At Last, A Promise Fulfilled... In The Spirit Of The Elections...

If I wasn't impatient and a little bit 'she'll be right', I'd photocopy this to make the white-out vanish.

But here it is... The Pattern To Construct The Crazy Bag!!

OK, I Know You've Seen Them (The Cards) Before...

... But I want to sell them out... out of moving, storing, having. They want (too) to take wing and fly away, away into the world.

GO HERE for a geek..

Any 10 for $20AU... ie. $2 each for 10 or more.

Plus postage which isn't a lot... s'pose you think I should have checked that out... maybe it's about $5 for Over Seas, and maybe $4 for Oz? I'll call it that until I figure out otherwise. If it's less you'll get the cheaper, if it's more you won't.

So, 10 x one design

or

10 mixed in any way you see fit.

Or, 1 of one design and 2 of another + 3 of yet another plus 1 of a different other and 3 bluebirds, or that plus 2 St. Basil's Cathedral... ye ken?

145 ml square with nice clean proper cello covers and real, normal, grown up envelopes (they're not different sizes like in the photo's).

rmsquare@connexus.net.au

Unabashed Christmas sprucing...

So Named 'Fluffy Bee' For Obvious Reasons

And difficult to photograph, being in an elaborately constructed, glassed box-frame. I did this in late 1997. Just as I was on the finishing run, Jane Nicholas's first book came out, bless her. Finger on the pulse. Zeitgeist. All that.

It (Fluff Fluff) is made in three seperate pieces using calico or something... Fluffy Stitch / Velvet Stitch / Ghiordes Knots / Turkey Stitch. I call it Velvet. Actually, I usually go straight to Fluffy.

Then you applique them onto an already embroidered slip. Now look, if you want further instructions on how to do the wings, I'll give them, but you have to ask or I won't feel it neccessary. Happy to, but not if no-one cares.

Hang on, I'll go photograph my background design... haven't done it myself but others have... Might as well post them here since I'm not doing classes anymore.

Have a look here too, for other applications.

I Made This For My Honey Bunch...

...Before he came to stay and I could keep him warm myelf. Although we do indulge in a bit of hot water bottle behaviour these days in spite of the 'spoons' advantage.

Even though my Mum had one burst on her and had a blister from elbow to wrist and down her back. Dad's high and remarkable qualifications as a first aid teacher and practitioner helped only in that Mum jumped straight into a cold shower. We know about burns and car accidents because of him...

The inside is so pretty (with the bee petit point) that it's been on the outside for a little holiday.

P.S. That's Maiden Hair stitch with Colonial(ish) knots.

I'm Feeling Sexy Now

These photo's are so yummy and delicious. Everyone said not to use them for my cards and I didn't but I think they're lovely. The cushion is bandied about on here, but it really is lovely and luscious and sensual and nice (check out the story if you want, but don't expect too much). I like it (the cushion). I've put the lot (photo's) over here on my Flickr page... thought it might be a bit much here?? Don't want anyone to be upset.

Ship Lamp

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I bought this home made lamp from Cowes on Phillip Island, and I then made the sails (Korean Wrapping Cloth style) and gave it to my beloved before he lived with me. Now it is at our caravan down near Wilson's Prom, the best place in Australia, or equal to.

On the bottom I copied the old English poem:

'Blow, northerne wynd,

Send thou me my swetyng!

Blow, northerne wynd,

Blow, blow, blow.'

And eventually, it did.

I have a close-to-finished large piece done in the Choson wrapping cloth style. Big. There was an exhibition at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne many moons ago and I was completely knocked out by it and had to do something immediately. I think I've posted some pictures so I'll have a look and link it in. This is a detail of my brown cloth. It's a style of working that I absolutely love to bits and has completely changed the way I piece, as can be seen in the newer Wagga's, particularly Leah's, and this one I did at Geelong College. My own brown cloth isn't neccessarily recognisable as being in the Korean style. Inspired by.

The Curtain Down At The Van

If only... if only... if only we owned our own home, it would be as beautiful as The Van.

