When I'm not blogging... I'm quilting!

It's been a strange few weeks. Firstly the Wellington Quilt Symposium, where I took two really enjoyable classes: kite making with Robert Van Weers - so much fun!, and "Inspired by..." with Cheryl Comfort. This was perhaps the best class I have ever taken for stretching and increasing my ability to understand what excites me about an artwork, and then bringing that specific excitement into my own work. My sketchbook is full of ideas for new works, and I have begun three, including some hand-quilting.

Came home from Wellington to the opportunity to participate in a "local artists" show at Muriwai... I'm too late to be included in any of the marvellous publicity they have made, but hopefully they will find space to show something of mine.

So I have scrambled to have anything to show... and ended up finishing 8 small works. Much more than I expected, and there was a lot of stitching on the train. I've learned that it's great to have some work of my own on hand to seize an opportunity!

more 3D piecing - Migrating Flamingos

After the success of the 3D bow ties it has been great to start off another 3D piecing project - flying geese. This is my favourite traditional patchwork pattern. I love it that the stacked triangles also turn up in Persian carpets as "travelling birds" and symbolise good news.

However I have not loved it enough to sew all those bias seams. The 3D pattern is so easy & I love the texture that the folds provide.

I had a stash of funny pinks, and also loads of "sky"fabrics... so the flamingos are about to migrate... watch this space

the longest-term project makes a milestone

I've been making 3D bow-tie blocks since early 2006. Shayne taught me the block. I thought, I never do hand-piecing, but these are cute, maybe by machine. Then a lot of travel opportunities came along.... The hand-piecing kit has travelled with me to Sydney, Canberra, Thredbo, Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Washington DC, New York, Gore, Ngatea, Whakatane and Mangonui. And just to and from work! Hours of travel have been rescued from boredom, and I've talked with, demonstrated and shared the project with many friends and strangers.

About 540 blocks later, it was time to stop making blocks and start making a quilt. Arranging blocks is one of my most favourite things. A week's solitary retreat to Henny Penny's house was the perfect opportunity.

Bush walks , swimming and composing a quilt, could there be a better holiday? By the end of the week the trusty Featherweight had stitched all the vertical seams, linking the blocks into 6 strips 4x22 blocks wide. Back at home I'm slowly finishing the horizontal piecing to bring it all together. I've got an idea for a pieced backing, and for the quilting design. NOT by hand

Now I need a new hand-piecing project!

The empress's old clothes

Between losing some weight and deciding that "baggier isn't better" lots of my earlier garments just weren't wearable. What to do?

Answer: re-fashioning... taking the favourites and cutting them down to size. What have I learned through this exercise?

• It can be worth spending $45/meter on printed tulle. At the time I couldn't believe I paid so much for jungle print mesh. At least 10 years later the fabric retains its original colour and texture - the refashioned top literally looks like new.
• My colour taste has changed a lot - now I'm brighter and more confident in combination
• I've learned a lot! my construction techniques and fabric handling skills are streets ahead of where they were 10 years ago
• It's still easier to do old things than new ones...sigh...