A few things to share..
A few posts ago I said that I'd get a circle finished to show you. Well, it's not quite finished, I just have to sew the center hexagon down. This is my first almost finished circle from Chris Jurd's Lots of Dots quilt pattern.
I really love doing these trickier blocks but there's a reason I shouldn't attempt them after a long work day. Wanting my points to match up I carefully pinned, over pinned in fact, just to make sure it would all line up perfectly. I carefully stitched, opened it up and ...
Hmph, I stormed off in a huff that night!
Here's a fabric Pom Pom I made a few years ago. I was inspired to get it out and dust it off after seeing some pretty pom poms over at Leila's blog Where the Orchids Grow.
I really love doing these trickier blocks but there's a reason I shouldn't attempt them after a long work day. Wanting my points to match up I carefully pinned, over pinned in fact, just to make sure it would all line up perfectly. I carefully stitched, opened it up and ...
Hmph, I stormed off in a huff that night!
I've been working extra long hours and I'm finding it best to stick with easy repetitive projects, cutting, sewing, trimming. Easy tasks to pick up when I have 5 minutes here and there, or I'm too tired to think. Hence my half square triangle quilt using Erin McMorris's Summersalt range. I just love these fabrics, such fun happy prints. I've used 5 different brands of hot pink solids so the pink wouldn't look too flat. These blocks aren't sewn together yet. I just put them onto the design wall to share with you.
This next photo is for Regan of Floating on a Quilted Cloud. A zucchini cake with yummy lemon icing baked especially for you!! I was a bit worried that it would go rotten in the post so I ate it. No need to thank me, that's what friends are for. I munched away on it while I read your wonderful post about the Maine State Quilt show.
Here's a fabric Pom Pom I made a few years ago. I was inspired to get it out and dust it off after seeing some pretty pom poms over at Leila's blog Where the Orchids Grow.
And this is for Melissa of 100 Billion Stars who liked the fact I chose a fabric because it had donkeys on it.
In fact I have a bit of a thing for donkeys. This is a vintage tea towel that hangs in my sewing room.
Isn't she the sweetest donkey you ever did see? Can you guess her name? Yes, it's Daisy. Not the Daisy I'm named after, Daisy was my beautiful little dog of years ago. That was Daisy Dog, this is Daisy Donkey. We sound like characters in a book don't we.
In fact I have a bit of a thing for donkeys. This is a vintage tea towel that hangs in my sewing room.
Isn't she the sweetest donkey you ever did see? Can you guess her name? Yes, it's Daisy. Not the Daisy I'm named after, Daisy was my beautiful little dog of years ago. That was Daisy Dog, this is Daisy Donkey. We sound like characters in a book don't we.
...And so Rachaeldaisy and her trusty sidekick Daisy Donkey went off into the sunset sewing room to trim a mountain of HSTs. And a happy time was had by all.
Cheerio
26 Comments
Oh my gosh! I love that block! Chris is amazing - I wonder if her patterns are available in the U.S.? The cake looks yummy, but I adore the donkey! And Daisy Donkey and Daisy Dog do sound like characters in a childrens book...hee hee! I came across a Donkey quilt while looking at vintage quilt sites last week...very sweet!
ReplyDeleteAh, another happy Rachael story! You've made me smile again! And I see Mary (previous comment) was reading this at the same time I was! The circle block is incredible! I think I may have to try one of those too! Can't say I have any donkey fabric though!
ReplyDeleteYour circle is SPECTACULAR! Such amazing detail. It's machine stitched or English paper pieced?
ReplyDeleteI love your circle block. I'd love to try that one too but as I'v just started the Amitie Circle Game BOM I don't think I should try this too.
ReplyDeleteThe HST's are looking gorgeous and bright, and that Zucchini cake would have been nice if I'd been offered a piece, ll.
Very cute donkey fabric too.
Great fabric choices for that block. I can sympathize with your too-much-work-to-sew frame of mind. I try not to cut anything after dark for that reason. Lovely pink quilt too!
ReplyDeleteThe circle block looks so hard, I don't even think I would attempt it! I love all the pinks!!! Yes all different ones make it so alive, I just love it. How do you think you will quilt it?
ReplyDeleteWow those little triangles....how do you get them so neat? I love the circle with the flower centre, can't wait to see what that one turns out like. I have to say your quilting is amazing, you really have a gift. My dog is called Daisy Dog, she's the naughty one who abandons her pups! Love the donkey and the donkey in the print. That is a nice animal to collect :-)
ReplyDeleteHai pubblicato un sacco di cose bellissime:l'asino Daisy รจ troppo simpatico, il pon-pon lo vedo bene come portachiavi....
