Don't look now!

A long time between posts .....

Actually it has been even longer that a long time between posts! At first I felt guilty for not posting ... then after a while I almost forgot about blogging altogether ... except for the many emails that I have received checking up to make sure we are OK. All has been well ... just very, very busy ... combined with a little blog overload.

So much has happened in the last 7 months ... fabric ....

... only one new quilt

... but its a pretty good one if I do say myself :) .... it's called Jessie 

The little people have gotten really big!

... but for now we are in Bali escaping Melbourne's Winter. We are all a little unwell ... but still enjoying the beautiful warm weather!

So ... how to manage my pathetic blogging habbits ... well after much encouragement from many people I have finally begun a Don't Look Now Facebook Page, which I am going to use to keep in touch with you all ... I guess we will see how it goes ... apparently it doesn't take as much work ...

Thank you so much for keeping on checking in on me over the break ... I'm very greatful to you all ... please keep stopping by!

Cheers

Kellie

Only 25 more sleeps!

The little people woke this morning for the first time in weeks without having to be begged to get up and get ready for school ... not because they were excited to go to school but because they have been anticipating this for the past few days....

 Only 25 more sleeps!

I love the whole build up to Christmas ... even as the kids get older it is still just as exciting as it was in their first few years.

Plus what's even more exciting ... I only have to make 60 more school lunches before school holidays!!!! Wooohooo!!!

What's more I have finally found some time to sew this week .. what a pleasure!

This is one of the projects from Memories.

So nice to just make something for the heck of it!

Oh and I almost forgot it's the first day of Summer ... oh how I love Summer days ... mind you it wasn't much of a Summer day here in Melbourne today ... but all good things come to those who wait!

Happy days!

Kelliex

PS You may also like to have a listen to this ...

I kind of cringe at hearing my own voice so I'm trying to avoid it ... but it was lovely to meet Pat and it wasn't nearly as terrifying as I had anticipated!!!! A friend told me that it was very me ... not so sure if that was a complement or not but in the mood I'm in today I am just going to assume that it was!!!! :)

Doesn't time fly ....

OK so it's the 17th already ... how did that happen??? SO without any further ado the lucky commenter from my last post who will have their very own copy of Quiltmakers 100 Block Collectors Edition #4 is ...... Michelle who left the following comment .....

That looks so fun. I really like your style of the applique. I love the robot quilt as well. I have to say that girl quilts are EVERYWHERE and it is really refreshing to see a cute boy quilt... because lets face it those little boys love our quilts as much or more? than our girls. Probably because those girls change their mind too much :) Thanks for the giveaway and I really like your block. It did look simple and it would be a great scrap buster.

Posted by: Michelle Jensen | November 09, 2011 at 10:45 AM

I will also be sending Michelle a copy of my suggestion for a bckground quilting design and a copy of my new pattern Robot Riot.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by and leave a comment - I realy do appreciate it!!!

I was also quite remiss to mention that I also released another design at market .... In my garden ...

A little bit more feminine after drowning myself in 'boy stuff'!!!!! This project is actually a bed runner and comes with a Bolster Cushion included in the pattern.

I still haven't had time to sort my photos from market just yet (ie. ... steal photos from other blogs) but I will leave you with a piece of Houston architecture in the gardens out side of the Hilton Americas that I fell in love with ....

... it's a toilet block ... but you just have to love it!!!!

Oh and of course how can I forget the Quilted Car Cover .... just what I need ... although I doubt my Miss Megan would EVER want a lift to school again!!!!

Just one boring point that I need to draw everyone's attention to ... Australia Post has had several price increases since I opened my on-line shop, which was a couple of years ago now. I have never actually passed these increases on ... mainly because I'm too lazy and would much rather be sewing than typing on this annoying computer!!! Anyway the time has come where I really can't ignore it any longer so I will be increasing the postage charges on the 1st of December ... so if you have been waiting to buy a pattern then try and get in before this time!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Kelliex 

100 Blocks ....

Those of you who know me well, know only too well that I am NOT a piecer .... in fact it makes me nauseous at the thought of a ruler, rotary cutter and a 1/4" seam allowance .... but I must say that when I was asked to participate in the Quiltmakers 100 Block Collectors Edition #4 I was only too happy to join in ... mainly because it involved absolutely NO piecing on my part!!!! Plus June Dudley (Editor-in-Chief) and Caroline Beam (Creative Editor) are too adorable, how could I ever say no .... and they even put my name on the cover, what more could a girl ask for?????

