Looking at my UFO's

I've been going through my baskets of projects started and trying to decide whither I will continue, finish it where it is or put it back in the cupboard for another week, month, year.
Why did it end up like this? Did I just find a nicer quilt to make? Were the fabrics the wrong choice? and will I ever get around to completing it? I'd love to hear what you do with your UFO's. 
At last year's Symposium, run by my guild, I started a Red and Green quilt being designed by Sandra Boyle. I had a Moda Layer Cake of fabric I decided would be fine with a few greens added. I decided last week to finish it where it was and cut the remaining fabric into squares to be the sashing.  

 
I have nearly finished the applique on the 1st block of Coxcombs and Stars. I now need to prepare the top border as this is the next piece of the pattern and it will be nice to have it ready to go. 

This weeks meanderings

It's been a little of this and a little of that, this week. First picture is Lori's little quilt from her blog, Humble Quilts. This was fun to make.

 

 

and this is the centre of her latest quilt. If you go to her blog the patterns are available.  I've still to stitch it.

 

and a little bit more of Coxcombs and Stars. I showed you a while ago and then it got put on the back burner. I took the freezer paper off the front and ironed it on the back of the cut pieces and tried the technique of folding over the seam allowance with starch and not glue. This method worked well as the starch doesn't stick like the glue pen does and the paper came out soo easily. Paint the liquid starch on with a small brush, fold over the seam allowance with the fingers and iron as you go. The edges are crisp and ready to sew. I will use this method again. It's a great way to get a nice point at the end of the leaves. The stars were a bit trick-ier [?] as they are a brushed cotton and a very soft fabric. I'll straighten them as I sew them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quilting

Yesterday I picked up my Sundial quilt from my Long-arm quilter, Katrina. As usual she worked her magic and my quilt has been enhanced with the designs she has quilted on it.
I asked for a 'less is more' approach to her choice of quilting it and It has been achieved and my quilt is soft and beautiful.
I took some photos to show some of the quilting and I just love how the centre looks with it's cross-hatch,swirls and feathers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I managed to get the binding  stitched onto the front edge, ready now to be rolled over and slip stitched down. A label and then onto my bed for the coming Winter. 

What's been going on

Last Thursday I went to the Australian Quilt Show. I had a good look around the traders and bought some fabric and threads. The fabric is a linen,spotted and wider than the usual cotton patchwork fabrics. I have a pattern in mind that needs wider than 42" and think this may be ideal. The threads are for my X-stitch. The quilts on show are from previous shows that have won Best of Show awards. Here are some photos of the ones that caught my eye. This is called Southern Stars by Karen Malone. The cheddar and green together is wonderful.

 

Moving House Blues by Judy Hooworth

 

Cock of the Walk by David M Taylor

 

 

Oh Dear Mrs Thompkins by Helen Hayes

 

 

 

 

Zig Zag by Mylene Pijpers

3384 Yoyo's

 

 

Flower Basket Medallion by Pip Scholton

and Tracy Browning

 

The quilting surrounding the centre basket was amazing. It is a Kim McLean quilt  pattern.

 

 

My Swoon block are all sewn together and I took this photo as I was pinning the outer borders on. It is Large.

 

I have finished painting the laundry walls and I have just the door surrounds to do. Looking around the house I need to continue painting, just to freshen it all up.

 

Not much to show.

 
I don't have much to show. I have been busy though. Here is a photo of the last block ,I've still to sew it together but it lets you see how the block is made with 1/2 square triangles and flying geese. I did get the stripe running in the one direction without having to cut extra pieces which I was happy about.

 

 

and here are the 11 finished blocks hanging up on my craft wall. I had to stagger them in two rows to get them all up, each one being 24". Any trimming and sashings are next.

 

 

 

The other job that has kept me busy is painting the laundry . I've undercoated the ceiling and the walls and would like to get the ceiling painted this week which means less time for sewing. Today my DS and DIL moved back into their renovated house so I spent the day with a bit of babysitting and bed making. Maybe tonight I'll get the last block sewn together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What else can a girl do

First there was the long weekend of Easter and then the builder arrived to update and replace the plaster on the walls of the laundry. The walls were covered with cement sheets that contain asbestos. So what else can a girl do when you stay home for workmen but SEW!   Yay!
This a photo taken yesterday after the old walls had been removed and today the new plasterboard went up and tomorrow the cornice and architraves. Even better he expects to finish on Saturday.

Here's a sneak peek at what I am sewing. Not my usual run-of-the-mill project or fabric colours but then, it's not for me. The pattern is called Swoon by Bonnie and Camille. The blocks are 24'' and are made with a fabric range called Ruby. There will be 12 blocks, big enough for a kingsize bed. I've made one each day so there are  5 hanging up finished. This makes two quilts, in a row, sewn by machine. This one has gone together beautifully but I must admit the second block took twice as long to make because I didn't realise the green fabric is directional and there was a fair bit of unpicking to turn the pieces around in the right direction. Can I add at this point that the fabrics cut out for Block12 are both
stripes. That one should be fun to put together.

 

 

 

 

A Finishing Border.

Multi fabric half square triangles and the borders are made - and attached. It finished at 58". I'm going to use a grey with a black sprig shirting on the back so that it stays with the masculine look that it has. I enjoyed working with the blues,navy, black and grey fabrics. Quite a change from my usual quilts.