What I'm doing tomorrow...

This is my sample for the class I'm teaching tomorrow at Pretty Parcels in Berry. It is part 2 of an ongoing series of contemporary techniques classes. This month they'll learn some basic free-piecing as well as the wavy fused binding and some free-motion quilting.

The samples are A4 sized to fit in a display folder with the accompanying notes. My aim is to build up a toolbox of techniques for people ready to try something different.

I'm having lots of fun with the class prep and teaching.

5 things

I gotted tagged by Red Shoe Ramblings (one of my new fave blogs) so here're my lists.

5 things in my fridge:
1. Homemade lime butter made by my lovely Mum.
2. Ginger marmalade.
3. Asian sauces/ingredients for stir-fry.
4. Low-fat dairy products (for the ongoing battle of the bulge).
5. Chateaux le cardboard.

5 things in my wardrobe:
1. Too many clothes that don't fit me at the moment.
2. Several pairs of jeans.
3. Business suits I don't wear since I quit my old job.
4. Lots of bright/colourful/glitzy scarves.
5. Not enough underwear (since my new puppy has a thing for underwear and eats a few pairs each week).

5 things in my car:
1. Two umbrellas (just in case).
2. Sunglasses belonging to every member of my family.
3. A Springsteen CD in the player.
4. A Sydney streetmap.
5. A set of acrylic paints belonging to my daughter.

5 things in my handbag:
1. My diary and two journal/sketchbooks.
2. Three pens.
3. My digital camera.
4. Bag of "Snakes Alive" lollies.
5. A fq of lime green hand-dyed fabric.

5 things in my desk:
1. Several sketchbooks/visual diaries in a variety of sizes.
2. Paints/crayons/pencils/paintbrushes.
3. A small wooden puzzle box brought back from Japan by a friend years ago,
4. Collage ephemera/images that might come in handy "one day".
5. Frida Kahlo/Georgia O'Keefe books.

Not quite sure how this works, but if you're reading this Lisa, Maggie, Jenny, Kate, Caity - you're tagged.

Sorry to stay away...

but things have been a bit chaotic around here. Besides the general backlog of work that my poor clients are so patiently waiting for, deadlines have been adding to the pressure. The quilt I'm working on is just not happening to plan, so I've been struggling with it. Trouble with committing to quilt shows before the work is complete is that sometimes things stall, but I can't just stop and let it come in it's own time, and forcing it can make things worse.
Anyhow, this afternoon I've been painting some Lutradur. I had paint left over (too expensive to waste) so I painted a couple of bits of cotton as well to use it up.
After I'd finished, I really liked the look of the paper I was using underneath to mop up the excess - an unexpected side product that I'm sure will come in handy. 

A Capital Weekend

This past weekend was spent in Canberra at the annual SCQ Retreat. I taught a class there on Machine Trapunto techniques, and managed to fit in my fair share of fun times too. The venue was great, particularly the quadrangle which was populated by wild ducks who slept with their beaks tucked under their wings & their feet in the water. It was nice to see some autumn colour - we don't really have a proper change of seasons here in Wollongong. This week's plan is to get stuck in to all the work waiting in the studio!