Christmas Table Runner

A few weeks ago I ordered one of my favourite magazines from the US taking advantage of the good exchange rate at the time (which was short lived), Quilting Arts. It's a rare event indeed that I have a) begun something from a current magazine and b) finished it and c) been able to use it before Christmas! Recently I did a machine quilting class with Ms Chan (whose first name I cannot remember!) from Kuching and I finally managed to do something other than practice on calico. Each section of this table runner is quilted slightly differently, but it was a great piece to test out some different stitching.

Some of the fabrics are from the "Olivia the Pig" range, which I sourced here in Singapore. They are lovely and bright and a bit of a change from the usual Christmassy greens and reds.

Peranakan Museum Singapore

A visit to the new Singapore Peranakan Museum showed some lovely textiles and beadwork. The Peranakans or Nyonyas are known for their elaborate wedding attire, beaded shoes and bags and the distinctive bright colours of their ceramics, Nyonyaware.

These beaded shoes are still on the beading loom.

Unfortunately no flash photography was allowed, so it's difficult to see the true colours.

The embroidery and beading on this pageboy wedding outfit is magnificent.

The tiled floor outside the kitchen could be a new design for a quilt!

The beadweaving is almost a forgotten art, but has been rediscovered by a local woman who now teaches classes.

Stately Homes & More Gardens......

This is the cottage garden at the stately home Stansted Park where my niece works in the tearooms (while she looks for a 'real' job). There is the chapel in the background and pretty English flowers which I really miss here in the tropics.

We haven't seen gardens like this for a long time in Australia either with the prolonged drought and severe lack of water.

Colour in Nature

My friend Ms T came to visit a few months ago and we headed to the Orchid Gardensat the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
I am always taken aback by the colour and beauty of the orchids - they are just stunning.

I have taken these pics with my trusty Casio Exilim 10.1mp. It's a great little camera which travels with me everywhere so I can hopefully capture a good shot or two.

I am currenty taking some interior design classes and find that nature is a great inspiration for which colours go well together.

Now having to choose a colour theme for my living room, I have completely turned full circle away from the reds I originally planned. Living in the tropics has changed all that and I can feel a cooling green theme taking over, perhaps with a splash of another bright colour.

Holidays!

It was great to spend a couple of weeks holiday in our home country recently. Miss14 and I drove up to visit my Mum and discovered the freeway now bypasses one of our favourite little towns, Malmsbury, which is well known for its great bakery. Being nearly lunchtime, we decided to stop there anyway. This is the lovely courtyard - perfect on a nice sunny day.


We only realised after seeing what we ordered how much we miss typical Aussie fare -
Big M, sausage rolls, proper toasted sandwiches, jam tart, a decent coffee and some yo-yo bikkies to take home for Mum. It was Yum!

Fabric Covered Journals

My friend Melinda is running classes to make these fabric covered journals. She has sourced all the bookbinding supplies as well as the gorgeous fabrics and ribbons. The test group had a great time making these. She is also going run classes for her lovely quilts.
I then returned for another class to make a covered recipe book. Diaries, journals, address books and guest books are just a few of the other options. What a great way to personalise a gift for someone. Don't they look awesome?
Mind you, I haven't written a thing in mine yet. Anything less than gold lettering or stunning penmanship will ruin it I'm sure.

Milo McDoodle

How cute is this little guy? He's perched in his favourite spot - on one of the armchairs with a silk cushion for added comfort. I have found a wonderful groomer who doesn't want to just chop all his wool off. Someone did ask me what I did with the leftovers - apparently I could spin it and knit the wool into a hat!