Zigzagging

It is such a sunny day that I really shouldn't be cooped up indoors, but I just had to have a look at my zigzag strips before I venture outside. I just draped them all over the back of the sofa, and the sun is shining in through the window, so the strips in the middle look more faded then they actually are. But it is looking good. Quite good. Only I'm not quite sure about the second strip on the left.
I'm thinking that these two fabrics need a new friend. They are both quite busy florals, and might need a calming influence in between them. The aqua one has apricot coloured berries, and the geranium has red flowers with some lighter ones veering towards apricot, so I thought maybe that was the direction I needed to take, but I have auditioned the only apricot one I've got (my stash is rather limited in that area, it seems) and no, I don't think so! I don't want to add more green than I have already, and red would clash with the hot pink a few strips off, so I might have to have a little think here.
Maybe it's a good thing that the sun is shining, a walk in the sun might clear my head :-)

We have lift-off!

After much dithering the zigzag-quilt is finally on it's way to becoming a reality. My quilt group had a sew-along this weekend. We spent a few hours yesterday learning a new technique (more about that later) and the rest of the time we just worked on whatever we wanted. So last night after I came home I cut all my triangles. And today I could just sit down and sew to my heart's content. And I did. I have actually stitched almost all the triangles into strips. I just have to find one extra fabric to go with the geranium one on the right, but I think I need to put it all up on the wall before I decide. I was going to add some more fuchsia/pink too, but didn't find one in my stash I could use, so I just went with what I have. Once I get it up on the wall I'll see if I need to unpick a row to insert some more pink somewhere.
I have had lots of positive feedback here after posting my choice of fabric, but it seems my friends IRL are a bit more hesitant: I got lots of remarks along the vein: "Oh, my you are brave, aren't you?" But that's OK - I like it!
Some practical information: I cut my strips 5" wide and used the 45 degree line on my ruler to cut triangles so the long edge is cut on the straight of grain. That way there is less risk of stretching the strips when stitching them together than if I were to cut squares diagonally and get the long edge of the triangles on the bias. It's looking good so far.

Autumn window finished!

Autumn window finished!
Originally uploaded by crafty mathea

- and up on the wall. The window frame of this quiltlet consists of three layers: two pieces of fabric with batting between, and is heavily quilted. I then cut away the four window pane squares and added a water soluble stabilizer before I put the branches (knitting wool) and the leaves (cut from a leaf fabric) in place and stitched them down. A branch found on last Sunday's hike serves as a hanger. More pictures of the process here.

Autumn window revisited

The thing about tidying up is that you tend to unearth something you'd almost forgotten about. Remember this? There it was in a heap of unfinished objects, covered in fabric leaves stuck down with pins all over the place - so that's why my pin tin was almost empty!
After quilting all the sunflower blocks this morning, I went back to this and started stitching the leaves on. An do you know: it didn't really take all that long! I've also added some thin branches and twigs to fill in the open areas, and then some random green curls, because once I wash away the stabilizer (the white background) there needs to be something to hold the open areas together.
I think I'll add some small stitched leaves as well, but that will have to wait until tomorrow - my sewing machine and my back both deserve a rest. Hm, wonder what happens once I dunk it in the sink? We'll see tomorrow. I only hope I can get it to lie flat, and I will have to come up with some kind of hanging device. A traditional sleeve won't do on this one as the stitching is so dense on the frame that it will be agony to try to hand stitch it to the back.
Maybe I could use a branch to hang it from?

Early bird

Tidying up after the holiday season gave me the opportunity to change the wall decorations around a bit, so right now this little quilt graces the wall in my hallway. This must have been the first quilt pattern I ever bought, way back when I was starting out on this quilted road... I bought the pattern from Quilts and Comforts, and I should give credit where credit is due, but I'm afraid I don't know who the pattern is by, having thrown it out after I finished the quilt.
Anyway, when I got the pattern I realized that it was going to be a huge quilt. We are talking ceiling to floor height here - no way was I going to make a chicken quilt that big ! Back in those days I was a firm believer in sticking to the pattern as closely as possible and spent ages trying to find the fabrics used in the original, but eventually the pattern was just stowed away. Then, a couple of years ago a friend was hosting a stitch along just before Easter and everybody seemed to be planning on stitching chickens of some sort, so I got the pattern out again. Instead of using the pattern sheet, I took a photocopy of the picture on the front, traced it and enlarged it 200%, which made the size just perfect for a little wall quilt.The point of all this? Nothing really, except that I'm not feeling like an early bird in any way at the moment. The cold weather and long days at work makes me want to follow that little green worm's example - scuttle out at the corner and go into hibernation... ;-)

Will I, won't I?

