Open days

It's coming to the end of the working year in Sydney. Yes, I know it's only November, but things slow down now until they come to a complete stop by the start of the summer holidays. We don't really come back to life until February.

How do you know summer is approaching? Open Days. Here are three great places to visit in Sydney in the next couple of weeks.

The first is the wonderful shop of Kirsten and Cath, Prints Charming. I probably can't say it better than this:

In the same vicinity, Lisa of Dyed and Gone to Heaven is holding a wonderful sale at her studio on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November.

You can read more about Lisa' sale here.

The following week, on Saturday 5 December, is the annual Material Obsession Swap Day. I defy you to read about it here and not want to rush straight over! Loads to see and do.

Don't you wish you were going to be here?

Solitude and creativity

I've been reading about the quilt makers who each won a major prize at the IQA show in Houston this year. I was struck that it was important for many of them to work in solitude. I'd really encourage you to comment on this.

I'm referring to the short profiles of the winning quilters in International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene magazine. Caryl Bryer Fallert (Best of Show winner) said: "While I love the whole quilting subculture and all of the great friends it brings into my life, the actual making of a quilt is, for me, a solitary activity."

Fusako Takido (The Founders Award winner) said: "Quilting is a solitary activity for me, although I do attend Keiko Miyauchi's lectures."

Liz Jones (The World of Beauty Award winner) said: "Quilt making is not a social occupation for me as I find I have to concentrate fully when doing machine applique or quilting."

Denise Havlan (The Fairfield Award for Contemporary Artistry winner) said: "...my creative spirit is most alive when I am alone, with no distractions other than the sounds of the lake, fresh air, and sometimes music."

Hollis Chatelain (Superior Threads Master Award for Thread Artistry winner) said: "Quilt making itself is more private, but once the quilts are out there, it's a very social thing."

I relate strongly to these comments. Thinking, designing, drawing and more thinking - these are very private parts of my process. I can't bear distractions, like music or other noise. Once I start cutting and sewing, I can lose myself in the activity. After I have prepared pieces for sewing, I can become social, but until that happens, it's a private process. It's only after I feel that my idea or project is fairly developed in my mind that I can let it become public.

Writing is the same for me. The process can sometimes be easy and free-flowing. Other times, it can be laborious and every word is wrung out of my mind. For me, creating is an intensely personal and precious activity and it requires focus.

If you're still reading, thanks! I find the creative process endlessly fascinating. I'd love to know more about yours, so I invite you to leave a comment.

Another one finished

In between fiddling with my computer last week, I finished this small Feathered Star quilt. It is 70cm square, hand pieced and hand quilted. I have been attracted to the pink/yellow colour combination for the past year and I can still appreciate its appeal, so maybe there's another quilt in those colours in me yet. I think this one deserves to be on display on one of my walls.

PS: Congratulations to Deborah, whose first grandchild, Sadie Deborah, was born last night. She promises to post photos soon!

Tulip applique

My first small applique quilt is done! I learnt plenty while navigating the points and curves, so the next attempt should be better. If you look carefully, you can see small tulip shapes quilted on the background. I think I might quilt a few more to fill some spaces.

Delivered today

Look what arrived in my letterbox today - a copy of International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene magazine. Wonderful full-page photos of the major Houston winning quilts as well as some history about the Houston show. There are projects, too, including the quilt on the cover made by friend Sarah. Yay!

My copy came from from Unique Stitching, so if you are in Australia and want to snaffle a copy, go here.

Cut off

My computer died yesterday and I immediately felt totally cut off from the world. Quite a ridiculous reaction, really, but it just shows how much I depend on my computer and its technology to reach out to the world.

Luckily, I had the time to go to the shops and buy a replacement computer. That was the quick, easy part. Loading software applications, drivers and all my data is an ongoing and sometimes frustrating activity, which probably won't be finished for some time. All my data was backed up, so I shouldn't have lost anything, but... it's taking so much time!

Zigzag love

I find it interesting that certain shapes and patterns appear in my quilts in batches. I've had a couple of zigzag projects in various stages for most of this year. This hand pieced project is starting to come together this week as I join the blocks with sashing. While the colours in the pic have a washed-out look, it's good enough to give you the general idea of how the quilt is developing.

You'll recognise these blocks as Grandma's Star. Lovely to piece, these ones are made with small pieces of various green/blue fabrics. I need to make a few more blocks to finish the centre section, then I can work out the borders.

I enjoy seeing how a quilt develops, because each design seems determined to go in its own direction. Although I had a specific idea for this right from the beginning, it still may not turn out the way I first envisaged. We'll see...