Escape to the Capital

It seems my resolve to blog more regularly has already come seriously unstuck!

I was fortunate enough to be able to get away to the Canberra Quilt Show in early August and had every intention of a full report......it was the first night I had had away from home since my stint in hospital in September last year and was good for both body and spirit.

I was chauffered in style by a good quilting friend and whilst it was 9 degrees or less outside I was very comfortable in my heated leather seat - thank you very much......

The show was small but enjoyable (my first time there) and though I took photos I haven't asked for permission to share them here. I was also lucky enough to go to a meeting of the Canberra Quilters and picked up a few more good ideas....

Needless to say I slept like a log at my friend's sister's house - as I said earlier I was royally looked after. We woke to minus temps and fog!!! By the time we left the house the temperature had crawled up to about 2 degrees and the fog was beginning to lift. That hardly mattererd to me as we were on the way to my favourite Canberra destination 'Addicted to Fabric' (or A2F) ..... I actually went with a list of things I needed and managed to (mostly) stick to it.

The haul.........earmaked for various projects in the planing stage....and a couple of spares for the stash.....

I didn't buy much at the show itself (in anticipation of the A2F visit but did manage to pick up this pretty scrap bundle.....

.......which started off a whole new train of thought - a pretty, old-fashioned / modern double wedding ring or pickle dish quilt. This means a new collection. Rather than think in colour names I'm thinking milkshakes - strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, coffee and berry - a delicious palette.....do you see what I'm seeing?

In need of coffee we were next treated to a brief visit to the Arboretum - this will require an extended return visit sometime. The Bonsai house was an absolute joy........

Loved the colours and texture in the stone walls......

Etched hand rails on a viewing platform.....

Amazing sculpture - very clever......

By this stage the temperature had warmed up to about 10 degrees - but the sun was shining and there was no wind so it was quite a glorious day (for winter).

When I returned home I realised I had left my toiletries bag behind - doh! (to quote Homer Simpson). After my hostess had graciously posted it all back to me she discovered my travel shampoo bottle in the shower recess...... (double doh!)

Back at home there was a new determination to finish my 'Summer Quilt' (top) and it felt like considerable progress given that it had been underway for some time and that I had originally intended it to be on our bed last summer........(or was it the summer before??? )

The last three seams........

Finally together.......

Testing on the bed - it's big but dense quilting and washing will crinkle it up........

After that it was back on the road - but I think that's enough for now.....

Sue xxxx