Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably Workshop 3/2/2011

Last week I participated in the best workshop that I have ever done! I was so excited that Kaffe Fassett, one of my all time knitting, needlework and quilting heros, came to Brisbane to do ONE only workshop. It was the best experience! He was with his partner Brandon Mably, also a knitwear and textile designer, and we made Kaffe's quilt Bordered Diamonds from his latest book Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts.
I felt that I really didn't know what I was doing in choosing the fabrics and just bought what I liked and the required amounts in dark and light shades as it was a contrasting quilt. I was pretty nervous but excited going along to the workshop but Brandon and Kaffe are such lovely encouraging people my nerves dissappeared.
We cut out shapes from the diamond template that we bought and strips of fabric for the borderers of the diamonds. Then we just proceeded to put the fabric up on the design sheet that we took along to class. There wasn't any sewing in this class just design and we learned how Kaffe and Brandon design their quilts when at home.
I progressed along, liking my quilt but wondering whether or not it looked too busy. I asked for some advise and both Brandon and Kaffe just loved it. Especially Kaffe! At the end of the class Kaffe goes around to everyone and critiques their quilt. He got really excited by my quilt because I had put fabrics together that he would never have thought to use. I really felt that I had done so well. One lady in the class whispered to me that I had nailed it!! I was on a high as it was exciting stuff!
Now I just have to sew all the pieces together. I want to wait until I have a quiet day without any interuptions. I hope it won't be too long until that happens.

The Flooding of Brisbane!

This has been a horror week for me and I haven't had much opportunity to embroider, knit or crochet. The stress of this week has been immense and I thank God that we have come out of this disaster safe and sound.

First the possitives! My house didn't get flooded! After an anxious 3 days of tension headaches and sandbagging and don't forget praying, our house stayed dry! The river stopped about 100 meters from our house, thanks to the water not rising as high as predicited and a couple of fine days.

Not so lucky were numerous friends and today has been spent cleaning mud from houses and washing other peoples mud sodden clothes so that at least some belongings were not lost. How lucky am I?! I feel like one of the luckiest people in Brisbane after seeing the devastation today. Tomorrow will be much the same as today. And probably the day after that too.

Yesterday 2 of my sons and a friend paddled around our suburb in a canoe! Up around the University if Qld, down Sir Fred Schonell Drive, up Indooroopilly Road and almost back home again. Today its a mess of black sticky, stinking mud!

On the negative side, now that the worst is over flood wise the shops are fairly naked of fresh food. My eldest son drove up from the Gold Coast today, as he was finally able to get through, and he shopped for us before he left. He was able to bring up some meat, a bit of fruit, bread and milk and toilet paper! Yes you can't buy toilet paper anywhere!!

People have been hit very hard and as businessre-opens in the CBD as power is turned back on the flow on effect of this disaster will be huge. Everyone in Australia will be affected in some way.Hopefully things will return to normal as the weeks go on but Queensland won't be the same ever and it will take 2-3 years to rebuilt the damage in Brisbane alone.

Tonight as I sit in my nice clean home with electricity and food I will continue to count my blessings. My family is all here safe and sound so it's all possitive really.

Thai Garden Collar

Another little project finished! I bought this pattern and Noro Wool from Jenny King way back in May and as the pattern instructions were wrong I had to wait and do a workshop with her. I then put the project away as I had many other things on the go and forgot about it really.

The weather has been so hot and humid and the embroidery project that I am doing is not good to work on in the humidity. I was looking for something else to do and rediscovered this crochet project.

It only took 2 nights once I got going. All the flowers were done in one evening and then sewn together the next. I really love it and can't wait to wear it in the winter!








Thai Flower Garden Collar

Alpacalicious!

Finally I have finished my Alpacalicious crochet blanket! I had to put it on hold for awhile as all the crocheting gave me such a sore hand that I thought that I had tendinitis. After a few weeks rest it wasn't and I began again only to put on hold again while I made birthday and Christmas presents.

I am so happy with the way the blanket turned out and have another 16 balls to make another one sometime in pastel colours. I can't believe that I have another project finished for this year and while I still have many still unfinished it is very satisfying to have completed at least 7 projects this year.

Looking forward to the Christmas break where I will be able to do some more embroidery.

My Grecian Goddess!

I have just finished making this teacosy for my sister Kerry's birthday next week. The pattern is from Loani Priors' book Really Wild Teacosies! I know that she is going to love it!

A Shawl for Mum

Christmas is almost here and I have made a shawl for my mum's present. I made it from 2 skeins of Alchemy Haiku yarn on 7mm needles and it is delicious! A mohair/silk blend and just exquisitely soft and fine she will get the warmth plus you can just squish it into nothing to fit in your handbag. The pattern was very simple just 3 rows knit and one row YON and knit 2tog. It created a beautiful fine lacey look and looks much harder than it is!

Today I need to begin knitting my sister another teacosy for her birthday in less than 3 weeks. I made her the Carmen Miranda tea cosy last year from Loani Priors book Really Wild Tea Cosies. The photo is on my profile. She loved it and has requested another this year.

After that if I have time I will knit my son Tom's girlfriend Kirstyn a scarf from another skein of Alchemy Haiku. Same pattern but narrower. I guess I had better get cracking!

Beneath the Sea

I have just completed the Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket for 2010 called Beneath the Sea! So proud of myself for finishing another project and have been working on this every day to finish it.
We are going to the holiday house in Northern NSW tonight and I want to put the blanket down there as we are near the beach.
Well I have finished with knitting for this year and now have to concentrate on the crochet afghan as I have almost completed that too. Sewing that one together will be a major headache as there are 150 squares and they have to be slip stitched together. really want to try and get that one finished by Christmas.