Welcome to Precious Time

Sarah's new book

Finally after much waiting we are thrilled to have Sarah's new book "Hand Quilted with Love" is in stock.  Filled with gorgeous quilts some of which we have had the pleasure of seeing prior to the release of Sarah's book.  They are truly delicious and of course we want to make more than one and if you feel the same way you can join Sarah when she visits Precious Time in September.  

If you haven't had the opportunity to look through Sarah's new book here are a few little snapshots to entice you.  

This last image is a just because - my threads definately don't get this treatment.

It is always so lovely to get images and stories from country customers, somehow it makes them feel so close - you could be forgiven for forgetting they live hundreds of kilometres away. Olivia sent an image of her yo-yo rows quilt that she started in 2011.  Olivia has made over 300 yo-yos with another 400 to go. Football season has started so with lots of time waiting she thought this would be the perfect project to help the time pass.  I can't wait to see it grow.

Happy stitching.......lisa

Yah!......... Another "wip" complete

Stick ability has been at an all time high around here. I have been beavering away on some of my "works in progress". It is a fantastic feeling when you finish a quilt - almost as good as when you start a new project - nearly! I started this quilt with Sarah when she visited the shop last year - ssshhhh - to take a class. Sarah is a fantastic tutor and we can't wait for her to be back with us again in September. Whirligigs is from her first solo book "Quilting from Little Things"- her second book is due to be delivered here on Wednesday and of course we can't wait.
My quilt is now being lovingly folded ready to be sent to the quilter. I am so excited to see what Majella does with the quilting design. Will share the quilting with you when it comes home.

"it is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis". Margaret Bonanno.

Enjoy your weekend - Winter is on its way here, so the perfect time to work on quilts and other objects of desire. Happy stitching............lisa

Creativity abounds

Hexagons are being covered and appliqué shapes turned to create these gorgeous quilts. Lisa has been working on her antique crib quilt by Marg Sampson while Margie and I have been working on our Birds Eye View's - another design from Marg. Margie is a lot further along then I am - final borders are being pieced while my centre is still under construction.
Ros was working on her Rare Birds by Brigitte Giblin and since this image was taken she is now appliquéing her borders which are overflowing with happy little finches. You can imagine hearing them singing their cheerful songs in home gardens welcoming in Spring. Not sure Ros feels the same way as she mutters about all the ***###%%# birds she has to appliqué. A nice thought especially as we will be welcoming Winter in a few weeks.
Happiness and laughter comes along at the most unexpected times. Until next time happy stitching.........lisa

May baby countdown

One of our gorgeous customers is due to become a grandmother in just a few weeks. Linda is getting mega excited and of course that excitement is rubbing off on her friends - including me! Most of us don't have grandchildren in our lives but we are definitely getting swept up in Linda's journey. Friends and customers have been waiting to become grand mothers and I have never quite understood the anticipation for this event - for many reasons. Probably the biggest is acknowledging I have entered the next stage of my life and of course there are so many wonderful opportunities for our children that part of us wants them to explore and partake in the adventure that is life.
But watching Linda make these delightful objects for her daughter has me thinking of a time in the future when I will find myself in her shoes.
Her work is absolutely divine and had us all wanting to whisk these gorgeous items into our sewing baskets - of course we would wait until she was finished! So naughty......
I must offer my apologies for not blogging since last week but I have been struck down by a headache - I am truly blessed to have had only a few (2-3) headaches in my life. Not sure what happened these past few days, but I have had a headache of all headaches - I now have a new understanding of how debilitating they can be. Dark rooms and knock out drugs have been my only friends. My family know something is up when I can't pick up needle and thread or my Ipad.
Hope this post finds you all well and happily stitching your next masterpiece.
Until next time.........lisa

A Marriage in the White House

I feel in love with this quilt some time last year while looking through Majella's new book purchases. Being a hopeless romantic how could you not love the story of this quilt - made by Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur - she became the first daughter of a president to be married in the White House. Unfortunately the quilt was never finished. It is believed it may have been started around the time of her marriage which was in 1820.
Her father John Monroe became the fifth
President of the United States in 1817 and was one of the last of the "Virginia Dynasty" and the Republican generation - four of the first five Presidents hailed from Virginia. Interestingly he was the last of the Founding Fathers and was the third of them to die on Independence Day.
If you would love to read more about this quilt Then I can highly recommend "Quilts from Virginia" 1607-1899 The Birth of America Through the Eye of a Needle. It is overflowing with sumptuous quilts, wonderful stories and images from the period. A fantastic quilters resource for anyone in love with the past and antique quilts.
I have done a rough count of the hexagons and they total just shy of 3000 - I haven't even thought of counting the pathway - the stars are scary enough! I have started building star points and a quick count of my covered hexagons has me at around 500 - not too bad really - times that by 6 and I am just about there!
My friend Margie said it looks like a 10 year project - so I should have it completed before I turn 60! What a thought. Just as well we have the patience by the bucket load - for quilting anyway!
I will keep you up to date with my progress - it might just be the perfect project for that long flight to Portland.

