Quilt update

 Strips done, set out the square...not quite right

Got it! 

Get sewing....

Travelling soon...

Quilt decision made, and mending

 

Last minute fussing over details done...proper chart drawn up....

7 colours...each strip of 7 pieces. 7 strips with the colours stepping one along each strip, to make a square.

4 squares set diagonally to make the centre.

Each corner is two half squares put side to side.

I've pinned the strips for the first square.

Not a lot else got done today, apart from pinning two mending jobs...a section of jacket lining hem and the hem on a light pair of sports trousers for walking.

Four months on and I'm still doing his mending...and re-mending.....

The difference is that I'll be wearing them. 

Quilt decision

 Decision made.the third one, so that it doesn't matter which way you use a square quilt!!...now to work out the sewing order!

Quilt progress..and sorting.

 Today was a stay home and get things done day. Mainly getting wardrobe contents sorted and those that needed it, washed.

Our Fife friend will have a shirt that goes with his kilt and a tweed jacket..and I think there are other things that will suit him when he collects them in a couple of weeks.

I am sorting cold weather jackets and trousers for myself too...mine are worn out!

It was lovely to have a good warm drying day with a brisk breeze.

Last night's borlotti bean, chestnut and vege stew was boxed up in individual portions and went in the freezer...that is six meals sorted!

Then this afternoon start on the job of quilt designing...with help from my daughter...graphic designer..and quilter..by WhatsApp!!

I tried doing it on paper, but that wasn't working...so put pieces on the floor...

The next job is working out how to set the big blocks by each other

I have done it with numbers so far...but that's enough for tonight.

I had intended going for a walk....but quilt sorting got to be very absorbing...and it is good to fully concentrate on something.

Keeping on..

 Today's first things to do were see the local garage...he is on holiday..well deserved as well.

Then pop into the local NFU office at the mart to talk car insurance....they were on staff training day!!

I want to add my brother to my insurance as it should bring it down at least a little. When I took Pirate off the insurance in April, it went up. My insurance has only risen 50% with the renewal... unlike others' insurance that has really sky rocketed. 

Back again tomorrow.

I like the way the parking spaces are delineated at the parking for the offices at the mart...

No mistaking there..or parking over the line!!

At 6am this morning I was woken by a thunderstorm and torrential rain and hail....

When I arrived home from my fruitless trip the effects were to be seen on the ground...

Stone chippings from the harling had been knocked off by the rain!

The rain had eased off, thankfully, to light showers, but still too wet to do anything outside.

So I carried on with cutting pieces for the quilt.  I am very glad that my neighbour has lent me a brand new rotary cutter to use. It is making the job far easier!

Five done now, two sets of squares plus one single to finish cutting squares. 

Then on to triangles....

Mathematics

 I have started cutting the squares...and now have to work out the piecing pattern.....

With 7 different shirts....

I have 365 squares

52 half squares

4 quarter squares......

That is also 56 squares per colour ( adding up the halves and quarters).

Isn't mathematics fun?!

Shirts

 

Deconstruction started..blue one done, green nearly finished.

I eventually slept this morning...then overslept!!  

The Cowp is just over 15 minutes drive away...I made it!! When you book you get a 20 minute slot and I arrived halfway through. There were only three other people there so they weren't rushed.

After the long day yesterday today has been low key... especially as it is back to wet and windy. I had hoped for a walk, but it was definitely not inviting out there!

A friend who lives in France commented that I was always busy...but I pointed out that that is a way of hiding from the feeling of loneliness, physical and mental . 

He agreed...at least he has his tomato plants, and his younger son ( and son's washing!!) to look after..but he knows the same things.

We will all get there..and survive!

The path...and the path ahead

 Is now clear...I did this sitting on a small folding kitchen stool..working backwards so that I couldn't see what hadn't been cleared!!

It all needs a going over with the pressure washer...which I need to learn how to use...

This was this afternoon's section.

Which makes the garden look cared for even without doing anything else that needs attention!

A run to the Cowp ( recycling centre... rubbish tip... whatever!) tomorrow with old tents (daughter's tent that came to its end two weeks ago) old folding chairs, a gazebo frame, cardboard, small dead electricals and four bags of green waste...which will return with free compost as usual.

I was reading Kath from Glastonbury 's post on farcebook....she doesn't blog now...about her brother saving his old shirts for her to make patchwork quilts..

Inspiration...I will make a summer quilt from all the shirts that I have sewn buttons back on, mended, turned collars and cuffs.

I started after supper.

It feels most odd deconstructing a shirt that you have done your best to keep it going!

Still chilly

 We still have a quilt I made over the top of our duvet!!

It is called Melinau Môn... Anglesey Mills....an island with water all around...as in the quilting along the sides, and the four winds from each corner.  Not just wind turbines providing electricity, but wind powered flour milling too.

The seedlings are gradually coming along despite the weather. Probably because of increased daylight! Gradually general clutter is being squeezed out of the greenhouse. I am not sure where everything is going to go as the clutter needs to come out of the small polytunnel as well!

We haven't done much today, but at last we did get The Phone Call...Friday morning for the meeting with the consultant....we both are feeling much better for having a date for that step. 

Changing ways and plant ID

 I have decided to get back properly to getting up when I wake up.

It has been too easy to lie there until the alarm at 7....or even turn it off and lie some more..

But that ends up with feeling grouchy!

So far, waking and rising has resulted in more energy and quietly getting things done before breakfast instead of in a rush afterwards.

We went to town by bus, did shopping , banking and failed to find Gutermann quilting thread...although the knitting shop has their all purpose thread. 

Back now and it has turned hotter, we have now reached 18⁰C!!  So pirate is having a siesta, our lone swallow is chattering on the line and after blogging I shall get on with quilting.

I was hunting for my quilting needles yesterday and found a pack that I had bought in NZ..unlike here, a pack of household needles includes ones for quilting!!

When it is cooler I hope to finish the outside painting on the workshop.

I think the plant in the grassy field may be Dodder?

A friend has remembered it..red bartsia, partly lives on grass roots and partly its own, in poor soils.

Back to quilting

 The mitts have had their first hot soapy wash. They haven't felted as much as expected, possibly it wasn't hot enough or long enough. 

And the quilt is on the frame..

I have rethought the finish of the centre quilting and have some new ideas on the side details.

Pirate is back home now after his lads week away at the commonwealth games...enjoyed himself but glad to be home.

Unfinished projects

 This week has been quite satisfying.

Mending mountain demolished bar one item needing bias binding.

A huge suitcase full of unneeded clothes taken to the charity shop.

Painting started on the workshop exterior.

Shetland wool mitts finished knitting.

You can see how little is left from 50g of yarn!  After supper I will hand wash them in hot soapy water to shrink them and felt them together to create a fabric. They will be far more hard wearing after that.

Now I am setting up a floor embroidery frame that I use for quilting

 I designed and started making a quilt in 1996.   Designed around the Eisteddfod being in Y Bala on the shores of Llyn Tegid.

The following year my marriage ended and in 1998 we moved to South Wales and work on it has been sporadic to say the least!!

I have got about halfway with quilting the centre....now I AM going to finish it!!!

Pirate returns tomorrow.....I hope he notices the improvement here!

Quilt inspiration?

 

Quilting at Shambellie House

A marvellous and inspiring exhibition at a beautiful house...hopefully they will succeed in their aim for a study and work centre.

The next Scottish Quilters exhibition is scheduled for September 2020 at Shambellie House, in New Abbey near Dumfries. I wonder if I'll have that half finished quilt of mine done for then...
started 1997 in Y Bala...