A finish - Simply Red Squared - and more

At last I have my small quilt for the prompt with
Ad Hoc Improvisational Quilters finished!

The prompt was Red is a Neutral
and here is my effort

Simply Red Squared

not the best placing job on my design wall but I was so pleased
that I had a finish I just pressed it onto the flannel and took the photo.

Size 33 and1/2" square.

Minimal quilting, beginning with in the ditch around each block, then the

triangles and the four squares made up of triangles.

You might remember I was going to bind with a KF purple on black spot,
in the end I felt it wasn't the best choice and on sorting through
a stack of pretty old fabrics I came across one which I thought
was a better fit - see below along with the bright backing fabric.

The kiwis were calling to me!!

You'll have to click for  a better view of the binding.

I'm thinking that next in line for quilting is a quilt made in 2015!!!!

Those of you having followed me since that time may remember this quilt and

if you want a refresher on the back story, or if you're new

to my blog, here is the link below, enjoy!

The Northern Lights

If you're wondering why there are a few pins around the edge

it's because I had an odd shaped piece of batting left over and

it was easier to lay the quilt top on,

 find the backing, pin and then up on the design wall to photograph.

Basting later in the week.

I think I'll begin with in the ditch quilting between sashing and blocks

and after that, well decisions, decisions! I'm wondering perhaps

minimal hand quilting with a 12 weight thread or perhaps

a perle cotton. Any thoughts?

I'm still plugging away at my Lego blocks and a few squirrels are

trying to make a home in the studio - perhaps soon.

Leaving quilting for a moment we had our Election on Saturday

and thank goodness that we have Jacinda Ardern as our Prime Minister

for another three years, she had a landslide victory, it was amazing.

What a tremendous job she's done for us 5 million Kiwis!

She is a treasure!!!!!

We voted early a week or so ago and what a beautiful day, photos below from

our drive home after visiting the voting station.

I can't close off without a photo from the garden, here's a clivia

blooming beautifully under the native trees.

See you all again soon, keep safe.

Maureen

A long four weeks and barely a quilt in sight

Look where we are now 

 into October and it's been four weeks since I actually wrote a post!!!

Quite a few things going on here  have held me up, one of them being this

which I had to begin wearing again occasionally,  especially when

cutting and as I was fussy cutting squares for Colorwash 360

it was necessary.

I'm waiting on a package of OOP Kaffe prints from

Wanda at Exuberantcolor and the brace will be worn again

as I cut those.

I have quilted my little Red is a Neutral piece and will post 

a ;photo of this when I have the binding on.

The only other quilty project to show here is progress so far

on son's quilt

three more borders to go!

Oh the new book from Kaffe arrived

and it's  packed with colour, the photography is, as usual,

stunning and the location beautiful.

As the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying Autumn

we are having Spring weather and Spring blooms, the Wisteria

has been glorious

but is already begin to drop faded petals on the grass, the daisies are

springing up and I took this photo below a few days ago.

Another favourite shrub is just breaking out, the Viburnum

and the scent is out of this world as I walk past to the mail box.

Previewing this post I see I once again have double line spacing at the beginning

of the post but then it has reverted to normal!

I'm still finding my way around the new Blogger settings!!

Disappointment is with me presently because my posting

has really dropped off, as has my quilting sadly, but I've worked

out a schedule and I'll be back to normal in a few days!!

Stay Safe

Maureen

As Bob Dylan says - The Times They Are A-Changin' - but I'm back writing a blog post!!

 It's been almost four weeks since I wrote a post and I confess haven't

read all your posts on a regular basis. I've had a busy time with clinic

visits and hospital visits and consultant visits.

I shared my cardiac issues some time ago and don't propose to

bring them up again here except to say I was left in no doubt at my last

visit to my cardiac consultant that things are more serious than I had thought.

Bearing that in mind I purchased some of the latest KF Collective fabric, purely to lift

my spirits and  I also have a finished top!!

Oh, this post is rather heavy on photographs, I give you fair warning!

I decided to add the extra border and so pleased that I went with that,

thank you for the comments left last post.

I'm Happy!

Measuring 38" square.

Half yards were the order of the day buying the new KF fabrics, the only

one I bought yardage of was the new colour Guinea Flower

but I do regret not taking a chance on yardage of Agate in the colour

scheme below

all the colours in this range are amazing.

Four new Spot fabrics were in the parcel

I love Merlot, the very top piece.

Thinking ahead I pulled out fabric for a quilt to be made at the end of the year

for our eldest grandson

I don't propose to use all of the solids shown.

Can you tell that I'm a fan of the Lotus Leaf design?

Here's the pattern  but there'll be a little re-thinking regarding the

strips on the diagonal

Next task was to decide which projects I had set aside no longer appealed

to me, first up was Stonewall so the book went back on the shelf

and the fabrics so far chosen went back into the stash. I really couldn't face sewing 

all those 2" HSTs!

