Tonia's Tickled Pink Craft

Out with The Girls - Melly & Me

2011-12-20T13:27:00.000+10:00

I had a play day today. I have been trying to finish this Melly & Me Clutch for quite a while. I'm quite pleased with the results.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-05T15:29:00.000+10:00

It's been a hectic couple of weeks. On returning from the Melbourne AQM, I was inundated with new tops to be quilted. You guessed it! Most required before Christmas. Now I consider I'm pretty lucky that I get to do this kind of work and it's a joy to see peoples faces when they see what I have been doing to their quilt. And so when this little beauty came in I knew exactly what kind of designs I wanted to do on it.
So for me this is the fun of christmas in table runner form.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Cheers
Tonia

The Riverstone Stitchers Group Visit

2011-11-15T09:42:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, The store exploded with delight when we met the Riverstone Stitchers Group, from Gordonvale. This amazing group of women are the stength behind the Cancer Morning Tea which is held each year in Gordonvale. The Morning tea has a quilt display attached to it and also donates quilts to special foundations, like the Marylyn Mayo Lodge for Cancer Patients. So we held our own special morning tea for them. As you can see by the pictures, everyone enjoyed themselves. If you would like more information about the group or the Marylyn Mayo Centre or even the Cancer Morning Tea which is held in May of each year. Please phone Jan Alley of 07 40561057 or Helen Kemp on 0407599556, and they will be sure to help.

The ladies enjoying morning tea.

Marlene & Olivia in fine form.

Sweetheart from a Sweet Heart

2011-11-05T11:42:00.000+10:00

Look what MD made this morning. A piklet heart for her Mummy. Don't you just love daughters.

Cheers
Tonia

Hijacked by Hot Fix!

2011-10-18T17:50:00.000+10:00

Over the last couple of days, I have been playing with handbags. Using the Botanica range of fabric from Henry Glass and applying applique, thread painting and having fun with hot fix crystals. But there has been one flaw in my otherwise brilliant (read time wasting) Plan. Everytime I make one of these, someone comes and buys it! I'm still to make one for myself. Well I did try and ED took it back to University with her! So I've decided next one I make...IT'S MINE!!!

Bags sans Handles

Cheers
Tonia

Playtime

2011-10-04T10:49:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, even though I should have been working, I played.
I am now fascinated by the way Satin and thread work together.
So here's what I came up with. The thread is Blue varigated, Superior Lapis Lazuli. Grey Satin. Interesting the way the blue recedes into the grey.

Still needs to be bound

In situ, not bound.

Flori Satin Quilt

2011-10-03T09:26:00.000+10:00

Have you ever come across a quilt top that just floored you? I did just the other day. The lovely Flori came to me with a top that was made of light satin and very heavily embroidered in the most beautiful Moroccan flower design. Oh My! How could I do this amazing peice justice? Well as my wonderful mentor Michele Turner would say "Divide and Conquer". So ditch stitching first and hopefully the ideas will crystalize as I work. They did, and below is the result. I was so happy with how it finished up and Flori is too. I LOVE happy clients.

Cheers Tonia

Pats Fans

2011-09-06T13:57:00.000+10:00

Have a look at this lovely quilt Pat made for her Mum. Backed with Fannel for warmth. I had so much fun coming up with a different quilted fan for each of the cream squares. A great quilt challenge!

Cheers

Tonia

Sharon Schamber entralls in Kadina!

2011-08-11T15:46:00.000+10:00

To meet Sharon Schamber is to meet someone so in tune with their artistic side that it is fair to say she is as near to the perfection as that of Leonardo Da Vinci. Her quilts sing. They speak, to all who view them. I gazed in wonder at them during her Trunk show in Kadina over the weekend. No photograph can do them justice. You feel inspired to be in their company.

I was lucky enough to be at her workshops on longarm design and production. Sharon is a truly amazing teacher. Clear and direct in her thought process and teaching, it was a real pleasure to be exposed to such a mind. I think that all those present came home with a new understanding of their craft. I most certainly did.

We spent the weekend at the Wallaroo Mines Bowling Club in Kadina. The workshops so ably organized by Tracey Browning of Constantine Quilts.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure you just want to see the photos!

