Quick Apology

Hello Folks!

If you have left a comment on any of my recent posts and I haven't replied it's because Blogger hasn't been sending the usual comment notifications to my email.  After a wee bit of investigation, it seems this is a problem for more than just me and Blogger are working on it.  So, thank you so much for your comments and please accept my apologies that I haven't replied to you.  Fingers crossed Blogger will resolve the issue and normal service will resume soon.

Kay - I'm delighted you have finally broken into that B&C stash.  Make something magnificent to enjoy!!

Something to think about

Have you ever started a project, left it for a while and when you came back to it wondered what to do with it again?

I feel that way about these hexie diamonds, as I refer to them.

I think when I first cut a gazillion hexagons from my B&C stash I had thoughts of a quilt laid out in a diamond grid with a pathway of white/cream hexies separating them like sashing.

Three years on, and only 6 hexie diamonds actually stitched (!!!), I don't know how I feel about this project.

Have I stopped liking it?

Am I just disappointed because it's so lacking in progress?

What to do next -

do I hide it back under the bed and hope one day to be struck with inspiration? or that it might in fact just get 'lost'?

or do I make up more diamonds and see what happens? - there are many, many more hexies already cut for the purpose.

It has potential and options, doesn't it?

Maybe I could learn to love it again if I just spent some time with it.  I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel yet, I don't think. And, if it's the design I'm not so hot about any more, that can always be played around with later, right?

Perhaps I should nudge it up from that UFO list on the left over there into the WIPs?  Oh, go on then!

Triple Pouch

The last pouch I took a fancy to make from Aneela Hoey's Stitched Sewing Organiser book is the Triple Pouch.  I like multi-pocketed pouches and wanted just to see if I could do it.  I was a little hesitant though, as the instructions were lengthy and I'm not the biggest fan of diagrams in patterns, rather than photos.

I took on board advice from a few IG friends to pay very close attention to every word of the pattern and not to think it out for myself, just follow the instructions, and actually that did help and the pouch came together with a little less drama than I imagined.

There are a number of interesting construction steps in the making of this pouch, but I did get there - even if I had to re-do a few steps because I didn't read every word, then realised I should have.

Some of the folding and tacking was intriguing, but trust the pattern and it works (no surprises there).

This pouch has three large sections

and can you just see the little slip pocket in more of that navy fabric alongside the inner pouch?  There are two of those as well, handy for a little packet of machine needles or sticky fingertip thimble pads.

Full disclosure, the larger outer pouches of my make are not equal in size (and yes, it bothers me a little) because while the pattern can be followed well, I did find some bits awkward to manipulate though the machine.  At one point, many layers and very close to the pressure foot meant I didn't quite achieve the pattern's recommended half inch seam allowance.  So achieving it on one pouch side, but not on the other, means that one of my outer pouches is wider than the other.  Add that to some of the other dodgy bits that my photos disguise well and ... oh well, never mind!

The fabric I chose to use for this pouch is Katy Jones's Priory Square for Art Gallery Fabrics.  It has been in my stash for a very long time and it feels great to finally use it in a project.  Also, like all the AGF fabrics it has that beautiful smooth feel to it.

I'm off now to fill up the pouch!

Being Realistic

Dear Jane,

It's not you, it's me.

No seriously, it is me.  I want to have the commitment it takes to replicate your beautiful quilt design by EPP, but I just haven't got what it takes.  If we were to do the maths based upon my productivity so far, I think we could be talking about several lifetimes before this quilt would be complete, and well, unless I happen upon the elixir of youth fairly shortly, I don't have several lifetimes to spare.

So, I think my 25 blocks (sadly very far short of the full quota I hoped for) should become a pretty wallhanging as testimony to my efforts.  These little blocks have been wonderful and frustrating in equal measure, but it's time to admit that in this case I have bitten off more than I can chew, as it were.

Perhaps you will always be the quilt that got away from me. Or, maybe one day I will find myself flush with time and choose a quicker way of piecing your quilt designs? Whichever, for now I salute you, Jane, for your perseverance and for your patience with so very many teeny pieces of fabric and I dedicate my meagre effort to the memory of your inspirational quilt.

Kindest regards,
Sarah