A delightful read

It's been some time since I just picked up a light-hearted novel to read for my own pleasure.  Whilst over at the Down To Earth forum, ladies were sharing what they were reading this month. Amongst all the discussion on those posts, the "Elm Creek Quilts series" was mentioned and raised my interest.

I am so glad that I followed up and checked out the first book at the library, entitled The Quilter's Apprentice.  This book has been just delightful!    A few years ago I tried my hand at a few quilts, but I'd still say I was very much a novice.  I related to the character Sarah in her endeavours to begin learning, but she had a tutor throughout the story.  It felt like I was right there watching and listening.

This story is more than just the practicalities of quilt making, it's the interweaving of two characters who seem so contrary at the beginning, but who end up helping each other learn truths and begin to overcome past hurts in their personal histories.

As I was reading this, I could almost see it as a beautiful mini-series for the screen.  I know it's set in America, but my admiration for Judy Dench did have my mind's eye put her in the role of Mrs Compson.  But who should play Sarah?  Kate Beckinsale?  I don't know .. lol!

Anyway, I'm hooked on this series now and have already reserved the next two titles to read, plus the book with the actual 'how to make the quilts' from the stories.  Yes, I think this may just become a mother/daughter project for Mariposa and I (smiles!)

You can check out the order of the books here on Amazon.    AND (... oh joy!! ...) google has just revealed that the author has a site where you may join the Elm Creek readers community  http://elmcreek.net/ .

Thank you for dropping by!

Using a quilting technique for symmetry art

This was all my girlfriend's idea.  She'd subscribed to a quilting magazine and  used an idea to show her daughter's art teacher.  Then we all had fun creating these together.  It's a fun way of learning symmetry, some fraction concepts, positive and negative images .. and I'm all for the thought processes being engaged in creativity.

To start with, you need a white page for background, then a colour page, where colour is on both sides, preferably.

If the page is A4 (as mine is), then diagonally fold so you get a square and cut off the excess.   Then fold again to form quarters.

Open the page out.  In each triangle, freehand draw or rule 3 lines.  Yes, it needs to be 3, but it can be any shape you like.  Here I have done triangles.  You can do semicircles, 1/2 flowers, 1/2 hearts .. lots of ideas.

Cut out along each line.  The centre which is left is then pasted onto the background page diagonally.

Working on one of the cut-out areas at a time, take the largest piece and flip it over so it lines up on the corners to the area from which it was taken:

Now take the second piece and place that back inside the cut-out area, also lining up the corners.  Repeat with the smallest / final piece.

Continue with all sides and you'll get this lovely pattern:

Experiment and see what lovely patterns you can create:

If you do use this idea for quilting, you need to fix interfacing to the back of each shape and iron them into place.  Secure it all with crazy quilting.

Quite thoughts

I know I've been posting quite intermittently lately.
The ideas are there, but the time hasn't permitted with various activities prior to and during the Passover season.

We're spending today quietly together, which means a few minutes to sit and quietly write here too. I'm contemplating getting us all out for a walk today too, but rain's a possibility ~ which is lovely! but means staying indoors.

Term two starts back on Monday and I've been busy writing up a weekly timetable which hopefully will help us fit in all those activities the children want to do. It's always been a struggle to get it all done as I think our 'eyes are bigger than our stomachs'. My intention with homeschooling was to give the children opportunity to learn topics they may miss in school, but choosing which one at any particular time is the fun part. This term, I'm sidetracking a bit with Science and covering Health (incl. food groups, the body, first aid/safety) instead. Social Studies will include learning about mapping for Maestro, whilst Mariposa will focus on 'People in our community' and then 'Australian flags and emblems'.

Maestro is also learning the art of writing reports from research with his English program. He's always been able to competently teach himself the library system, even though we've also worked together re: the Dewey system and cataloging, but this is the next step. I look forward to seeing how it will all come along, showing another step up in his learning.

We've left working on Mariposa's Ruby Doll for a while now, so that's something else we need to work on. She's very keen to practice her sewing skills. I want to help make her a house for her dolls too. I saved this page a while ago on making a fabric doll house. I certainly have enough quilting fabrics to do this, so this should be lots of fun for us to work on together.

Speaking of quilting, I have 2 on the go I need to finish. One is the very first I ever attempted to piece together, so it just needs backing, binding and quilting. Maestro really wants this for his bedroom, so there's some incentive! The second is a Mystery Block of the Month quilt I started but still haven't finished. I think I may have issues finding backing and binding fabrics now as it's been so long ... but hopefully that won't cause too many hassles. I only ever finished one quilt entirely. It was for my Nana's 90th birthday last year:

We were at my aunts' the previous year, celebrating Nana's 89th birthday. She had 3 more great-grandchildren on the way. On drive home, I thought making a quilt with all the names of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren embroidered onto it would make an appropriate gift. So, I headed down to the fabric store the next day and they had a sale!! All quilting fabrics were reduced, so I picked up enough to make a decent sized lap quilt for $40AUD. I then played with designs on graph paper until I had worked out how to fit everybody's names into a box. Well, you can see the result. I was quite happy it worked out so well and now Nana has it at the foot of her bed.

So, lots of plans for these next 3 months. Hopefully we haven't bitten off more than we can chew, but if we have it will only mean relaxing and rescheduling.