done, but with errors
Apr. 9th, 2011 06:51 pmmay be a computer message but it also applies to my feathered star wall hanging. This is the piece that has stretched my sewist skills (or lack of them) the most. Earlier today, I completed the quilting and started to square up. Only... I used a wide stripe for the border, and now it is very obvious however I square it up, it will not look square. It will not look right.
so disappointed.
so disappointed.
Mug rug swap
Apr. 3rd, 2011 10:35 pmSo I had contact from my partner in this mug rug swap thing! She is Danish, but her English is good, and she has the cyutest goggeh! She hasn't done a swap before, but has been quilting 2 years longer than I have. A peep at her blog (which she kindly linked me to, after I led the way with my Blogger) shows she prefers traditional and repro, although she loves Kaffe Fassett. Suddenly, I know exactly what to make for her. Fingers cross she likes!
one thing, one week
Mar. 28th, 2011 09:06 amWhen I signed up for Amy's One Thing, One Week challenge over on her blog, I thought all I lacked was some motivation to get my little piece bound off. And then the universe decided a few surprises were in order! Some fun, some not-so-fun, but I'm here. I did it!
This is the completed panel, bound off. Made from 2" squares in a colorwash of Spring sky blues, is base for mixed media work panel.
Looks simple, no, to bind that off?

What held me back was that I wanted the binding to change where the colors did; from light to medium, medium to darkest, and so on, around the edge. Took me a while to figure out, but I got there. Now for something else new; I start the mixed media surface work. :- ) Fun, no?
Many thanks to Amy for the motivation, and I hope your energies are rising again after your recent virus. :- )
This is the completed panel, bound off. Made from 2" squares in a colorwash of Spring sky blues, is base for mixed media work panel.
Looks simple, no, to bind that off?

What held me back was that I wanted the binding to change where the colors did; from light to medium, medium to darkest, and so on, around the edge. Took me a while to figure out, but I got there. Now for something else new; I start the mixed media surface work. :- ) Fun, no?
Many thanks to Amy for the motivation, and I hope your energies are rising again after your recent virus. :- )
So much to do today. This is me getting on with it!

At the machine by 0810. Dimly, behind the machine, you can see (or maybe not) the next project waiting its turn. It is the ground for 'Drifting: spring' waiting its binding. I challenged myself to do that for Amy's 'One Thing, One Week' challenge. Then I can start the surface work.
Be productive today, friends, in whatever you do! :- )

At the machine by 0810. Dimly, behind the machine, you can see (or maybe not) the next project waiting its turn. It is the ground for 'Drifting: spring' waiting its binding. I challenged myself to do that for Amy's 'One Thing, One Week' challenge. Then I can start the surface work.
Be productive today, friends, in whatever you do! :- )
This I found while going through fabric and drawers. Is it odd that I forgot I start it?

But then, I deflated and stitched it to see if I could. :- ) Fun, no? Is a penrose tesselation. Am not sure how much bigger it will become--I have the screen shot from a portion of the deflation saved to a pen drive--but I know I want it to be blues and yellows.

But then, I deflated and stitched it to see if I could. :- ) Fun, no? Is a penrose tesselation. Am not sure how much bigger it will become--I have the screen shot from a portion of the deflation saved to a pen drive--but I know I want it to be blues and yellows.
Slow progress is slow
Mar. 14th, 2011 03:00 pmNot a lot of sewing over the weekend but I did get 2.5 metres of background fabric starched. It is a slow but essential part of the process for me.
Now I am away to sharpen my white Crayola pencil so I can mark round my template--layers of freezer paper ironed together--and see where to cut.
Also, now that I've seen these prints, I really want some! I found a little quilt shop in the UK that will be having some this month, but Moda's 'Le Petit Poulet' is due as well, and I've been eagerly waiting for those--I have my American Jane pattern ready!
Now I am away to sharpen my white Crayola pencil so I can mark round my template--layers of freezer paper ironed together--and see where to cut.
Also, now that I've seen these prints, I really want some! I found a little quilt shop in the UK that will be having some this month, but Moda's 'Le Petit Poulet' is due as well, and I've been eagerly waiting for those--I have my American Jane pattern ready!
Happyhappy!
Mar. 12th, 2011 02:11 pmRemember this?

The 2 half yards of Alexander Henry cupcakes from Quilt Taffy--the guy almost centre image--with the little teeth--he's my favourite! Dracul cupcake. :-)
On friday, I whipped up the little something I'd been promising myself for S. S is budding artist. As all artists, she has lots of sharpies, pens, biros, aquarelles, graphite pencils, and so on.

