A Watery Departure

Apparently I'm not focused or industrious enough to have quilty things to post about regularly.
So, here is something else I obsess over.

Watercolors!  Once or twice a year I drag out my paints, get all inspired and sign up for a class (did this a couple of weeks ago).

Invariably, things don't go well.  My work of art is, well, not a work of art.  I'm not happy.  I quit.  Maybe this year will be different.  I need to either learn to paint or give my supplies to someone who will.

So, I've actually finished one painting (this one) that I like fairly well.  I'm well aware of it's shortcomings, but I'm calling it done & I've moved on to the next one.

True to form, the picture I'm working on right now isn't going well, but I think I've learned that you have to keep going.  There's an ugly duckling stage and you just have to keep painting and sometimes you get it right.  If not, you have scrap paper.  At least I think I'm learning that.

If my readership was above the occasional low single digit, I don't think I'd have the nerve to post this. Comments and constructive criticism would be welcome (as long as they are kind).

Back to quilting or something fibery next time.

A Love/Hate Relationship

This quilt was part of the Charm Pack Quilt Along hosted by Freckled Whimsey last summer.  It took me over a year to finish because I very quickly fell out of love with my fabric choice.  Seeing this photo reinforces that feeling.  Not knocking the pattern at all.  Entirely my fault.

Since I didn't love it, it became quilting practice.  

I did a mixture of stitch in the ditch, straight line, and free form feathers.  My straight lines were supposed to be a quarter inch apart.  Sometimes they are.   Looks like I've perfected wonky feathers, too!

Here is the back:

I used plain, inexpensive muslin because that's what I had on hand when I decided to put it together.

Much as I like color, creams & beiges are so calming & restful.  I prefer the back of this quilt to the front.

I love the actual quilting part of the process.  Maybe a machine with more throat space would help.  It took a whole lot of manhandling to get this quilt done on my little machine and sometimes I just couldn't help the wonkiness due to the lack of maneuvering space. 

Once the quilt was washed it became wonderfully crinkly and soft and the bad quilting didn't seem to matter so much.

I'll be linking up with Fabric Tuesday so hop over there and check out all the pretty things!

Aren't These Pretty?

I've only recently discovered designer, Amanda Murphy.  I know!  Where have I been?  In case I'm not the only under a rock dweller,  Amanda designs fabric for Robert Kaufman, and quilt patterns among other things, and she recently had a giveaway on her blog.  I was lucky enough to win!  The flowers are from her Veranda fabric line and the pattern is Village Green. 


I like it a lot!  Thanks Amanda!

MTV SEWING

Mindless television sewing?  Potato chip piecing (you can't make just one)?  I started basting these little hexagons last summer and kept basting sporadically through the year.  This resulted in piles of hexie flowers with no plan attached.  Couldn't bear the thought of appliqueing them onto solid squares or worse still, basting a bunch more solid hexagons to go between the hexagon flowers so I just started sewing them together.  There's still no real plan, but one may be forming as I hand stitch my way through all six seasons of Lost.  Yes, we just got Netflix. 


Other people are being more productive and focused over at Freshly Pieced.

New Blocks!

Finally!  I'm sewing again!  

These two blocks are part of Marti Michell's American Beauty Block of the Month that my lqs is doing as their $5 quilt offering.  I really like the quilt, but these blocks are just wearing me out!  There's no extra fabric included, so one slip of the rotary cutter & you've had it. Just the cutting makes me a nervous wreck.  And if there's any way to miss-cut or make any other kind of mistake I will find it.  That's why one of those plaid pieces is pieced and if the block on the left looks tortured, it is!  When will I ever learn to read through all the instructions before cutting?  Actually, my lqs has been very good about coming up with extra fabric and for free when I've made mistakes. 

Still & all, it's such a pleasure to have my little sewing space back.  I love it there.  My fabrics still aren't organized, but since we've moved in I've finished the quilting on a quilt started last summer (posting on that soon) and finished the top for a child size charity quilt.  Feels good! 


Oh, I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.....if I remember how!

Clawing My Way Out of the Abyss

We've been in our new place two weeks and I'm finally starting to get a handle on things.   It has not been easy!  My sewing room is, of course, the last room to be tackled.  Problem is, it's about half the size of my last one so there's barely room to unpack & figure out where things should go.  But I'll eventually get there.  The two bookcases are supposed to hold fabrics, knitting & art supplies.  I have two more smaller bookcases that will hold my books & mags and serve as a base for my cutting table.  Add an ironing board and this will be an intimate little space!

It's been killing me to see all the great quilt-a-longs in blogland and not be able to join in.  Maybe I can hop in later if I get this all together.

Design Wall Monday

I haven't worked on these blocks in weeks, but technically it is on the design wall, or design sheet in my case.  The block is from Marti Michell's American Beauty pattern that my LQS is doing as a $5 BOM. If you attend each month's class and bring your completed block from the previous month, the next month's block is free.  Conceivably, you can make a whole quilt for $5.  Such high hopes I had!  Two or three blocks behind already and what with moving and all, I just don't have the powers of concentration it would take for me to work on it this week. 

Colors are way off on this & I wasn't able to get them corrected, but they are really pretty pastel greens, pinks and yellows.  You can see a photo of the real completed quilt here.

The design sheet is now in the washing machine prior to being packed for the move and I am off to tape boxes together.  Hope everyone has a lovely week!

Check out all the design wall offerings at Patchwork Times!