Happy Dance!

It's a Happy Day. Not only am I on days off, it is pay day (makes it all worthwhile), and this big blue bag was waiting for me when I got home this morning! Could it be my parcel of Kaffe Fassett fabrics from Hancocks...?? Never before has it arrived in a big blue bag - usually in cardboard envelopes.

Maybe the edges have split really badly this time and some considerate French post master has put it in a LA POSTE AVON bag for me. Nice man.It has left Kentucky with a blue tag on it
saying DOUANE Peut etre ouvert D'office,
described as Printed Matters (Imprimes) worth $5-00. Then on the 12 October it was in France, PRIORITARE France La Poste. Then on the 19th October I think it departed from ROISSY CI (Date de la depeche) bound for SYDNEY (AUSTRALIE). Finally it arrives here today on the 25th. My fabric has been on a world tour.

Perhaps it was placed in the blue bag by the nice French Post Master as it looks like a couple of kilos of heroin, not fabric.

Then...ooh lucky lucky me! Kaffe, Kaffe and MORE Kaffe. And a couple of reproductions I couldn't resist that Blogger won't let me post. Maybe later. Now I am off to fondle my fabric instead of going to bed.

I have had a rethink of the other WIP - I am in the process of making the pink and orange strips thinner, which might lessen the impact a bit (see last blog entry). I think they might be a bit too overpowering. I might also take out the big flower in the middle and replace it with the same thing but in a different colourway, which has a white background. Lighten it up a bit. Watch this space...

Cutting and Pinning, Not Sewing

I have been cutting and pinning on the design wall (bed sheet) this morning trying to make this quilt happen. I decided that today was the day and I wasn't going to think about it anymore, just DO IT. I spent 5 minutes trying to plan it on a piece of paper, then thought "stuff it", and just went for it. I was quite ruthless and ended up using the scissors in the end. I played around with it then took the first photo and went away for a while.

I was fairly happy with it when I came back to it, so I started cutting random strips for the ...well... strips! I just cut a bit off here, and stuck a bit up there, and this is the final layout still up on the wall. That bit up the top is for something else.

I think it is going to be ok - don't the pink and orange strips change the look of it? I think (or hope) that when it is all together and bound with more pink and orange, it will look better. I started off with the idea that it would be about 36 in x 48 in, but I think it will be a bit smaller in the end. I'm going to hang it on the wall above the computer if it looks ok.

I'm quite exhausted by the burst of energy, so I think that will be enough for today. I'll have to recut that piece 2nd from the left on the bottom to make it a bit longer. The bottom right hand fabric came out of the reject pile for that spot - hopefully it balances it a bit.

Any suggestions anyone? It's still on the wall....

63 out of 150

Not having been to the States puts me behind to start with, so it is lucky I had a bit of fun when I was young...

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa - closed for a wedding that day
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

Collaborative Quilting Style

I read a fair bit of the Collaborative Quilting book last night in bed, and I was struck by the similarity to the syle of 2 Australian quilters. You may or may not know of them in the States, but Judy Hooworth and Jan Mullen both work in a similar style.
I have the Judy Hooworth book out from the library at the moment. Listen to this quote in her 2001 book entitled Razzle Dazzle Quilts (That Patchwork Place, ISBN 1-56477-322-1).

In Exercise 3 she says... "Now let's add a zinger. Black-and-white fabrics contain the two extremes of contrast - the lightest light next to the darkest dark. Used in small amounts, black-and-white prints sparkle and add movement and rhythm to the quilt surface. Choose a variety of black-and-white prints, and cut them into 2 1/2 inch squares. Arrange them with the colour squares and rectangles as shown in the photo on p18. These black-and-white squares provide a place for the eye to rest, although it doesn't linger because all the squares are different."

Also have a look at Jan Mullens patterns from Stargazey Quilts Stargazey Quilts . Interesting isn't it?

When I posted that photo (of the scraps from the quilt I haven't made yet!), with the black and white centre, someone mentioned that it reminded them of Collaborative Quilting style - I was thinking more along the lines of a log cabin with stripes or a string pieced block inspired by Judy Hooworth.

It is likely that they have all drawn inspiration from the scrappy blocks or the 1930s, but isn't it interesting to see how they have all developed along similar lines?

Fun at the Fair

Well I obviously need saving from myself, as I have come home from the Craft Show with some Japanese fabric! Do you believe it? I can't. It is only a small piece with these animals on them though, which will keep, I'm sure. I also bought a pale pink stencilled sashiko piece with cherry blossoms on it. I had a bit of a brain snap - it was very late in the day. There was a fantastic panel with the Japanese alphabet on it in a sort of vintage style - I would have loved it, and 'nearly' bought it, but held back. What would I do with it?

Otherwise, I was VERY GOOD. I did not buy any other fabric, but I did buy some books, and the latest Japanese Patchwork Tsushin magazine, which features hexagons. I bought the Collaborative Quilting one, and some Fast2Fuse as I am going to try some postcards. I bought a few little things ie snips, scissors, hexagon papers, and a present for my sister Helen (won't tell you what in case she is listening...) I also got a brochure for a sock knitting class.

I will show you some photos of the books and stuff tomorrow - too dark now to take photos of books.


I had coffee with Heavens to Bettsy which was fun, and also ran into my Mother (you can't go anywhere). My Mother's favourite saying is "My eyes and ears are to the ground, and my spies are all around". Truer words have never been spoken.

Anyway 'tis after midnight so I had better go to bed, especially as Simon and Swampy have a date with Neddie and Lucy at the dog park at 10am. Sadly I am required to attend, or else I could sleep late.

Waaaay Too Far Ahead of Myself

I wish I could actually do some sewing. I think about quilts & fabric ALL the time, but do I sew? Not much. Here is my next idea - I thought I would use the scraps from the Aqua and Lime quilt to make something for my niece Alex (she is 12). I thought I would do a string pieced block on the diagonal with the black and white in the centres. It is one of those prints that makes your eyes go funny. Then I could sash it with a different black and white or something...

Q. Now can anyone see the problem here?

A. Yes, correct. I have yet to make the other quilt so as to generate scraps to make this quilt.

I really must crack on with something. I think the thought of the 500 or so 3 inch blocks required for the 4 patch has taken the wind out of my sails for the moment. Well, that's my excuse anyway. My other current excuse is that the Craft Fair is on this week, and what if I start something now, then see a better idea on Wednesday, and get all cranky that I've already started?

It happens...

The other good news is that I am planning to meet up with Heavens to Bettsy for a coffee while I am there. She has emailed me and is going on the same day, so that should be fun. Now I don't actually know H to B, but she knows my sister Helen, so it is a small world. I'm sure we will be face to face friends as well as blogger friends. We can encourage each other to max out our credit cards!

Friday the 13th

And not a black cat to be seen.

You've all seen far too many hexagons, and that is mainly what I have been working on. The other thing I've been doing is reading my EQ5 book. I've had the program for a while, but I never seem to use it. Why, I wonder?

Maybe 'cos I do a lot of my quilt planning while lying in bed? Plus I'm a bit into making things up, and I haven't got to that bit in the book yet. But I thought I would see if it could help me figure out the number of blocks I will need for the 4patch quilt, and how much fabric I might need for the plain alternate squares.

Well I had a play with it, and finally worked out that I need 224 x plain squares (I don't know if that includes the half triangles around the edge. Probably). So that means I am over half way there with my 4 patches. I have done 140+. As for yardage, I made the outer border the same as the plain squares, so that gives me nearly 6.5 yds of that fabric. But apparently that is enough to do the borders without joining them anywhere. Maybe I should recolour the border so that I can work out the yardage required for the plain squares, then work out the borders separately. Hmmm.

I really must get into the program and use it more. The instruction book doesn't seem very logical to me, so I will have to go through it from beginning to end. I'm not really into that - too boring. I prefer to look up the bits I want to know, get started, then learn the rest as I need to know it. What does that say about my learning style?

Got night duty over the weekend so will be laying low. My bloglines is telling me I have 109 items to read - it can't be so!

What Next?

I can show my laundry without too much stress, as it is too small to collect much mess. It is really just a corridor - the back door is at the right (where I took the photo of the bulldozer from), the living area is in the distance then the front deck, and I am actually standing inside the door of the downstairs toilet to get this photo! I just have a tub, washing machine and a freezer. The dog water bowl lives on the floor, and the dog door is directly opposite the freezer.

This house is 15 months old, and I still haven't even put up a shelf in the laundry. The detergent just sits in the tub.

The real mess is in the bathroom where the dirty laundry basket is!

Orange, Lime and Aqua?

Here are the lime and aqua fabrics that are most likely to get into the quilt, with a few orange and pinks as a trial for the strips. I just remembered the yellow and orange fabric that came from Hancocks recently - that could go in maybe?

I also took a photo of the "instructions" so you can see the method of construction. A few people said it sounded like a Quilt as You Go, which it sort of is, but the way they have done it is to have the batting and backing cut to the finished size before you start. Then you just lay the rectangles or squares onto the batting and move them around. I suppose you could even spray glue them onto the batting (I'm starting to like this idea even more!), then pin the strips on and sew them on. In fact you could just slap some fabric down any which way and then put the strips on! But then it might get crooked...

When you think about it, it should be quite a quick project. Deciding where to put things would be where the time comes in.

As you can see I'm from the "Work Smart Not Hard" School of Life, so this kind of appeals to me! Any thoughts or ideas?

Aqua and Lime?

This is the photo of the quilt I like in the Japanese Patchwork Quilt tsushin magazine that I thought I might make in aqua and lime. But then I quite like it in the retro florals too. The way it seems to be constructed (my Japanese isn't too good LOL), is that the rectangles are cut out and tacked to the batting and backing fabric. The the thin strips are put on as cover strips to cover the gaps between the rectangles. The blocks are then quilted, using the flowers as a guide. The thin strips also have sewing/quilting on them - mainly fancy stitches sewn down the centre of the strip. There is also some blanket stitch on the edges of some of the strips. So you could adapt it to anything, which is my kind of sewing! These are the fabrics I am considering for this project. Some probably won't make it in, if it all goes ahead. I have all these Amy Butler fabrics that I bought so cheap with some birthday money, with the idea of making a quilt for me. But I think I will only use the pink and brown ones in the quilt I was thinking of, so all the green and orange ones are still available. I could even use the orangey ones for the strips on this - too out there? But definately a summer quilt...
















As for the rest of my weekend, this is the progress on the new house next door that was made with a bulldozer, between the hours of 10am and 3pm yesterday. This photo is taken from my back landing which is under my bedroom window. Sleeping on night duty is a challenge... When that tree went over I thought it had crashed into the house it was so loud!

Quilt Group Experience

I went to the quilt group meeting on Friday - nice ladies, but I wish I could find some quilters around my own age. Well not even my age, just middle aged. Most of the ladies that go to quilt groups are 'older' it seems. A very few groups have 'younger' women, but all they seem to want to talk about is their young children. Most of the older ladies seem to only want to talk about their health. I don't think there is any risk of the quilt ladies from Friday reading this - if I turned the conversation back to sewing once (as a safe topic that didn't involve talking about what I have to deal with at work), I changed the topic 10 times!

Oh well. I will go again next month and give them another go. Lucky I took the hexagons, as they were hand sewing too. Not really a place to take the machine. Sigh...

Otherwise I have been working this weekend, so not much to report. I did make this little bag to take my hand-sewing in though. I couldn't sleep so I thought the process through while in bed, then got up and made it before I went to work on Friday night. It's very bright, but I like it!

Sob, sob, sob...

I still blame it on the hexagons, but OTOH I can 'do' the hexagons now, as I can actually see them. Here are my new glasses with some of the offending hexagons. They are not all sewn together - just sewn in big groups so that I can distribute the fabrics a bit better.

It is funny having reading glasses - I put them on coming home in the ferry and did some hand sewing. No problems. But every time I looked up to see where we were, or whether the ticket man was getting close, I felt a bit sick as I was looking through them still. I just tried them for the computer - good with the screen, but not so good when looking at the keyboard (I'm not a great typist). But then I like to work in half light when on the computer, so that makes it funny too. The eye guy confirmed my feeling that I am very sensitive to glare - he said my pupils don't contract down as much as most people's in the light, hence my preference for 40W lightbulbs, most of which are turned off, and my reliance on the sunnies.

I tend to wear my sunnies on my head (something that made me cringe as a child when my Mother did it), so I can't do that with the new specs. Maybe a string around the neck? But will they end up in the soup? How long til I lose them? Oh the dramas, the dramas!

Anyway, enough about all that - I'm sure you're sick to death of it all.

I am off to my first meeting of the Offshore Quilters tomorrow at the crack of dawn. Again a morning meeting. I will have to get the 08.30 waterbus as it is the latest one that will get me there by 9. I will also have to be picked up which is a drag - to them and me. I like to be independent. I was going to take the machine and work on the 4 patches, but until I see what the setup is and suss the whole thing out, I might take the hexagons and crack on with that. The lady that I have spoken to on the phone is very friendly (ex-nurse - we nurses are everywhere), so I'm sure it will be fine. New people I don't know, but maybe some new friends!

Otherwise not much quiltiness going on. I've got some ideas for things I might or might not do, and I'm even considering a BOM, which will be a first for me. I read that many bloggers do them, and I have also noted that many bloggers get behind on them(!), but as they say "you'll never never know, if you never never go". I can't quite shake reading BOM as the Bureau of Meteorology though, so that could be a sign...

I'm thinking of something with these fabrics - I have another cherry one somewhere. I'm not really a table cloth girl, or even a table runner type - I like to eat straight off the old pine table. 'Maybe' a table runner, or maybe some placemats... Not sure. My head is in the weirdest place thinking about all these autumn quilts that I keep seeing on blogs, when summer is arriving with a bang in this part of the world. I need to think cool quilt thoughts.

There is also the lime and aqua quilt idea lurking around too. I saw an idea in one of the japanese quilt mags, but can't quite get it to the point of making up my mind what to do so I can start it. Next time I will post the pic - can't really take a photo from a book at night as the flash shows up on the page. Yes it's night-time here. Better go and get something to eat (where's Jeanne when you need her?) and sew some hexagons with my glasses on!

Beautiful Day

I sat down at the computer yesterday thinking that after reading the new blog entries I would do some sewing, when I looked out the window. Such a beautiful day. Spring has sprung, and although it is already feeling hot, it isn't 'too' hot yet. Soon it will be, so we went for a walk down to the point. The tide was out, but a nice northerly was blowing, and Swampy had a swim. We also found a crab trap which Swampy guarded in her usual manner - if only she was a bit smarter she would have realised that Simon IN the crabtrap would solve a lot of her problems! When we were kids Dad always called our cat Crab Bait, which was a bit mean we thought. He was always threatening to put her in the crab pot if she played up.

But, all is not lost, as in the afternoon I had to cross to the 'Big Smoke' where I managed to buy a little bit of fabric. I'm trying to buy some summery fabric, but couldn't resist the Latte Spot.
As for today, I have to work tonight, but have most of the day free. I feel a bit uninspired about the projects I have on the go, except for the hexagons, but I'm holding off on those a bit til I get my glasses, as my eyes are feeling the strain. I have a few potential projects that I could start, but they all seem to be missing one vital ingredient. I could try and work out how many 4 patches I need and how much other fabric for in between, but that sounds a bit hard. I'm going to set the patches on point, which challenges my little brain. I've been looking for a nice soft double pink for the setting squares, but I really do need to know how much to buy.

Is there a magic formula for working these things out anyone? I might just have to go back to bed to ponder this mystery.

It's a Sad Day

Just a quick post to share my sadness about having ordered my first pair of reading glasses. In fact my first pair of glasses ever. He was a nice young fellow, and was quite sensitive when referring to my year of birth (1964), and the deterioration of the eyes with age....

The good news is I have 20/20 vision, so no problems with long distance (which I knew), but I do need reading glasses. So I took the plunge, paid my deposit, and spent half the trip home thinking "how did it come to this???", and the other half thinking "imagine the fabric I could buy with the $300+ that I am about to spend on glasses".

I blame it on the hexagons. Whose idea was that??

Off to bed now after a quite pleasant Friday night shift in Emergency (for a change). Thanks for the kind commiserations, but not for all those who have been snickering at my misfortune. I think they would be the people that already 'have' glasses....

Evil Eye(s)

I'm off to get my eyes tested today - I can't believe that this is happening. To me. I've always been the only one in the family with good eyes, and have been quite pleased about it, as there are plenty of other things about me that need fixing. Oh well, these things happen.

