and more...

Nimet has been a fairly permanent member of the calico and ivy family for a while now.  Her husband has kindly loaned her to us as a semi full-time student, and been left to fend for himself in Thailand while she plays with us here.  We are not complaining, as a matter of fact I have loved getting to know Nimet better.
When Nimet first signed up for a beginner's patchwork class she was like most of us, very unsure of her abilities.
Look at her now...

 this quilt top is the result of a class with Anthea - Contemporary Quiltmaking.

I love it.  We have shared so much excitement with the growth of this work of art.

Then it came to putting together a backing and we encouraged her to add a few quirks, so she took us on... and ran

Well... we all agree this is a quilt in it's own right, so now two new backings need to be made.

This is so much the point of Anthea's classes.  Nothing is carved in stone, they are designed to  stimulate each participant to create and add their own soul.

I believe Nimet has so much more confidence in her creative abilities now, and will miss her when she feels the time has come to return home.

I will be putting the next term class list on our web page in a couple of weeks.  If you are on our mailing list you will receive an email advising you of this.

You too might consider a class with Anthea.

Just have to show you...

what talented customers we have here at Calico and Ivy.

Sam Donovan bought a very favourite Kokka fabric from us here in the shop to cover a wingback chair during classes she was taking at Challenger TAFE at John Curtin.
She popped these pics across to me and agreed to show you all.

and the side view...

Isn't this chair fantastic?  Well done Sam and a great choice of fabric.

I was so inspired that today my not so excitingly covered wingback and ottoman were wizzed away in an upholsterers truck with multitudes of this Anna Maria Horner fabric that I have been saving

and hopefully in a couple of weeks I will have a delicious chair too.  Stay tuned.

Home again

Hubbi, Annie and I have had a little adventure for a week to Coral Bay.  We met up with Danielle (my eldest daughter) and her fiance Nick along with Nick's family, and proceeded to have a fantastic time.

I had never been before, but am so glad that I visited.

The township is simple, clean and looks after it's visitors superbly, from plenty of tucker (the bakery had an amazing broccoli, cauliflower and cheese sauce pie which I think I may have tasted just a few too many times), to the amazing bay.

Of course the highlight of the trip was the Ningaloo Reef... beautiful beyond words and so beyond my imaginings.  We snorkeled and swam and on one occasion kayaked out with a guide, who led us on an experience that I will remember for life...very clearly.

the size and multitude of these fish startled me a little, but I think I startled this baby more than he me.

We swam with turtles (here Anna gets up close)

And after a change of mask I joined the throngs of fish again and became so enthralled with my improved vision that BANG...

 

I smashed straight into the kayak.

  Yep, there's always someone handy with a camera to catch an awkward moment.

Simple living is the key to an enjoyable stay in Coral Bay

 

A must see experience for everyone at some stage.