... and still I stitch... (in praise of letting projects languish)

A few weeks ago I pulled my " Labour of Love" hexagon quilt out of hibernation to take to a Quilt Along at my LQS. I was looking for some ideas as to how I could start transitioning to the borders on my quilt. I had kicked a few ideas around before, but this time I came to the conclusion that this was indeed going to require more hexagons (ohhhh! nooo!)

So I've cut 48 more templates from freezer paper,ironed them on, basted and resumed whip stitching. And you know what? I'm enjoying myself! Which just goes to show - when good projects get stalled - just let them hibernate - percolate and lo and behold - they rejuvenate!

... and still I stitch... (in praise of letting projects languish)

A few weeks ago I pulled my " Labour of Love" hexagon quilt out of hibernation to take to a Quilt Along at my LQS. I was looking for some ideas as to how I could start transitioning to the borders on my quilt. I had kicked a few ideas around before, but this time I came to the conclusion that this was indeed going to require more hexagons (ohhhh! nooo!)

So I've cut 48 more templates from freezer paper,ironed them on, basted and resumed whip stitching. And you know what? I'm enjoying myself! Which just goes to show - when good projects get stalled - just let them hibernate - percolate and lo and behold - they rejuvenate!

Happy March 2nd! (aka) Happy Saturday!

This is just a quicky post to let you know where I am on the stitch-ey side of life. Lots of new projects on the horizon - now that I'm actually viewing some of the online classes I signed up for during the "great 50% off classes" event over at Craftsy on Black Friday.

Having spent all that moo-la, it is only natural that I would be working on the one "free class" I had in my basket - the 2013 Craftsy BOM. I have a FQ bundle called "Wordplay" (by Benartex) that's been sitting  (languishing?) in my stash for a while now, and this looked like a good option for it. Of course once I got started I realised I hadn't enough suitable background fabric so off I went to the shop. I also discovered they have more of the WordPlay fabric if I get desperate (Except for the 1 FQ I really want).

But I digress...

I put my blade to fabric and got cutting a few weekends ago as I was already 1 month behind. January's block is called "Offset Log Cabin". Offset in that the widths of the strips vary. I've never done log cabin as I was afraid to just "try it". It's a great block for fearful first timers... and it's nice to see how flipping the blocks can create different looks over all. (See below).

I fussy cut the centre square - but I'm not sure it was worth the effort. Would likely have been more noticeable if the object was a little birdie or something.

The February block is called "Spring Blooms" I suppose it looks like a flower. The skill being taught for this block was "partial seams." I really enjoyed this block - and I finally took the time to figure out exactly where the "scant 1/4 inch" sweet spot is on my sewing machine (I have "saved" this into the machines memory bank as well).

I practised my strip piecing and cutting techniques...

... and ended up with a block that fit together perfectly!

Last but not least my reverse side pressing fit together like a perfect puzzle! I am delighted!

I peeked ahead to see what my March block assignment was - but was told "No peeking!"... will need to get back there soon!

Happy March 2nd! (aka) Happy Saturday!

This is just a quicky post to let you know where I am on the stitch-ey side of life. Lots of new projects on the horizon - now that I'm actually viewing some of the online classes I signed up for during the "great 50% off classes" event over at Craftsy on Black Friday.

Having spent all that moo-la, it is only natural that I would be working on the one "free class" I had in my basket - the 2013 Craftsy BOM. I have a FQ bundle called "Wordplay" (by Benartex) that's been sitting  (languishing?) in my stash for a while now, and this looked like a good option for it. Of course once I got started I realised I hadn't enough suitable background fabric so off I went to the shop. I also discovered they have more of the WordPlay fabric if I get desperate (Except for the 1 FQ I really want).

But I digress...

I put my blade to fabric and got cutting a few weekends ago as I was already 1 month behind. January's block is called "Offset Log Cabin". Offset in that the widths of the strips vary. I've never done log cabin as I was afraid to just "try it". It's a great block for fearful first timers... and it's nice to see how flipping the blocks can create different looks over all. (See below).

I fussy cut the centre square - but I'm not sure it was worth the effort. Would likely have been more noticeable if the object was a little birdie or something.

The February block is called "Spring Blooms" I suppose it looks like a flower. The skill being taught for this block was "partial seams." I really enjoyed this block - and I finally took the time to figure out exactly where the "scant 1/4 inch" sweet spot is on my sewing machine (I have "saved" this into the machines memory bank as well).

I practised my strip piecing and cutting techniques...

... and ended up with a block that fit together perfectly!

Last but not least my reverse side pressing fit together like a perfect puzzle! I am delighted!

I peeked ahead to see what my March block assignment was - but was told "No peeking!"... will need to get back there soon!

Happy February Cinnamon Hearts Retreat Weekend!

So - here I was thinking that I might be the only person having their own little "in house" long weekend quilt retreat. Boy was I wrong!

Cinnamon Hearts QAYG stash

I woke this morning to start Day 2 of the Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat but thought I'd do a quick check of my email first (quick as in get the coffee and put my feet up).

The checklist:

1. the news headlines (just in case a meteor has hit and I need to hide my stash from end of world mad dog zombie crafters).
2. my mail (just in case another long lost relative has left me their winning lotto ticket).
3. my calendar (just in case I forgot the date and I'm actually supposed to be at work).
4. facebook (just in case SOMETHING ...)
5. Ravelry (I'm not knitting these days - but it's on the morning check list).
6. and last (but not least) "Threadbias" - my newest online place to hang out and talk quilts.

