Tedious, for sure

So, I was rather grumpy last night, and after laying out the pattern for my next quilt, I decided to attack that quilt that needs to come undone. I wasn't feeling much in the way of actually getting off my butt last night, so I parked myself on the sofa, with scissors, seam ripper, and mangled quilt, and began to pick.

It breaks down like this: I had only quilted about 1/4 of the quilt, if that. In about 3 hours of relatively constant picking, I maybe got through about 1/4 of that. It is time intensive, and super tedious. Not something I'm going to rush through, or strive to finish. It's that thing that's there when I need something to do with my hands, but don't really feel like doing anything. Or something to do to show that I'm not just a lazy bum who sits and watches tv. I'm actually doing something. The tv is just there in the background.

In other news, I'm thinking about revisiting crocheting. Not as a full time project, but as something to keep my hands busy, to take with me when I go somewhere. Sewing is not so portable (unless you feel like lugging a machine around), except maybe at the finishing stages. I've got a ton of yarn sitting in the basement. Who knows what might happen. Basically, my thinking is that I've unleashed this creative side of me, really released it, and have found a craft that I'm decent at, that I'm sticking with, that shows me, in a relatively short time frame, that I can in fact complete something worth completing. And now, when I'm sitting around with nothing to work on, it agitates me. So, the yarn will at least be a place holder when I can't take my sewing with me.

I love quilting.

I really love quilting. Sure, some parts of it are tedious. Some take more precision than I have patience for. Like Roy G. Biv.

But I've completed 3 so far, in a relatively short amount of time. And they've turned out rather well. and the last 2 will be for sale. I'm somewhat reluctant to hope someone will actually buy them, but you never know.

I've got several more projects in the works, and should be able to nearly complete them with the things I already have. One to sell, for sure. Another one that is almost finished but my machine and I weren't getting along so I have to take out all the quilting and start over. A third for a baby on the way. One for myself, and maybe one more for someone special. I'm being intentionally vague here.

I think that while I love the free motion thing, I might try out a straight stitching technique and see how that goes, and I think that in certain circumstances, the structure of straight lines might be more fitting.

In non-quilting news, my mother bought this book for me last night. I'm going to try a few things out. Clothing is something I haven't done yet, but I'm excited to try. The thought being that if I can put together a whole quilt, shouldn't I be able to master a simple dress?

A bust.

Stupid Joanns.  Why can't we have a decent fabric store somewhere close by?  Why is it that the only easily accessible store to me sucks so hard?  Needless to say, I didn't get what I needed.  I bought some sashing fabric, and some backing fabric.  I even took my fabric in with me.  The blue sashing?  It looked pretty decent in the store.  But I got home, and after nursing my stupid jaw, I decided to lay things out to see how it looked.  It looks like crap.  It looks ok with some squares, but with others, it's a total clash.  I thought maybe I could reverse the backing fabric (a tan khaki), but it's just too blah for the front I think.  Grr.  

So now, what will I do?  I guess the quilt is on hold for now, until I can make it to another Joann's.  I guess I could order something online, but I'm nervous about that.  Though....  I might check out the collection and see if anything catches my eye.  

I guess I will start on another project.  I've got two or three waiting in the wings.  

Goodbye H.S.S.Q.

Well, the good news is that the quilt survived the washing, and the drying. Tonight, it will become the first item for sale in our Etsy shop. I need to take some decent pictures of it, write a description, and post it. I'm sorta nervous, and also, even though I'm not a huge fan of it, I don't quite want to part with it. But I'm going to let it go. And hopefully it will be the start of a lucrative venture.

In other news, I abandoned Roy G. Biv for now. Not necessarily forever, but the whole piecing of triangles is damn near impossible for me. It was too frustrating, and after having sewn and sewn, only to have to disassemble things, only to put them back together and still not work right, well, I couldn't take it. So, it is off to sit in the corner alone. Maybe it'll be revived one day.

Instead, I started another quilt, with another charm pack. The squares are already pieced. Now I just need a trip to Joann's to pick out sashing (gray blue), backing (maybe flannel?), and some binding (which will probably match the sashing). I even had the forethought to bring them with me today so that I will be prepared to stop by the store, and actually match things. I'm also looking forward to this quilt as it is a little more masculine, perhaps perfect for a baby boy.

The moment before the moment of truth.

So, I finished my second quilt.  I like to call it "Hawaiian Seventies Swinger."  I put it through the wash, on gentle of course, and it didn't fall apart.  It is now in the dryer, so I'm just waiting for it to dry and hope that it remains intact.  I'm crossing my fingers.  If it passes the test, it will be for sale this week.  Price is to be determined, but I'm thinking I'm gonna try it at around $80.  Afterall, it is hand made, and another like it will never truly exist.  Plus it's on the larger lap quilt size.  

Worst case, no one buys it, right?

In other news, I'm working on a zigzag quilt.  The piecing of it is tedious and traumatic.  It is not lining up exactly, and that is pissing me off.  I'm hoping that the details won't be so noticeable once I assemble it.  I'm calling it "Roy G. Biv."  You know, like the colors of the rainbow?  The quilt has some pink, and 2 shades of green, and does not have any indigo or violet, but regardless, I'm putting it together in consecutive color order, thus the rainbow correlation.

Pictures of H.S.S. will be posted as soon as it comes out of the dryer. 

Something finished.

The baby quilt for my friend, Melissa, and her soon to be born baby, Susie.  It was well received.  You can see the chenille backing in the second picture, nice and cuddly for baby.  Though they decided to hang it on the wall in the nursery.  Huge compliment, for sure.  

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