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.

Being held accountable

I said I would take a pic of my work in progress but procrastination has been playing havoc with me.  As another week draws to a close, I finally have the first draft of my new quilt top up on the board and dared to take a pic.

This quilt changes before my eyes in interpretation, as the initial intent was for a Facet quilt from Kaffe and Liza's Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts but I am not so good at doing as I am told, and still being influenced by the mosaic on page 108, I wanted to take the imagery tighter.

Now I shall make the dark diamonds and then they will get thrown into the mix.  Maybe that will be the time to put a little more order into placement - but I think rather not!   So exciting.

eggs

yes eggs...
amazing little things are eggs.

Tanya Wilding is a very favourite person.  We met early in my days at 'calico' and clicked immediately.  You see Tanya lives my dream life - don't get me wrong I am as happy as a little piggy in the proverbial with my life, but Tanya lives in bucolic bliss down in Yallingup.

Just about two years ago Tanya and her husband picked up their little tribe and made their seachange, and I was with her in heart all the way.  It was brave as they knew few, and the children had to adjust not only to a new school but the change in lifestyle also.  Many of us talk the talk, but Tanya and co. walked the walk... and they are a very contented lot with their new life.

Tanya paid us a visit last Friday as she has just a minor fabric addiction (Kaffe fabrics make her heart sing), and needed to satisfy the craving, and with her she delivered a dozen of beautiful fresh home eggs.  Her 'girls' have begun laying and I happily received their little gifts.

This is a little post just for you Tanya to thank you and show you just how much appreciated these little eggies are:

Yum Yum.

This is Tanya back about eighteen months ago with Marnie while doing a Snowball quilt class with Suzie.

I wish I had a piccy of her quilt as it was a showstopper, but here you can see just a peek.

The owl and the pussycat...

went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat. 

This has always been one of my favourite ditties as a child - all fantasy and romance with not much connection to the real world.
It feels to me like I departed on this journey and am still bobbing around on those magic seas.
I scheduled a little 'time out' to start and finish some projects and take a creative journey, and while I am still bobbing on these waters of creativity, reality has snuck its way back into the picture.
Both projects envisaged in my last posting are taking extraordinary turns, and excitingly nothing like the original imaginings any more.  Gotta love these twists and turns.  Next posting I will make you privy (the camera battery is charging).
Lynnie Jones has a new/old caravan  coming into her life and her excitement has been very infectious within the shop.
Sock knitting projects are gathering pace, crochet is exploding into multi-coloured blankets and floral embellishments, and the soft hum of Kaffe's name is resonating as we begin preparations for his March 2011 visit.  Hmmm... all sweet sounds are playing.

Anthea has added a selection of the most appealing tees and tanks for the little one's...

and a lovely selection of larger scale buttons suitable for bags and knits are now available...

Have a wonderful day... we here are well into Autumn and the trees are glowing with warm colour, ready to shed their leaves.

I wish...

I wish for just a little teensy, weensy bit of extra time to indulge in my passions.

There really is only one way to make this wish come true...

and that is to force the issue a little...

so I won't be much seen around the shop this week.  I will hide away here at home, and maybe won't answer all of my emails, and probably won't make myself available for problem solving...

but I will play with these...

because I now have my copy of this...

and flirt with these...

and all of my wishes might just be granted.

Stay tuned and follow my progress.

By the way, you know that if I have my copy of Kaffe's new book there must be one for you too... just visit calico and ivy to pick yours up today.