Thankful for what we have...

Off they go...into the wild blue yonder, flying high...up in the sky!  I went along to the airport to drop Noah off on Saturday.  Yes, I was sentimental that my number two son has finished high school and is now on his way into his own life...BUT...it was also a moment to give him some advice about the schoolies week he was about to participate in up in Queensland.  Stay off balconies, use your head at all times, look both ways before you cross the street and where there is trouble be you not!  What mother doesn't say to her son, "I DON"T WANT TO SEE YOU ON THE NEWS!"  Then there were the other tips about experimenting in life's more illustrious areas but I needn't comment here about that.  Go forth, be safe...don't use forget to stay alert...just a reminder in case he stops the fun to read my blog...uh huh. Delusions abound.

Here is Judy, she is on the convict ship with me and making her quilt.  Judy has chosen to do a bit of applique and a lot of triangles that are cut without any rulers or templates and just that 2k bag of fabric.   Look at her!  She is basking in the moment as we all exclaimed at the progress she has made.  It may not be her fabric choice but she is doing a great job of making an interesting quilt.

These triangles are wonky as can be but endearing. They don't call it a challenge project for nothing!  There is something about making do with what we have that is ever so rewarding.

The table turns to conversation about how she has done this and we all agree it is liberating to consider making a quilt in this manner.  Judy loves the fact that she can sit in a chair in the evening and make this quilt without any to and froing.  It all fits in the bag next to the chair.

At the complete opposite end of the quilting spectrum we have Amanda's angel.  This angel has been in the works for a while and has now nearly reached a heavenly end. 

It is all part of the process...imagine and make. It never existed before and here it is. I can't help but think back to watching as Amanda decided on wings and face fabrics, then the background, foreground and the rest.  One step at a time.  Sometimes we make these decisions alone, in the privacy of our own sewing areas but sometimes it is fun to get some input...firing line style.  What are these gals looking at?

There is a committee happening here...a committee of eyes.  Helena has been using the timeless tulip template and some divine reproduction fabrics from the V&A.  Now she wants to set them on squares but is contemplating a variety of styles.  We have an art deco style...

A pretty Moda floral...

And this sketchy thing which has always been one of my favourite applique backgrounds.

We put them all up on the wall so she could get a feeling for how they would look in comparision to each other.

And then let the comments flow.  This may appear to be confronting but in actual fact it is a great way to work through options.  Everyone sees something different.  In the end it is absolutely Helena's decision.  She has her own ideas but hearing what other people see extends that idea to include how it might be perceived.  The end result can be a bit more unbiased.  Personal taste or emotional attachment to a particular fabric gets molded by the objective review of others.  We can pretend we don't care what other people think but we do.  Once we know what they think we can then dispose of that information or use it if we choose.
 In another class Christine is up to setting her Kaffe Sampler.  The blocks are nearing completion and it is time to select the setting triangle fabrics.It is always worth while to audition a few options so I set about sampling options for her sampler.

The Marquee stripe is of course one of my favourite suggestions at the moment.  I am in love with this fabric and I think I want to marry it. 

We tried a variety of different fabrics. Each one looks completely different.  The other thing that happens here is that the fabrics look completely different hanging in full glory.  Although I have seen that one on the far left many times, I have never seen it drapped.  Often times a bolt of fabric isn't done justice viewed along the edge.  Some things need to be seen bigger than life.  In the end Christine can make her choice.  We set them up so she could look at them while she sewed so I don't even know what she selected in the end.

I have been doing the blocks with the Kaffe Sampler BOM.  As mentioned earlier, I have found this to be a fun and enlightening experience.  Going back to the basics has been a reminder of my own learning experience as it unveils the many layers of learning and skills acquired.  It is often a discussion we have about adding layers of understanding to this process of making quilts.  No one starts out knowing it all and as we go we add our own ideas to what has been set in stone.

Now, before I dash off, I have to share my weekend results.  Remember the street find...well LOOK at it NOW!!!!

I am absolutely thrilled with the results.  My stack of home dec fabrics is now proudly on display.  I love my stash but I like it even more when it is used.  That first reach into the cupboard is always accompanied by the thought "this is too good to cut up!"  However, once I cut it the real purpose is revealed...to be used!!!

So..pleased with the results I turned my hand to other projects in line.  A stack of the new Prints Charming fabrics fell in view of my eye.  Hmmm.  Here is my new cube stool!  Also found on the road side it is now full of charming prints!  You can't buy these items at Freedom...well you can but they don't look like this.  I saw these stools in the shop the other day.

So, on the eve of one year from finishing the outside of our house I started working on the inside.  I don't have a budget for buying furniture so I have decided to recover or make ( or find everything).  It made me really happy yesterday to finish a couple projects and fill a bit of space in our home with unique things.

If you too are interested in adding a bit of personal flair to your home decorating you might like to enroll in our Domestic Bliss class....Come to SWAP Day THIS SATURDAY IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT !!!!! and see the samples and ideas in person...counting down....six days and counting....k

Comments

[Michele]

It's so hard letting our littles loose. I'm totally stealing your "I don't want to see you on the news" mother tongue. Loved the eye candy as usual.

[Dolores @ A Labour of Love]

The two ottomans are gorgeous!

dxx

[Pia]

Hi Kathy ... I admire your wallhanging with the red (annamariahorner) bird fantasy... :-) You can look at it for hours and discover new shapes and fabrics...

Have a nice day!

Pia

[kompiuteriu remontas]

Such a beautiful ideas of home decorating! Very impressed!

[402300572]

http://www.coachfactoryoutletstoreonlinez.net

[Coach Factory Online]

I read your Coach Factory Onlineand I found it amazing .Your thought process is wonderful. The way you express yourself is awesome.