Hand Applique and backround fillers

Bobbin work on the longarm by Sharon Schamber

"I've got my camera!" says Michele Turner, nominated Offical photographer

Drawing out the design

Stitching out the design

Dallas McLellan, Sharon Schamber and Tonia Brooks

Cheers Tonia

New Quilts

2011-06-28T08:36:00.000+10:00

It's been a couple of VERY BUSY weeks. Our local town has been celebrating it's Centenary. So between all the Back to Malanda Fun Days, I have been quilting, charity quilts. I've been experimenting with designs from a book by Sue Patten called Adaptable Quilting Patterns. And here are some of the results.

Happy Quilting
Tonia

Car Trash Bag

2011-06-09T17:21:00.001+10:00

Do you ever get tired of finding trash in your car? Well I do and with 3 children, long journeys can become quite messy. So I decided to make a Trash Bag for the car. Do you like? It's so easy! I will put the details of How To: up soon. The fabric is a Moda range from MoMo, called Freebird, and it's lined with plastic so there will be no leaks!

Cheers Tonia

GLORIA LOUGHMAN WEEKEND WORKSHOP

2011-05-28T10:31:00.001+10:00

Gloria Loughman Weekend Workshop

" Playing on the Surface"

23 - 24 July 2011

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Yungaburra State School

Morning and Afternoon tea and Lunch provided.

$150.00 for the weekend.

BOOK:- online at http://www.malandaquiltling.com.au/

Gloria's new book "Quilted Symphony" is available through Tableland Books, Atherton, if you would like a copy for signing

And so the Journey Continues....

2011-05-27T16:53:00.000+10:00

Today, I began a new part of my life.

As an Agent for Ascot Lane Distributors for Far North Queensland. I will be working on behalf of the very patient Roslyn and Ronny, to give my patch the VERY BEST service I can. Being a Retailer myself as well as a Long arm Quilter I really do know the value of good service, and value for money purchasing.

Ascot Lane stocks the greatest range of books from C&T Publishing, Martingale Publishing, House of White Birches and Kansas Star. Also the wonderful Clover Range. The wonderful thing about Ascot Lane is that you can buy just one (1) of anything and everything, so of course you can buy one and try it, before stocking the item fully. A great water testing way of going about things.

Well and so the journey continues.
Cheers
Tonia

16 April 2011

2011-04-16T08:13:00.000+10:00

The Kookaburras are laughing in the old gum tree again. I wonder what they are laughing at? At about this time every year they come back to this same tree again. We don't hear or see them at any other time of the year. This is their season I guess. I love it when they come back, they sound so joyous!

Ok, You can look now.

2011-04-12T16:03:00.000+10:00

Finished the secret wall hanging for my buddy Dianna. Lots of work, but I'm quite pleased with the result. So is Dianna. =-)

Sorry about the photos I'm not the greatest!
Cheers
Tonia

Sneak Peek!

2011-03-29T10:29:00.000+10:00

I have been working on this little beauty for a little while now.
Just a little sneek peak.

Cheers
Tonia

Scarborough Fair finished.

2011-03-20T09:32:00.000+10:00

The challenge is complete. I love the way it all turned out. Filling each of the triangles with little feathers and the snowball blocks with swirls, I love my A1 (aka Sally).

The curved edging was done with Belinda Betts(Eucalypt Ridge) fabulous ruler available from Westalee Rulers.

Robyn Falloon is teaching in Atherton!

2011-03-09T07:55:00.000+10:00

I received this wonderful bit of news from the ever amazing Jen. Come-on ladies lets go Needle-turn!

Robyn Falloon Workshop

‘Needleturn Applique- Design and Technique’

Date- Saturday May 14th and Sunday 15th May 2011

Place- Atherton Cost- $130 for full workshop

Robyn is a leading specialist in needle-turn appliqué and we are hoping we can hold this workshop at Atherton. This will be a wonderful opportunity for those lovers of hand work to increase their skills by learning from an experienced teacher.