So what did I make for the magazine ... well you can be absolutely certain that it involves NO piecing ... just my signature raw edge applique with a little trapunto thrown in for good measure!

It's called Petite Garden and I think that it would be a perfect project for those of you who have been too scared to give my projects a bit of a spin in the past ... it's a small project, it could easily be thrown together with bits and pieces from your stash and the shapes are lovely and small which will make keeping your stitching straight and smooth a piece of cake!

If you do have a go at making up this project it would look lovely made up as a cushion ... a prefect Christmas gift perhaps ... did I say Christmas .... eeeekkkkkk!!!! Is it really Christmas in 47 days ......

Now we all know that we can't have a post like this one without a giveaway ... right??? So .... if you leave a comment on this post between now and the end of the 100 Blocks Blog Tour .... which is the 11th of November 2011 (midnight US EST - not Australian time this time because it is a US based Magazine) one lucky person will receive a copy of the magazine!!! And just to make it even more interesting I will also send the winner a copy of a diagram of a background quilting design that I would use to complete the project. But wait there's more ... I will also send the winner a copy of Robot Riot ... which was the new pattern that I released at Quilt Market ....

I hope you love it .... I certainly do, as do my boys!

Anyway ... more about market in my next post but for now I must leave you with my Halloween Horror ...

a kiss from the gorgeous Bandon Mably and his 'little pet' .....

Have a terrific week!!!!!

Kelliex
PS. If you look in the corner of my stand right there to my left you will see a version of my Meg's Garden (the one with the white background) that was made by Kathryn who I taught in a class at Blueberries in Wyong a little while ago. Kathryn kindly lent me her quilt to display at market and it was the highlight of my stand ... thank you so much Kathryn your generosity is second to none ... as is your quilting!!!! 

Spring holiday fun...

Thank you all so much for your enthusiastic response to Peak Hour! It means a lot to me to have such great support from you all!

There is only 2 weeks now until we fly out for Fall Market ... so much to do and so few hours to do it in! Unfortunately this is also the only time this year that Mr DLN has been able to get a break from work so we had to take our family holiday now too.... just a little bit more stress. It's hard to organise everything that goes into the preparation for market and to finish projects from .... the Whitsundays .... hard but not impossible!

 
Thanks to a very kind and generous person I was able to borrow a Bernina Aurora 440 to vacation with us and I have managed to finish my latest quilt .... well almost ... the binding went on last night and I will finish the hand sewing on the way home today .... 

Not a bad view to quilt by!!!! It has been good to use the 440 again. It is a terrific machine. I watched people use many machines now over the period that I have been teaching and in my opinion it is by far the best domestic sewing machine on the market - particularly for those of you wanting to try your hand at free motion quilting. Using the machine again has also confirmed in my mind that it's not that difficult to quilt large quilts under a domestic machine. 

 

We have been staying at Airely Beach which has certainly turned on some beautiful weather for us ... it has been a wonderfully relaxing holiday ... not a lot for the kids to do other than swim but really what more do kids want ......

 
Ben has been practicing his magic shrinking spells on his twin sister .... I think he would like to keep her this size .... far less annoying!

 
I hope you have also enjoyed the past two weeks ....

Kelliex

Cat's out of the bag ....

I have been kind of ignoring this for quite some time now .... but seeing it has now officially been listed on the Riley Blake web site ... (together with a mug shot ... eeeeekkkk!) ... and several shops in the US are also listing it as 'Coming Soon" .... it seems that I can't pretend any longer :)

Before the last Spring Market in Salt Lake City I signed with Riley Blake Designs and the little snippet above is the result ... my first fabric line which is called ... Peak Hour.

It wont be available for sale until March 2012 ... so there is going to be a bit of a wait until you will see it on the shelves of your local Patchwork shop ...

I hope you like it....

Kelliex

Better late than never!

.... Happy Father's Day people!!!!!

The Little People really are getting quite big!!!!

Yesterday I finally finished something that I have been struggling through of late ....

...but now it's time to dive into something FUN!!!!!!

 
and one more time just with the feet :) ....

 
Have a terrific week!

Kelliex

Boo!

 
It has been a while hasn't it!!!!!! So many things have come and gone since my last post that it's almost too much to fill you in on ... which is one of the reasons I haven't blogged as it all becomes too overwhelming!

In my last post oh so long ago I had a giveaway and I feel soooo embarrassed that I have made you all wait sooooooo long that I have decided to increase the winners - originally the giveaway was for 3 patterns including one kit ... so I am now giving away 9 patterns one of which will receive a kit .....

The first winner is.....Patty!!!

