Life's a circus ... and a celebration!

We finally celebrated Ben's 7th birthday on Sunday ... and what a whole lot of exciting fun it was too!

We took Ben and a few of his best friends to the Circus!

There were loads of amazing magic tricks, stacks of scantily clad women who appeared and disappeared from various different boxes,  jaw dropping acrobatic feats, a woman who managed to balance on a over-sized disco ball while dancing with more hula hoops than I have seen in my entire life time and three totally loony motor bike riders that all rode around together, at great speed, in a metal sphere!!!!!  

... and then we had cake!

Happy 7th birthday ... yet again my sweet boy!

While I'm reflecting upon late celebrations there is one more that needs to be addressed ... that elusive 100th post celebration that I have been putting off for the past 7 posts ...

I finally put on my skates and finished my new tree quilt ... that I have called Lilly Pilly.

I just love this quilt ... it has turned out even better than I had hoped that it would ... sorry about the photos it is a little gloomy here today and I didn't want to wait any longer!

One person who leaves a comment to this post will get to take this quilt home with them ... but there is one catch ... if you want to play along you will have to agree to wait a little while before it comes to live with you as I need to have it to display on my stand at the Australian Quilt Market in November of this year....

So do you want to play along ... are you prepared to wait to collect the quilt? Cool!

To enter the giveaway you must leave a comment on this post between now and midnight Australian EST on 2nd of September. As always there are a couple of extra ways that you can rack up extra entries ...

• if you purchased one of my last batch of patterns during the preorder period you will receive an extra 10 entries (please note preorder in your comment)

if you link to this giveaway in a post on your blog then you will collect an extra 3
entries ... if you do this please let me know by emailing me here and noting Giveaway Link in the subject field.

If you have included a picture of something that you have made using one of my patterns on the Don't Look Now - your take on my designs Flickr group page (more on this a little later in this post) then you will rack up an extra 5 entries - let me know by emailing me here and noting Flickr Picture in the subject field. (this includes pictures from my old album that still lives in my side bar - if one of these pictures are yours that I have already downloaded into Flickr please make sure you email me and let me know because I have a feeling that collating these entries is going to be a headache!)

As promised if you have left a comment on any of my last 8 posts and you win the quilt you will receive an extra little something ... these posts have now had the the comments closed during this giveaway period to make sure that the regular commenter's aren't disadvantaged.

In addition to this ... if you have purchased a pattern from me or any of the retailers who stock my patterns and you win the quilt you will also receive an extra little something. The pattern needs to be purchased before the end of this giveaway & you will need proof of purchase. 

Just a word of caution though ... if you happen to claim any of the extra entries and you aren't entitled to them then you wont be able to play along! Fair is fair! I will be checking!

In addition to the Lilly Pilly Quilt I will giveaway another 10 of the How does your garden grow patterns

and 5 of the new Love grows free patterns. 

Other than this bit of excitement I have a heap of other things to share with you all about the past weeks happenings ....

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon with the NOTY Quilters Guild last Saturday! I loved sharing my quilting experiences with such a receptive and friendly bunch of women! Thank you all so much for making me feel so welcome! Unfortunately I don't have any photos just yet of meeting but I will post them once I do.

This past Saturday I got up supper early ... early for a Saturday that is ... packed the Bernina in into the Mazada and zoom zoom zoomed ...

across Victoria to Ballarat Patchwork... 

... to teach 6 keen women some of my techniques.

 

Poor Pam soldered on despite ill health and did incredibly well considering she could hardly breathe! Have you checked your stash Pam to make sure I didn't make off with piece of fabric you have there!

 

This is Keri and she is a Sewing Machineaholic ... I wont tell you how many sewing machines she has at home just in case I get it wrong ... I wouldn't be surprised if she bought another one on the way home from the class ... no only kidding ... you know I'm just jealous! Keri also picked up the technique incredibly quickly and hopefully you all will get to admire her version of Oh Christmas Tree on the Flickr page very soon! 

Katrina is the most delightful girl who sells hand made clothing among other things at local markets. She hadn't done any quilting to speak of before the class ... and although she wouldn't admit to it, she worked really hard at getting the hang of this skill and did some fantastic work!

