Sue Daley Designs

Arrived for a hens weekend and went home as trainee quilters.

It was Friday afternoon when the girls started to arrive, 8 in total ready for a good time.
They were here for a hens weekend and oh what a weekend it was.
Put a whole new meaning to eat drink and be merry.
Rachael is getting married in a few weeks and they were here to celebrate.
After a trip to the Eumundi markets and some retail therapy on Saturday morning they  settled in for the afternoon.
Here is what was left.
Not much.
Then they all tried their hand at being budding designers.
They had 32 rolls of toilet paper and they had to make the ideal wedding dress.
It was very funny.
Here are the three brides in their beautiful frocks.
Not sure that they would impress any groom though.
Here they are again as night falls getting ready to go for dinner.
The bride to be made some fantastic cocktails, not one that I was familiar with but I am here to tell you they were good.
They went into town for dinner and weren't seen again till morning.
Over the course of the weekend we had a few discussions about quilting and the girls admired some of my quilts. By this stage they all wanted to check out the office. One thing lead to another and the next thing five of them were gathered around the table having a patchwork lesson.
They went home not long after quite thrilled with their efforts as budding new patchworkers in training.
I did tell them that it was very addictive but I am not sure they believed me till they got started.
Time now to clean up and get ready for the next group of ladies to arrive.
Patchworkers this time for a 5 day retreat.
How lucky am I to be able to work in an industry that I love in a very beautiful part of the world.
I count my blessings everyday.

Till next time

Sue x x x

What a beautiful gift

How surprised was I when this wonderful  little gift arrived in the mail box for me.
I am participating in an Angel - Mortal swap at the moment and this is what my mortal (which is the person I am suppose to be sending presents to) sent to me.
Made beautifully by her very talented husband. How lucky am I?
I love timber things.

Here is another new "Playing with Paper pack" Pack No.21
We now have 32 "Playing with Paper packs. To view them you can go here.
I am off to do some more stitching before dinner.

Till next time

Sue x x x

Taking advantage of the beautiful sunshine.

We have had an unusually cold winter here on the Sunshine Coast so I decided to make the most of a beautiful sunny day and sit out in the sun and do a little hand sewing.
I wasn't there long when I was joined by my Mum who has been spending a couple of days with us.
She is such a treasure as she was helping me tack some paper pieces for a new quilt that I have been designing.
Before you all start to think that I am lucky enough to sit around sewing all day well, it wasn't long before I headed off to TAFE ( Night school for any overseas readers) We decided to brush up on some of our computer skills.
Here is Lynette and I on our first night. We were a little bit nervous to say the least but we survived and we will return again this week.
Last night I was laying out some paper piecing shapes on the floor. I got up for just a minute and returned to find Elke trying to help. The more she wagged her tail the further they spread  around the room.
She looks a tad guilty don't you think.
That will teach me for not sticky taping it together.
She is a beautiful natured dog so I couldn't even rouse at her.
Here is what it turned out to be after I collected up all the bits and started again.

Till next time

Sue x x x

Why is it so easy to clean out someone elses sewing room?

Over the weekend I promised my Mum I would help her clean out her sewing room. Why was it so easy for me to throw out some of her stuff? Yet it was sooo difficult for her to part with it even though she knew in her heart of hearts that she would never use some of it.
I guess that the attachment just wasn't there for me.
BUT! If someone were to come in and clean my stuff up I am sure they would want to throw out what I consider to be priceless treasure .
Maybe I should get someone in to be a little ruthless and cull some of my mountains of treasure???

We were busy over the weekend with guests.
This is what we served them for breakfast yesterday. It was very yummy.

I am at present getting ready for a number of retreats coming up in the next month at the B&B.
Planning menus and classes organising special treats for everyone.
One of those treats includes a "Death by Chocolate" night.
I will have lots of photos during the course of those retreats se be prepared to be tempted.
One group are the girls from Port Macquarie Quilt Co. in NSW.  They are very excited. By the way for anyone that lives near there Sue and Leigh have a huge sale on at the moment so for some great bargains go in and see them.

I was going through some of my samples today and I thought I would show you one of the quilts that I made several years ago but it is still a very popular pattern.
"Floral Hexagons" these are large quilt as you go hexagons- 6" finished on each edge. What an easy way to make a quilt

The other thing I wanted to show you also was what one of my students is making.

These hexagons were cut from this piece of fabric.

This was an extremely hard piece of fabric to work with for a first time paper piecer but I think Narelle did very well don't you.

Till next time
Sue x x x

I won an award and lunch out with Lynette Anderson

How exciting to win an award from Guute in Belgium.

Thankyou Guute. I have met so many wonderful people since I started my blog in February. It never ceases to amaze me how you can make friends with people that you never actually physically meet.
On the other hand we also get the opportunity to meet many people around the world that we wouldn't normally meet.
For instance we will be going to Germany next year for my son's wedding and I am now planning to meet up with Guute in Belgium. How exciting.
I am hoping that I will be able to do a bit of teaching over there as well.

I would like to award the following people with the Kreativ Blogger award.

Firstly Lynette, as she very kindly helped me in the begining when I swapped over to typepad. Lynette is one of Australia's leading designers. Lynette's blog always has great stuff on it. How cute are her animals. Especially Hugo.

My next is May Britt. May seems to make alot of projects and it is always nice to see the overseas girls
using our Australian designers patterns.
The other thing I like about May's blog is her little sayings she always adds to the end of her posts.

My third choice is Helen Stubbings. Helen is a great inspiration to many people and we are very proud of her here in Australia for the awards she has won overseas.