As this will only be open to 15 attendees I will need people to commit to it by paying a non refundable deposit of $50 by the end of March. The balance can be paid at the workshop. If, however, I don’t get 15 people by the end of March I will return the $50 deposit to those that have paid, and the workshop will not proceed.

For more information on Robyn’s work please go to-

www.bonbondesigns.com.au

To book in or more info contact Jen Fleming on 40911286 or jenfleming55@hotmail.com

Pink Rose

2011-03-08T10:10:00.000+10:00

Looking out the window this morning I saw this beautiful rose, so I thought I'd share this with you all.

French Village

2011-02-26T10:09:00.000+10:00

The amazng Olivia made this beautiful quilt top called French Village. She embroidered it on her world cruise (lucky duck) and then peiced it when she returned home. I enjoyed quilting this one a lot as there were tons of open spaces to fill. Like it?

Teenagers and Teaching

2011-02-11T17:31:00.000+10:00

I LOVE teaching teenagers. Especially those who want to sew. I have a few that come after school on Fridays to polish their skills. They learn at school but feel that they aren't getting as much as they would like out of it. I mean I can understand that one term of sewing and one of cooking for most is enough but there are those who would like to take their skills a little further without losing out on the more mainstream classes that get them into University. These are the kids I love. They are quite prepared to have a go at art quilting, thread painting, making boxer shorts, shirts with collars! and skirts with Zips. All hail to the parents who want to support them in this pursuit. I have a personal soapbox when it comes to learning to sew and cook. There is an entire generation who can't do either, its not that they sometimes don't want too, it's just that they haven't been taught and feel they are too old to learn. (Especially Sewing). which of course means they are missing out on some of the most joyous aspects of creation. Sewing for children and babies and friends.
So for me, giving these kids the opportunity to try things outside the box, means there will be a generation that can enjoy being creative, and our skills and those of our mothers will not be lost to the cheap clothing shop mentality. Okay Rant Over. Just wanted to say. Way to go kids! Have fun.

Coraline, Oh Coraline

2011-02-08T13:03:00.000+10:00

Looky what came in the mail today... Yummy new fabric again from Dayview Textiles from Jinny Beyer this time. Coraline is a new range from Jinny this is the colourway 5. Look on the website to order these edible fabrics.

Cheers Tonia

I'm Going to Scarborough Fair

2011-02-07T18:34:00.000+10:00

Today was such a nice day. With the power back on I was able to sew. Yay! Before the cyclone I had recieved some new fabrics from Dayview Textiles among which is the Robyn Pandolph range, Scarborough Fair. So here's a little sneak peak before the quilting is done. I love it. You can find the fabrics on the website. Enjoy.

Cheers Tonia

Living without Power (or aka after Cyclone Yasi)

2011-02-06T11:51:00.000+10:00

No quilting was done today or yesterday and it doesn't look like any will be done tomorrow. Though we have a generator I am not prepared to feed Sally that kind of power, (just in case). So of course one is going a little stir crazy not being able to quilt. Dinner is cooked and eaten by gaslight, luckily we have solar hot water so as long as we have some gravity feed water we will be able to take showers. Although is a little trickly. But my heart goes out to those who have had everything blown to smithereens. My cousin lives in Tully. I wish there was more we could do, but it is better to let the professionals get on with the job of cleaning up so that our fellow Queenslanders can regain some of their lives. I am lucky enough to have very good freinds who have let me use their washing machine to do the ever increasing pile. She lives in a part of our town with a different electricity feeder, so has power. Which is how I am managing to type on my blog.
Anyway, for Michele I included some of the photos of the cyclone garden damage.

Before

After

We are safe.

2011-02-03T08:16:00.000+10:00

Yasi has come an gone over the coast. We have all survived on the Tablelands. Tully and Mission Beach have born the brunt of the cyclone. Our thoughts are with them and others as we all rebuild.

The cyclone she cometh.