Do or don't, zig or zag?

Who am I kidding, we know I will, right? Nine days in a row thinking about that zigzag quilt, there is really nothing for it, I have to make one! I have been sorting through fabrics, adding and subtracting for days now, and I think I have come up with the right blend. The first one was a bit heavy on the green on one side and on teal on the other, but this one seems more balanced colourwise - to me at least. So I'll start cutting fabric, once I work out how big I want those triangles to be. I was thinking 7 or 8" at first, but I did the math (I'm such an old fuddy-duddy...), and realized that wouldn't give me enough triangles to make an impact, so I'm down to 6 1/2 or 6". I am leaning towards 6 1/2 (the bigger the better), but I have a 6" ruler, so cutting 6" squares would make the job easier for me...

Yes I know - get on with it! If I used less time worrying about these things I'd get more done. I really need to tear myself away from all the rules and rulers and wing it more. But I'll just make the zigzag first! There, I've said it - new quilt on the way!

It's very pink, isn't it?

I finished the rose quilt at last. I have had serious misgivings about this one, but told myself to get over it - it's just a small quilt after all. My sister wanted me to make this for her after finding a pattern for a lap quilt in this pattern and these rose fabrics. However, she only wanted a small wall quilt. I've been thinking that the pattern and fabrics would have worked better together in a big quilt. Whatever. It is finished now, and it actually looks better when you get it up on the wall than I thought it would. Let's hope she likes it.
And having finished this I can justify starting a new one, can't I? I just can't get that zigzag quilt out of my head, although I have kept myself in check so far this weekend...

Carried away...

All evidence of the holiday season has been packed up and sent out the door and now it's back to normal. Or what accounts for normal here... The first week back at work was a long and dreary one, but I expect to be back in normal work mode by next week. With all the meetings scheduled, I'd better...
But let that rest for now - it's weekend and time to play ;-) Not having to climb over those empty Christmas decoration boxes to get to my sewing machine and fabric stash is enough to inspire me to sew. I have just a little bit left on the rosy quilt before it's all done, and I'll do some more quilting on the sunflower one today, I think. But of course I can't get that zigzag one out of my head. I even had to pull some fabric out for an audition before I went to work on Friday morning. My sleepy brain had it all wrong, though, and as soon as I got home I saw the error of my ways and put those fabrics back where they belonged. But even so, they gave me some new ideas to play around with, so it should come as no surprise if I start a new quilt during the weekend! Can't wait!

All good things come to an end

-and tomorrow it's back to work after an extended holiday season. So far I haven't been able to talk myself into it being OK, but I suppose getting back into a routine is good for you or something... Right now I'm feeling that there is a lot to say for not having to wear a watch, sleeping in and being able to decide that the weather is too awful so I'll stay in - I sometimes feel that what I'd be if given a choice was a bear during the winter and a teacher during the summer... (But then, how much crafting does a bear get to do?)
I'll stop grumbling now - going to work also means meeting up with my colleagues again, and getting back to that interesting workproject again, of course, and the workdays usually fly by and then it's meeting up with friends, guild meetings starting up again and all. Good stuff.

The rose quilt is coming to an end too, so to speak - I have just added the binding, and now I'll settle down in my cosy corner and watch a few episodes of LOST (I got season 4 on DVD for Xmas) while doing the hand-stitching.

Inspired

I visited Anna Maria's blog today and was inspired by this lovely quilt (and look at all that gorgeous fabric...)! I have seen a zig-zag quilt in one of Kaffe Fassett's books earlier, and had in the back of my mind that I wanted to make one at some stage. But I haven't really reflected upon what fabrics to use or anything. When I saw Anna Maria's quilts though, it hit me - why not make it a floral one? I have several beautiful floral fabrics lying in wait, and on my latest shopping spree before Christmas a few more were added. I just couldn't help myself - I had to bring them out and see if they will work together. And, do you know what? I think they do! I might need a few fillers in here, but I think I might make this work... Well, I had better mull that over in my mind for a while, while keeping up the good work like I have been doing today -

-on this one (remember it from last summer?) I have gone through a couple of spools of aqua thread so far, and will use a few more before I'm through, no doubt, but it is going well.

