Marian Edwards DreamWeaver

a fun small quilt swap...

Some weeks ago, i mentioned that i was participitating in a small quilt swap with the online small quilt group i belong to.

Well, i'm happy to say that i got an email today, from my swap partner Sue, in Virginia, USA to say that she received my little package...YAYY!!!

here's a snippet from her email..

"I want to thank you so much for my quilt.  It is one of my favorite patterns.  It is one that I have been wanting to make for a long time.  The colors are super. 

I can't say enough about my quilt.  It was like you were here with me reading my mind.  I don't have any of the fabrics that you sent to me..

You have just totally made my day"..

Isn't that sweet??!!..i'm so pleased she likes her little quilt, because i loved making it for her.

and here's where it all began... 

the inspiration came from a little vintage bowtie quilt in 'Great Little Quilts'...  i knew it was the quilt i was going to make for Sue, the moment i saw it.

Sue happened to mention that she loves scrappy quilts, as do i, so i couldn't wait to get started on this fun project.. it was going to be very scrappy indeed lol!!

20 little bowtie blocks were required for this quilt.. here they are, pieced and ready for the first border...

Sue & i both love vintage quilts, so it was agreed that i would wash her little bowtie quilt to give it that lovely crinkly vintagey look..  

here it is.. enjoying  a nice hot sudsy bath lol!! 

and here it is, after spending the afternoon drying on the clothes rack.. lovely & crinkly...

it was so much fun to make.. i couldn't resist making a matching mug rug..

ready and waiting to be bundled up with a few Aussie treats.. including twenty, 6 inch charms, which we both agreed to include in our swap.

Sue & i decided to mail our quilts, on the same day in the hope of receiving them at the same time. WELL.. guess what??!! To our surprise and delight, we received them on the same day, either side of the globe.. how amazing is that??!!

You can image my surprise, as i cut open my parcel and the contents revealed not one, but two quilts!!

how gorgeous is this star quilt???

not to mention this little cutie.. i love Americana

20 delightful charms...

 and look at the cute little surprise that was rolled up inside the quilts..

it's the sweetest little pincushion.. measuring a teeny 1 1/2inches across.

This has been such a fun swap.. Sue & i were so well matched. i love all my surprises.. thank you for spoiling me, Sue!!!

it makes me very happy knowing that Sue loves her surprises too!!!

oh and btw.. because i had so much fun making the bowtie quilt for Sue, i couldn't resist making a mini one for me..

here's a pic of Sue's quilt and my mini taken only minutes before Sue's quilt was packaged in readiness for its long journey...

all the way to Virginia, USA :)))

weekend retreat...

A few days ago i started a post about last weekend's craft retreat at Hepburn Springs, which i went to with a group of like-minded quilty friends. As i was finishing my post today and getting ready to hit the publish button, it all just simply disappeared. What the?? i couldn't believe my eyes.. it was here one minute and gone the next, how did that happen???!!! i was shocked and in total disbelief, and i let fly with some colourful expletives!!  Darn it, i spent hours on that post grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

There's nothing i can do to retrieve it, so why lose sleep over it?? Anyway, i've decided not to re-write it, instead, i'll do it with pictures.

On Friday, we made a couple of must-stops along the way. The first of these was at 'A Piece of Cloth' in Fyansford where we were treated to an eclectic collection of vintage textiles and sewing needfuls, sourced from all over the globe by Jen, who has an obvious passion for vintage textiles.

After a yummy lunch at the Fyansford Pub we headed north to Ballan, where we had to make a stop at Millrose quilt shop.

We finally arrived at our destination ~Hepburn Springs~ around 4pm.. with cars unpacked and bedrooms sorted, we got down to the nitty gritty of eating chokkies, stitching... and as expected lots of laughter & chatter too lol!!!

so here goes... i'll let the pics tell the story...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and just in case you're wondering.. yes, i did get some quilting done. i  actually finished my April SQ Challenge.. the contrary wife block

and here 'tis all washed, so it's nice & crinkly...

pop over to Meredithe's blog if you'd like to read more about our fun-filled weekend retreat :)))

to Tassie and back again (2)...

