Progress

Not that there's any down side to it, but I have been sewing projects that were already started back in early November, and haven't cut any new projects though they are listed as "started" because their concepts are fully developed. I received packages from Craftsy and other companies that included a lot of fabric AND thread.

This was a photo  texted to me from Constantine with the caption "quilting gone wild." It's usually my plan to receive and open packages before he gets home but I won't become a wife who feels the need to conceal addiction. He's got his, too, believe me. 

If you knew how much thread I already owned, you would consider institutionalizing me. BUT these packages of thread are so incredibly beautiful and of such high quality and SUCH a great bargain that I indulged myself. Also contributing to my self-indulgence was Constantine, who said I should buy them, having no earthly idea what my current thread stash looks like.


These threads are incredibly high quality but are very dear. Normally selling for $12.50 a spool, these were on sale for $84.50 each, which is admittedly still an outrageous $7 per spool, but oh! you should see the colors in person. $170 is about what an hour of therapy costs, and this is maybe 4 times the boost of an hour session. Welcome to my delusional world of rationalization. It's comfy here!

11/25/14

I've cut the main pieces of my Day Break quilt. It's a monster king size quilt at this point since I want it on my bed, and for the first time, I actually care if it fits. 

This quilt is going to be a major production but it really deserves to be done up BIG. 

Start New Projects Saturday

I'm embarrassed to realize that the Parcheesi quilt that I've been ignoring on the quilt frame has been there since July! There's nothing like a historical look at my blog to shame me into a little bit of action. Instead of quilting that puppy, I've been starting new projects, and buying them as if I'd live forever and didn't have a day job. 

The first new quilt I started was Day Break using a Julie Herman, (Jaybird Quilts) pattern. It utilizes the "Hex n More" ruler and the "Sidekick," which I needed to put into some use since I splurged on them. I'm using linen, (Robert Kaufman's Essex yarn-dyed linen in flax,) as the background fabric. I find the tactile sensation of handling linen to be extremely satisfying; like a double dose of textile therapy. However, the way linen cuts and sews is a lot less precise than good quality quilting cotton; one has to be a little flexible about the way it goes together, with seam allowances that vary a bit. Fortunately, with the Day Break Quilt, most pieces are sewn on a bit of a bias, giving a little "give and take" on each one. 

These are the fabrics I'll use for the stars in the quilt; Shimmer, from Robert Kaufman.

I really enjoy the texture that the linen adds to this quilt. I'm aiming to piece for a full size quilt, but may put it together a little creatively and ultimately end up with a king size quilt. I just bought linen sheets from roughlinen.com, check it out, and I'd love to top the bed with this soothing quilt.

As for other new projects, I pieced the squares for Rise and Shine by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms Quilts. I used the Mormor Jelly Roll and the Kona Eggplant for background. This is the quilt I worked on on 11/17 when I spent most of the day in my sewing room. I had to pack it up because there are some garments in my future.


I also started a craftsy BOM, (2012) part of which I took to Cancun for some hand-stitching fun. English paper piecing is a quilting technique that I'd thus far avoided, but it lent itself to travel so nicely that I decided to give it a whirl. I can easily see how addictive it is. Here's the Craftsy version of it, and I'll photograph the 8 blocks I've done at some point. If you are interested in a "world tour" of quilting techniques, I highly recommend this free craftsy.com class by Amy Gibson. This is her version of the quilt. Mine looks less bright, I think.


I also bought, but haven't started, Red Letter Day, also by Camille Roskelley, using the Miss Kate fabrics that I've since fallen in love with and resorted to some serious stash-building at both Hancocks and Etsy.


Craftsy.com has been doing a terrific job of photographing their enticing projects and thus sucking me in. This quilt, called Good Fortune, features some great Cotton and Steel prints:


In addition, I've resurrected my interest in the Kaffe Fassett polka dot rich quilt that somehow has eluded my spreadsheet! I've got the whole thing kitted up in my cabinet, and will one day "slow piece" that puppy since it's a work that lends itself to cutting and piecing as you go. I think this one needs a snowy weekend to tuck into.

OK, another confession, while I'm on a roll: I've also acquired and stashed all the fabrics and pattern for this quilt called La Fete De Noel, from French General. I saw it on craftsy, and the kits were $152, so instead of just buying the darned thing, I sourced all the fabrics and saved very little money on the acquisition, but this puppy is yet another quilt in my stash waiting to happen.


So that's SEVEN new projects happening in my sewing room, none of which include actually quilting that Parcheesi quilt. I'm going to give myself a deadline of the end of the year to have that thing done and off the frame. All these new tops need to get quilted!

Keyhole neckline

Love this neckline, but can't pin it to my Pinterest boards.