The recipient is happyhappy with the result! Much high-pitched squeeing and many hugs! Here she is holding it. I had a little fun matching the two prints, but patience wins all, no? (patience and a couple naughty words!) Is just over 30 X 23cms. Lots of room for drawing supplies!

I quilted it with written phrases, simply to see if I could 'write' with the needle. 'Om nom nom' is one line. It was a fun thing to make, and I learned I need practice at setting a zip into a quilty something! S is happy with it, so is all good, no? :- )

The 2 half yards of Alexander Henry cupcakes from Quilt Taffy--the guy almost centre image--with the little teeth--he's my favourite! Dracul cupcake. :-)
On friday, I whipped up the little something I'd been promising myself for S. S is budding artist. As all artists, she has lots of sharpies, pens, biros, aquarelles, graphite pencils, and so on.

The recipient is happyhappy with the result! Much high-pitched squeeing and many hugs! Here she is holding it. I had a little fun matching the two prints, but patience wins all, no? (patience and a couple naughty words!) Is just over 30 X 23cms. Lots of room for drawing supplies!

I quilted it with written phrases, simply to see if I could 'write' with the needle. 'Om nom nom' is one line. It was a fun thing to make, and I learned I need practice at setting a zip into a quilty something! S is happy with it, so is all good, no? :- )
my creative space...
Mar. 10th, 2011 11:09 am...is hand piecing stars!

The stars are shot cotton, so they 'twinkle', okay, change color as you move round them. :-) The black is not really black, more a kinda mottled blue/black.
Now away to starch more fabric to make another 8!
Thank you for visiting, and here's your doorway back to what everyone else is getting up to at Kootoyou. I'm loving the little previews! :- )

The stars are shot cotton, so they 'twinkle', okay, change color as you move round them. :-) The black is not really black, more a kinda mottled blue/black.
Now away to starch more fabric to make another 8!
Thank you for visiting, and here's your doorway back to what everyone else is getting up to at Kootoyou. I'm loving the little previews! :- )
(no subject)
Mar. 7th, 2011 10:53 am
As you can see, I've had to lay aside the feathered star that I'm quilting (and my other little WIPs!) to make a new project.
It is:
~ hand pieced
~ my first foray into solids--do colourshott fabrics *count* as solids?
~ a special gift
~ against the clock. I have to make, quilt and ship it as soon as may be. Wish me luck!
(no subject)
Mar. 1st, 2011 11:51 amI have dose of'the mehs' towards my projects at the moment. I have a 31" feathered star wallhanging under the needle for ditch quilting that I intended to have completed in february. Then I could stay I had started and finished it in a month--go me! Other 'Stuff' got in the way. This morning, I decided to buckle down and get it done.

Three minutes of stitching in, I broke the needle and a piece hit me just under my left eye! Faen.
Ever wonder if the universe is trying to tell you something?
Maybe I should try some simple piecing instead...

Three minutes of stitching in, I broke the needle and a piece hit me just under my left eye! Faen.
Ever wonder if the universe is trying to tell you something?
Maybe I should try some simple piecing instead...
snowdrop Sunday
Feb. 28th, 2011 02:38 pm

There seemed to be fewer clumps this year than last, comparing last years photos. Strange, no?

It has been so wet hereabouts for the last few months that the land, so flat, is slow to drain. The ducks are actually swimming in the grass and ducking their heads right down to feed! I waited until they came up for air to take the shot, or they'd resemble headless ducks!
what you see...
Feb. 14th, 2011 10:35 am...is not always what you get. Hand piecing my first topper was such fun, I decided on another. Deep in the stash, I had some Free Spirit fat eighths, hoarded these many years. I picked my two favourites, added some white-on-white, and last night got this far.

Better light this morning confirms what I began to feel last night--it doesn't work, and I don't like it. The hex fabric is my favourite, and the yellow print dominates, draws the eye. Not what I saw in my head. Not to worry--I had an Idea but it means I have to draw a couple templates. Also, the star is now feathered and waits a mitred border. So, two more firsts for me today. Fun, no?

Better light this morning confirms what I began to feel last night--it doesn't work, and I don't like it. The hex fabric is my favourite, and the yellow print dominates, draws the eye. Not what I saw in my head. Not to worry--I had an Idea but it means I have to draw a couple templates. Also, the star is now feathered and waits a mitred border. So, two more firsts for me today. Fun, no?