The Quilted Crow Girls

One week since our Gathering . .

Can you believe that it is one week since we hosted our Christmas Gathering out at Campania and this is the first post from us about it!??  Good grief - where has the time gone?  I know we have been really busy cutting our Block of the Months, Pincushion Clubs, Laura's Legacy and Fabric Club, but we're not making any excuses!  Well may be just a couple . . .

We had the most fantastic day.  A group of 80 ladies joined us in the hall for a day or stitching, eating, chatting and just having a good time.  Would you believe me if I told you I forgot to take the camera . . . I was not happy with myself . . . so Helen said I could blog lift some photos from her blog - such a lovely girl . . . (on ya Stubbsy!) along with some other bloggy friends . . thanks guys!

Here's the hall all ready before the troops arrived . . .

All the ladies hard at work . . .

Rosalie Quinlan's new fabric range which we received just in time for the day . . . and the ladies loved it!

We have already had ladies book for next year and we haven't even set the date yet!   Will probably be late March or early April but we will be sure to keep you posted.

Will try to get some more photos to share with you over the next week but for now it is time to get some bits and pieces together for Quilt Market in Melbourne this week - jet off on Friday morning, back late Sunday night - no rest for the wicked!

Until next time

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

Making new friends . . .

How wonderful it is to meet new people and make new friends.  Even though we have already been home one week we would like to share with you some of the wonderful new friendships that were formed whilst on our trip away. 

We were really excited to meet Donna from our "sister shop" The Quilted Crow in the States.  We don't know who was the most excited, her or us.  Unfortunately her partner Sue wasn't able to make it to market so we weren't able to meet her but I'm sure Donna passed on all the excitement!

Then the lovely Julie Hendrikson from JJ Stitches and Renee Plains from Liberty Star - what a fun duo these two are - just absolutely delightful and we're making plans for them to come and play with us in Australia in twleve months or so - what a hoot!

The lovely Betsy Chutchian whose first book 'Gone to Texas' (published by Kansas City Star Books) made it into my suitcase - we were lucky enough to see the antique quilt that was featured in the book . . . sorry, but I can't get this photo to work . . and it's a lovely one of Betsy with THE quilt!!  Sorry Betsy!!

And Pam from the Piecemakers Quilt Shop in Hackensack - thanks for the invite to come and play with you next year after Spring Market.

 

These are just some of the lovely people we met - thanks for making our time so special in your lovely country.

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

The crows at market . . .

Well after some scouring around antiques shops looking for props it was time to head down to the George R Brown Convention Centre to start setting up.  Here’s what we faced . . hmmm . . . where do we start?

So after lots of moving things about, up and down ladders, here is what we came up with . . .

And then the view of the complete stand under the “Pattern Press” banner with five Aussie designers . . . Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi  . . .!

We left the venue about 11pm that night, starving hungry and sleep deprived.   Order in pizza was the go, and after an hour and a half it finally arrived!  Check out the size of it!!

One slice is all I needed!!!

So with full tummies it was time for bed at 1am in readiness for the days ahead. . . lots more to share with you . . .talk soon.

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre – The Quilted Crow Girls

It’s all about Deirdre today -picture heavy

Now for those of you don’t know, Deirdre is the cowgirl of the two of us.   We had to stop at her “little piece of heaven” the famous “Cavendars  Boot City” store just out of town.

Even though she thinks she’s a cowgirl, she doesn’t do the line dancin’ so I showed her how it was done .. .

Aren’t these just the cutest little things . . .

After all her spending money was gone it was time to crack the whip and get out of there .. . . EXCESS BAGGAGE LOOK OUT!

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Then it was time for a bit of fun in Walmart in the Halloween isles . . . the girls getting ready to cast their spells . .!!

And yes, I just had to try it on . . . HOT DIKKEDY DOG!!

And our ride back to our accommodation . . . we wish!

More later

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre – The Boot Scootin’ Crow Gals

We’re here in Houston!!

After a long and exhausting but very exciting trip, we finally made it to Houston yesterday. 

Now this is what I call a BIG plane!   It was enormous!

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Deirdre just doing another time check . .  “now if it’s 11am here then it’s going to be . . .” and so on it goes!

