I've been working on my "ABC's" today :-)

3 four patches assembled, sandwiched and quilted -- each with a different free hand pattern :-) -- if you click the picture you should be able to see it in the bright pink thread I'm using :-)

One of the reasons I tend to tie larger quilts is I'm a slow hand quilter and I do not enjoy the process of machine quilting large items -- they are simply too awkward to maneuver on my domestic machine. I can, I do at times, but its never "fun". I wanted this quilt to be fun, so I've bite the bullet and begun to quilt these as individual blocks. I'll have to figure out "quilt as you go" assembly now! :-) I figured since I wanted sashing on this quilt anyways it was as good a time as any to figure it out...

I spent a lot of time working tails into the "A" as I had needle size and tension issues that led to lots of broken threads... the "B" I experienced no problems whatsoever so I thought it was all solved, and then on the "C" had a couple of breaks again (but not many). Sigh. I think its the fact the thread is relatively heavy (I have to use a size 16 needle), and when I go too fast it simply shreds from the wear caused by the motion of forming a stitch... At least I'm hoping that's the issue as it'd mean the next ones would be easier as I can avoid that cause! :-)

dyslectic quilters of the world unite!

Making gains.... I had to backtrack this morning and re-do a number of yesterday's letters -- it occurred to me that in order to place them in any of the four positions in the four patches, and then to border those four patches with the orange, it would work best to completely "frame in" the letter within its 6" block. -- glad I figured it out, but the back tracking wasn't fun.

A few of the letters are fairly difficult to read in real life due to the number of scraps they are surrounded by (the G and top area of the F, the bottom area of the J a little bit), but not "impossible". I may redo some when I'm done the alphabet, but maybe not. I know I will NOT be remaking that dang Q -- what an absolutely hideous and awful letter to piece. Good thing its not needed for many words!

Tomorrow I'm hoping to finish up the letters, and maybe even begin to assemble some of the four patches -- depends if the trip to the library results in some good novels that suck me in :-) I think I could get used to this holiday thing :-))

I think I may have solved my concerns with doing "hidden letters"...

Part of the difficulty I've been experiencing visually with the hidden letters was a continuing sense that there was too much going on -- no focal point to the quilt.

When I first made the log cabins I'd hoped the identical centres would provide that, but they haven't been strong enough to compete with the chaos of the scrappy strings; then I'd thought the bright orange I was using for the letters, because it appeared no where else in the quilt, might provide that sense of rhythm... but it too was "failing" in that role -- but I did like the "hidden/I spy" feel to the letters.... and then it hit me... while I don't usually "do" sashing, this might be a quilt that needs it...


so, up onto my design wall went that as a possibility... and I think I like it... What do you think? moving the right direction?

I've been working away in little spurts in the studio again :-) I find sitting down and focusing for a chunk of time too difficult, but a few minutes several times a day gets a surprising amount done!

I've finished up the "Meddle not in the affairs of dragons" quilt finally. Packaged it, now just need to make a trip to the post office with it.... I've set aside the completed Disappearing nine patch until I get some batting the right size; this week's Block challenge is done; and I've set the Seminole sampler I've been doing into the pattern book for another time when the inspiration strikes me.

Soooo with a cleaned off cutting table I pulled out the wonky scrap log cabins I did a while back. I've decided to add an alphabet sampler to it. Each block is 6" so lots of space for a letter :-) In the end it'll likely go to my granddaughter, but we'll see if/when its done.

I do have a decision to make though -- do I "hide" the letters amongst the scraps or make the letter blocks "non scrappy" so they show up better? Your thoughts on this are most welcome as I'm truly torn at the moment...

Week 26 of the Friday Block Party Challenge was this little block.... A few set together with the resulting pinwheels at the corners would provide a nice contrast with the oddly shaped pinwheel in the centre...

I have been getting a few things done in the studio -- nothing huge, but bits and pieces. I finished the border on the disappearing nine patch; and then found the batting I was planning to use (an old blanket) was 6" too narrow! Sigh. I'll have to pick up batting next week.

I have also returned to some hand quilting -- a project that has been sitting on my bookcase shelf looking at me reproachfully for all too long. I'm hoping now that I've got it down it'll see more regular work. There isn't much left to quilt on it, and I do still rather like it...

I also got a fiber art postcard whipped up and off in the mail this week. Holidays and some health is making a world of difference :-)

I have started my holidays will illness. Sigh. Very congested, coughing, headache; doing anything leaves me short of breathe. Guess I'm going to have to rest on my holidays!! :-)

I did spend a little time putzing in my studio space today. The design wall had fallen, so I cleaned all the lint off and rehung it. I put away all the scraps of fabric that were accumulating on the cutting table, folded up various projects and stacked them neatly, and then started to assemble border for the disappearing nine patch. I am determined to make progress on some fiber arts during these holidays -- even if its only a few minutes each day I want something to show for the time off!

I'm off to watch more movies and sniffle. Thankfully dear son is out of town so I can be miserable all on my own... Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be on the upwards journey.

When instructions tell you the size to cut things before cutting them on the diagonal for re-assembly its good idea not to cut everything 1/4 inch larger and forget to trim....