Quilting book review

A beautiful and stunning book juried by Karey Bresenhan.  This book presents 500 art quilts in a professional and easy to read manner.  The quilts are made in fabric and other media and shows a diverse range of designs, materials and techniques.  It is quilt eye candy for the soul.



This is well worth a squizzy and a peruse. 

Photography this week

Skechbook challenge: 7 days of drawing

The theme for the month is doodles.  I love patterning and doodling it is so much fun.  I am using white pen on black paper in a small book which is 8cm x 12cm big.

Quilting book review

One of my favourite authors and artists is Sandra Meech. 



http://www.sandrameech.com/

She came to NZ last year but I was unable to go and I was seriously disappointed.  I have read 2 of her books many times and still get so much out of them.  Her books are hands on and workshop based.  They have challenged me to think outside the square and to push myself further with my art.

She has written 4 books, 3 of which are available for purchase.  Her 4th book, design to stitch is due out in 5 months.

Be inspired today!

The nicest time of the day for me is dawn and dusk.  I love watching the sun rise and set.  It is what I call the gentle time of the day,  the light is soft and dusty.  It is the time of the day for thinking,  planning, contemplation and reflection.  It is the time of the day I feel the closest to God and his love. 

It is a great time of the day to take photographs too.  I captured these photos last week at dusk.



The last few months have been so hectic that my blog has been somewhat sketchy.  This last week we have spent on holiday at Waihi beach on the east coast of New Zealand.  One of the most beautiful spots in the whole of the country maybe the whole of the world.    After a very wet start to our summer we were very blessed to have a week of sunshine.  (well mostly sunshine)   I even had a couple of swims in the ocean even though it was exceptionally cold for this time of the year.  

My daughter chose to go to a waterlily garden for her birthday.  It was lovely.  These are some of the photos I captured of flowers displayed.  I love flowers.  There is just something about them that draws me to them.

I wonder if it is their delicate beauty and there perfect form.....

Or they way the are so symmetrical.......

Or they way the droplets of water rest on the petals......

Maybe it is that they draw the viewer to come in closer to see their intricate details......

The colour.....

And their form.......

Whatever it is I am constantly fascinated by them.



Crafting with kids

We have had heaps of fun with the children creating different creatures with pompoms and pipe cleaners.  I am amazed how creative they can be and how they can think so differently from me.

Snake

A scary headband

A rattle snake with working tail (bell)

Top hat with buttons

Bandit

Mouse

Butterfly



I am struggling to download photos at the moment.  I'm hoping I can sort the problem soon.  It is hard to write a blog about the wonderful creations my children have made in the holidays without photos!!!!


Meanwhile.........I am really enjoying Leah Day's new videos on machine quilting. Even though I am a fairly experienced machine quilter going back to basics has been fantastic.  Over the years I have picked up some bad habits.  These videos are a great way to learn or re-learn how to quilt. 



http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

She is truly inspiring with her work and her heartfelt blogs. Go on over and read her blogs, they are fantastic and very helpful.  Go leah!!!!