"Takings" at Festival of Quilts

There were a few things that I couldn't walk away from:

Lurvely fabric:


A membership to the Quilters' Guild, patterns, bobbins, needles ...


But before those get put to good use, there must be an end to this:

Meanwhile being mulled over in my head ...

Friends of ours inquired a while back when (yes, when!?) they would get a quilt!? Seeing how they are building a new house in Bauhaus style, this seems as good an opportunity as any. But the design choices, oh, the choices ... so I surfed the web and came across the above by Orangebird242.

Because my friends are not really Bauhaus kinda people and love Edward Hopper, I thought I'd stick with Hopper-esque colours of blues and greys but arrange all in a Bauhaus-esque design. And ei, presto, my first real excuse to order Kona Solids. But someone something went wrong when I chose the colours:


On screen (and on the print-out of the shop), they go together really well, in real life: not so much! Argh! Back to square one then, eh?

Guess what I will do tonight!

There are Christmas stocking and tea towel fabrics that I crave!

Alissa's Scraps have arrived!

To say that I was VERY excited to have won this give-away at Handmade by Alissa would be something of an understatement! I usually never win anything and to think that I had won something covetable was great.

Because they travelled half-way around the world to be with me, it took the lovley blues and greens a while to get here. And I must say I am really pleased. This is mainly because I would never have dared choose these fabrics and they are pushing me out of my comfort zone. Thanks, Alissa!

Some of them will become a baby quilt this year.

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I fell off ...

the no.fabric.this.year wagon :-(



But it was worth it and I did try! Close to my hubby's work week apartment is a little craft shop that I decided to check out. I made a point of leaving my wallet in the car. And all was good in the "discipline department" until I came across a small-ish pile of quilt fabrics that hadn't even been set up for sale yet. They were new arrivals of the first Tilda line the shop owner had ordered. Now she has no more because I bought all 6 metres. Oh well.

Pledge Report January 2009

With the first month of the year already over, I am happy to report that I am doing well with my pledge to not purchase any fabric in 2009.

About ten days ago, I ordered a thread / bobbin organiser and some quilt thread from an online shop but decided to return all of it because my initial set-up proved cheaper and better.

So: yay me!

As for the other good intentions, I went to the gym for the second time this year (oops, meant to go twice a week and my first trip doesn't even really count because I was too late for the class I wanted to take). But the class was great so I'm back for more next week!

My Pledge for 2009

I will not buy any fabric this year!

My stash is over-flowing with material for projects and I have plenty for several quilts. Also, I'm hoping this will keep me from wasting time on cruising fabric shops and battling the Urge to Purchase.

I might even find enough for a give-away ... we shall see!



Posted are the latest two instalments for my stash, both purchased in late 2008.

Moda Fat Layer Charms

I'm itching to spend money despite my drive for down-sizing ... I think Christmas is leading me into temptation and I am collecting links again:
http://www.fatquartershop.com/
http://www.quiltzauberei.de/

Downsizing my life

I have become increasingly aware that I am nearing a complete burn-out and need to re-assess my current life situation. The stress I submit myself to is affecting both my physical and mental health at a rate that I can no longer justify.

This along with a down-turn in the economy is increasingly motivating me to cocoon and use up what is there - to stash-bust. Quilting and crocheting have proven to be therapeutic to me in the past and I will try to focus more on those.

I am hoping that making things will help me get in touch with my feelings for the people that I make them for and also give me a much needed sense of accomplishing and connecting.

Looking forward to going through this, I am hoping (see? all that hope?) for more clarity in terms of how I want to shape my life going forward with it.

Could this be a mid-life crisis? After all, I will be 40 next spring ;-) Maybe not so much this but the end of the baby phase in my life and the sudden realisation that if I don't actively shape my life, no one will.

In the spirit of making: I'll attempt this to use up my left-overs from Hannah's Christening Quilt: AmandaJean's Ragged Squares Quilt tutorial.

Christmassy loot

I *plan* on making table mats and coasters for the Christmas Season this year - operative work being *plan*.

Also, today my grandfather would have turned 105 today.

Fabric sorting and storage

Ha! This is something that has been on my mind for a while now, especially when I see posts and posts with photos of shelves full of nicely arranged piles of gorgeous fabrics ... I'll just go and by myself some Billies with frosted doors!

Finishing an UFO

I started this little thing (for the lack of a better word) about five years ago.



The binding is raw silk, part of the loot I made on ebay about three years ago ... and I will take this little piece off to the framer to have it framed. Only thing I need to find is a spot to hang it, probably the guest room.

All dots present

and vlieseline ordered ... we are making good progress here!



The fuzziness is awful but you can see the creature with all its spots.

Meanwhile I have made plans for a birthday quilt for my mother-in-law who turns 75 next February. I'll use one of my many Bassetti panels - see UFOs No 10 - and a jewel coloured fleece blanket. Easy and quick enough. With maximum effect hopefully, as my housewife sister-in-law will no doubt purchase a gift (insert evil grin here).

Like I'm not distracted enough

I think I found a suitable pattern for all my Kaffe Fassett fabric: A Chinese Coin Quilt like this one:
This graphic originates from Maryquilts.com and when you click on it, this is where you will be taken.

Proud Owner of 80 4 inch Kaffe squares

all paid for and awaiting shipment. Now I need to wait for the other auction and go through my stash looking for the other Kaffe fabrics I bought last year. Then I can decide on a size. It might be a warming winter quilt for myself ...

I'm bored so I eBay

and purchase Kaffe Fassett fabrics. There are 40 squares, 2 per design, sized 4 inches, in the pack. I'm bidding on a second pack of the same and on this one as well:


More Kaffe fabric ... I think I will just maschine them together as squares and simply quilt them. The sizing will depend entirely on how many of those packs I'm getting so keep your fingers crossed.

Maybe I should automatically file this post under "UFOs" ... ;-)

Long Lost Fabric Finds Way Home ...

Huh? you may wonder ... remember all that lovely fabric I bought in August? Approx 6.5 yards of lovely cotton that seemed really summery because one was a floral? And I spent so much money on it ... well, I washed it and then sent it off to be ironed. And they lost it!!! $115 worth of fabric ... Oh no!

But: today, I went in to pick up some different ironing that needed doing and guess what we found: my long lost treasure. What a good day I'm having and the sun's shining too.

Edited to add: There it is, all washed and wrinkle-free ...

Quilter's Paradise, Bank Manager's Woe!

After that desastrous trip to that local fabric store, I decided to venture a little further to a proper Quilting and Patchwork shop, very worth my while. I spent just under $150 ... too bad for the other folks! Plus at my new favorite shop, they do classes and evening quilting circles.

My new fabric's already washed and off to be ironed. Yippieh!

Aaaargh, Shopper's Woe!

So, I planned my entire morning around a trip to the local fabric wholesaler. I had been there once before and didn't find selection all that inspiring. Their service is disinterested at the best of times. So, why in Heaven's name did I go back? I really don't know.

But I went, equipped with scraps to match the colours. And they had nothing, zilch, nada, rien for me. I'm so frustrated now. And I have vowed to not return.

Hmpf! Do I really have to start another project as a stop-gap until I have time to go another store?