2011-02-01T20:06:00.000+10:00

It seems that we have another cyclone approaching the coast. Bigger than Larry and supposed to hit somewhere a little South of Cairns. Darn. That's all I can say. We will probably be without power again for awhile. I have charged the computer, phones etc and the torches have batteries, Gas in the camping lights. UHT and powdered milk in storage. Everything seems to be batterned down for the big blow. My only gripe is that I won't be able to quilt for a little while..=-( I do have a great little treadle machine, which I purchased after Cyclone Larry, so at least I will be able to sew. When you live in FNQ (Far North Qld), you get used to being menaced by cyclones and generally most people are prepared through out the year for just such these emergencies. Having lived most of my youth on stations, where shops are a long way away. Ordering is done by the month, or more often the 3-6 month period, I can't seem to break the old habit of being stocked up. So I guess MOTH is right when he calls me a closet survivalist. (I'm ready). I have checked on all my freinds and made sure those I love are safe and ready.
So, Take care and Stay Safe everyone.
Cheers Tonia

31 January 2011

2011-01-31T14:42:00.000+10:00

The beginnings of a wholecoth start with an idea. Now my brain seems to team with ideas and over the christmas holidays I actually did something about the things running around in my head. What do you think?

So then that led on to this.

This wholecloth is a queen size and is all done freehand on my A1 Elite, (aka Sally) I don't use a computer aids, just a marking pencil, the wonderful rulers from Constantine quilts and my eyeballs. LOL. *(Specs are required!)

29 January 2011

2011-01-29T12:25:00.000+10:00

Yesterday turned out to be Hat making day! I was inspired by my son who wanted a reversable hat for school. So he could turn it from a school hat into a sports hat. So we ended up with green one side and blue the other. Hmmm, I thought lets take this a little further, my little mate Tom was visiting so I decided to make a bucket hat in the Hard Hats fabric. Now you know that both Tom and I love Hard hats. This turned out exceptionally. He was pleased! So then, I thought what about my Middle Daughter, I'm sure she would like one too. Here are the results, I think everyone in the house may just end up with one of these in their choice of colours of course.

January 18

2011-01-19T08:15:00.000+10:00

It has been a very busy couple of weeks. Getting eldest daughter ready for Uni. Trying to understand all the paperwork involved. Now I don't mind paperwork but I'd rather be quilting. I'm so glad that Eldest Daughter (ED) has a handle on it all. It is so stressfull for all the new students, awaiting the OP score, then awaiting QTAC to advise if they have gotten a place, and then waiting on the Uni to send the acceptance forms. And then you still have to deal with the government section of it all. Oh dear, I do hope we get it all right for ED. In amongst all of this, we have been inundated with water. Lots and lots of water. We have been lucky here not to have the floods that other parts of the state have had. But freinds have not been so lucky. Emerald, Toowoomba, and Miles have been hard hit, and I have spent a good deal of time worrying about them all. Mother Nature, really does occassionaly remind us that she can never be controlled by mere humans. *Sigh*
Still, we survive. Time to go and do some of that.
Cheers
Tonia

Big Trucks!

2011-01-04T10:39:00.000+10:00

I had so much fun today. I finished a small quilt for a very good freind, and her son. He's the most sweet little boy of 2 and he just loves Big Machines. The fabric was the ever popular Hard Hats Range from Kennard & Kennard. The difficulty with this little quilt is that mum wanted it backed with a lovely soft polar fleece, that she purchased from Fabric Fusion. This fabric has a one way stretch to it, so I couldn't load it up on Sally the Long Arm. So the old gears ground into gear and I thought about some of the processes that I could use to acheive the goal. Ah, Baggin it. That's the way. So by pinning every inch all the way round, right sides together of course. (accidentally made that mistake once) and then turning the quilt inside out and then stitching a 1.4 inch holding seam all around the edge I was able to pin and quilt the two peices together. The result, a cuddly quilt fit for the most tough of boys.

Christmas is COMING!

2010-12-11T10:48:00.000+10:00

Where did this year dissappear too? I thought it was only yesterday that January was beginning. It seems that the years pass faster and faster. I must admit though it has been a very eventful year. Our eldest baby has finished high school and is now going out into the big world. University, and the usual stuff that comes with growing up. She had a lovely graduation night, and looked lovely in the dress that I made for her under her watchful eye. Like it?

The Dress

Middle Child, (She who must not be named!) did very well in her first year at High School. Both she and the school survived! The final report said it all, Straight A's. What an inquiring mind, and the curly questions she askes must have kept everyone on thier toes.