Patty not only purchased a pattern during the giveaway period but also posted about it on her blog. Thank you Patty and congratulations! I have decided to send you a full copy of Memories which I released at Spring Market (oh so long ago now) this pattern includes the Family Tree pattern I originally was going to giveaway and 3 other cushion patterns as well. Patty will also recieve a kit to make Family Tree.

Family Tree (included in the pattern Memories)

All of the winners listed below will receive a copy of From The Heart which includes all of the projects that were listed individually in the giveaway ....

Thinking of you... (included in From the heart)

Lisa made comment number 54: Wow, another super awesome quilt...you are truly amazing and love the patterns and colors! Lisa in Texas

Ethne made comment number 51: Kellie - what a stunning alphabet quilt its amazing to see what you've made for us to dribble over during your blog breaks - congratulations to all the winners!

Love (included in the pattern From the heart)

Lynnette made comment number 25: I absolutely adore your designs!!!

Maria made comment number 104: Oh my! Animal Alphabet is just beyond words!! Super cool and adorable all at the same time! I love how it's a quilt one can make the same for both genders and the little critters are just too adorable for words, I mean look at the Iguana and the Yaks! Pure Love for this pattern and one day I vow make one =) I'd love to be entered in the draw, I've been wanting to try one of your patterns for ages but they're just a little intimidating for me who just started FMQ. =)

Garden Gathering (included in the pattern From the heart)

Elyte made comment number 118: After our first workshop with you, you have made these projects so achievable. Love your patterns and look forward to finishing what we started in June.

Michelle made comment number 87: What a stunning new quilt! I have so many of your patterns and am excitedly starting one for my daughter this month. Your detail and fabric use is amazing. I would love this opportunity to win one of your remarkable patterns.

Judith made comment number 8: If at first you don't succeed try, try......! So thank you for another chance to win.

And last but not least ... Debbie made comment number 88: Maybe I'll get lucky this time and win one of your beautiful patterns, Kellie! Thanks for counting me in.

Congratulations to all of our winners! Can you all please send me a quick email with your snail mail details so I can get these in the mail ASAP. I hope that you enjoy making the patterns!!!

I also wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everybody who commented and for your kind words. They really are very much appreciated.

No more for now .... just wanted to get this done and reassure those of you who have been worried that I am indeed still breathing and sewing!!!!! Photos of everything that has happened during the 'gap' in next post .....

Cheers

Kelliex

And the winners are...

Sorry for the delay in announcing the giveaway winners ... we spent the Easter break at a farm stay ...

 
near the 12 Apostles ....

... the beautiful Port Campbell in country Victoria ....

 
unfortunately I never had full internet access which made blog posting a little hard!!!!!

So without further delay the winners of the last post giveaway are ...... 

Elisa who left comment number 20...

LOVE all of them! Posting to my blog now! Where can I get these patterns in the US?

Posted by: Elisa | April 08, 2011 at 05:19 AM

Elisa also purchased a pattern during the giveaway period and also went to the trouble of linking to the post from her blog! Thank you Elisa! I will be sending Elisa a copy of the Family Tree pattern complete with a kit to make it up.

 

The second pattern which was Garden Gatheringwill be going to Kirsty who left comment number 91 ....

I love your patterns but am completely freaked out by raw-edge applique so have never purchased and tried one. Winning would be great -- it could get me started!

Posted by: Kristy | April 09, 2011 at 11:36 AM

Hopefully you wont be too freaked out to give the pattern a try Kirsty!

 

Last but by all means not least the pattern for Love goes to Barbara who left the 26th comment ....

Love the "project"! What a fantastic medium to learn the digestive system.
BUT......the "In Spring" quilt is OUT OF THIS WORLD!

Posted by: Barbara Holley | April 08, 2011 at 06:39 AM  

Thank you to everyone who joined in! I really appreciate your support!

AQC has come and gone and I hope those of you who got to go along enjoyed it as much as I did! If you attended you would have seen several of my designs on the Ballarat Patchwork  stand and ...

 
the In Stitches of Williamstown stand ....

If you take a look at the back wall of this stand you will see my latest design which is called Animal Alphabet .... I hadn't intended to formally release this pattern until Spring Market  .... but market is so close now it hardly makes any difference so ..... Ta da!!!!!!

Animal Alphabet ... I hope you love it as much as I do!!!!

Seeing this post has turned out to be another new release blog post I guess we should have another giveaway!!!!!! Let's make it the same rules as the previous one ....

