Two weeks ago my fellow quilters went on a shop hop - what a great way to spend a Sunday! We had scheduled a visit to three shops, the first two in McLaren Vale - The Patchwork Cow and Mallee Country Crafts and Gifts and the last in Brighton - Patchwork by the Sea. Because I had already left DH with the boys the day prior I just visited the first two shops and these are my purchases! The rainbow of fat quarters have been cut into and attached to my herb embroderies as sashing, and the pink (on left) is now the backing. I found suitable fabric for a border in my stash (surprise surprise!) and attached that last week at 6am when everyone else was asleep - there are good reasons you wake up before the kids! So its all pinned, quilted in the ditch and I am just pondering how to quilt the borders. The cream print with red stars is in the cupboard with the other cream/red prints I am collecting for a log cabin quilt....when I finish more of my UFO's!SO now I have to decide what to tackle next? Hmm please note my side bar as I have been making amendements to completed and UFO lists eg Harvest table runner will NOT be getting anymore quilting, the end of the year is too close!
This is the challenge quilt I started with Eastwood quilters (NSW), perhaps in 2006? There were nine instructions of which I can find only 8 (please help Karen!), which were; 1. start with a star (done that) 2. Add a nine patch (outstanding), 3. try semininole (done that, with the emphasis on try!), 4. Add something floral (started that) 5. Add some diamonds (well I am going to cheat and say they are in the star), 6. Frame it (outstanding), 7. Curves (outstanding) 8. Stripes in two colours (yes, under the floral applique) and 9. well I dont remember exactly but we either moved to Adelaide before I got the last instruction or I have just forgot to write it down. Either way I have drafted a picture of what I want to do on the next two borders (incorporating #2, 6 & 7), but would like to know what #9 is before I start.
These four pointed star blocks were a gift from the Eastwood Quilters, for our wedding, so I would REALLY REALLY like to make them up, as we will celebrate five years of marriage this month. I have tried, the red/cream patterned fabric top centre has been cut into and I sewed it all together (on point), only to decide it looked awful. So I unpicked it all, brought more fabric (top right hand side - red check) and decided that perhaps red wasnt the right colour. Hence this project ended up in the UFO box. So now I just need some inspiring fabric that will make these stars work or I need a different layout, perhaps just join them all together? Or should I use a narrow sashing to break them up?
I hope to make a decision this week (on which one project to start next), as my oldest son has started to ask if Santa can bring him a bike for Christmas, so I am already feeling the pressure of the end of "The Year of the UFO" being just around the corner. Happy quilting Sue SA!