CAB, (the last cab off the rank) Finished Grade 2 and can't wait to start grade 3. Not sure whether that is for the learning or the friends though. He is a social animal that is for sure.

MOTH, (Man of the House) and I have had a very eventful year too. Changing jobs, growing the business, with the purchase of a new A1 Longarm quilting machine, and of course ever more fabrics in the store.

It's been a great busy year. Many friends made, and new challenges tackled.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Swirls and curls

2010-11-20T19:39:00.000+10:00

I sooooo love Sally! I have now completed two quilts, though small, in a matter of days. I love the ability to just be able to swirl and curl all over the place so easily. Wonderful. The clever Michele said I would love the freedom and she was so right!
So for you Michele a little taste of what I did after you departed for home. =-)

Sizzling Stitches.

2010-11-17T12:29:00.000+10:00

She arrived! Sally the A1 Long Arm sewing machine has been welcomed into the world at our house. After many hours of planning and waiting, the big girl now occupies her very own room. The wonderful Michele from Pinetree Cottage Quilting came to deliver her into the world. All jests aside, it is great to be able to realise my dreams of quilting on a larger scale. Yay! It has been a very tiring long weekend for both Michele and myself getting it all together and learning this new way to approach quilting. Though very much easier than manipulating a large quilt through a small throat space, there are many new skills to be learnt in driving the long arm over a stable quilt area. (Especially when working with MONOFIL!). The damn stuff dissappears before your very eyes. Particularly mine as I wear glasses. You should have seen me hunt around the hopping foot searching for the end of the blasted thread. Michele ( though amazingly patient, I'm sure felt she was teaching a lost cause!) Ahhhh the trials of the novice monfiller.

Sally, the A1 Sewing Machine

Australian Machine Quilt Festival!

2010-10-24T10:08:00.000+10:00

Home, Sweet Home. Arrived back from the inaugural Australian Machine Quilting Festival on Monday. The brain has certainly become overflowing with new ideas and ways of approaching this most facinating of subjects. (Well for me at least! Hubby and Kids may not agree after having their ears filled with my chatter).

I met some of the most AMAZING people down there. Two of the most wonderful are ladies Gayle and Dallas. (They know who they are). I found it surreal that you could meet a person in a queue and begin talking and feel as if you had known them for years. And this was the case with these two wonderful ladies. Gayles mum was added to the mix later on in the bar. LOL. (but that is another tale!)

The Tutors at the AMQ were inspirational, Pam Clark, Kim Brunner, Michelle Turner, Sharon Parkinson to name just a few. Their guidance is invaluable to beginners and professionals alike. I highly recommend that you all pencil in AMQ for 2012.

The Endeavour college at Mawson Lakes was the most awesome place to hold this first of many AMQ's.
Great classrooms, and the hall made an excellent venue for the display of fabulous quilts from all over the world, many from the Tutors themselves. WOW!

Here's a little taste of the quilts I drooled over.

Gourd! I'ts a Duck!

2010-10-24T09:31:00.000+10:00

Did you know that the Melbourne Cup is coming up? Of course you did!

Lots of things are associated with the Cup, Horses, Fashions, Betting and of course HATS!
Now today I met a lady, whom the term hat, means ART! I was so amazed at her work I had to show you all.

Kay with the Duck! Handpainted by Kay, Note the Leather legs!

Back view, See the duck hissing.

Melbourne to Portland

2010-10-11T18:30:00.000+10:00

Gosh where to begin? I suppose I could start from the point we left Melbourne. That would be a good place to start I guess.

Leaving Melbourne was a little fraught as we were driving a hire car in an unknown city, with I might add, some strange road rules for muggins like us. I had to learn a new term. Hook Turn! This apparently has to do with the fact that trams share the roadway down in Melbourne and woe betide anyone who gets caught across the intersection when one of these babies is bearing down on you! To add to this mayhem we had a Toffee nosed Navman, whom insisted taking us on long jaunts through the backstreets before taking us to the wrong end of the street. Though when we had finally worked out how to tell it to take the optimum route Nancy, as we began to call her, was a complete god send.