ReplyDeletetutti quei triangoli coloratissimi....
e, non per ultimo il blocco-cerchio.....
Stupendo.
Complimenti!!!!
Ciao
... oh wow the circle is soooooo great and lovely ... you are an sewing-artist!!!!
ReplyDeletelg
Heike
Wow Rach, your circle block looks amazing! The mind boggles at how you put them together! The HST looks pretty damn fine too - love it all!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog first thing in the morning with my coffee,and you even had that yummy bread to go with it!! = ) That circle block reminded me of something I made tons of years ago! but it had points going inwards and each point wasn't sewn down.it all over lapped each other..like a three dimensional? have no idea what it was called,my mom helped me do that. oh and it was stayed in a wooden hoop forever..now that I've seen your circle I'm wondering what happened to mine? lol That pompom is cute! They would look cute on my christmas tree..thats a idea!!!
ReplyDeleteRachael....thank you so much for the zucchini cake....I know I enjoyed it! lol And can I say that your table setting and the cloth is lovely.....do you decorate your whole house in those fabulous colors!?! I would love to see it! Your circle of dots is just gorgeous! And thank goodness it's only one little line of stitching that needs picking! I'd have to agree that some of my worst 'oops' moments were done with the most perfect corner matching and such.....makes you want to cry sometimes! And I'm loving those hst's.....all the different pinks is perfect....really has movement! And I think I might have to make one (or many) of those pompoms....they would make great tree ornaments, or bobbles on a gift package! Glad you enjoyed the quilt show, while having my cake! You're still the only one that's offered any! Sheesh! lol
ReplyDeletet.Wow Rachaeldaisy love that circle block!!! Thanks for the tea and cake...just what I need before hitting the sack!!! Great post...Dzintra
ReplyDeleteOh I love your fabric pom pom!!! Thank you for posting a picture of it.
ReplyDeleteGreat block you're making it looks very tricky and impressive. And your donkey tea towel is so cute :-)
I'm so excited about your Summersault quilt. The pinks are a fabulous choice for all the blues and greens.
ReplyDeleteAnd Daisy Donkey is too cute, especially with a flower in her hat. You can just tell she's up for adventure.
Your "Hmpf" moment brings many sewing glitch memories to mind. :) But the piece is turning out beautifully. The perfect blend of brights.
hehe!! I've done that type of thing so many times. And how often have I asked myself "When am I going to learn??" (about working on intense things when I'm tired) But what an AMAZING circle block!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd your HST project is absolutely delightful.
Oh I am hearing you and I love the hmpf moment Mine would be more like S#*T not again moment. you are doing an amazing job on the circles keep up the good work Rachel.
ReplyDeleteIm coveting the fabric pom pom... a few of those would look very nice in my sewing room.
ReplyDeleteYour circle is amazing - I would have stomped off in a huff after the first piece.
And I love half square triangle quilts -there's something so simple but oldy worldy about them. Yours looks great with all the different pinks!
Looks like you've been pretty busy!
Your circle is amazing! And thanks for showing us the stuff up - makes me feel better when I do stuff like that knowing others do too. Your pom pom is tres cute too!
ReplyDeletewowweee what a great circle piece!! I'm with Shay - except probably would have stormed off in a huff just after even thinking of attempting it!
ReplyDeleteI think I need a few pom poms in my sewing room too. Right another thing to add to the ever growing list!
xx
Your circle block is fabulous. The half square triangles are looking good. Yeah when mistakes start happening its time to put it aside and do something else. Otherwise it becomes such a chore. Daisy Donkey is a cutie. Glad to hear she provides you nice company when you are sewing.
ReplyDeleteI like that approach of using a variety of slightly different solids to keep things interesting - nothing worse than being too matchy matchy.
ReplyDeleteThe circle is great even if you did have to un-pick. My Dad always said if this is the second un-pick put it away too tired.
ReplyDeleteThe pom pom is fun. Maybe a good idea for GC to make as Christmas presents.
Design wall looks good.
everything you do is so amazing..you are a superstar in my book!!
ReplyDeleteUh oh, I feel like I may have exposed you to the Silly Mistake Flu.
ReplyDeleteBut, oh my goodness, those blocks are amazing! I would never even attempt them!
You are so clever with your fabric choices. Love the dots in the block for the Chris Jurd quilt. The fabric that is pinks and blues with the donkey and windmill is on my bed today as a doona cover and pillow cases, it's very old, 20 years or so, from a Sheridan range, I still love it.
ReplyDeleteYour fabric pom pom is such lovely fun.
Happy stitching!
Thank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.