Hazel

A couple of days ago I bought 2 CD-ROMs of quilting designs as produced by the Electric Quilt Company. This gave me access to 1450+ designs as used in Quiltmaker magazine. Surely there'd be something on one disc that would be suitable for Spring Madness? (I'm getting a bit fed up of it loafing on the spare bed and silently reproaching me for its unfinished status.)

I installed the discs(a doddle) and browsed. Oo! And browsed. Oo-shiny! And browsed. (It takes a while to evaluate 1450+ designs, you know, she said with a grin) And pondered and browsed some more. This morning I printed out designs I thought might work (read: that I liked and don't seem impossible to hand quilt) and I think the final design is settled. Two variations of 'Evening Dew' for blocks and the plain borders, with 'Friendship vine' for the pieced border and centre block.

Although 'Blossom Parade' looked good too. And 'Magic Vine'. Hmm...

Goodies arrived at my door today.


( fabric and my plans for it )

I admit to a fascination with the bias interlace technique ever since a visit to a quilt shop where I saw a beautiful little wallhanging that featured rainbow bias, and another of my favourite things; a seahorse. Sadly, for me anyway, this little piece had been made during a workshop and the shop owner had no pattern for it. I didn't have my camera to capture it, the quilt shop has gone and so the detail fades in my memory, although I think of it regularly.

There is a fabulous example of bias interlace in the Dec/Jan 09 Quilters Newsletter. Rosa Gallica by Janine Merrill. Beautiful and intricate, the centre of the design reminds me of the quatrefoil hearts of old-fashioned roses. You know, the ones that actually smell like roses. :) That set me off thinking about having a go at this technique again.

I've been toying with ideas for my first piece of bias interlace for a while now, off and on. Among these ideas were the triple hare in the moon, an old symbol I spotted most recently on the cover artwork of the AFI cd decemberunderground.

Never having tried the technique, I thought I should start with something easier than a complex twisty turny thing that's twistier than a twisty turny thing surfing a corkscrew. ;) So, following the design principles in my interlace/celtic knot books, I'm going to draw my own and have a go with the roll of narrow bias I bought the other day.

Right after I decide how to mark up Spring Madness, and how I should quilt Instant Sunshine and the little mat that goes with it, and cut some more middle squares for the batik Economy blocks, and finish the hanging sleeve on Bliu Brîn D’Né, and, and...

Away and get buzzing, then! À bi!

By which I mean things I'm making. Other than a mess. :P

Last night I managed to stay awake (Hee!) and finished the first Blue Frog sock. It could have done with being a few rounds longer in the foot but it's not disastrous enough that I want to pull it back. I also managed to sew some more of the green table runner. It really ought to have a name, that poor project. :)

I got out some of my other books, in particular, this one on Hardanger embroidery. Inside, I found directions for, wait for it, a Hardanger photo frame. Just the very thing! Perhaps my subconscious had remembered that and was prompting me to pick the book up! :D With that one was my bargello book. I now have final ideas on each gift and am able to draw up a shopping list. Top of the list: black beads, to finish the Goth!scarf scarf.

I wonder how the owl will manage a roll of canvas? :P