Summertime - blues?

I’ve finished my studies, my exams, all  my WISP and   my work-year is over. I’m having my holidays and a lot of time to collect inspiration and deciding what to do when I’m back in work mode again.

The rain is pouring down, but I have a good house, god clothes to take a walk in, a lot of books, good music and a lot of nice people in and out where I am.   It’s time to share, to sow and to harvest and to enjoy life.

This month I’ve only made a small heart for a friend’s birthday, but I can’t show you the picture yet because then I destroy her surprise. Have a nice summer for those who have summertime and temperature, and for all you Australian freezing, we’ll send you warm thoughts!

I’m still looking at these sketching some ideas for the autumn.

9 years WIP finished!!!

Last Saturday mu DH got his wall hanging “At Home in the Woods” designed by    McKenna Ryan. I ordered it as a BOM in 2002 to finish it as a 50 years anniversary gift.  In the original pattern there were used an invisible tread and machine appliquéd. I didn’t  master this so I started to use buttonhole stitches. It has taken me 9 years. He was 57 Saturday. Anne Rønningen has  quilted it for me.

My DH was impressed and happy, and I´m satisfied when I see it on the wall.

Three days ago I got a gift in the post. It was the OPAM 2011 – draw for April. I was one of the lucky winners. Kris  Mears sent me the gift with nice words on the umberella card.  Maybe I´ll make a summer table cloth of the fabrics?  Joining Opam -11 has given me the real push to finish a lot of projects this year. Have a nice wee!

How much fabric is enough fabric?

Once upon a time a read about an American quilt-lady who didn’t have more Than one basket with fabric. She always started a new project with the fabrics she had in the basket and bought what she needed extra. I don’t remember her name or the name of the magazine. That time I thought – what a strange lady. How boring to start with the left overs from last project! I wonder if she still is on this way. Anyone know who she was or is like her?

Today I envy her a bit. I have collected fabrics for lots of years and I feel I have too much. This year I have been good and just used my old fabric. I have bought some new magazines and patterns, but I intend to use what I have.

My last project to use a lot of fabric is to sew three veranda blankets for my DD2. She had three fleece blankets and I used some flannels on two of them and some more colors on the last one. This is my favorite. I made some pillow cases to put them in and used some more fabrics from my stash.

             

 I have sorted through all my yellows, browns, beiges and greens and have just put back the ones I want to keep, the ones I know I mostly would use in projects. The rest – two big plastic boxes I’m going to cut up in 2 or 2 ½ inch strips and make log -cabin blocks. We have a small cabin in the woods, and we have to paint and freshen it up a bit. I should have made some blankets many years ago but now is a good time to start. If I first cut all the fabrics and then make 4 blocks a day then I’ll make it. Why I don’t want to make more than four blocks a day is because it’s soon summer here and it’s easier to make some stitching and hand piecing when you are outdoors or traveling.