So happy being back in my studio and getting stuck into some work. On my last trip to Perth I met a loverly lady named Gretchy and she fell in love with Freedom....so much so that she wanted to whip out her cheque book right there and then. Now I do learn from past experiences and my family have still not really forgiven me for selling Mother Earth so one voice in my head was very happy to have a sale with an agreeable price but the other little voice says NOOOO don't do it...think of the family! So reluctantly I declined the sale but suggested I could create a similar quilt any size and bird specified and a deal was struck. Ohh happy days!

Gretchy specified size 130 x 160cm with a male red tailed black cockatoo and asked if I would send photos as the quilt progressed. I said YEP and asked would she mind if I blogged the progress of the work and Gretchy is happy for me to share it with you all. So...here we go.

Sketching onto the black homspun with fabric chalk. I had to run a seam down the length to get the width of 130cm - the clothes brush is sitting on the seam

Let the fun begin...I love playing with these colours - leaving more narrow black channels between each ribbon..those that have been to my Flying Into Colour class  will know it helps with impact of colour but also give a black alley way to stitch and travel undetected when doing the quilting. Has anyone seen my Bohn pencil....have lost it already - the red clutch chalk pencil in pic.

All the ribbons complete - after the stitching I paint back into my quilting patterns and will add lots of the lower colours into the top section and viceversa.

Drawing on the patchwork ready to paint - this is my PaintCHwork...coz this girl cain't piece!

Notice how I methodically mark which boxes to paint? I always insist on that in class coz its way to easy to make a mistake and get carried away and paint the wrong box and the checkers just don't check! Those that have been to my class....you know I am talking about you!

Sew..stay tuned and next week I will show you the piece sandwiched and bagged and the stitching starting to happen........man I love being at home in the studio..I call it The Zone...should hang a sign on the door......Gone Fishing!  x

Little commercial break here....I have 3 sewing machines available for sale, plus delivery if out of ACT.

Bernette H70 RRP $699, my price $359

Bernina Aurira 440 QE with BSR RRP $3295, my price $2995

Forpurchasing either of these machines,contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   If u have questions ....the first 2 are brand new in box as per described anywhere online.

The 3rd item below is preowned for a very brief time...details by contacting Arna on 0404412139

Handi-Quilter Sweet16 - just the same as I use.

cheers HG