These curtains took ages! My former house had come with 100+ year old heavy Italian Sateen curtains that my landlord had put in. He was a decorator for Georges and had taken them out of an old homestead. I cut them up and dyed them in tea...

I did one lot in strong tea, then added more boiling water to do the next lot, etc. So the pieces grew lighter and lighter. Mixed with the original off-white it looks quite nice I do believe. Ross humbly and sweetly says it's the nicest thing at the van, but you havn't seen his woodwork and design. I'll show you... I took some pics today. Luvverly!

With the light behind them, it's a warm, glowing stained-glass that makes us happy and warm and glowing inside.

Little Trees Not Finished

I'd thought I'd lent this piece to someone from my classes... looked and looked and LOOKED!! Months ago. Then, not even looking, just browsing on the surface of my fabric shelves... there it was! So annoying. How many other things are right in front of me and I can't see? I suppose I'll finish this piece, although what for?? Have to think about it. Maybe if I put a rabbit in there...

Anyway, here's more...

If You Want To See The Quilt...

It's hanging at 'Craft-Paks' in Heathmont. Canterbury Road at near the top of the shops there, on the right as you travel out of the city. Melbourne Australia that is. Check out the Classes List.

I have to tell you thie photo of the whole quilt is LOUSY! This detail of the centre shows the colours much better. It's warm and rich, not bright and crisp. In fact, the photo makes it look like there's a lot of blue, when their is hardly any at all.

The (2 metre square) quilt is over ten year old now. For the uninitiated, it took me about 3 1/2 years of solid, frantic work to make it. A conservative estimate of 3000+ hours.

Go to the Crazy site for other pics and some student work.

THANKYOU! THANKYOU! THANKYOU!

To all of my dear friends who have been coming to my classes for a little while or a long (long, long, long) while, thankyou for your friendship, love and loyalty. We've shared a lot over the years and I know I've found my way through thick and thin with your support and the confidence I've found in your company. Hope the earth moved for you too.

Sniff! I'll miss you. I'll think of you while I'm relaxing down the beach or sleeping in and not washing the floor even once a month. And when at last I have the itch that only you can scratch, I'll ring up and start again, with renewed interest and new stuff. I promise!

You are special!

xxxRobynexalaxBobbyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. The Rabbit Cushion if for those who asked. More details here, and the saga is here. For what it's worth.

P.P.S. And I will get back to posting! I WILL!

Detail From Anne's Crazy Bag

More details over here, and more to come. This is altered from my own, to fit the space. I must take some more photo's of my bag. Anne's bag is truly beautiful and so cheerful, like her good self.

My Lovely Honey Bunch Photographed My Crazy 'Mary Poppins' Bag Today

Go to the article on the Crazy Quilt site for more pictures...

These are some of my favourite details on the bag. I used chunky threads throughout, since it's a bag to throw around. I didn't want to be too precious.

The little bird is an adaptation from an old doyley. You can't see the clouds propery, but they were inspired also from old fancywork designs, or old children's book illustrations. 'Old' referring to my childhood!

The dark brown patch proved difficult to approach, so I ended up not stitching a border as such, but making a feature of it's shape... I like it a lot.

Dog and Happy Tamborine Playing Cherub Details

I got these from a Filet Crochet book, a great source for silhouette cross stitch. The musical Cherub is worked on linen interfacing from one of my Grandma's overcoats. I put a glittery fabric underneath because I was going to make it as a stand alone piece, and have the frayed edges of the glitter showing behind the frayed edges of the linen... but it ended up on the quilt. The coat the interfacing is from is the blue one in the Wagga.

Around the cherub I worked Detached Buttonhole thingy's, which were intended to stand up, but they just curled up into nothing and so I fastened down the points.

And I thought you should know that I bought a bike today. It's a beauty, although the seat is a bit wobbly. Now my one true love and I both have one for when the idea of riding takes both of our fancy's at the same time. I know without you saying that you're all very happy for me, and I know that you don't say it sarcastically.

Crazy Quilt Centrepiece

I'd carted this cross stitch pattern around for so many years, and it seemed sensible to at last work it. It was in an old McCall's 'Afghan Rug' magazine I'd absconded with from my darling Grandma's house. I had it for at least 15 years before I had my epiphany (the revelation that I ought to use it, that is).

