Wednesday WIP

When I finished the paper piecing for the two knights, I vowed that I was not going to do any paper piecing for the rest of the year.  Funny how life has a way of changing your mind.  On Monday I saw
these beautiful blocks in my Flickr stream.  They linked to a Christmas QAL at Sewing under Rainbow blog.  Each two days, a new block will be posted for a Christmas Sampler.

This evening, after dinner I sat down in my sewing room, hauled out my Christmas fabrics and completed Block 1 - Christmas Trees.  It was a very clear easily pieced pattern.  Just as I finished it, Block 2 - Bell, was posted. Guess what I may be working on tomorrow night.

Why I feel the need to make a Christmas themed quilt, I don't know.  It certainly doesn't get cold enough here in New Zealand with our summer Christmas to warrant the need for one.  It will use a lot of my Christmas fabric stash  (that's a good thing though) and probably my low volumes too.  Maybe I'll turn them into Christmas placemats or pillow covers - probably in time for next years Christmas.  I can't wait to see them all together though.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Weekending

We have had the most beautiful weather this weekend, unfortunately I am miserable with hay fever, so didn't really feel like being outside and enjoying it.  Here is some of what kept me occupied this weekend:

• Baking - a peach and poppy seed cake, I omitted the lemon and thyme syrup is was supposed to have.  It was but would be delicious with the syrup and whipped cream as a dessert.
• Lots of lovely books from the library.  I have had re-issued the Vita book, so I can finish it finally.  Some lovely crafty books for inspiration.  I am especially loving the Mr Finch book.  I have seen  and pinned some of his creations on pinterest before, and love the moths made of old embroidered linens.  Very inspiring.
• Homemade muesli - an afternoon toasting oats, bran, coconut and wheatgerm, mixed up with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and assorted dried fruits.  Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow,
• Sewing and quilting on the two knights pillow - the borders have been added, and the quilting has been done.     After some google research, I decided upon using Gutermann sulky invisible thread.  Very fine needles 70/6 and some tension changes, meant that on the whole it was a pretty trouble free experience.  I think the hardest part was trying to thread the sewing machine needle, fine clear thread, small needle eyes and being shortsighted are not a good combination. The backing has been made, and I just have to attach the binding. That will be next weekends hand sewing at my sewing day with Rachel and Deb.

Wishing you all a fabulous week ahead.

A Tale of Two Knights

Back in October I purchased some red chess themed fabric,  with the idea of making Miss B a tote bag.  Of course that idea didn't meet with favour and she asked if perhaps I could make her a cushion. At that point I had a brainwave, and emailed Juliet of Tartan Kiwi, to see if she could possibly design me a pattern, to paper piece a knight, Miss B's favourite chess piece.

A week or so later Juliet emailed me a pattern.  Enthusiastically I made a the black knight, then lost my sewjo.  Today my mission was to sew the ivory knight.   In the interests of keeping it real, I have a photo of the last piece I sewed and the mistake on it. Of course I couldn't unpick it and had to redo it.  Needless to say it was second time lucky.

Finally I have the centre block completed, (both knights are actually the same size too, it's just that optical illusion thing happening) now just to decide on the border, chess pieces or a sort of checker board design, with black and ivory cornerstone settings. I'm thinking the checker board border gives it a slightly lighter look.  What do you think?  Then the next dilemma will be how to quilt it.

A Liberty Needle Book

Woohoo - I have a TADA moment.  The Liberty needle book I started last week is finished.

• It measures approximately 5.5" x 14" and  folds into three sections.
• The exterior is made up of a piece of vintage embroidery, some scraps of soft denim and some of my favourite Liberty prints.  I especially love that bright ditzy floral on the front.
• The interior is made up of an ivory solid and a dainty floral from Robyn Pandolph's most appropriately named Love and Liberty range, which perfectly matched the lining.  The inner left section is a pocket divided into two and edged with a small binding of one of my favourite Liberty prints. The  middle section is a piece of beautiful coral hand dyed felt, also edged with Liberty binding,  and the right section a small zip up pocket.  
• All folded together and tied up with a matching cerise ribbon.

I am so pleased with how this has turned out.  My mission tomorrow, as long as I am not  called into work is to make the second paper pieced knight chess piece, Who knows, I may even get inspired and finish the cushion.  Housework is over rated after all,

Weekending

• a little sewing, a Christmas themed envelope for Rachel - I tried to make this slightly Kiwiana themed, by using Pohutukawa like backing fabric.  I also made a little progress on the Liberty needle case.  Still procrastinating on those must finish items for Miss B and Mr J.
• Saturday night movie viewing - Tasting Menu, a Catalan movie with sub titles.  On the whole I enjoyed it, I certainly didn't feel that I needed to eat the food they were served, and the ending was sort of abrupt.
• my hippeastrum/amaryllis in bloom.  Still two more plants to flower yet.

What did you watch this weekend? Have a fabulous week.