For the Love of Oz

I'm madly in love with Australian designs and designers! I think the first time I truly felt my quilter's heart stirring with Oz love was when I saw Lynette Anderson's Friends for Christmas quilt.

I've had the book for years now--I think it's from 1992--and I still haven't made the quilt but it's right up there on my list of quilts I REALLY want to make!

Then there's this one on the cover--quilting and stitchery. Be still my heart.

Well, I'm getting ahead of myself a little. Somewhere along my quilting path, I started picking up the occasional Australian quilt magazine. The designs were just different enough from what we were doing here in the U.S. to make them very interesting to me. And somewhere else along the way--and not too long ago--I discovered Australian Homespun was my VERY FAVORITE Australian quilt magazine--because it has so much more than quilts, and we don't have anything here in the U.S. to compare. So, sometime around last summer, Granny Loz and I did a magazine swap--she sent me the three magazines containing the blocks for the Christmas quilt on the cover of that magazine above, and I sent her Fons and Porter magazines--I think I got the better end of the bargain!

I don't recall when I discovered Bronwyn Hayes and Red Brolly, but I think it might have been through blog reading awhile back. Maybe Darlene. She always has good stuff. So I've tracked down a couple Bronwyn Hayes books. This is one that I had out recently to drool and dream over.

And I came upon another new block-of-the-month type project in this magazine not long ago:

This is another stitchery quilt with blocks designed by many of the well-known Australian designers--it's called The Breast of Friends and was designed as a breast cancer benefit quilt. If you click on the photo, you may be able to see some of the designers.

Gran and I are sharing in the expense for the magazines for this project, because here in the U.S., these magazines can cost a pretty penny, particularly after you take into account shipping costs. I bought the first two and she's buying the next two. Then it will be my turn again. Several of us have asked Lindy at Bearpaws & Hollyhocks to see about getting the magazines in the shop, and I think that's in the works. Since we have a rather large group of embroiderers now, thanks to Gran's embroidery class, as well as quilters, I don't think Gran and I will be the only customers looking to purchase the magazines!

And my latest "find"? I was browsing around Etsy the other day, looking at shops other than my own, and I came across AussieSewingSavvy. Linda, the Etsy shop owner, had a brick-and-mortar shop and is relocating, so she's selling much of her stock. Her prices are really reasonable--a bargain, really!--and shipping's pretty inexpensive and quick. I ordered these three patterns about a week ago, and they arrived today.

Aren't they cute? I SERIOUSLY want a quilt with black cats wearing bathing suits--really! I think I'll need to start that one soon. Of course, I think I need to start ALL of these projects soon! I guess I'd better get off the computer and go do something quilty! Thanks for stopping by!