Willowberry Designs ~ Alpaca Softies

Off to the beach....

... for a week or maybe more, escaping the last mad winds of Winter

What a difference 5 days makes, the Wisteria buds are fat and getting some colour

Maybe we'll come home to pretty hanging blooms :)

Funny little man is in charge at the polling booth today so I have all day to play and prepare for our road trip tomorrow

1. Bake - Lemon drops, Jam drops and the yummiest cake ever... Date, Almond and Muesli cake topped with lemon cheese frosting... too delicious for words
2. Laundry - Wash the winter woolies and put crisp cotton sheets on the bed, fingers crossed it will be warm when we return
3. Shop - lollies for the trip :), beer for the FLM and some 'girlie' beverages for me.  There might be a bit of food involved too...
4. Prepare - Ratty for the Resort.  Apparently this one has piped music to all units if you please...  He'll be right at home although the lady did comment that he 'sounds a bit spoilt' when I mentioned he likes to sleep on a soft cushion with a Laura Ashley cover...  I'm sure he'll be ok...  I'll bring his cushion...
5. New do - I'm a bit over this mop of hair, time for the sheep to be shorn.  It's all coming off but I have a head like a pumpkin so it might be an interesting result.  Might have to buy a new hat...

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**The Willowberry Designs Etsy Shop will be on holiday too**

and will be closed from today, re-opening on Monday 30th August

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Can't have a story without a quilt...

How much do we love this one?

and the back... pretty spesh

Rouenneries yummy-ness... Like I said to Chriss, 'seriously gorgeous'.  Great choice of quilting design Chriss!

We visited Chriss to deliver this one yesterday and were met by a herd of cattle... just the best atmosphere.  Lots of paddock, lots of trees, rural views forever... I want to live like that.  And it was raining!  Perfect.

So, I'll be back in a week or so... give or take a few days... and I'll be full of tropical nonsense to share because we're visiting my big sister and her hubby, Wayne (of Wayne's quilt fame).  We might even stay long enough to catch up with my next big sister and her hubby... our 'big trip' travel companions and trip planners extroardinaire

(68 sleeps - I'm whispering... just in case you're sick of hearing about it...  I'm pretty sure Joy only has about 32 sleeps or something crazy like that)

Block 9 ~ the final block ~ of 'Under the Sea' will be trying to make an appearance for September 1st but if we are having too much fun it might be a day or two late...

Seeya then

Cheryl xx

New growth

starting to show it's face, our Spring is just around the corner

the willow is decorated with the tiniest green leaves... like Christmas fairy lights

my assistant ~ funny little man... with gentle strong hands... they hold me tight :)

magnolia, daffodils and my fave... guess...

yep...

wisteria ~ and yes, the sky really was that blue this morning... 'DMC 826 medium blue' blue

fat, fluffy little grub like buds sprouting from naked sticks but in two weeks time we'll see a mass of pendulous lavender'ish prettiness, too delicious for words :)

I'll probably go on and on about how beautiful they are...

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Lorna's quilt for her sweet granddaughter who lives in the US

mushy shabbiness of roses painted pastel

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 I finished 'Friendship' last night - and most of the lovelies who entered the giveaway would have received their complimentary pdf pattern by now... I still have a few to email tonight

I really loved making these little pretties and have some ideas for a few more... This one got the nod of approval from Debbie who popped in for a cuppa this afternoon.  Her quilts have been on an outing for their September photo shoot....

Hey Shaz... your Southern Comfort quilt would make a nice blanket for Max and Jack!!  I dare you....

seeya

Cheryl xx

almost forgot... 74 sleeps

Winners of 'Pin Pillows' patterns

I'll tell you about the three lucky girls in a minute... first I need to mention that the second name drawn out of the pink bucket was Shaz...  so I threw her away :)  she knows she can have a pattern anytime....

So ~ the three girls who will be adding 'Pin Pillows' to their pattern stash are ....

fun... :)

Girls I'll be sending you an email later today to ask for your slow mail address

Thanks for all the positive messages, always good fun to read through and know that others like these doings!

