Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Contemplation

I had to take a reality check this week and pony up to the fact that my fussy cutting skills kind of suck. I started my Lucy Boston block prep in July and as I've started to put them together I've realised I'm not as thrilled with mine as I am with all the other ones I've seen around the Internet. The only thing I can put it down to is that I'm not "fussy" enough with my cutting. I'm also finding it really difficult to choose complementary fabrics for my block choices despite having two bins full of the stuff picked out. And I'm having a really hard time visualising what this might look like finished. (never a good sign!) My overriding inclination is to stuff Lucy in a plastic box, hope she doesn't suffocate and do something else as a sewing hand project until I unsuck at fussy cutting or change my mind about fabric choices. 


The Irish Chain Quilt is all quilted up and I'm on the last side of the binding, which as you can see is a vibrant green, which frames the pops of colour in the quilt beautifully. Not quite so sure it goes well with the apricot chenille I used to back the quilt with, but that's for snuggling under not showing off, so I'm not too broken hearted about it. I sense a finish on this quilt by the end of the week, which is just as well since it's officially Spring and if I don't get this to the recipient tout suite it may start to get too warm to use it. It's be nice if she could curl under it for a week or so before she has to pack it away until next autumn. Aussie Summers aren't conducive to snuggling under quilts by a long shot. 


And deja vu- I had a few 9 patches left over from the Big Irish Chain so I'm making a smaller version as a donation quilt for the Mary Potter Foundation.  It didn't take long to whip up a few more blocks and its coming along fairly quickly. 


It also gave me a chance to go through one of my scrap bins and cut everything into 2.5 inch strips which I'm planning to use to make another postage stamp quilt and the leftovers got chucked into the string bag so I can work on another string quilt later in the year ( although since it's September there isn't much "later" left really of 2014 is there?) I'm feeling pretty darn organised at the moment. 


Fabrics picked for a baby quilt that needs to be made. Simple whole cloth design that the mum to be can use as a reversible quilt depending on her mood or whether or not there's baby chuck on one side.  


In the "organised"  vein I finally got around to cleaning up my sewing room over the weekend. It was so much worse than these pictures show. I'd taken to jumping over  a mountain of stuff to get to the sewing machine which was the only semi clear part of the room. 


And I cleaned out my sewing machine and found enough fluff to pretty much stuff a pillow. I hesitate to show this picture because it probably constitutes sewing machine abuse. 


And from the weird but true files , I noticed what looked like stuffing on my loungeroom carpet last week and assumed one of the dogs had ripped open one of their stuffed toys but on closer inspection discovered that their dog blanket was shedding its guts. There were no popped seams and the whole quilt looked like this. This has never happened to me before and I'm at a loss to explain it ( although I'm betting a couple of possibilities ) 1....Bad batting 2) Mr. P washed it by banging it on rocks and then boiled it in the washing machine for good measure? Your thoughts, suggestions and ideas please?? It's as if the quilt wants to commit slow hari kari by internally shedding it's insides. 



Another planned project in the works is a sampler quilt. I've wanted to one for a long time and the Farmer's Wife Quilt I started ended up as two potholders. Amanda over at Seabreeze Quilts is offering a free monthly quiltalong sampler project that she has named the Chocolate Marshmallow Sampler and it's going to run over 6 months. Free instructions for the two blocks of the month will be on her blog from the 15th of each month starting this month. Pop on over a have a look at her post if you want to play along.



23 comments:

Katy Cameron said...

Well I dunno what lucy's meant to look like, so not quite sure how she offended!

The spontaneously combusting quilt is a mystery, but good luck solving it!

Michelle said...

Lucy looks great to me! I am thinking the quilter is too fussy. Just sayin'. :D

Whomever is getting the Irish chain is one lucky gal indeed. So happy and cheerful!

It's always fun to work out of the scrap bag isn't?

As for the dog bed...., no clue!

Nana B said...

OMG look at the stuff in your machine! I am surprised you could still sew. My machine had a hissy fit over the weekend and I found some dust but you win!

Jackie said...

Oh my, don't say anything but when I cleaned my sewing machine (it was making funny noises and not sewing well), I had the same mess. I was not as brave as you I did not post a picture of the mess!!!

God bless.

Sooli said...

I don't know about not snuggling under a quilt in summer. I get really cold feet and my hubby gets too hot so sometimes I put a quilt around my feet in summer when the airconditioner is on (which as you know in Adelaide is almost all the time!) but then again I'm a bit weird like that! I've heard of wadding bearding but that dog quilt takes it to a new level! What sort of batting did you use in it?! Perhaps its an alien creature trying to reform into a new shape?

Marg said...

Wow you're on fire again. Can you send a little bit of your quilting mojo to me please, so I can get enthused about finishing some WIP's so I can start something new.
I think your Lucy Boston blocks looks fine so far. Maybe if you changed up the contrast in light medium and dark a bit, it may pop more.
I don't cut my scraps up as I think whatever size I cut them, when I go to use them, I will need bigger.

