To Live Is To Go To Italy...

I have been incredibly fortunate in my life to do a lot of travel but really, to live, is to go to Italy. If there is only one place in the world that you must visit it has to be Italy. Her love of everything good cannot help but rub off on you. Laughter, family, friends, incredible food, even better coffee, history, incredible buildings, wonderful clothing and beautiful handbags (just ask Gail!), wonderful friendly people, and great patchwork shops, and also, a wonderful respect for things of a higher calling. I snapped this shot in a street in Florence:

Much can be learned from the Italians, certainly the appreciation of art and design and a love of higher things. Gail and I took a tour of The Vatican and it was really an incredible trip:

There was so much art, design, and sculpture, that we did not know what to look at first. I would say, "Gail - look at the ceiling!" and she would reply, "No, look at the floor!" We just kept laughing at ourselves all the time (do you see 'the quilt'?):

 
Florence was amazing and at every turn a new place to admire and soak in the history (watch that step Gail):

 
But Rome is incredible:

Especially The Vatican:

And so, racing around Italy, you learn that art is life and life is art:

Go on, find out. I dare you...

Leanne Beasley xxx
 

Then There's The Markets...

The streets of Italy are always so inviting. You walk around a corner and there's a cafe, a church, a sewing shop, or a market. My favourite is always the market; full of interesting people and conversations and of course, beautiful fresh produce:

 
I wish I had a kitchen in Rome to whip up some stuffed zucchinni flowers!:

 
Or a delicious apple desert:

 
Oh the produce!:

 
For today we can just dream about being at a market in Rome:

 
Until next time...

Leanne Beasley xxx

 
  

Oh The Food...

Of course, Italy is famous for her food! Like the gelati:

 
The most wonderful cheeses:

 
Delicious Panforte:

 

And, of course, the coffee:

 
Then there's the pasta, the pizza, the Gelati Van Man:

 
Oh, Rome.....

Leanne Beasley xxx

Roma...

Well last time I wrote I was talking about my little stop over in Rome with Gail last year. We had so much fun and I thought I'd share a few snapshots with you for the next few days. The first stop for us just had to be the Trevi Fountain. And yes, we did throw our coins in!:

 

 After a wonderful dinner near the fountain (where the waiter kissed me goodnight!), we went into a small church nearby to light a candle:

 
 
 Of course, Rome is many things, and one of the most important to me is the food! I love snapping away at menus when I'm travelling (I blow these photos up, frame them, and hang them in my kitchen!):

 

They make great trip memories, especially if you actually ate there and had a great meal:

Next time...more food!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Sewing To My Heart's Content...

The last few days has seen me busily stitching away, working on, 'Let's Design'. I am just having a ball making this quilt and I am sure that if you're one of the ladies coming to see me teach this year you will have just as much fun. I cannot wait to meet with you all out there:

 
In my version I've added in some small (5") patchwork blocks that are favourites of mine. I am going to add in a little bit of stitchery to these blocks (I just can't resist!):

 
My quilt, that's all cut out now and blocks sewn together, has turned out nice and bright and happy:

 
 
I have been chatting to Diana in Italy and she's off into Rome next week for QuiltItalia (don't we all wish we were going too!) What fun that would be. This did remind me that last year I showed you very few photos from my Norway trip and the little stop over that Gail and I had on the way home in Rome! So, while I am busy on other projects in the next week or so I shall share some of our great trip photos, beginning with Rome!

Until then...

Leanne Beasley

Some Days...

...are just Frootloop days...

I mean, why should the kids have all the fun...

LOL!

Leanne Beasley xxx

News News News...

Lots of things to tell you about. Firstly, the retreat that Rosie and I will be teaching at in New South Wales in August for Kim of Jukejema Quilting Barn, is now fully booked. There is however a waiting list if you are desperate. Those of you coming along may like to know that Kim is now stocking all the Cosmo threads so if you'd like to use the same threads for your projects that Rosie and I have, you will be able to:

 
Another adventure that Rosie and I are off on, is to tropical Townsville in June to teach for Tracy of Tinkers Cart. We are in for a fun day of stitching together, and there are still some places available! Tracy has gone to a lot of trouble to source many of the fabrics and other items that Rosie and I will be using in our projects, so girls, you are in for a treat! Tracy also has the full range of Cosmo threads so that will be handy. Tracy can be contacted on 07 4755 2336 or [email protected] :

In our usual jet setting fashion, Rosie and I will return from Townsville and head off the same week to meet many wonderful ladies in beautiful New Zealand. This is an adventure that we are really looking forward to. All you lovely ladies in New Zealand have been great supporters of both me and Rosie since we both began and so we are just so keen to come across for the first time and spend time stitching, laughing and enjoying each other's company with you: 
Saturday June 26 and Sunday June 27 we will be spending time with those of you coming to the 'Mid-Winter Christmas' hosted by Lesley from Forget Me Knots in Christchurch. There are still limited places available for these one day workshops and you can book with Lesley on 03 377 5271 or email [email protected] . Lesley has put in a huge effort to ensure Rosie and I have been able to come across and have a wonderful time with you all, so we are keen to get there:

 
Then the following weekend we head up North in New Zealand to spend an entire weekend at the Oreti Village Resort. This weekend is hosted by Jill from Cottage Flair and Katherine from The Cloth Shop. Jill can be contacted on 07 357 5955 or email [email protected] . Katherine can be contacted on 06 358 1196 or email [email protected] . There are still some places left for this weekend, but they are limited.

I think this year is going to be very exciting and I can't wait to meet many of you that I haven't yet met in person. Please bring along show and tell when we meet, if you like, so we get to see your beautiful creations too.

Until next time,

Leanne Beasley xxx