I really should know better than to make confident statements about what I'll be doing on any particular day. Yesterday I had every intention of sewing the whole day away, until a call from Mereth sent me racing around there at midday.  A certain Pippi was in labour, and I didn't want to miss the excitement.

I can now add Puppy Midwife to my resume; I was a Piglet Midwife in the early '80s,  when I worked in several intensive piggeries.  Three years ago I watched Bonnie have the litter of pups that included Pippi, and she just popped them out one after the other.  Poor Pippi had to work so hard to produce her 5 puppies, it took three hours for the first one to arrive.  He was so pale and still I thought he was a goner, but a bit of massage and clearing his airways did the trick.  He lay on a heating pad on my lap till his colour came back.

Another pup came fairly quickly, back legs first but much more active and making a lot of noise.  The next three puppies arrived at hourly intervals and Pip dealt with them really well.  The last puppy was stuck for nearly five minutes with his nose almost out and the rest of him refusing to move forward; it was an anxious time.  He was huge, we should have weighed them all, but we were a bit preoccupied.  The whole labour took 6 hours, and I don't think Pips wants to go through anything like that again.  Luckily, we can arrange that with the vet......

Three boys and two girls, what a nice little family.

Dolly was acting like a crazy lady, wanting to get in with the puppies, rushing from one to another, trembling with excitement and determined to lick them dry.

She was so fixated on them, we had to lock her out during the last bit, we were too busy trying to help Pips and keep the puppies safe and warm and didn't need her getting in the way.  She was desolate, howled at the door and banged it.  Poor barren, childless Dolly; she's not built for motherhood, too small and fine-boned, so it was never going to happen.  She can be a good auntie though.

I came home at 8.30, got everything ready for work the next day, and went to bed.  So much for my day spent sewing and making progress.  Hijacked again, but in a good way.

Read more...

  I finally spent some significant time in my sewing room, sorting through containers, documenting projects, getting rid of scraps and leftovers.  There is still lots more to do, but I don't feel quite as overwhelmed as I did.  It's my overcutting problem that is causing all the trouble; once I'm through with a project I want to move onto the next thing straight away, but there's a mountain of leftovers to deal with.  I just shove them in yet another container and start the next quilt, but eventually the dozens of unlabelled boxes containing who-know-what drag me to a halt.  I'm not a tidy quilter, but there's a chaos level that even I can't work with.  Actually, I think my problem is that I don't take the time to label those containers, and collect all the bits from one project in a single box for sorting out later.  I just shove them out of sight.  From now on, I need to leave myself a note about what is actually in the box of bits.

There were 4 boxes of Dear Jane bits and pieces, so I decided to get the blocks sewn together this weekend.  I'm not excited to be working on it, but it's something that I will be glad about later.  I know as soon as it's in one piece I'll start obsessing about the border (I refuse to do those ugly triangles, so I'll have to come up with my own solution), but I'll deal with that later.

 I spent HOURS last night adding another 5 strips to the four that were already joined. 9 rows all in one piece!

 It took an episode of Foyle's War to get me through it; when it finished I just hit the play button again and kept on sewing.  Yes, I'm glad I'm working on it and it's getting closer to completion, but sometimes I feel quite hysterical about sewing something I'm not enthused about.  It takes a lot of willpower to just keep plugging away at it.  Especially when you sew the blocks in the wrong order, and have to rip them apart......

I'm not using cornerstones in the sashing, and to keep the blocks aligned properly I mark the long lengths of sashing, using my acrylic ruler.  The blocks are 4.5" and the sashes are .5", so I work my way along the sash drawing those marks in.

I make sure the edge of the sashing strip is lined up with the lines of the ruler, so I'm making marks exactly opposite each other.  S'cuse the lousy photo, but the light flared on the ruler so I had to place it above the strip; it's actually over the strip when I do the marking.

Then when I sew the blocks on I just have to line up the marks with the seams.  It works really well to keep all those seams aligned properly.

So, if it took a marathon effort last night to sew 5 strips of blocks to each other, how long will it take today to construct 4 rows of blocks, and then sew them into one piece?

Lots more DVDs will get me through it. And the thought of what I can sew next.