Roma, who is a seasoned quilter and is accomplished at hand applique, took to raw edge like a duck to water!! I am really looking forward to seeing your version of Rainbow Lollipops & Garden Party Roma!!

And for some reason or another, Yvonne you managed to escape the focus of my lens ... I'm so sorry! Please send me a picture Yvonne so that I can share your project with everyone! But for now my sample will sit where your work should be!

 

Thank you so much guys for a lovely day! It was great to get to know you all and to meet some people who found me through other sources other than my blog!

Ballarat Patchwork are also now stocking my patterns if you are over that way make sure you drop in ... it is well worth the trip ... once you peek inside you will understand why I drool over this shop! Just in case you are looking for the Hankie Linen that I use alot in my projects they keep a good range of the colours in stock. They also have a great on-line shop as well for those of  you that a just too far away to drop in.

.. that's my fabric Emma's cutting up! Oh and by the way Jodie I'm still more than a little bit pissed that I didn't get to see you!!!

Creative Quilting a UK based shop in Surrey in the UK has also just started stocking my patterns this past week! Make sure you pop in if you happen to be in the area ... and don't forget to say I sent you!!!! They also have a beautiful on line shop!

As always with new retailers if you happen to be the first person to contact me after purchasing one of my patterns from either Ballarat Patchwork or Creative Quilting then I will send you out a copy of either How does your garden grow or the Love Grows Free pattern ... your choice :)

I also received a lovely comment on my last post from Sarah from Sewn & The last piece on Saturday morning...

Hey Kelly - NOT entering the competition, just letting you know that I am at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, and what did I see today? A stand selling your patterns, with samples made up looking very nice, and lots of ladies poring over the selection! Most exciting for Don't Look Now!

Posted by: Sarah | August 22, 2009 at 03:48 AM

     

... the stand belonged to Dungarees & Daisies you made my day Sarah! Thank you so much for letting me know! I have asked Jen to send me some pictures of her stand to share with you ... apparently she had Kaffe admiring her samples!!!!!

Finally the giveaway winners from my last post ...

Marie Joze from Handmade by Mai left the 5th comment ... Mai has just finished some very nice bags and she is a Bernina girl so well worth a peek ... Mai also won some of my pattern a few weeks ago after leaving my 3000th comment!

Anna from Thimbleanna who left the 8th comment .... I owe you more than a pattern Miss Anna!!! If you don't know Anna then really you can't be a serious blogger! Go take a peak at the life of Anna ... I dream of being Anna's sister, or her daughter or daughter-in-law or even her cat!

Blogless Leanne who left the 63rd comment ....

Mary from Mary on Lake Pulaski left the 75th ... Mary must be on a winning streak as she just won one of Melly & Me Bon Bon bag patterns ... very nice bag Mary!!!!

Lora Lynn from My Art, My so called Life who left the 78th comment ... happy Wedding Anniversary Lora!!!

Larissa from Flutter By Corner left the 80th comment .. Larissa has been working on her free motion stitching skills and things are looking great over her way ... but if you scroll down the page you will see why you must remember to remove your safety pins!!! Close one Larissa!

The gorgeous Sandy Gray from The Silver Thimble left the 95th comment ... Sandy stocks my patterns and is now an expert at inserting zips with a flap!!!

Last but not least blogless Julie Anne who left the 117th comment.

Congrats guys! I will send out each of you a copy of the How does your garden grow pattern as soon as I have your snail mail details.


One more 'final' cool thing from my last post, that I just realised, is that blogless Tammy Spencer left my 4000th comment ... I will send Tammy both of the giveaway patterns to celebrate! Thanks Tammy and to all of you for taking the time visit & to leave a comment! I very much appreciate it!!

Enjoy your week and good luck with the belated 100th post giveaway!
Kellie

PS. Remember I mentioned the Don't Look Now Flickr group page earlier on .... well it is up and running. I have transferred all of the photos from the old album in my side bar to the group page. Make sure you take a peek and make sure you goin the group! If you leave some photos please make sure you let us know which pattern or tutorial you used and any other information you might like to share - such as the fabrics you used, quilting pattern etc. I hope that this place will become a source of great inspiration for us all!

