I know, I know – last time I said I was going to blog more often. Ha! Then I vanished for ages – again. However, here I am again and hopefully will get back into a blogging routine. Remember this … Continue reading
This was one of the projects I unearthed during the relocation of my sewing area. The block was made with the Inklingo 3″ clamshells and clamshell sashing collections. A second block was done, but it has no sashing. A third … Continue reading
I have tried – really, really tried – to stay completely focused on piecing the flowers for the Gardens Gone Wild quilt. And really? That hasn’t been much of a problem. Until last week, that is. Last week, the 3.5″ … Continue reading
I know that I’m in the minority on this, but I love working with small pieces. And while I continue working on piecing the blocks for the Pickled Ladies pieced border, I keep thinking about a miniature — hmm, something. … Continue reading
After having stitched a number of the arcs together, it felt like time to add a few to the clamshells. Putting the arcs together is a bit more challenging than adding the completed arcs to the clamshells. As the curve is so gentle, it’s really quite easy piecing to add an arc. Some evenings are meant for the easier stitching — and it’s easier to do when watching baseball.
Another 35 of the clamshells have been fussy cut/printed. I’m amazed at just how fast the process is using a window template. I had the 35 fabrics cut in next to no time and the printing took only minutes. I think if you click on this photo to enlarge it you can see the clamshell printed on the back of the fabric with the flower in the centre.
Lester likes to drape his paws over the arm of the chair. This is a typical Lester pose during the day sometimes. We’re off to the vet with him this afternoon as it appears he has a cold. He had this last year and a course of antibiotics cleared it right up, so I’m hoping that’s all it will take this time.
Smudge curled up and had a snooze on the couch.
These blocks are addictive. I think I may end up changing out 2 of the black and white triangles in this one as, while there is a touch of black in the two, there’s not quite enough contrast to their neighbouring white triangles. I’ll leave that decision for a bit as it may just work with the whole pickled ladies story.
The back:
The Pickled Ladies story is based on an image I have in my mind of a very elegantly dressed Audrey Hepburn-like lady with an absolutely smashing hat sitting in an art deco bar. It goes on from there and will probably involve Daphne, the martini-drinking duck previously seen here, before it’s over.
Tuesday was a gorgeous day with lots of brilliant sunshine and warmth. I know our days of summer are quickly drawing to a close but am resisting the idea of switching out summer clothing for fall as long as I possibly can. Denial seems to be my middle name when it comes to the colder weather.
On Monday, we finally saw a squirrel out on the roof garden for the first time this summer. Since then, Lester has been spending time on the windowsill keeping an eye out for the squirrel.
Smudge in one of the almost headless cat shots. Notice he has toys strewn all about within paw’s reach for when he wakes up.
Clamshells seem to have been the focus this week. I can’t get over how quickly I was able to add two more rows Thursday night. They’re short rows but, with continuous stitching and hand piecing, they seemingly go together in the blink of an eye! I’m leaving the pressing until the end because of the amount of bias, but am finger pressing as I go.
Thursday I did the final pressing of Chintz Circles and its backing as it will be basted today. I’m looking forward to starting the quilting. With any luck, I’ll get at least half of it done this weekend.
Another one of the Seven Sisters blocks is finished. Not pressed, as my wrist was really sore from pressing Chintz Circles and the backing. Each one of blocks will be a different blue and I am undecided as to how large it will be, although I’m thinking a lap quilt.
I’m using 1″ diamonds with to make the stars. There’s the opportunity for lots of continuous stitching in these as well, which is something I look for when stitching. It will join the first one I finished a couple of years ago.
I’m terribly behind in replying to comments but will catch up this weekend. Do you go back to blogs to see if your comment has been replied to directly on the blog rather than by e-mail? I know that some bloggers respond that way and others don’t and am curious about opinions are on that subject.
Thursday was a beautiful day, lovely and sunny and warming up. It looks as though our weekend will be wonderfully sunny and hot.
Smudge was very alert Thursday evening when posing for this photo.
Lester showing off his huge whiskers.
All the clamshells for the two little quilts are cut out and ready to stitch. About three-quarter of the ones for the large quilt based on the clamshell quilt in Kaffe Fassett’s Museum Quilts book are cut and ready to stitch. Today I’m going to print and cut the remaining ones. With any luck, I hope to have the two little quilts finished within a couple of weeks. By the end of this month, I hope to have 2 more of the clamshell diamonds done. Perhaps even three.
Wednesday was a nice, rather cool summer’s day but with lots of sun. Tuesday night it was chilly enough that we put the heat on for a bit. For a while Tuesday, I was thinking we were having a repeat of last year’s summer that wasn’t. Thankfully, that’s not the case as the heat and humidity is supposed to start coming back as of Friday.
Lester was quite intent on something I was holding above the camera.
And a contemplative Smudge.
When I first read about the Clamshell Club on Cybele’s Patch, I was immediately captivated and now somehow I seem to have three clamshell projects on the go at once! It’s worth it to go over to Cybele’s Patch blog and visit the other clamshell makers listed there.
My first project is being made with the Inklingo 3″ clamshell collection and will be at least a lap-sized quilt. I fell in love with the quilt in Kaffe Fassett’s Museum Quilts and am using Kaffe fabrics for my diamonds of clamshells. I’m hand piecing all of the projects and have found that even pressing them is simpler than I expected. This is the back of my first of the Museum Quilts quilt block.
The second project is also being made with the 3″ clamshells and will turn into a teddy bear or doll’s quit.
The third project is going to be another small quilt telling the story of some pink clams making their way out of the water on to a beach. I’ve just got started on it and for this one I’m using the Inklingo 3.5″ clamshell collection.
By this time next month when it’s time to report on clamshells again, I think the two small quilts will be finished and hopefully at least 1 or 2 more clamshell diamonds for the large quilt will be done.
This is the second week in a row I have no flowers to add to my garden. I’m hoping to have at least 3 or 4 to show next week.
Tuesday I got this shot of Lester and, although it’s a bit fuzzy, couldn’t resist posting it. It makes me laugh just to look at it. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you’ll see his tongue is out.
Smudge was quite intently looking at something I was holding just above the camera when I took this shot.
I just couldn’t leave the first block partially finished. Had to finish the piecing for the sheer fun of it. Now the priority has to be my aunt’s quilt. I managed to get 2 blocks of it done Sunday night. Eight blocks to go and the piecing is done. With any luck, by the middle of next week all the piecing will be done and it will be ready to quilt.
The back of the clamshell block.
This is one of the areas of the roof garden, showing the planting that is done around some of the trees.
It was a funny weekend, quite warm and humid Saturday but by late Saturday night the rain had started and with it came a cold front. I don’t think we got much higher than 65 on Sunday but the sun was out and it’s going to heat back up by the end of the week.
Lester seems to be more inclined to go curl up with Smudge lately. Sunday night Smudge was sound asleep with a teddy bear and I watched as Lester marched over, curled up and went right to sleep with him. Must be because it’s cool.
Quilt Obsession 