I have still been sewing hexagons, and have done a few more 4 patches. My sewing area looks like I have been VERY busy, but this is not the case. Each little pile has 10 3 inch finished 4 patches, and I have 14 now. I will have to work out how many I need soon, but I imagine I am nowhere near the end.

One More

The left overs of the extra fabric I had to cut to finish the other one.

Pincushions

Well I'm pretty embarrassed by my one and only pathetic pin cushion. It is a dog bone cut out from a dogbone cookie cutter. Not a very successful project, but it still works. I quite like to work from the pin container, but it could be a bit larger. I often think I'll get one of those magnetic ones, but never do. I saw one recently at a QS, but there is always something more exciting to spend the money on.

My latest innovation (ha!) is the velcro spot you can see there. It is stuck to the table to the right of the machine, and its partner is stuck to the bottom of the pin container. This stops me accidently knocking the pins off the table onto the scrap pile on the floor below.

Note to self: make a nice pincushion

Symmetry

You learn - or confirm - a lot about yourself just by doing everyday things, don't you? I thought I'd kickstart myself by making some red and white blocks to send to France. I don't have much red fabric, nor do I have ANY white, except for this piece of plain white. I cut 1 strip of each fabric, and thought "I'll make the block with this, and if there isn't enough I'll make do". This is the end result.

I couldn't do it. I put it aside and carried on with another block, but kept looking at it, thinking "there are no quilt police. I can make a block like this if I want to. There are no rules". But I couldn't cope. I thought about it while I kept on sewing. I felt bad that my crochet rug was not symmetrical, but those who commented said they liked asymmetry. Or did the asymetrical people comment, and the symmetrical people silently agree? I'm ok with the rug, but I still look at it and notice. I do have obsessive compulsive tendencies, but I thought the medication was working well - obviously not well enough LOL!

I had to re-do the block. This is the most 'comfortable' I could make it using the least amount of extra fabric. Perhaps this is why I am not an art quilter, too uncomfortable.

This is Not an Advertisement

Yesterday I took the island car over to the mainland on the barge - at the crack of dawn I might add. I am not a morning person, so it will shock those who know me when they read that these photos were taken while on the 06.40 barge. I kid you not. And no I did not sleep in the car at the boat ramp all night.

Not much quilting done as a result, and not one quilt shop visited, but I did take my hexagons and did some sewing on them while I was on the barge and waiting around for the car to be fixed up. It's true - I am addicted.

On a negative note though, this handwork has really made me realise that the eyes aren't as good as they used to be. It is my right eye I think, but in normal fashion I will wait 6 months or so to get them tested in case the eye gets fed up waiting, and fixes itself! Generally I have excellent vision - can read the phone book and things way off in the distance. But, I'm 42 now .... sigh.

Apart from this I have pulled a muscle in my back carrying the large bags of dog food up the stairs. When you take the car over, it is important to fill it up with big things that are difficult to get home. So I bought this stash of dog food (this is not an advertisement - there is a different brand on the bag at the back). Carrying 20kg bags of dogfood out of the car and up about 10 steps into the house is not easy though. But I do have a grateful recipient, who poses here with the haul. And yes, I did have a biscuit out of the box in my hand to get him to sit like this! I will have to be very careful to close the pantry door when I go to work tonight...

Fabric Arrives for Finished Quilt

My fabric parcel from Hancocks finally arrived - well the replacement for the lost parcel arrived. The original was sent on 1 August. Here are the japanese fabrics for the finished quilt. Oh well... I think I have the cranes upside down in the photo.

I had almost forgotten what I had ordered. One fabric has been placed on backorder, and here are 2 Dogwood fabrics that I love, and 2 bright ones for the stash. Orange and yellow in the same piece, which is pretty "out there" for me.


I have also started the hexagons. I started basting some last night while I was watching TV (Boston Legal), then thought I would sew two together.

Now, I don't know if it was Alan Shaw making my eyes go googly, but I was having a bit of trouble seeing where to sew. I have perfect eyesight, or should I say 'had'? I am 42 now, so I am wondering if the old eyes are starting to go to the dogs...
Anyway, I went to the Craft Group this morning and managed to only get these few done. They are quite big ones - 1 1/2 inches along each straight side - and I think maybe I am making too many stitches on each one. I will try making less and see if this speeds things up. There was loud talking and general frivolity this morning, which does seem to make it harder to concentrate, not to mention that my brain doesn't go into gear til after midday! Why can't these things be in the afternoon, I ask you?

