Saturday, July 23, 2005

Life goes on

Just when you don't expect it the computer keyboard goes on the fritz. I didn't realise how much more I use my right thumb on the space bar than the left. And of course it is the right side of the bar that has gone, rather difficult to type at times. Almost like when I had to change which finger I typed my B with after getting a split keyboard with the B on the left and up until then I had been using my right hand for the B. Strange considering that I am left handed and you would imagine that I would naturally use my left hand over my right hand. I wonder if that is part of being ambidextrous (?sp).

Mystery quilts

I have to select fabrics for a mystery quilt and thought it shouldn't be too difficult even though I know I can procrastinate a lot with making decisions choosing fabrics. The biggest problem turned out that I have so many fat quarters and not much else in the larger pieces (except perhaps for the Hoffman Bali fabrics). And even then everytime I thought that I had found just the right fabric it was only in a FQ - darn it. I was not wanting to buy fabric but to use my stash.

Actually looking through my stash for another project that used FQ it was hard to find say 3-4 co-ordinating fabrics that could be mixed and matched for the project. I seemed to have so many individual fabrics that didn't really go with much else. I must look at finding something to use them in but I don't want to be forever doing scrap type quilts. I suppose if I did something using the same colour family - say a 9 patch or something might be a way of doing it. An idea to work on for the future.

I recently worked on a mystery quilt from the net although I had seen how it turned out. It was still quite amazing to see it finished as it still looked quite different. I really liked the pattern and have come up with a couple of small variations that I want to try out with making another one. Must get on with working on some more UFOs and get some projects crossed off my list. It helped with organising a parcel to send to the UFO Orphanage - I don't feel guilty sending away projects that I do not want to continue with - they will go to good homes.

Monday, July 04, 2005

Catching up with myself

I feel as though I have been doing nothing exciting or interesting for a while but I have been getting a lot of quilting done. I just need to make time to do more quilting and some of the other crafts that I want to do. I have had a couple of work days over the last month and have managed to get a lot done. Three wallhangings have been sandwiched and the quilting has been started so there shouldn't be too much to do, one of them is to be finished with minimal handquilting around some applique. The cabin windows quilt needs to have the large blocks sashed and then put together - I will have to decide whether a border is needed or not - I could probably order something through Hancocks - cheap, cheap, cheap. I have finally started on Tony's quilt top and will buy the batting soon for it - I will only be tieing it instead of quilting so that shouldn't be too bad - I could even put the binding on quite early while still tieing the quilt. I still have a couple of scrap quilts that I am slowly working on. Oh, and the dyed earth quilt top is progressing well - just have two diagonal rows to sew together - setting triangles to be cut and sewn on and hey presto the top is ready for a border (or not).

I had a big parcel arrive from Hancocks - lots of yummy batiks again - yum! I really must plan to use the batiks for some quilt tops - my collection is getting large. Actually I really need to make a dent into my stash and use some of the older fabrics - makes room for lots more new fabrics! I do have some ideas for lots of simple quilt tops - something to work on in the future.