Selection of quilt thread against backing

As I pack my things for what was scheduled to be a quiet weekend - and will now not be thanks to battles over home- and school work - I thought I'd take a quick shot of my selection of threads for hand-quilting the top.

I'm still unsure of the green variegated thread but it's worth a try.

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!

Google Reader for Blogs

Because I like reading blogs, I decided to subscribe to my favourite once using Google Reader. I can see all new posts at a glance and also don't have to worry about updating the links on my blog all that often.

But I also find that I comment a lot less these days ... how about you?

Now if I could merge Flickr and Google beyond the Google widget, things'd be perfect!

Pre-assembled Pinboard

My girls produce a lot of "art" that never seems to find a proper home around the house. But none of the pin boards available were nice enough.

So I took a large RIBBA frame from IKEA, some insulating board like the one I used on my Jan-inspired design-wall and fabric from my stash.

I will have to take the whole thing apart again to apply spray-on fabric adhesive and then re-assemble it with the help of my hubby who will get to hang it. But: so far so good!

My Holiday Project

I've decided on my holiday project - as mentioned earlier. It's a heavily Asian-inspired Bassetti GranFoulard panel that I will turn into a lap quilt for my godmother. I'll take it on our week-long skiing holiday next month, where I will nit ski but quilt and read - so technically not a skiing holiday at all.

She'll turn 75 in April 2011 (yes, I'm ahead of schedule for once) and lived in Japan in the 1960ies. Her son was the first westerner ever born in the town where they lived. Last year, she spent seven weeks at my parents', nursing my mum back to health after a very serious fall. Thankfully, my mum is without lasting damage after a fall that usually kills 30% of her peers and leaves the majority of the survivours with substantial handicaps.

The project: I will trim off the blue border and use that for binding. After sandwiching, I will hand-quilt to bring out some design-aspects of the top. I might even attach one side of the binding before we leave so that I can finish the whole thing. That'd be awesome.

Planning ...

With our skiing holiday looming and lots of ideas for projects in my head, I begin to feel the urge to plan. There is little chance of me hand-piecing anything anytime soon. Also I'd like to try my hand at stippling and have earmarked the red and green disappearing nine-patch for that.

So I'm thinking I will take one of my Bassetti panels and hand quilt that in preparation for my Godmother's 75th birthday in 2011, ahem.

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.