Playing catch-up with Playtime and re-stocking

Last time I wrote I was busy preparing for my de-stash sale

at our main Guild here in Auckland.

I'm pleased to report that the sale was extremely fruitful in terms

of cash for some of the new range of fabrics on the market.

I have just a brief look further along.

The last post showing Playtime - the quilt in progress below -

was in March and since then it has languished in a drawer.

This was the result of the challenge to create a Medallion quilt with

Ad Hoc Improvisational Quilters.

I thought it was about time I revisited this project.

I made more Kaleidoscope 6" blocks as per the top row in the photo for

the opposite side. By the way the photo is not orientated correctly but you'll  see this

further along.

Here I have to say that apart from the four centre blocks

I was 'flying by the seat of my pants' and fitting everything to work

around the centre and not measuring accurately.

The flying geese had to be different sizes in order to fit, that's ok

it is Ad Hoc Improv after all.

Things began to come unstuck when I started on the kaleidoscope blocks,

however I pressed on and added four corners losing points and

gaining odd shapes along the way. 

Then I decided to add borders.

I realised at this point that I had

committed two cardinal sins in all this, swapped from the original machine

to my older model and then used two different tape measures and rulers!!!

Result:

Not Good

The borders are pulling in, at least on the left, right and bottom

so these are going to have to come off and I'll re-do them.

You will have no trouble spotting the irregularities I'm sure. 

Truth is that it was in the rubbish bin three days ago but I decided to

pull it out before adding the borders and when I've sorted these Playtime

will be going back in the drawer to hibernate!

NOTE

Change of plan  - now added to quilt tops waiting to be quilted!

I watched a video interview with Kaffe, Liza and Brandon two days ago,

they were asked whether they were concerned with perfection

in their quilts, both said no they were not, Kaffe said that perfection was sterile,

well he may have changed his mind had he seen this quilt of mine!!

Time to move on I think.

A package of Vibrant Blooms by Shannon Newlin arrived

on the doorstep four days ago

and yardage of this one

the pattern is ready and waiting and I'm hoping to make a start next week.

Meanwhile as soon as the new Kaffe Collective range appeared
I was on the computer like a shot ordering, they arrived yesterday and

I'll put those up next post but a peek below of two which I 

am in raptures about

and the largest flower is almost 8" perfect for a quilt

needing a show stopping feature fabric.

So there we have my post for this Thursday, not a lot to show really apart

from my additional fabrics - do I need more fabric you may ask -  No,  do I care that I still

fall in love with the colours and designs and add to my stash - not a jot -

I am feeding my soul.

And that's it from me today apart from a garden photo, I have lots of clumps of these

little white cyclamen

just a little damaged from all the rain.

Bye for now, back next week and hopefully in a better frame of mind and 

on to another quilt!

Maureen

March aka here comes Autumn

Yes, officially the 1st of March is the start of our Autumn

down here in New Zealand, the leaves of the

Japanese Maple are already showing their colour a little

and the hydrangeas, once richly pink and blue, have

now begun their journey down the road into the antique colours

and still as beautiful as ever!

All things quilting - not a lot actually, I've been down

with an infection which stopped progress.

The sum of my achievements covers five more blocks for

the 

Red is a Neutral

 invitational with

AdHoc Improvisational Quilters

I intend to sash these blocks to negate stress on the eyes!!

A fabric has been chosen but I need more than the small amount 

on hand, another order should be here within the week.

I do quite like them just as they are but when I have 20 blocks

measuring 14" the effect could be pretty overpowering.

Found my unfinished piece

with the name

Playtime

As I only have four more small kaleidoscope blocks

to add, along with four corners, it would probably

only take a morning to finish, better get on to it!

By the way, all the photos will enlarge if you give

them a click.

Oh, of course the Kaffe Fassett Collective have a new fabric collection

out now, needless to say I spent some time ordering!

One package arrived yesterday - yummy colours -

and the opening of the package was supervised by

my little helper who 

 doesn't have the tip of her left ear missing, she just

moved her head as I was taking the photo. After

sitting quietly watching proceedings she took matters into

her own paws to check out the fabric

and  was swiftly ejected from the cutting table.

She is an ardent KF fan.

Another non-quilting job was a trip down memory lane.

John's Mum had given me a box of buttons as we left England

in 1980, these were gathered by her grandmother, her mother and

mother-in-law over the years. They came from items of clothing dating

back to the late 1800's  and she could tell me, for example, that the horn buttons 

came from a coat made for my husband as a child,

buttons from dresses worn by her grandmother - you

get the picture.

My children used to have great fun visiting their Gran

who would let them rummage through the box.

I thought this one here was very special and very old,

measures almost 1/2" with

lovely intricate detail.

Perhaps the Downton Abbey era.

Well, after sending you all to sleep with multiple

photos and not much progress I shall head off to

the cutting table.

See you soon, have a happy weekend.

Maureen

Oops!! Two weeks since my last post

It's hard to believe that August will be upon us on Wednesday,

what happened to July???

A package of new fabric miraculously arrived on my doorstep

these are marked for a new project later in the year.

I've been adding borders to a piece made for a

challenge with AHIQ - you can check out this dedicated blog

with the button on my sidebar. You can see I'm sticking with

the Ad Hoc theme by not having consistent borders.

She also has a name now - Playtime.

This is where I'm at presently, not much further to go and

I'm hoping this will be a finished top by the end of August.

I'll post here and also on AHIQ.

There is an interesting challenge for the contributors

to the AHIQ blog - Maps and Mapping, check this out if you can.

I love the Perle cottons used by many of us for our

quilting and spotted five variegated lovelies the other day

these came home with me and now live with my others in their 

new home

a decorated tin

purchased from our local Garden Centre along with a larger size

below.

I knew they wouldn't be on the shelf for long, my husband wondered

why I had intended buying bulbs and came home with these!

You know by now that I love blooms whether newly opened or

fading, here is the last of my roses one week after picking.

Don't you just love the colours?

See you soon, have a good quilting week.

Maureen