty they experience in getting patchwork supplies in.

The town of Wyndham has amazing history in that it was the port town to which cattle were driven from the huge stations for export. The Durack family became well known over many generations in the cattle industry and it is interesting to see the reconstruction of their homestead after it was moved prior to the building of the Ord Dam which created the huge Lake Argyle.

It is fascinating country with intense colours and amazing wildlife and botanical species. The intriguing boab trees seem to have characters all of their own – some grumpy, some comical, others embracing and some quite grotesque but all make you smile and wonder at their ability to withstand the extreme weather conditions of the Kimberley region.

I am sure that we all learned from each other in our shared time together!

There are now around thirty different designs and varieties. How fantastic it is to have these templates at your fingertips – always handy whenever you need them! And the amazing thing is that there are so many combinations of shapes that you can always come up with a new appliqué design!

We have now found a Yazzii bag which stores the smaller templates perfectly. Stack them vertically in the bangle roll bags and you can fit 16 to 18 in the single bangle roll bag and up to 40 in the double bangle roll bag.

Also available are the Petite Craft Bags – terrific little travellers with lots of pockets to hold all the appliqué or hand piecing bits and pieces that you need when travelling. I carry mine everywhere! Several colours and patterns available.

Can’t live without my collection of Bon Bon Applique Templates – see them for yourself. Click here.

More designs coming next year………

New Block of the Month

Following the great success of Jelly Cakes & Lamingtons BOM during this year, I am now working on a brand new flowery Block of the Month which will be released at the Australasian Quilt Convention at the Melbourne Convention Centre, Southbank, Melbourne in late February. Visit www.aqc.com.au for details and dates.

The quilt (it’s name is still to be confirmed..) will be on display at the Fragrant Cottage stand during the three days of the Convention and you will be able to book in for the BOM there.

If you cannot attend this event, contact Fragrant Cottage in Warrnambool for further information.

Teaching Schedule

Bookings for 2008 are filling quickly and I will be on my way to Riviera Quilters in Victoria’s far east at Bairnsdale in March.

I will again be making those special visits to lovely Fragrant Cottage in Warrnambool and it is always a pleasure to travel to this beautiful part of the state. Contact the shop for confirmed dates and classes.

As well as other regional centres, I am looking forward to the mid year Deniliquilters Weekend in Deniliquin, New South Wales.

Enjoy

I hope you enjoy browsing through this web site as there are lots of patterns and products to check out!

Until next time……………