Sweet Fabric:
redwork

I'm very happily back to Melbourne drizzle. It was lovely & cool on the run this morning.

This is my most recent pair of Asics. I did actually head into Active Feet before I headed out of town & am now sporting a new pair of runners (toe not yet worn through). My shoes were stitched by hand which I thoroughly enjoyed. I used stem stitch, running stitch & chain stitch for the shoe. I chose to french knot the tongue & the ankle cushioning which was very time consuming but very satisfying.

Perhaps not the best time to take off ... I arrived home yesterday morning to a mountain of quilt project blocks. Each of them are wonderful & I am very much looking forward to sharing the completed "quilt" with you. I am horribly behind with the Flickr commenting but you might like to see some of the amazing pieces worked in red that have been sent in here.

If you've been following the project & if you think you might like to see the completed quilt in person ... you might want to mark 23 October in your diary. Details coming soon.

It feels good to be home, I'm looking forward to catching up on all your news & having a chat.

I'm absolutely all about the redwork. Things could be a bit boring around here until it's done but I promise to mix things up a bit.

Colouring in with French Knots is so satisfying (if a little on the slow side). It's touchability is high which is pretty important to me.

I'm a bit worried that my piece will be a bit on the grubby side by the time it all comes together.

Check our quilt project progress here.

I've made a pretty solid start on my square for the quilt project. I can't wait to get home from curtaining so that I can stitch a little more.

I'm really enjoying the slow & steady as I'm feeling there has been so much rushing. Rushing the kids around, rushing to make decisions about the house, rushing to pick things up...you know the drill.

You can visit last weeks favourite space here.

Don't forget to pop in and add your link if you're playing along this week.

OK :: The link isn't working...again! Sorry but this is the perfect opportunity for me to plead with you all to sign up to JS Kit. Then we can all just visit from your name. It will take us straight to your blog if you sign up! Even better if you upload an avatar then I can see at a glance exactly who you are.

Have tested further (& now rushing to curtaining...argh). So...if you comment with your blogger id or JS Kit it's going to work. I'd still love you to consider an avatar if you're so inclined. I really like to know which "Kirsty" just by seeing your little image. It seems this is actually a JS Kit issue. I've logged a help ticket.

THANKS & sorry.

is something special.

I have co-ordinated 3 community based friendship quilts and loved so much the sense of belonging & the unity & the thought of many hands working together to make one "something".

I've been stewing on The Quilt Project for a good long time now. Everytime I look at my Great Grandmother's Redwork quilt I've thought about it more & more. I feel a connection with those women. Women who made time to stitch these intricate designs in only red just to share a piece of themselves with someone else. It gives me goosebumps. I'm the only person who really gets to enjoy my piece of redwork history & so I thought I'd like to have a go at organising a contemporary redwork piece that once complete will be published online so that everyone can enjoy it.

About 18 months ago I purchsed a huge stack of calico squares all overlocked in red. I've got 50 squares to post out & I'd love you to be a part of it.

I thought about sending personal invites, but you know...you never know where the gold might lie. I want participants to be as passionate & as excited about this project as I am. You don't have to restrict yourself to embroidery. There are some more ideas & information included with the PDF info sheet.

If you think that this is something you'd like to have a crack at then visit The Quilt Project page & download the PDF. See edit in red below.

To secure your place you need to return the 2nd page of the PDF to the email address provided on that page.

Places will be allocated in order of email receipt of completed sign up sheet.
Edit: We're over 50 - thank you to everyone who's signed up.

Thanks.

The Quilt Project is now complete & has it's own site here...

The Quilt Project

the afternoon away.

Thinking about Ike Rosen, community & history.

Last month I posted the beginnings of this bag.

It's taken me ages, but I'm finally finished.

I love this bag every bit as much as the boomerang bag. Best of all I don't have to fight anyone for it.

I've had a love affair with redwork for a very long time because of this friendship quilt.

The redwork was given to me by Jess.
Op Shopped: French silk ribbon, zip, belts & red & white valance used for lining.

period.

Of course, I'm no Picasso but I figure I'm entitled to a little red influence.

I've been obsessed with all things red for quite some time.

This friendship quilt is what really began my love affair with red.

It was made as a parting gift for my Great Grandmother when she left Canada in the 1920's. It was my Grandfather's bedspread as a child & I am now the custodian of it! It is my most treasured item. When I was growing up it lived in a trunk at the end of my Mum's bed. I used to get it out & run my fingertips over the stitches. So much history & so much love.

I'm determined to have a crack at some redwork in the next couple of months. I just love it.

Welcome to my Red Phase (not being called a period for obvious reasons). I'll be sharing lots of red goodness over the next few days.