Little stars, medium stars, big stars. I’m seeing them all. The large ones made with 1″ 60-degree diamonds, the medium with .74″ diamonds and the little ones with .50″ diamonds. All printed on my fabrics with various Inklingo 60-degree diamond … Continue reading
Seems I got a bit more distracted last night. I wanted to make another of the 6.75″ batik stars with the extra Storm at Sea pieces I had printed. It was sort of bargaining that went on internally, “Hmm. You have two of the four cornerstones for the pieced border done, so you can play again. But only tonight. Tomorrow you have to make another one of the cornerstones.”
Because it’s a batik, it presses like a charm. I really have no idea how many of these stars I’ll make and what else I’ll do with the extra pieces, but it’s fun to have the option to just pick up and stitch a block like this every once in a while. I think I’ve finally learned my lesson and am grading the seams as I go.
The Drunkard’s Trail/Snail’s Trail has me absolutely captivated. I have many ideas flying around in my mind now and know I’ll end up making at least two and probably more quilts using those shapes. There’s one idea that’s begging to be made soon. Of course, the fact that there’s all that delicious curved piecing has something to do with my fascination with that pattern. Whether these ideas will wait until the red and white top is finished remains to be seen.
It was another remarkably warm day here yesterday and today sounds like it’s going to be even warmer yet. Then it looks like we crash back to the reality of March but what a nice treat this taste of summer has been.
This may be one of my favourite pictures of Baxter yet. I love how well his lynx tips show up.
See this picture? This wonderful quilt frame? It’s a fabulous solid oak quilt frame that does away with the necessity of basting, folds up easily for storage and is a great asset for any hand quilter!
On Easter weekend, my favourite quilt shop, Sew Sisters, had a contest. Every purchaser of fabric got an entry. Sew Sisters had a very similar contest last year at Easter. That was the first time I saw one of these frames and I’ve been wanting one ever since as basting is a nightmare and holding a hoop is completely beyond my hands’ capabilities. When Judy announced the contest on the Sew Sisters blog last week, I knew I had to buy something and get an entry in the contest. A few half metres of red batiks were purchased and a lot of finger crossing began.
I don’t usually have good luck in contests like this but this time — I won! When I got the e-mail from Judy Tuesday afternoon, I was thrilled — once I got over the surprise I had actually won it, that is. I think the cats jumped at the noise I made when I read that e-mail!! There are 3 big quilts waiting for quilting, a number of smaller ones and now — well, now I can’t wait! I’ve done so little hand quilting in the past couple of years that the first thing I’m going to do is make up a sandwich of muslin and batting and get back into the rhythm of hand quilting before I start on any of the quilts.
The frame is made by Heartland Quiltworks, a Canadian company. We’re picking it up from the shop on the weekend. I can’t wait to get it home and try out quilting with a frame. I have visions of the cats curled up under the frame and probably being little mischief makers trying to catch the needle and thread.
There’s a table runner pattern I’m working on that will feature, among other things, this star. I made it with the 6″ Storm at Sea collection. The background fabric I used is one that I’ve had for ages and absolutely love working with. It’s almost of the same thread count as a good batik but needles so easily. I’ve been looking for the right pattern in which to use it for years.
The back:
It was a rainy, drizzly, somewhat cooler day on Tuesday and the cats didn’t spend any time on the windowsill. Smudge did spend a lot of time in my desk chair, though. It seems to be one of his favourite spots. I’m not too sure what that look is all about — perhaps a bit of a Morris look.
Lester also has a funny look on his face. He was actually awake but closed his eyes as he really dislikes the flash of the camera.
Quilt Obsession 