Tuesday 30 June 2009

Quiltathon continues...

Progress was pretty fast today, not only did I get 3 or so hours down on the allotment, which resulted in rhubarb, gooseberries and some red onion, but I got busy on my quiltathon.
This is my progress, I'm at least 3/4 the way through this, I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow after work. Then a mass Binding session on Thursday and I'll be as ready as I can be.

Monday 29 June 2009

Frenzied fun and finishes!

I got the big busted quilt top loaded, quilted and off again this weekend! I'm really pleased with the quilting on this one. I used a very pale blue/cream/pink variegated 50 wt cotton thread from Anton Robison and it was just perfect. Another one for the binding pile :o) I managed to do a bit of 'ketchup' and get the borders on Basket Case, and tonight it has been pressed and loaded to the frame, whilst I consider it as an entry into Harrogate. It was after all a JellyRoll quilt.



Today was a gloriously hot and humid! I managed to get down to the allotment nice and early, and these are the spoils from my visit!
I also managed to finish the binding on this black and white quilt, so that's my finish for June. I'm on track to getting at least one project completed each month this year. I've got a plan for the next couple of months, whilst I am out of action. Have you guessed what it is yet?

Thursday 25 June 2009

I went with Yellow!


This evening I pieced this table runner with the left overs from my Old Red Barn Sew Along top (which is yet to be loaded onto the frame and quilted). I have a thing for soft buttery yellows, I'm just that sort of girl I guess. There's something very peaceful and comforting in it don't you think. I'm pleased with this runner, 'cos I'm not really a table runner person.
I like it though, and I'm pleased to have used up all but the last one 4 1/2" x 12 1/2 " piece which I will try to incorporate into either the binding or the back. You'll just have to wait and see!
Happy quilting :o)

Wednesday 24 June 2009

More Quilting Done...

I managed to get the African Challenge quilt top layered and quilted and off the frame in one afternoon! Yep, that's what I said. lol I was so pleased to have a quick project to help with the sense of achievement after my faltering weekend.
Another one waiting for binding before July.Happy quilting :o)

Monday 22 June 2009

Weekend Roundup

You know how it goes, I planned to do all those projects as part of the 'Ketchup' weekend. Ah, well..... things didn't go quite to plan. Oh really?!!!! I hear you say. LOL

Well, actually it was a really relaxing weekend, we went out for dinner and to the movies Friday, drove to Norfolk to visit Richards parents pre-Fathers Day on Saturday, and did a fair bit of work down on the allotment on Sunday. Very much what I needed after a busy week.
I did however manage to finish off the quilting on my Stack 'n Whack. At last! Not without its problems though.Alicia banged on the door to let me know she was home, however she frightened the living daylights out of me and the quilting went haywire!
Then I broke a needle, the thread got caught, and the needle just gave way. It made such a mess, not only of the machine but the poor quilt too. I was glad to get this one off the frame.

Hope your had a good weekend and Fathers Day.

Happy quilting :o)

Saturday 13 June 2009

Ketchup Projects

As part of Pat Sloan's Ketchup Weekend, I have chosen some projects that have stalled to work on rather than BOMs that need 'ketchup' on them. If you click on the button to the right you can find out more about it!


This is my Basket Case that I worked on during my last retreat weekend. I just need to add the borders and its another one for the 'ready for quilting' pile.
I managed to get a 2 1/2" strip of each strip set cut from the leftovers, which I have added a border of the plum/chocolate, they just need turning into to something!

These are blocks that I used as leaders and enders during the quilt retreat. Up until now I have been unable to lay them out. So the plan is to lay them out and sew them together. The borders and all are all here so its game on for this little lot too!
And finally, there are Ilene's Nine Patch quilts to be finished. There are 80 blocks there to make 2 twin size quilts. Somehow I'm not so sure these are going to be finished before I have my surgery, but I'll give it a go!

As you can see, it has been a lovely day here, and the garden is looking pretty right now :o)

Happy quilting!

Friday 12 June 2009

Call for Help!

I had fun playing with my ORB Sew Along blocks, and I have a few left. I thought I'd sew them into a table runner, I know how I want them, I just can't decide on the fabric to use as a background filler. This is where I need your help, if you don't mind that is!

These are the fabrics I came up with, my initial thoughts were for this bright lime green. But it sort of loses its crispness.