This time last Sunday, we were visiting historic Richmond and i couldn't resist taking a few pics of...

the amazing Richmond Bridge, built by convicts in 1825...

the Congregational Church built in 1873...

a row of delightful sandstone antique shoppes...

the tiled paving caught my eye...

inspiration for a quilt block, perhaps??

On Monday, we spent a few hours at MONA..

stunning rusted steel architecture capturing glimpses of Hobart in the distance...

how amazing is this life-size concrete mixer made from intricate steel lace work??

the view from the cylindrical glass lift as we descended into the bowels of the museum; the sandstone walls took our breath away.

I highly recommend a visit to MONA.. it is truly an awesome 'beyond your wildest imagination' structure, with evocative art works,  which will both amuse & challenge you.. at every turn.

After leaving MONA, we decided we'd go for a drive to the summit of Mount Wellington, only half an hour away.  We made a brief stop at Fern Tree where i spotted this sweet little church...

The views from the summit, over Hobart (below) were simply breathtaking.

there were patches of snow amongst the rocks, and the wind was icy.. hard to believe after the balmy weather we experienced earlier in the day.

Finally...

 on Tuesday morning (our last day in Hobart) we made it to my 'must go to place' 

 "The Quilted Crow"

oh WOW i wasn't disappointed!!!

this is what i saw as i stepped inside..

and just around the corner...

and beyond...

simply heavenly...

gorgeous quilts & wool applique to whet your appetite...

i have never seen so many bolts of yummy reproduction fabrics under one roof!!

Unfortunately, Leonie & Deirdre were at AQC (Melbourne), so i didn't get to catch up with them :(( 

However, it just so happened that Leonie's hubby, Danny, was looking after the store, which was very fortunate for me, because he & Andy got chatting... and that gave me lots of time to peruse the store, which made me very happy indeed!!

here's a pic of Danny & me (clutching a bag of goodies)

and here's a peak at what's inside that carry bag...

some yummy fqs...



including a copy of 'Primitive Quilts & Projects' Spring 2013 and a bundle of felted wool

 
i was over-the-moon with my purchases and buzzing from my visit to Crow Central!!!

On arrival at the airport, my luggage weighed almost 3kgs more than on departure from home.. REALLY??

No drama.. it was all good!! i simply had to offload some of it into another carry-on bag...

and in no time we were ready to board the plane waiting for us on the tarmac :)))

it sure was a fun-filled four days spent in Tassie!!

 OH btw.. the wedding on Saturday evening was held at a winery just north of Hobart. A beautiful setting, a happy occasion and a fabulous reunion with family & friends :)))

to Tassie and back again (1)...

Arrived home last night after a fun-filled four days in Hobart. We had a nephew's wedding to attend, Saturday evening, so we decided we'd make a little holiday of it.

Upon our arrival at Hobart airport, we were famished... so after collecting our rental car, our first stop was at a yummy bakery, in the heart of the city. 

I couldn't leave without taking a pic of the gorgeous light fittings & the reclaimed 'church' counter.. btw the food was scrumptious too!!

  

Our accommodation was in the city centre, so we walked everywhere, including the Salamanca Market, on Saturday morning.

Lots & lots of interesting sights, sounds & smells..mmmmm

and lots to tempt me, including these amazing leather bound 'vintage' books...

these lovelies in the shape of a tiny carlton ware sugar bowl & creamer... and a lovely set of silver teaspoons... came home with me.

as well as.. this tiny kitty planter & a lovely 'vintage' copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland...

and to top it off.. the cutest little art deco 'depression green glass' trinket dish with lid.

oh btw you really can't judge a book by it's cover...

 that leather bound 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' book just happens to be a natty little trinket box..  pretty clever huh??!!

on the way back to the hotel we came upon this little shop which beckoned us...

aptly named, with delightful goodies at every turn.

these miniatures were too cute for words and i had to have that teeny tiny coffee set..

i chose blue.

Don't be fooled by it tinyness, it's made from enamelled metal and quite weighty for its tiny size.

 

and as we turned the corner into Bathurst Street, we spotted another antique shop.. just had to pop in for a squiz..

i'll be back with more to share... tomorrow :))) 

a special delivery...

