The Rainbow quilt top is done

A little history: This top came from a kit I bought in California about 10 years ago.

The shop was in Fullerton, or somewhere near there. I just fell in love with the colours. Then it sat around for ages while I made other quilts. Finally last year - no, late in 2013 - I got it out and started putting it together. Then I was interrupted by the need to piece and finish a thank-you quilt before we left Oz. While that one was being quilted, I finished this top, minus the borders. I finished the borders working on it for parts of the past 3 days.

I was going to look for someone to quilt it for me, because it's too big to quilt on my home machine. But a shop in the area rents time on long-arm machines and they have a sit-down machine that is a bit less intimidating than the ginormous stand-up ones but that I think is still big enough to do the job. So I'm going to go out there next week and see if I can get started doing it myself. Also plan to put a real label on this one, not just write on it like I usually do.

Back in the USA: Austin

I have taken another very long break from writing. Here's what happened since my last post in September last year:

1. My stepson got married on a boat in Hawaii.

2. We packed up our apartment in Brisbane and moved to a temporary rental in Austin, TX.

3. We bought a condo in Austin.

4. We moved into the condo, with our stuff that we packed up (see 2), on Boxing Day 2014, exactly one year to the day from when we were packing up our stuff to move into our rental apartment in Brisbane after selling the house there.

5. Phil started a new job.

6. My brother-in-law died at 71, way too young.

7. We bought a Vespa and took a course on motorcycle safety and management.

8. Phil had knee surgery.

9. I started to learn to knit.

So it's been an eventful almost 6 months.

Today I went to a quilt show at the Austin Convention Centre. I am always in awe of what other people can do with fabric. I took quite a few photos, of the quilts I liked, and they are still on my phone. Later. But my stitching room is set up, and now that most of the fixing-up needed here is done, it's time to get back to it!

design wall!

At long last, I have a design wall. And 144 blocks to arrange into a king-size quilt top. BTW those of you who know me know I hate the color orange, but don't worry. The blobs look orange but they are actually hot pink.

NZ: altar cloth at Christchurch Cathedral

Here you go, Marylou. I had to take a picture of this. I love visiting churches, especially big old cathedrals. And this altar cloth is patchwork.