After a  very long flight (which was loads of fun) we finally made it to LA and then onto Houston with another airline.

The weather is unbelievably hot and humid – a vast difference to our Tassie weather which family tell us is a chilly 8 degrees cels today.

Today saw us doing some shopping for our booth (and our families who have put in one or two orders!).  It’s an amazing place – most of the shops are all underground – tunnels everywhere – and food – my goodness – there is so much to chose from!  And tomorrow off to Galveston for some sightseeing before the real work begins.

But for now it is time for some sleep before we pound the paths again!

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre – The Quilted Crow Girls

Just one more sleep . . .

We can't believe that it is only one more sleep until we jump on that big plane.  So many things to think about . . . Have I packed this?  Do I need that ?  It's a sad state of affairs when your clothes have to fit in your carry on because your two large suitcases contain all of your samples!!  Guess it's a good excuse to have to do some shopping over there! 

I have just about finished my new block of the month which we will be taking.  I ditched the 6" appliques in favour of some piecing around the centre block and I think it has worked well.  I just have to add some leaves now to the flowers in the outside borders - which I will be stitching on the plane!

And I must be mad . . . I have decided to hand quilt this one!   Obviously that won't be done before we get to Houston!

Here's a photo just taken out in the backyard - my two little helpers not doing such a good job of keeping it straight!  But it gives you an idea of how it's looking!

Lots more to do so must be off - our next post will be from HOUSTON!!  Woo Hoo!!

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

Four days to go . . .

Woo hoo . . . four days to go til we jump on that plane . . . we are bursting with excitement - mind you, the list of things we still have left to do is as long as our arms . . . and that's all four joined together!

For those of you who are coming to our Christmas Gathering on the 31st October, here are some photos of Deirdre's projects . . . I told you she was a smartypants . .

"Christmas Wishes" . .

"Kiss under the mistletoe" . .

"Punchneedle Purse" . .

And just because our Gathering falls on Halloween and Deirdre is the Halloween Queen, she just couldn't help herself . . . introducing "Crazy Cat" and "Pumpkin Jack", two little backpacks for trick or treating . . . won't the kiddies love these!!

Back into 'crisis mode' .

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

Five days to go . . .

Oh my gosh . . . only five days to go now until we depart for Houston to attend Quilt Market !!

We are just sooooo excited!!!  This will be our first time as exhibitors so we are also quite a bit nervous about the whole thing but gee wizz, you have to be in amongst it don't you and you'll never know if you don't give it a go!!

Now remember I was telling you about "Little Miss Smartypants" (aka Deirdre), here is a photo of one of her new quilts called "Ashley's Quilt" - she has appliqued our beautiful felted wool onto a pieced cotton background .  .

Doesn't it look fantastic - she's a clever little thing!

My work in progress is just that - a work in progress - but I can see a teeny weeny light shining at the end of the tunnel . . .

Back to the grind - we still have LOTS to do before we get on that plane!

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

Nearly finished . . .

Time is quickly running out but I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel  Only twelve more days until we depart for Quilt Market in Houston and I need to have this new Block of the Month ready . . the poor fingers are nearly raw but I hope that it will be worth it at the end. 

Here is a little peek at part of the side border . .

Some more work to go on it yet then the six inch applique blocks to go - only sixteen of them - ONLY she says with a groan!  Where is the chocolate?

Clever Deirdre already has her two new quilts ready - all quilted and everything!  Little Miss Smartypants - but I do love her!  I'll post some photos next time for you all to see.

So no time today for lots of chatter - must be off to do some more stitching!!  And find another chocolate stash . .

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

And the winners are . . .

Firstly, thanks so much for all of your lovely comments about my Stitchers Angel project - glad you all liked it! 

The two lucky ladies who have won a kit to make this project are Gran - September 15th 3.13pm and Kirsi - September 15th 8.19pm - CONGRATULATIONS!!  Please send us your snail mail address and we will get a kit in the post to you both.

Only a very short post today - I am madly working on my latest Block of the Month which is wool applique on a cotton background and I need to have it finished by the end of next week - only two borders to go and twelve six inch blocks to applique - eeekkkkk!!  So it is head down for me but I promise to post some photos on Monday, so pop by and have a look and see what you think.

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls