Photo of my Doll Quilt on the DQS 2 Flickr photo album.
Closeup photo.
I would suggest having a look at the Flickr album for the swap if it interests you - there are some lovely little quilts.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/dollquiltswap/
There were quite a few horrified remarks after my last post, with some people thinking I took no photos of the Doll Quilt I made for the swap. I did, as you can see, but I forgot to take one once the binding was sewn down. This one is of it all finished, except the hand sewing on the binding, which is sitting toward the front. If you wanted to look at other progress photos, I have my Labels visible on my blog, so you could click there.
I haven't been doing much sewing this week as I'm in a bit of a general slump. I don't even feel much like reading blogs. I have done a little bit on the hexagons, but it is too bulky now to do in front of the TV- I really need to sit at the table to do it.
I'm in 'intimidation mode' about sewing up the jumper I have finally finished for Daniel. I have read the mattress stitch instructions and had some advice, but....
As for UFOs I have been doing a bit of work on this flowery number. It has been a real struggle to sew something that you don't really like. I have also figured out that one of the fabrics smells funny, which makes me feel yuk.
I have been at a bit of loss what to do with it, but today I have finally decided to make this section 40 inches wide, then put some sort of border around it of the same strips, so they will be going in the opposite direction. I would like to put a plain strip before the border, but I am struggling to find something that will match. I do have a pale mottly cream that might do, but I'm not sure if I have enough fabric.
I just want to finish it to Flimsy stage, then pass it on. I was reading the HeartStrings blog, and they might take it. We have a coordinator in Austalia, so that would save going through the Terrorist Interrogation at the Post Office.
The winter days are so lovely here at the moment, that I have been spending more time outside. I am about to buy another rainwater tank which will go under the house in a 'system' with the other one - this is to save on plumbing and digging. I have checked out the downpipes, and I can't see why I shouldn't be able to divert some of them into the new tank myself. "Have hacksaw..." In preparation for its arrival I have been cleaning up under the house. When the builders left, they chucked everything left over under there, and I have gradually been supplementing the firewood with the offcuts. I have now reached a point where anything useable has been used, so a general sorting out was required. I did 2 trips to the Tip, and came home with more stuff! Only plants though, so that's ok. I took some cuttings and brought home some nice green banana leaves for the compost.
Now I just need to dig a bit of a level spot, then get them to send some crusher dust with the tank to sit it on. I have also been gardening and moving some plants to new spots. I had a salad of Cos lettuce, rocket and herbs from my vege patch last night, so it makes it all worthwhile.
My Doll Quilt arrived today! It is gorgeous! Sorry about the excessive use of the exclamation mark, but nothing else does the trick!
I am Ms Jan's ...recipient..., and how lucky am I? It looks much better in real life than my photo, as it is a bit of a gloomy day here today. Jan has hand quilted it and washed it, and it is all crinkly and beautiful. Lucky me!
Here is the label - I put a piece of paper over Jan's last name as I wasn't sure if she would want her name on the internet.
I love 1930s prints, and have a whole stash of them but have never really made anything out of them. The Zig Zag quilt that I am planning to make when I have made a little dent in the UFOs will be the first major project.
I have had an email from my Doll Quilt recipient Jennifer, but I don't think she has had a chance to put it on her blog. I'm counting on her to take and send me a photo as I didn't take one before I sent it.
I've really enjoyed the Doll Quilt Swap - nothing like a deadline to get you moving, and because it was a small project, it was do-able. I'll be signing up again.
I have been buying new fabric - not much, but a little bit. I am in the black though, as I have also been selling some of my stash on ebay. I hope you Stash Busters aren't too shocked, but that is my way of getting rid of it. Then I spend the proceeds on more fabric. Perfect!
I used to sell fabric on ebay as a bit of a sideline, as it is so expensive here, and it can be bought so cheaply from the US. My aim was not to really make money, but I would buy a yard, sell half of it for what I paid for the whole thing, and then get half a yard of free fabric for me. I quite enjoyed it, and got quite a little customer base going. But then they put the fees up in a huge way, and it was no longer worth it, so I stopped. It was an interesting experience though, as I was continually surprised by what would sell, and what wouldn't. I would have something that (I thought) was great, and it would sit there and sit there, then someone would pay big bucks for something that I thought I'd never get rid of . I quickly learnt to only buy fabric I would be happy to be left with, or could make something out of for someone.