And then there is this one. I wasn't too sure about it, and the fabric I had used for the bottom border just didn't do it for me, but today I ripped it off and added the green one instead, and I'm much happier with it. That means that the top is finished, and I might actually get down to quilting it tomorrow. Or some day soon... better not tempt Fate here ;-)

2008 - summing up

2008 - I have made a few things, after all...
Originally uploaded by crafty mathea

This last year has been so busy that I have had little time for crafting, or so it has seemed. But looking through my photos I have a few things to show for the hoursIve spent by the sewing machine or in front of the TV after all. Not my best year, if quantity is anything to go by, but quite a few fiddly bits and pieces, and at least six large quilts, so I think I'll pat myself on the back and say "well done" after all. Mind you, they aren't all finished, but I have a plan... One must have something to strive for in the new year after all ;-) And I will have more spare time (I think...) and lots of ideas, so once I get my sewing space sorted out (again) I'll start on a new project or two... But not until next year!
Thank you all so much for keeping me company in 2008, and Happy New Year!

Correction

My little village created a flurry of interest the other day. I have had these sweet little houses for more than a decade, and they were given to me by a friend over a period of several years, so I wouldn't know where to get them today. I thought I might try to find out though, and after a bit of Googling, I realized that I might have mislead you... - they are possibly not Latvian after all, but Lithuanian. At least the only ones I came across were. Mind you, the ones that I found were much more elaborate than my rustic little ones, so who knows? Anyway, if you can't live without them ;-) try a search for "Lithuanian candle houses" and you should get several hits.

Quilting through Christmas

A couple of lovely days with family and feasts are over, and still more to come, but there are some quiet mornings for the rest of the week left, and with all the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations over, it's time to settle down to some serious quilting! I've started working on my Sunflower Quilt again after struggling for quite a while with different quilting options. One is as good as the other Isuppose, so this morning I just threw myself into the job with abandon. The only problem seems to be that with the amount of stipple quilting I started out with, I'll need a trip to the quilt shop on Monday. Well, that's an excuse I can use, anyway...Not that shopping sprees are needed. Just look at these goodies that arrived just before Christmas (a gift to me from me!). I just couldn't resist the lure of the new Beatles fabrics that eQuilter had to draw my attention too, and judging from some of my other purchases (of, course I had to get more (!) I had a bit of a psychedelic vibe going on there. Now what will this become? I'll have to think about that for a while, but a bag wouldn't be such a bad idea, would it?

Did I mention my new open toe quilting foot, by the way? I have made do with the darning foot that came with the machine until now, having seen the two described as interchangeable. But I was given a gift certificate at the quilt shop for my birthday, and used it to buy the quilting foot, and I must say I could kick myself for not realizing earlier that I needed one - it just makes the job so much easier when you actually see where you are going...

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Decorations of red...

Decorations are popping up everywhere. My little Latvian village suddenly has inhabitants...

... and little gnomes have started to peep out among my blue and white china.

Snowmen have taken up recidence...

... and the angels have flown in too.

In short there is a lot of work going on - enough to make anyone tired...

A week to go

No panic about that unfinished stocking - that's going to be my holiday project - something to work on in the days after the presents have been distributed and the big dinner has been consumed. I have a whole fortnight off from work this year, and I'm looking forward to some serious relaxation. Time to light a fire and some candles and curl up under a quilt with my embroidery and a good movie or five... I think I might have convinced my family that DVDs are a good idea for presents for me this year. If the hints haven't been picked up on, I still have a whole box of Sex and the City and several films that I wont mind seeing again, so there should be plenty of quality stitching time.
The presents are ready, and it's time to settle down from all the pre-holiday stress to enjoy some baking sessions and invite friends around for tea and cookies. Previous Christmases have been so full of stress that I have felt completely frazzled by Christmas Eve, so the last couple of years I have made an effort to slow down and enjoy the preparations.

