My Blog List

Friday, July 31, 2009

Quilting Fabric in Sri Lanka! Hurray

31st July 2009

I was looking for fabric for a quilt today and for the first time ever came across fabric that was made specifically for quilting. This is something completely new to me as generally fabrics which are available here are not those which our other quilting blogs speak about. There are no Amy Butler and other speciality fabrics for quilting here. So this came as a very pleasant surprise because it means that there should be more out there lurking somewhere in some shop.

This fabric was part of a bolt of fabric being sold by the metre and sold what we call "pavement shopping". It means it is sold by vendors on the street of one of our towns close to where I live.

I am fascinated by the fabric shops available to quilters and crafts people alike abroad, the range and variety of fabrics, the tools, the rotary cutters, the boards, the quilting machines etc all available which must make quilting itself so much easier.

I have seen fabric shops and quilting fabrics available in Melbourne where my three children reside and so can see the best of both worlds as such! I also see the range of very good craftwork and the interest being revived amongst younger people in Australia with work such as quilting, embroidery and all kinds of art and design. Another thing which fascinated me in Australia was the op shops - which now I think has developed a culture of its own! The op shop experience is somewhat similar to a yard sale in America and something that is wonderful. You never could say what would turn up and of course the prices are still very good. I dont think this is going to last long (the prices being low I mean) as the charities who run the shops do realize they are on to a very good thing.

I am still very new to blogging and as a result no photographs are available which makes for rather a dull and unattractive blog. I am only hoping that those who are interested in craft in particular and Sri Lanka in general will tune into my blog and comment when they feel they have something to say. Would really like to have a few comments from expatriate Sri Lankans!

Monday, July 27, 2009

27th July 2009

It has been a while since I posted last and I promised myself that I would update my blog regularly if not daily.

It was nice that someone had commented on the blog wanting to know more about the country! This is very good news for Sri Lankans because at least there will be an awareness that our country is not just renowned for its long long war which has just ended.

Sri Lanka to those of who are not aware of where this country is other than a vague recollection of being constantly in the news (mainly for the wrong reasons) is at the very tip of the Indian sub continent but a little island of 19 million people. We are not a part of India though most people associate it as being part of India. It is a distinctly different country - geographically and scenic wise I dont think you could get a country having such a small area and being so diverse in both flora and fauna.

Apart from talking of Sri Lanka I would like to invite quilters to please follow the blog and also welcome their comments. Quilting in this part of the world, along with other crafts is very popular and our only problem is the fabrics - we do not have the variety that is seen on other quilting blogs! which can make for a great deal of envy. Sri Lankans who have connections and
relations overseas of course can get their stocks from abroad but the vast majority of people will have to be satisfied with whatever our local markets offer.

I am on my second quilt now and have almost finished the hand quilting of it. It is a more of a lap quilt than a full sized quilt and comprises half triangles. Will post a picture of it once its finished. I love to quilt, and even more love to read and view quilting blogs from all over the world.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

19th July 2009


Justify FullSri Lanka has more or less been in the focus of most people's vision as an island of war, of
terrorism and a place to be avoidJustify Fulled at all costs. Now with the hostilities at an end, and hopefully
the long period of reconciliation and healing beginning maybe its time for the outside world to
also know what this country is like. Justify Full

Not wanting to sound like a tourist blurb I still would like to welcome those of you who would
like to visit this country despite any adverse publicity there may be. On the other hand I would love to hear from fellow quilters both here and abroad your views and photographs of your work and ideas on how we could improve. Comments of any kind would be most welcome and queries would also be replied.