****Edit September 3 ... just after midnight ,,, thank you all for entering this giveaway! What an amazing responce! I am so thilled that you like this quilt as much as I do. The giveaway is now closed & I have closed the comments for now. I am going to need a day or so to sort out all of the entries ... so see you back here Friday or Saturday. Kellie ****

Comments

[Carla Barrett]

Hmmm... is it too late?? Your quilts and designs are delightful!

[Emma & Lisa]

Ooooooh Kellie - we don't need to tell you how much we would love this do we? It's a tree, it's pink (largely) and there are birds on it. We would quite literally expire with delight. Honest. We worry a little for your sanity - how are you able to give this away? We don't worry enough to talk you out of it however!! :o)

[Wendy]

So stunning! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this design & your colour choices & all the spunky fabrics & the simplicity of the background & the little birdies & I LOVE trees & leaves!
I am going to put up a link to your blog on my blog!
www.hartylittlepeaces.blogspot.com
This piece would be treasured in our house!

[carmel]

first of all congrats on ben's birthday and 100 post!!
and i love your work and the quilt is to perfect!!!
you are so talented.
thanks for the giveaway
and i blogged about your giveaway in my blog
thanks!
carmel

[Margy Aerts]

I love your quilts, so I would definitely like to closed in teh giveaway.

Groetjes from Belgium,

Margy

[Debbie]

Happy belated birthday to Ben. Congrats on your 100th post. Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous, Kellie! I love your design and applique style in all your patterns. The quilting is fantastic, too. Would love to win any one of them! Please count me in. Thanks.

[EMILIA]

Excellent work ... I love your blog ...
Big hug, from COSTA RICA.
Thanks

[anna]

more for the sake of commenting rather than entering, i wanted to say WOW! i've only just come here today via a link from someone else's blog and OH MY GOODNESS, i've never seen such beautiful quilts in my life! totally and absolutely gorgeous. when i next have a few minutes to browse, i'm going to have a lovely time reading your archives and looking at your work. thank you.

[liege welsch]

Maravilha, seria um sonho ter algo tão lindo e colorido...
liége

[Carol]

What a beautiful, beautiful quilt! Are you sure you can part with it? :-) Crossing my fingers real hard here in Singapore! :-)

[Jane]

I love your tree quilt and I also love the way you have quilted it. How do you do those wonderful circle and spiral shapes, dp you have a tutorial?
It is a pleasure to enter the contest thank you for the opportunity.

[Annelise]

This quilt is sooooo beautiful! Please enter me in the giveaway - I have no problems waiting for it.

[Mary JB]

Congrats on your 'post-iversary' and on your FABULOUS new Lilly Pilly quilt. It is truely stunning!!! I know whoever is fortunate to win it will be thrilled.

Thanks for sharing all the detailed photos of it and thanks for the opportunity to win it.

Cheers!! Mary JB

[Wenche Martinsen]

Wow! The tree gives me such a happy feeing just looking at it. Is it your own pattern? And that cute little bird! I didn't see it at first. Typical :)The quilting fits just perfectly. Good luck to whomever wins your quilt. I see it as a masterpiece that would enhance any wall in any home. I'm glad I got to se the pictures of it :)

[Ann Champion]

Wow! Lilly Pilly is drop dead gorgeous!!!

[Regina]

Am I too late? What time is it in Austria right now? :)

Sarah your Lilly Pilly quilt is divine and I would love, love love, to give it a home. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

[Marcela]

I'm not speak english!!!! pero quiero felicitarte e inscribirme en tu sorteo!!!! Marcela

[Erika]

Hi! I am not sure how I found your blog, but someone had this giveaway listed on theirs, so I want to try to win this very gorgeous quilt!!!! It's amazingly beautiful, and since I have two daughters who share a tiny little room, this would be so bright and cheery to hang up on their wall!

I am going to post your giveaway on my blog, so go and check soon, and please allow me those extra entries. I'd LOVE to win! Thanks so much for the chance!

[Stacyjo]

Ok, Kellie - I JUST found your blog TODAY; can you believe it?!? I am a new quilter and was blog-hopping around following different links. I can't even tell you where I followed the link from, cuz I was totally sucked in by your style and colors! (I think it was a twin that was in a doll blanket swap??) Anyway, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win one of your patterns and give this a go! You do BEAUTIFUL work!

