Friday 31 January 2014

FF, FFF, and ...

...  an NS.

No, despite what the title of this post might suggest, I haven't gone completely nutty, I just liked all the alliteration.  So the title could have read Finally Finished (quilt), Finally Finished (flimsy) and a New Start, all of which I thought I'd show you now.

 So, first up is my Finally Finished quilt
     

I started this quilt in June 2011 and made it during our Christmas Quiltalong days that year. It is based on the pattern Over and Under from Scrap Basket Sensations by Kim Brackett .  I did not achieve my aim of having it ready for Christmas of 2011 and nor was it ready by Christmas 2012 or even Christmas 2013.  Why?  Well, first let me explain that I have an interesting approach to tidying up the house when I need to. What I do is I gather up things that need to be put away, and walk around and open up a cupboard as I pass, (almost any cupboard will do,) and as long as the "thing" fits in fairly easily, that's where I put it.  That means that I don't always find things easily later on of course, but that's another matter altogether.  Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I opened a cupboard, took a couple of things out, and there, in front of me, was this quilt, which I had completely forgotten about.  I pulled it out and discovered that all I needed to do to finish it was hand sew two sides of the binding down and bury all the ends.  So that's what I have done during the past few evenings.  I have renamed it Red Wreaths and it is adorning a chair in the living room now.

Next is my Finally Finished Flimsy

 This is my version of the Big Stars quilt that Missouri Star Quilt Company designed and showed as a tutorial on YouTube, here.  I started this quilt last year during the summer, before I went on holiday.  When I came home again, I had the pattern for Heartfire and a bundle of fabrics which were calling (shouting actually) to me, so I started that quilt instead.  I must say that before I pulled out Big Stars again last week, I decided I didn't like it so I was just going to use some of the blocks and make a throw instead of a king sized bed quilt.  However I changed my mind when I found that I had already made ten of the twelve stars I needed, so I got on with them, added the sashing, and finished it.  The photo is not very good cos I put it on the bed but couldn't really get far enough back to get the whole thing in the picture.  I am very glad I finished it though, and now it's in the box with Heartfire, Country Charmer and several other flimsies all waiting till I get Big Bertha out to work her quilting magic on them, and that may happen after ...

My New Start
becomes an FFF.

Yesterday I had a lovely day with my friend Scrappy.  She came over for the day, and brought a couple of dies to use on my Go! cutter, so she spent a lot of time cutting out leaves, pumpkins and acorns.  I had also shown her my Heartfire and she loved the hexie blocks, so she has now ordered the pattern for that, and then we also saw a bag pattern that we both liked, so that's on order too.  She also brought some yummy flapjack with her and a delicious lemon cake, and I am ashamed to say that we were so busy having fun that I did not take one single photo!

16 comments:

  1. Ah-Ha! There you are!!! I was getting ready to send you one of my nonsensical emails to see what you're up to!!! I love the red and white wreaths and the multi colored stars! Couldn't even begin to decide which I like best...I know...typical me...waiting for the ADD quilt design!

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  2. You've been busy Sue! No wonder your blog has been quiet. Our cleaning techniques are quite similar. I have cupboards and closets full of items I've "picked up" around the house never to be seen again.

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  3. You clean like my mother. Only she puts stuff in huge totes then puts them in the garage or the spare bedroom. Then she laments she can't find something. Viola' a few years later she finds the box opens it and it is like she has new treasures. LOL My cleaning technique is to just pile it on my sewing room table and shut the door, then block the door with a quilt rack piled high with my flimsies, to deter the grands from entering, or going up the stairs.

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  4. I've been giggling all afternoon at your description of your tidying technique! Great day yesterday. Many thanks. Except every time we meet the number of quilting projects I want to do just keeps on growing 😃 J x

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  5. Finishes, flimsies and starts are all good. Some things have to 'age' to get to the next step - thats' why we tuck them away.

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  6. Gee you are a keen cleaner uper, if you relegate a quilt to the cupboard when its only lacking a bit of binding...I would cheat and fold it to take advantage of the finished side and display it for my guests!!
    Love your work and look forward to seeing what you make with the interesting mix of yellow and grey fabric, have fun!

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  7. So, when you have UFOs, the thing to do is hide them somewhere and then you won't have to think about them. That sounds better than my method of hanging them in my sewing room where they stare back at me daily. Your big star quilt looks pretty nice and I love the red and white quilt.

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  8. You have been rather productive. Red Wreaths is my favorite yet all your projects are lovely as usual.

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  9. Sue, your projects are all so gorgeous! Especially love the finished quilt...well done!

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  10. Your new finishes look great! The colors of you new project are really fresh and fun!

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  11. Beautiful projects as usual, and I love your New Project fabrics, will be anxious to see what it turns into!

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  12. Glad to see you've been busy {smile}.

    Look forward to finding out what your new project looks like.

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  13. good thing you explained ...at first I thought there were new texting or swearing abbreviations lol..and lemon cake! you lucky girl :)

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  14. Too many F's. My favorite is the flimsy you just finished.

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  15. Love your FFQ (finally finished quilt)! Perfect for Valentine's Day! Love your FFF (finally finished flimsy! Perfect for anytime of year! Love your NS (new start)! You have been busy, good to see, takes your mind off of winter weather.

    Have a super great sewing and stitching day!

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  16. very pretty work! you have been a busy bee :)

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