Happy stitching everyone. Until next time.....lisa

Everybody is working on........

The girls are working on lots of different projects at the moment so I thought I would share some of their progress with you - it is always inspiring to see the works of like minded sewing sisters......

Bronwyn is working on on her Pies n Tarts quilt and is loving it so much that she has enlisted her mother to join her in the journey - I can't wait to see what they get up to.

Lisa (no not me)is continuing to work on her Antique Baby Crib quilt by Marg Sampson 

While Margie is working on her Birds Eye View - another of Marg Sampsons class quilts - I have seen Margie's quilt since this photo was taken and there have been some changes and additions - it is wonderful to see how quilts grow and evolve - hexagons, stars and flowers - all to come!

Rosemary popped in just before Easter to share her Morris Garden quilt with me - all the applique is down with just the stitching on the outer border to be completed.  Rosemary has done a fantastic job on her quilt and she is extremely proud of her projects as well she should be.  Not only has she nearly finished her quilt but she has also nearly finished the quilting on the wall hanging which Michele gifted (the pattern - not the quilt) the ladies in her class.  Rosemary may take over the title of "stitching machine"....congratulations.....

Sorry it's a little fuzzy.....like my mind at times.......

So I am off to do a little stitching before bed.........I hope you find sometime to do the same.......until next time......lisa

 

Quilting Dali Lama strikes again

It is so easy to lose yourself in day to day family life - stitching gets put aside for proof reading of essays and assignments and your nerves are stretched to breaking for learner driving sessions - yah for 100 hours! All to quickly it can become habit To forgo your sewing - too many things happening - maybe tomorrow night or the night after you say to yourself. Becoming out of sorts after a while you realise that your sewing soul is starving.
Then out of the blue stunning quilts come to visit - and your sewing soul starts to simmer until you can no longer ignore the signs - picking up a needle and thread has never felt so satisfying. All you needed was a little inspiration and how could you not feel that when admiring these gorgeous quilts.

The first quilt "Birds Eye View" is designed by Marg Sampson and was taught in a weekend class at the shop. At that stage Marg had completed the centre and was working on designs and ideas for the border. Kay decided on these delightful little hexagon baskets for her border complete with 1/4 inch hexagon flowers to set them off. Kay has advised that you need to be certifiable to even consider 1/4" hexagons - so be warned.
The second quilt is Flower Garden by Kim McLean. Kay has been working on it for close to two years and it is a feast for the eyes. Can you feel your sewing soul starting to stir?

So with stick ability running through my veins I have picked up needle and thread and have begun stitching down my hexagon basket for my own Birds Eye View - recently rediscovered whilst in a cleaning frenzy of my office.

So my stitching journal once again has hours being noted and the equilibrium is returning. Hip hip horray!

"In the rhythm of the needle there is music for the soul" Anon

Until next time ...........Lisa

Second instalment of a Morris Show & Tell

Cathie freely admits to being in love with Michele and her stunning quilts and was thrilled to have the opportunity to escape to class for the weekend.  Cathie lives with her gorgeous husband Mick and has 5 sons - testosterone overload for a girl. Her block is looking fabulous.

June and Colette travelled all the way Coffs Harbour for the class.  They couldn't have picked a better weekend to be away from Coffs Harbour as the most dreadful storm lashed their home town.  June is a Michele Hill tragic!  She brought a newly finished machine applique quilt with her for show and tell 

Her machine applique is exemptlory - Michele was beginning to wonder why she was in class.

Angela had decided to make some of the blocks from "A Willam Morris Garden" into cushions and unbeknown to us Michele arrived with 3 newly drafted patterns for everyone in class - what lucky, lucky ladies.  Here is Angela's block being worked on.......

A few years ago some of our girls made a quilt from Michele's first book - Angela brought her stunning quilt in to share with us all.  She had it professionally quilted by our friend Bev McClune.  It truly is a masterpiece.  Congratulations Angela on your wonderful quilt.  

 If you have wanted to master machine quilting look out for the next blog post where we will be announcing a new quilting class with Bev and showcasing her S&T from the weekend. Yah!

There was all sorts of show and tell over the weekend which was just lovely - we have so many talented women in our circle of friendship and it is such an honour to be given a peek into each of their creative worlds.

 Rosemary joined us from Goondiwindi for the weekend and brought in her delicious Blackbird Designs cross stitch.  Her work is outstanding - lots of "oh my gosh".