I'm thinking of revisiting these blocks, from many moons ago.  Tutorial here.  I have scraps to use up, and I need an ongoing project for that.

It's supposed to reach 36° here today, so I have to run out and water everything before I tackle the sewing chores.  When it's hot and nasty outside, I'll be inside at the machine, sewing my way closer to a finished Dear Jane.

Read more...

I'm gradually getting better, which I'm grateful for; it will be so nice when I'm back to my normal energy levels and can go for a walk without losing my breath.  Being sick is not any fun at all.

It was a rainy day yesterday, so I wasn't needed in the garden.  I tackled two projects that have been annoying me for the last two weeks.  First up was the Log Cabin, so close to completion and only needing borders. 

 I had them cut and sewn before lunch time, and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  It was such a fun quilt to make, and the blocks were all exactly the right size.  It was like magic, I was so pleased with their accuracy. 

 I just love this big blue floral, it's the perfect border for this quilt.

After that I pulled out all the leftover plaid bits and made a backing for the plaid quilt.  This wasn't half as much fun, but it needed to be done so I can pack away the  fabric for good.  I'm sick of finding boxes of scraps everywhere, so it's all going into one container, and then into deep storage.

It's satisfying using up the little bits that would otherwise go in the bin, but I kept thinking about the time it was taking, and how I could be using that time on a new project.  I ended up using some large lengths just so I could get it done quicker, but that's all good too.  All those seams top and bottom can lead to a thick bumpy quilt,  so I've just made it a bit easier to quilt by not piecing the back heavily.

Mereth's roses are magnificent this year, and in my garden the pelargoniums are the star attraction.   I have some really beautiful ones now, and although they only flower once a year they are worth waiting for.

Every year I add one or two to the collection, but I think I've got all of them now; haven't seen a new one this season.  I'm sure there are plant breeders out there working furiously on something to tempt me next year.

Read more...

I seem to have lost a week of my life; I got really sick last Sunday, and I'm still not able to lift anything heavier than a coffee cup.  Which doesn't do much good anyway, because everything tastes like metal.  Apparently they put those warnings on potting mix bags for a reason; the stuff can make you ill.  I have antibiotics that are pulling the lung infection into line, but it's going to be a while before I feel normal again.

It's extremely annoying to be so incapacitated, because it's a long weekend and there is a ton of work to do in the garden, but I can't do more than shuffle around watering things and  making sure nothing dies.  There's no energy for digging or planting or weeding, and I won't be touching the potting mix until I have a mask to wear.

I spent time yesterday stitching on small blocks; I finally put the last stitches in the last Dear Jane block; now I need to clear the design wall and put it up there ready to assemble.

 It's taken me all year to get round to finishing this block; I wish I could say I felt a great sense of achievement, but I don't.  I don't even feel relief, just a vague sense that no-one in their right mind would ever want to make a quilt like this.  I know that feeling is temporary, and next week I'll be in love with the whole thing again.  Right now, meh....

I'm a bit tired if all the UFOs, so I dug out some tiny embroidery blocks from many years ago and worked on those.

I have no idea where this is going, but I do love buttonhole applique, and it's been fun to get more of these finished.

The pattern is one of my own, from 1996,and this is the third set of blocks I've made. The cover quilt was stolen in America, so I made another one and later sold it to a friend.  I also used the designs to embellish clothing and bags, as well as a block book to organise projects.

I can't believe I designed this 17 years ago. The designs are fairly well timeless.   I've made the pattern into a pdf, and it's up on Craftsy for sale; there's a button on the left sidebar.  $9 for 30 little patterns, is pretty good value, and cheaper than when I made it all those years ago.

Read more...

We've been having a little dose of summer weather lately, which wasn't welcome at all.  Luckily it's changed back to normal spring temperatures, with a bit of rain, so I'm grateful for that.  I didn't like the wind throwing my pots all over the yard though, and blowing the birds out of the trees.  Sunday was such a wild day I just stayed inside near my sewing machine.

The Log Cabin blocks are all finished, and sewn into blocks of four.

It won't take much more work to finish them and then I will consider a border of some kind.  I'm leaning towards these two fabrics.  I know it would look lovely with a pieced border, but  that would take more time to design and sew.  I want this quilt ready for quilting soon, so a quick border is a good border.   I'm all about time-saving just lately.

