A quilt finish and a shop visit.

I couldn't be happier with my first quilt finish for 2010. Thanks to Lori for this wonderful doll quilt project. I love it, imperfect piecing and all. I even ran out of background fabric and substituted a few squares of another fabric.

I had a couple of days staying with my sister and brother in law and got a good session of hand quilting in which enabled me to race towards the finish line. For your info, I used a non fusible pellon for the batting to get a thin look and I'm quite happy with it for a doll quilt.

While I was on my mini retreat away from the little ones, I had a play with the camera around the garden. A couple of figs were ready for eating off the wonderful old tree in the yard. I had to add the house across the road, I was enamoured with the view of it peeking through the shrubbery.

I mentioned the quilt shop we discovered in Riverhead, Auckland called All Things Patchwork which specialises in designer fabrics and as promised, I took my camera. On the first visit, the battery had run out, on the second visit, the card had been left in the computer. I had to do it, I needed to go back a third time just so I could share with you. If you must know, I enhanced the stash on each and every visit. That will have to wait for next time, there are lots of photos.

You just know there are good things to come when you get to the entrance of the shop and spy this fabulous covered day bed and Kaffes on the opposite wall.

A better view.

Now I have this urge to upholster some old chairs, can you blame me?

A few of the bright, cheerful quilts just hanging around.

Along with the butterflies, dragonflies..............

flowers.............

dollies..............

and cushions which are offered as a beginners embroidery class at the shop.

Take a closer look, (you can click on the photos) these have been hand embroidered to compliment the fabric designs with one strand of embroidery thread all by Jo Dixey.

We were drooling over all of Jo Dixey's pieces including these embroidered pieces.

This one is a wonderful rendition of a pair of breasts, so clever!

We did go to another shop which specialised in Japanese fabrics, taupes  included. I didn't have my camera so I can't share but I did  get this fabulous book by Keiko Goke. I saw an exhibition of her quilts some years back and was pleased that they were included in the book. I purchased a small kit for a needlecase too, in wool which is a new thing for me to try.

I'm back home in a couple of days time so I'll show you my small  healthy stash enchancement then.