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 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.
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.
I can't believe how much trouble I've had with the border of the Doll Quilt 2 Swap quilt! Normally I have a pretty good idea what I'll do for a border, and usually it works out most of the time with no real dramas. But this one... First I auditioned about 30 % of my Repro fabrics (which is a significant number I'll tell you), and when I finally decided after a couple of days of looking at this, leaving the room, looking at that, leaving the room and coming back to it I finally decided.
Then the real trouble started. I think the main problem is that I made the central part of the quilt square. I didn't really think it through, just made it up as I went along, and then had to stop because of the size constraints. I should've put one extra row on the top to give it a better shape. Anyway, too late for that, so I thought I'd do what I see on many doll quilts, and add an extra strip of fabric on the top and bottom before I put the borders on. I cut it out, laid it out - it looked terrible. I tried a diffferent fabric for the extra bit, and off it started again.
In the end I got a bit fed up with it, and trimmed down the side borders, didn't add the top and bottom borders, and I think I'm ok with it now. Talk about fiddly! I suppose I'm used to the proportions of the big quilts, and it took quite some time to down scale it all in my head. I'm pretty happy with it now after leaving it alone for a few days, and I have cut the single thickness binding in the spot so hopefully that will give it a lift.
It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but there is a sort of 'self inner border' with the dark triangles, so framing it with a skinny border might've helped on another quilt, but I didn't want to take away from that look. So now to put it together, bind it and it will be done. It has been good to do - it has taken quite a bit of work for a tiny quilt, but because it is small it has been do-able. I think I will definately make some more Doll Quilts. The swap invited you to try something different, and I have to tell you that this is the first quilt I've made on point! The 4patch UFO will be on point, but as that isn't finished...
Weather is lovely and cold here with westerly winds, but the sun is shining. We had 4 inches of rain last week and on Thursday I did the big run over to the Mainland with the Van and came back with some huge bags of dogfood, fertiliser and firewood stacked to the ceiling. I had better go and get the last bit out.
I have nearly finished the first doll quilt I have been making, and have made some progress on the Swap quilt. I haven't felt much like sewing the last few days, which is funny as I've been on a real roll lately. I did some more knitting last night on a jumper (pullover) I started for my nephew when I needed something portable to do, but I'm making a real dog's breakfast of it. I can't seem to concentrate on the row counting for increasing and decreasing. I finished a sleeve last night, and it was rather perplexing as when I had finished increasing up the sleeve it said to keep knitting until work measures 38cm. Well it was already 41 cm. So then I had to start decreasing straight away. I don't know - I'll keep going for now, but if it is terrible I won't give it to him.
Simon has really been feeling the cold, so I bought him a cheap jumper at the discount store, which of course was too small for him. He wore it though, and despite not being able to look at the camera for a photo, he seemed to appreciate the warmth. So I made him a rough coat out of flannelette that I had in the stash, and he seems to like it. He has been giving me a bit of extra love and tail wags.
It has been raining here today and is very overcast, but at least the cloud is keeping the temperature up a bit. My tank is full, so I have the hose on one of the trees out the front. I'm sitting here trying to remind myself to go and turn it off, and not empty the tank, which is easy to do if you forget. I woke up in the middle of the night once remembering that I hadn't turned the hose off, but it was too late then.
I just feel like getting into bed with a book and turning the light on, but that is a dangerous plan.
Poor Swampy. I feel a bit bad about the photo from last post, as it did make her look a bit like a maniac. Here is another photo to show that she is indeed a nice looking dog. Her Mother is a shaggy black and white Border Collie X Australian Cattle Dog, so all I can say is that Dad (commonly known as The Surfer's Dog) must have been a Staffy X Ridgeback, or something similar. Her working dog instincts are alive and well though, as Simon can confirm. She rounds him up, and generally 'supervises' everything he does. Luckily he is a laid back character who knows his place in the pack - right at the bottom.
My swap partner was in my mailbox this morning, and luckily she likes Civil War fabrics, so the little quilt I had tentatively started is full steam ahead. The identity of your partner is to be kept a secret, but I'm not sure if the quilt is to be a secret. I've noticed that some bloggers are offering hints only, whereas others are posting full photos. I will show this little section only...
In other quilting news there will be an International Sigh of Relief I imagine when I report that the Girl Guide Quilt is finally finished. I'm not a good finisher, as you all know. Anyway it is done.
I have held off on starting the Zig Zag Quilt, so I might try and run with this finishing mood and knock over another UFO. I have been talking to Holly about her QAYG Log Cabin, which brought to mind my Denim Quilt which only needs 2 borders and binding. Maybe I might do it. Can't rush these things.
It's soup weather here at last. Two weeks ago it was like the middle of summer, but today the wind is blowing and it is a little bit cool. We hardly get any winter compared to most places, but we aren't really prepared for it. All the houses are designed for the heat, so when it gets a bit cold at night we go into shock.
I love the cold weather, and often wonder why I don't live down south, but here I am. The garden doesn't know what to do, and as you can see I still have basil growing. In lieu of a big dollop of pesto, I stirred some fresh leaves through, and if I say so myself it was quite nice!
I'm still waiting for my Doll Quilt Swap partner, and I'm getting a bit concerned in case I'm over the whole idea before it starts. I'll wait another day or two, then I'll email. Amy has all but finished her quilt already. I've started something that hopefully will fit in with my partner's likes and dislikes, but if not I will be happy to keep it. I won't show a photo just in case, but let me tell you that there are lots of little triangle ears gathering on the floor under the ironing board.
I'm going to put this photo of Swampy in, not because I want to embarrass her - and she does embarrass easily - but to show this crazy cattle dog look that she has. She stares at me sometimes with this look, and I'd love to know what's going on inside that little, very bony, skull. Poor Swampy. She's not the smartest dog in the pack, but she tries very hard.
www.flickr.com
|
