Going in Circles

In September, 2007 I started a project in a class with Carolyn Konig, a Victorian based teacher.  It was a 9 block Georgetown Square.  About February, 2010 I came to the conclusion that 9 blocks were too ambitious.  Lots of curved piecing (even by hand) doesn't pull me in.  I already had 4 blocks so the quilt was revised to a 5 block, on point design with a green spot sashing.  Much more manageable.  November, 2010 revealed not much movement on this project.

Back to the design wall.

Perhaps a 4 block setting with a flying geese sashing would be nice.

Actually no.  8 flying geese in, I decided not to use them.  They are now waiting for a project to go around them.  Instead I went with this

My apologies for the crinkled look but I don't want to iron these little b...abies until they are completely secured by borders.  Working with curved pieces also means working with "off the grain" patches.  It took 2 years to choose a centre for the blocks and in the meantime the stars distorted.  I have reworked 3 out of the 4 central circles and will soon do the final one.  Now this project is becoming more manageable.  A suitable  border and it will be complete (except for quilting, ha!).
Click on the photo to get an idea of the sashing.

I certainly don't want it to end up in the unloved category because it will have been left too long.

Like this one.

I didn't realise how purple it became.  Now it is called "The Purple Quilt".  Can you tell I have no feelings for it?  Nevertheless, it is one less on my list to do.  Head over to this blog to see what else I've been working on.

A long Gestation

Here is a project started a long time ago on a trip to Darwin, perhaps in 1996/7.  I had great fun buying the fabric from "Frangipani" fabric shop which has since moved to Tasmania.  A friend showed me an easy "floating four-patch" technique that I just had to try and in a flurry of excitement  this quilt was born.  There are 169 blocks and it is 1.75 sqm (70sq").

When I got to the border, I wanted to do something different so I appliqued a curved border.  It wasn't quite right.

So this quilt spent many seasons at the back of the cupboard.

After seeing the "Trick or Treat" quilt in "When the Cold Wind Blows" by Barb Adams and Alma Allen I thought the applique in the setting triangles might work.  On it went and the quilt was ready for some custom long arm machine quilting.  Thanks to Verna, the quilt was almost ready.

That was more than 12 months ago.  I knew what binding I'd use.  I just didn't feel excited by the quilt any more.

Yesterday, I needed to clean up the floor in my sewing area and it seemed like the time to finally finish this quilt.  No name, no label.  It is an unloved reminder of why projects should not languish at the back of the cupboard for any length of time.

On a lighter note, here is a picture of some strips cut for my next project.  1.5" strips of warm stripes and cool spots.

Halfway through cutting, I realised I might have more strips if I'd chosen warm spots and cool stripes.  What the heck!  It's done now.  Fingers crossed for a quick finish so that this project doesn't end up in a  dark cupboard.