(you'll note I never check my bank account - how many ways can a ZERO balance be interpreted?)

I can (if pressed) do all of this in less than 5 minutes. I usually do it in 40. On weekends when I want to luxuriate in the wasting  investing of time I can spend well over an hour - but by then I've gone all zombot ...

... but I digress.

Yesterday I did pop by my LQS for my weekly FQ latte fix (since Fat Quarters are less expensive than lattes and don't affect my waistline I've headed down that route). I discovered I had a gift card from the store behind the counter! Yippee! This is like finding $20.00 in an old pair of jeans you haven't worn since... since... (hmmm there's a reason you don't wear those jeans anymore and made the switch to FQ lattes).

Back to the retreat. There was a big retreat in progress at the store. It started Friday night and was going all weekend til Monday evening. I admit - I was jealous. I wanted to be there too. But you know how it goes. Besides I do have a Quiltalong day coming up next week... and I was having my own private retreat at home this weekend. 

But this morning the mail was loaded up with blog reports about "Virtual Stitching Retreats." being hosted by The Liberated Quilters group and the Dear Jane BOM group.

So I am not alone....

Back to the actual -virtual Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat. I have a lot of red and pink fabrics in my stash (top pic). I am wanting to learn a few QAYG (Quilt as you go) techniques and I am taking an online class via Craftsy which is teaching this QAYG specifically. Since this is February and I love love love cinnamon hearts... hearts will be my quilt project for the retreat. "Say it with Quilts" is a book I found at the used book store.  

The quilt is comprised primarily of half square triangles and double half squares triangles (which is just two half square triangles on the ends of a rectangle. There are 14 large hearts, 14 medium hearts and 62 small hearts. I have cut 768 rectangles and squares. My biggest worry is that 248 of the squares are only 1" x 1". 

Thus far I have completed 7 large hearts. 

snip! stitch! sew happy!

stitch cat

Happy February Cinnamon Hearts Retreat Weekend!

So - here I was thinking that I might be the only person having their own little "in house" long weekend quilt retreat. Boy was I wrong!

Cinnamon Hearts QAYG stash

I woke this morning to start Day 2 of the Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat but thought I'd do a quick check of my email first (quick as in get the coffee and put my feet up).

The checklist:

1. the news headlines (just in case a meteor has hit and I need to hide my stash from end of world mad dog zombie crafters).
2. my mail (just in case another long lost relative has left me their winning lotto ticket).
3. my calendar (just in case I forgot the date and I'm actually supposed to be at work).
4. facebook (just in case SOMETHING ...)
5. Ravelry (I'm not knitting these days - but it's on the morning check list).
6. and last (but not least) "Threadbias" - my newest online place to hang out and talk quilts.

(you'll note I never check my bank account - how many ways can a ZERO balance be interpreted?)

I can (if pressed) do all of this in less than 5 minutes. I usually do it in 40. On weekends when I want to luxuriate in the wasting  investing of time I can spend well over an hour - but by then I've gone all zombot ...

... but I digress.

Yesterday I did pop by my LQS for my weekly FQ latte fix (since Fat Quarters are less expensive than lattes and don't affect my waistline I've headed down that route). I discovered I had a gift card from the store behind the counter! Yippee! This is like finding $20.00 in an old pair of jeans you haven't worn since... since... (hmmm there's a reason you don't wear those jeans anymore and made the switch to FQ lattes).

Back to the retreat. There was a big retreat in progress at the store. It started Friday night and was going all weekend til Monday evening. I admit - I was jealous. I wanted to be there too. But you know how it goes. Besides I do have a Quiltalong day coming up next week... and I was having my own private retreat at home this weekend. 

But this morning the mail was loaded up with blog reports about "Virtual Stitching Retreats." being hosted by The Liberated Quilters group and the Dear Jane BOM group.

So I am not alone....

Back to the actual -virtual Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat. I have a lot of red and pink fabrics in my stash (top pic). I am wanting to learn a few QAYG (Quilt as you go) techniques and I am taking an online class via Craftsy which is teaching this QAYG specifically. Since this is February and I love love love cinnamon hearts... hearts will be my quilt project for the retreat. "Say it with Quilts" is a book I found at the used book store.  

The quilt is comprised primarily of half square triangles and double half squares triangles (which is just two half square triangles on the ends of a rectangle. There are 14 large hearts, 14 medium hearts and 62 small hearts. I have cut 768 rectangles and squares. My biggest worry is that 248 of the squares are only 1" x 1". 

Thus far I have completed 7 large hearts. 

snip! stitch! sew happy!

stitch cat

Happy 200th!

" However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters."

And so gentle readers it began. Today is a very special day. On January 28th, 2013 we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".

I am not sure when I fell victim to the P&P mystique but I strongly suspect it had something to do with Colin Firth's portrayal of Austen's Mr. Darcy. Since then I've listened, read and watched several renditions of Jane's book. And loved each and every delicious moment.

“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.

“I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.” 

And so... today I am celebrating. I rise early, pack lunches and send every one out the door. I will assemble my threads, fabrics, needles and thimble. I will clip the crusts off my cucumbers sandwiches and sip tea.

I have the 1995 BBC miniseries on DVD (with Colin Firth of course). Let the Pride and Prejudice marathon begin!