Our first day out of Melbourne was spent travelling along the Great Ocean Road from Geelong to Port Campbell. Stopping along the way to sample the delights of Tourquay, Appollo Bay, the 12 Apostles and Port Campbell. I fell in love with the amazing views along this historic road.

Torquay Beach

Happy in the Sun!

Lookout on the Great Ocean Road

Rough Seas!

Gibson Steps Top

12 Apostles, Port Campbell

Gibson Steps Bottom.

Beach at the bottom of the Gibson Steps

Talk about the obvious! Until you hear tourists talking.

By the time we arrived in Port Campbell there was only enough light and time to settle into our motel room. Then find somewhere to have dinner that night. Port Campbell, though small, has a good choice of places to stay and eat. We had the most delicious dinner in the convivial 12 Rocks Bar and Resturant. It's large glass windows look out onto the cove that is Port Campbell. It was very cold and wet that night and we certainly got a good idea what the sailors would have had to deal with in trying to enter this Port.

Next morning, though windy, dawned bright. Everyone was ready to hit the road and see more of this georgous coastline. We made our way through dairy country right on the edge of the coastline. This amazed us as, in Malanda the sea is a good hour away. Discussion was held as to which dairy farm was the best, with the greatest view, and the handsomest dairy cows. Hubby continually pointed out how many milk tankers were on the roads. We laughed a lot at this, and said he only noticed them because he drove them here on the Tablelands.

Quite by accident, we drove into Portland, (that's what happens when you don't listen to Nancy). Portland is a place you could drive by, due to the bypass of the main road. I urge you not too. Joy's Craftworx occupies a beautiful inviting store. Filled to the brim with everything a crafter could need and more besides. I spent a lovely time checking out the fabrics and talking to Joy, who was preparing for a weekend in Hamilton. Check out http://www.joyscraftworx.com.au/. You won't be dissappointed.

Well so far so good and I will leave you in Portland to browse. Next Warnambool and beyond.
Cheers Tonia

Farewell Melbourne

2010-09-27T21:04:00.000+10:00

Tonight is our last night in Melbourne. Boy have the family and I packed so much in. Titanic Exhibition! Truly amazing! Phar Lap and history of Melbourne. Old Melbourne Gaol! We had to act like detainees. Very scarey! Especially for the non english speaking in the tour. A group of of us got locked into one of the cells in the darkness! Good thing they didn't frisk me, I remembered I had a torch in my bag. Much to the relief of the non-english portion! LOL.

Middle daughter took me literally when I said to her to "take lots of photos." I count 600 in all so far. Thank Goodness for Digital cameras. Today we visited Captain Cooks Cottage in the Victoria Gardens. My hubby and I visited it 21 years ago on our honeymoon. It was interesting to see some of the little changes that had taken place.

A visit to the Conseratory in the Gardens revealed Cinaria and Cyclamen in abundance.

We've ridden so many trams that I think I'm trammed out for a little while. But Melbourne certainly delivers on design, heritage and a cosmpolitan atmosphere.

The Last Piece

2010-09-18T09:31:00.001+10:00

It's here it's here it's here it's here!! 4 boxes of 41 bolts of From Little Things by Sarah Fielke for LECIEN has arrived. You just must go to Sarah's site The Last Piece and see the lovely new fabric Oh MyWord. It's beautiful! Here's a little sneak peak.

Under The Australian Sun

2010-09-17T14:21:00.000+10:00

Robert Kaufman's new fabric arrived today. It's soooooo beautiful. So I thought I'd share it with you before I put it up onto the website. http://www.malandaquilting.com.au/

I just love the Warratahs. The flowers are all highlighted with metallic gold.

The smaller size is quite intense with lots of wildflowers mixed together.

Sweet little gum blossoms highlighted in metallic gold

Gum Leaves also highlighted in Gold.

I've probably said metallic gold too much...but hey...

Cheers

Tonia

Australian Machine Quilt Festival! Here we come!

