Friday, April 10, 2015

Haste Makes Waste

Well, I did sew together the April assigned blocks for Gypsy Wife.  They are the ones with a checkmark in the photo below.  But I am going to have to backtrack a bit and fix a couple problems.  
  1. That block in the bottom row with the green center looks really out of shape, so I need to go back and press it into submission.  Otherwise it is a do-over.
  2. The top left block is going to the chopping block.  It was not supposed to look like the black hole.  Way too dark.  A new plan for the colors is needed.
  3. The little square-in-a-square block lower right also needs a do-over.  I had some nice black on white text fabric in the center, but forgot that it would look so different with the corner pieces attached.  It came out looking odd with the white gap in the middle.

So, as you see, there is always a chance to edit!  I do like that heart block in the top row, it gives me a little Gypsy Wife love!


Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Food For Thought

I found an interesting online discussion that applies to the sewing and quilting that we love to do.  It pertains to the cost and pricing of items to be sold.  I, like many of you, have been asked to make something for someone when they see a great quilt or bag that you have made.  It's kind of a sticky situation, because they generally don't have any knowledge of the cost of materials and the time that it takes to make something of any quality.  I think that often, the textile arts and needlework are seen as a hobby only, not something of great artistic value.  Maybe it's thought of as something that we do in our "spare time", not understanding that for many people, it is an art and source of income.

Here's the discussion that triggered these thoughts, and I would love to know what you think!

Sunday, April 5, 2015

It's April, So Gypsy Wife Continues...

First, I have to admit, I am feeling pretty good about just keeping up with the Gypsy Wife quilt monthly assignments for this sew-along.  Hopefully my luck will last!  It's always easy to start a plan like this, but can be very hard to stick with it all the way through.  At least, that's my experience!  

Here is the collection of the blocks I have made for the first two months, following the plan here:


These are not in any kind of arrangement nor order, just stuck up on my design wall randomly.  I have started to think about where these blocks belong in the final layout, but there is a long way to go before I can start putting sections together.  I have also started cutting some long 1 1/2" strips from the assorted prints, because they are used in and around and above and below all of the blocks.  Some carry through from the top to the bottom with block interruptions.  I'm not quite sure what I am doing with that, but I do realize that I will need some long strips, so to save having to piece strips together, I am cutting some now and setting aside for later.  

There has also been some stash improvements, as I see what I need more of to keep a balance.  Some were pieces that I find as I look into my own stash, some are pieces that are new.  It's good to see them in a picture like this, because I can see the value better; i.e., light, medium, dark within the color family.  Looks like most of my golds are mediums, so I will have to see about augmenting that little group with another dark and probably a light.  I haven't included my assorted light/background type of fabrics here.  


I picked out fabrics for the April blocks:


...complete with labels so I know what my first intentions were.  I may have to make some substitutions, but I didn't cut anything yet.  Most of these are Courthouse Steps blocks in varying sizes.  I will start cutting the pieces and get them arranged so I can get a better idea of how they are going to turn out.  Stay tuned!