Moody Blues

Not quite sure what I had in mind for this section, perhaps it is just as well to start off with quilts started in 2017…  So here we go - the only one (sigh!!).

Pandora’s Blues: 2017  (Started: 2017)

Having been absent from my quilting lair and suffering somewhat from being overly fixated on scrap quilts, I poured my time into looking for a “fast fix”.  Meaning of course, that I sat in front of my computer and day-dreamed about what I could be sewing instead of actually taking myself off to my machine and just getting on with it.  Still it was fun (& don’t you just love web sites that point you in the direction of free quilt downloads_try this one, Quilt Inspiration) and I managed to unearth a design, from Cotton & Steel that got my heart beating – and eventually the Bernina humming, again. (The pattern’s a freebie to download. Link HERE. Isn’t that nice of them!)

This is the first_ Pandora's Blues

Back of Pandora's Blues

The result is slightly smaller than the original and certainly more colourful as the quilt became something of an “empty the fridge” type mix, and my box of blues looked almost in danger of becoming empty.  There is nothing like a stash buster to make one’s machine sing and lighten the mood of someone with “quilters block”.  In fact, I madly cut away (and even consigned to the bin smallish pieces not suitable for applique) my churn dash shapes without really thinking about how many I would need – my mood was not on a precise setting.

The result was enough blocks for two not-quite-single bed quilts.  I played with the blocks for a while on my design wall (a flannelette sheet) until I had them suitably assigned and set about sewing them in rows – no sashing.  My quilting was even more spartan, just a couple of lines in-the-ditch.  These were no show ponies.  One now resides on my bed in my home-away-from-home and the other has been gifted as a snuggle rug to my soon to be grandchild #2 – who incidentally will have a passion for blues even if the baby turns out to be a girl.  Just like her grandmother!!

Nothing quite like a breaking drought is there to bring back a bit of the old creative drive! 

And this is Pandora's Blues_Remix...
enough left-over blocks for a second quilt

Back of Pandora's Blues_Remix 

Just for the Record:

Quilt Finished Size: 160 x 182cm
Block Sizes: 20cm
Cut in: Apr 2017
Pieced & Basted: Aug 2017
Quilted: Machine Sep 2017
Quilt Type: Modern
Quilt Finished: September 2017
Exhibited:
Collection: Home #063 & #064
Pattern Name: Indigo Dash
Pattern Source: Cotton & Steel_Web link HERE
Fabrics Purchased: Selected from the Stash…
Fabric Design: Varied
Fabric Style: Varied Collection over many years
Materials Type: Printed Cottons
Wadding Type: Cotton
Backing: Pieced using up even more of my blues

Making good use of my blue quilt in my floating home
(the one underneath is a cheapie to hold the fort until I have time & energy)

Memory Lane

Memory Lane: 2017  (Started: 2015)

Hanging over my stairwell

For quite a few years now I’ve been besotted with the notion of finishing things and naturally, using up scraps.  Boxes of ‘old fashioned’ fabrics seem to multiply in my Garden Shed, almost before my eyes and to be honest, I was getting a little tired of it!  Especially when there are so many beautiful and colourful fabrics of offer – and on such a regular basis.  I’m tired of resisting…as you can understand!

Imagine my delight when in mid-2015, a fantastic and colourful scrap quilt by Jen Kingwell graced the cover of Quiltmania (of which I'm also a big fan).  Yahooie!  I’m Triangle Crazy too…  It was a perfect opportunity to get over my fug, warm up the machine and use up lots AND lots of scraps. 

After much chopping of left-overs, I decided to head off to rummage through a couple of patchwork shops for some kind of background to suit the scraps, which could at best be described as an exotic mix.  I finally settled on white with a pale green spot.  My Mum had saved some dress fabric scraps too, from a dress I’d made and long since discarded.  Perhaps it might now be even be considered vintage apparel.  Happily, there was enough to wiggle out some sashing strips.

I started piecing the quilt in October and had it basted by December (2015).  Not bad going.  I knew the delay was going to be in the quilting, but that’s another story. 

Appliques made by my Grannie in the 70's
(possibly from a Woman's Weekly pattern)

When the time came to make a signature block for the back, I used up a couple of appliques made by my Grandmother for an apron she was making.  I had a wonderful time going back down memory lane remembering my stay in her tiny but none-the-less jam-packed sewing room and her awful machine that used to try its best to regularly shock me (until I got wise and wore sandals).  Ahhh, memories!  That’s essentially how I chose my quilt’s name and why it’s dedicated to her.

There’s a lot of detail I don’t have access to right now, so at least I can share a photo or two (finally taken in 2017 after I'd finished it).