Jennifer said...

My heavens......I have seen migrating batting before, but not as bad as yours! It's called "bearding", for obvious reasons. Do you reckon Lucy will mind? Love the Irish Chain quilt and extra blocks - lots of colourful fun.

the running hare said...

Wow, you have been busy!. So many things to comment on: I think Lucy will be fine once surrounded by the lighter outer ring, but I think you are correct about needing more fussy cutting. Once you get started it is so much fun because you get such unexpected results. I found this on the internet about bearding: http://quiltersdreambatting.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bearding-and-pokies-bane-of-quilting.html., it gives some suggestions and causes. I wish someone would come and organise my scraps and sewing room.

seabreezequilts said...

Thanks for the plug lovie. Never had a quilt shed quite like that. Can only remember one a black one having link come through slightly but not like that can't explain it. Some people say bamboo batt does it but mine haven't been washed enough to know and they are all working quilts so not likely to get dirty. Now on to fussy cutting you need that mirror thing that Sue Daley has, Hetties has them.
You seem to be going great guns on the free motion quilting these days. Plan to knock off another couple of choccy blocks tonight.

Larri said...

You're on a quilty roll! I like your Lucy blocks. Perhaps you just need to shove her aside for a week and then take a new peek at 'em.

Never seen a quilt ooze its insides. Let us know what you discover about it! Definitely one for the X-files.

Heading over to Amanda's to check out this quilt along. Happy Sewing!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Your blocks look great! They look hard to do. I hate fussy cutting for anything.

Terri said...

Wow! Lucy Boston is amazing. Love the Irish Chain, and a Junior sounds wonderful.
You need an older machine that doesn't lock up the fuzz. I just slide the plate and I can sweep out the dust - before bunnies develop.
Sorry to hear your doggie bed is shedding. (I've never had the problem, I don't keep any of my quilts. The one for my hubby hasn't had the problem, but then we don't have a dog either.) Maybe it is the dog's habit of going round and round before it sleeps has churned the quilt into a dizzy fit and it puked a bit of it's innards. Thank goodness you chose a batting that didn't smell icky. Good job, Shay!
Hugs

Rachaeldaisy said...

Fussy cutting will come to you and once you get it you'll be hooked!! Pick fabrics with patterns that you can repeat, a little floral or stripes are really effective. to test it draw the design on your papers with a pencil and see if you'll think it will work. I think your colours look great so far. Go Shay! You can do it!! That batting leakage is really creepy!!! I hope you find out what's going on.

Canadian Abroad said...

I had a comment all thought out until I saw the machine abuse. I've forgone wit to ring the RSPCSewingMachines.

Sue SA said...

I think Lucy looks fine, sure they are not fussy fussy cut, but put it aside for a bit and check out some fabrics that fussy cutting fans use, sure Pinterest will have plenty to show and tell.
Bearding in quilts (wadding leaking through fabric) is suppose to be dodgy wadding. I had it happen to a quilt, but never knew what the brand of wadding was that I used in the first place...lets just say I dont shop for wadding there anymore!
Nine patches look great : )

Jackie said...

I will readily admit that mine was in exactly the same shape as yours. In fact I even had a bunch of fuzzy bunnies under the bobbin race. I am scared to death to even look at the shape my embroidery machine is in!!

God bless.

AnnieO said...

I'm certain my fussy-cutting skills would be so poor not even one block would get finished! Give yourself a break and keep on going. Often by the time you pass three or four a pattern develops, right? Congrats on the soon to be finished binding. I've lagged a month to get a label on a gifted quilt and still have to get it mailed!

Unknown said...

You have been busy Shay. Love your nine patches and I am in awe of anyone sewing Lucy blocks. Sharyn:)

Paulette said...

I'm so excited to see your Irish Chain is done! Love that binding and it sounds like it would look good next to the chenille backing. I've heard of bearding before but don't know why yours would be doing that so much. I'm about to make some doggy quilts myself though, so let me know what you find out. I'll explore that link a previous commenter provided too.

audrey said...

Just had to come check out what you've been up to lately--always a fun read.:) I have the same problem with fussy cutting as you do. Mine is mostly from buying fairly uninspiring fabrics though!

Noela said...

Keep going on Lucy Shay. I don't think they look bad at all. Not sure what is happening with your shedding quilt, very interesting. You have been busy, lots of lovely work there. hugs....

Karen said...

If you don't like the boston fabrics you won't finish it, I have one wip that I cannot stand the fabric I used. The sewing room looks fabulous! Now to mess it up again, right? :)

Kate said...

You've been busy. I really like the green binding on your Irish Chain Quilt. You've must have gotten your quilting mojo back, you've got a lot going on.

I've never had batting beard like that,though I've heard some are really bad about it.

I clean the feed dogs on my machine every time I rewind bobbins. Before I started that habit last year, I had just about as much fuzzy stuff as you did.