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).  

The Great Unfinished

Incentive to "Get On With It": 2015

2015 hard at work with the new design "wall" unfurled
with a Jen Kingwell design found in Quiltmania underway 

This list is part of my effort to publicly name and shame myself; a challenge to motivate & to get this lot finished (or sent to File 13 - a Bermuda Triangle of quilting & file disasters.  Oh yes, it does exist!). 

1.  (1980) Stumbling Fans
2. (1988) Creative Landscapes
3. (1989) Christmas Fairies
4. (1989) Floral Wreath
5. (1999) Fairy Quilt #2
6. (2002) Thai Ethnic Embroideries
7. (2005) GM Exchange Blocks
8. (2005) Yet More GM Blocks
9. (2006) Antique Toys #3
10. (2008) Explorer Series Homework
11. (2011) Something Flashy
12. (2012) Windom Quilt
13. (2013) Horta Calling Cards
14. (2014) Circles of Fun

Aside from this list of things to do, I've also got to get out the camera again and take some photos of those quilts finished but not photographed.  Another list as long as your arm!  Oh, well....

Incentive comes in the form of a new camera, so once I manage to drag myself away from the computer, it will be tally ho! and on with big push.  Now my next search will be finding how to take better blog photos.  Always Learning.

(Some of the above quilt titles are based on pattern names - only for a temporary reminder of what I was planning or using.)

and this one (Creative Landscapes 1988) has since found the Quilting Bermuda Triangle....