This is what happens...

Okay, here's the thing (WARNING: quite a long post here)...

I finished this little quilt top, and thought I would start another one straight away...

I tried out 3 different ways of foundation piecing....

(a) the "usual" way i.e. using a lightweight vilene as a foundation - my block ended up 4in x 4.25in instead of 4.25in square

(b) a "new" way for me - with freezer paper (you fold all the sewing lines onto the foundation, then you don't actually sew through the freezer paper, but right next to it) - not accurate enough for me with these little blocks (and isn't that what foundation piecing is for?) see the little pieces don't look like squares?

(c) using an iron-on multi-directional stabiliser. This worked the best, but it was tedious.... so much paper to remove!

Next, I am going to try the new washaway product in my LQS. I will give you an update...

I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere... so I put those aside and went in search of something else to sew. This is when my list of 5 was needed, where was it? which was here on the computer... not at home with me!!

I wandered around the house with itchy fingers.

Then I found 2 PIGs and made them up!

Two soft books I made from panels. The first one (Tiny Tailors) had really good instructions, so I used that idea to help make the Maisy one. The Maisy squares had to be cut out individually and arranged to make a book that told a "story". That took a little bit longer....

Then I looked at these bits leftover from my French Braid, and put them next to the sewing machine to use as "leaders and enders". If I make 2 braids the same length I can join them side by side to make a tablerunner for my sister's birthday (she never reads this blog, just not interested!!).

So, that's what happens when you have a day off, on a cold, rainy day and there is no applique prepared!!

Funky Monkey gains sight

This poor monkey had no eyes since December 6th 2008. (Yes, I just looked it up on my blog to see how long he has been waiting just for eyes.) I started making funky monkey on November 21st 2008. Maybe I could attach a label to his bottom like a Cabbage Patch. LOL!!

This is one of the things I love about my blog - it is my quilting diary. I can't tell you how many times (pre-blogging) I thought back and tried to work out when I started a quilt and when I finished it (for it's label, you know...). My bugs in bottles quilt still doesn't have a label. Hmm... note to self, post a photo of that.

I love Sharyn's idea of making a quilt journal to document all of this (my book covers would do well for those). I have a couple of ideas books that I have scribbled in over the years. Perhaps I will take some photos of pages and the finished quilt sometime to show you. (OK, that thought is also filed away - not in my brain, but on my blog, VBG.) I should make more book covers for them.

Did you get a spare calendar over the New Year period? Perhaps one from the dry cleaners or something like that? I guess businesses are cutting down on such things, but you could still pick up a calendar for a good price now that the year has already started. Keep it next to your sewing machine and write in some of the ideas Sharyn suggests here.

It is such a clever idea. Although I write in this blog, I don't post every time I change a sewing machine needle. LOL!!

I have a new panel. The design was inspired by an object book from the 1940s. I am going to make a soft book from it, but the pictures would also make good blocks in a quilt.

The flash didn't go off in the bottom photo, but I can't be too picky, I haven't had time to post for days!!

I am really enjoying the warm weather - BBQs outside in the cool of the evening after a hot day.... we have been eating lots of salads, unusual combinations that we rustle up so we don't get tired of lettuce and tomato. Another warm day today, 30 degrees C (it's been 2 days in a row at 39, so it is some respite, but still certainly not gardening weather).