The two big custom quilts are finished and back with their owners, thank goodness.  We did put a lot of work into them, I was absolutely knackered by Saturday afternoon.  So many people think that we just push a button on the Statler and walk away, but it takes hours of work babysitting the machine and making sure it stitches every pattern exactly where it should.  I don't leave it for a minute, which means hours on my feet.  Thank heavens sewing involves sitting down, such a welcome change.

I know I've spent too much time quilting when I'm itching to do the dishes and put the kitchen to rights.  I let it get so messy while I'm working long hours, and it's very satisfying to finally have time to do the housework.  Never thought I'd say that when I was a young'un.

The pink and cream candlewick quilt was so pretty, I loved working on it, but at 110" x 116" it really stretched Millhouse to capacity.

We worried about it getting dirty too, so every day we vaccuumed and wiped down all the machine surfaces, and the dogs were definitely banished.  I breathed a huge sigh of relief when it's owner collected it this morning; our part in that little saga is over.

Read more...

 No time for blogging lately, there's too much work to be done. 

I'm hoping that after this week we'll have dealt with most of the urgent jobs, and then I can take some time to sew for more than 15 minutes at a time.  Those little amounts of sewing do add up though, I have only 1 round to add to the last 17 blocks and my scrap Log Cabin blocks will be ready to put together.

I was watering the garden on Saturday evening when a little bird landed on the fence next to me.  Dolly thought it was Suppertime, and tried to grab it, but I beat her to it.  It was a battered little budgerigar, and it was in no fit state to leave out.  It sat in a shoebox while I went and borrowed a cage from a friend, and then proceeded to eat what seemed like it's own bodyweight in bird seed.  She was a hungry little thing.

I've put up notices advertising her, and her cage is safely on a cabinet out of Dolly's reach; now I just have to put up with Dolly re-enacting scenes from Tweety and Sylvester.  Pippi will be just as fascinated I"m sure, she's a bird dog whereas Dolly is more into small mammals.  I hope someone claims the budgie before I get attached to it....

I seem to have aquired another machine, a Benina 121 in very good condition.  It was for sale in the neighbouring town, and I couldn't pass it up, being so close and all.  I've been so busy with work that I haven't even had time to sew on it, I'm looking forward to some playtime with this little sweetie.

 The garden is full of spring flowers, but the work is never-ending. 

 Any spare time in daylight hours sees me out weeding or potting things on.  It's very satisfying, but I feel like we're racing the hot weather this year; it's going to be a hot and nasty summer I fear.

A recent trip to the patchwork shop in Jamestown saw two more FQs of batiks added to the collection.  The stash is coming along slowly.  I will have to start considering which pattern to use on my inaugural Batik Quilt.

That's my spare time done for the day, off to work on two huge custom quilts.  I'd rather be gardening, so I'd better get them finished quickly.

 .

Read more...

24 aug 13

I got waylaid by work, and not much extra sewing was achieved.  I seem to have regular periods of lots of work and not much time to myself, and then slower times when I can get into the sewing room and sew for hours at a time.  I'm still in the work phase unfortunately, there have only been scattered minutes for sewing lately.  I need a mental health day soon, just to work on all these projects.

This is my design wall today; the strips for the plaid backing on the left,

the latest Log Cabin blocks on the right; Wild Goose Chase below, and a stray block using the 1.25" strips.  The blue Log Cabin blocks are sitting on my table in a pile, all 80 of them.  I still haven't decided on size, or setting for that matter.  Looks like I've let myself be distracted yet again.

The multi-colour LC blocks I'm working on were started many years ago, to use up spare 1" HSTs from another project.  I worked out I need 80 blocks and I have 32, and plenty of strips cut, so I will just plod along on them.  There ae so many fascinating variations possible though, I have to fight hard not to get distracted yet again. 

This would be such a cute block; I can play with those ideas AFTER I've finished the 80 blocks I need.
I did make a block of concentric squares, just to see if it was fun.  It was, and the idea will go into the queue for later. 

It's not good for scraps, as you need specific amounts for each round; when I do get around to this block I would cut strips from yardage, not just scraps.

