I should begin by reassuring you all that we do have water. It came back on 2 days after my last post, so we were waterless for 6 days in all. But I have water now and, as Gorgeous Man pointed out, at least this year we have electricity.
My quilting mojo seems to have returned with a vengenance after it’s long leave of absence. I’m very slow, and I can only work on my current quilt when Gorgeous Girl is asleep
as my design wall is the floor. Please forgive the dirty carpet. We are having some internal doors put in to the house (I’m trying to insulate the main living room a little better, and one of our bathroom doors didn’t close at all) and so there’s been boots tramping in and out all day.
This quilt is turning out really fun, now that I’ve sorted out the mistakes I made with cutting etc.
My leaders and enders project while I’m working on this quilt is sewing one inch blocks into nine patches. I haven’t worked out quite how I’m going to set them yet. But they are looking really cute.
We had our Free Radicals meeting yesterday and I asked the ladies to save their scraps for me that they would otherwise throw out as being too small. The consensus was that I am insane.
The group has decided that we are going to start the Dear Jane quilt. If a group of us are doing it then we will be able to get help from each other. I probably won’t start mine until I get back from Australia. I’m torn between making one out of blue shwe-shwe (South African indigo), batiks or reproductions. I think that the reproductions are going to be a little hard to source here though, so it will probably come down to the batiks (there are some fabulous locally produced batiks) or the shwe-shwe. Thoughts and opinions (and links to examples of DJ quilts) gratefully received.
I have silk lace blocking as we speak. Now for it to dry… blocking in winter is never a good idea. The sun is shining and I’ve got the windows open so hopefully it won’t take too long. I’ve nearly finished a scarf from my green handspun. Pictures of that when it’s blocked and ready to go. I’m procrastinating knitting the thumbs on Kerin’s fingerless gloves. I’ll have to force myself to do that tonight and then I can pack them in the ‘personally carry the handknits to Australia’ bag.
In other news, I had a weigh-in at the gym today. It must be miracle season. I haven’t been to the gym for a few weeks since we’ve had some car issues, but I’m down another 2 kilos (4.4 pounds). It’ll be good to get back into the swing of going everyday now that the car is sorted out.
Good news all around! Very glad to hear your water is back–I don’t know how you survived with a little one and no water.
I’m glad to hear that the quilting mojo is back–the fish quilt is going to be cute.
I’m in a Dear Jane group where the idea was the same as yours, give each other support through the process. I’m afraid, though, that mostly what we do is give each good excuses for not making the blocks! One friend is making hers in all blues: repros, batiks, modern prints, etc. It is really beautiful so far. Another one is using batiks in many different colors, primarily greens, tans, and blues. Hers is also wonderful. Mine is in primarily civil war reproductions. It’s really just a matter of taste, although I will say that you will need lots and lots of different fabrics, so you should probably pick something fairly easily available.
I vote for schwe – schwe! (It will remind you of the place where you were when you see it later & I love a blue quilt!)
Oh, everything in your post sounds so good! Water, quilting, weight loss … wonderful!
I have absolutely no quilting tips to offer in regard to fabric choice, etc, but rest assured I’ll be an admirer of yours once you get it going!
I vote for shwe shwe, I am planning on doing a few DJ blocks in shwe shwe for a wallhanging in the next month or so, and can join in with you if you want, lol! If you do decide repros, I can send you over a good selection of scraps,probably enough for your first 40 blocks, lol, without making too big a dent in my own scrap box! Maybe we can make another little trade, a girl can never have too much shwe shwe, even if all I do is pull it out and admire it at the moment!
Hello,
I think your fish quilt is lovely, looking forward to seeing the finished product.
And well done on the weight loss, it must be wonderful wearing your clothes a little looser.
Have a super day, Nicole
Good work with the weight loss! I have to do a little of that myself, I didn’t adjust my portion size when Ellie adjusted hers (heehee) and it kind of crept up on me).
I really like the fish – it puts me in mind of “The Rainbow Fish” story book.
Glad to hear the water is back! But I do like the idea of skipping on doing the dishes! LOL
Your quilt is looking lovely.
Boy! Everything seems to be going your way! The stars are in line for you! Good to hear your mojo is back! Fishy quilt is looking great!
Oh that quilt looks so nice so far! I am certain I do not possess the patience to put together something like that. Good on you!
It looks so pretty!
Can’t wait to see those knits blocked up.
Love the fish quilt!