When i went to collect the mail on Friday there was a package waiting for me at the post office. oooh i love surprises, don't you??!!

My heart skipped a beat, as i was handed the rather largish box, over the counter. You see, i had already guessed what was inside, so i couldn't wait to get home to tear into it.  However, i had a few errands to run before i could make my way home. 

I finally made it back home two hours later and although i was dying for a cuppa, it had to wait until i opened my 'special' delivery.

OH!! WOW!! i let out a squeal( (several, actually) of delight as the contents were revealed.

And here they are... two stunning 19th century quilts to-die-for.

But you know what really caught my eye?? it was the yummy 'poison green' lol!! hmmmm, i wonder if there's any trace of arsenic lurking in that green dye??

 

This wonderful antique quilt measures 71" x 72".

Called "Garden Maze" the intricate pattern is a copy of the gorgeous Victorian Gardens of the late 19th century.

It is filled with beautiful early fabrics in an array of colours and patterns.

There are turkey reds, florals, yellows, tiny pink flowers, indigos, and greens.

 isn't it pretty??? 

it 's actually very reminiscent of those picturesque Victorian parterre gardens.

here's a glimpse of the backing.. a soft grey cotton gingham.

AND...

 just when you think it can't get any better take a look at this little beauty.

It measures a large 80" x 81"

I'm blown away by the beautiful rare 19th century fabrics in this quilt, including copper madder, tans, paisleys & overdyed green calicos.

 

 here's a few close-up shots... check out those sumptuous prints..

 

 

 

 

 and here's a peek at the cute backing fabrice.. such a lovely print...

 both quilts are now sitting pretty on a lovely vintage trunk... happily blending in with a few of my other vintage lovelies :)))

and before i forget... i have to show you the sweet surprise that came with the quilts.. in the shape of a lovely pillow made from 19th century fabrics...

isn't it the cutest thing??!!

Oh, and just in case you're wondering what i've been up to this past week..

i've been putting the finishes touches to my 'mystery' swap quilt, for Sue. There's just the label to do and then it's done.. yayy!!

So, then my next project will be the SQ challenge for April.

Here's the block that Kathy gave us for this month's challenge. The name of the block is 'contrary wife' don't you just love it lol??

It's a basic vintage pattern with many possibilities. As you can see the settings are varied & diverse.. i can't wait to get started.

 here's a selection of a few yummy fabrics i've chosen for my 'contrary' quilt..

i simply had to include the novelty shirting.. love those sweet 19th century ladies with their parasoles :)))

three sweet things...

Three sweet things i'd like to share with you this week.

First up, is Izabel.. Izannah's little sister, who's come to live at 196.

she's as sweet as can be, as i'm sure you'll agree...

 she is beautifully dressed.. her outfit is made from gorgeous antique fabrics..

and her bonnet's pretty special too.. i love the ribbon detail.

Izabel is pretty special in her very own way...

take a look at her feet.. she has toes, pretty cute huh??

and Kathy's made her a pair of the sweetest socks & shoes..

Kathy's attention to detail is breathtaking.  Each of her dolls is unique & gorgeous.

as you can see, Izannah's more than happy to share her little quilt with Izabel :)))

next up, is my sweet little Sliver Sister pincushion doll, also made by the very talented Kathy..

let me introduce you too Miss Pin'elope Pinkeep...

although she's only seven inches tall, she definitely isn't lacking in personality.

Miss Pin'elope is made from slivers of Basswood and her gorgeous gown is made from 19th French silk.. simply divine!!

check out her tiny hands & fingers...

and here's a peek from behind..

don't you just love her tiny beads and the ruched ribbon detailing on her darling little bonnet??

i can't bear the thought of sticking pins into her, she is simply too refined for that lol!!! 

So what does she do??

Well... she swans leisurely, about my studio... she is, i'm sure, by her defintion... a refined lady of leisure :)))

and my final sweet thing is this delightful book.

YAY, i finally got my hands on a preloved copy..

there's 45 antique crib & doll quilts, complete with patterns & directions,

here's a sneak peek...

isn't it just wonderful?? there's loads more to drool over.. the photography is simply beautiful.

