Waiting In The Wings

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

AHIQ #31 - the start of a utility quilt

Whilst many may not think of this quilt I'm making as
a utility quilt, if I go off some of the descriptions I've read I'm
thinking it is.

One I read:
'a functional quilt that usually contains a simple pattern'
another
'a quilt that was made to be used daily knowing
that someday it would be used up'

sadly I'm not sure where these came from originally but I had them written down
on my little studio notice board.

 My Anna Maria Horner fabrics arrived


and I had printed out a free pattern ( Rainbow Blur) from Free Spirit using
these Sweet  Dreams fabrics, two blocks, one just a large square the
other a mix of different sized squares.


The pattern called for the block size to be 18 and 1/2" - a little on the
large size for me, I just want this to be a cover up quilt for keeping us
warm in the winter months, not worried if it needs washing
every week, kids and cats welcome to use it!

I sized the block down to 15 and 1/2", four blocks across and
five down.

Looking at this now, had it been my own design and improv it
would have met the Scale Challenge - four different sized squares!
I'm still cutting the pieces and they're living in their own plastic bags
marked A through to X, 24 lovely fabrics and there will be enough left
to make something smaller afterwards.

As we're now into Autumn I was happy to see two of my early
flowering camellias blooming yesterday



this bottom one was a pure dark pink originally and now most of the blooms
are opening streaked here and there with white.

Back to my machine now to sew more strips for the Frog quilt
and sew more on Rainbow Blur - I think it may be quite
addictive!
Linking up now with 
Kaja and Ann
who host AHIQ
why not visit and see who's meeting the scale challenge
and who's on utility!

Maureen



Thursday, March 22, 2018

Frog Frenzy, Fabric and a Four Legged Friend

Not a very productive week at all at my place!

I stitched one of the chinese coin panels for grandsons's quilt
Frog Frenzy, here's a quick photo - the blue background isn't showing
quite true,


and a close up which shows the frogs a little better.


I'm finding it difficult working with only a limited colour palette,
but it was his choice and that's the important part of the process.

Carrying on with fabric sorting I'm asking myself why
I bought the fabrics below, it must be all of 10 years ago and whilst
I do love the soft colour I don't think I could make a quilt with
them now. 


My idea of putting away a heap of strings on the cutting
table was rudely interrupted


Leila thought they'd make a comfy spot for a nap.

Here she is below, resting up after chasing her tape measure, tied in knots
the better for her to hang on to, trying to catch me running around the house with it,
one way to exercise.



So, as you can see hardly any sewing this week but
I'll still visit 
Linda  and Julie
who host
Sew,Stitch,Snap,SHARE
to see what goodies have been posted!

Monday, March 12, 2018

No sewing - just stashing

Decided it was time to tidy up a few 
containers of large fabric pieces over 1.5 metres and ended
up realising that I had far more than I thought!

I have two containers filled with older stash, like these below



then I have two more with Kaffe Collective fabrics -just one shown.



All this re-shuffling was to free up a basket for these
Tula Pink All Stars with her Pom Poms and Tent Stripe,
I already have a quilt marked out.


Below are her solids, if I've posted these before then apologies.


This overload of colour reminded me that I'd intended
to show you you a teapot my daughter gave me for my
birthday


I don't use it, I have it on the bench for eye candy!!

On the subject of colour I'm posting two flower photos,
one is of a favourite rose coming towards the end of flowering


the other is a flower of the palest kind
but with the most delicious Summer scent
which fills the air in the evening,
we know it here as
Queen of the Night.


Happy Quilting

Maureen

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Found Treasures and one more for Mardi Gras

Reading posts on Sunday I was thrilled to see the this post below from

because I loved this pattern of hers a few years ago when
it was published in a magazine. This was one
I had to make and began it as a project for RSC 2015.
There were a few projects on the go and sadly the Geese Migration
fell off the radar, but seeing her photos again had me thinking!!
I hunted in my parts box and found these.







The blue one had to be quickly photographed just now, couldn't
find the original.

I'm going to hop into RSC 2018 and finish, hopefully,
with two blocks in each designated colour.

The only actual sewing today was another quarter log


which means I can now link up with
Julie and Linda at
sew, stitch, snap, SHARE
and see what treats are in store today.
Linking up Sunday with
Cynthia and Oh Scrap!
Maureen

Monday, March 5, 2018

A quilt for Sam

As if I didn't have enough projects to keep me busy
I realised that our youngest grandson will reach the
tender age of 5yrs at the end of April.
I made his older brother his 'grown-up' quilt for his 5th, so it was choosing fabric time.

Sam has very definite ideas on what he likes and doesn't like.
Pulling out my basket with colourful children's fabrics  he picked the one
I was secretly saving for myself!


His brother had picked a piece of fabric with lots of
colourful safari animals for his
quilt,  Sam said he would really like one just like Jacob's but
faced with the reality that I wasn't going to try and copy the other one
he accepted graciously!!

The particular plain colours he would like were red and black!!!
I bit of cajoling needed here I thought.
I found some Tula Pink ladybird fabric and persuaded him to
go with this and a selection of solids. Jacob helpfully
said that frogs would eat ladybirds, Sam was sold on the idea.


I thought we'd avoided black but no - so thinking quickly I pulled out a length of
black fabric with multi coloured dragonflies, told him they hover around ponds, 
frogs live there and they eat dragonflies. Yes, he thought that was good.
I now have to put these together, I'll add strips of the frog
fabric and  going with the idea of Chinese Coin strips
between the four feature panels. Keeping it simple.


I found an older piece of limey green fabric with brightly coloured
spiders so a few strips of that would work.

Last week a new book arrived in the mail box, I'd ordered this
two weeks ago after seeing it, I think, on Instagram.


Wonderful, wonderful book which is split into six sections, stay with me and I'll
just list them.

Impact of Quilts and Quiltmaking  on Health and
Health Care Outcomes.

The Art of Health Related Quiltmaking.

Individual Experiences of Health and Wellbeing through
Quiltmaking.

Public and Collective Quiltmaking for Health and Wellbeing.

Quilts in Healing Environments and Clinical Care.

I bought my copy,  it's an expensive buy, but your library
may be able to locate one. I reckon this is worth every cent!!

Back to Sam's quilt and more reading later this evening.

Maureen