Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Empty hands

One of the problems with working so hard for so long on quilts that are then just finished, is that you suddenly find yourself with empty hands. And for someone who is always sewing something, that feeling is a little bit weird. And I get really twitchy.

Sure I have heaps of projects I could start, or continue (and let's not talk about the amount of dress fabric stash I have waiting to be sewn!) but this time I've decided to concentrate on just one or two quilt projects at a time. Outstanding projects.  L O N G outstanding projects! In fact this year for the Canberra Quilters' UFO pledge, I pledged five quilts to be finished by the end of the year.

Of that list how many have I finished so far?

None.

Grandmother's Flower Garden UFO

I started solving the empty hands problem by pulling the Grandmother's Flower Garden out of the UFO pile. Rita from Red Pepper Quilts started it, then she gave it to me (in what may be the best trade ever) and now I get to finish it. I really want this to be a large wall hanging in the spare room, hanging opposite the beautiful painting that Cathy gave me.

Grandmother's Flower Garden

I've been making lots of extra blocks, and side filler blocks to make this quilt a little longer and square it out on the sides. Give me a few weeks and I reckon the top could be done. My main problem here is knowing when to stop. The design wall does come in handy when working this out, so at least I know I have a finite number of blocks to make.

Blocks

And the second project is something I can do when I don't feel like hand sewing. It's a quilt made from Oakshott cottons. I think I finished it almost two years ago, and now my husband would love to have it quilted and hanging in the study.

Oakshott Squares

All I have to do here is mark out the quilting design, make the backing, baste it and get quilting. Should be a doddle. You know, except for that basting thing.

Lee is back from her summer vacation (ah summer - how I miss thee!) and so I'm back on the WIP train at Freshly Pieced.
WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

28 comments:

  1. Amazing hexie quilt! The Oakshott fabrics are shown off lovely in that design, I can see why your hubbie would like it finished and on his wall! :)

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    1. When we renovated the study over Christmas, he felt there was something missing on that wall, and asked what quilts I had available to hang. I've taught that boy well!

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  2. Yep that basting thing - I am thinking that is where I will come to a grinding halt on my current WIP.It looks fabulous though - well worth finishing.

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    1. I only baste because I'm too stubborn to let it defeat me. And there is something strangely satisfying about being ready to quilt!

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    1. Thanks so much Karyn. They are certainly very different to each other!

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  4. WOW! A quilt from Rita! That's beautiful! And your Oakshotts is wonderful too! They will be great finishes!

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    1. I know! Right place, right time I guess. I still think of it as Rita's quilt although she says it's mine now :). I've included a lot of my own fabrics to put my stamp on it.

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  5. Both of your WIP-Projects are so lovely and worth to finish!

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    1. Thanks so much Nilya! I'm not sick of them yet, so that's a good thing!

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  6. Beautiful hexies! Your Oakshott top looks great and very decorative, I love it!

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    1. Thanks Christine! I can't wait to finish the quilting - hoping it will look spectacular!

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  7. these will be such beautiful finishes and so worth all the hours put into them :-)

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  8. That oakshot quilt is an absolute stunner!

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    1. I love it - it sparkles and completely changes colour depending on the light!

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  9. I know about that basting thing. Am proud to say I basted TWO quilts this weekend. Not saying how long they've been waiting....It's weird how one stage can become a grinding-to-a-long-halt block. I'm enjoying your blog and screwing up the nerve to try making myself a skirt. Thanks for the inspiration, Michelle.

    Sal x

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    1. Well done on your two quilts basted! You must have sore muscles now though!

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  10. I agree with your husband--get that Oakeshott quilt basted and start quilting! The top is gorgeous, and the quilt will be stunning when it's finished.

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    1. I think it will look great on the wall of our study!

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  11. All of that Oakeshott is so great you'll be glad to take it to the next level. Basting, ugh - I feel ya.

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    1. I have so many UFOs haunting me, I'm glad to take ANY of them to the next level!

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  12. My heart squeezed a little every time I see one of those EPP hexagon quilts...I started one a few years ago, it's the only UFO I have so far...I wonder if I will ever finish that one...
    Yours is gorgeous!
    I like the Oakshott quilt too, I love the simplicity of it. :-)

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    1. Finish it finish it! you know you want to and it's SOOOO satisfying!

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  13. Beautiful quilts! I'm slowing getting up my nerve to try hexagons - this gives me some inspiration!

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