Tuesday, June 17

A Sewn Evolution

I am calling this my evolution story. It is not really very dramatic, or exciting, but I have been pleased with the process of it all. Small Grandson has been here for breakfast for the past 2 mornings, & he loves to play with the scraps off the scraps. He was a little crestfallen when he found out they may not be for a quilt for his use.


These 2 photos are with my first choice of border, just to frame the 'bursting out all over' centres. A black on black print. Somehow I couldn't seem to get clear pics, these seem a little fuzzy.


These past few days, the quilting mojo seems to have returned. I have been in an almost fever, sewing away, & getting these quilt tops to the backing stage.


I thought my quilty friends, or even non quilters, might like to see how I progressed these very casual scrap quilts. I am very happy to say they have come from stash too, which is always a bonus. I did purchase some baby jungle-animal print for the final border, once I decided what I wanted to do with that.
This was the next step, & I decided to use different fabrics for the border, & was determined to only use what I had on hand.


Here are the final 2 with the outer borders. I am now up to the batting & backing stage, which is my least favourite step in the construction, since I find it really hard on my back. These really are 'patchwork' since I had to improvise in some places. To me, that is "True Pioneer Patchwork Ethic"


Since I can no longer get down & dirty, ha ha down on the floor, I do my basting on a table, using a method I found on Keryn's blog. Thankyou Keryn!!
Once I get this done, the quilting will be very simple. After all, such busy quilts don't need elaborate patterns, & hopefully, the end result will look good in spite of the quilting! Also, children seem to be nonjudgmental, & don't look for perfect matching corners, or even "perfect". Sometimes, just love is the "perfect".
The strange winter weather is having the effect of keeping folks at home, snuggled up, as far as they can arrange. We had a partial day out yesterday, visiting various outlets for neccessities, with some degree of success. Bargains were to be found in the seafood section.. woo hoo, makes me happy!
The Gom is still happy with basic meals, & he is happy rearranging his freezer drawers in the upstairs freezer. Of course, this means every time I attempt to find a vegetable package or some other frozen goody, they have gone missing, or merely been relocated!
Goodness knows about the downstairs freezer- I feel it is safer not to ask!!
The visuals in the Front Garden are woeful! Gom has wielded a mean hand. Half the plants are decimated, the other half are bewildered & confused. When I enquired why some limbs of Grevillea are poked into the ground, I am 'assured' it will 'grow again'. Of course it won't!! It is much like the "late Parrot" of the Monty Python fame. They wrote this whole series with Gom in sight!!
Gom's father, was a small-framed man, who put up with all sorts of disappointments in his life. But he sure could grow things in his garden! He had a lovely big back yard, & he used every inch of the soil, to positive results. His potatoes were legendary, & generously shared. As were his wonderful peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, when he finally worked out how to grow them!!. The pumpkins were delicious!
I regret we have not got the space for vegetable growing. I loved the gardens of my childhood home. I loved the garden of my Father In Law. Gom has not one whisp of garden talent. The Anal distruction gene seems alive & well. I have to devise a way to curb it, & keep the level to a dull thrumm.....
John Denver, Sunshine on My Shoulders.



31 comments:

Anonymous said...

The jungle fabric finishes it all off beautifully!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

These are my most favorite of all kinds of quilts! Well done, Meggie! Best wishes with your garden plants, I feel your pain.

Leanne said...

Great looking quilts.

Anonymous said...

They look terrific. A finished project (or nearly-finished) is always a good thing too.

Joke said...

It has an excellent photomosaic sort of look to it.

-J.

Kitty said...

Meggie, those quilts are fantastic! x

approved said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pam said...

They're indeed lovely - you do make me wish I had time/talent to make beautiful things.

ancient one said...

I love the quilts! You've been busy!

My husband does pretty good with a garden. He loves to root boxwood. We've had squash and cukes from our garden...still waiting for a ripe tomato!

Maggie May said...

What fantastic quilts! I love them! I particularly like the one with the green border!

Tanya Brown said...

Your parrot comment made me snort, audibly. Let's be glad GOM hasn't taken an interest in your quilting supplies.

