Octagon quilt layout

It's a rainy morning so I've used part of it to do a job I've been avoiding - trying to complete the layout of octagons for my friend's quilt. I wanted it to contain no duplicates in a row - but whilst this worked horizontally, it didn't work vertically in all cases and became quite complicated because more than anything I was trying to avoid major clashes in colours and patterns.

So, here is what I have come up with and having walked around it and photographed it from all sides....I think it's ok. And really, if it's going to be loved and used as a cosy cover-up, does it really matter that there's a purple Oriental pattern next to a purple-wash cotton?....

The light isn't great today and the flash wasn't doing the colours justice, but hopefully sans flash this has captured the essence quite well.

The rows are now numbered and stacked in a box, and over the next few weeks I will sew together a row at a time.

 
The small interconnecting squares are being basted between other jobs.....

 .......so considering that this is to be a Christmas present, work is progressing nicely and on target - always a good feeling.

First steps in landscape architecture.

It has been such a long time since I wrote anything! Two reasons - the Giro d'Italia took over the last 3 weeks of my life, relegating creativity. Also, there's been a heatwave after 4 weeks of constant rain, so there is MUCH to do outdoors.
Energy and time permitting though, I have been working on a new project for the joint blog which I mentioned a couple of posts ago - the one where I am pressurised every month to come up with ideas for themes and then create something accordingly.
May's theme has been My Favourite Book, which was actually one of my suggestions, so I'm pleased that the other group members responded to it. I chose Wuthering Heights, a novel I studied many years ago for 'A' Level English Literature and I have loved it ever since. It is an incredibly complex, multi-layered book full of passions and high emotions. What I love most though is the importance of nature within the novel and the link it has with all the characters. Central to this of course are the moors - wild, bleak, and the root of the bond between Catherine and Heathcliff.
It was the moorland which I decided to use as a guide for my piece of work and so I created a textile landscape. I did not want a lush, green portrayal, but rather a more earthy, limited colour range to try to capture some of the bleakness of the place. I wanted the sky to be a foreboding, intense one, and quite heavy in feel.

I used felt, wool, cottons, ribbons, lace and a variety of threads to build up layers and blocks.

I deliberately left ragged edges to fabrics and I wanted the stitches to be visible and a central part of the piece.

I dare say that June's theme will be chosen within the next few days and the new adventure will begin....

Small squares update

Despite some doubts as to whether I would be able to persevere with the one-inch square project, of course I have continued to work on it and thought I would share my progress so far. I sewed together 6 of the 8 inch squares ( manageable chunks ) and am delighted with how it looks so far. The piece is very intense and so pretty. I am doubtful now as to whether it will be used as a quilt - it seems far more attractive an idea to have it as one of those ' hang on the wall ' pieces of which I am very fond. I love the colours....everything - however disparate it initially seems - just goes together.

The piece as you see it is currently 24 x 16 inches ( 60 x 40cm ).

Close-up of work. All hand-stitched and what quality thoughts I've had whilst stitching away....

I intend to continue in this vein, sewing together 8 inch pieces of work and then deciding from there what feels right with regards to a final size.

My other ( blog ) life.

A few weeks ago I was asked by a neighbour if I'd like to be part of a new collective blog she was thinking of starting up for 'creative types.'  Flattered to be even considered creative, I said yes. And then went through all the doubts of ''only being asked to make up numbers'', how I'd look like the numpty compared to everyone else etc etc. It's a small group - a photographer, a puppet-maker ( wow! ), graphic artist, artist 'proper' and myself. The instigator asked how we felt about having a monthly theme where we all suggest words/topics and we each come up with an interpretation. For me this is scary....but quite exciting as it may well push me to work in different mediums and in different sizes. April's theme was two blog member's suggestions put together -  'Moonlight and Dreamtime.' 
I was inspired by Aboriginal Dreamtime philosophy - which led beautifully into thoughts about the native artwork consisting of dots. I tried to merge this with the moonlight tag and came up with an inky blue and silver theme, with the moon reflecting its light onto mountain-tops.
An embroidered piece consisting of French knots ( or my interpretation of ) seemed ideal. So here goes....

I used a thin calico-type cotton for the base and embroidery silks in a limited palette.

Quite a few hours and some wonky lines later, the finished piece is released from its hoop shackles and pressed.

In detail

It is intended for a frame and will certainly be photographed that way for the joint blog project. Hopefully the work won't look shabby compared with how others have interpreted the theme. And now there's just May's project to decide upon and fret about......I'll post the results here.

Gus goes global.

Gus has finally got himself a Twitter account, which is more than I have. I don't know where he finds the time.....

https://twitter.com/#!/GustheGorgeous

Mustang Stephanie...

I know that this blog is primarily about sewing and making, but there are other aspects to my life and sometimes these will invariably seep into these pages. Today is one of those occasions. Whilst out on my rounds this morning, this is what I saw....

Some women dream about Manola Blahnik's, some women drool over Gucci bags. I fantasize about muscle cars and a Mustang is at the the top of my list. Thankfully I had my camera with me so I pulled over and took a few photos. If I ever come into money I'll buy one of these beauties, load up the cats and take off......I might even take my sewing.
I am very tempted to go back wearing my Daisy Duke hotpants, loiter around and hope that the owner ( please look like Steve McQueen ) turns up and offers to take me for a spin. Despite everything my mother taught me, I'd probably say 'yes.'

Squaring up...

Last week I was so full of gusto - that one inch square quilt seemed like such a marvellous idea. A few days on and I'm actually wondering what is wrong with me, or what is missing from my life that sewing together small squares ever seemed like an attractive idea. The possible answers frighten me somewhat....so let's just conclude that I'm feeling a little jaded and that, like marathon runners, I've 'hit the wall.' And I've only completed an 8 inch square. Things will pick up I'm sure....

So, my evenings have consisted of cutting and basting and ending up with this little lot....I'm actually wishing that the tin was full of chocolates rather than one inch squares.

And here is the first set of squares sewn together. I am pleased with it but it's very time-consuming. But it will be a true work of art when completed, and I'm not one to give up. I'm glad I've got the other quilt to work on too...the 4 inch octagons seem like giant shapes compared to these tiddlers!

I've decided that I'd like a few yellow squares within each 8 inch piece - and that's been a fine excuse to buy some ( more ) lovely pieces of fabric. Hopefully I can make up one or two of these composite squares each week. As well as putting together the octagon quilt. And working on the pile of other smaller projects I have. And birthday and christmas presents. I am off to the gym for a break : )