Just in case you were one of the ninety odd who left a message but missed out and you REALLY need to make one of these little baby pillows, there's a special surprise coming in your email inbox in the next few days

A 5th Pin Pillow ~ a pdf gift from me to all those who left a message for the pink bucket

Told you it was fun :)

Do you like 'Friendship'?  Yep, me too.....

Lots of quilts have been planned over a coffee chat with a friend...

~ no stitching yet because I only drew it up this morning, I'll stitch tonight ~ 

Do you think Shaz will forgive me for throwing her out?  Yep, me too..... :)

have a fun day

Cheryl xx

'Pin Pillows'

is now available...

These sweet little pin cushions - or mini decorator pillows - are the perfect weekend project and would make delicious gifts for your friends and family

If you'd like to purchase a pattern you can do so from my etsy store - in pdf format so there's no waiting :)

too cute...

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the pattern giveaway closes tomorrow night, if you haven't yet entered, go back two posts....

Update - giveaway is now closed - congrats to Allie, Lyn and The Chocolate Cat :)

Cheryl xx

Snippets and rainy days

Love both...

Delicious rain falling and filling our tanks.  Perfect weather for the last weeks of Winter... Our Spring flowers ~ waiting for their turn ~ will love this soaking :)

The roses were pruned on Saturday

And these roses were finished...

mushy and delicate

the next design for QFD Creative

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Don't forget the pattern giveaway here... leave your details and I'll throw you in the pink bucket... drawn on Friday night (my time)... there might be a surprise :)

Love surprises...

seeya

Cheryl xx

countdown.... 80 sleeps...

'Pin Pillows'

in country redwork...

and in pretty work...

almost too gorgeous to dig pins into....

'Pin Pillows' is my newest pattern ~ instructions for both country and pretty are included in the one pattern and it's available from Wednesday this week :)

Giveaway?  Yes, I think so too...

Update - giveaway is now closed - congrats to Allie, Lyn and The Chocolate Cat :)

Leave a message to be in the pink bucket draw - there will be three patterns to win

have a fun stitchy day

Cheryl xx

 

Happenings...

Planning the new banner photo up there /\ was a bit of laugh...  last Tuesday ~ with the wind gusting from the South West at a great rate of knots ~ funny little man and I dragged the quilts from their resting places, down the steps and carefully draped them over the fences.  Crazy! 

Not a word of complaint from the helping man, just a look with one raised eyebrow that said 'why am I not surprised'...  here he is tidying up after the photo shoot... 

I luv that funny little man (baggy tracky dacks and all...)

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The fat quarter bundle of 'Pure' (delight) has been dismantled.  'Wind Farm' is taking shape... strong colours, sharp angles, very businesslike stuff... 

Nice points make us smile... yes they do...

and to the opposite end of the creative pole... do we love the romantic softness of these?

 ... delicate roses that will adorn my next project for Sarah over at QFD Creative (remember, the Creative Team projects ~ tutorials ~ are all free for you to enjoy from the QFD Creative blog)

  July was fabulous fun with the Christmas in July team and sharing the chat room with participants from all over the world was such a treat.  Sarah did a fantastic job with loads of giveaways, recipes, fun stories and an absolute bagful of wonderful new Christmas projects.  I think everyone agreed that they had been totally spoiled for the month of July.  thanks for a fun time Sarah :)

Check these new arrivals... my parcel of 'Free as a Bird' fatties arrived yesterday and they are too cute for words!  Can't wait to start playing with them (borrowed the photo from Sarah)

You can see more of them in the Quilt Fabric Delights shop.  And seriously, they are even yummier in real life :)

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there are whispers that some quilts ~ having been given their freedom to roam ~ are venturing into places they wouldn't normally go...  State Forests, Oceans, Fish Markets, Cattle Sales, Duck Ponds, State Libraries, Operating Theatres ... and the list goes on

Debbie's quilts took her to the Bunya Mountains for a day trip...

