CRAFTY | QUILT WHILE YOU’RE AHEAD

…shimmering saltwater stalled…

June has not been my month for getting much of anything done and I’ve found it extremely frustrating.  I had big plans for June and they just all seemed to come crashing down around me.

June was a “free” month on my list of 12 Quilts in a Year and I had planned to get my Shimmering Saltwater (you can buy the pattern for Shimmering Triangles by clicking here (affiliate link)) completed and my Quarterly Challenge piece.  Neither of them are anywhere near completion. In fact, in the crazy that has been June I seem to have lost a big stack of HST for my Shimmering Saltwater and I have no clue where they could be.  (I have a sinking feeling they’ve made their way into the bin somehow…)

To add to the growing sense of panic and frustration I have signed up to do a Dena Crane True Quilts Workshop on Friday 5 July.   I have been looking forward to the class because finishing a quilt is the step that I missed out on in my beginners quilt class because I was recovering from IVF surgery.  Of all the quilts I’ve “made” I’ve sent them all out to be commercially quilted and finished and so in my heart of hearts I don’t actually think I can call myself a quilter as I’ve never finished one by myself.

I’d like to change that and this workshop is what I’m hoping will give me the confidence, skills and courage to actually do 100% of a quilt. The only catches is that the course requires you to have 2 quilt tops ready to go so that you can practice the techniques in class.  I don’t have any quilt tops completed.  I’m screwed.

I have plans for quilt tops in my head that I’m hoping I’ll get to realize this weekend, but I feel like I’m going to be pushing it to the limit to get that done.

Image source: Happy Zombie

July is supposed to be my giant star quilt made from Happy Zombie’s Winterkist fabrics. I have had the fat quarter bundle of this fabric for nearly a year and in the past few days I’ve pulled it out and been looking at it and thinking about my plans for it and I’m not sure whether the fabric is going to work in a giant star; I’m not sure there’s going to be enough contrast…

The other thing that has me perplexed about using this fabric is the scale of the print.  I’d like to choose a pattern that will showcase the Gnoma Clause (the whole reason I purchased this fabric!).  I’ve been looking for quilt pattern inspiration and it’s really not happening in relation to this project, maybe this is one of those times I should just trust my first instinct and do what I’d planned.

August is slated to be my Halloween quilt and I’ve been thinking a lot about it in the past few days.  I’m really excited to make a Halloween quilt (I love the use of bright colours and the subject matter in the modern Halloween fabrics) I just can’t decide what pattern to use for it or what fabrics to buy. (First World problem, or what?)

I’ve been surfing the internet looking at fabric and patterns but inspiration is yet to strike.  (I’m also holding out to see what fabrics come into the local fabric stores and what sales are happening closer to August so I can maximize my limited budget.)

In the meantime, I have found inspiration and patterns that aren’t on my 12 Quilts in a Year list but have somehow made it on to the playlist.

Image source: Jen Kingwell Designs – Midnight at the Oasis

I find a lot of (lust worthy) inspiration on Instagram and for the past few months I’ve been watching with interest as people around the world work on (and complete) medallion quilts.  I had never even heard of them before or what makes a quilt classed as a medallion, but I was intrigued and looking for a project.

As luck would have it Amitie Textiles were having a sale on Jen Kingwell patterns and so I decided to splurge and buy 2 of her patterns as an incentive to get out of my comfort zone and try something new.

I’m not a hand stitcher by any means and the thought of applique scares the you-know-what out of me, but a lot of the quilts I love are appliqued and I know that if I put my mind to it and practice I could be passable at it.  (Enough to be able to make quilts for my own amusement and enjoyment!) I just have to get past my fear of failure.

So I purchased Midnight at the Oasis and I’m going to give it a go.  I love that it’s a mix of traditional patchwork blocks (something I’m confident I can do) and applique (something I will learn to be confident at doing).

Image source: Jen Kingwell Designs – Georgetown on my Mind

I also purchased Georgetown on my Mind (I’m a sucker for a star pattern). I’m going to hold on to this pattern in the stash and one day make it. As much as I love it I’m not quite ready for all those unforgiving points and circles.

Image source: Oh Fransson! – Tokyo Subway Map Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman

I also purchased a pattern I have long admired and dreamed of having a go at; Tokyo Subway Map. I’m in love with the organised scrappiness of this quit and I have a few dreams about how it will come together already floating around in my head.

I’m not quite sure when I’ll get around to doing this one, but I love knowing that it’s there ready for me to tackle when I have the plans finally sorted out.

June hasn’t been a total wipeout – there have been some things that I’ve managed to squeeze out in between all the madness of visits, birthday parties, illness and Guild commitments. It’s just not been the month that I had hoped… and that’s ok, I just have to get back on the horse and make July a stronger month.

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