Hugs from Helen

postal strike and a giveaway

calling all angels – just to let you know that apparently we have postal strikes in Brazil and the UK so things may be slowed a little with your parcels getting through. If this is affecting you mailing perhaps now is a good time to email your partner and let her know that it is ready but cannot yet be posted. If you were expecting a parcel then just give it a little longer to get through to you.

on a more positive note:

Before Houston I was madly getting some new patterns ready for release and you have all been very patient with me on my return to let you all know they are ready!!!! so, if you have read this far, then to thank you, a giveaway……yayyy

firstly – in line with my travel hints I designed and stitched some travel bag and accessories…

Tagged and Bagged

so this pattern includes 12 label designs you can stitch and colour if you like (including iron on transfers), some text labels like ‘this bag belongs to…’ with transfers, instructions to make the bag tags, the market badge holders (the little bag you wear around your neck to hold your name badge plus business cards, mobile phone and maybe a bit of cash – and the travel bag  - this did not leave my shoulder for the whole trip to Houston. It has two zippers (don’t worry, really easy method of putting them in) and then a large inner pocket. I had my credit and ID cards in the bottom zipped pocket, some cash and lip balm in the next one and my passport, travel docs and boarding passes slipped into the inner bag for easy access when going through security etc.And it was really an ‘extra’ bag I managed to slip onto all planes with!

Secondly, the Belle of the Ball pattern is finished and ready to go.

So apart from Zlatka’s who is on its way I have two more to give away. Leave a comment on my blog then post about this on your blog to have an entry to win either of these two patterns. I will draw the winners on Monday so I can have them in the mail before I head to Melbourne next week.

If you cannot wait you can find them here..

hugs to you all

Helen

its all hunky dory here

have you heard that expression? I don’t think I've heard if for years but  I do remember my mum using it when we were little.

Over the weekend to appease my guilt (at going to the Gathering instead of taking MissM to her first rowing regatta at Lake Barrington with her new club) I decided to make a start on a new MissM quilt and do the sewing for her. I managed to pick up three different fat quarter packs at sample spree in Houston for her… she loved them all thankfully but the first we chose to work with was the new range by Chez Moi called, you guessed it,,,’Hunky Dory’.

Tess is claiming ownership of this one when its done! I like it so far  I think – and MissM was impressed – what do you think?

I’ll let you in on a little secret – this whole fat quarter pack (at least 2 kgs) was smuggled home in the lining of my jacket – I did tell you about those travel tips didn't I? thankfully it was too warm to have to wear my jacket as it would have looked like I was carrying an extra 10kgs on my hips I am sure!!! When flying now every pound counts and the only thing they don’t weigh is you!

hugs for today

Helen

Deadlines

You have heard the phrase, ‘if you want something done give it to a busy person….’ – well i seem to be doing quite well under pressure here at present. Another task crossed off my list:

a magazine deadline, a few stitches to finish in a minute and this can all be packed up and in the mail – even a week or so early… you will have to wait until next year but of course I will give you a little peek…

hope you like it…it uses my trusty glue pen again – I cannot live without it!

hugs for today

Helen

MissM’s room makeover

after this life changing event last November Miss M decided on her room makeover. Since Christmas we have been slowly working on it, first deciding and ordering fabrics, painting, artworks and final touches to come up with this..

(sorry its a small room and I don’t have a wide angled lens so its in bits)

only 4 paint sample pots, one pot for the walls and about 7 half metre cuts of fabric. We painted all of her furniture using the paint pots (colours chosen from the fabrics). First the main quilt was made and then leftovers were used for the stretched canvas’s, the window treatment and some cushions. Molly also used the paints to paint her very own original set of artworks..

The quilt was a very simple design, quick and simple to make – no precise patchwork skills required. We have written it up as a MissM pattern and called it ‘Born dotty’

.

now she just has to keep it looking perfect – how do you teach a teenager to have a clean room!!!!! any tips gratefully accepted.

Meeting Amy really seemed to be a pivoting point for Molly, she is suddenly aware of and inspired by art, colour, design, fashion and life around her. I don’t know that she will go on to do anything with sewing but I can be a proud mum for now, at least with the knowledge she should be able to sew a button on later in life.

back to my to do list now…. no rest for a market goer here

hugs

Helen

oh, head on over to Molly’s blog for a chance to win one of her Born Dotty patterns.

oh where, oh where has our angel project gone?

sorry girls, a little hiccup today, please check back tomorrow for your free angel project for this week.

In the meantime to keep your senses treated look what my two piles of ‘scraps’ have transformed into…

Not going to give too much away about this one, you will hear all about it soon…

Now I need a name for this second quilt. (sorry about the disgusting snap of it, better photo to come once is finished) The fabric range is ‘Cotillion’ which is a French dance or in the US a debutante ball. Any suggestions? The winner will get a free pattern when its ready (probably mid October) – for now it has to get into the express post bag to the quilter as only 3 weeks until we hit the skies now.

