Music and the last fish

Although my blogging has been slack my sewing has occupied a lot of time.  I didn't make any new year's resolutions as they are easily broken, but have promised myself to spend less time 'researching' and more time stitching.

 

Youngest son has a birthday next month and as he is a lover of music I decided on a cushion ... the first one I made was not his colour-way!! He does use it because it is comfortable.  Mother took the hint, searched the 'Net for more musical fabric that arrived from overseas at the end of last week.   I began with the cushion and to use up much of the fabric added a table topper. 

 

Earlier in the month I completed Stanley, the last of the fish BOM ... I do have all the where-with-all to complete this quilt but as yet have no idea where/who it will end up with. 

 

In 2012 I made all the blocks for the Sentimental Journey quilt.  Since then it has sat ... stored.   My Janome machine does not have a wide throat and the thought of quilting a large quilt sent shivers down my spine.  Another search of the 'Net gave me a way out!  Quilt as you go ... QAYG.  Two rows are completed ... the anxiety the maker of headaches, but now I have had a break with the cushion and table topper the old 'lets get into it' is beginning to surge through the blood stream.  There are borders to be added ... maybe a completion date by Easter?

Going Fishing!

Four more fish from

http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/bompdf/fcp025_wfishy_instructions.pdf 

with one left to go.  I was late in starting this BOM and had to catch up with the first three.  Needless to say I am keen to download the instructions for the final block on 1st March, and have all the necessary fabrics to complete the quilt, though must admit it won't be exactly like that pictured on the above link. 

 

I have had fun naming these fish, and introduce Number 14, Leila, along with Numbers 1 [Spike], 2 Dougal, and 3 Yolande.  As I stitch the fish my mind turns over suitable names, and before the block is finished a name has sprung to mind, not that a name is essential. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lets go fishing

The Fish BOM is nearing its conclusion.  Fish number 13 is completed.  An elderly lady fish I have named Constance has entered the ocean to reign supreme over her younger relatives. 

Not long now until I can put this quilt together!

Scottish themed Quilt and fish

A combination today!  Not fish and chips [too expensive in Australia!], but another fish in the BOM that I am working on.  I have named these fish for no other reason than they appear to have a personality; today's fish is Esmae.

 

A few months ago I took up the challenge to create a quilt in a Scottish theme, anything I liked with the only pre-requisite being it had to be no smaller than 42" square.  Mine surpassed that by 10" on all sides.  I had fun choosing what to put into the quilt, as with a Scottish theme the ideas were boundless.  Some blocks were 'proper' blocks, while the applique ones were mainly pictures taken from colouring in albums.  This was the first quilt I have ever constructed 'out of my head', and over all I am rather pleased with the result.

"The Heritage of Angus the Piper"

 



Stitching

The days are flying by and with the advent of warm weather Christmas cannot be too far around the corner.  I have things I hope to make before then! 

 

My big project was the Scottish themed quilt which I will show a photo of at another date. 

 

Two or three years ago I made a Christmas swag from what was then a free pattern and is still available at a reasonable cost here http://www.sewhappy.me/products-page/categories/christmas-stitchery-banner/  I loved the finished swag and this year when it became evident that a Big Family Christmas was on the cards I decided to make another, albeit framing it to suit the room of the recipient.

 

As well I have completed another fish [my name for it is Shy Susie] from http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/bompdf/Wf_11_temps.pdf    This BOM offers free patterns if you download them each month, but they are available for purchase.

 

Several projects are waiting their turn to be completed!!!  The sewing machine cover is seldom on it. 

More Fish

August and September blocks for the Fish BOM provided a little fun in choosing colours.

I have been naming each fish, for no reason other than I can.

 Meet Georgiana who joined her other friends in the ocean in August.

 

September gave birth to Great Aunt Moira, whose name was chosen because of the little story that developed for this month's fish. 

 

Great Aunt Moira was conjured up to oversee the shenanigans of the other fish let free in the wide ocean in September.  Sadly her eyesight is failing, so one is not 100% certain her efforts to keep younger fish behaving in a seemly way will work. 

Gone Fishin'

Two more fish have escaped the nets and landed in the ocean.  Claude was completed last month, while this month Priscilla jumped into the water to join Claude and Coral-lee.

 

Claude

 

Priscilla

Decidedly Fishy

I have begun another BOM, albeit a few months late, but somewhere in a new Forum I found, I read there are 15 blocks in this BOM,, and having only missed the first three, I will have a dozen to incorporate into a quilt later in the year, or maybe next year.

 

The cute fish are eye-catching, and allow the imagination to run slightly riotous as to the colours. 

 

This little girl [must be a girl!!  see those lips; made for kissing?!] I have named Coral-lee.  To me it obvious she lives in a coral reef, and the glorious coral colour of her body allows her to blend into her surroundings, should she wish to appear just a wee bit shy.

 

Mmm ... maybe I should have had the ocean lying flatter for the photo take; allow your imagination to wander slightly ... those ocean plants are waving in the tide.