I've also made two needle cases from Kathy's book "Remembering Adelia".
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The green and red needle case is for myself. The blue and white one for my friend Judy. Blue is her favourite colour. I surprised Judy with it when we went to the Queensland Art Gallery in South Brisbane to see the Quilts 1770-1945 display on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and she remarked on how handy it would be when making hexagons.
Quilts 1770-1945 showcases 200 years of British quilt making history with approximately fifty patchwork and quilted items including bed quilts, bed hangings (curtains and valances), baby quilts and sewing accessories on display. The workmanship and attention to detail in these items is amazing. Exquisite hand piecing, quilting, teeny tiny hexagons, embroidery and intricate beading. Also on display was the famous Rajah Quilt which was on loan from the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. This quilt was sewn by women on board the convict ship HMS Rajah during their transportation from England to Tasmania in 1841.
The exhibition provided a rare opportunity to see all of these quilts close up. Unfortunately photography was not allowed, but images from the Queensland Art Gallery Program Guide and the cover of the book documenting these quilts gives a taste of the items on display. Judy and I each purchased a copy of the book to drool over at our own leisure.
Today I decided to tackle my stash (i.e. messy bag) of Antique Flowers fabric scraps.
Nothing sewn, just organised. One set of fabric cut and sorted into piles of assorted greens, blues, pinks, yellows, and cream floral fabrics for a scrap quilt. And I already had the perfect backing fabric for this quilt in my stash!!!
Other larger pieces of creams, yellows, and pinks "in waiting" for inspiration.
And finally, one set of antique florals and co-ordinating backing fabric to be given to a young quilter just starting out.
I'd only just finished sorting and tidying up when I heard the postie outside. He'd left a parcel in my letterbox. One I had been told to expect from a lovely generous American quilter. Yes, you know who you are. Thankyou from the bottom of my heart. The reproduction fabrics are just gorgeous. And such a variety. I'm overwhelmed. It's all too beautiful to cut. I think I'm going to have to leave it spread out on my desk for a while just to admire. So very, very generous. Thankyou so much.
Until next time,
Happy quilting,
Bronwyn
