Having to sit down has its advantages

Thank you for all your well wishes and sympathetic posts about my ankle. It is getting better and the bruising is rather spectacular!!  My pride is healing too and I'm sure before long I will be donning the lycra and running shoes and going out in public again!!

Not being able to stand for long periods of time due to my poorly ankle has meant that I have been able to do some piecing without feeling guilty for not working.   I have finished the blocks for my 'granny squares quilt'.  I have just put them up on the design wall to have a look at.  Thank you all for your input about whether or not to sash them.  I have decided on a compromise.  I am going to sash them in white but use a very narrow one, only 1/2 inch finished.  This is because I don't like the area where the points meet without sashing.  It makes a bulky point and my heart is in my mouth each time I hear my trusty Gammill go 'clunk' over those seams.  This way there will be a gap so no 'clunk' (she hopes!)

(I wish I was better a taking photos - this picture looks really washed out but the colours are really bright in real life..My phone did an update and now I can't find all my edit buttons to tweak the colour.  I'm useless with technology so apologies for the wishy washy photos)

I think I will quilt it with an allover large daisy.  I don't want it too heavily quilted.  As it will be for my granddaughters first big bed, (which is pink!!) I am wondering whether to try and get some flannel fabric for the back so it will be ultra snuggley.  I'll have to wait a few more days till I can drive again to go hunting for backing.  I am going to use the red spot that I have to make the binding.  I will post some pictures of it once it is finished and quilted.

Have a good weekend.

Chris

Feeling foolish (and a little bit sore)!!

Yesterday was a beautiful day so went out for a run.  I was nearly home when I stepped off the pavement to go past an elderly gentleman walking his dog.  The road had just been recently resurfaced and there were lots of loose chippings at the side.  I skidded on them like they were marbles (although an awful lot sharper!!) and landed flat on my face - much to the amusement of a group of teenagers on their way to school.  The old gentleman helped me up but I realised that apart from managing to 'pebble dash' my hands and knees, I had hurt more than my pride - I had twisted my ankle badly.  I hobbled home and sat with a bag of frozen peas on it and now it looks like this.... (sorry if I put anyone off their breakfast with this photo!!) 

Sometimes I wonder whether it is worth all the effort trying to ward off 'middle age spread' and just order those elasticated waist trousers now!!!

As I cannot walk on it, I have decided to post some pictures of quilts that I have been working on over the last couple of weeks.  I know I'm not very good and sitting down and posting on my blog so having an enforced 'sit down' had made me do it. Enjoy.

Just scrolling down the photo's I realise there are some great quilters out there and I thank you all for the chance to work on your quilts - I never cease to be inspired.

Chris

On the wall today.

I've just come back from staying with my friend Janie for a couple of days.  She is also a longarm quilter so we have a lot in common. We spent a delightful day sitting in her studio piecing, chatting, drinking coffee and eating cake, and one day with other longarm quilters (also chatting, drinking coffee and eating cake!!) at a quilt shop, Poppy Patch .  Janie and I try to get together a couple of times a year just to sit and sew and have our own little quilt retreat.  We decided to make a 'granny square' quilt.

I cut into the 'Apple of my eye' bundle that was sitting on my shelf. This is as far as I got...

I still have more blocks cut out ready to piece but I have been trying to decide whether to sash or not to sash?  I could just sew it together with no sashing as above or I can add sashing and cornerstones as below.

White sashing and spotty cornerstones or....

spotty sashing and white cornerstones? 

I think I am veering towards the white sashing.......Hmmm, choices choices.

Well, enough playtime, back to work!!

Chris

Quilts, quilts, quilts...

Just a few quilts I have quilted over the last couple of weeks.

Chris

Now what?!!

I was just messing around yesterday with some jelly roll strips left over from another project and made these 2 circles.  Problem is I only had enough fabric to make 2.  They measure 30 Inches in diameter so they are not small but I'm not sure what to do with them now!  Maybe a jumbo floor cushion?  Suggestions welcome.

I took a weeks holiday last week and managed to get one of my larger cabinets painted.  I am really happy with how it turned out but it still needs new knobs.  I have folded and put some of my quilts in it.  I love the way it looks.  I am hoping to tackle the large dresser in the next week or so. I'll post progress.

(This photo looks like I was tipsy whilst taking it...everything leans to the left!!)

I have sewn a few more rows together on this quilt - it is slow progress as when it was all just placed on my design wall, I opened my studio door and a wind blew loads of pieces off the wall and now I am spending ages trying to find out where they came from.....Arrgh.

I have finished piecing my taupe plate quilt and I quilted it early yesterday morning before I started work.  I used a lovely pattern called 'gypsy feathers'.  I did wonder about custom quilting it but as I thought it would not really show up, I decided to do an allover patter.  I am happy with it. I have cut the binding in the red fabric and am hoping to get it ready to hand sew to the back this evening whilst watching Masterchef.

Finally, I just want to apologise if any of you got a spam email from me today or last night.  My email was hacked and loads of spam emails went out in my name.  So sorry if you got one.  I have changed my password so hopefully this will not happen again.

Have a very Happy Easter. Try not to get chocolate on that quilt you are working on!! I think all my spring bulbs are a little confused by the weather.

Chris