Anyway, lately I have been going through the remaining fabric from that time, old stuff I have bought, and have sold A$230 worth since May, and I have a little bit more to put up. I had a few kids panels and stuff like that that I would never use, and it is amazing how much they go for. I have this fabric that has animals and the letters of the alphabet on it in individual frames, and each A - Z is 12 x 22 inches. The first one I put up (for 99C) went for $18! Crazy. Now the remainder are selling for a few dollars as I expected. I have been quite ruthless, and cleared a lot of fabric that I knew deep down I wouldn't use, and it feels good.
There is one local fabric shop that I buy from. They sell seconds and odd bolts quite cheaply, and I have made friends with one of the ladies there who is also a quilter. She tells me when the next shipment is due if I happen to be in there, but you have to be quick. Yesterday I bought 2m of this 50s kitchen scene that I have no idea what I will do with, and these 3 (0.5m each). You can never have too many black and white spots, and the other 2 will go in with the repros.
I also couldn't help myself when I saw these 2 Michael Miller prints. I bought some to sell. The Cowboy one is always a good seller, especially I find if you put some coordinating fat quarters with it. The other one is nice too, so I hope it goes. It's nice to see some cute things for boys.
Otherwise, I have done a bit on the pink UFO, which I was amazed eveyone liked so much. It's good that we all have different taste. I have found a pink floral border print in the cleanout, so if it is big enough I will use that up for the border, maybe with a plain green skinny border inside it. I have a friend who might like it, but now I'm thinking about the quilting. I vowed not that long ago that I would not quilt another large quilt, but is it worth paying to have done? I would rather have the Japanese quilt done. I suppose I should cross that bridge when I come to it.
The knitting continues - I picked up the ball of yarn yesterday from Mum, so soon it will be finished I hope. I have been working on the hexagons in front of the TV at night in the meantime. I think it was good to face the UFOS, and refocus.
I have found another UFO. I found these strips in a plastic bin. I have a vague recollection of doing this - they are 2 1/2 inch strips sewn end to end then cut into equal lengths, so I must've had a plan. I remember wanting to git rid of this fabric as much of it was bought early on in my stash building life, and as you know we don't always make the right choices at that time, not having been exposed to all the options!
So I will try and finish it too, as it will be easy. As I was ironing it all, I was trying to think what I will do with it. It will have to be given away, as it is not my thing.
As to what I have been doing? Not much really. After finishing and posting the Doll Quilt Swap quilt, I have had a little lull, apart from the knitting of course. I realise that I did not take a photo of the finished DQ, which was stupid of me, and after I'd posted it I had to have time to get over the feeling that I must be a terrorist. Australia Post has really cracked down on sending parcels overseas. I had to show ID, sign customs forms that they kept a copy of, they won't let you put it in a post box (no post office here), I got a lecture from the 1st post office lady for not having everything I needed, then when I went to hand it in at another post office, I got a lecture there because the first lady had put the wrong sticker on the envelope, and on it went. Quite traumatic!
Never-the-less it is on its way. As to the blasted jumper, Mum finished the top of the 2nd sleeve, but did not get around to doing the 1st one, so I have it back. I knitted away and came to the end of the ball and realised that the last ball of yarn is at Mum's place! What a comedy of errors. BTW, I found out when researching International posting that you are not allowed to post wool to the USA. I bet there are plenty of knitters and swappers that didn't know that.
Anyway, it is nearly finished. Half a sleeve to go and the neckband and sewing it all together. It had better fit! I have been doing it while sitting up late at night watching Le Tour de France. Did you know that the Tour will be going past the end of Clare's road in a week or two? She told me she is going to hold up a sign, so we might get to see her.
QUILTING UFOs
1. Repro 4 patch - queen size. All 4 patches made, but don't have the fabric for the setting squares.
2. Wagga - queen size. Started this last winter, but I'm not too sure if I want to go on with it. On hold ? to abandon.
3. Denim quilt - huge. Quilt as You Go method, and all done except for top and bottom borders, which have been cut out, and the binding. Started this some years ago, but have had mental block about finishing it. However I have now decided to keep it when finished, and have actually got the borders out of the cupboard, which is progress. 
4. Raggy edge small quilt - already decided to sew along edge and give it to the dog. Started right back when I started quilting and the fabric is average, and I don't like it.
5. Aqua, green and orange largeish wall hanging - started last year from photo in Japanese quilt book. Pieces have been hanging on design wall since then, and really I'm not sure if I want to go on with it either. Positive is that fabric could easily go back into scrap bins.
6. Hexagon quilt - about double bed size, by hand. Top nearly finished, but current winter knitting craze has taken over hand sewing time. Concern for this quilt is what am I going to do with it when I finish it? It really needs to be hand quilted, but I am not competent.