Number 4 would be Penny. What a great job she does running The Patchwork Angel and keeping her blog up to date. I have known Penny for sometime now and you could say that we are like 2 peas in a pod. Same sense of humour. That could be good and bad.

Last but not least I love Teddlywinks. Now who doesn't love teddy bears. Liz does the most amazing designs with her teddy quilts. They are so cute.

Today I had lunch with Lynette Anderson at a great little organic cafe at Cotton Tree called Sister.
The girl that owns it worked with Jamie Oliver and now she helps him out when he comes to Australia.

Lynette and I spent the afternoon eating of course and also making plans for something very exciting for the future. Can't say anymore about that until we do a bit more ground work. So stay tuned for further information.
This is what I had for my lunch. It was very yummy.

Till next time

Sue x x x

A big clean up and a great couple of pattern writing days.

The mess was getting all to much for me. So, for the past 3 days I have been cleaning up, throwing out and generally getting myself organised and boy it feels good.
 

 I don't know about anyone else but I have so many designs on the go at the moment that it was just all getting too much.
I had to make a concerted effort to finish off and write up some patterns.
I managed to finish off 4 new designs but failed to write up the patterns. However I did manage to write up 5 other patterns.
I think it must be because I had tidied up.
I hope that tomorrow will be just as successful.
The only one I can show you now is a new "Playing with Paper" pack No. 22.

I haven't done the photos for the others yet so you will have to be just a little bit patient.
But you all know that when I do there will be more give aways so you better keep checking back to see when that might be.

Till next time
Sue  x x x

Two more winners

It was interesting to see that Pack 30 was by far the most popular of all.
I have two lucky winners for the "Playing with Paper" packs

Noemia chose pack 25
and
Kathy - akathy@  chose pack 30.
Congratulations. Please send me your addresses so as I can get these off to you both.
Thankyou to everyone who left comments. Everyone always says such lovely things and it always brightens my day. So thankyou again.
Apart from hitting the Gym 3 mornings a week at 6.30am my days have been filled with designing and sewing this week. "YES" I am in my glory.

I am actually trying my darndest to write another book but I think it could be turning into 2 books as I am travelling down 2 different paths.
One is definately on English Paper piecing and the other ? Hmm. You will just have to be patient.
My head is like a washing machine that I can't turn off.

I have a few little sneek peaks for you to see.
Not too much information now.


Now I did tell you I can't give too much away.
There are a few other pictures but they were a bit blurry so you will have to wait until next time.

I have also been writing up some other patterns. They have actually been proof read as well TADAA
I cease to amaze myself sometimes. Seems like a miracle.
Just got to do a few little changes and there will be more give aways. How exciting.

This morning I am teaching and then it will be back to the drawing board for me.

See you all next time

Sue x x x

Look where I've been

Last Thursday after teaching my regular weekly class at Cooroy. Jim and I headed off to Glenrose Patchwork at Warwick where I was teaching a fine hand quilting class.
I just love going out there for many reasons which I will show you.
This is the beautiful little cottage that we stayed in.
How cute is that.
Here is where we slept. The little bears were just keeping it warm. It was a tad cold over there I must say.
This is where our breakfast was served each morning. Such a treat for us as we are usually on the other end of the serving at our own B&B.
Glenis has a beautiful shop jam packed full of wonderful stuff which I just has to relieve her of some This is the front of the shop. I forgot to get one of the inside.
Enough relaxing and lazing around it's off to work for me. I know it's hard but someone has to do it.
Here are some of the girls hard at work each one finally mastering their hand quilting.
Oops a bit of a blurry photo.
Great company, great food, great shopping and great accomodation. Did I mention we also did our fuit and vegie shopping as Glenis and Percy also own a fruit shop. Man they work hard
After 2 nights we had to leave to come home so we headed off to Toowoomba where I did some serious damage on the plastic at Precious Time and then headed to Highfields to The Quilter's Angel where I did a little more spending.
Lunch at the Chocolate Cafe next door and we headed on home.
All I can say is "What a way to have to work" I am so lucky to be able to work in such a fabulous industry that I enjoy so much.

Back to reality as I was straight into hosting and cooking for a HIgh Tea.

Next post I will announce the winner of the Playing with Paper packs so stay tuned.

Till then

Take care

Sue x x x

New Playing with Paper Packs to give away

Do you ever feel like you are on a Merry go round and you just can't get off?
My life is still somewhat like that at the moment but day by day I seem to be making a little headway.
We have been really busy with the B&B and even more so with the Patchwork. Poor Jimmie barely gets to see the light of day.
I have put a few more designs into "Playing with Paper" packs.
The little packs are very cute and look like this.
And they are
Pack 13
Pack 25
And Pack 30
I am giving away 2 packs.
All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog and tell me which Pack that you would like to win.
If you announce on your blog about my giveaway then the prize will also include a mystery pattern.
Good luck.
I will draw the winner on Sunday evening.
I hope that you are all going to join us in the Stitchers' Angel. To register hop on over to Helen's Blog.
It's going to be so much fun.

Well back to the pattern writing. I have decided I cannot start anything new until I write up 5 patterns.Hmmm. Not sure if I can stick to that.

Till next time

Sue x x x

Stitchers' Angel Swap

As you can see I am a Stitchers' Angel Designer.

If you would like to know more head on over to Hugs and Kisses new blog where Helen reveals all.
Free projects, stitching angels and secret womens business??
I join Helen (the master mind) with other great designers like Lynette Anderson, Natalie from Cinderberry Stitches and May Britt
The deadline for joinig us is 15th August.
I hope that you will all come and join us for some great fun.

I will leave you today with a little thing my dad wrote for me a few years ago,

"The Quilter's Creed"
Love, Devotion and Unstinted time.

Till next time

Sue x x x