Sunday 16 February 2014

Must Do Better

I seem to have become a slow blogger.........fortunately my productivity in the sewing room has not suffered. Nw what have I been up to recently?
Well, this is a busy old time for me - my classes are all labouring away at current projects whilst I am labouring away at next session's projects.
My sample needs to be ready by the end of March when this current term comes to an end. I am planning the next Open Day in April (how can it possibly be a year since the last one?) and of course there are always a few personal projects on the go.

I got my blocks done for Judith's Bee Blessed, very suitable choice for February,

Next on the schedule - my Stingy Bee blocks for Emily. So far I have only one done.

I got going on a quick cushion - a birthday pressie for SIL......



Yes, I know it looks squint, nothing to do with my imperfect sewing, it's a reflection on his driving.


My favourite way of making a cushion now is to quilt it completely which leads me on nicely to another project / sample that I am working on - not quite finished, but a cushion for An Intro to Patchwork workshop.

And then I got going on another project, a bit later than many. I was reading Alison's blog  couple of weeks back and her call for quilted blocks to make quilts for Mexican street kids...........Alison was the maker of my first ever swap item so I have a wee soft spot for her. How could I not help her cause.
As I said, she asked for quilted blocks that she would put together using QAYG techniques. I have quite a stash of orphan blocks going back to when my classes began, not very pretty blocks.............hmmm, like these (look away Hadley) I might as well join them together.......


I had a wee quilt top that I had pieced by hand before the beginning of time -


 And more blocks............


How could I brighten up this lot?


Sash them with bright green................make some corner blocks,


and join.........


Looking a tiny bit less brown? What else could I do?

.

Dusted off the embroidery machine and added Soy Amado - Alison tells us this means "I Am Loved"

There was a lull in proceedings as I progressed other projects and gave some thought to backing. Enter light bulb moment - I had a bag of stuff in our porch awaiting a charity bag - in it, a very large duvet cover, and - result, it was 100% cotton!! Yippee. Although this wee quilt will only come in about 54" square and within my quilting limits, I decided to quilt the three sections that you can see in the layouts above. An unexpected window today and I quilted those three sections, in a nice bright orange Aurifil 40wt. Too dark for pics but I hope to wrap up this project during the week.
It won't be the brightest quilt around but I have enjoyed the challenge of making a useable quilt from nothing and I do hope it brings some comfort ......................
Do you have any orphan blocks lingering in a dark drawer somewhere? Why don't you quilt one or two up and send it off to Alison - details can be found here.

So - tomorrow my two pals and I are having a Sewing Day, 10 - 4 uninterrupted sewing, such fun!!









16 comments:

  1. What a good idea to use up some orphan blocks! I am sure your quilt will be well loved.
    Have a WONDERFUL day tomorrow!! Lucky you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey I love brown if it is for a great cause, and I know boys like brown!! Brilliant contribution xxx

    Cute blocks and cushion too xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lots of great things on the go Sheila

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't have any brown orphans ;o) Great job all round anyway!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well you may not have been blogging but you've certainly been sewing! Gorgeous bee blocks and what a great orphan block quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  6. No brown in this house...but there are a few orphans ...however none of them would go together as well as your quilt top. Its amazing and very lovely.
    Sounds like you are busy (and keeping your head above water) ...making beautiful things as per normal.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ah can't beat a day sewing with friends. Enjoy! And thank you for the lovely blocks. Jxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. You have definitely been beavering away there Sheila. I like your cushion and you did a great job with those orphan blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You have reminded me to do my bee blocks tomorrow, it is a holiday Monday here. I sent Alison some blocks, it is quite dear to send a whole quilt. Your quilt sounds lovely, and I am looking forward to pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow Sheila you've been busy. The Mexican quilt is really lovely and isn't amazing how different things will pull together with just a little bit of ... "jigging it all about". Love, love, love the camper cushion :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. You have been very industrious. It must be very satisfying to be able to put to good use some blocks that you had no other plans for.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! Just shows what you can do with a bunch of orphan blocks. This will be so appreciated. Thanks for the gorgeous hearts for Bee Blessed. I like your intro to patchwork cushion too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for the reminder about Alison's block - I must get mine done. I have become a snail's pace blogger and almost zero productivity unlike you but I think I may be about to make a comeback!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well done Sheila - you've been working just not telling us about it!

    ReplyDelete
  15. loving it all sheila and the embroidery too! Yep time seems to fly out of the window these days doesn't it? :/ xx hope your sewing day was fab! x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love traditional blocks and you've done wonders brightening up those browns - it looks great! Your cushions are just fabulous too. I love it all! xCathy ps giveaway on my blog?!

    ReplyDelete

Printfriendly

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...