Lesley spent the weekend visiting from Warwick to attend Michele's class.  Last year Lesley came to Brigitte Giblin's workshop and was inspired to go home and start a hexagon panel quilt with all of her memory fabrics from trips overseas.  As you can see Lesley has been stitching madly - what a fun quilt that will ensure her holidays are never forgotten.

This amazing bag belongs to our very patient and calm Sally (remember her machine dilemas) whose work is breathtakingly beautiful.  The wool was felted by hand and then covered with more felted flowers, silk embroidery and finally beaded tassels.  

Michele's love of all things Morris started a long time ago when she won a return trip to London and felt compelled to visit the V&A.  She saw the Morris textile collection and was instantly drawn to take the designs and make a quilt.  To this day she is unable to tell you why she had to visit the V&A - but we sure are glad that she did.

Thank you Michele for a most fantastic weekend.

Until next time..........lisa

Mayhem, Michele and Morris.......what a combination

What a weekend!  I can’t begin to tell you how fantastic the weekend was – Michele is a giving, funny and down to earth teacher.  Her road to fame as not been entirely smooth sailing but this has only strengthened her resolve to remain positive believing honesty and kindness is the path for her.  Her bubbly personality and ability to intertwine wonderful stories with her sharing of knowledge, technique and experiences ensured that all in class had a fabulous time.

 

The success from her books and teaching has given her the opportunity to travel to England being the guest of honour on sold out William Morris tours.  This has been the icing on the cake for Michele as her knowledge and admiration of Morris is outstanding.   Sharing her photos and tidbits from the first of her tours the ladies in the class were certainly envious of the places, events and once in a lifetime opportunities offered on the tour and for many ladies it is now on their list of must do’s. 

 

Amanda and Linda working hard on their blocks getting them ready for stitching.

Cathie was thrilled with the colours selected for her block.

Sally had some dilemas with her machine over the weekend but with lots of perserverance and some very welcomed guidance and help from Michele, Sally got on top of her machine issues and finished the weekend stitching madly.

Angela decided early on that she wanted to make cushions from Michele's pattern rather than a quilt - Michele very generously brought 3 redrafted blocks along with her, which was a great surprise not only for Angela but all the ladies in class.  I have tried many, many times to uplaod the image of Angela's work but for whatever reason it just doesn't want to load for me.  Sorry Angela - but knowing her I am sure that she will be in the shop to share the finished objects and I will try again to share them with you all.

Over the two days several ladies brought in beautiful pieces of work and I look forward to sharing all of them with you in another post as I am unable to load them as well.  The rain is so heavy and loud on our tin rood that we can't hear the television - which at times isn't so bad.  My DH says that may be the cause of my uploading issues - seriously I have tried and tried!

During the weekend Michele shared her knowledge of threads, needles, fabrics along with her quilting techniques.  There was a mountain of information shared that enabled the ladies to leave feeling confident with Michele’s technique of machine applique.  I can’t wait to see the finished quilts.

We are thrilled to announce that Michele has agreed to return to Precious Time in 2014 when she will teach her design class.  I am sure this class will be a sell out!

Looking forward to catching up again soon.........happy stitching  Lisa

Ta Dah..............Rare Birds is finished

I have been busily beavering away on my Rare Birds and am thrilled to announce that I have now finished my top.  I am so absolutely in love with it and am like a proud mama bear when I show it off.  I once heard a customer say that they loved making one of their quilts so much that they could easily make another – at the time I thought are you nuts – why? - there are so many quilts to make.  But I have to admit I now know how they could feel like that.  When I sewed the last stitch on my top I did feel a sadness (along with lots of happiness) that my journey had come to an end- after all we had spent so much time together, made crucial decisions together and in a way had bonded.  I suppose I didn’t want that to end and that is why my stitching soul could happily tread a similar path – it would never be the same of course but it would be a journey where some of the paths cross and travel together at times. I am sure this feeling will pass with time (a few days/weeks – as I said there are sooooo many quilts) but it is comforting for my sewing soul.

 

I have been keeping up with my stitching diary – sadly though I do have to say I suffered one or two weeks where my hands did not have the joy of holding needle and thread.  My time to stitch seems even more fleeting at the moment as I take care of two shops and get back into the flow of the school year.  One of the joys of Christmas break is no homework, lunches, school events, extra curricular activities or assignments.  The luxury of having the whole evening to myself to stitch seems to have gone by the wayside at the moment.  I am not complaining because all of those things are part and parcel of family life and I adore my girls – they may bring trials and tribulations like any teenagers but they are generous, loving, kind beautiful creatures that bring the adventures of youth into a home.

Am on the hop this morning so I will post an update of my stitching diary and another quilt that I have finished in the next post – along with new fabrics – new classes and news of an adventure to GOMA for the V&A Quilt Show.

Happy stitching ……until next time………lisa