UFO - hexagon bag

About a week ago, I attended a class on making a bag out of hexagons. It was a fun day, but none of us got even half way to completing the bag (we had 15 hexagons to make and then attach to each other). I enjoyed the class, (even if I was the youngest one there by a mile), and i achieved everything without using my machine. I was pleased with my colour choice (from my stash) and eager to carry on when I got home. I am now at the stage where I need to think for myself, make and attach loops so I can attach the handles. This is traditionally where I stop a project and this one looks no different - particularly as hubby doesn't like the bag!

I am hoping that having it on the blog and in the list, it won't be long before I make it.

here are some pictures


and in side - no need for lining (yay) as each unit creates it own lining. very clever.

UFO's

Its a new year and with new years, usually comes resolutions. I tend not to make any, as I tend not to stick to any. But events over the past week has made me change my mind.

i have 'discovered' (or perhaps finally admitted) the reason why I don't finish stuff. Its so I don't fail. I hate failing. The only 'big' things I have failed are my first driving test (and even then I have excuses) and a year 11 physics exam (but I had extenuating circumstances - I walked out of the exam due to other crap going on in my life).

The older I get the more I don't either attempt or I don't finish. I didn't finish my french cert iv in tafe (got to the last 6 months, but didn't want to take the exam), I didn't finish an art course (that had an exam too), and I have a pile getting bigger and bigger of unfinished quilt and patchwork projects. some just need the binding done (how pathetic is that).

I think, subconscisouly, that if I don't finish something then I can't fail at it. but by the same token, if I don't finish something then I don't have anythign to show for the time and money invested.

So, my resolution this year is to attack my UFO pile and hopefully finish them. I will still allow myself to start projects, but will have an effort to finish stuff too.

So starting from next week, I will 'showcase' a UFO each week. There will be some pictures of current state plus what needs to be done to finish it. I will also do updates on progress. I am slow so patience will be required.

December

Okay, I figure I am more a 'once a month' poster, although this month I might make it two as I don't have any pictures.

I have been fairly busy craft wise the last month or so. I have completed all the blocks for the nursery rhyme quilt - just a few finishing touches required (like eyes, mouths on the characters, adn the nursery rhyme title on each block), so am hoping to finish that before christmas so I can try and quilt in the new year.

I also went on a one day Welsh Quilting course. I had no idea what to expect and it was fantastic. It is thought that it was the welsh that taught the Amish to quilt in america. its all handquilting (something I hadn't done before), and symmetrical patterns. the fabric isn't important and if doing patchwork, the quilting and the patchwork design, traditionally don't line up (patchwork wasn't part of welsh quilting other than to get enough fabric together). there are lots of borders etc. I am working on a cushion size design at the moment and I am fairly slow. In the class we had a go at designing a quilt, which was great and something I thought I wouldn't find interesting or be good at.

With handquilting, the technique we were taught used two thimbles - one on each hand (I have use the middle finger on teh bottom hand and the index finger on the top hand). One hand goes under the quilt, and one goes on top. I use a hoop to keep the fabric and the 'right' tension (like a cat has sat on it - was the description we were given!). then the needle is balance between the thimbles with the fabric in between. at first my stitches were too small and i was finding it impossible as I was trying to make them too small. but now I think I have the hang of it. I will post some pictures a bit later.

I also spent one sunday afternoon sorting out my fabrics into colours and putting them in boxes. it means I can now get into the sewing room. now I just have to go in there to sew!

To Wash or not to Wash

Okay - two months have passed, and in that time i have been sick with flu, been to dublin, been to london (to see my friend's new baby - so cute), and not achieved much on the craft front. BUT
today I went to a craft fair in Cardiff. I last went to it two years ago and it was good, so excitedly I trotted off to it today.

Well, this time, i was limiting myself to fabric only - avoiding the cross-stitch stands (as I have a few kits and patterns waiting to be done). And it could have a been a disaster, as there were only three stands!!!! But luckily for me, i wasn't really after something particular - just needed some fabrics to applique, and other 'staples'. And also luckily the prices were reasonable (for the UK). so I went a little crazy, and got quite a few fabrics.

so here are some piccies of some of the fabrics I purchased.

so my next question was - do I wash the fabrics or nto before using them .....yep - I washed them.

finally, the mother goose applique quilt is finally moving forward again after stalling. I have one block left to do, plus some little bits on each one (like the nursery rhyme title) and then will put together before I take another picture. I am thinking that for hte eyes, as they are buttons, to put them on after it is quilted. not sure though.

Applique and Nursery Rhymes part ii

okay, here are a couple more blocks from the same quilt.
have you noticed that none of them have eyes yet?! also each is supposed to have the nursery rhyme title embrodered across the top. I particularly like the fabric I used for the water in the 'owl and pussycat' picture.

have drawn, cutout, ironed onto fabric, cutout, ironed onto background fabric the middle block this week. hoping to get most of it stitched this week, then I have only 1 block left - oh and all the little 'finishes' on each block like the eyes!. The eyes are supposed to be buttons, but not sure if I will do this, as buttons aren't really baby friendly.

not a lot really to update on the craft front due to things at work. but thought I should still post anyway!

Emma - I responded to your question as a comment, in hindsight, I think I should have emailed you???

Applique and Nursery Rhymes

its been just over a week since my last blog - slipping already. thanks for the comments - i have to agree that the framing just adds so much to the cross-stitches.

for the next few weeks, I am going to post pictures of my current project - a baby quilt for my neice. it is in all in applique and its the biggest quilt i have done. following are two blocks - neither quite finished!! I have buttonholed stitched in matching thread (2 strands DMC) , fixing the applique in place with 'bondaweb' (uk name) or as I know it as 'fusible webbing'. I am not sure the scale of the blocks come through - this on is approx 24" by 14" plus border.
this quilt has tested my skills at matching colours. even though each block has come with a picture, I have tried to follow the colour scheme whilst using fabrics from my stash. and of course in the uk it is hard to get fabrics of a similar style, unless i go on-line. being on a bit of budget, I have tried to only buy fabric where I really really don't have another option already - bit of a challenge!

some pictures of past work

okay, i thought I would ease into this, so I am posting some pictures of a couple of cross-stitches that I have done and are currently framed and hung in my lounge room. Both were framed in Canberra, ACT, by couple who use only recycled wood.

The first one, took a couple of years (am a bit slow) and does have beading on it. I am still learning on how best to take the pictures so apologies for the reflection. I have another 2 or 3 samplers on the go. I started doing cross-stitch as an adult (having dabbled in cross-stitch and tapestry as a kid) when I started working after uni, mainly to try and teach myself patience. In some ways it has completely succeeded. In other ways, it just adds to my unfinished project list!




The second picure, I actually completed first. It was my first large scale cross-stitch and I am really pleased with it. The canvas was pre-printed with the border - the cross-stitch designed to fit inside an arch. i actually didn't quite get the counting right adn I think it is a stitch or two to the left! but I can't tell when I look at it and by the time I discovered it I was too far gone to unpick and restart!