No Buy Fabric Challenge

I've made a commitment. Hmmm... a rather extreme commitment.

From Monday I will not buy any new fabric for a whole year. If the purpose of the purchase is to create a brand new quilt.

So - what can I buy?

• thread
• batting
• backing
• fabric for borders / sashing (as long as it will complete an existing project)
  

Now - here's my reasoning why I would do this:

• you only live so long
• the multitude of projects currently in progress, and waiting in the wings is rather excessive
  
• tastes change - in a few years time I might not like what I currently have
• stretch my creativity

Do you think you could make the same commitment? Want to join me?

Crafty goodness

I've been doing more work on the yo-yo quit. Well, to be truthful, just a small part of the quilt - the making of the yo-yo's. I've got around another 1,000 to make for the 9-patches, then I have a yo-yo sashing to make, and then an outside border - you guessed it - made out of yo-yo's.

I'm a bit worried that I might run out of fabric. I've been trying to use up all the "ugly" fabric - as they actually look pretty darn good as yo-yo's.

I plan to do this project over the next 2 years. Not because it will actually take that long, but because it is my "relief" project. What I mean is that I do this one in-between other projects to give me a breather.

Anyway, here's a progress photo.


Eventually each yo-yo will get colour matched, and converted into 9 patches. Like in this image.


As I was going through my fabric to find more ugly fabric, I pulled out an old project that I created back in 2007. This project is quite different for me. I don't usually do "big", and this quilt has BIG squares. My plan is to do free-form hand quilting, e.g. minimal marking on the top, and just going with the flow. Consider it an exercise in creativity.

In 2008 I bought the backing and batting. Here we are in 2009, and I finally basted it. I've already named it... Paws a Plenty.

Here it is, in the hoop.


Oh, forgot to mention, an exciting purchase I made. I bought a pre-loved spinning wheel recently for $30! It's an Ashford Traveller SD. They retail here at around $560! It's needs a little bit of work, but something I know I can do. Here it is sitting in the corner of the room, awaiting repair.

Table runner completed

The hand quilting has been completed, piping has been added to the outside edge. and binding attached. It is finished! Wahooo!

Here is a close-up of the hand quilting.


And here's the finished table runner.

Whacky weather

The weather has been so strangely lately. Last night is was cold. Cold enough that I couldn't do any handcrafts. Anyone that knows me, knows that this is VERY serious :) So, on went the heat pumps. Crisis averted. Today, it is really hot. Must stay inside, so that I don't get sunburnt, but I've also got to get some air flow through the house. Very strange.

I had a head cold last week, and was absolutely miserable. My head is still a little congested, but much better now.

This weekend, I've diverted my attention to a table runner. Currently hand quilting it, with my new thimble. Oh how I love the ThimbleLady thimble!!! If you have a chance to try one out, I would highly recommend it.

The table runner, will be a lovely addition to my dining room table, which is pre-loved, and comes scratched in the centre. The table runner should hide the table's problem areas :)

And here's the table runner...


Now I know that I've been jumping from project to project. To be honest, I'm feeling quite burnt out, and generally indecisive at the moment. Work is really demanding and taking a lot of energy. I hope to get my handcrafting mojo back soon, and stick with 1 or 2 projects - through to completion :) Could this be a bad Tui advertisement - followed by the words "Yeah Right" - I am a crafter after all.

Tea Cosies

I've been making tea cosies. They are such fun to make, and really do keep your tea warm. Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE tea.

So here are some cosies that I've finished, I made the patterns myself.

Fabric fridge magnets

I have been looking for ways to perk up my neutral coloured kitchen. Sometime ago I decided to do that with accents in orange. I've picked up a few bits and pieces over time, but there are still a few gaps.

My latest decision was to make fabric covered fridge magnets, to put a splash of colour onto the fridge. They are super easy to make. Here's what I did:

• take self covered buttons - I used Birch self cover buttons 17mm
• remove the backs - I did this with pliers
• cover the buttons per instructions supplied in your pack
• glue the magnet to the back - the magnet must be smaller than the button, you can also purchase these from the haberdashery section of your craft store - the glue I used was UHU glue
  

The end result...



Instructions are freely available on the web. I used these instructions from "All Things Lovely". You could also check this site out too "How about orange..."

Cushions

Almost 2 years ago I bought a whole pile of cushions on sale. They weren’t the prettiest (okay they were downright ugly), but it was cheaper to buy these cushions than purchase the inserts. I had good intentions to recover them, but you know the story; busy life, and competing projects.

Anyway, a friend has held me accountable and encouraged me to finish at least one by the end of September. So here is the start of my first cushion cover.



Yes the colours are bright. I watched a few of Ann Maurice’s “House Doctor” programs a few years ago, and was inspired on how she worked a colour theme through-out the house. My starting colour was green.

These 4 colours are the accents in the lounge. I’m using these colours in various combinations in other rooms of the house. For example; the bathroom has accents in turquoise, the bedroom has accents in purple, the kitchen has accents in orange, the dining room has accents in orange and green… etc. The back of the “3-in-1 Color Tool” by Joen Wolfrom explains colour theory – which for me is very helpful.