Burma (Myanmar) beckoning....................

The time has arrived and I'm on my way to Burma tomorrow! Initially I fly to Bangkok and then onto Rangoon (Yangon) on Friday morning where I will join an organised tour. I spend time in Rangoon, Mandalay, Pagan (Bagan) & the Inle Lakes before arriving back in Sydney on 28th January. I'm not sure what to expect but I'm looking forward to a grand adventure!

A hint of things to come..............

Inle Lakes - one of the places I visit.....

 I'm expecting to see many a pagoda & Buddha along the way.........................



A golden Buddha in Mandalay

I'm hoping to update the blog along the way but I hear that internet access in Burma is unreliable - so we'll wait & see. If I don't get the opportunity to post in Burma it will be one long post on my return! So stay posted.............
Happy days! Until the next past (hopefully from Burma), K .............................

Christmas, New Year & New Life.......

Happy New Year 2012, I hope your Christmas & New Year were joyful where ever you spent it. My family's Christmas was especially sweet this year with the arrival of a new baby - my lovely niece Rylie & her husband Craig, were blessed with the safe arrival of Isaac Patrick, born on Christmas Eve. I've been for a visit & a cuddle! He is a beautiful boy - all 8.5 pounds of him!

I spent New Years in the Hunter Valley in the company of good friends. As ever the Sydney Harbour fireworks were spectacular - we enjoyed them via the TV! 

Sydney Harbour New Years Eve fireworks 2011 



Looking forward - a taste of things I'm looking forward to in 2012:
-  Starting the year with a trip to Burma & am determined to travel light!! More about this later!
-  Weaving lessons are in the plan, hoping to begin in February!
-  Planning a trip to France & the UK - departing 13April.
-  Continue the Bridge lessons - which I'm really loving!
-  As ever there will be some patchwork & other crafts along the way............

I must say the 2012 has bought with it some hot weather - at last!! It's a very hot 39 degrees today..........

May 2012 bring you many blessings, joy & lots of fun!! Until the next post, K .........

Christmas Joy Warms the Heart.............

Christmas 2011 has arrived................. Christmas Eve has dawned bright & sunny which is most welcome as we in the Hunter are experiencing an unusually cool & wet start to summer!

Wherever you are are spending Christmas I wish you joy & peace! I'm looking forward to gathering with my family to enjoy love and laughter, the spontaneous joy of little people tearing open presents, good food and of course a drop of good wine!! Our family is also anticipating a new addition to our family sometime over this Christmas period, my niece and her husband's first child is due to make its appearance any day soon.... We all send them our love and positive thoughts...................

Wishing you peace, love & joy. Until the next blog, K.............

November - been & gone!!

Greetings..............I started a "post" some weeks ago, titled "November" - well November has been & gone, so thought I should get on with it before December & with it 2011, escapes me..............

What have I been doing: finishing a quilt and other small projects; spending a wet drizzley day in the country; attending a Baby Shower for my lovely niece Rylie whose first baby (little Billy!) is due to make its appearance any day; started Bridge (card game) lessons; and getting together with my Wednesday sewing group & the Saturday Stitchers, among other things.........

The Baby Shower - baby photos of the guests (ages ranging from 1940's to 1980's!) 



Recently finished quilt, hand pieced and ready for hand quilting
- my interpretation of Sarah Fielke's "Jazz Hands" from Material Obsession Two.



A close up of one block - there are 72 pieces in each block!!



The very cute "Dilbert the Dinsour" which I made as a gift for the Baby Shower



Another project - completed at last................. I embellished this beautiful piece of fabric using Perle cotton & made it up into a cushion

A trip to the upper Hunter Valley on a wet & drizzley day........

Visiting my friend at Roughit in the upper Hunter - even with the rain the country is looking lush & green......

Another day out in the country but this time on a very hot & steamy day - a suspension bridge over the Allyn River near Gresford. Believe it or not this bridge take vehicular travel, albeit one vehicle at a time!!

