Work in Progress Wednesday - The Quilting Equivalent of Burning Your Bra

I feel liberated.  I feel free.  I`ve thrown my ruler away and am free of all shackles.

For the Love of Solids Mini Quilt Work in Progress

I`m in the zone.  I`m going with the flow. 5 blocks down and another 4 to go. 

Linking up for the first time in ages with Lee at Freshly Pieced .  Thanks as ever to Lee for hosting this link up. Head on over there to see what other people are making.

Work in Progress Wednesday

So today I wished `bon voyage` to my swap goodies, which are now winging their way to _____ and _____. I can`t say anymore because they are secret destinations, or rather secret partners.

I put mug rugs behind me and worked on the cross blocks for the backing of the Across the Sea quilt. I have absolutely loved this QAL (except the cutting out for the backing) and shall be sad when it`s all over in a couple of week`s time. QALs could become addictive.

In the meantime, there is work to be done. Here are the five completed blocks. To give you an idea of scale, they measure 12.5 inches square. I have another bordered block to do and will summon the mental and physical strength to do it tomorrow. Unlike all the other blocks, there was no room for error with this one as it came up at 12.5 inches with no room to trim.  I could barely pick up the ruler to check but phew, all was well.  Here they are.  I`m using a lilac solid for the backing.

 

Like me, Parisville is not a shy and retiring line of fabric. Like me, it`s big, bold and quirky. Check out the woman`s hair in block 1.  Yes, that`s a rat and I`m not good with rats.  In fact, I have a mild phobia about them. Not that that will stop me curling up under this quilt once it`s done.

Now who fancies a bundle of fabric deliciousness giveaway?  I have always prided myself on never having asked anyone to follow me but now I need 4 other followers before I can have a giveaway.  The lovely Julie at The Intrepid Thread has agreed to sponsor a giveaway should I ever reach 100 followers.  She may be a smart cookie and believes it`s just not possible. So go on..if you have stumbled on this blog and vaguely like what you see and you fancy the chance to win some lovely fabric, then follow me.  You can always de-follow me after and I promise not to hunt you down or tell Julie!

Work in Progress Wednesday

These blocks below will soon be winging their way to So Sarah Sews who asked for pink and purple blocks using the garden fence pattern so that she could put them together and make quilts for two 12 and 13 year old sisters to whom her mother has been foster mum for a few years.  The other quilt will be made using a star design. You can see the other blocks here.  The whole subject of fostering and adoption is dear to my heart and I was more than happy to do my small bit.  I hope the girls love their quilts.  I think the next quilt should be for Sarah`s mum.

After completing the quilt top for the Across the Sea QAL I was feeling like I had finished my last exam.  It had been such a struggle with my machine that to say I felt elated is a bit of an understatement.

However, there was still work to be done.  Two mug rugs and two `goodies` for the Goodie Swap 2011 that Canadian Susan had twisted my arm to join.  Woefully behind and with a posting date just over a week away I set to it.  Using the same block pattern, I have completed the top for the first mug rug. It`s hand pieced using Kumari Garden.

Butterfly on the garden fence mug rug top

For reasons I won`t go into, I am less than convinced that my partner is going to like it. I have to think overnight as to whether to abandon it and go back to the drawing board or take my chances.

I have started the second mug rug top, which I hope will look like a book shelf with the last book falling over. I  am not happy with it yet but need to sew the `books` together before I decide.  I `ll see what it looks like once the `books` are joined together.

Hopefully my machine is back from the repairers today and my new machine is in the silver bird and landing soon.

If you are doing some stitching I hope the sewing gods are smiling on you.  Linking up with WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.