Thursday, July 28, 2011

Back in the Groove

On Monday of this week, I decided to work on the baby quilt some more. And it was quite successful, in my opinion. I have completed the body of the top. A quick test of the red fabric for the first border showed that it was susceptible to running. Yes, I know. I should have tested it when it first came in the house, but I didn't need it then. So, I just ran it through a wash with Retayne and it is now drying. I don't have a working dryer so the fabric is draped over a chair in front of a fan. It should be dry fairly soon. When it's dry, I'll cut the strips for the first border. Here is a photo of the top before borders.

I thought you might also want to see the fabrics that I'll be using for the borders and the backing. I'll use either the yellow or the green for the second border and the other one will be used for the backing. My next task will be to decide which one to use for the binding. Fortunately, that won't be an issue for a while.
Unfortunately, I don't think the quilt will be ready for the expected birth around September 1. But the upcoming new parents live in Pennsylvania so it will be a while before a quilt is needed.

While the red fabric is drying, I think I'll cut the paper pieces for the English paper piecing pattern that I need to test. Lots of things to do! But maybe I'll take a nap first...

Thanks for reading.
Amy

Sunday, July 24, 2011

OK. Now what?

I feel all adrift. Or as my mom used to put it "at sixes and sevens." Yesterday I finished a wall hanging. I can't post a photo of it because it's a surprise for a friend and I don't want to ruin the surprise. Anyway, now that it's finished, what do I do? I could work on the baby quilt, but I'm not in the mood. I have done a little work on it. The purple diagonal row is finished and I'm sewing the blues together for the next row. But it's not exciting me.


I could knit on the sock I have started...but I'm not in the mood.


I am a pattern tester for The Quilt Pattern Magazine (http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com/). The pattern I'm testing is English paper piecing Christmas ornaments. But before I can start working on them, I need to cut paper pieces and dig out fabric. And I'm just not in the mood. Besides, the results of my test isn't due until the middle of August. Plenty of time!


I could do lots of things, but nothing is turning on my creative juices. It's like this for me every time I finish a project. I always have a boatload of projects in progress, but for some reason they are not appealing right after finishing a project.


Guess I'll just turn on the radio and see if I can find something to listen to. Or maybe I'll get the Kindle and pick up where I left off last night on the book I'm reading. It's about a couple right after WWII. The guy has trouble dealing with the mental aspects of the war and to save his wife and children from his nightmares, he leaves home. Keep in mind that times are really hard right then and he has trouble finding jobs. Anyway, it's a good book. Maybe that's what I'll do....read a little bit.


I'm glad to have the project finished and can hardly wait to see my friend's reaction. If only I didn't feel so...I don't know...at sixes and sevens!


Tomorrow is a new day and I'm sure I'll find my enthusiasm again by then. Today I'll just take it easy and enjoy the "cooler" weather. ha!


Thanks for reading.


Amy

Sunday, July 3, 2011

A.W.O.E.

Yes, I have been A.W.O.E. -- Absent With Out Excuse! I do apologize, but what I have realized as a result of having this blog is that I basically lead a dull life. Not much with which to bore people. I will bring you up to date on what I've been up to since my last post of mumble...mumble...four months or so ago...mumble...mumble.


As I said, I have really gotten into sock knitting. I have now completed six pair and am working on the seventh. Some fit me; some don't. But that's OK. I'm sure there is someone somewhere who will fit into the ones I can't wear and I got the enjoyment out of making them. I didn't take a photo because they're just socks. Nothing to get excited about.


A quilty thing that I am working on is a baby quilt for friends of mine who are expecting a baby around the first of September. The quilt won't be ready by then, but here's a photo of my progress. I have about half of the squares put together. The fabrics are 30's reproductions. The remaining rows are blue, green, yellow and red. The inner border will be a skinny solid red and the outer border will be wider (probably 5 inches) of either a green or yellow print. I have enough of each for either the border or the back. I'll decide which color goes where when I get the rest of the quilt body pieced together. I prefer to do my piecing by hand instead of sewing machine and that's part of the reason it is taking so long to get this done. My enjoyment of quilting comes from the peacefulness of hand work. Usually about the only time I use the sewing machine is to sew on the border. All of the piecing and quilting are done by hand.


The reason I'm updating my blog today is because I have been chided by a couple of my stitching buddies for not posting anything in a while. And after one of those fine ladies gave me a counted cross stitch item that she didn't want, I figured I had no choice but to update. Here is a photo of the item:



It's lovely and I appreciate Sarah's generosity. My next task is to decide what to do with it. I will probably make it into a wall hanging, but I'm not sure just how I'll do it. I have a lot of burgundy scraps from a quilt I made a few years ago so I'm sure I can find compatible fabrics. The cross stitch kit also came with charms to put on the item. The picture suggested putting the charms on the quilt blocks, but that just doesn't look right to me. I'll come up with something, I'm sure. Here is a picture of the charms:




OK. Now you're up to date with what I've been doing. And it looks like a storm is brewing outside so I'd better get off the computer before something bad happens.


As always, thanks for reading my blog. I hope you managed to stay awake through all the boring blather. ha!


Amy