Wednesday 24 June 2015

WOW: Apple Core Quilt Progress

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

How sweetly is this little quilt coming along? I love the apple core pattern! The fabrics are gorgeous. I didn't know when they selected these fabrics if they would work, according to my own taste. But I've changed my mind. In fact, I'm really glad I'm making 2x at once. The real one with them in class and an extra one for myself. I think its perfectly charming so far and I'm looking forward to calling it finished in the next 3 weeks. 
Have you made an apple core quilt yourself? This is my first and I'm really taken by the charm of it.

What's Your WOW? 

Monday 22 June 2015

Oma's Blues: Creating the Centre Plate

There's really no question about it now: the members of my Yahoo BOM Group know my patterns better than I do. When I planned, suggested and released Oma's Blues, I had every intention that I would applique the centre round plate. Of course I would! It is, after all, an applique quilt.

But my Group Members? They knew better. 
They ignored my instructions and started piecing the centre plate. As I watched their perfectly formed plates emerge, I realized that they were right. And so smart. And so generous to share their logic with everyone else. Naturally I too realized that piecing the centre plate was the way to go. Of course you CAN applique it, but now I don't want to as I can see this as a faster and dare I admit it, easier way to get the beautiful round shape with accuracy.
And so here I am, sat at my machine and sewing as I go. What was I thinking when I planned on appliqueing all those points? I think I was in LE overdrive! I thought millions of applique shapes was some kind of normal.
 Pinning and stitching...
Looking good
Lovely...


Saturday 20 June 2015

Oma's Blues: Making A Start

 Of course I just discovered that I promptly packed away my original designs sheets and just as  promptly archived them before I'd even made the quilt! It's such a hassle to unpack my design packages once I've set them, that it's just easier for me to print out the pattern like everyone else!
My Toshiba copier is officially finished. It died and its much too expensive to fix. I'm really annoyed about it as it was a professional grade copier and I got so used to having it around. The downside was the expense of the thing - which was huge. But the fact is, it was a serious part of my creative process. The other problem I have is that I had taught myself to create my patterns according to its processes - I had a system that made sense to me. Now I have to find a way to do the same thing on two different machines and via software which is all too much and so time consuming. I'm so glad I finished Oma's Blues 6 months ago because I really wouldn't have finished it if the Toshiba had died back then. I feel that I am too old to learn new ways on technology. I just don't know what to do about it. I'm still thinking about whether to get it replaced ....? Or not. I don't know at the moment. 

Anyway, this also means that  I have to construct the pattern like everyone else and just get on with the job. I'm so glad I added a reverse option to the pattern because I can no longer simply reverse on my copier and going out to do it would be such a hassle. I must admit, I am somewhat set in my ways and change irritates me!
Unfortunately, my little domestic printer print the pattern wrong and set the print paper to 'letter', which I only noticed after 20 minutes of cutting out and gluing. So I forgot to take my own advice and had to re-print the whole thing in A4 and no re-sizing!
Finally, I'm making a start!

Friday 19 June 2015

Oma's Blues: Showing Off My New Blues

Surely I don't need a reason to show you my new blue fabrics? This is a quilters blog after all...
 How perfect are these fabrics for my BOM Oma's Blues?
They are the most charming tiles. I purchased them specifically for Oma's Blues and maybe even an easy sofa throw quilt if there's any left over. In the very real event that they prove too cute to cut, I justified the purchase by reasoning that these tiles were ideal for my wardrobe sachets. I always have herb stuffed sachets in all my drawers and cabinets. I made my last batch 10 years ago and its time to make a whole new set ...and the Delft inspired tiles here called out to me, they're so classic they're neutral. If you know what I mean. And there's so little work to be done, simply cut and stuff...
Unless I use them all up first. 
It will depend on whether they are too dark for the quilt once it starts coming together. 
Now I have all the ingredients, I simply need to make a start!

Wednesday 17 June 2015

WOW: Washing The Blues

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

There's nothing for it, it's time to wash my blues. I learnt my lesson with Lily Rose and the dreaded colour run disaster afternoon, so with my Oma's Blues I am taking no chances. Every fabric is getting stitched down next to white and tested as per my testing technique tutorial here. It's true I used to be somewhat relaxed about colour testing fabrics I trusted, but after my brush with potential ruination of a nearly completely quilt - I trust no fabrics! ALL must get tested.
Yes, this means it's full steam ahead for Oma's Blues and hopefully I'll have some real progress to blog about real soon. Remember, if you haven't joined us yet, all parts are still available for free download over in my Yahoo BOM Group. Oma's Blues is my current free BOM.

What's YOUR WOW?

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