The Morning After

Thanks everyone for your kind comments about finishing my quilt top, while I slept. I know you all finish quilt tops all the time, so probably think I'm a bit nuts, but finishing is a big problem for me.

I have the backing fabric, which I've also had for years, so I will ring the quilter Monday. I've never had anything machine quilted, so that will be an adventure.

I'm working nights all weekend, so I will have a little break from sewing and start again next week. But I always find time to read blogs!

I'm SO PROUD!

Look! Look! The Japanese top is finished! I'm like a proud mother with my 'finished' quilt top. And the Award goes to ....
"I'd like to thank God (don't they always?), and all the quilty bloggers out there for inspiring me to finish this long neglected UFO".

So, did you pick up yet that I'm a bit excited? All of you on the Other Side of the World will be in bed, so hopefully some Aussie bloggers will look so I can show off! I have been so good not to give a blow-by-blow progress report since I finished the blocks, but the excitement has been mounting as I squared up the blocks and started getting the rows together. The first 2 rows I sewed together went together back the front (forehead slap) so I have spent the last week constructing it in reverse order ie. row 10 on the left instead of the right, across the wall.

But no further mishaps today, lots and lots of row number checking, and here it is. I woke up this morning and decided that today was the day, and I was not going to bed til it was done. It's only 4.56pm. Thanks for 'encouraging' me to make the extra blocks - this is on my queen size bed, and as you can see it goes over the edge and right up to the headboard.

Aaahhh. Now what?

Retail Therapy Saves the Day

Actually, PayPal saved the day. I had transferred some funds from my PayPal account to the bank account last week, which can take 5-7 days. I checked my bank account and the money was there today, so, crisis averted by retail therapy.

Braved the wind and crossed to the mainland, hit the fabric shops. I have a couple of shops around here that sell patchwork fabric for 30 - 50% of the normal price. Sometimes they are seconds, so a thorough inspection is important, but usually you can not see any problem. Sometimes the white border is too narrow or something like that. Anyway, that is where I went today. I got the 3 black and whites and a fairly plain red, 3 neutrals, and the other 3. The blue and floral is a Michael Miller, the blue a reproduction and the other I just liked the colour. I also got the latest American BH & G magazine.

THEN I bought a book to read (Kathy Reich's latest). I couldn't get any hexagon papers though. I was in the LQS having just asked for them. Answer was 'no there isn't any call for them'. 30 secs later a lady came in asking for exactly the same thing. How embarrassed did the shop lady look? I bought an A4 piece of card in the newsagent and just stuck it in the printer and printed some hexpaper onto that. I will cut some out to make a start.

There. All fixed by buying fabric, and visiting 4 fabric/quilt shops. Oh and I had a donut.

It's a Grey Old Day

It's a grey old day today - rain and gusting wind all night. Good for the garden to get the rain, and good for me too, as I love this kind of weather so long as I can stay home. I don't know if you can see the white caps on the bay? It isn't a very high definition photo.

It's a sewing kind of day. I know it is, but can I get started? I am having a bit of a tanty as I keep thinking I want to start doing hexagons, and it is the craft group tomorrow morning and I haven't any hand work to do. Then I think that if I put the top and bottom borders on the Quilt as You Go denim quilt I could hand sew the cover strips at the back and the binding (then the whole quilt will be finished!). It sounds like a good idea, doesn't it?

But then we come back to the Japanese quilt which I "should" be finishing for my Sept goals. Please don't go to Shelina's blog today and read the comment I left her about eradicating the word 'should' from our lives to make us feel better. Ha!
But then if I finish the denim quilt the dilemma about what to do with it rears it's ugly head... I suppose I 'could' elaborate... This quilt is generally known as 'Shane's Quilt'. Shane and I split up about 4 months ago (my doing). We are still friendly, so he still comes to my house occasionally, as Swampy is his dog. I started the quilt about 3 years ago, and whenever I got slack, or got fed up with him, I would stop sewing. It has old denim from all my family members in it, and I recall saying to him once that if he left me and took the quilt he would be haunted for the rest of his life!
In the end I asked him to leave - he went back to his place - and now I have the quilt not quite finished. Do I give it to him? Do I keep it myself? I want to keep it myself, as I like it and I put a lot of work into it. Will he look after it? Am I being selfish, and I will I get bad karma for not giving it to him as originally intended? Will I always feel guilty when I look at it?