I love the quilts you've made. There's much to fascinate young hands and eyes. I remember a quilt my maternal grandmother made, patched from the odds and ends of sewing for seven kids. The textures and colors were mesmerizing. Of course, that may have partly been because 60s fabrics were so odd.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

The quilts turned out great. Some kids are really going to love them. The borders are great. Have fun with the quilting.

smilnsigh said...

How perfect, hu? The weather is keeping people in. And you have been 'well-bitten' by the quilting 'bug.' Hooray for great timing!

Now I can moan and whine about "You People Who Are Talented." -moan- -whine- -whimper- -sigh-

:-) I used to sew, just Jiffy patterns, but... So, I might be able to do some stuff. I just don't have the 'sewing bug' around these parts, to 'bite' me and get me going. -hehhhh- That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! >,-)

Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh blog

Thimbleanna said...

I love it Meggie! And I'm with you -- batting and backing are my least favorite part of the process.

The Sagittarian said...

Great quilts! I have been attempting to coerce my mate Pixie (see Pixie Post on my blog roll) into making me a quilt for so long! A good friend of ours made a quilt for our wedding, which was such a wonderful thing seeing as how much work goes into them (quilts and marriages!) - but our 10 year old loves it nad has it on her bed.

Linds said...

Beautiful!!! I love the quilts, Meggie. And you are right. Love is the "perfect" part of it all. Enjoy the quilting. I agree re the backing and batting bit too.

Anne Ida said...

Fabulous quilts, Meggie! The wildlife fabric in the last border frames them perfectly! They will be loved, I'm sure!

Jellyhead said...

Well lookie lookie the quilts are even better by the day! They are gorgeous Meggie.

Ragged Roses said...

I can't believe he's been at it again in the garden!! love the quilt, it's funny how somedays we just can't do any sewing and then other days there;s no stopping
Kimx

Mary Johnson said...

These quilts look great Meggie, wonderfully scrappy!

I don't have a gardening gene either although my Mom used to have a beautiful yard until the heat got too much for her. I'm trying to keep a couple pots of flowers alive on the deck - so far so good.

BBC said...

Laurel Ann made me a very nice special quilt, I sleep under it every night.

Working Mum said...

I love the random quilt. I made one when I was younger with scraps from my mum's sewing box. Every piece has a history (kitchen curtains, my skirt, brother's shirt, apron I made my mum, etc), I call it my "comfort quilt" and snuggle under it when I'm feeling under the weather.

Daughter joins me now, so I think I may collect material for her a quilt of her own. (When I'm no longer a working mum, obviously)

molly said...

Great quilts Meggie! Love the beige with purple spots border and the jungle print!. Who are the lucky recipients?

riseoutofme said...

Beautiful quilts Meggie ... I love the randomness of them ....

As for the Anal Destructive gene ... do ALL males have it, dyou think? A LIGHT pruning around here results in an image that would make a swarm of locusts look timid ...

Ali Honey said...

Oh Great progress on the quilts Meg. Isn't it amazing how adding borders changes the overall look. It calms that busy look right down. Have you got enough stash scraps to make Grandson a similar quilt? I can't remember if you have made him his own quilt or not ( you probably have ). Maybe you could make him one he just uses at your house.

I think GOM needs a Hobby! I certainly wouldn't be a gardener if I had to put up with that behaviour! I was just laughing thinking how he might go as a kiwifruit pruner!!!

Jeanne said...

Oh, the quilts are delightful!
Jeanne :)

Jeanne said...

Oh, the quilts are delightful!
Jeanne :)

Sheila said...

I was just visiting another blog, and I admired their quilting skills. I'll say to you what I said to her, I have neither the skill with a needle, nor the patience required to put it together. I envy those that do.
I spent this morning in the garden and was doing well until DH decided to 'help' bless him..!
He insisted on digging the last hole I needed to plant a new shrub, and so he 'took over'.
He did a wonderful job of the hole and only buried two newly flowering perennials, and trampled three more.
They're alright he assured me, just a bit squashed..
Grr...#%*%@...!!
hugs
xx

Kellie said...

THe quilts look great Meggie! I also hate the basting stage. I must take a look at that link you put up there ... that's where I'm headed right now!

jovaliquilts said...

What great quilts! Kids enjoy those scrappy quilts with novelty prints so very much!

caramaena said...

I like the green myself :)