The odd joy of the tedious

I've never much enjoyed machine quilting- mostly because my machine really isn't capable of free motion quilting.  There's something impossibly frustrating about knowing the exact pattern you want on the quilt but being incapable of executing said pattern!  For most of my quilts, I send them off to Sandy back in Oregon. She and her longarm work magic!!  I'll be packing up the Diamond Drop quilt up tomorrow to send her way.

In the meantime, I will quilt little projects with my sewing machine. Though the free motion foot is kind of useless, the walking foot is perfect. I'm not sure what possessed me to make this table runner such a labor of lines and angles but I have to say I am pleased with the results!

The diamonds are left over from my pink/purple/orange adventure that I never named....it's the bright one at the beginning of this blog.  That's not helpful though, is it? All my quilts tend to be bright.  It's the one with half squares surrounded by log cabin strips set on point.

Last Week of...Vacation

I start the new job next week and while I am majorly excited about it, I am somewhat sad that my lazy, free time is coming to an end.  Of course, worrying about paying the rent does tend to make lazy, free time a little less enjoyable. I'll take the job any day over not being able to pay the rent.  :)

Most of this week has been dedicated to finishing the Diamond Drop quilt top.  I have several bed size quilts but no throws.  This quilt is throw size and should be the perfect accent for the back of my futon!  And as I suspected, I do have a some fabric left over.  I think I will try to work them into a bag or pillow case.  At the moment, I am too tired of 3" little squares to think about making another throw.

Joyous News!

Well, it's joyous news for me at least!  ;)  I just found out yesterday that I got an awesome job I applied and interviewed for last month!  Though I moved in order to take a teaching job, it is only part time and doesn't pay enough for me to live.  This new job not only allows me to keep the teaching job but also pays normal money and has benefits!  For a recent graduate, this is fabulous!  And better yet- the job is unique and challenging. It will really give me a chance to expand my horizons.  However, I suspect my quilting time will dwindle quite a bit once I start.... Well, I'll just have to find time!

 

It's a small update today- a new batik throw.  You won't find the pattern in any book or magazine as I made it up. I call it Diamond Drop. I've been collecting black background batiks for a while now and have been experimenting.  Though simple, this pattern allows me to indulge in my love of smaller blocks while still being able to whip them up pretty quick.  The block is 6" square.

Even after making a throw size quilt out of these black batiks, I believe I'll still have enough to make another project.  I told you I'd been collecting them a while!  Any ideas what I should do next?

It's a new year!

2012 has arrived!

How are you celebrating?  I started with a nice round of apartment cleaning  :)  Feels productive to sit here typing while the dryer tumbles and the dishwasher roars.  Being the oh-so-exciting person that I am, I didn't watch the ball drop last night.  Instead, I answered emails, read for research, and tried to figure out some resolutions for the New Year.  Not going to lie, I've never actually had New Year's Resolutions before.  I've always been leery of committing myself to an impossible goal for the sake of tradition but this year it seems like the right thing to do! 

So here goes:
1. Weight- like most people, I have room for improvement on this front.  Am I hoping to be a size 6 by the end of the year?  No- remember, these must be possible!  ;)  Aiming instead for 20 lbs; lost 30 lbs this year and I think this should be achievable, assuming I stay away from Spritz cookies and visit my treadmill more often!

2.  Etsy. I technically have an Etsy store, though it is rather useless at the moment as it has no merchandise!  This must be remedied this year.  No more excuses!  With that in mind, Anna, if you're reading this- your bag is under way, even if the storefront isn't up and running quite yet.  :)

3.  Blog. That's right- this blog is on my official to-do list!  I've been woefully neglect of it over the last year.  In 2012, I promise to be better. 

And to that end, I do have a small update on current project!  I've gotten a bit further in the Starburst quilt designed by Dereck Lockwood that I've shown you pieces of earlier.

Putting the diamond and square block together involves everyone's favorite- Y seams!  I have a tendency to see a pattern or project I want to complete and just jump right in and in this case, this means I get to learn how to do Y seams.  It's been a rough road thus far!  Robin has been majorly helpful (as always) in guiding me along but this project is going to take forever!  I don't want to mess up such a wonderful quilt, so I find myself putting two or three blocks together and then putting the project aside for a while so as to not get super frustrated with it.  When it's finished, the center should look something like this:

Hopefully it will be done by 2013 but I make no promises!