Making a Little Go a Long Way

I've pieced the back for Salt Air and I am ever so pleased that there was more than enough fabric. In fact there are little bits and pieces leftover - after making the binding too. Very little pieces, but that's not the point. The important bit is I had enough. I am so relieved!

The binding is scrappy, and I did add in one non-Salt Air fabric. It took me a while to decide, but I eventually went with short strips of Kona Coal. It works with the colours in Salt Air, and to me just suggest a bit of storminess to the sea conditions. That is appropriate as the recipient of this quilt has been enduring a number of life's storms. I am hoping when she receives this quilt it will coincide with the start of a nice long calm period where she can sit back and enjoy all the good stuff she has happening.

Meanwhile, the postman did not disappoint me today. I got a non-bill package. This time it was my last bee block from the brilliantly talented and lovely Jo - Life In Lists. The wait was worth it, and as we know, there wasn't a chance in hell I was going to piece my bee quilt before Christmas so there was no need for her to stress herself about getting it done earlier. She had a lot going on. A lot! But now that she has found the time, just look at the amazing block Jo made for me. It is stunning!

Guess that means I have to figure out a way to put together all these disparate star blocks I asked for. Now that is going to take some pondering. And I have Salt Air to baste. It would help if I actually had some wadding.

Susan

Clever Friends

The biggest and best reason for blog reading and blog writing is the friends it brings you. We are all agreed on that, correct? The bonus point is that the friends I make usually know more than I do about sewing, and have more common sense. Saves me a ton of pondering time. Which I hugely appreciate.

The lovely Helen - Archie the Wonder Dog - was wise enough to suggest I put the quilt top for Salt Air on the floor and spread out the fabrics I had to piece the back with on top and see if I had enough. Genius! Why do I never, ever think of these things on my own?

Surprisingly enough, it looks like there will be sufficient fabric. And to still do the binding. The only thing I might do, just to make sure, is to take an inch and a half off the borders on either side of the quilt. Not the top and bottom, just the sides. I do not think it will compromise the design at all. In some ways it might highlight those little squares I pieced into top and bottom.

I did a little piecing with the remains of the Salt Air fabrics which will enable the Kona Snow to become the majority of the backing. (Must remember to order more Kona Snow!)

Meanwhile, just when I thought I had admitted to all fabric purchases, the doorbell rang and the postman handed over something for me. Remember the Fat Quarter Shop having 50% off some bundles before Christmas? I forgot I succumbed to the lure of a fat eight bundle of this.

I love this line. You already knew that. And I want to make more stuff with it. This was the first time I noticed those little snow globe houses used in the selvedges for the fabric colours thought. Sweet! Do you think I will actually get my Christmas makes done in advance this year, having fabric in place and ready to go? One can but hope.

Susan

The Year Begins Now

For many 2013 started a week ago. Not for me. Today is the beginning of the year for me. The school holidays are over. Himself is back to work. The routine has resumed, and I am all by myself. Oh the joy of it all!

So now would be a good time to proclaim my intentions for the next three months. Obviously, there will be projects started and finished in this time frame that will never make the list. Mostly because a whole bunch of them don't qualify as WIPs because apparently projects designed in your mind are not officially started. Imagine that! That's okay. I hate long lists.

I'll be linking up with Leanne - She Can Quilt - the new queen of the FAL.

Here is what I intend to finish by the end of March. First up, Salt Air. I actually hope to finish this by the end of next week so I am very optimistic about this being a successful FAL project.

Second, I will finally make a cushion out of my diamond hexies. This is a non-negotiable item because if I fail to finish such a simple and easy project again I will not be able to live with myself. And I love it so it should be something useful, not some half done project hidden away.

While tidying my desk (a mess that will not be discussed) I came across some spare lozenge shaped epp that had somehow been buried under the detritus. As I looked at the photos of the tote I made using lozenges in the last quarter of the 2012 FAL I fell in love with the project and am determined to make another one. That is project number three.

Number four - last week (I think) I showed some 10 fabrics square I was given last year as a swap extra. I have hoarded those squares waiting until I was sure what I wanted to do with them. Well hoard no more. I have cut them so there is no turning back. This future quilt just might be called Singing the Blues. Maybe. I can tell you that it is not a Scrappy Trip Along.

Last on my list this quarter is to finish another epp project. Namely my DS epp starflowers. I love them. I need to make them into something. What though? Suggestions welcome - unless it is to do a million more and make a massive quilt. If that is what you think should happen kindly don't tell me. There are three more starflowers almost finished besides these two, just so you know what I currently have to work with.

Five projects. Three months. Add in countless bee blocks, the odd swap that always seems to sneak in even when I don't intend it to, gifts and the like, and I think that my days will be more than full enough. Have you declared your intentions for this quarter of the FAL?

Susan

I'm Not Here Today...

... I'm busy jumping through hoops for Rhonda, over at Quilter in the Gap.

I cannot believe she called the post Backside Stretching! And that I might be a threat to National Security.

Susan

A Backing Plan

I need to cobble together a backing for Salt Air out of the remaining fabrics, and what I have left of Kona Snow. This amounts to some scraps of the four remaining layer cake squares, the remains for four coordinating solids I got with the layer cake and about two yards of Snow. Oh, and this fabric needs to do the binding too. (You can all stop laughing now!)

My idea is to make some blocks with the scraps and solids and then piece them into a backing with the Snow. I thought if I made the blocks look reminiscent of nautical flags it might tie in with the seaside theme. I've not had the time to work on it much yet though. (Bring on Monday is my mantra here.)

I can say that I went shopping today. For me. I don't do that often, and when I do have some spare pennies it inevitably goes on fabric. So I would deem it a huge success that I came home with two new tops and two new pairs of trousers, all bought in the post-Christmas sales. And I am shallow enough to be tickled pink by this label on one of the pair of trousers.

There is a distinct possibility they are mislabelled, but we are not going to even go there. I am just going to sit here and hope that they don't shrink in the wash.

Susan