7. Civil War Diary Quilt (see photo album in sidebar) - 8 blocks made, 113 to go - ha ha ha.
FLIMSYS
8. Japanese Quilt - queen size. Have backing fabric, batting and top finished. I'm going to have it quilted professionally one day.
9. Doll quilt - small. Need some batting. Have backing sewn.
PIGS
10. Zig Zag Quilt - queen size. Have 30's fabrics cut as per pattern, have green and yellow setting fabrics not yet cut.
I do have fabric for other projects that are really just in my mind - no concrete decisions made or fabric cut, so we wont go there.
I hope this is all there is.
I think I might tackle the Denim Quilt first.
It's been a few days since I've blogged. I had friends for dinner on Thursday night, so that encouraged a flurry of housework, of course. Nothing like a bit of motivation! Plus it was a very windy day, so I had to do some washing to take advantage of it. Then I cooked - vege lasagne and peach strudel. We took the dogs for a walk before dinner and there was Thursday gone. Friday I went to the Mainland as I had a Drs appt, and by the time I did that, spent some time at Mum and Dad's and did the grocery shopping, the day was over.
My sister Helen and my nephew Daniel were there (school holidays), and my Aunt Sylvia, so there was lots to catch up on. I managed to off load the sleeves of the wretched jumper to Mum - she has shingles, but is on the mend thanks for those who commented, and is bored with reading. I also told Daniel it was all his fault that the jumper was being such a nuisance, and he just grinned.
I sat in front of the TV last night and pushed on with it, and am about a cm from starting the decreases for the armholes. It has to be maroon for footy colours.
Yesterday I had a sleep in, then spent a few hours playing with my fabric. Such simple pleasures. I had been reading blogs before that, and thought I really should try harder when I read about the fantastic scrap systems people have. I got everything out, sorted into Repro small, other Repro, 2 inch and 2 1/2 inch strips, Japanese, strings, and strips and pieces over 3 inches wide. I cut down strips to 2 or 2 1/2 inch which were less than 3 inches wide. In fact I'm very pleased with myself, and I don't have that much really when I look at it. I resisted the urge to cut the wide pieces down, as you never know what you might want in the future.
The Doll Quilt Swap Quilt is finished apart from the label, and although I took it with me on Friday and I actually went into the Post Office, I forgot to get a postpack for it. I'm hopeless - what will my memory be like when I'm 60? I believe some of the swap quilts are arriving, so 'the big reveals' are something to look forward to.
Other than that, I have been thinking about naming and shaming myself by doing a recatalogue of the UFOs. Bren over at Pieces From Me has been doing the same, and I thought maybe I should too. There are one or two that might need to be abandoned, so maybe it's time to face it. I'll think it over for tomorrow.
For all you poor people in the US who are so hot (and for Gudren!) here is a winter morning shot from Australia. Nothing like a bit of sunbaking. I have sent them outside to sit in the sun, and I can hear Swampy telling the kookaburras to go sit on someone else's fence.
I'm very pleased to report that the Doll Quilt Swap 2 quilt is nearly finished. I was busy telling Amy this long story about how I didn't have any batting in the house, and would have to wait til Friday to get some, when I had a brainwave. The other doll quilt that I had made was pinned but not quilted, so I took the batting from that and was able to crack on with it today.
There are many threads to sew in from the quilting, and the binding to sew down, but I should get that done tonight while watching TV. I'm pretty confident that the recipient of this quilt does not read my blog, so I'll show the progress.
I have been knitting that blasted jumper for my nephew, and I tell you, I'm sick to death of it. I have knitted the 2nd sleeve to the end of the increases, and it is about 4cm shorter than the other one was at that point, but this is how it is supposed to be. What I'm going to have to do is re-do the first sleeve sob sob sob. I have done the back and about 6 inches of the front.
BUT I just had an email from my Mother who is sick with shingles. She is over the worst of it now, but still having to hang around the house. I was telling her of my knitting woes, and she has said she will reknit both sleeves for me - tempting.... Winter will be over before I finish the bloody thing otherwise.
It is late afternoon here, and the sun is just going down. The birds are all cheeping - it is so lovely. The kookaburras are going off, the rosellas are feeding on the native flowers and getting all drunk and churpy, and the curlews are screeching which sounds like about 10 babies are being murdered - I kid you not. And the beagle is snoring in the background - nature! It has been warm during the day - sunny tshirt weather, but cold at night, so I have the fire on which heats the whole house. I wish the weather was like this all year round. Gudren was saying on her blog that it was 21 deg C (same as here today), and she was soooo hot! The difference between Iceland and Australia must be amazing.
www.flickr.com
|