I went into the office for a rummage and this caught my eye, its not quite as harsh as it appears here, more of a soft buttery yellow.









Then there are a few others that sprang out and jumped into my hands! The shite with turquoise paisley sort of fits the Amy Butler feel.....



















This tan is really shimmery, its such a good fabric, I only managed to get 3/4 meter because that was all that was left! The flowers seemed to be the right tone, but, they're just not talking to me!

And the cream, soft maybe a little stark even...... Oh.......Help! Let me know your thoughts, I have a couple of contenders but..... I'd appreciate which one you like best. Thanks












Oh, and the ORB Sew Along, yep I managed to get it together, and I REALLY love this, not my usual thing, but lovin' it! I have some interesting thoughts about quilting it, I'm going to have to have a little play with pen and paper.







Wednesday 10 June 2009

Challenged!

Whilst the work continues in the house, and with all the attempts to get somewhere at least 'normal', this is now my cutting station!


The height of this unit works so well for me, it was a surprise discovery, but being vertically challenged, it has taken the back strain away from the cutting.

I managed to get the strip sets finished, pressed and cut tonight. So this is where I am up to on my ORB Sew Along. I will try to get them laid out tomorrow after work, into a pleasing layout, so I can pin rows together to takeout to the 'office' to sew.

The sewing room (office) is a little more challenged at the moment! This was me earlier watching Matt Sparrow (Manquilter) from Quiltcetera do his thing! Whilst I finished off my strips. :o) You should check out his site, his work is awsome! His wife Bradie is equally talented too!

Its a tight squeeze at the moment till I get counter tops back in the kitchen so I can have my table to sew on again. Phone, laptop, sewing machine (not necessarily in that order!) what more is there? LOL I can now lay out again, the floors are done! Yipeeee! There are about 4 quilts in progress in that pile on the left, all waiting patiently. Not much longer my little beauties!

I'd love to know if I am the only mad person that finds a way to quilt no matter what the challenge. Can you top hand quilting on armed guard or doing a wholecloth in the desert whilst on deployment to a war zone? This seems a little tame in comparison, don't you think?

Tuesday 9 June 2009

strips, strips and more ...... strips!

Yep, I've been sewing strips!


These are some I have already done, they are looking good so far, don't you think. Can you tell which one isn't Amy Butler?

Birthday girl had another day off school today, and with the builder, electrician and the cabinet maker, it got a bit crowded in the kitchen, to say the least! So not as much sewing as I would have liked, and shucks I have to go to work in the morning! She is much better after a good rest so will be back at it tomorrow!
I'm aiming to get more of this done over the next few days, the kitchen has sort of come to a stand still, but it is usable and almost back to normal, if you call no counter top or doors normal!
I did get some of these strips cut into blocks and had a sneak peak at laying them out .... ooooh .... pretty!
Happy quilting!

Birthdays!


We had a birthday here this weekend. Alicia loves Cadbury's Giant Chocolate Buttons, so what better on a chocolate cake. It was delicious! Its a shame she had tonsillitis, so couldn't really appreciate how good a cake it was. I'll just have to bake another one!
Get better soon Babe!

Saturday 6 June 2009

Sewing Alert!

I love a good 'Sew Along', so much so that when I saw on Amy's Blog, Park City Girl, that she was doing this one from 'Old Red Barn' blog, I was itching to start something new. Again, this is something I can do with all the upheaval still going on in the house. Yeah, I know, I'm just a sucker for starting something else when I have so many others on the go!As you can see I have cut all my strips, I think this one is going to be quick to go together. I have more strips than suggested, but that's because I'm working in meters rather than yards. It meant I could get 8 strips from most of the cuts of fabric, but not all. I am now busy sewing the strips together, wish me luck!

Thursday 4 June 2009

Big Busted Revealed!

I managed to find some time in between the chaos at home and the opportunity for some real quality time down on the allotment, given the wonderful weather we had. I also managed to squeeze myself into my office to do the sewing. Fortunately this little project didn't require laying out to see if the placement of the blocks was OK.

It has been added to growing list of those waiting to be quilted. I feel it may be sooner rather than later. I took it to work with me yesterday, as I was visiting my very good friend on my way home. The first public reveal of this one resulted in a request 'Please can I have it?' Donna, watch this space!

Now I have a beautiful oak floor, I can lay out and continue with other projects on the go. And of course I couldn't resist starting something new with these!