Christmas Celebrations

What a wonderful time we have had the past few days. This year there are two extra little ones to celebrate with and the others are all a year older. Here is my brother with his wife and three week old Cooper. Below is my delightful Cameron - it is had to believe he was smaller than Cooper just 5 months ago. You can see he is enjoying his Christmas lunch!

Thomas was another year older making Christmas that much more fun (for him and us!).

Then it was time for both big and little men to have a nap.

Last day for Christmas Giveaway

I can't believe it is nearly Christmas! 1 more sleep to go. There is the last minute wrapping of presents and of course the tidying!

I finished my flannel quilt for homespun - It was of course in the mid 30's as I was binding it! I wasn't sure how big to make the blocks. Steve chose the size they are. I think guys don't like their quilts too fussy. It is a simple project based on fat quarters.

Dont forget today is the last day to get your pictures in of your quilt as you go (QAYG) projects to win the 20 Christmas fat quaters and All thing Christmas Pattern Set. Just e-mail a QAYG hexagon project you have made to prizes@busythimbles.com.au. There is a pattern below if you are looking for inspiration!

I hope you have a lovely Christmas.

Designer of the Month Part 2

It's time for Part 2 of our chat with Sue Daley from Patchwork with Busyfingers.

With the hexagon designs taking off Sue grew fond of English paper piecing and with a little encouragement from her friend Kay Haydon it became a large part of her business and she now supplies patterns and pre-cut paper packs all over the world.
“Paper piecing has taught me to view fabrics through different eyes, fabrics I would never had considered using I now grab with both hands because I know they will work within this form” Sue says. Can you see how she has fussy cut the fabric above into the pieces below?


She goes on to say “Fussy cutting these small shapes can create the most wonderful designs and it never ceases to amaze me what a not so nice piece piece of fabric can be turned into with this technique.”


Sue has designed many, many beautiful patterns using a combination of English paper piecing, needle turn appliqué and fine hand embroidery.


With her business in full swing and the huge year she has planned for 2009, travelling all over Australia and overseas to Europe and the U.S. it is amazing that Sue can find the time to come up with so many new and interesting designs.

She pays credit to the wonderful team she has behind her and particularly to her husband Jim who keeps her on track by managing the business.

One final thing that Sue said was
“Our lives are so busy and I think that this is one area we do have control over and it is great to be able to step away from our day to day stuff to enjoy the patchwork journey”

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Christmas Hexagon Pattern & Giveway

As promised, here is the pattern from Sue for a wonderful Christmas Quilt as you go hexagon. Don't forget we have a wonderful giveaway for one lucky person - just e-mail your quilt as you go project to prizes@busythimbles.com.au

We have a winner plus the next competition.

Following our giveway competition last week, Kerry (Forever Friday) was the one selected from the draw. Can you please e-mail me your details so I can sent the pack to you. Our next competition - in celebrate of Sue's quilt as you go hexagons is to send us a photo of your quilt as you go hexagon project. It could be a Christmas decoration, a bag or a mat - just e-mail to prizes@busythimbles.com.au If you don't have a pattern - check back soon - Sue will be posting a special one up. We will have some great prizes to give away just in time for Christmas.

I have been busy this week working on a quilt for Homespun. I love working with flannels. This will be a very simple mens brick quilt - warm and snuggly. It is always strange though working for the magazines as they need the quilts so far ahead. Summer is a odd time to be working with flannel!


My lovely Thomas turned three this week, so I had the weekend "off" so to speak and spent the weekend preparing for the birthday party. Note the shirt change between making the cakes and eating them!
How are you going with Christmas ideas? I loved this pattern from Material Possessions. - embroidered with the saying "People who don't believe in Santa get underwear for Christmas".

Designer of the Month - Sue Daley

It's time to meet some of the faces behind the patterns. Our inaugural Designer of the Month is Sue Daley from Patchwork with Busyfingers.

Sue is the face behind many so many beautiful projects. She loves creating quilts and associated thingies.

With each project she finds comfort in the beauty of hand worked creations.
It is no surprise that Sue started sewing at a very young age inspired by her mother who was a dressmaker and fine hand embroiderer.

In the beginning her patchwork journey began as a “Mad machine piecer” but later found her passion in handwork. Her forte now is English paper piecing, needleturn appliqué and fine hand quilting.

Sue’s quilting interests made a natural progression towards creating her own designs and teaching others. She went on to open her own business “Patchwork with Busyfingers”. It travelled along well until she came up with a design that propelled her business into the unexpected realms of chaos which was very exciting times. The “Hexagon Bag” pattern turned her life upside down and for 5 years Sue and her family lived and breathed Quilt as you go Hexagons. The bag became the launching pad for many great things.
People were hungry for designs made from QAYG hexagons and Sue found herself filling those needs as she came up with many and varied designs. Her book Hexagons from the Guest House contains many beautiful and decorative designs:


Still today she comes up with other treasures using that technique:


Next time you will read what happened next in Sue’s amazing patchwork journey. Don't forget we have our threads pack giveaway which includes one of Sue's patterns. Just post a comment to go in the draw.