 During November I also enjoyed a trip to Sydney with my friend Robyn, where we indulged our senses by feasting our eyes on some delicious quilts, fabrics, patterns & other textile paraphenalia............. We visited Material Obsession; Calico & Ivy at Balmain & Quiltsmith at Annandale. Needless to say we purchased some beautiful fabrics and a couple of patterns along the way. On leaving one shop, Robyn was heard to comment that she had spent too much money but it didn't stop her indulging at the next opportunity!!

The other exciting thing I'm doing is planning a trip to Burma (now known as Myanmar). I depart Australia on January 11th, so more about that next time..........

Now I'm off to Sydney to attend a wedding tomorrow. Nicole the daughter of my dear friends Marea & Chris is marrying Angus. May they enjoy many years of happiness.

May you enjoy December and your preparations for Christmas. Until the next post, K..................

Chance Encounters.........

By chance in 1978 in London I met the renowned child psychiatrist, Dr Anna Freud who is the daughter of Sigmund Freud, the famous founder of psychoanalysis.

Again by chance, but this time in 2011 in Maitland (Australia), I had another connection with Anna when browsing through a book I came upon the following quote which resonated with me and is attributed to Anna:

“I was always looking outside myself for strength & confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time!”  Anna Freud

Over the years I have recalled that day in 1978 and always remember Anna sitting peacefully in a chair, lovingly supporting her sister. Anna died in 1982 at the age of 87.

In 1978 I was a young nurse enjoying the Aussie tradition of a “working holiday” in the UK. I was a private nurse (caring for people in their own home) and Anna Freud’s sister was one of my clients.

In 2011 I am a recent retiree enjoying free time............ time to roam, to enjoy coffee with friends, browse through shops and take the long way home!

India, spice markets in Jaipur - another of life's great adventures!

India again!

Isn't it interesting where life's journey can take us? Until the next post, K..............

Traditional Quilting this time...............

Back again........ I want to add to yesterday’s post with a story about traditional quilting & creative textiles..... Each week I join a group of “stitchers” at Southern Cross Needlework in East Maitland. Owned by Rhonda Eddy, the shop is located in a lovely heritage building which in itself provides inspiration. The talented "Wednesday" ladies are stitching a range of traditional quilting and embroidery projects. Ruth has embroidered and hand pieced her interpretation of the Victorian Post Card Quilt. She has made this beautiful quilt for her granddaughter, who I'm sure you will agree is one very lucky little girl!

The completed Victorian Post Card Quilt

One of the cute hand embroidered blocks

Another block......................

Recently I visited the Mosman Markets in Sydney where I purchased a charming fabric wreath which I have hung on my Studio door. Isn’t bright yellow such a cheery & happy colour????

As I mentioned yesterday the diversity of textile arts & crafts is an ongoing inspiration!!

I've just about completed a lovely quilt top - so hope to have that to share next time. Until the next post, K .....

Exploring Creative Textiles......

The variety and diversity of textile arts & crafts continues to inspire me. Last week I took a step away from traditional quilting to explore art quilting when I attended a 2 day workshop with the very creative & talented Lorraine Parker.  Lorraine practices a range of creative textile work and is a very experienced tutor, I recommend a visit to her website Creative Textiles

The workshop was titled “Paint & Free Surface Play”. We began with a blank canvas of white fabric on which we painted our own background colours providing us a wonderful canvas on which to express our ideas with fabric, yarns, threads and any other medium of our choosing. Lorraine shared her skills generously, guided and inspired us as we let the background colours "speak to us". This is Lorraine's beautifully embellished quilt.


Lorraine's completed quilt - our inspiration!



Lorraine encouraged us to approach our design with a free spirit & let the quilt to speak to us as we embellished with a variety of soft fabrics, yarns and delicious threads. She further inspired us by doing a bit of machine work on our individual quilts........... 

Of course in the time available we couldn't finish our projects. While our quilts are still in the early stages of design, what amazing creative possibilities await us as...............

I’ll let the photos tell their own story of emerging art quilts:

Suzanne's quilt




Caroline's quilt




My interpretation




Trish's interpretation

It was a wonderful workshop meeting new people, sharing skills and knowledge as well as pieces from precious fabric & yarn stashes.......... All this colour & creativity is good for the soul!!

May creative energy be with you! Until the next post, K ................