I then remembered we were almost halfway through September and

I had a quilt to make for our eldest son, it was to be a surprise for his birthday

but then DH let the cat out of the bag and told him, needless to say

I wasn't too pleased.

This is an out and out kit and the pattern a Free Spirit freebie but it appealed

because eldest son likes Amish quilt (made him one years ago) and needing to keep things

simple at the moment I though this was a good compromise.

Centre and first border

second round added

The problem with the KF woven cottons is that they're so very fine

and it's a heck of a struggle to keep them straight, I remembered I had

an extremely light Vleiseline roll, just iron on and there

is no change to the drape of the fabric but it does add a little body

and makes sewing so much easier.

I'm steadily working on my Lego blocks and don't need to wear the wrist brace continually,

hooray!!

If you can bear a couple more photographs here's one of

the two visitors we had join us for breakfast during the week

please excuse all the weeds in the garden.

Here's a close up below of a lonesome rosella 

Now I'm going to get a hold of a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit and 

catch up with reading your blog posts.

Keep safe and well amidst the mayhem in the world right now.

Maureen

Slow but Steady - 3rd Border

I've reverted for this post to Legacy, I cannot find a solution

to lose the double line spacing!!

As we will have to change regardless next month I need

to try and work out a solution, if possible.

 I now have the third border on my  Medallion quilt

Kaffe Collective fabrics used again.

I cropped the photo because this quilt top

is on my movable design wall  

  (needs a new cover and is pretty tatty looking) which leans up against my

permanently fixed wall, difficult to achieve a tidy shot,

also a wrist brace doesn't help much.

I've changed the measurements of the border again from the

one in the original pattern, this latest one finishes at 3".

Measuring 36 and 1/2" at the moment.

I like this little piece just as it is and now I'm not sure about 

adding the next two pieced and one plain border, any thoughts??

That's all I  have to show this post, more next time.,

until then take care and keep safe and enjoy your quilting time.

NOTE: This post looks to be going from Legacy to the new interface

as I write it!!! Patience needed.

Maureen

Back to sewing - slowly

 I'd like to say a big thank you here to everyone who sent me their best wishes,

following my last post, I was really in a bad place with the pain in my arm and hand

 so your good wishes helped raise my spirits.

Before I continue I have reverted back to Legacy blogger because trying to write this post I

seem to be having double line spacing with the new interface and can find no way to change to single,

is anyone else having this problem, have blogger changed the setting?

Last post I was here

with my Medallion quilt.

All quilting and typing came to a stop as a hook shape bone spur on 

the very tip of my R elbow hooked up my ulnar nerve going down to

the inside of my arm and hand. Apparently I screamed as it happened!

Tendon is very inflamed, pinkie and ring finger are affected, weakened and with

grip problems

and also my wrist.

Wearing a brace now, told to use

it all the time for up to 3 months and over the past four days I have been able to

get to the machine for a little time each day.

So two days ago  I was here

and you will see that the points on four sides are chopped off,

this is the pattern!! Actually I quite like the look but I was surprised when

I read that they were to be 'sacrificed'.

The first narrow border should have been black following the pattern instructions

but I did my own thing and went with some AMH fabric.

My stitching leaves a little to be desired here and there but
it's so awkward with my right hand braced.

Yesterday I worked a little more on the quilt and again this

morning and now I am here

and once again I've gone my own way because the top and bottom borders

were supposed to be small HSTs and I knew that was a no go right now so

I just used two simple strips. The colours are showing darker again, I'll try and figure out what

the problem is by next post.

The inner border is 1" finished and the outer ones 2" finished and the

present measurement is 24 and 1/2" square. 

I'm going to have to re-think the next few borders as I can't take on lots

of stitching with small pieces.

Something tells me my Postage Stamp blocks may be on hold for a while!

Let's see if the two close-ups I took are true to colour

and no, they are too dark!!

I've been reading a lot, having after lunch naps, swallowing

pain meds and watching favourite videos!

 I haven't read any blogs, but I'll get back into my routine tomorrow.

I've also enjoyed daily wanderings in the garden to see what's coming into early 

Spring like bloom.

Here's a favourite daylily

and two beautiful camellias

taken after a rain shower.

That's all from me right now, it has taken me

for ever to produce this post, hopefully the next one will

be a speedier process.

Keep safe and well.

Maureen

Time Out

A quick left handed written  note to say I won't be posting for a few days I've damaged my right forearm and wrist  waiting for xray results and ultrasounds to begin the diagnosis process.

I hd  worked a little more on my squirrel quilt and ihope tovget back into it soon i shall be reading blogs but forgive me for no typing comments,

Maureen