Where did all that time go?

It seems like only yesterday that I did my last post... but according to the date on it, it was in fact AGES ago.  So what have I been up to?

Well, apart from the grumpy and then sick kids... I've been tired and rather unenthusiastic in the crafting department.  I know... it happens to the best of us.  Last weekend I finally sucked it up and finished putting together the backing for the Hometown Wagon Wheel quilt.  I very much likey likey:

I bought some bamboo batting for the first time, and decided that this would be the great hand quilting experiment...relatively simple large stitches outlining the shapes.

First block down... only eight more to go.  I ended up with some shifting, which is most probably due to my interesting and probably quite incorrect technique.  This shows up quite well on the back:

Also on the sewing radar is The Jelly Roll Sampler.  The plan includes some basket blocks which have a background fabric.  With the setting I have chosen, I needed to decide whether the block background was going to be the same as the setting background... yada yada, more decisions indecision.  I bought a really pretty duckegg solid, but it just wasn't quite doing it for me.  If in doubt, go and discuss it with your best friend - Monika saved the day and after lots of discussing all sorts of topics, suggested a scrappy low volume background.  Perfect, I had already started a bundle for February new project number two and three.

My low volume (which is just modern talk for scrappy) selection is eclectic and at times not all that low volume, but now that I've taken a photo and done the squinty eye test, I am quite happy with it.  Maybe not exactly what Monika would have chosen - but it is very much ME!  The duckegg solid has made it's way into the pile too...

While I've been cutting these bits, I've multitasked and cut out the starting stages of those abovementioned new projects.  I'm loving this new project thing... next year will probably be the year of the unfinished.  You will also have noticed by now that I tend to do several projects that use a similar theme, whether it be fabric or design.  I've put together a few quilts lately with a large nine patch layout, I'm concentrating on several sampler style quilts, I've used the black and white text fabric in several projects, as well as the light grey homespun.  Now is the time for the rest of the Denyse Schmidt fabric (left over from the dresden fan wedges) plus a few more which caught my eye, in combination with the rest of the low volume bundle.  OK, I've put multitasking onto a whole new level - also a whole new level of mess.

New February Project Number Two - Modern Crosses quilt from the Modern Log Cabin book.  Love this block, love this quilt, love this fabric...

New February Project Number Three - Plus and Cross quilt.  This will be a lot more chaotic scrappy as each corner is a different fabric.  Results in interesting secondary patterns in the final layout. 

Ran out of steam getting this block finished, but you get the idea...

I've also finished piecing my second Tokyo Subway block for February

And I've finished the LAST SWOON BLOCK!  I think this deserves it's own post... so I'll come back to it later in the week.

Well, I suppose I have had quite a busy couple of weeks haven't I?

And NO, I didn't make any further progress on the borders for Bluebirds and Berries BOM (although I did buy some more fusible web on Tuesday).  Remember for next month - chose a goal that is achievable!

On the go...

Can you believe this is my 200th post?

Now, on to business.  Did I tell you that I finished another Swoon block?  This would be block 8:

And I'm partly through Block 9 - the last block.  Woohoo!!  Almost time to start thinking about the quilting stage.

I've also prepped another Dresden Fan block, appliqued the outer ring, now just the inner circle to finish appliqueing down:

I've chosen a couple of newspaper prints for these two blocks... I've got another couple of black and white text prints on order which I'm hoping will fit into the scheme.  Once I realised that I didn't want to have the same fabric for all the backgrounds, I found it heaps easier to decide what I did want to do:

I've also got a bit more serious about the February lovely finish goal... after doing a bit of drafting, I did a bit of measuring and figured out I really needed to add some serious borders to make the top sit cohesively on the bed.  I'm liking how this is looking:

Although as I have now used up all my fusible web (with only one border piece partially constructed), I'm not sure how exactly I'm going to finish my goal - I may have bitten off more than I can chew!

Everything just ticking along

I've really been enjoying the new projects I started in January, and while I know I can't keep starting projects like that every month, I have been tempted already to start a new project for February.

It all started when I read about Elvy Crafts jelly roll sampler quilt blocks. Click here to see her progress so far.  After trawling through her delicious posts, I realised I had the book she was using for her patterns, in fact, I've had it for quite some time, and it hadn't inspired me at all.  That soon changed once I pulled out the jelly roll mum bought me from England, decided on which blocks I liked, had a play on EQ6 for some setting ideas... and I've now finished three whole blocks.

Random Tuesday

Tuesday is the day I work half a day... to fill in the rest of the day sometimes I do housework and catch up on the washing... other days I disappear into The Sewing Shed!

Today was a sewing shed day...

I auditioned some fabric... and did some layout figuring... would you believe it Leeanne, I managed to cut my first border 2" instead of 2 1/2"??  Time for Plan B:

I've also spent a bit of time putting together the first block in the first new project for February.

2013 must be the year of the sampler quilt.  More details to come.

And can anybody guess what this is?

Does this one help any?

For regular readers, you will recognise Janet... that would be Janet Frame my handy dandy Handi-quilter frame with some brand spanking new runners - aren't husbands wonderful :0)

February Goal - A Lovely year of finishes

I've been thinking about what my February goal would be from the time I finished January's goal.  I could just put down another swoon block - well, it worked last time - but I feel like Swoon has gained momentum again, and hopefully I can get the rest of the blocks completed without having to make it an "official" goal.

So I'm thinking maybe of choosing the Gail Pan Bluebirds and Berries BOM with the specific goal of designing and completing the finishing borders.

The original pattern has a narrow plain border, then a wider plain border.  I plan on something "bigger" and a bit more me.

I've cut a few 2" squares... I've got a narrow border cut... watch this space!

New month... and so the blocks continue

The projects started last month have been calling to me so I couldn't wait until the start of February to begin the next lot of blocks.

So far I have completed the February blocks for the Craftsy 2012 BOM:

Balkan Puzzle - don't look too closely at the points, and no, it doesn't appear to be square...

The Chunky Chevron block... I really like this one - and it's pretty close to being the right size!  First one so far... woohoo!

I am trying to complete blocks using the techniques described in the instructions.  Each of these blocks used different "quick" techniques to create the half square triangles.  Not sure whether I am sold on either technique, but I've done them, and that's the main thing... and a bit of a collage of progress so far.

I've also laid out Block Two for the Tokyo Subway quilt. 

This month we're doing block 2 and 15 which meant adding orange into the mix.  By selecting blocks with minimal extra colours, hopefully the cutting side of the whole project will be comfortably spread out through the project.  If any one is keen to join in with this monthly project - the instructions for all the blocks are still on Oh Fransons! blog.  I'm doing 2.5" cut squares (so I can maybe start a scrap vomit quilt with the leftovers).  Go on, I know you want to!  Last month we started with Blocks 1 and 5 (light blue, yellow, grey, red + background).