A day off work

I should be at work today but I injured my knee in a fall last week and as my occupation involves a lot of standing and walking I am unable to go to work, so I must spend my time recuperating and quilting (sigh).

We are still in the midst of some rather nasty bushfires, this was the view of blue sky from the front of house yesterday,

And this was the view from the back of the house, can hardly see to the next ridge through the smoke.

Today this beauty arrived in the post, Andover Jo Morton IQSQ Birdsong.

It is intended to be the backing for this when it is finished.

The blocks are made from one inch pieces so I think it will take some time to complete.

This is my quilt for car and train trips, it is always good to have some portable hand piecing.

Holiday

Last post I promised more holiday photos.

We had a lovely lunch at one of my favourite wineries Chandon at Green Point, where my favourite wine is made.

We also had lunch at another favourite place the Yarra Valley Dairy, where they make the most delicious goat cheese.

We also had another delicious lunch at the Kinglake Pub, I forgot to take photos as the food as I was too busy tucking in.  We did take photos of the trees, still not recovered after five years. This is from Kinglake looking towards Melbourne.

We also visited Marysville where the fires were even worse.

 For the last few days it has been hard to settle to anything as the smoke from bushfires swirls around.

Today was a bit cooler and not too much wind so I have been working on my Trip around the world using  the technique on Pomegranate and Chintz 

A few days away

Had a short sojourn in the beautiful Yarra Valley a week ago, which conveniently coincided with the Quilts in the Barn exhibition of beautiful chintz quilts. We arrived on the Friday morning at about 10.30 am but the crowd was so large had a quick look around and decided to return the next day. On the Saturday of the AFL grand final and the crowds had disappeared.
I loved the chintz quilts, especially the elephant quilt

Inspired by viewing the quilts I purchased a piece of the Petra Prins chintz and also the wonderful Quiltmania book - Chintz quilts from the Poos collection, which I had pre ordered with Linda so that I should not miss out.

Di Ford Hall quiltmaker extraordinaire was behind the stall selling the Petra Prins fabrics, I am hoping to use this fabric when I attend the Threadbear Applique School in March next year. Di Ford Hall and Margaret Macdonald will be teaching a variety of techniques  in applique, Broderie Perse, fussy cutting and hand piecing. Di is a very thorough and generous teacher, I am so looking forward to this.
I will also be in Castlemaine on the weekend of the Castlemaine Applique Group's inaugural exhibition which should be outstanding.

Mary Koval and her husband had travelled from the US with a great stash of antique quilts and fabric pieces and blocks for sale. I particularly liked this blue and brown quilt

I purchased a small piece of chintz fabric dating from circa 1830, that I hope to use in a quilt somehow, some day!

Not sure if I shall use it whole or as broderie perse. Notice the great sheen of the chintz.
Quilts in the Barn was a great experience, very well organised by Linda and her friends. It was great to meet Linda and also Meredithe, I follow their blogs and it was a pleasure to meet them both.

I somehow managed not to take many photos of the quilts, (I get  a bit overwhelmed with the experience of looking at them) there are some great photos on these two inspiring blogs that I follow Hilda and Carole.
More holiday photos to come.