When All Else Fails.....Finish Something

Since my creative muse seems to have vanished at the moment....I spent some time organizing and sorting fabrics and such, always a good thing.

Then....I finished Ripple Effect I 

Ripple Effect I (39" x 35") 

 I used a facing type finish.

 Check out those corners

I wasn't happy with my corners at first, but then I happened on an article by Ricky Tims.....

Quilt Life (June 2013)

I really like this method because it eliminates a fair bit of the bulk in the corners.... plus I really enjoy this magazine.

I used some reverse, raw-edge applique for this quilt....I feel a tutorial coming on.

It's back to Alberta, tomorrow, perhaps my creative muse will be waiting for me there.

P.S. all those bossy blocks are tucked away, in a drawer, until I return.

An almost Finish

I think I can I think I can, aw...I can't. I'm sewing as I pack and thought just maybe I could finish but not quite.

 All sewn together

Since it's going to be a wall hanging....I need a quick way to cover all those seams. 

That works 

Now to do a facing type binding....I didn't want a regular binding on this piece. 

 A little pressing

 A little stay stitching....just like when sewing facings in dress making.

 

Time to go to the airport.

  

Look at all the leftovers...just what can I do with those???

Lessons Learned.....while quilting

As I'm spiraling away, I always get to thinking....... now that can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the day. Lesson one, whatever fabric we cut, can be sewn back together. After all, we are doing patchwork, what's an extra seam, here or there?? And if we are doing improv, heck, we can be fearless.

 I'm really am fearless....when it comes to my fabric (most of the time), but not so much in real life. My family will attest....I'm rather a ninny (their word). I don't like speed or risk....the minute I became a mother, at the age of twenty one, self preservation became of utmost priority!! I had to stay safe for my child, now I digress.

When I pull out my fabric, I can slice it, dice it, and slice it again....and if I still don't like it I can throw it in the corner until tomorrow.

 Still spiraling.....still thinking

Lesson two, let it simmer.

I have no idea where this is going....but that's alright. I can put it on my design wall and let it simmer, move it all around and let it simmer some more. I don't have to have all the answers, I can take the time to process.

In real life, I don't always let things process or simmer enough.  I'm the "Let's get it all out on the table" type and of course, it goes without saying...... I'm married to the "Let things unfold as they unfold" type. Yikes...do opposites always attract???

So where am I going with all this?? Simply this... words spoken cannot so easily be taken back and feelings hurt cannot simply be sewn back together. Also, taking time to process and letting things simmer or to quote my husband "Letting things unfold as they unfold" often avoids those hurts in the first place.

As I was reading the different blog posts, regarding the judges comments on peoples' work, I was saddened to hear how devastated some of you were. One commenter stood out to me, as they mentioned some of the blog posts criticizing the judging at Quilt Con.  As you know, I wrote about my own feelings, on that topic.  Some of the criticisms of the judging and possibly (very likely) my own critique, diminished some of the pleasure in their winning. It did not occur to me that perhaps my own words would shake the confidence of another quilter.....it should have.

I am so sorry, if anyone reading my words felt "less deserving" as a result. If I would have waited longer  and processed more I might have avoided hurting some of you. Please forgive me if I caused you to question or if I diminished your wonderful moment in any way.

Marianne

A Wall Hanging...Perhaps??

 

Another day, another spiral....... 

 A different way of joining???......Just maybe.

 Testing the free motion, on the new machine...

It stitches without  a glitch.....

And of course....enjoying spring.

Ah....Testing the New Machine

 I decided to give myself a little play time with the new machine.

 

 

 

I'm loving it. 
After customizing (taking the slow start off the foot pedal) I was spiraling away in no time. 

So nice to have a thread cutter where the needle doesn't unthread every time I use it.

 

I love having a little order back in the sewing room.

Another Day...Another Spiral

Another day, another spiral....resulting in a ripple effect. 

Ah, the colours.....how I love them. 

 

 

 

Would you believe each one of these blocks uses a little more than one bobbin....that's a lot of spiraling. 

Just Me and My Seam Ripper

It was supposed to be smooth quilting this morning.

 

 I explained to my sailor husband.... when all the conditions are right you just have to quilt.....just as he has to sail, right?  I spoke too soon!!

Not all that smooth......either the wind died or I got hung up on a sandbar....

So alas...it was just me and my seam ripper!!!! 
May I take a moment to mention...NOT ALL WALKING FEET are CREATED EQUAL!!!!

To borrow one of my little granddaughter's favourite words....I Neeeeeeeeeeed my Bernina. She's only allowed to have her soother at bedtime but every now and again likes to remind us that she Neeeeeeeds her sooosey. I know just how she feels, I could have used one myself.

Nothing quilts quite like my Bernina, which of course is back home. The Pfaff has a built-in walking foot but I find it just doesn't compare.

So when all else fails..... 

 Quilt a spiral...something my Pfaff does do quite well. I'm of the start at the same edge camp, rather than alternating sides. With spiral quilting you can just go round and round.

A little hint: it really helps to stabilize the block if you stitch in the stitch on just a couple major seams. I really hate stitching in the ditch, so I do as little as possible

 I'm not sure I'm liking the raw edge of the reverse applique, but I set a course and am sticking to it.

Creative Funk or Fabric Flying Everywhere

I got into a bit of a creative funk this evening....you know, fabric flying everywhere.

 I almost bit my poor husband's head off when he innocently asked if I was doing another re org. Can I blame that on my artistic temperament?? Ach...I didn't think so.

My studio, out here on the coast, is not as hidden away as it is in Alberta, which means my messes are NOT hidden either.

 Doesn't everybody know, creativity requires fabric flying in all directions....well at least in my case it does.

This is another work in progress that I started a little while back, so that's a plus. 

Let us see how long the funk lasts and where it takes me. 

I'm a Colour and Pattern Junkie

Colour and pattern call my name.....continuously. 

 

it shows up in my work...

in how I display my scarves and purses...

 the purses I choose to buy....

 in my stationary and notebooks...

yikes, even in my coasters... 

And yes, last not but not least, on my dinner table....

Happy Thanksgiving to all you Canadians out there.

 I hope you've had as much to be thankful for, as I have. Two beautiful new grandchildren this year....words can't express, how thankful we are.