That computer desk

I thought I had better document the last time I used my computer desk for sewing. As you can see it had a back and sides which wasn't ideal, but I've had many pleasurable moments there making some amazing projects. I've already got another desk lined up, but in the meantime I am using my kitchen tea trolley!

Two projects on the go

Nothing like a little confusion on the chopping board! My Caring Hearts quilt is taking a back seat at present whilst I tackle the Farmers 1930's quilt-along.

The jumbo of projects

Deciding on what fabrics to use for my Farmers quilt was a mission at first, but once I decided that I would use a paisley fabric for my base the other fabrics slotted into place every time. I based my coordinating pieces from the Letters to the Editor in the book.

Once I got into the swing of things my chopping board became so more free of fabrics and got into the business and swing of making blocks.

Small calmness for setting out my blocks

I will have to check out the Quilt-along guidelines before I post any blocks here. Of the 99 blocks we are making I am up to number 17, and her name is Patience!

Happy sewing :)

Still working in the wings

I have been patchworking, I just haven't been blogging... I haven't any updated pics of my Caring Hearts since I begun building them, but perhaps soon I shall take some and load them up. Basically I was going with the flow for a while making lots of nine-patches and then beginning my hearts. I put pen to paper just recently and will require about 70 odd of each block to complete a queen sized quilt. More progress to follow.

In the meantime here is a shot of something else. Little buddies in my sewing room whilst I was sewing some time ago.

Bits and Bobs

Not a lot to show for the last month... I got a phone two weeks ago to say that my place in the quilting queue is finally here, but I don't have the backing ready, eek! This is for my log cabin. Basically a case of, oh my gosh this quilt is so huge how am I going to tackle a backing and put some charm into without just stringing along a couple of large pieces of fabric together.

Footnote: This is backing I did in the end for the logcabin. My first for such a large quilt.

Apart from that I have also tackled some button holes using that fancy botton-holer on your sewing machine :)  These will be for three cushions I have practising triangle points on. I did attempt to clean up my sewing room, but never more to report, ho hum!

Added at a later date: Images before I cleaned up my sewing room

Under the pile on the right is my printer...

Run out of room

Oddly enough I did find somewhere to put this "stuff"

In time they will reach the ceiling

Unpicker in my hand

Yes, more unpicking... no doubt the person I am giving this quilt to will never notice my mistakes, but I see them! But there is a breaking point to being fussy, I only give it three tries and if it's still up the wop then I move on. Right now I am unpicking one of my rows on my bargello I sewed last Wednesday. I'm going to whip it into shape and have that half done and dusted before my next sewing group.

Last weekend I popped along to 'Away with the Fairies' at Cust. I went in to buy some threads but couldn't resist some pretty pink and green fabrics, the beginnings of a queen-sized quilt I shall be making for my Dad and his wife. I was looking through my magazines for inspiration and narrowed it down to about eight ideas, but finally picked out the one I shall make. It contains nine patches and love hearts. That will have to go on the back burner for the time being cos I have to stay focused and get this bargello done first. Sheesh it's hard to stay focused though when there are so many pretty fabrics around just wanting to be made into quilts!!! Pick me, pick me, they all scream, ha!!

Now, back in March I started Susan Claire's mystery quilt, a first for me. Below are the colours I picked out for Part 3 which I have cut out, but haven't assembled yet... only one week before Part 4 comes out and I haven't even started appliqueing yet, eek!

I just unpicked a whole row of my bargello block whilst waiting for this image to upload, you gotta love dial-up!!! Writing of which, I'm not going to spruce up this page with pretty pictures and the like until I get Broadband. I see other people's blogs and think, wow, so pretty. For the time being you will just have to read words and the odd image or two.

I thought I might add my sewing room, aka, messy, disorganised bits of furniture and stacks of fabric everywhere. One of my mum's favourite sayings is, "a place for everything and everything in its place". I shall try. This room comes complete with my $2 chair from a fair! I love my inspiration board, it truly does inspire me.

The image above shows where I sit to sew, at a computer desk. Can't spread my quilts out, but at least I have a posse to sit and while away the hours. A lot of sewers I know have to park themselves at the end of the dining table and pack everything in boxes. The wine rack to the right is a bemusing tower for the kitten to climb....!

I better stop for the night and go and cook some tea. Happy sewing!