Lorraine's Holiday Quilts

Before the Christmas break, we all saw Lorraine busily beavering away on quilts for her new hideaway in Tassie.
Lorraine promised to send pics of home and quilts and here, with excerpts from her e-mail, are some great pics for us to drool over......such wonderful seaside themed quilts in keeping with a house by the sea.

'My beach house is inside a National Park, on the north west coast of Tasmania.  The weather has been blissfully cool with no humidity.  We even have had to light the fire a few times at night!  When I first arrived, I got out all the quilts I have made for the house, and had a "Quilt Airing day" with all the quilts out on the deck in the breeze'.

 The many beautiful quilts made by Lorraine for her Holiday Home.

 

Fabulous views from Lorraine's Home

 

 'I was luck to receive a great pre-Loved Janome machine for Christmas, and i have just acquired a second-hand Horn sewing cabinet - so now I am making quilt tops whenever i get the chance.  I have set up my sewing room with a marvellous view, so I am just the happiest quilter in town!'

'I go for a lovely long walk along the beach in the morning, and another long walk through the National Park in the late afternoon - the walking tracks in the Park start just across the road from my house'.

 Pics of the Interior of Lorraine's Home

'So, all in all, I am having a wonderful summer what with lots of friends and family visiting, and quilting in between! Still, I so miss the friendly Patchwork group, and look forward to catching up with you all when I return'.

"Under the Sea" free BOM

Cheryl from Willowberry Designs, who gave us the lovely 'Veranda Views' free stitcheries last year has done it again with "Under the Sea" a 10 month series of delightful stitcheries.

First stitchery to be collected is the very cute Josephine Jellyfish, download her here, along with block sizing and fabric requirements.
Cheryl also very generously shares her fabric shading technique using watercolour pencils, with a step by step tutorial. Just scroll down the page for all the instructions. 

Cheryl sent me a sneak peak of block 2, due out 1st February, and I gotta tell you, it is the cutest...................
so cute in fact that i cannot wait to start on this wonderful free project.  Just click on the 'Under the Sea' button featuring Josephine in the sidebar after 1st Feb to down load .......  .... .  

Oh and by the way, what to do with all those Mangoes we all seem to have??...........Check out Cheryl's Mango and Ginger Chutney.........major Yum.  So happy stitching, colouring and cooking, a three in one blog  for you to enjoy.

'Flirting with Flowers' free BOM

There is a plethora of new free BOM's on offer from the ever generous designers out there in blogland, and as I come across them I will post a button in the sidebar.

This little beauty is block one of six of 'Flirting With Flowers' designed by Vicki from Tozz's Corner

 Vicki  will be offering her free designs on the first of each month, next one due 1st February, but if by any chance you miss a month then all is not lost, the pattern will be available for purchase from Vicki's Etsy shop.
Vicki is working on the layout and will soon be letting us know of the fabric requirements for the project.

'Flippy Daisy', pictured above, is now available for download here, and for those of us who are not fond of the idea of needle turn, Vicki suggests blanket stitch applique. 

A wonderful new BOM from Jenny of ELEFANTZ

Well, its been awhile folks, you know that crummy saying 'life gets in the way', well it did!  Not to dwell, there has been a lot happening out there in blog land and a lot of catching up to be done...........lots of freebies to let you know about and lots of news...........

 'BOUQUET'  Jenny's free Block of the Month

Jenny of Elefantz has 'Bouquet', a beautiful new 6 month BOM to offer us, each block is free on her site for 1 month, changing on the 7th of each month.  Block one can be found here, hurry along to get your copy before the change over on 6th Feb.  but if you do miss out all is not lost, you can purchase this months BOM from Jenny's Etsy shop....... how easy peasy is that!....

Jenny is a thoughtful lass and to make sure that your will just love, love, love her beautiful quilt, with no surprises, she has given us a pic of the finished 'Bouquet' quilt and a link to where to buy the lovely fabrics used in 'Bouquet'

Jenny is also running a 'Tea Towel Challenge'...........no, not gonna tell, go find it on Jenny's blog, and while you are there, being amazed.........she made that from a tea towel??!!........scroll down to Jenny's latest quilt pattern 'Snail Trails', just the sweetest baby quilt.

Talent runs in this families veins, Jenny's daughter, who she fondly refers to as Blossom in the blog is also a designer........yep, this young lass has had her first project published in the January issue (Issue10/8) of Patchwork and Stitching..........now that is a WOW moment!   Congratulations Blossom/Eli - well done.
If any of our overseas readers are unable to purchase the Mag, just pop over to this page and scroll down and there you can purchase the stitchery along with sewing machine cover instructions for $4.95.............