Aussies win at Houston Quilt Festival

South Australian quilter Rachel Denneny takes out The World of Beauty Award!

As the 2010 Houston Quilt Festival comes alive there are many congratulations that are in order. Just scrolling through the photos of the winning quilts is exciting, just imagine STROLLING through the actual exhibitions!!!!

Most exciting for us Australian girls are the awards that have been taken out by our very own Aussies!
The biggest congrats go to South Australian Rachel Denneny for winning the major prize - The World of Beauty Award for her quilt Royal Amethyst.

Plus Jenny Bowker, Linda Steel and Pam Holland received prizes too. If you visit Lisa Walton's blog, you can see some photos of the Australian winners.

Join Down Under Quilts Facebook Page

Hello lovelies,

Just wanted to let you know that I have started a Facebook page for Down Under Quilts magazine. So, if you want to stay up to date with DUQ happenings drop by, and join in!

cheers

dls

Life at Oak Lea

Quick, quick, I should be doing other things - such as finishing off the editorial for Issue 3 of Down Under Textiles and bundling the contents of Down Under Quilts 144 ready to hand over to the designer!
I seriously feel like I'll never get there ... but we all know I will ... it's just these few days of panic and overload that it all seems impossible!
But, while I'm here .... let me share a few quick things that have been happening at Oak Lea (the name of our new property/home) ...

Here is baby bunting... Sadie came came for a visit last week while I was photographing
a quilt for issue 145 of Down Under Quilts.

It was lots of quiche a week or so back for us. I gave away 2 dozen of these lovely fresh laid eggs last week, only to have to buy a dozen on Saturday for all the cooking I had planned, in expectation of more eggs. Lulu gave the chooks a talking to, but apparently, until they get the good chook food (Farmer Phil has to go up the road and buy some) they will be laying on a reduced schedule - mmm, who is in charge around here?

This is our COZY room ... we have a few living rooms in our new house. This is the formal room at the front of the house. We call it the cozy room. As you can see at the left there is a combustion fireplace. During the first six weeks we had that burning all night every night! In the last week or so it has warmed up a little, and we are coping without it burning night and day. I miss it, but am glad that the weather is warming.

Farmer Phil learned a valuable lesson last weekend, that this is what happens when you
mow a soggy area of grass. Man of the Land, he isn't! He bogged it three times on
this occasion, I think he secretly enjoyed the hours of planning and pulling and grunting
it took to get it out of the bog - three times - and back up to high ground. I have to
admit it gave me a good laugh.

Righto, back to creating magazines, because in a hour or so I have to create a meal too.
xdls

Our new life is the three Fs - Fun, fluid and free

I have been so busy, that I have not spent much time on the computer at all since moving early last month. Today it is only becasue I am home alone, and have been since before midday - ah, a perfect opportunity. Although, try as I might, it would be difficult to bring the blog up to date about all the fun things I've been up to. So, i thought I might just share a few of the more memorable ... not in any specific order ...
I helped my sister Leah start a quilt. She is using limes, pinks and oranges and the Friendship Spool pattern.
I made marmalade today. My poppy used to make it, and since he died almost 20 years ago I have not had it much at all. Today I felt inspired to make some, I hope Pop is proud.
We have chooks now, and we get about 4 eggs a day. It is so nice to be able to give fresh eggs to your friends and family (we cant possibly get thru them all).
The kids and I planted some vegies in the garden - leeks, onions, garbage and lettuce.
We have lots of friends come to visit since we moved here, and it is so nice being able to have them come and stay, eat and play. We even zip down to Terrigal beach for a coffee and the kids play in the sand.
I get to read books and magazines in our 'cozy' room - that's the one where the combustion fire is on day and night.
It's such a nice change from being stuck inside a 'box', literally and figuratively, as we were in Sydney. Our life is now free, fluid and fun. The kids are so happy, Phillip is embarking on setting up his business, I get to work from home and all's well in Matcham! All I lack is some stitching time! That is next on my agenda. Erica? ...
xdls

Half is X2

I have been so crazy with the move, and the Craft & Quilt Fair recently that I have hardly had time to think about the blog - well that's not true, I did think about it, and was troubled that i had left it stagnant for so long. But despite my best intentions, a lack of Internet connection sealed the fate of no posts.

We now have connection, albeit v e r y slow! Of course there are lots of things that have been happening that I'd love to share. Tonight's not the night though, it is 6.50pm, and hungry kids that need food baths and bed need my attention. But, one thing I will share, as it is one of the happiest things that have happened to me since moving ....

I am very fortunate that I have a half sister that I simply adore, she is 14 years my junior and from my Mothers second marriage. And, now I have two! Almost serendipitously, (we had made contact via email about 6 months ago, but had no idea at all that living here would put me in her 'sphere') I have been reunited with my other half sister, Leah who is 12 years my junior from my Dads second marriage. She and her partner own a catering business on the Central Coast, and a cafe at Erina Heights - which IS MY local cafe! What a surprise and a JOY!

This is she and I! What a gift! This move has given me more than I ever hoped for.

xxdls

Sea, Tree and Books from France

We are in the middle of moving house and office. We are having a tree and sea change, moving to Matcham which is 14 minutes west of Terrgial Beach on the Central Coast of NSW.

We have been anticipating this move for a month or so now, and only just got confirmation last Friday. One thing about my procrastinating husband, when he DOES make his mind up things move very fast.

One nice little respite in all the craziness going on around me was opening a box form my dear friends at Quiltmania. Carol had written to tell me that she was sending me some treats ... and what a treat they are!

These books have been published by Quiltmania for the European market and the content is in French and English.

Thank you Carol for your niceness, it is appreciated!!

xxdls

+ jumbo ricrac!

And this is what we got! Sadie seemed to like it, and I loved that kiss!