The original Afghan rug was dated 1814 or thereabouts, and had a gorgeous floral border, which I hadn't copied as it seemed like too much work. Funny now huh, considering. The 'Grandmother's Fans' you see around the quilt were originally meant to be repeated to make the whole quilt, and I simply decided to use my scraps to make a cushion with the Horse cross stitch... but... well, it looked good together and one thing led to another... you know how it is. So... I ended up incorporating the Horse into the larger, now changed quilt.

I must add that my intention (with the Grandmother's Fans quilt) was to use all of the borders in Dorothy Bond's little brown 'Crazy Quilt Stitches' book, and to NOT stitch ANY pictures. A plan that obviously fell by the wayside. Fell with a pretty, happy thud.

The rest of the cross stitch sampler motifs you see with the horse were added later.

It's OK Now. I Have The Crazy Quilt Back...

This detail is within the outer border, and is my humble monogram as you see.

The stitches are Roman Stitch or Roumanian Couching and Detached Buttonhole, mostly. I used an upside down 'W' for the 'M', edited slightly.

If you have a look at CP5 over on the 'Bobby's Cards' link, you'll find where I first did the stitch. The design there is from a reproduction of an old book, 'Encyclopedia of Needlework' by Therese De Dillmont, and I followed it exactly, using my own colours. The book, by the way, is one of those you'd take if you were only able to take one or two books, you know, the old desert island scenario.

Please jump over to the Crazy Quilt site for more Crazy Quilt additions.

Because It's a Beautiful Day...

I've decided to put my cards on special... or is that...
HUGE... ONE TIME ONLY... VERY, VERY SPECIAL!!
So, go have a squizz over there ->>> if you want to. It's up to you.

At Last I've Started Putting Stuff on my Crazy Quilt Site

It's only the beginning, but go see -> -> ->

or

Follow the Link on the side bar -> to Robyne Melia's Crazy Quilt for even further updates.

I'll get my big quilt soon, and post details.

My Crazy Quilt With Grandmother's Fans 1996

This is my big quilt, about 2 metres square. It took four years from start to finish, although I hand quilted a king size quilt in the 'I'm-sick-to-death-of-the-Crazy-Quilt' moments. I did an ingenerous estimate just after it was finished and reckon it took over 3000 hours. No exaggeration.

Er...ah.... What can I tell you? I started out to make a 'Grandmother's Fan' quilt and changed my mind. The reason in the first place was that I'd bought Dorothy Bond's fantastic book, 'Crazy Quilt Stitches' and I wanted to try every border stitch combination in it. A Crazy Quilt with ONLY border embroidery! NO motif's. You know how it goes!

I run an 8 session class covering all manner of stuff. The class gives you a lot of techniques to play with, and a further 6 - 8 sessions gives you a whole lot more! One group is onto it's second year one night a fortnight, or did I tell you that already? Also, for weekend workshops, I've figured out a terrific one/two day selection which gives you new stitches and colour blending techniques... packs in a lot of info without being overwhelming.

I've since made a 'Mary Poppins' bag with an emphasis on Crazy Quilt borders (I tried to do only borders and no motifs, but failed again). This is either a seperate class or an extension of the extended class. I let them decide what they want to learn. I don't have a photo of the bag yet... but it's all velveteens, lost of browns and tans and camel colours with poetry and lovely fat stitching. It's a perfect overnight or craft bag. It's at The Patchwork Teahouse in Warburton right now, advertising a class.

I'll post some detailed pictures if you want... the cards have some details too.

Bobby La's Cards.

My First Crazy Patchwork 1991

This Bluebird Crazy Patchwork picture was completed in 1991 (Detail shown as on Gift Card).

I have made a pattern for the actual piece (which includes three of the birds) by request, and teach it in a six-session workshop.

Like all Crazy Patch, it is less difficult and time consuming than it first appears, and is achievable for most levels of experience. Anyone who can wield a needle can work this piece. Besides, that's what you pay me for huh? To teach?

Go here for a look at all ten cards.