If you leave a comment on this post between now and 12MN on the 4th of May 2011 (Australian EST) you will go in the draw for one of the patterns from the three small projects that I have been teaching from this year;

Family Tree

 

Garden Gathering

 

Love 

 
If you purchase any one of my patterns from either myself or any one of my retailers during the course of this giveaway and you are chosen as a winner then you will also receive a kit to finish the project. To be eligible to win the kit you will also need to email at [email protected] , notifying me of the purchase - please title your email Pattern Purchase Blog Giveaway so that I don't miss it! You can also increase your chances by gaining an extra 2 entries if you mention and link to the giveaway on your blog - you will need to email me to let me know that you did this - please title your email Blog Mention and include the link to the post. 

The winners will be drawn randomly from the comments placed during giveaway period.

Good luck guys!

********************************************

Edit ...Laura from In Stitches of Williamstown has just let me know that she is also having a giveaway on her blog that has a DLN theme ... definitely worth a visit!!!  Laura also has fabric packs for Animal Alphabet for those of you keen to get started!

********************************************

I also am looking for some help with things that we will be needing for the stand at next months Spring Market ... when I asked for help last year with the Fall Market stand I got stacks of offers for help at market in Salt Lake City ... sadly when my computer broke down a couple of months ago I lost all of the contact details of those who offered help .... so hopefully you are all out there still reading along and still willing to lend a hand ... we will be needing;

* two small step ladders

* a trolley

* one or two small white book cases

* extension cords & power boards

plus a few other odds and ends ... please email me at [email protected] if you think you may be able to help and I'll let you know the full details .... plus let you in on my end of the bartering arrangement :) ....

Thanks everyone and good luck with the giveaway!!!

Kelliex

A gut full ...

Well I haven't actually had a gut full ... but Megan and I have been busy working on a school project since my last post ...

 
Miss Megan needed a 3D model of the Digestive System ... and what better fibre would one think of to use to cunstruct such a model? ... Well fabric of course!!!!!!

Other than recreating body organs in fabric, I have been flat out working on new projects for Spring Market ... including one that everyone will get to have a sneak peak at, at Melbourne's Australasian Quilt Convention next week - it will be featured on the In Stitches of Williamstown Stand. I'm looking forward to showing all of you this one! But you will need to wait one more week for that ...

... but ....way back in October of last year when we were at Fall Market I released the In Spring quilt which is my absolute favorite ... at the moment anyway!

 
It is featured in a couple of photos on the mail-out for AQC ... any way what I have just realised is that I haven't actually formally unveiled this quilt here ....

  

quite rediculious I know ... but stuff happens and a whole lot of stuff has happened here since October last year ... even though you wouldn't think so looking at my infrequent blog posts.

 
This quilt is stunning and not nearly as daunting as you may think ... the only real complexitiy is the amount of cutting out there is - as with the majority of my projects it is finished using raw edge applique so you should be able to whip it up in no time at all .... well not that long really!!! The shapes are small but not too small - just the right size to sew around easily.

 

The pattern also includes the much requested In Spring cushion pattern. This quilt will be featured on Ballarat Patchwork's Stand at AQC next week ... and I'm absolutely sure that Emma will have an amazing bundle of fabric to go with it!!!

Now seeing I never did an official unveiling here of In Spring then we really should have a bit of a giveaway shouldn't we especially seeing there hasn't been one here for quite some time ....

So if you'd like to play along it's as simple as this ...

Leave a comment on this post between now and 10am on the 14th of April which is when the Convention officaially begins (Austrailian Eastern Standard Time) and you will go in the draw for one of the patterns of the three small projects that I have been teaching from this year;

Family Tree

 

Garden Gathering

 

Love 

 
If you purchase any one of my patterns from either myself or any one of my retailers during the course of this giveaway and you are chosen as a winner then you will also recieve a kit to finish the project. To be elegible to win the kit you will also need to email me, notifying me of the purchase - please title your email Pattern Purchase Blog Giveaway so that I don't miss it! You can also increase your chances by gaining an extra 2 entries if you mention and link to the giveaway on your blog - you will need to email me to let me know that you did this - please title your email Blog Mention and include the link to the post. 

The winners will be drawn randonly from the comments placed during giveaway period.

Good luck guys!

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Easter is also just around the corner so I thought I would share, once again, a project I made a couple of years ago for Jessica ... Hunny Bunny!

 

You can find the tutorial for this project here and here.

Have a terrific weekend! I'm off to Adelaide tonight to spend some time at Hettie's Patch! School holidays start today ... couldn't have come sooner!!! Gotta love School Holidays!!!!!!!

Kelliex