Stacyjo

[Ann]

Wow! This quilt is beautiful!! I hope I'm not too late to enter!

[karla whittington]

I Love it what a gorgeous quilt, it reminds me of a tree of life. I didn't know you had patterns I will check and see what you have in patterns.

[vildkatten]

This is an amazing quilt, I would love to give it a home.

[Diana]

I instantly fell in love with this quilt - the combination of the bright pinks with the natural linen is absolutely stunning.

[elizabeth]

what a truly amazing quilt!

[ShootingStarsMag]

oh wow, this is so gorgeous. Thanks for including it in this giveaway. Glad the party went well.

[Lisa Gray]

I am so pleased to have just found you. I am blogless and would love to have an entry to win the beautiful Lilly Pilly. I will be back to visit your delicious blog. Thank you!!

[Linda Denniston]

I just found your site listed on another group. What beautiful work you do!! Does anyone in the US carry your patterns?

[Vikki]

Hi Kellie!

Please count me into your draw! :-) Your designs are all gorgeous!

Wow - Ballarat Patchwork looks like an inspiring place!

I look forward to meeting you in person next Thursday in Hawthorn, for your workshop! :-)

Warm wishes, Vikki

[Amanda]

I love this Lilly Pilly quilt - can't wait for the pattern to become available. I had better start collecting fabrics now - I am still collecting for your other patterns!!!

Amanda

[Carolyn Foley]

So many comments in front of me who love this quilt, well it shows that I have taste along with them. I Love pink and this quilt is just the right shade of pink along with just the right quilting and pattern etc etc. I can see that it is made for me. If I don't win it I will have to make it. Great quilt and I love the name.

[Alessandra]

It's almot too beautiful to be real... Oh I love it so much... awwww!!!

[Barb-WillThink4Wine]

I follwed the link on quiltcat's blog, and I'm sure you've heard this eleventy billion times, but your work is breathtaking! I stopped quilting about 9 years ago and I have been to some quilt shows in my days, but this is simply gorgeous!

[Penny The Patchwork Angel]

Kellie, Congratulations on another stunning design. Just love your fresh, innovative designs. Would love to win one of your quilts. Your zest for life truly comes through in your designs.
Hugs,
Penny
The Patchwork Angel

[michelle]

Love love love the lily pily - and my backyard is full of them!
Hoping that I get picked, and I have bought a pretty 'n pink pattern directly from you, so maybe that extra entry will be the lucky one!

[Maria Isabel]

Me encanta la colcha beutiful regalos, me gusta. Saludos desde Uruguay sigo tu blog.
javasa4@hotmail.com

[Hilda Bakke]

Well, I'd love to give your beautiful quilt a home, whenever it arrived!

[Julie]

Your work is stunning!I love the colors that you use-just gorgeous

[Beth]

Such a cheerful quilt - I love it! Can not believe that you are giving it away. thanks for sharing.

[Lyn Durbin]

Absolutely TOOOOO cute!!!

[Glòria Pujol]

I love your quilts, your patterns so many wonderful. I will link your giveaway to my blog, so readers can see your lovely work!
Kisses and regards from Spain
Glòria

[Pam]

I'm so in love with this quilt! So much in love that I'm going to start one just like it tonight. Mine will be hand pieced and quilted. Thanks for the idea!

[Party Woman]

Wow I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said before, but I must say that quilt is incredible. I'm truly impressed.

[air jordan shoes]

The countenance is the portrait of the mind,the eyes are its informers.

[air jordan shoes]

The countenance is the portrait of the mind,the eyes are its informers.

[Louiebluey]

I absolutely love your Lily Pilly quilt. My 2 year old daughter is called Lily and her nick name is Lily-Pily and I have just done a search on that name and came across your website. It's also very appropriate as she was born in Australia, but we are currently living in the UK. Love your work.

[Jordan Shoe]

Do you agree that travel must one day revert to being a luxury

[Brooke]

i have your How Does My Garden Grow cushion they look so loverly on the daybed in my apartment! Such beautiful patterns. Im looking at purchasing more for my sisters new baby!
This is such a beautiful quilt it would go perfectly with my cushions :) This is so generous of you to be giving away. Hope Im the lucky one who gets it :)