A Tale

I am part of a local artist group, SHAC, and we have just had a great exercise in collaboration.

All our names were put into a hat and then drawn out to form pairs.

You know how it goes. Completely random.

I scored a wood worker which initially worried me.

No need it seems.

He was thrilled to draw my name and had instantaneously formed an idea for his project.

So, how lucky am I?

He made me a quilt stand. To keep.

It is gorgeous.

Beautifully made. Brass fittings. Smooth...

 And I can hang one quilt with the removable rod or lots of quilts. 

And on both sides! 

Can you tell I am a bit excited?

slow stitch

I think this qualifies as "slow stitch" even though I am using a machine.

Usually I get faster the more familiar I get with a new pattern.

Not this time.

I seem to do more reverse sewing the more blocks I do.

It's effective though, what do you think my friends?

On another note...

What do you think of the developments over at Instagram?

I am seriously considering my account now "likes" are no longer displayed to anyone other the account holder.

Why like anything?

And why can't I see the people I follow CHRONOLOGICALLY.

That's what I want. And Ease up on the advertisements.

Carpenters Wheel

Have you made this block my friends?

I must say it is turning out to be one of the most difficult I have attempted.

I am using templates I bought ages ago and have finally decide to have a go.

This is an 18" block.

Some time ago I tried it in a smaller block and hand-pieced but that is unfinished.

Sigh....

This time I am using the machine but as i say I am finding it slow and difficult.

On the bight side: I have made 3 blocks!

A few weeks ago I attended a workshop on "basketmaking".

( I know: very slack blogger not posting until now)

I use the term loosely because it was so much more than that.

It has taken me weeks to finish this beauty...

I have used scraps and selvedges from my beautiful indigo scraps

 ( yes, yes I save the tiniest pieces)

and wrapped them round rope to coil this bowl.

I think it was worth it don't you?

top done

Well I have finished the quilt top.

I decided to opt for a smaller quilt (7 x 7 blocks, 7 1/2").

I have enough for 2 quilts.

The other decision I had to make was borders:

I don't do borders.

The photo below shows the first attempt but it seemed the wide border didn't work so I cut it down.

What do you think?

does size matter

This photo is dated January 2.

That's a good start for the new year don't you think.
They are a bit out of my comfort zone.

And I am well and truly underway.

So far I have made 77 blocks. They are 7 1/2".

I think I might have got carried away.

I was thinking these bright colours lend themselves to a cot-sized quilt but how big is that?

Should I add borders?

Maybe I'll make two (it's always handy to have a few in the "gift chest")

too late

I was too late finishing this to call it a 2018 finish.

But here it is:

It is based on a Red Wagon pattern which I "customised"

The flip-side.

This is a remake of one of my very first quilts and the owner of that has claimed this.

After the usual round of social media and public exposure.

Cheers for 2019 

and here's to lots more blogging.