Poof! Like magic…

Et voila- instant quilt!

Well…not quite. It’s taken two years, almost to the day. I got the idea for this quilt when we found this apartment in the Spring of 2011 (time certainly has flown!). May 7th, 2011 we were driving down the road, taking pictures of our prospective new neighborhood and dreaming of our “new” life. The walls and trim of this place inspired me to create a yellow, blue and white quilt- something pretty and light for the coming summer. Well, I gathered a few blue fabrics that summer, but time got away from me as I put together our new house, and next thing I knew it was Summer 2012. A double rotator-cuff injury was making it impossible to finish cutting out the rest of my fabric, much less finish sewing it all together.

  The first cut!

 

 

 

 

Big mistake sending them all through the washing machine- they just snarled all up, causing hours of cutting them apart!

 

 

 

 

This is the first round of piecing- turned out I needed way more fabric than this!

 

 

 

The first block- it’s a nine patch block quilt.

 

 

 

 

The top sewn together- it was at this point that I realized I would have to put a border around it to make it big enough for our bed…

 

 

 

Oh the difference a year makes- from April 2012 (above) to March 2013---->

 

 

 

I was able to gradually piece the top together over the last year, surprisingly. I don’t remember a moment when it became a quilt, per say- but I’m glad I found the time and perseverance to keep working on it. Tasha certainly has helped- whether forcing me to keep it out in the open because no one dared move her from its warm folds, or finding time to work on it in spare moments so she could “visit” with it (my life is spent in providing for the care and comfort of my kitty- isn’t everyone’s?). She just loves it whenever I make a new quilt- she considers them all her private property, running to claim them when they come out of the linen closets in the winter!

I’ve already picked out the pattern and colorway for my next quilt- making these is a bit addictive! This one is going much faster- maybe because I actually know what I'm doing this time around? I’ve done lots more research into quilting, since I started the Watercolour in general, but also just in the last few months. It’s funny how much more enjoyable and easy things are, once you get a few under your belt…

It’s a beautiful Spring morning here in the land of Magick. Let’s get started enjoying it, shall we?

And now for something completely different…

Ah, the joys of crafting.

Um… I’m in the middle of a project that is quite, well-

Overwhelming, to say the least. This is the Watercolours Quilt that I started a year and eight months ago. Seriously- what is taking me so long? Well, it’s getting finished this week. I am hand tying it, which partly explains why it’s taking so long. And also why posting has slowed down. Just in case you can’t tell just how much fabric is in there:

I have a loong ways to go, but I’ve already started picking out fabrics for my next one! Glutton for punishment? Or just plain crazy? No- just finally figuring out the right way to make a quilt (and it’s not been the way I’ve been doing it, silly me. Wish I’d read more books before I’d started this one! Or at least made it smaller…)

Do we have time for a quick list? I think so- here’s what this March has looked like so far:

• Hiking in Mission Trails Park- beautiful scenery, only a few sunburns.
• LOTS of handsewing of the quilting and finishing of garments variety.
• Our lovely pink scheme in the garden is working out just beautifully.
• Some new veggie recipes- leeks, zucchini, asparagus and champ (love! where has this been all my life?!)
• A little house shaking up as well- lots of closets turned out and reorganized, piles taken to the thrift store, new shelves built, furniture moved around. It’s been wonderful to get a new energy flow going around here…

Lovely March- Spring came early to our corner of the world. Lots of sunny days, light breezes, and a few rain-and-hail storms thrown in for good measure. I’ll be back next week with more updates from the Workshop!

Slowing Down…

Whew! What a weekend- a few Drives into the countryside, Crafts Fairs, Tea Shop foraging, Fall Leaf Peeping, Financial Meetings and File Organizing, lots of knitting, a little quilting and one late night surprise dinner later, I’m exhausted! So the kitters and I are taking it easy this week, especially now that the break in the weather is over and the heat has come back. Here’s a taste of what we found this weekend:

How about a little recipe for this week?

Take one part thrift, one part tea shop jelly, one part Christmas whimsy, and swirl in one part brand new china. Pack CAREFULLY and steal away home for a wonderful taste of fall fun! I’ll be back later on this week with a peek at the work that’s been done on the Watercolour Quilt. For now- I think I need a nap…

Friday Musings

Work with- and where- what you have!

The counter in the bathroom just happens to be the perfect height for cutting fabric. This jumbled mess is for my new Watercolour quilt. . .