I've been looking through this book, and it's full of ideas for quilts using my 1.25" strips. 

I'm still cutting up bits and pieces, more than any one quilt would need, so all the ideas will help use up the stack.

 This is like a quarter Log Cabin, I love that it looks like hearts.

Another Log Cabin variation, and that border would use up a lot of fabric too.

If I ever get sick of Log Cabins I can branch out into Pineapple quilts,

or Spiderwebs.....

What I need to get done this weekend is to finish the binding on DD Seonaid's flannel quilt. 

I've done so many bindings on customer quilts lately, this got shoved to the back of the line.  It will be lovely to sit and stitch the binding down while I watch a movie; then it's only a matter of arranging a visit to Adelaide to I can deliver it.  I'm very glad to get the last of those chenille edges finished, there's purple fluff everywhere.

The panto is one of mine called Stitcherie, that I really like for modern quilts, nice and swirly and open.  The flannel quilted up beautifully, I hope it keeps her toasty warm for the rest of this winter.

Read more...

I woke up very early this morning, and couldn't go back to sleep so I got up at 5.30 and started sewing.  I added an extra round of logs to all these blocks, and decided that I definitely like them better this way.  Now I'll make enough of them for a single bed size quilt.

While I sewed I watched an episode of Dalziel and Pascoe, an 80s British police drama.  This little boy was very familiar; I was sure I recognised him, and when I checked the credits I was right. 

Check out the pictures at the bottom of the post to see who he grew up to be.

I might have gone a bit beserk on the 1.25" strips.  I will need a lot more, and I like a bit of variety, and it's just so easy to weed all the pieces out of the scrap drawers and send them through the Go Cutter. 

I may be gifting some of these to Mereth if I can't use them all up myself.

And of course, there are all the leftovers to deal with......
...
...
...
...
...



 The little boy was Matthew Lewis, and he played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter movies.

And then he grew up some more and now he looks like this;

amazing.

Read more...

I must have known that I was going to be really busy, and that's why I did so much sewing while I could.  The last two weeks have kept me working on lots of varied projects; designing new quilting patterns, quilting and binding 4 customer quilts, fixing website stuff, judging the quilts and crochet at the Crystal Brook Show, and then arranging the exhibits afterwards, not to mention cleaning and cooking and family visits.  There hasn't been much spare time, and if there was the dogs demanded to be taken for walks.  Hopefully the next few weeks won't be quite as busy.

My sewing room is still terribly untidy, and not much has been put away after the last spate of quilts.  I'm still trying to get the backing for the plaid quilt in one piece; I have lots of spare triangles, and I'm using them as leader-enders, but I can't seem to get to the end of them.  (I might just put them in the bin and not tell anyone.)

 There are 1 1/4" strips everywhere, so I dug out the old Log Cabin blocks and I'll add another round of strips to each block to make it bigger.  That should use up a lot of smaller scraps, and then I'll decide how many more of these blocks to make, if any. 

The cross blocks are ones I made two years ago, and I'm still waiting for inspiration to strike, as far as setting them together goes.  They will probably go back in the box, because nothing has occurred to me yet.

Yesterday, in a small window of time between other jobs, I pulled out the Bloc Loc ruler that I purchased a while ago and made some Flying Geese to see if it worked. 

 It was fun to use, and the little units turned out exactly the right size, which was a relief.

Of course, I then had to made a block with the units I'd made, so after a bit of planning in EQ7, and scrabbling through the scrap drawers, I came up with this Wild Goose Chase block.

 I've been wanting to make a pink and brown quilt for ages, and this will fit the bill nicely.  42 of these should keep me busy for a while.

There's really no explanation for this then.

Except that I've been planning to make a blue and brown quilt for years and years, and I thought I could just make one or two in this colourway every now and then.

You can even use the Bloc Loc ruler to trim up the corner units in this block, that's pretty neat.

I can't decide whether to make the blue or the pink blocks first, or both at the same time, or.... Maybe I should go clean up the sewing room while I think about it.  There's not going to be much sewing time in the next few days either, I have lots of other things to finalise, so I should have come up with a decision by the time I get back to them.

Read more...