Off the wall!

When I got up this morning little did I think that today I'd be taking down my 'design wall' and giving it a much needed re-furb.

About a month ago I bought a nice white brushed cotton sheet with this in mind.....

I promise you the sheet is brilliant white all over. The grubby looking stuff on the back is the old surface that I left in place for extra stability.   Truthfully..... Mac had fixed the old cover on with so many tacks it would have taken me a week to get them all out.  As it was I drew blood pulling out the few that just happened to be right where I wanted to put a staple.  Don't worry I didn't bleed on the clean sheet.... thank goodness.

Both boards are finished and ready to hang again.... once I solve a little problem.   They were fixed to the wall with sticky backed Velcro which worked well till I took them down and the Velcro came with them!  Life is never simple.  Mac glued the Velcro back in place but it's just not sticking to the wall this time.   Time for Plan B I think.  Maybe involving a hammer.. some nails...a bit of pent up aggression?

Once I realised that no amount of wishful thinking would make the glue stick I put the pristine boards to one side and got on with the serious business of having some fun.    Remember this....

The Anna Griffin fabric I bought a while back to make this.....

Well I've finally put cutter to cloth....

 

This is going to be one hassle free project and the finished quilt is going to be mine..... ALL MINE!   OK... I'm shouting to make sure the pussies get the message.    What's the betting they ignore me and lay claim to it the second it's done.... little horrors darlings. 

Another great book winged it's way to me this week....

I love stars and this book has no less than 27 brilliant star quilt patterns.   They've all appeared in Fons & Porter publications at one time or another but as I haven't got many issues of their magazine I figured buying the book was a very practical thing to do.  Cost effective too.... much cheaper than buying 27 magazines.  I think I've convinced myself..... Mac is a different kettle of fish!

He's a bit preoccupied these days..... choosing a new car.    I'm doing my best to steer him in the direction of the one I like... well.... I'm the one who'll be driving it.    This could be difficult.  Mac is seriously into horsepower while I'm  more a MPG kind of a gal.   If it won't do a hundred miles on a bucket of chicken droppings I don't want to know!     Fuel Economy = Fat Quaters..... enough said! 

Now... I don't want you  thinking that because I haven't got much to show or tell you about I haven't been busy sewing this last couple of weeks .    I've been working hard on secret projects every chance I got.  Honestly I don't now how you fervent swappers keep up.   I'm only doing two and it seems like every sewing minute I have is spent working on swaps or thinking about swaps or worrying that I'm making something entirely unsuitable.  Phew!   Not to worry.... I've still got plenty of tranq's on hand and I should reach the wrapping stage before supplies run out.

OK... I'd better get going.   There's a recliner in another room with my name on it.   Hope to have more to talk about soon but in the meantime....

have fun doing what makes you happy

See ya soon...
Josie X 

Scotlands Next Top Model?

If the Judge is a blind man on a galloping horse....I'm in with a shout!

 

 

Chris thinks I suit the robe of Maid of the Mist.... but then she's the nut job that carried it all the way back from Niagara Falls just to get a laugh when I put it on.  Logo or not....who gifts a friend a giant wearable plastic bag for goodness sakes.  It came with it's own supply of Niagara water too.  That dripped on the hearth rug during the 'photo shoot'.   Nice one Chris!!   I'll get you back.

 

I've been seeing stars this week......

 

shiny sliver foiled ones that sparkle too much to be clear in a photo.  Just as well because they're part of a secret project I'm working on.    I have to thank Tilly (who stayed with me all last week) for showing how to foil on fabric and keeping a close eye on me while I did it. 

Here's another sneak peek.......

 

I'm really having fun with these projects..... problem is I love them so much I might not want to part with them.  Shame on me! 

 

Heavens.... this post is getting really BLUE!    Better have a colour change.....

 

 

These Dresden 'petals' are paper pieced then appliqued onto the background.  You can see from the needle in situ I'm not quite done with the applique.  Here's the progress so far...

 

 

I think this pattern is just gorgeous.    I was surfing for wall hanging patterns when I found a photograph of this design on Pinterest.   It was love at first sight.   I followed the link back to the Curio Flower Mini Quilt Tutorial from  Erin Russek at One Piece At A Time.    The fabric for her mini quilt is Moda Curio (who'd have thought) and it's absolutely gorgeous.

 

There is one thing I'm not happy about with my version and that is the two squares on the top right and bottom left.   They blend into one colour from a distance.   See what happens when I try to do 'random'... it just never works out.   It's no good.... I can feel a bout of unpicking coming on.

 

Tilly suggested we have a 'painting' day last week too.   My brushes haven't been used for a whole year.  There was some layer of dust on them I can tell you.......

 

 

Just a tiny glimpse of what I painted...... you never know who is looking ;o)

 

I succumbed to the temptation of this pattern last week too......

 

 

it was brilliant to buy it as a download.   True instant gratification!    I wish more designers would go down the e.pattern route.   Just in case you've been living at the bottom of a black hole these last few weeks and have never seen this pattern before you can buy it here and be cutting out hexies by bedtime.   You wouldn't believe but I just went to find a link to the pattern and found another .. this one... resistance is futile! I haven't decided on the fabrics to use yet but that Japanese style strip roll is in the running.

 

Before I go Bagpuss told me to tell you he is doing fine.   His bald patch is a little troublesome when he sits down on anything cold but apart from that he's tickety boo.

 

OK.... I'm off to press a button on that pattern.

 

Hope you are all in great fettle and enjoying your week

 

Till next time

Hugs

Josie aka Maid of the Mist