2010-09-17T10:01:00.000+10:00

Only 15 days to go! OMG I can't wait! I've bee avidly watching the AMQ website and squeaking with joy at every post bringing it ever closer. I've got my art book at the ready. Husband and Kids taken care of with them going out to see the sights of Adelaide. Ooooo I just can't contain my excitment! Aren't we all so lucky to have such talented and organisational people to put together this wonderful event. I'm feeling sure that Adelaide will not know what hit it with the city full of quilters and patchworkers. See you all there and LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

Art Book Cover

2010-09-11T09:43:00.000+10:00

I think I may have been looking for an excuse to work with this fabric, so guess what, I found one. LOL. I made a cover for my A4 art book. The pocket on the front holds my water colour pencils, rubber and lead pencil. This fabric is called Eclipse from Exclusively Quilters. Don't you love it.

Spring Has Sprung in the Tropics

2010-09-09T09:10:00.000+10:00

Today, it's offical Spring has Sprung! The First Cicada of the season emerged. The dogs found it facinating, treating it to a display of barking. We all wondered if another carpet snake has come to inhabit the shed roof again the way they were carrying on! But no, it was a big green cicada! Silly dogs! So the Cicadas song soon will be beginning in the rainforest behind our house once again. Exactly at 7.20pm every night, the earplugs will come out and we will have the opera of Cicada for 30 mins. Short and Loud. Actually probably more like a Metallica rock concert! My darling eldest daughter is holding the beastie. She likes Bugs! As a small child she would collect the cicada shells and keep them safe. In her bed! We would wake her in the morning to find CRUSHED cicada shells. Sheet changing became a daily duty in our house for about a year. *Sigh*. Thankfully she grew out of it. =-)

Kids in the Kitchen

2010-09-05T11:44:00.000+10:00

Today my darling middle daughter decided that she would like to make muffins. Now I'm all in favour of kids cooking especially yummy things. But I'm not so sure about the clean up process.

Tonia's Tickled Pink Craft

2010-09-04T13:27:00.000+10:00

Tonia's Tickled Pink Craft

2010-09-04T13:03:00.000+10:00

A NEW Brookston Design for you to try. Hope you like it.

Tonia

Look what I Got!

2010-09-03T16:17:00.001+10:00

Oooooo it's like Christmas in the shop at the moment, new fabrics from Kennards have arrived. Yummy Cascades, Butterflies and Cherries. Along with some of the most sort after fabrics at the moment in the form of Colour Streams. Take a look.
Tonia

Colour Streams

Cascade- Dye goes from deepest at the top of the fabric to lightest and the bottom.

Silver butterflies on a hot pink backround. Little girls dresses, don't you think?

Enjoy

Tonia xxx

Pretty things

2010-09-03T10:24:00.000+10:00

I was having a look at all the pictures I have taken of things I have made and I thought I might share them with you. =-)

This is my Brookston Bag, Made in Moda, Verna Fabrics. I will put a tutorial on this bag on the blog soon.

Fresh Picked - Pattern by Heather Bailey. Loooove these pincushions.

Japanese Squares - My own take on courthouse steps.

Suzani Wheel - Fabrics by Michelle Marvig.

Oh! By the Way....I love to hand-dye!

Blogs! So Many Blogs!

2010-09-02T22:33:00.000+10:00

It happened again. I don't know how it happened, but it happened! I have been indulging in my secret delight of reading Blogs. It's like eating chocolate.... you can't stop at just one, and you never know, the next might be a truffle one. Three hours has passed and I know I should have been doing things that are more productive, but Blogs inspire me. I read about all the imaginative things that people are doing and I want to do them too. Take Cinderberry Stitches blog for instance. The minature buttons with their tiny stitched birds. Wonderful!. I want to do that too, or a Blog on fashionista, Wow! I could indulge my love of vintage sewing. But therein lies the problem. I could do all these things. But, You know what. I spent the time reading Blogs!
Cheers for now
Tonia

Wet Weather Quilting

2010-08-31T12:27:00.000+10:00

Have you ever noticed how wet weather makes us want to craft? I always feel happy when it rains, it means I can sew and quilt without guilt. No gardening to do when it gets wet. Warm fires lit in the grate. Cats and Dogs curled up in front of the crackling fire. The radio singing softly in the backround, and the purr of the sewing machine as I stitch up some of the colourful fabrics I have to play with.
Interestingly, I found this is the time that my girl children start asking about bikini's and when will I make some for them. Having just made a couple for a friends daughter I am under the pump to do the same for them. They have been sorting through the lycra box looking for fabrics that will be "cool" bikinis. I can see I will be busy again.