What to do? Not finish it of course! Ohhh... Maybe I could put the borders on and not the binding? The dilemma, the dilemma. My 'good' spiritual side is saying *Just hand it over and forget about it*, my 'other' side is going *But I made it and he won't look after it, and we are split up after all, and it's all his fault.*

So here I sit doing nothing. I will have nothing to do at the craft group tomorrow, so I probably won't go. I'll sit at home doing nothing, or sleep. I don't have any hexagon templates. I need fabric retail therapy but I don't want to get the ferry in the cold and rain. Sulk sulk sulk.

Sorry about that, but *I* feel better!

Simon, Swampy & Hexagons

Laurie Ann asked to see Simon, Quilt Tester and potential Rug Chewer. Here he is (the beagle) with Swampy. He is also in the August archives.

It is very windy here today. I tried to take a photo of the wind, but it isn't an easy thing to photograph! It's going woooo woooo, the leaves are thrashing around, the sea looks rough, and for some quilt content - the blocks were starting to fly off the design wall til I shut the window. The Japanese quilt is still up there - I have 6 of the 10 rows squared up and sewn together. Nearly there.

I have to confess that I am starting to think about hexagons. I would say I'm not one for hand piecing - too slow - but then I think maybe I should have a project that I can do by hand. In front of the TV, on the ferry maybe. I gave paper piecing a go with this, but the thought of setting in the extra pieces and the time factor... I suppose I could start, and then see how it goes. I can always stop when I've had enough. I saw a photo of a quilt in a mag the other day that was a medallion-style which had one of the rows/borders made out of hexagons. I googled paper hexagon template and found a page you can print off and cut up for the papers.

There I've almost talked myself into that haven't I? It seems that a lot of quilters have 1 hand pieced project on the go. Any thoughts?

Finished the Rug

I was awake early this morning, which is not like me at all, so I went to the Lamb Island Craft Group which meets once a week, on a day that seems to change fairly often. There were 7 of us there today, with people doing whatever they feel like. It is really a bit of a chance for people to talk I think, which is nice. So I took my rug along and finished it. Sadly I started the middle coloured bit more than halfway through the blue, so it is asymetrical, but I'll get over it. Here it is in its place in front of the kitchen sink. I am a bit worried that Simon will chew on it one night when I am not at home. We'll see how long it lasts.

I probably should have washed up first!

Twice in One Day?

Well it will be if I get this post finished before midnight. Soon I will be like May Britt posting 4 times a day LOL!!

Thanks for your encouraging comments about the sewing room organisation. I still can not start anything until it is all done, and the other 2 quilts ready to go.

Except maybe this crochet rag rug, because it isn't quilting... I'm really impressed with the outcome. I have always been a crocheter, preferring the instant gratification of crochet, that in my experience, doesn't come from knitting! I had this 10.00mm hook (it is an N) so I had a go. The navy is linen, which I will now put on the other end as well. The bits in the middle are from the scrap boxes. The rug will be a rectangle which will go on the timber floor in front of the kitchen sink. I want to make some more, but where will I put them? I'm not big on mats generally. Bathmat? Would take ages to dry. Placemats? Maybe. Pot holders? Mat to put hot dishes on? Hmmm.

Oh well, the plotting and planning keeps me off the streets! I am moving departments at work at the end of this month - I am going to work in the Emergency Dept. So, my rostering arrangements are changing, and not for the better. Where I am now I go to a different ward each night, and I pretty well have a set roster. This will not be the case in ED. The roster came out and of course I am working the night before the next quilt group meeting, which will be my first one. So I figure 'in for a penny, in for a pound' and have asked for the day off even though I haven't even started there yet - bit cheeky. The boss rang me today and said it was ok, so I am pleased. I want to go while I am still inspired.

The Fairybread mystery has been solved I see. I plan to put a little pic of it up as my ID photo.

