Simple Sewing

 So I'm at the computer today writing my blog post, a simple post, a simple project! At least there is a little progress.

My last post I showed a selection of fabrics pulled to make a start on a new quilt, check out here 

https://mysticquilter.blogspot.com/2022/05/im-still-here.html

My intention was to make a simple bar quilt as seen in a post by Penelope Handmade. I started cutting 2 and 1/2" strips

next step cutting into set lengths along with the raspberry pink fabric

which is pretty overpowering, so how about making the solid strips narrower

looking better but still not happy with the overall effect. The pink strips here would be 1/2" wide finished, the first photo would be 2" finished.  I was dreading ironing lots of seams because my iron is pretty heavy,  a comment from Wanda at Exuberant Color asking if I had a small iron jogged my memory, yes I had - somewhere! 

Found it and decided to give myself a treat, visited the patchwork store and bought one of the wool ironing mats, a good size 14 and 1/2" x 17 and 1/2" and I'm thrilled with it.

Still not happy with the strips I thought the pink might be less overpowering in smaller amounts

and definitely much happier with this look, bring on a 16 patch quilt! A few blocks here below and you can see that the pink is a little tricky to show true in photos, comes up darker in this photo.

Slightly straying from quilting now, at least leaving behind fabric for the moment. Quite some time ago during a trek down to the Sandspit we came across what I think could be an ideal patchwork studio in a stunning setting - have a look at this, could you see yourself here?

You would look out the windows and door onto this

and if you feel like a little exercise how about hopping in a canoe and paddling up the creek!

Oh, as we're on a pink theme with the fabric how about this tulip from a bouquet of flowers received 
Mothers Day, just look at the colour in the centre.

All from me for now, see you all again soon.

Maureen

I'm still here!!

Yes folks I am still around and over the past two days I've been spending a little time here and there in my happy place aka sewing studio, following a difficult month. All motivation left me totally, I haven't been reading blogs and had no interest in my quilting, I was completely overwhelmed with all my health issues and especially so with the new problems since January. During this time I have been  attending appointments either at the hospital, hand physio, shoulder physio, balance physio, orthopaedic dept, cardiac dept. my family doctor plus one emergency dept visit and fitting in exercises daily as required by the various physiotherapists - you get the picture!

However today is May 1st,  a new month and the turning over of a page, what better way to begin than a short visit to the beach - love those clouds just double click to view a larger shot - 

and pulling a few fabrics to add to already gathered pieces for a new quilt

lovely rich colour to brighten any day!

As I am only able to work at the computer for 15 minutes at one time before my shoulder packs in I was wondering how on earth I would write blog posts, a dear blogger friend Linda at Art In Search suggested voice recognition software!!! Telephone call to the guy we've worked with for years with our computers to ask for info - turns out it is already set up on my Mac - hopefully in a few days I shall be reasonably proficient, this post is using the keyboard as normal.  Break time now,  back shortly.

The inspiration for the fabric pulls you see above was the combination below

I fell in love with this colourway of Hokusai Chrysanthemums  from Philip Jacobs and by chance I had the raspberry blender fabric on the the table as I unpacked new fabrics. I hope to have progress to show you in a few days time.

You may be wondering what has happened to Fractured 2 which was on my design wall, this is now consigned to the parts box, I just couldn't work on it any longer so there was no point in trying to push myself, better to begin something new.

I've been enjoying not clearing weeds out of the garden beds but sitting on the garden bench watching John take care of this chore! A lot of the shrubs have long since finished flowering but the hibiscus are a joy to behold right at the moment, here's one of my favourites

That's all from me for now, I intend to post again in a few days with a little more content, fingers crossed!

Happy Quilting

Maureen