I've been making a few more checkerboard blocks. I've tried to use some ugly fabrics, I tend not to use them if I don't like them, but really I should use them up if I can. I don't like the brown fabric that's with the blue/green one, but no doubt it will get lost in the final quilt. I like the yellow and grey one, the yellow is from the range with a name like Honey and Pewter.


I have also tried to make blocks with low contrast between the two fabrics as is done in the original quilt. I like the block with the 2 purple/pinks.


I've also cut some star blocks for future use. This is very unlike me as I really don't like cutting for a quilt. I've been watching the cricket (aahhh I miss work like a hole in the head), and while doing so I've been cutting. I now have a little pile of star blocks that are blue with cream, but for some of them I've added a little bit of red, pink or cheddar.


Sailing day today, so the cricket will have to go on without me. It looks pretty clear that we will thrash Pakistan, so no need to worry.

Cutting Strips

I've been working on Mum's hexagons but had to stop because I didn't have the stuff to put in the middle. I've decided on using some Pellon - not sure what the rest of the world calls it - I managed to buy some yesterday.


I've been watching the cricket on TV, but with no handwork I felt like I was sort of wasting the day. I don't like the cutting fabric part of any project, so I decided to do some strip cutting while watching TV. I've been cutting 2 inch strips for the Checkerboard quilt plus some random strips for future use. Then I cut a 2 1/2 inch strip from each fabric before I put it away. I love looking in my fabric boxes which I've sorted into colour groups. I love this blue toned one, but I realise that I hardly use blue repro fabrics - I'll have to make a red white and blue quilt. Or maybe blue and cream.


Then there is this purple box which I love. I have had a bit of trouble cutting some of the fabrics, because if I use it, then it's gone! I've also tried very hard to cut strips from the fabrics I don't really like.
I buy most of my fabric online from the US (so cheap), and I pretty well know what things are going to look like in the flesh. Occasionally I go to the LQS to have a look at everything, but I rarely buy anything. It's not right really, but I just can't pay the big money. Most fabric here costs A$22 = US$19.70 a metre, where I can buy fabric from the US for US$4 = A$4.45 a yard or US$8. What can you do? I also find that you get spoilt seeing things on the internet that the shops here haven't got in yet. I went to the LQS ready to buy some of the Rouenneries fabric I'm using for Mum's hexagons, but although it was available on the net they didn't have it yet. It had arrived to my house from the US and they still didn't have it.


Anyway, where I was going with this is that occasionally I buy something online that isn't that nice in the flesh. I wouldn't have bought the 2 blue fabrics in this photo, but then the black and cream fabric is really lovely, but when I ordered it I wasn't too sure.

The cricket is on again today but delayed due to rain at the moment, and it's going to be too windy to go sailing. I'll keep cutting strips and pinning Checkerboard blocks.

No Promises I'm Afraid

Its been 7 months since my last blog entry... do I sound suitably ashamed? I've lost the blog mojo and even the sewing mojo really. I've been reading a few blogs and occasionally making a comment, but then I end up in this weird place that has equal parts motivation and then almost shame that I can't get back into it. It makes me feel inadequate, like I just don't love it enough. It's not like I'm flat out, just worn out I think. Too much night shift maybe?


But then who wants to hear about that? No-one - pictures are what we come here for, right?
I have made some more Checkerboard Blocks and have abandoned 3 attempts to make a quilt for my 6 yo niece. I'm now on Quilt 4, which is totally different to the first 3 attempts, but of course not finished. I think it will be the last version.

Here are some more of the checkerboard blocks.

More Blocks

I have made a few more blocks, and I'm getting them done a lot easier now, thank goodness. The one on the right, with the purple, was very difficult to photograph as the colours came out very different to the real thing. This photo is with flash I think, so the colour is a bit more accurate. When I look at the original quilt I notice that it has a lot of double pink and brown, so I'm working on a few more blocks in that colour.


In other quilting news, my Mum has encouraged me to get an old quilt-top quilted by paying for most of it as a birthday present. The cost is a lot higher than I anticipated, so I will pay for the batting to make it a bit cheaper. Mum had a lot more realistic idea of the cost than me, and she was happy to pay for it.


It is my old Japanese quilt top that I've had for a while now. As I was ironing it I looked at the skill level, and like to think I have improved a little since then! There were plenty of unmatched seams and no system of ironing the seam allowances - I do try harder to get it right these days. I have to say though that I did not hit it off with the quilter, so I will probably try someone else next time.

Will have to make this a quick post as I must go to bed for a sleep as I'm starting a run of night shift tonight. Lately I haven't even been turning on the computer while I'm working, which isn't like me. I'm usually pretty obsessive about checking the email, but find that once I log on next thing I'm running late for work, which is a no-no here as I have to stick to the waterbus timetable. Miss the boat by 10 secs and the next one is an hour away. One of the girls from work lives on the next island from me, and she was telling me the other day that she missed the boat this week. She could see it over at the next island, but had to go home for half an hour then come back for the next one. I've only done it once when I over slept a few months ago which made me 30 mins late for work - the big problem is on a Sunday night when the boat I get is the last boat! I can tell you that you would receive a very cold reception when you rang up, as the hospital is staffed very tightly, and they probably wouldn't be able to replace you at that time of the night.