Getting Sorted

Slowly getting organised. I think May Britt had a bit of a chuckle about my 2 lonely September goals, but trust me, there is plenty to be done!
Yesterday I put these bookshelves together for my magazines and books. Not an easy task. I have to buy things that are easy to transport as I have to come home on the ferry. This set of shelves from the hardware store were in a box that was easy to carry, but not so easy to put up. Lots of little fiddly screws and nuts that all had to be put together, then tightened one by one at the end. I got a bit cranky as it was after nightduty, and my tolerance level was low. I also sliced my finger on the sharp metal edges.
Nevertheless, it is done, and I have started to assemble my quilt magazines and books from piles all over the house. I have far too many magazines, but I can't throw them out. I do read them again, so that's my excuse. The books are lying on their sides - I just found some book ends.

The other shelves I put up this morning, and put my containers of fabric there. The top shelf is mainly scraps, and the others are mainly FQs and a few 1/2 yards. There are 3 big containers on the floor as well, also full of fabric. 1/2 yards and bigger pieces that I have bought over time. Also a tall basket drawer thingy. 4 of the containers are 1800s Reproductions, about 3 are 1930s, 1 is flannels, 1 is plaids, 1 Japanese, 2 with brighter colours, and an incredible amount of neutral/pink/floral type of fabric! I couldn't believe how much of it there is.

So I'm still at it, but getting there. Can you see Simon asleep in his bed in front of the bookshelves? The sewing room is finally starting to look less cluttered, which is a relief.

I also want to say that even though I am not a big fan of crocodiles, it is sad that Steve Irwin died yesterday. Very sad for his family.

Setting September Goals

I have been inspired by all those setting September Goals to set some myself. I have decided not to go out too fast in case I run out of energy before the finish line, so I have set 2 simple goals.

The first is to finish sorting out the stash. I am making good progress, and am currently working on the big plastic container under the spare bed. I have some extra small plastic containers, and I bought a drill this morning on the way home from work so that I can put up the shelves I need to arrange all the containers.

The second is to complete and send off the Japanese quilt and this string quilt to the Machine Quilter. I made this about 2 years ago I suppose, and got as far as pinning it, then thought "what the hell am I doing? It's too big and I don't want to quilt it", so nothing has ever happened. I did get as far as phoning a quilter, then didn't get it done because I have to fiddle with the pieced back to make it flat first. Probably 20 mins work if that!

This is a true scrap quilt. It was inspired by this quilt from Liberated String Quilts by Gwen Marston. I bought 2 rolls of long plain coloured homespun strips at a craft show, which were the bits cut off quilt backs after quilting. Then I got out a few fat quarters and added them in. The purple was bought 'el cheapo' at a sale and then I had to get the green and red, but they were fairly inexpensive too, from memory. I just put together what came out of the pile, unless it was a repeat - I mainly pieced it by putting the strips together that would fit each other.

I quite like it, even though I don't really like the print fabrics that I put in (what was I thinking?). But it goes to show I suppose that a quilt is more than the parts put together. I didn't have enough purple for the back, so I used the leftover green and a leftover strip. I still haven't fixed it up. It isn't crooked in real life, just draped crooked on the couch.

One thing I would like to know is - what are the things I should do to the quilts to make them ready for the quilter? I understand that the quilt should be as flat as possible. Should I square up the backing? Any tips would be great so that I can be a good customer.

I just read Evelyn's post on the Fons and Porter article (I subscribe), which I thought was a bit weird when I read it. So it would be good to get it right first time.

Sewing Machines

Susan asked about our sewing machines. I have a very basic Janome machine that sews ok. However, my next machine is going to be a bit flasher than this one.
It reminds me of when I had my last car. I was determined that my next car would have 2 features that the old car did not have. Airconditioning and an intermittent windscreen wiper. My current car has them.

My next sewing machine is going to have a needle up/ needle down option, and a machine blanket stitch. Not too much to ask for I don't think?

My Mother has a Bernina which she likes, however everything related to it is very expensive. Plus it was sick and was away for ages waiting for a part to come from overseas somewhere. I am happy with the Janome - never had a problem with it. But then there isn't much in it to break down.

Please note the organised fabric in the background. I am still sorting fabric. I am dealing with the big plastic container under the spare bed which has all the old stuff in it - fabric that I bought when I was just starting to quilt and didn't know any better! Boy am I finding some stuff in there. Some of makes me say to the dog "what was I thinking??" I have started a crochet fabric rug, so some of it might go in there. Better go to bed as I have been at work all night.