Take it Further Quilt Finished! (at last)

Last night I finished my TIF quilt. I messed up a bit on the binding (it should have been a bit wider and I should have done proper mitred corners) and I learnt that blanket stitch takes longer than you think, especially when you are stitching through so many layers!! But I am ready for the next TIF challenge on Feb 1. The photo is not as accurate with the colours as the scanner but the quilt is too wide for my scanner.

Yesterday I also finished my Seasons Journal Quilt. I really learnt a lot doing this one (or re-learnt information I had forgotten in my years away from fabric and quilting!) and there are some pretty significant "technical" faults in it but overall I am happy with it. I did a fold-forward style backing and border on this one and like it better. I am sure there is a proper term for this but I don't know it! This quilt is 8.5 x 11 inches so it fits on my scanner - the colours in the picture are extremely accurate, only the shiny bits and beads don't show up very well.

No progress to report on the Australian Autumn quilt so I guess that will be what I am working on this week (and as that is the one that actually has to be posted somewhere and has an early Feb deadline, of course it is the one I have left to last!).

And to reassure my paper arts friends that I haven't completely moved over to the fabric side, here are some paper fabric postcards/ATCs that I am making. So far all I have done to the paper fabric (which was painted as part of the initial process back here) is cut it to size, back it with felt and stamp it with text and flourish images. Not sure what next - awaiting inspiration (or even just an idea or two!)...

Extremely hot here again today - forecast of 44 degrees (or 111F) - good day to stay inside and maybe take a dip in the pool when it gets dark!

My First Paper Fabric Quilt

I am attracting some bad karma for some reason - I logged on yesterday to find that all of my recently re-established favourites have gone again! And I know this time (for sure) that I didn't delete them. Then I went to load my "little bit shiny/little bit blurry" photo of my first paper fabric quilt, which I have just finished and which I am very happy with as a first effort, and blogger would not cooperate again.

Hmmm - I need to be replacing my current thoughts (throw the computer into the swimming pool/pull the connection out of the wall/give up on the electronic age altogether etc etc) with something a little more zen. So I went to bed and read - meaning savoured! - some more of my CPS. I am trying to make it last seeing as the latest Somerset Studio hasn't arrived here yet.

Anyway this morning I can load photos again, so here is the not so good photo of my paper fabric quilt. I'll post about some of the "lessons learnt" in making this tonight or tomorrow.

An old friend of Joseph's arrived yesterday afternoon from interstate and will be staying with us for a few days. Their friendship started in the 60s when they were both very young and travelling to England as part of the Aussie pilgrimage that many did and still do. As I have only been in Joseph's life for the last 24 years and as they have lived most of their lives in different parts of Australia, I have only met this friend once before about 15 years ago. I see an interesting weekend ahead with lots of reminiscences!

Tonight & Artwords (Botanical)

I've just got home from a night of stamping (a bit) and chatting (a lot) with my stamping friends Annie and Narelle. I was playing with the latest Oxford Impressions stamps (Bird's Nest), Annie was making a cute little purse notebook a la Cloth Paper Scissors (Issue 9) and Narelle was making lots of cards (she can stamp and talk at the same time, a skill that was not shared by the rest of the table!). It was fun and we talked about lots of products and techniques and things we are all going to try. Next week we are going to do a little canvas art workshop together so I can be sure I'll have something to show at the end of the evening.

Last night I finished my first paper fabric quilt (other than working out what I am going to use to hang it up) so I'll photograph it tomorrow and share it. I am pleased with it considering it was a learning experience. I certainly have a list of things I would do differently next time but it isn't too bad for a first effort. After seeing the article in the latest Cloth Paper Scissors, I now want to try that sort as well - much more like a real quilt in appearance.

The photo at the top is of a page is my entry for Artwords this week - the theme is Botanical. This is a stamped card that I painted with those delicious little pots of Radiant Pearls. This is my first go at participating in Artwords and although I didn't make this card especially for this topic prompt, my plan is to use the theme each week to try something different in future - or at least some weeks!

Having trouble tonight with Blogger

For some reason Blogger won't let me upload anything tonight unfortunately, so this is just a quick little post to say that a big chunk of today was spent working on my tags (and doing the week's washing, which was actually a pleasure on such a glorious autumn day).

I'm making good progress on the tags and it is mostly a case of assembling them now. Tonight I am going to work on my "paper fabric" quilt a la Beryl Taylor. Can't wait for her workshops in Perth in August - she is so inspiring and I love the way she mixes paper and fabric together. I must contact Dale at The Thread Studio to find out if details are confirmed yet as I'd hate to miss out. I'll be taking some annual recreation leave to get to this as I lose a couple of days travelling (by train or car) unless I fly ($ I would rather spend on a Janome Xpressions).

Hoping the latest Cloth, Paper, Scissors arrives in my letter box on Monday - once I know a new issue is out I find the wait so hard! Until tomorrow - when blogger may be a bit more cooperative!