A few weekends ago a group of talented ladies who call themselves the ‘Calico Cats’ stayed at Sewjourn.  Each year they set themselves a Challenge Quilt to work on and unveil their finished products at their retreat.  This years challenge was to make a quilted article with an ‘Ethnic’ theme - no particular country, just not your own and this is what they produced.

Top Row - Maureen’s Japanese Lady - Diane’s Japanese Hexagons - Tricia’s Amish - Judith’s Japanese Lady

Bottom Row - Leslie’s Tahitian Tifaifai - Linda’s - Civil War Underground Railroad Signal Quilt - Fiona’s Tahitian Tifaifai

Good work girls, can’t wait to hear what your challenge is for next year……….

Here’s some more photos and inspiration from The Evening with Amy Butler - if you are in Sydney and don’t have tickets yet it’s well worth the effort!  She talked us through a slide show of what inspires her and then answered questions and even signed books and chatted.  As usual all the goodies made from her beautiful fabrics were gorgeous.

Just had a wonderful long weekend here

We did a bit of gardening (but much much more needed) - a few spots are looking good though……..

Went on a family bike ride to Romsey (8kms but a great bike track all the way) and everyone did really well, even in the rain on the way home!   The fit one in our family didn’t have much sympathy for my sore backside given that he’d riden from Melbourne to Lancefield the day before (and back today). The girls and I also went for walks every morning which is one of their favorite things when we are in Lancefield.

Mal couldn’t resist doing a few more ‘handyman jobs’ - and we have a sliding fly screen door at the back to show for it…………

I also got some much overdue ‘crafty time’ - luxury having the whole studio to myself!

I would have finished this simple quilt top (fabrics purchased this day) had I not left one of the fabrics at home!  Got some more yoyos done for the curtain in one of the bedrooms - only about half way along though…………

………and made some ‘Welcome’ cards for the next few lots of guests to stay.

If you are free this weekend why not go and see Quilts in the Barn, an Open Garden and Quilt Exhibition in Wonga Park.  I’ve never been before but have been told by about 4 different girls that it’s a worthwhile thing to visit.  And what’s more funds raised go to Breast Cancer Research.  You can follow the link provided or call 9722 2777 for details.

Two friends and I set off today on the first of a few ‘road trips’ around Victoria to visit some patchwork shops - all in the name of marketing for Sewjourn of course!   The gorgeous Drapers of Mt Macedon was the first stop followed by Ballarat Patchwork where we were all so pleased to learn that Emma is no longer selling her business - YEAH!  As always, it’s like being kids in a lolly shop being there.

What a fun day!!!  We already have at least 3 more planned………….

A lovely friend has just completed this quilt - and as always she has done a beautiful job of stitching and piecing.

I love the wording on the centre block - it sums up what our stitching group is about (and many others too, I’m sure).  The fantastic thing about quilting (and crafting in general) is the bond that’s formed between women.  There’s certainly lots of laughter but there is sharing, supporting and genuine caring too - and that’s important.  And we do learn from each other - not just things about stitching but about life in general.  I am grateful for my journey as a quilter and for all of the people that have been involved in that.  And that is one reason for starting Sewjourn.  I hope everyone that stays there experiences these things.

But back to the quilt - well done Suzie - it is just gorgeous!  (Don’t forget to put a quilt label on it!)

It has been suggested over here that people may want to take part in Blogtoberfest - that is aim to do a post every day in October……..Hmm I’m not so sure that I am up to it - life does get pretty busy around here but I’ll try!

To start with Pip has suggested ‘Share your Stash’ and I certainly have lots of that I could do…..I love these fabrics from Heather Bailey’s Freshcut range which are on my sewing desk waiting to be made into a quilt.

I plan to use a pattern from Australian Patchwork and Quilting from last year (the issue escapes me and I can’t lay my hands on it right now) and then border it in this gorgeous Kaffe Fasset fabric.

There will be more before and after photos of Sewjourn in the next couple of days.

We spent a lovely relaxing weekend up at Sewjourn - did a small amount of gardening but not much more - it was great as it was the first weekend of relaxing there since the renovations started around Christmastime.  There’s still lots of jobs to do but as they are not urgent…….  We do have a list to work through though otherwise all the ‘extras’ won’t get done!  I did take my sewing machine up to sew the cushion for the front bedroom…….but left my machine foot at home!

The girls started their embroidery however and are all loving it.  It’s great to see them so keen - embroidering last thing at night and first thing each morning!  They are doing a fantastic job!

Even sewing right through to her nightie didn’t deter Ella!

Saturday morning I discovered The Drapers of Mt Macedon - a gorgeous patchwork shop only 20 minutes drive from Lancefield.  Housed in a beautiful old wooden building they stock a fantastic range of fabrics from reproduction to brights - this shop is definately on my new list of favorites!  Pop over and check out their website - they have just started a new blog as well.

These are a few shots of the view last night as I was tidying up the studio for our next lot of guests this week………well OK the quilt wasn’t sitting there initially but the light was nice so I set it up.  I love this quilt and it is normally over the sofa in the family room at home - these photos are a reminder to get quilting on some more quilts for the beds at Sewjourn so that this one can come back home!

I’ve been overwhelmed by the lovely comments and useful suggestions from our ‘First Guests’ - if everyone enjoys themselves as much as these ladies (and leaves Sewjourn looking as clean and tidy as they did!) then we are in for a fun time…..!   Thankyou ladies!!

Here’s a few photos of them relaxing, creating and enjoying……..

Along with Linda’s Christmas Quilt  these girls and their quilt tops will be amongst the first on our ‘Sew n Tell’ page of the website.

One of the lovely ladies from our ‘Christmas in July’ day emailed me this photo last week of her completed quilt - well done Linda - it looks great!

Now she’s looking forward to her weekend at Sewjourn with her stitching friends.