Lucy Boston Patchworks

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Quiltobsession

In an old issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting, I saw a few small pictures of some of the Lucy Boston patchworks and was fascinated by them. I wanted to see more. At that time, I started trying to find a copy of this book. It was out of print and the few copies I found for sale were very, very expensive. It has been reprinted and is now available here and here. My copy will be arriving sometime this week and I can’t wait!!

All it did all weekend long was rain, rain and more rain. While it appeared as though today might be sunny, now it’s clouding over again and I think more rain may be on the way. Still no real summer heat. There’s a bit of improvement as far as my hands/wrists are concerned, but I’m avoiding the iron and rotary cutter for a few more days.

During one of the few times during the weekend that it wasn’t pouring down, I got this shot of Lester at the window.

And this one of Smudge.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Unnamed Block

Posted on July 24, 2009 by Quiltobsession

Absolutely no name ideas come to mind for this one. I look at it and love the effect I got with the middle fabric but can I think of a name for it? No! Any ideas?

Thursday was unbelievably overcast. We had lamps on from first thing in the morning. Smudge didn’t much care — he was comfortable.

Lester tries to make sure Mr. Quilt Obsession can’t go out by lying on his sneakers.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Lilacs in the Spring

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Quiltobsession

For some reason, this block says lilacs in spring to me. Here I go again — this may be my favourite for today, at least.

I did a small exchange with Terri at Purple and Paisley of goodies related to stitching, quilting and crocheting. In the package I received I got all these glorious DMC flosses, some of which will be used in the Mary Wigham sampler, some floss cards, floss project cards and the appropriate-sized needles. I love these floss colours — all very cheerful.

Tucked in with the other items were these buttons. They’re absolutely adorable — the faces on the cats are priceless! Mr. Quilt Obsession immediately asked if they were for him!

Wednesday was pretty overcast and, once again, rather cool for July. This is definitely turning into the summer that wasn’t. A long-range forecast I heard Wednesday night indicates August isn’t going to be much warmer than July has been. I suppose the thing to hope for at this point is a warmer than usual September.

Smudge stretched out on the sofa.

Lester draped on the chair.

A Little Embroidery

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Quiltobsession

The samplers I’ve seen on various blogs have fascinated me, particularly the Quaker samplers. I found a pretty one here called Quaker a 6 Mains. For this I’m working with 28-count Quaker Cloth, 2 over 2.

Tuesday I stayed away from the computer for the most part and avoided doing anything that would stress my hands/wrists any further. I think the Omega 3 capsules are starting to work already. Maybe I’ll have learned my lesson this time and will remember to take them every day. Depending how it feels after I finish working today, I may finally be able to get back to the Patchwork of the Crosses blocks and do some more cutting and printing and stitching. It hasn’t been that long, but I am so anxious to work on them that it feels like weeks.

Smudge has an odd look on his face in this one.

Lester looking out the window:

Patchwork of the Crosses – Peppermint

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Quiltobsession

Another block with its surrounding cream hexagons. Every time I look at this one I think of peppermints.

My hands/wrists are giving me a bit of a problem at the moment. I can’t use the rotary cutter or iron and am finding even using the computer mouse a bit challenging. My intake of Omega 3 capsules has increased so I’m hoping this won’t last too long as I’ve run out of the cream hexagons and need to print some more. In order to do that, I need to cut some of the cream fabric and press it.

Lester in his normal windowsill spot:

Smudge curled up on the couch.

Biscornu Beginning

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Quiltobsession

The biscornu I’ve seen on various blogs have absolutely fascinated me and then, when I found a pattern that gives very detailed instructions on making them, I was hooked! I’m stitching this on 32-count Irish linen with DMC variegated thread and hope to have the stitching done in the next day or two and then go about putting it together.

Over the last week or so, I’ve not been too good at responding to comments on my blog or, for that matter, commenting on the blogs I read. Work was so intense over the past couple of weeks that everything else seemed to get away from me. Hopefully I can remedy that this week.

Smudge had a bit of an adventure Sunday. I looked over at one point and he was sitting on the desk Mr. Quilt Obsession has his computer on, behind the computer.

Then he appeared to be peeking around to look at the screen:

His fascination with the computer went on for about 20 minutes. Then a little time was spent on the windowsill watching for kitty entertainment. And then he was just so tired out that he had to rest. The pose completely cracks me up.

Patchwork of the Crosses – Orange Marmalade

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Quiltobsession

The latest of the blocks to get its surrounding cream hexagons makes me think of orange marmalade. It’s not pressed yet as I plan to press these in groups of 10 or 12 but do finger press as I join each set of three of the cream hexagons to a block. For the next Patchwork of the Crosses quilt, I am going to sort out what fabric I want to use for the outer hexagons and attach those as I make each block.

This was Smudge Wednesday before he decided to use the little duck as a pillow.

And yet another Lester on the windowsill shot.

Green and Cream Patchwork of the Crosses

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Quiltobsession

It seems I will be showing some of these blocks as I add the cream hexagons. My plan is to work on this pretty well exclusively, although I’m sure I will need a break here and there. I now have six of the blocks completed with their surrounding cream hexagons. I will have to print more of the cream hexagons this weekend as I only have enough printed for another 2 blocks. Perhaps adding the cream hexagons as I made each block would have been a good idea. That said, it’s nice mindless stitching with lots and lots of continuous stitching and does go rather quickly.

Lester — where else but the windowsill!

Smudge the great hunter with his prize — a toy stuffed duck. It was so funny to see him resting his head on the little thing and he stayed like that for a very long time!

Setting the Patchwork of the Crosses Blocks Together

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Quiltobsession

Given the amount of purple I used in the blocks, I decided to use this purple batik for the 1″ connecting squares along the edges of the blocks. The intersection where four blocks meet will be composed of 8 of the 1″ squares, or a 1″ x 2″ rectangle, and something 2″ square in the centre of those. At the moment, I’m playing with the idea of a stripe of some sort for that 2″ square. The original Patchwork of the Crosses has some gorgeous fussy cutting done for that 2″ area, which I will do for the large quilt when I make it but for this one I think I want to do something with a stripe. That may change.

I need help! An online friend moved a couple of months ago. Her ISP seems to be rejecting e-mails from my ISP. I’ve tried e-mailing her from my gmail account but those don’t appear to be getting through either. She has been sending e-mails asking if everything is okay as she hasn’t heard from me and even reply e-mails from me don’t appear to get through. Of course, I never dreamt this could happen and don’t have her new address or phone number so am rather at a loss when it comes to a way to contact her. Lesson learned for me — I should not depend on electronic contact only! Any ideas out there?

Lester in his favourite spot — again!

Smudge, sound asleep. It’s one of the few times a photo has been taken of him that he hasn’t been partially watching us photographing him.

A Patchwork of the Crosses "Framed"

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Quiltobsession

I’m not going to show each of the blocks again as I get the surrounding cream hexagons surrounding stitched on, but I couldn’t resist showing at least one! Still no picture of the blocks all laid out. It was way too windy today. I would have been chasing blocks all over the roof garden if we had tried.

This is the back of the block. Because I’ve now made sure that all the blocks are pressed identically, joining them will be a breeze as the seams will be lying just right.