'It's the first outing that these quilts have had in a long time - I'm sure they enjoyed it 'cause we did.'  Debbie C

We'll share more of Debbie's quilts in a few weeks time on the September Quilt Show blog :)   Do you have some wayward quilts?  We'd love to see them!

seeya, stitch well...

Cheryl xx

ps ~ two friends are recovering from hand surgery... sending best wishes for speedy healing :)

September Quilt Show

This September - our Spring - we're going on a little trip around the sticks - poking our noses into the lives of a few wayward quilts :)

Would you like to join me?  Do you have a quilt that yearns to wander and do things that quilts don't normally do?

My flannel quilt recently started climbing trees...

Go here to check it out and leave a message to tell us what you think :)

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seeya

Cheryl xx

Springtime

The most beautiful season is just around the corner for us...  I love Spring, everything is fresh, the days are warm and the gardens burst into life... magical :)

Have you been hopping around in blogland today?  If so, you may have come across several posts about a special quilt made by myself and the Gum Tree Designers ~ aptly named 'Springtime'

If you've not seen it yet, visit Among the Gum Trees to see the whole quilt and read more (although I'm not sure it was quite the same as carrying a baby LOL!!)

After many months of planning and making, the Fresh Hope 'Springtime' Quilt now rests safely in the hands of Mary who will manage it's journey within the ranks of the Fresh Hope Pattern range.  The process is well under way and the patterns should be available for purchase in the near future.  Mary will keep us posted and we'll let you know as soon as they're ready

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'Sunshine Frolic' is the block I designed and stitched for the 'Springtime' Quilt.  The scrolly border that surrounds each of our designs was created for us by the 'gawjus' Joy of Joypatch.  Do you think it does the job?  Yep, so do I!! 

(If you visit Joy's blog you can read about our morning tea visit with the Fresh Hope girls.) 

(grainy photo... sorry)

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I'd like to share the 'Sunshine Frolic' story....

My block for the 'Springtime' quilt represents the images and thoughts surrounding the Fresh Hope program

Sunshine – ‘a new day, providing warmth and strength to keep going’

The little birds hovering with ribbons – ‘take hold of a ribbon, trust us and we’ll lead you along the path of recovery to responsibility’

A happy heart – ‘the flowers are the children, held in the hearts of their mummies and giving them strength to continue’

A snail – ‘slowly and steadily moving forward on the journey of life’

Tall flowers – ‘stretching up, reaching for the light and holding the guiding hands’

A beautiful little butterfly – ‘emerging from her dark sleep, delicate in appearance yet strong in her will to survive’

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I was thrilled when the girls passed the Springtime quilt to me for the quilting stage.  Dawn had completed the piecing and sent it on it's way from Adelaide to my little country town near Toowoomba in Queensland.  Here it is... all ready for the dancing needle :)

~ that's my block on the left and a small sneak of (can you guess who's delightful block is on the right?) ~

The girls gave me artistic licence to bring it to life with some scrolly frames, loopy meanderings and fat little wandering bits... like these scrolly goose feathers across the flying geese panel...

We used Rouenneries wideback for the quilt backing.... don't you love that border print?  (Chriss has made the most gorgeous quilt from Rouenneries and has left a few of the pieces with their border prints intact... yummy.  I'll show photos when I quilt it for her, you'll love love love that quilt!)

If you visit with each of the Gum Tree Designers you'll find a story about their own individual blocks and what this 'Springtime' quilt journey means to each of them.  Have a fun time :)

Vikki, Joy, Judith, Vicki, Jenny and Dawn

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The next few months will see Mary (from Fresh Hope), myself and a merry little band of stitching friends remaking the 'Springtime' quilt, stitch by stitch.  Some of the Gum Tree girls have very kindly offered to restitch their blocks for Mary's quilt... such a generous and special thing to do as they are a very busy bunch of stitchers :)

For her new quilt, Mary selected fabrics from Rural Jardin, another range by Kaari Meng of French General

What do you think?

Yes, me too... delicious!

I'll keep you posted with progress photos along the way :)

Back tomorrow with the rules for our September Hanging of the Quilts...  should be loads of fun!

seeya ~ Cheryl xx