There are so many doll quilts, in this book, beckoning to be made, and i've succumbed to their lure.

i'll let you in on a little secret...sssshhhh i can't say too much about it because a certain someone, by the name of Sue, reads my blog.  Sue, happens to be my small quilt swap partner and the quilt i'm making for her is a reproduction of an antique doll quilt, that's in this book. I can't tell you anymore because i don't want to spoil the surprise for her. All i can say is that it's scrappy and lots of fun to make. I finished the top yesterday and i've begun quilting it.. here's a macro shot of the back..

better get back to the quilting :)))

i love poison...

No, no, it's not what you're thinking... let me clarify.

i LOVE the colour 'poison' green... as in civil war 'poison' green repro fabrics.

But did you know that, back in the mid 1700s, arsenic was added to the fabric dyes?? hence the name poison green.. a bizarre & interesting fact!!

take a peek.. aren't they yummy??!!

 and that leads me to the little vintage doll quilt that caught my eye in Kathie's blog header as pictured below...

it's a simple little nine-patch, but it was the poison green and the chrome yellow combo which really caught my interest. 

When i contacted Kathie about reproducing it, she informed me that her quilt was a reproduction of an antique doll quilt, from the book 'Small Endearments' by Sandy Fox. Imagine my surprise!! It just so happens that i 've purchased a copy of this book and eagerly awaiting its arrival.

Kathie, kindly gave me the block dimensions and so without any hestitation, i made a start on it...

my nine-patch blocks finish at 3 1/4"

the sashing is 1 1/2" x 3 1/4" rectangles.

i decided on red & blue fabrics for the alternating blocks...

and...

 just to create a little more interest.. i included the chrome yellow in each of the corner blocks, to make an even bigger X and i'm so glad i did.. i love how it's turned out, reminds me of a checkerboard :)))

   

with the additon of a 1 1/2inch border in poison green, the quilt top was done.

all prepped and ready for quilting...

pictured here, with our very first apple from our orchard.. very exciting!!!

 
 finished, washed & beautifully crinkled... it measures 12" x 12"

Being that time of the year i couldn't resist including this cute little vintage Easter egg cup which i picked up at a local oppy shop last week, for a tiny $2.. i did a happy dance on the inside when i spotted it because i collect vintage egg cups... ooohh i  love it to BITS :)))

finally...a tidy stash...

A few weeks ago i shamed myself by sharing photos of my messy studio with you; specifically, my very untidy fabric stash.

WELL...

believe it or not, it got the better of me yesterday... i couldn't bear it any longer and i dived in, head first (well, not literally) into that messy fabric pile(s) strewn all over my studio floor.

BUT...

before i could make any headway, i first had to tackle another scary monster, in the shape of a dear old dresser which i bought, two years ago, for the sole purpose of housing my lovely quilting fabrics.

SO...

here's the 'before' shot of the lovely old dresser.. with odd bits of fabric stuffed inside the top half, but alas the bottom half ended up being one of those 'just throw it in there for now' cupboards.. out of sight out of mind, you know the kind i'm talking about lol!!

Well, that was.. until yesterday...

as you can the the bottom half was just as bad... ugh!!

i promptly got to work emptying the dresser's contents. After going through it all, i sorted and bagged up all the unwanted stuff, including some hideous fabrics.. which i'll drop off at a local oppy next week.

that sorted, i got on with the task of sorting and folding fabric... and more sorting and lots more folding.  And as i was doing so, i came across some lovely 'old' civil war fabrics which i had forgotten about. I bought them ages ago for my Dear Jane quilt and seeing them after all these years, i'd forgotten just how lovely they were.

enough nostalgia, i couldn't afford to be distracted.. i was on a mission and i continued diligently, late into the night.

and here's the result... doesn't it look GREAT??!!

i got right back into it again, after brekky, this morning and finally by 3 o'clock this afternoon and after several coffee breaks, (24hours after i got started on this mammoth task)... the job was done..yay!!!

ohhh i can't tell you what a relief it is to see my lovely quilting fabrics all sorted and folded and popped neatly inside this lovely old dresser... i'm absolutely thrilled with the results!!

and look how tidy it looks with the dresser doors closed..

better still , there's not a skerrick of fabric to be seen anywhere on the floor.. love that!!

now there's even room on the chairs for quilt books..

and just in case you want a closer look at that quilt book on top...

 it arrived in the mail last week and wow what eye candy..

as the title says there's 101 small quilts in this book.

they're small & they really are fabulous!!!

oh and btw i've bookmarked a few that are definitely going to be on my 'to make' list....

that should keep me out of mischief for awhile :))) 

forty-one...

