A show, a pattern, a quilt, a bed and a sunset

Armed with camera and a little spending money, I attended the Whangarei Guilds exhibition yesterday, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  So much so... that I completely forgot to take any photos!  Not the first time this has happened... and unlikely to be the last.  Leeann who blogs at Quilt Whangarei already has photos up of the challenge entries (showing very imaginative re-purposing of shirts) and I'm sure she'll have the other exhibition photos up soon.

I bumped into a few old friends and had a great time catching up... as you do.  I also took the time to find out a little bit more about a particular pattern, from Kerry who has an online shop Tulis Textiles here in Northland, selling batiks, patterns and specialty rulers (amongst other things).  My bucket list includes a double wedding ring quilt - although I don't think I have the patience or stamina for the truly traditional version.  This pattern and ruler should make it do-able... when I'm allowed to start something new again of course.  My brain is already whizzing with possibilities.

I also visited with all the merchants, and carefully chose only two fat quarters.  Yup, just two.  Aren't I good?

On the finishing front, I put the last few stitches in The Robot Quilt binding, attached a label

Did a bit of personalisation for the new owner... a little boy...

who is going to turn four next week.

And the final, outdoor photo.  I'm very pleased with how this quilt has turned out - and super happy to have found a purchaser, with all money raised going to fundraising efforts for my sons snow trip later in the year.

With the end of the month rolling around tomorrow, it was time for a new quilt on the bed.  This one has not been slept under yet - and in fact, the binding still has just over a side to be stitched down... but all good things take time.  I've been consciously try to increase my speed slipstitching the binding down... and along with stitching in the afternoon as opposed to the evening, I have been getting better (the robot quilt only took a few days!).  So really, I should put this on my list to get {completely} finished by the end of the April.

My Gypsy Bandana Craftsy 2012 BOM Sampler quilt, experimentally straight line quilted on Janet (the handiquilter frame)

The view out the window this evening... glorious - although not sure the camera has really caught the moment.

No that's not a UFO - it's the reflection of our light pendant

OK, that's me all caught up with my adventures.  Plans for this week include working on the Bluebirds and Berries panel, with the last bit of vine almost stitched down, then the applique elements will need to be blanket stitched.  I hope to baste the Japanese ladies quilt this week... so it'll be another busy one, down in the Sewing Shed.  Have a good week!

Shock! Horror! A Wednesday Update!

The quilting on the Robot Quilt is finished and a bright green solid binding has been attached by machine, with the final hand stitching left to do.  I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

We have a stipple in the background - and an organic echo around the rockets...

the stars and the robots.  The robots also got treated to a spiral in the eye department...

and the zigzag chests got a bit of definition.

The border has an Angela Walters square pattern - if you follow it from the mid right, it exits at top left, and then onto the next one.  This is one of my favourite border treatments.  It certainly did wonders for the slight wave I seemed to have in this quilt.

I've also been amassing possible new projects for when the project diet is over.  I'm not sure that the whole diet thing is going to work.  A bit like a food diet... we all know what happens when the diet is over - you put the weight back on and then some.  I think I will probably finish this year with even more projects on the go compared with the beginning of the year.

I really like this free download - Starburst Cross Quilt from Sew Crafty Jess.  I have the perfect bundle for this... and it's on my one day list.

I've also signed up for the Sugar Club with Amy Gibson.  A new pattern each month... and I can just see these made up in my Bonnie & Camille stash left over from the Japanese Ladies Quilt.

On a bit of an Amy Gibson marathon... don't you love this Tuileries pattern?  Not sure about what I'd use exactly, but a bit of scrap management, a few low volume's maybe... this one needs to stew for a while.

Now I'd never make this one in pink, but it sure is a great graphic quilt... and pretty simple too.  This was a free download from Forth Worth Fabric Studio.  Imagine blues and greens... or teal and stone... yummo...

And while I don't want to sign myself up for any more charity quilts in a hurry... wouldn't this one be a terrific option?  I might just need one for myself...

So that's my Wednesday happenings... what's going on at your place?

Skipping Friday and Saturday...

... and then we have Sunday.

I finished up my Feathered Star block... isn't she lovely?

A little bit closer reveals a cream on cream print as the background.  For a really traditional block - it has a very contemporary feel, achieved simply from the eclectic fabric selection.

I've spent a couple of days revisiting the Berries and Bluebirds quilt top that I had started enlarging by adding extra borders.  Next time I promise to just leave things be!

Sometime in the dim distant past, I attached applique panels to the sides... and lost the mojo for the top and bottom borders.  This weekend the mojo got a bit of a shake up... and I'm away again.

Little Missy Moo has been persevering with her own blocks... and making progress on the design wall.  And check out her little machine!  There is only three more of these cross blocks to do... and then I need to work out what to do next.  The pressures of being a mother/daughter sewing duo!

