Patch Maggie : July 2025

A little bit of shopping was done while I've been travelling the last three months. This will mean my fabric tally will not be looking good - again!

In May, I had a great time on a two week textile tour - Textiles of the Lesser Sunda Islands with experts, Sue and David Richardson. It was my second time on this fascinating tour around the most eastern Indonesian islands and I enjoyed it just as much this time around. I didn't buy as many textiles as the first trip and did try to get samples of different designs. (I'll do another post with photos of the woven textiles I picked up.) These textiles won't be included in my monthly fabric tally but I did do some reportable fabric shopping. With time between arriving from Sumba in the morning and departing for Melbourne that evening, I took myself off to my favourite patchwork batik fabric shop in central Denpasar on the island of Bali. Dewi Mas has a range of batik fabrics, including dressweight material, so I had much fun there. A group of Australian women, patchworkers, on a mini-bus tour were shopping up big as well. My haul included two 5m lengths of dressweight fabric, 9m of various patchwork batik fabrics, and two jelly rolls that I couldn't resist.

Our son lives in Georgia in the USA so we trotted off in late May to visit him. I always like to visit local patchwork shops so dropped in to two shops in Marietta, north of Atlanta. Tiny Stitches was the first shop. From the street, it didn't look too big but it was actually quite large. And then I saw downstairs! The building was on a hill so the large workshop and longarm quilting spaces downstairs could be accessed from doors at the back to a carpark, as well as via stairs from the shop. The shop was really well stocked, with lots of sample quilts on display. A large range of notions and threads was available and a couple of racks of pattern books. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The problem with just dropping in as I did, is that I didn't have any specific needs in mind. However, that didn't stop me picking up a few fat quarters of cat fabrics I didn't have as well as other bits and pieces. As a new customer, they gave me a welcome gift, which was very kind of them. I certainly intend to visit again next time we're in the USA to visit our son.

The Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in Carrollton, Georgia, was a great find. A small space but excellent exhibitions when I visited in early July. They also had a small shop of donated patchwork items, including fabric and patterns, so I spent a few dollars and was very happy with my purchases. We stopped in Englewood, Tennessee, for a lunch stop and at a small fabric shop there, I bought a 1/2 yard of fireworks fabric as a reminder of the 4th Juy fireworks I'd seen a few days earlier.

So I'm very happy with my holiday shopping sprees.

July 2025 fabric tally

Finishes in the month: sadly nothing finished!

Purchases in the month: Indonesian batik fabric = 21m; USA patchwork fabrics = 7.5m

Fabric used: - 0 m Fabric acquired: + 28.5 m

Running tally for 2025: + 8.75 m

I’m still away travelling so updates on my blog are a bit limited sadly.

However, I can say that I have completed June’s challenge (to myself) of #5 in my list. See R’s quilt at https://patchmaggie.blogspot.com/2025/03/march-is-complete.html

I’m not thrilled with the border on this quilt but it is done!

So here is how my list looks at the end of June

complete strip sets for blue strip twist quilt
~~quilt and bind A's quilt (March)~~
second backstitch embroidery kit (for while I'm travelling)
~~quilt and bind S's quilt~~
~~quilt and bind R's quilt~~
~~continue flower blocks for J's quatro quilt (January)~~
complete bunny Fat Quarter Mixer quilt top
~~Start on Amelie’s quilt~~
backstitch embroidery kit (for while I'm travelling)
~~quilt and bind Mason’s quilt~~

Deana has drawn the challenge number for July and it is #9. Which is handy as my #9 is a backstitch embroidery kit - while travelling. I brought three backstitch embroideries with me and two have been completed, so I’m happy. (Completed means that all the sewing has been done. Of course there is still the washing and pressing, and then inclusion into a frame or something else to be done when I get home.). I have so many small kits/patterns bought/acquired over the years, it is about time I was doing something with them.

So two of the embroideries are done, one Nikki Tervo design (a mandala about 5.5” across), and the other from Hatched and Patched (a bunny about 4” square). Neither very big but perfect to carry while travelling for when I need a sewing fix.

The third embroidery I brought with me isn’t started yet and is the biggest, but I have more travel to do this year, so it will get done.

So July’s challenge is completed and it is only the 2nd of the month! How’s that for commitment? 🤣

I’ll report back officially at the end of the month.

Check out some of these other participants in the Chookshed Challenge.

Chookshed Challege 2025 - Deana from Dreamworthy Quilts is one member of the Chookshed Quilters. Each month in 2025, Deana will select a number from one to ten and quilters work on the project with the corresponding number from their own list. The main rule for this challenge is that there are no rules, which should work for me as I am away for large chunks of 2025. For example, if the number six is chosen, and that particular month is a bit tricky to work on that numbered project from my list, I can change the project! And a goal could be just making minimal progress on a particular quilt. I like those sorts of rules.

Here are the links to other participants:

Amira Little Mushroom Cap

Betty Rainbow Connection Quilters

Chookyblue

Chris Quilting at the Farm

Deana Dreamworthy Quilts - you are here!

Denice's Day

Grace City Mouse Quilter

Hanne Quilt Corner

Jannimary

Jeanette - 3 Cats & a Quilter

Jenny Bird on the Border