'Forty-One' is the name of this sweet little quilt...

this collaborative quilt was made by the Kathie Holland (inspired by antique quilts) then quilted & bound by Lori DeJarnatt (humble quilts) ...it was then donated to The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI).

Lori's mother Betty, has alzheimer's and this little quilt is dedicated to her and her memories of childhood.

I was drawn to this little quilt from the moment i first laid eyes on it. I loved everything about it.. the soft muted colours/prints, the design, the handquilting and i was also intrigued by it's name 'forty-one' which happens to be the ranch that Betty (Lori's mum) grew up on. Well, that decided it... i headed straight over to the AAQI site in anticipation of making my purchase, only to discover that it was already sold.. oh bummer!!  

I left a comment on Lori's blog expressing my disappointment at missing out on buying her quilt and to my surprise (and delight) she emailed me back, saying that there must have been some kind of glitch in the system and that it wasn't sold..unbelievable!! Well, i immediately rushed back to Lori's blog (with fingers crossed), hoping that no-one had beat me to it, and to my delight it was still available..YAY!!

I emailed Lori, to express my delight in being the happy owner of Forty-One and she emailed me back, with this lovely photo of her grandfather and the 'Forty-One' sign...what a gem!!

Forty-One arrived in my mailbox a few days ago and it's so much nicer, in person. 

it's the sweetest little thing.. measuring  a tiny 8" x 11 1/2"

signed and dated on the back by Lori and numbered by AAQI

how lovely is that backing fabric??

and i've found the perfect spot to display it..

on top of this set of vintage treadle machine drawers, near my wall of quilts...

it's perfect & i love it... and looks right at home :)))

finished doll quilts & an antique gem...

Despite the heat of the past week, and a nasty bout of vertigo, i still managed to get the last two of my three small quilts, quilted & bound & finished.. i can't tell you how happy that makes me :)))

let's recap... the three small quilts in question as seen here...

 The first one to reach the finishing post was the Feb SQ challenge quilt, which i shared with you in a previous post.

here's a pic of the 'Civil War Scraps Doll Quilt', just in case you missed it...~16 1/4" x 21"~

The second past the post was the 'Pocket Patchwork Orphans & Scraps' quilt. ~14 1/4" x 20 1/4"~

made to fit snuggly on my newly acquired antique sewing cabinet C1880

 

let's just take a minute to have a look at this stunning cabinet...

gorgeous detailing and lovely brass knobs...

take a peak inside the drawers...

where you'll find my sweet collection of Victorian buttons...

a delicate Victorian lace collar and some lovely tatting...

a few sewing bits & bobs including an antique fob watch...

and last, but by no means least... a small scissors collection...

now it's time to reveal the third small quilt...

 the 'Shoo-Fly' doll quilt made especially for my little Izannah doll..

i can't tell you how thrilled i am with how this little quilt has turned out.  I remember thinking, while i was quilting it, if only i had made it smaller. But you know what??.. it turned out the perfect size for missy. It's been washed and it's perfectly crinkly & puckered just like a vintage quilt; it looks and feels lovely!! ~ 20 1/4" x 24 3/4"~

I chose this design because of its name & meaning... 'a shoofly is a child's rocker first made in the 1860's; it had a seat set between supports that typically represented an animal figure'...  from the 'The Civil War Sewing Circle' by Kathleen Tracy.

i think Izannah loves her little quilt... do i detect a hint of a smile?? hmmm i wonder :)))

i would just like to finish by saying a BIG thank you to all your lovely comments on my 'two ugly ducklings' post... your feedback is always inspiring :)))