Fabric moratorium

So what's a fabric moratorium? Well a moratorium is a suspension of a planned (or regular) activity. In my case - that will be purchasing fabric. A fabric moratorium - is where I will not purchase any fabric for a new quilt top, over a defined period.

I decided to do this in November 2009. I did pretty well on the moratorium. During the time frame, I did buy a few fabric items. I bought fabric for Mum's quilt and 1.5 yards of purple fabric. There are special circumstances around Mum's quilt - so that was a complete "one-off". The 1.5 yards was to pad out an order of notions - I had to make the international postage worthwhile. All things considered - I think I did really well.

When the time frame was up - you guessed it - I went shopping. You would have seen in my previous posts about my latest acquisitions (or pre-purchases). I'm now dabbling with the idea of doing another fabric moratorium.

The rules of engagement (self defined) are:

• no new fabric to start a new quilt top
  
• from now until 1 November 2011

So what can I buy. Only items to finish an existing quilt project (either WIP or UFO):

• batting
• backing or binding fabric
  
• fabric (if nothing in my stash will work)
  
• thread or notions

Will you join me?

Pike River - Mine Tragedy

Well it's really late and I'm super tired, but I really couldn't go to bed without sharing with you some info. You may be aware that New Zealand has recently lost 29 miners from the Pike River Mine. If you haven't heard about it go here to find out more.

It can be really hard to think of how we can help in these situations. There are times when we don't have the money, resources, etc to help. But sometimes we can use the gifts and talents we are given to contribute in a small way. So calling all quilters. If you would like to do something to help, you can.

Below is a letter from Shirley Goodwin who is co-ordinating the making of quilts for the Miners families.

------

Dear quilting friends,

You may be aware that New Zealand has suffered a major mining disaster at Pike River mine on the west coast of the South Island, resulting in the deaths of 29 miners. Many of these miners had young families. One was soon to be a father. Like many New Zealanders, I am sharing the pain of the families of the miners. And like many, I have thought about what I could do to help.

I am part of Kiwiquilters, an email group for New Zealand quilters. We have a tradition, as do other quilting groups, of making Healing Hearts quilts for members and their families or friends who are suffering personal tragedy or serious illness. I have asked the group, and other quilting groups around the country, to contribute heart blocks to make into quilts for the miner’s families, and I will assemble and co-ordinate these.

Please consider making a block or several blocks for this cause. It doesn't matter that you don't know the people involved - neither do I. The love and support from strangers that is embodied in these quilts is something tangible that the families can get comfort from for years.

Shirley Goodwin

-------------------

Here are the block details if you want to make some:-

• Cream background – calico is fine
• 6 ½” unfinished size (so they will be 6” finished)
• Pieced or appliquéd heart or hearts
• Any colours or patterns for the hearts. Some of the quilts will be for children, so children’s fabrics are fine too.

Address to send them to is on Shirley's blog. She is also happy to receive any quilt tops or completed quilts too, so check out her blog as she is updating it with more details all the time.

I made 4 blocks today. Here's a sneak preview.



After I took this photo, I added a small comment and added my town and country.

Off to the post office next week.

-------------------

Update (3 December): If you are reading about this appeal for the first time - Shirley has enough blocks. If you have already started to make the blocks, please continue and send them. They will not be wasted.

Shopping silliness

Oh, I've been bad... very very bad. I've been shopping up large, and I really shouldn't.

I've pre-ordered 2 jelly rolls of Kate Spain's Central Park. Found a great place which offered a good deal on pre-orders Green Fairy Quilts. As soon as these jelly rolls hit the market, they will be shipped. Will be a lovely pressie to myself in January :)

Also ordered a Superior Frosted Donut (and extra refills) from Superior Threads.


These threads are recommended by hand applique artists that I admire; Piece O'Cake designers Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins, and Janet from QuiltsaLott.

Also received an order from the Cotton Loft. They had a great sale - are you seeing a trend here :) I bought the tried and trues that I always use - Kona solids (in purple tones) and natural/cream on cream prints. Prices ranged from $2.75 to $3.75 USD per yard.

Waiting on the next shipping sale at Hancocks of Paducah to purchase some more batting and notions. I better start saving now.

Central Park

I am in love with Kate Spain's new fabric line - Central Park. It will be released in January 2011 - I can't wait. Kate's fabrics are just delicious!

The design is fresh, clean, stylish, and the color scheme is exactly what I have been looking for. Another huge plus is that there is a wide variety of fabrics, making it extremely versatile.

I've been thinking about doing a queen size "Farmers Wife" sampler quilt or something similar with these fabrics. But then again, I might do something different depending on the sizing of the design. I don't want the pieces so small that the design becomes lost.

Here's a quick peek of the fabric line:

from Kate Spain's blog

(and yes... I got permission from Kate to post this photo).

Playing Around

Thought I'd lay out my double wedding ring blocks to see how the progress is coming along.

I think it looks all very "samey-samey", and the yellow kind of stands out in a way that I don't think I want it to. What do you think?

Latest happenings

Three years ago I bought some cushions on sale. They were such a good price, even cheaper than buying the fillers on their own. Anyway, the covers were ugly. So with my trusty serger, and some fabric I bought on sale some months back ($8.00 per metre) I've covered those cushions. The color is neutral - I was hoping to find a particular color, but they didn't have it in stock.



An update on the foot. Sore, painful and swollen. My progress is coming along. The exercises I am doing change every week, and muscles are slowly starting to build up. The problem is no longer the bone, it is all the muscle wastage while the foot and leg was confined. Currently I can walk (oh and I use that term loosely! - it's more like a waddle) with one crutch. My major accomplishment this week has been to be able to carry a cup of tea. Finally I'm getting a little more independence.

Swollen foot on the right. All the bruising has now gone.



So now I have to start driving. Part of my exercises. I did a practice run on Saturday. Decided to get petrol and a punnet of silver beet. Driving okay - walking ... hmmm... not so much :( Lots of pain. I really didn't walk that much either.

When buying the punnets of silver beet I saw a few other interesting items. I came away with beetroot, leeks, purple sage, rosemary and parsley. The other punnet on the left is cheddar cauliflower given to me by a co-worker. The next challenge - planting them. Yes - I still over-estimate what I can physically achieve.



Here's a couple of carnations that I need to plant too.



Strawberries are coming along nicely. I hope I get to them before the birds.



And finally, my Dad's lavender is in flower. A very precious memory of him.

Dogs day

Well the dogs have had their day. :)

The problem with the DWR was that I spent more time pinning than sewing... so... what to do? Then I remembered some fabric I bought on sale early this year (pre accident). The intention was to make covers for the dog beds. I put off doing that, as I wanted to sew it on the serger. The serger had this problem where there lower looper thread would continually break. It drove me crazy! Long story short - it's now fixed :)

So I set about cutting and serging the fabric together. Here's the result. I'm pretty happy with it.

Sewing per doctors orders

Now how often would you hear that! :)

In order to build up the muscles in my foot and lower leg to get ready for driving - I have to make the ultimate sacrifice and start sewing on my sewing machine. No hardship there :) The motion that my right foot and leg makes on the sewing pedal is similar to driving. Woohoo!

The next challenge, is what do I have as a "work in progress" that I can take straight to the sewing machine? The double wedding ring - was the winner :)