And next we have Thursday...

As you can see... I'm very good with my days :0)

A bit low-key today... just playing with little fabric bits.

All cut and laid out

OK I'm happy with the placements now... ready for piecing tomorrow

It's amazing how the seam allowance shrinks the finished product down so much isn't it?  The finished block is 18" - so not exactly tiny, but the unpieced version is at least 4" bigger.  This block and these fabrics just make me feel happy.

In which Monday becomes Tuesday becomes Wednesday

After a less than stellar week last week... when I ended up doing absolutely no sewing... didn't even enter the shed... I planned to jump right into machine quilting the robot quilt on Saturday.  Unfortunately Cyclone Lusi had other ideas, with power cuts for the better part of the day.  So I ended up changing the lounge around to a new winter layout... better day time light... and cleaning up the resulting mess.  Do you know how dirty it gets under your sofa???  Luckily we had brief periods of power when the vacuum was heavily used :0)  While I like the new layout, other members of the household are not so keen... because you need to turn your head to watch the TV.  Any guesses which member of the family that would be???

Sunday was day of the robot... as was Monday... and now Wednesday.  Lots and lots of wiggling... otherwise known as meandering or stippling... but I think of it as wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, turn, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, turn.

Lots of lovely texture

This is the last area to be stippled.  But you guessed it... I've run out of bobbin fill!  Kerryn!!

And then it will be onto the border quilting... I'm thinking of an interlocking square pattern, and binding!

 I am going to reward myself for being so committed to getting this one done.  Because I can.  So... my carrot will be to complete another one of these delicious blocks.  Since I have no bobbin fill... I might just need to start laying it out tomorrow.... hmmm... now where did I put that project??

The One Where She Falls off the Wagon

I knew it was going to happen.  It was just a matter of time :0)

First up... I'm not injured!

Second up... it was just the fabric diet that hit a speed bump, not the "not starting new projects" diet.

So how did this all come about?  Well, my favourite little patchwork shop in Maungatapere The Country Yard celebrated their 10th birthday over the weekend.  I decided to just enjoy myself and buy some fabrics that I liked - for the simple fact that I liked them.  I had a wonderful time chatting and catching up with friends, eating some yummo food... drinking half a glass of wine and saying virgin instead of version... and stroking and collecting some yummo fabrics.  There was a whole new project that I was super tempted to buy... but I did show some restraint, and left that one on the shelf.

Wanna peek?

It all started with this collection, most of which have nothing on the selvedge of my fat quarters, but at least some of them say Daiwabo for EE Schenck Company

Across the room I discovered these fabrics by Anni Downs of Hatched & Patched.  Although there were more... I carefully selected my absolute favourites.

These cream/off white tone on tones are being auditioned to fill gaps in my Tillie's Lane BOM (the larger sprigged design was a just had to have).

Aaah, fabric shopping, I have missed you.  But back to the straight and narrow for me!

I finished my secret project and took secret photos on Saturday, all ready to email off to the relevant party on Sunday.  Whew.  Mission accomplished.

The Robot quilt got it's borders attached and backing fabric sewn.  This afternoons session was spent basting and now I'm all ready to start quilting on Wednesday.

What's been happening in your neck of the woods?

The Podcast Episode

Those last four rockets got made during the week, and even sewn together to form the quilt centre.  Woohoo!!  I like how the colours play so nicely together.  This was a mixture of remnants (bigger than scraps but leftovers from other projects) and small scraps for the star points, plus a light blue homespun background.

After a discussion with my quilting buddies, it was agreed that I should use some of the black star fabric I purchased as the backing, and add it as a medium size border.  I can always add a bit of variety to the back if it turns out I haven't quite got enough fabric for both areas.  I have my fingers crossed... ever the optimist... but I'm really pretty sure that there won't be enough for both.  Variety is a great thing!

I have also been busy stitching down this binding on my secret project.  I love this text print - and it makes an amazing binding!  More on the secret project probably next month.

Not much else happening on the quilting front.  However, if you happen to read Ms Lotties blog (The Slightly Mad Quilt Lady)... you'll know that she has started recording quilt related pod casts.  For those of you who like to listen, perhaps as you sew... it is a mighty fine was to multi-task - and learn a bit about what's going on around the world.

This episode she bought her voice recorder to our once a month Saturday quilting group (this time at my place), and recorded as we discussed this and that.  Then!  She interviewed me!  The evil woman!

So, if you want to know what I sound like.  Learn a bit more about me and how I see the world.  Find out how this quilt came about....

My first quilt!

 ... and a few other bits and pieces, tune in to her latest episode here.  It's a great bit of fun.  If you would like a bit more information... her show notes are on her blog post which is on my sidebar... or click here.

Be sure to let me know if you have a listen - and let me know how terrible my accent is!  Or if you would like more information about any of the things we discussed.  You have been warned!