Another chapter in my life has begun

Hi everyone,

Last Friday week I worked my last day at The Patchwork Angel.  I have worked there for the last 5 years and have loved it. BUT.... my family need me and I need them. I am still quilting for people, so don't panic girls.  I have basically been working 2 jobs for the last 4 years and just can't do it anymore, neither can my kids and husband. So on the last school holidays we decided that my time at the shop will come to an end.

It was a sad time but I also knew this is right for my family.  I started to say goodbye to regular customers, but knew I would still see them again, they were very supportive, sad and happy for me. Thank you everyone.

While working at the shop I have had many wonderful experiences, learnt a ton of stuff about quilting, people and this industry and meet some very amazing people.

I will miss :

• the girls I have worked with for the past 5 years
• my UFO girls I have spent thursdays helping for the past 4 years
• all the customers I have helped and meet
• sharing the happy and sad moments in quilters lives that their quilts have been made for
• the new quilters that don't know just how much this is going to be apart of them and their lives
• the excitment, joy and the "I made this" look of quilters bringing in their quilts finished
• opening boxes from suppliers full of fabric, maybe the girls will let me open one in sympathy

I will not miss:

• working saturdays
• Block of the Month paperwork. Love sending them out, just not the paperwork.
• cold floors in the church during winter, my toes get very cold and don't thaw out
• my kids achievements
• the kids happy and sad times
• weekends with the my family

The girls at The Patchwork Angel tried saying goodbye to me, but I didn't want to, because I knew I would seeign them again soon, it's not like I was moving away.  I routinely worked 2 days a week and would leave my shopping for those days so I mostly was only in the shop twice a week. But since leaving approximately 7 working days ago I have been back in the shop, collecting or dropping off quilts for customers 4 that FOUR times already and I still have another trip to make this week.  So they have not gotten rid of me yet!! lol.

At first I thought I might get a chance to quilt some of my own quilts, but this week I don't think so now...

Anyway, thank you everyone for helping find out what I want to do when I grow up.

Love Fiona

A William Morris Beauty

This is Anita quilts.  Designed by Michelle Hill, this quilt is from one of her books.  Anita started this quilt in classes with Michelle Hill in South Australia. Now Anita has moved to Queensland recently and had to find a new quilter- enter me.

Let me tell you I was scared to start this one.  So much work involved and Anita asked for echo quilting.  I kept thinking if she is not happy with the end result, there will be alot of crying unpicking to do.

Anyway, Anita was very happy with her quilt.  In fact she took it to a Show and Tell only a few days later with binding complete.

I have since received another William Morris quilt from another quilter - this one is not being echo quilted.

A small Place called Norfolk Island

I have had some fun working on a quilt for Kay of Norfolk Island.  I had to post the quilt to her and am very relieved to hear Kay has got her quilt all safe and sound.

Now Norfolk Island is a very small Island between Australia and  New Zealand.  It looks very beautiful and serene and has a very interesting history to it.  It is thought to have been first settled by Polyenesian people then abandoned, then twice a Convict Penal Colony for the British.  Then some of the descendants of the infamous Bounty ship mutineers moved to the Island with the Queen of Englands blessing.

Here is a site on Norfolk Island with more information, have a read it is fascinating.

Anyway back to Kays Poppy quilt.  It is from Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine.  It was published over a few months.  There looks like a lot of piecing involved, but certainly worth the work.

Enjoy!!