Thankyou to all your supportive comments last week, I did take deep breaths and am now moving onto the rest of my list..

hugs to you all

Helen

arrrrgh computers, who’d have ‘em!

yes, you have not heard from me because my lifeline is at the Doctors, I have two new computers installed but all the info is on the one at the doctors… so your angel partners may be a couple of days longer, I do apologise…. I think it was fate, I ordered the two new ones Friday and the old faithful died Monday morning as they were delivered, never fear everything is backed up so I will get it all back eventually.

so, to keep you inspired I thought I would show you a design line of a new project I am working on for you all. This has been in my sketchbook for a couple of years now, is based on my current love of circles, redwork and being thankful for our lives…

This is how it began..

first my ideas and notes in my ideas book, next came the finished quilted design outline and then rough pencil sketches to fit.

then to my trusty (not so at present) computer to draw them up more neatly for use…and so I can print transfers instead of tracing them all!

choosing and ordering fabric comes next

transferring everything to begin the task of stitching 32 designs in a couple of weeks (don’t worry you will have 32 weeks to do them)

now all the stitching is almost done, I have been to the printer to discuss the finished product, have tested and made samples and written instruction notes for the construction and just waiting for the fabric to arrive to finish the quilt.

Still to do, make the quilt, start a blog for it, prepare and submit all the artwork to the printer, do artwork for extra downloads, photography, release artwork, yadayadayada,,, take a breath…

get on that plane to Houston with at least one set in my hot little hands to show you..yes, yes I’ll show you all here also.

hugs to you and your computer! (or you won’t be able to read this so be nice to it)

Helen

New quilt designer at work

MissM busy at the machine working up her new quilt designs, obviously working up a sweat, headband and all! This one she has named ‘Bronnies Bundles’ – she plans to name one after each of her close friends.

eeeek, those fingers are close to the needle, oh well, we’ve all done it at least once! not for her today though, got through the whole quilt safely…. and I think you’ll love it.

hugs from a proud mum – who of course has to help design and write the patterns still, and print and distribute them for her…

Helen

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the house…..

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse….

My sugarplums have been folding and packing and finally we are ready to show you this…

It is a seven part Block of the month, each month with a transfer for the stitchery and then you get to do a bit of piecing also. I have even sourced some new paper and have included the foundation papers for you. The whole quilt takes 10 fat quarters and 1m of background fabric but many stores will be offering BOM fabric kits, I shall tell you who as I know them. For now you can order here if you just can’t wait to get started. Now there are not 7 months until Christmas so you will have to get your stitching skates on and double up one month perhaps..

I really enjoyed stitching this, sometimes stitching in one colour is very relaxing instead of having to think of colour choice.

now to our giveaway, if you link to this post or place the photo on your blog and leave me a comment you will go in the draw to win a full set of patterns. IF we get 150 comments I will draw two names! So leave a comment with the link to your blog post (cos I like to spend time visiting your blogs and always like to discover new friends) to be in the running.

hugs, Helen

More quiltaid photos

As promised here are some more QuiltAid photos for you, mmmm how will you choose?

of course you can see them all plus all the individual blocks and visit the designers on the Quilt Aid website.

hugs

Helen

The countdown to QuiltAid 09

things are getting very exciting now as the countdown begins. Tomorrow June 10th QuiltAid 09 will officially launch at Darling Harbour Quilt and craft show. There will be about five of the finished quilts there for you to see if you are visiting, they all look so good.

The website will be up and running and you can start the process of joining in. If you have already registered we will email you to let you know we have begun.

If you haven't registered and dont want to miss out you may wish to download a BOM form to join in or just start shopping from the site tomorrow.

This has been many months in the making, starting with the idea last October to use our skills and talents to make a difference to women less fortunate than us. Women who should not have to suffer how they do when we can enjoy the freedoms and luxuries of life in our countries. And so it was born…. QuiltAid, making a difference, one quilt at a time.

So how does it work?  well we had 12 of your favourite designers design a block. Then 12 of your favourite Aussie quilt stores made them up into a finished quilt they designed. You need to visit each of the 12 stores to buy your block kits and then choose one finishing kit to purchase. How will you choose? I am sure it will be a difficult choice – of course you could make two or more.

Now, a portion from the sale of every pattern will go to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. This was featured on an ABC  documentary last year in Australia and had me in tears. You can read more about it and the wonderful things they are doing here and here and a documentary here.

some of the finished quilts -

I’ll show you some more tomorrow! I really enjoyed designing my block for you, I hope you also like it – sorry about the intricate needleturn (of course you could fuse instead) but I was very happy with my finished result and the Sachet Pot Pourri range of fabrics from XLN and Marcus Bros was so nice to work with.

 

so from my holiday in South Australia, watch this space tomorrow as QuiltAid makes a difference

hugs to you all

helen