Only 3 more weeks until we go away on our first holiday in 3 years. Travelling to Brisbane, Melbourne and then to the Australian Machine Quilters Festival in Adelaide. Oh boy, are we all excited. The children will be attending an Anime Festival at the same time and Me, the Festival awaits.

Well time to go...I hear the icecream van approaching. LOL..The joys of living in the tropics.
Tonia xx

Frilly Bits

2010-08-30T10:11:00.000+10:00

A couple of days to go until Sasha's Birthday. So at the request of her mum, Shellie, I whipped up some frilly bikini's for the birthday girl. I love making fun stuff for teenagers. They can be so OUT there.

I've been THINKING!

2010-08-25T17:20:00.000+10:00

Today, has been a beautiful day. A glorious, sunny, typical tropical day, and I wanted to share it with you. Many days go by and we all get so busy with the mundane in our lives we forget that every day is precious and cannot be reclaimed. Well except in a photo.

Time? Where have you gone?

2010-08-25T16:24:00.000+10:00

Ok, So Michelle tells me I'm supposed to write in this thing about all the great things I have been doing. But, you know, the time she just gets away from me. The last couple of weeks have been spent making a lovely purple 20's inspired dress. ( piccies to follow) for Michelles mum, Leueen. It's been a bit of a challenge as I have had to work with pre-beaded lace. Can you imagine. Tiny seed beads popping everywhere. Which are then chased around the table/floor. I think I will be finding these little nuisances for some time to come.=-P.

I attended a Quilters Picnic at Ruth Bloomfields home in August. Wow! such an amazing group of women and very very inspiring. I felt enthused again for my quilting and quilt art works. So watch out stash here I come!

The Fabric Reps have been visiting again and the shop with be overflowing with new fabrics. A cute range arrived a week ago. Hard Hats from Avlyn Fabrics. So lovely for boys. I have a little male visitor who at 18 months thinks the trucks and excavators are just magic. There's a whole co-ordinating range on the website. www.malandaquilting.com.au.

I intend to make up some of this into small quilts too. I hope "Miss Time" does not get away from me again.

That's all for now.

Keep Smiling

Happy Days

Tonia

New Beginnings

2009-09-14T16:19:00.000+10:00

Isn't it funny how things begin.

This blog begins because of my business - Malanda Quilting & Sewing Supplies.com.au -(a new beginning) and my friendship with Michelle -Apron Strings & Other Things- (also a new beginning!), and a special creative person by the name of Dianna Godfrey.

When our local fabric and sewing store closed down, our town was left without any creative shopping outlets. (It's a problem in small towns). So I decided having left the mainstream workforce, to take the plunge and open a small quilting/craft shop. A big step I can tell you. Lots of praying that this would work and much support from family and away we went.

Start small, that was the thing, don't spend what you don't have. Hmmm, good plan.

I guess because of my financial training this wasn't hard to do. (Always the tightwad)LOL.

Also I had been given a wonderful grounding in sewing by my mother. Who was always ready to show me how to do things, along with her favourite saying " You can do anything you set you mind to". So I set to!

After all the business set up was out of the way I wondered how besides advertising in the local press, would I show off all those lovely products and patterns from talented designers, like Melly & Me, Rosalie Quinlan and Helen Stubbings to mention but a few.

Ahhh, I know, I will have a web site for it all!

Step forward, Christine Abela, from Gecko Gully Web site designs. Now Christine lives in Victoria and I of course live in Far North Queensland. Insurmountable you say! Nope! Christine speaks plain english! No tech speak. Yay! Away we go, lots of work and planning and there it is, http://www.malandaquilting.com.au/ Amazing!

So there you go, from little beginnings, hopefully big things grow.

Oh and here's a little outline for use in your next project. =-)