Bloggy Love Tour and a Sur-Prize

Hello and welcome to Pat Sloan's Bloggy Love tour... But before we begin, I have to share my exciting news. Sorry Pat, but I have to be thrilled first and do some housekeeping first!

Firstly:

Thursday's Quilt Show word is: THIMBLE.

Come to the Down Under Quilts stand (which is right outside the actual quilt show) at 12pm, be the first to say THIMBLE to me and you will win tomorrow's Calico and Ivy fabric pack, which may or may not be Liberty. 

Today was the first day of the show and on the first day of the show comes the judging. I like to enter quilts but I don't ever expect to win - my quilts are not hand pieced masterpieces that take 12 years to make so I just put them in for fun and so people can see them. Today, however I won.

I entered two quilts from my new book, Quilting: from little things. I won Fourth prize in my category, which is New Traditions from Old Favourites.

The Night Garden

And I also won a special prize, Best Reproduction Inspired by an Antique Quilt. 

A Wing and a Prayer

Thank you so so much to the sponsors for my categories, Dayview Textiles and Quiltsmith for the lovely prizes. I'm so excited!

On with the bloggy love. The idea of this blog tour is that there are no prizes, no bells and whistles - just five bloggers linking to each other, all answering the same questions and getting their readers to find out about other terrific bloggers they may never have heard of before! Sound fun? Here we go....

1. What is the most interesting or unusual item in your studio?

Easy peasy. That would be this guy:

This is Bunny. Bunny was made for me by a sculptor who is a friend of the family. I had been showing her the very loved bunnies I made for my then very little boys - she was interested in their patched and patched bodies and their curvy shapes. I told her how I made the same bunny every time a friend had a new baby. Very soon after I had a huge car accident and was very nearly killed. Lindy heard about it and decided someone needed to make me a bunny too. Here is my Bunny. She made him just for me in her very distinct style, sent him to me in hospital and I love him very much. He stays in my studio.

2. Who would you like to hang out with for the day and why?

ooo that's a hard one. I can't think of just one so I'm going to cheat and have a dinner party. I promise, I'll cook! At the party would be Freddie Moran and Gwen Marston, my quilting heroes, because I would LOVE to meet them, gush over them like a total fan-geek and pick their brains.

Also at the dinner party would be Henri Matisse, Brett Whiteley and John Olsen, my favourite artists - difficult because two of them are dead. They would be there for interesting conversation, inspiration and general arty-ness.

Also present would be Hugh Jackman, to give me something pretty to look at. Although I'm sure he is very intelligent and witty and charming etc. But he wouldn't need to open his mouth.

I would invite some awesome girlfriends like Flo, Amy and Katy to ogle Hugh and geek out over Freddie and Gwen with me. And help me drink the French champagne, which would be mandatory.

Sting would provide relaxing dinner type music and Adriano Zumbo would do dessert. After all, I did the main. Want to come? Well you can't. My dinner table only seats ten :)

3. Give your Top Tip or a Tutorial:

I'm going to refer you back to my Flying Geese tutorial here - I know it's a rehash but it's one of my favourites and one of the best and quickest ways to make Flying Geese I know of!

So that's the Bloggy Love Tour from my end - make sure you go visit the other lovely Bloggy Love children here:

Amy: http://amyscreativeside.com/

Amanda: http://msmcporkchopquilts.com/

Bonnie: http://www.quiltville.com/

Pat: http://patsloan.typepad.com/

Have fun checking out new blogs everyone, and say hi from me!

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Makkie]

Okee, I came to see your blog as you asked on Twitter. Now you have to come to mine!
www.itsamakkie.blogspot.com

[joann]

What a fun blog Sarah---I shall visit it again---!! xo

[Salley Govey]

Hi Sarah Thankyou so much for the Fabric bundle today from Calico and Ivy. Yippeeeee! It has come to a very loving home.

And congratulations on the success of your quilts in The Quilters' Guild of NSW Exhibition. Awesome.

[Makkie]

Haha that's quick! I think you're funny!

[Erica]

Hey! Where's my dinner invitation? :-)

[Peta]

Congrats again! So happy for you! Glad you posted a pic of The Night Garden with the quilt no. I couldn't find it today. Will have another look tomorrow.

Love your dinner party choices...especially Hugh!

[Cass]

Congratulations

[Mary C in WA]

I know all and follow all but one of the blogs listed. Guess I'll be adding Amanda to my list today. Thanks for sharing. Congrats on winning at the Quilt show. That's a dream of mine someday!

[SUZANNE REICHARDT]

Congratulations Sarah, you must be thrilled with your prizes. Will check out the other blogs too. I was at Darling Harbour today and will be back on Friday- too much to see and do in just one day!

[Susan]

Oh Sarah, they gave you a ribbon that matches the border fabric!!! Fun.... Enjoyed seeing the up close pictures of the quilts before seeing the whole quilt.... makes the brain see some of the special points when finally grasping the whole.

Dinner sounds lovely..... I'll do the dishes just to come hang......

Now, not to nag or anything, BUT when is your new book going to hit the States??? and where????

Bloggin' along....toodles....

[Amy]

Congrats! Love your two quilts especially the garden one - especially the quilting! (I'm keeping my eyes peeled for your new book - any word on when it will hit US retailers?)

[amy]

CONGRATULATIONS, SARAH! Well-deserved prizes for gorgeous quilts! I love the up-close looks at the hand quilting -- amazing!! And thanks for the invite to your dream dinner party! I'm going to go buy a new outfit!

[pat sloan]

OHHHHHHH I WANT THAT EAGLE QUILT!!!!!! Is it in a book????

Ok... bloggy love fest.... your bunny story is amazing... and the dinner party... DIVINE... and I'm crashing it with my celebrity Chef... good eh?

[Cheryl]

I would love to be at that dinner party!
I'll be trying your method of flying geese soon...Thanks! Loving the blog hop..I found you via Bonnie Hunter

[Lee Ann]

Congrads on your win's. I love your "a wing and a prayer". Thanks for sharing your tip. Have to agree, Hugh is great eye candy.

[TheaM]

I would definitely invite Freddy & Gwen - they are terrific!!!
That's my fave way to make flying geese, too! Alex Anderson taught it at a mystery quilt workshop decades ago and I've used it ever since.

[Chris]

I am SO with you on inviting Hugh Jackman. I got to shake hands with him in Sydney. I almost swooned.

[Margery Dawe]

Well done Sarah. Just want to say that I have just ordered Quilting From Little Things today and can't wait for it to arrive!!!

[Jan MN/TX]

Thanks for the "FG" tutorial! Bonnie sent me, too!

[Sue Spargo]

Well done Sarah! Love those quilts.

[Connie]

Congrats on your wins! Night Garden look neat, and your tutorial is great. Pat sent me :)

[Barbara Young]

Great quilts, I can see why you won. Bonnie said to stop by and visit, I'm glad I did - are you sure you can't squeeze in another person at your dinner table?

[Carolyn]

OMG, I am still laughing about the Hugh Jackman comment - so true! HA
No surprise on your quilts winning, yours stuff is truly wonderful and very inspiring.
Thanks for the inspiration - and the good laugh!
Cheers,
Carolyn

[Saffron Craig fabrics]

The quilts are so beautiful. So pleased for you.

[Jean B]

Gorgeous quilts! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your wins! I think I wouldn't mind Hugh J. talking at my table. Love his accent! Looking would be great too! lol!