It’s already pretty well established, I think, from my blog that I am a dedicated hand piecer. Thread for hand piecing is, I know, a personal preference but I think I’ve found the very best thread with which to work. A … Continue reading
The latest Inklingo mystery quilt is called Case of the Diamond Necklace and is made with the 1.75″ diamond collection – all but one of the shapes in the little top were printed with templates from that one collection. The … Continue reading
The centre of the Pickled Ladies top is completed, that is. There’s still more to come for this top. But now all the half pickled clams have been added and so the centre of the quilt top is done and I’m so excited that I can barely stand it!
There are bits at the edges that will get dealt with when the first of the two borders is attached. One of the two borders involves quite a bit of piecing, although I have that almost halfway done now. As long as I manage to stay away from distractions – which I know is next to impossible – I should have the top completed within a month.
Pickled Ladies is definitely my favourite of all the ones I’ve made. I would never have made it were it not for the Inklingo 6″ Clamshell Pickle collection. I can’t even begin to imagine tracing all the little triangles in the arcs but being able to print them made it oh, so achievable and having the templates for the half clamshells really made it easier to choose fabrics for the half pickled clamshells than it may appear. Choosing the fabrics for each clamshell was such fun – lots of fussy cutting/printing which, with a window template, was relatively easy. Making the arcs of the white and black tris went quickly, as it involved lots of continuous stitching. Adding the arcs to the clamshells was another favourite, curved piecing, and then putting the top together was nothing but lots and lots of curved piecing. So the centre of this top definitely had it all as far as I was concerned. Right now it’s approximately 42 x 48.
“Chillin’ ”
A rare moment was captured on the weekend. Baxter and Jake were almost touching as they guarded their favourite toys. Mr. Q.O. captioned this one “Playmates – for now.”
Years ago (and I’m not sure quite how many years that may have been, but I think it’s at least eight), I bought a half yard of this fabric. I fell in love with it at the store the second … Continue reading
A few months ago, some Curvy Hexie Star Inklingo collections were released and, of course, I found the idea irresistible, as curved piecing is not something I can ever resist. My first idea, and the only one of the ideas … Continue reading
Remember this four-patch clamshell unit that I posted last November? Making those four-patch clams was addictive, so making them and then joining them all together was another thing I worked on throughout the winter. Putting Fruit Salad together really was fun as … Continue reading
Yesterday was a lovely hint of the summer weather ahead. It was wonderful and warm and a bit humid and just felt fabulous to be outdoors. Absolutely no jackets or sweaters were required yesterday! And because it was so nice and dry and not windy, we were able to get some things photographed out on the roof garden.
One of those things was my Joseph’s Coat top. I’ve been dying to to get a half-decent photograph of this to show as I just love it. The grass out on the roof garden hasn’t been cut yet and was really holding the quilt top up off the ground quite well. It’s a big quilt by my standards – it’s approximately 70 x 74 (which is making me think I have to add some more to it as I really don’t like square quilts). It has a great mix of lots of my favourite shabby chic prints with some batiks and a variety of white on white background fabrics. When I picked it back up and realized I’d used the background fabric I had started it with in other projects, I decided that a variety of different white on white fabrics would not matter. Looking at it now, I’m glad I didn’t stress over that.
I started it way, way back in June 2011 (as can be seen on this post), when the Inklingo Joseph’s Coat collection was released. I’d work on it a bit here and there but, for the most part, it was on the back burner until this past winter when I got on a tear and kept going and going and going and printing more and more melons and background pieces. I just did not want to stop! Once I got into the rhythm of sewing it, it really became rather quick to stitch. So much so that now I’m contemplating a second one. The idea for that second one is really taking root in my imagination, so I would almost bet it’s a done deal that I’ll be doing just that relatively soon. For me, sewing Joseph’s Coat has it all – curved piecing and continuous sewing.
The daffodils are up in the roof garden flowerbeds and the hostas are just starting to send up their shoots. A few more lovely warm days and I bet things really take off.
“Technicolour Clams & Friends”
Jake was watching us out on the roof garden from his perch on the top of the kitty tree. Mr. Q.O. captioned this one, “Come home to devil cat.” The sky had become rather overcast and he had to use the flash to get this shot and – well, cats’ eyes and the flash don’t quite mix. I can’t wait until the window washers get to our windows and then we’ll have lovely clean windows again.
I took this photo of Baxter the other day – love that huge outstretched paw!
What else have I been working on? Well, things that involve curved piecing, of course, because I can’t resist it. I made the label for the Joseph’s Coat top. I’ve basted the seam allowances under so that they don’t fray … Continue reading
Last year there was an Inklingo mystery quilt – the Case of the Stranger in Margaritaville. I finished the top, except for the border or borders (I’m still undecided) I want to add to it, but I don’t think I’ve … Continue reading
The final eight half clamshell pickles are done – so now it’s time to start sewing them on to the top. But first, here are the final eight. I was happy to find so many of my floral fabrics had … Continue reading
Quilt Obsession 