So what if everything isn't perfect - the most important thing should be to spend time with your loved ones and take a step back and enjoy, don't you agree?
The gingerbread cookies are delicious and I have several boxes full, so I'm ready. Let's put the kettle on, shall we?

No stocking to hang...

Now that all the home-made presents were done, I felt it was time to start pulling out my Christmas UFOs - the ones I'm making for myself. When I was growing up we didn't have the tradition of hanging up stockings for Santa to fill on the night before Christmas, so I might have felt a bit deprived... I made sure that all my nieces and nephews got their own quilted stockings for their first Christmases, so they have all grown up with the tradition. But when I came across this pattern in Stitcher's World some years back, I decided that it was time that I too got my own Christmas stocking. It is going to be just gorgeous, made with half cross stitch in wool, cotton, perle and rayon threads and some wonderful fluffy yarn called Whisper for the polar bears.
As it is with these things, I spent some time gathering supplies, and got into the actual stitching a few Christmases ago. But once the holidays were over, it got put away until the next Christmas when I stitched some more. I remembered it yesterday and brought it out of hiding, suddenly feeling inspired.Funny, I thought I had done so much more, but there you are, that's it so far. Oh well, no stocking for me this Christmas I suppose...

Cupcake anyone?

I made it! All the cupcake pincushions are done, and three of them are wrapped and given away already. Some late night hand stitching yesterday, and I was officially ready with all the handmade gifts for Christmas. These are as I mentioned earlier from a Sandi Henderson/Portabellopixie-pattern, the low calorie version - about 4 " across. There is also a high calorie version, 6 " across.

I have used felt for the chocolate cake part sticking outh beneath the ruffle and they are firmly filled with sand in the bottom and wool in the top, making them quite heavy and stable, so they should rest well on the table when in use. And yes, I have only wrapped three of them! Being such a crafty person (crafty in this case meaning cunning, sly...) that I made four so I get to keep one for myself! Mine is the one with the turquise ruffle (of course), and it is now resting happily next to my sewing machine.

Xmas pressies, check!

I'm getting there... After last week's setback, I have made some progress this week - a couple of hours at the bookshop and most of the pressies are taken care of. I'm the sensible auntie who prefers to buy books for the young ones rather than plastic toys and gadgets that fall apart as soon as you start fiddling with them. My gifts are maybe not the most exciting gifts to open on the actual day, but hopefully they'll give hours of pleasure through the rest of the holidays. I'm trying to find interesting books for each and everyone, hoping to instill some of the pleasure reading has always given me in their young minds. And books are quite easy to wrap up as well ;-) I'm settling down with some rolls of paper, tape and ribbons and a good film now.
Tonight I'm adding the final stitches in the last homemade gifts: some pincushions from this pattern. I really love Sandi's patterns - they are so pretty, and full of colour photos to explain each step beautifully. Have a look at the tutorials on her blog and you will see what I mean!

Thank heaven for blogger girls

Since I started reading blogs and writing my own I feel I have been given so much in terms of inspiration. Little did I know a few years ago that there were so many people out there with the same "weird" crafting urges that I have and nobody else around me seem to understand.
And there is so much generosity out there! People sharing freely of their ideas and inspiration, spurring the rest of us on to start new projects and bring so much joy.
And I had no idea that this blogging thing would lead to so many new books on my shelves. In fact, quite a few of the novels I have bought over the last couple of years have been bought on a blogger's recommendation. And now, some of the bloggers I have followed since the beginning have released books of their own, chock-full of inspiration!
I have mentioned Jane Brocket's (of Yarnstorm fame) and Kristin Nicholas' books earlier, and look what the latest shipment from Amazon contained: Anna Maria Horner, Alicia Paulson and Vicki Haninger have all entered my home! Three wonderful books full of inspiration and beautiful pictures; Well done all of you! - I certainly know what I will be savouring once I settle in for the holidays this Christmas!

But there is still so much to do before the holidays! I have finished the journal covers, but that's all. I have been ill this last week - and you don't really feel like decorating or buying presents when you spend most of your time heaving over a bucket ... I'm much better now though, so tomorrow it's time to start the preparations - I have cookies to bake, presents to buy, wrap and send, christmas cards to write and Santas to bring down from the attic... I had better get some rest first!