Black and White with a touch of Bling

This weekend has seen me enjoying the company of fellow Cake Decorators at the CDAV bi-annual Seminar.
I have never been to a seminar before but seeing this year it was held in my own suburb - I thought I had better attend!

So many wonderful creations were on display - all elegantly decorated in very formal
Black & White with Sparkle.
This is the Associations Show Piece that met us in the foyer of the venue.

After 2 1/2 days of demonstrations, hints tips and ideas I was pretty much suffering from "Information overload".

We learnt everything from the finer details of airbrushing and flexible lace icing to creating Sassy Little Girls to adorn a birthday Cake.

We watched as incredible Cake Toppers were made with modeling chocolate.
And were entertained with stories from the humorous side of travelling Cake Decorators, while being instructed in the more delicate and traditional Flower construction of Orchids.
(Who would have thought a kilo pack of Fondant icing would concern airline security?)


Having been asked to make another Wedding Cake for the end of the year I was certainly taking as many notes as I could!
I am looking forward to having a play with all the new techniques I have learnt.

Did I have fun? - Oh yes!
Am I tired?? - You bet!!!

Where Hobbies Collide - - -

Not Quilting  - although Patches were being made, and Mitre joins cut
Not Cake Decorating - yet Icing Skills were required
No - This time it is RENOVATING!

This long Easter Holiday was the time that we had set aside to renovate DS#1s bedroom.  Simple really, a little paint here and there, a new light fitting and curtains?

So where exactly did the hobbies collide?

PLASTERING! -

Hanging Cornice over the old boring plain cove that has adorned the top of the wall for the past 24 years.



I actually like hanging Cornice although it is a 'pain in the neck' to do.
(My Physiotherapist is going to have STERN words with me when she finds out.)

But this time I had help -
after all .... It IS his room we are renovating!

And he does need to learn Exactly what is involved.






So we measured twice and Cut once and hoped that it would fit.

Cornice Cement was mixed and quickly "buttered" on to the back of the new Cornice.



So - Where does the Hobbies Colliding bit come in?

I have often stated that if there is a tool for the Job - use it ...
But if there isn't one?
Then the best thing to do is - IMPROVISE!

Yes folks
I am using an Icing Bag  to pipe Cornice Cement into the gaps!

Actually - it worked REALLY well and saved a lot of time and mess.


Now I think it is on to the 'fun part' - Painting!
Stay Tuned for the big "reveal" Next week

Easter Sunday

God sent HIS Son - They called him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove 
My Saviour Lives.

Because He lives - I can face tomorrow

Because He lives - all fear is gone

Because I Know - He holds the future

and Life is worth the living -

Just because HE LIVES!

In all the Festivities, Chocolate and Family get togethers -
Let us not forget the reason for the "HOLY-Day"

Because He Lives

by Gloria & William Gaither

Another WORK that is IN PROGRESS - - -

Time to let you in on a little something that has been happening "Behind the Scenes" around our place.
As most readers will be aware we had a couple of weddings a few months ago - and with Weddings also comes the inevitable moving out of home and setting up house of your own.


DD hasn't actually moved out yet as just before the wedding they bought a Block of Land.







I thought it was somewhat significant that the first flower to bloom in her future garden was a Scotch Thistle!

A reminder to her of her Scottish heritage.



Not a lot has been happening and multiple photographs of an empty patch of dirt is not exciting at all - but that all changed this week when we got word that work was starting.

Last Wednesday we were told the slab had been laid and by the time we got there on Saturday morning ....

Half the house had been built!




It is only a small house but it is on a large triangular block

Which means they have a HUGE garden to plan 

both on the side - - 

and out the back

WOW - what a lot of work they (we) have ahead.

Planning a garden from scratch!!

1 Down - 83 to Go

It has been a fortnight since I posted a progress report on my Bali Wedding Star Quilt, so I thought it may be an idea to fill in any that are interested on where I am up to.

I have had lots of paper to sort through, cut apart and file away into numbered bags so I can have everything on hand when the instructions call for them.

I have cut and cross cut what seems like bolts of fabric.
And glued (yes GLUE) and pinned and sewn and trimmed.
Even did a little un-sewing as well.

Until I had a mountain of these!
These odd shaped pieces are the start of my Star points that 'float' across the background fabric.

Straying (once again) from the suggested pattern, my Stars will only have TWO contrast colours not the suggested 8.

And now that they are finished it is onwards to make the smaller Star Points (referred to as the Melon Stars).

This time I will be teaming up a Deep Mid Blue Batik with the Black contrast.
It is not a true black but more like an Inky Blue/Green, it has a bit more 'life' to it than a flat black.

Will it all work together?
I don't know yet.
I have done ONE - and there are 83 to go!

Have I lost my Mind?

The minute I saw it I just HAD to have it!

It is the Quilt design I have had on my Wish List for a very long time.

It is the PERFECT design for my DS#2.
I knew exactly what colours to choose to achieve the 'look' I want.

But I had to wait ....

.... wait for the ladies from the NSLQS to learn how to make it - so they can guide me on my way.

I have chosen my fabrics - many are from the beautiful Stonehenge Range by Northcott Fabrics.

Last Wednesday I started what is to be a Technique of the Month and received my first installment of fabric and pattern instructions.

OK - so I have to confess - FUSSY CUTTING the first pieces of this quilt was NOT in the instructions, but when you choose a fabric that cries out for it - you just have to give in.

Curious yet?

Have I lost my mind? 

Maybe I need a COMPASS to help me find it!

Judy Niemeyer's 

Mariner's Compass

One single Compass 69"x 69"

Part One finished.

Looking forward to Part Two.

Bali Wedding Star - The Next Step

It was good to catch up with my new friends at the NSLQS (Not-so-local quilt store) and be given some pointers for the next Section of my Bali Wedding Star. It is not a class as such but a place where you can go and learn the finer points of Foundation Piecing. We just happen to be working on several of Judy Niemeyer's Quilt designs.

Now if there is a "Tool for the Job" it is usually worth getting one and I was fortunate to be lent the set of Perspex Templates for this quilt by one of the other ladies who has finished with hers for the time being ...

Oh WOW how much easier it was to trim the arcs to shape and also cut the Melon sections apart from my background fabric!

I am not working from a Kit so I still need to choose the colours that will make up the cornerstones that join the rings. And I will need to be patient and not sew them on yet - this is done much later in the process.

So this week I think I have everything prepped and ready to start chain piecing the 'Stars' together.

I overheard this comment to a new student...
"Yes it is a LOT of preparation, but when you get to sew - it is plain sailing."  Oh - I do hope so!

In the meantime - I am getting a little distracted by the sight of all those offcuts! My heart skipped a beat when I spied some especially beautiful and very usable ones heading for the bin the other day (I wanted to dive in after them!).

I am trying VERY HARD to resist the temptation of starting another Applique Quilt to use them all.
Or heaven forbid - I found myself researching Crumb Quilts the other day!!!!

Quilting is not a cheap hobby (especially in Australia, where fabrics often cost TWICE what they do in the US) so before you throw them out .... Don't forget that those offcuts/scraps have cost you the same amount as the fabrics you have used in your quilt!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Footnote:
If anyone would like to ask specific questions about my adventure with this quilt - email me privately via the "Contact Me" link on my profile.
Alternatively Quiltworks have placed many excellent explanatory videos on Utube - Just Google "Bali Wedding Quilt" and hit Videos