Some days are rocks...

Some days are diamonds.

And some days are just somewhere inbetween.

Spot the problem.

Not sure exactly how this one happened, or how I didn't notice it yesterday??

It may well be that it will become lost in the masses of rings by the time this quilt is finished.  But can I risk it?  Looks like Mr Seam Ripper will be called into action for this one.

And no, this doesn't appear to be a melon shape... moral of the story, don't stop in the middle of a curve, even if your husband asks a question that needs an immediate answer.  I think this is the rock part of the day :0)

 The FMQ foot is back in place and I'm just over halfway quilting the third quarter.

Moving onto the diamond part... a quick squiz at what's on the design wall at the moment.  I would urge anyone contemplating constructing a design wall to go for as big as you can fit.  It will never be big enough but we all know bigger is definitely better in many areas of life (like chocolate bits, bench space and stash cupboards).  And we also all know that the bigger it is... the more you will try and fit on it.

At the moment - with rain pouring down relentlessly outside, these just make me happy!

I am a firm believer that quilting represents my creative response to what is going on in my life, or the world.  Whether it's winter, or work or kids... something has been triggering a brighter, uplifting palette of colours.

Three Feathered Star blocks down... only 6 more to go!  I still love these, and hopefully no-one gets bored with the occasional progress.  These will be set in a sashed nine patch, with contrasting cornerstones.  Can you see it?  And no, I haven't decided how I'm going to quilt it yet!

And  as promised, I did unearth my Mystery Stitchery blocks... which were temporarily lost.  It seems I'm up to block 6 out of nine.  There are some quite simple stitcheries to be done, with a couple of more complex ones... so there is no reason at all why I can't get some real progress done on this one over the winter months.  As the Mystery is well and truly over, I have the final layout and fabrics - all lovely French General - I have all the incentive I need to get this one at least up to the piecing stage.

The Slippery Slope

Having a pretend new project was only one step away from having a real new project.  Like anyone with an addiction... it's impossible to stop at one... or two... this may well be the end of the Project Diet.  But on a positive note... it is June... that's a whole 5 months longer than I thought I'd last!

Before I embarked on the new project, I decided to treat myself to another Feathered Star block - I just felt like having a break from all the FMQing - and a bit of careful and precise piecing was just the ticket.  My LQS The Country Yard has a monthly stitching Saturday - so along with a few of my monthly Saturday quilting buddies, we enjoyed a lovely day out, stitching, talking,and catching up with Kerryn newly returned from Quilt Market.  I took my cut out squares and triangles, and started piecing up some of the units.

Even after a few more days of sewing, I've still got quite a bit more to do.  I tend to do one seam at a time... and enjoy each little perfect interlocking point.

No trip to a fabric shop is complete without at least a teeny bit of retail therapy.  I took along some of my "one day this is going to be a quilt" bundles and matched up some perfect background fabrics.

It was only a short hop skip and jump to cutting up some of those fabrics and FINALLY using my new Simple Curves curved ruler and mock Double Wedding Ring pattern.  I'm amazed that I hung out this long!

I could be in LOVE!   First there was one...

And then there was TWO!

The background is a beautiful Moda Weave... a printed woven pattern with a bit of a sheen... kinda almost.  This silvery beige is the perfect compliment to the assorted prints I've accumulated - it's got a vintage vibe that I'm really happy with.

In my mind I see applique in the background square which is formed by four blocks meeting up.  I just haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to do it.  I also need to work out what fabric I'm going to use for the alternate blocks triangle corners (instead of the black/white sketch).  Perhaps a solid?  Or a dark print?  Any ideas???

This weekend I want to spend a bit of time sorting through my BOM stitcheries... funnily enough they don't seem to get done when you have them packed away.  And the Tokyo Subway quilting is still waiting for the second half to get started.  Plenty to keep me busy!

What are you up to this weekend?

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!