Don't faint - I quilted!

Twice! I mean, they're only baby quilts but still. Quilts!

This one was for my Mum's friend's new granddaughter. I had a huge clear out of my scraps and have gave them all away but kept enough to make this. 

Here's my before pic of my scraps. The little boxes have charm size and smaller,  the bigger ones are partial fat quarters.

I gave the smaller ones away, sold the larger pieces and now they all live in that beige basket. In fact, this is my entire stash!

It meant I could get rid of two bookcases (one of them huge!) and make enough room for a gallery wall! I've collected these pictures for years,  It's so nice to see them hung.

Anyhoo, quilts. I had the border and binding fabrics and found this cracking Japanese print in a sale section online.

It's not my usual style but was really happy with it and got a lovely thank you note from the new wee family.

This one is much more my style! A charm pack and some solid white and we were off! I even did some hand quilting.

It was for my cousin's daughter's baby (yes, my younger cousin is now a Granny!!) And I'm not entirely sure 17 year old mum was that bothered for it. But my Aunt (baby's Great Gran!) loved it! *g*

And during the clean up I found a load of teeny tiny Polaroid blocks from Dolores. I was in a mission to use stuff up so they became a giant floor cushion cover!

It's perfect in my wee quiet corner - do you like my crochet throw? My Mummy gave me it for Christmas - she made it!!

And I do believe that's me about up to date with makes! I have one new outfit (jeans, tee shirt, hoodie) but that was finished just last week. I've been busy while I've been away!

Lovely gifts

I've been the recipient of some lovely things lately. Firstly a belated birthday present from my Muckhart Quilters pal Claire. Pink and green and cats! She knows me well, eh?

In fact, it's a rather spiffing match for the travel tool kit she made me for Christmas and my Sew Together bag. So it now lives as my travel storage/thread catcher bin. Cool, eh? Thanks, dude!!

And this wee guy? Well this was what I swapped with Collette for one of my rings. She has been making the most amazing original art the last few months and this wee bird on his zentangle rock was my absolute favourite. He just needs a frame and he can go and live in my wee room. I definitely have a thing for pink and green, no?

Lovely things all round! I have met such lovely, talented people on my crafting travels. On the web and in the flesh!

witchy woman

I took a brief break from the obsessive knitting last night for a wee painty diversion. You see, I bought a meaningful little print with some birthday money from my Aunt and Uncle (the rest went on my first sock yarn and pins!) from this brilliant artist Steelgoddess, you'll find her Etsy shop here. I forget what I was browsing for but her illustration of a grumpy fairy trapped in a jar caught my eye. And then I spied this auld girl and it was kismet.

Yes, that's a steam punk witch leading the geese flying south. Heh. Family legend has it that my Beloved Wee Granny is a bit of a witch. It's okay. She's a good witch. And look how amazing the packaging was! Hee! I do love some whimsy in my letter box.

Anyways, I was after a black baroque curly-wurly frame for my wee 5x7 print (all I have room for!) And I came up empty after 6 weeks of hunting. Harumph.

Then today I found this guy when out buying air freshener and toothpaste. It's the wrong colour but the right size and style. Hell. I could fix the colour!!

So I bought it and a can of black, matt spray paint. Here's my supplies - the Plastikote was bought for the steam punk Halloween outfit 2 years ago.

I took the frame to pieces and gave it 2 light coats of the black. Then let it dry for half an hour (that paint dries super fast, I've used it before.)

And then I set about dry brushing the brass on. See how it shows all the detail? Perfect!

Popped the glass back in and my print et voila!

Here she is on the landing (steam punk central!) with a few matching bits. 

I'm thrilled to bits with how she's turned out.  The frame was found in Poundland and is plastic - I'll let you figure out how much it was. *g* And the spray paint was from there as well. So for two quid I found the perfect frame and can display my precious wee print. No bad, I reckon!  

the Magical Mice of Podthiki.

A couple of years ago while buying new hammocks for our sadly missed wee rats, the rat-hammock-maker pointed me in the direction of her friend's wee handmade meeces. Michelle from Podthiki Goblins makes the most adorable sock goblins, meece and owls and I have long been a Facebook follower of hers. I bought a blue stripey meece back then - he currently resides in a white wooden storm lantern in my living room. Well on occassion she also has the most wonderful artwork for sale and a few weeks ago was showing her newest completed work. I had some money from a certain old lady burning a hole in my pocket (of course, none other than Beloved Wee Granny) and when I saw Michelle's subject matter my only question was "is this for sale?!?"

Yes, it is a stitchy witch's shelf!! Us grandchildren have long since suspected Granny of being a bit spooky (in the nicest, benignest magical way) so really, with the stitching and rodents this was a no-brainer for me. I confess, I was unprepared for the quality of Michelle's artistry!

It really is the prettiest, most detailed picture. It's not small, either, about 21 x 12in with its mount.

I'm not sure where to put it. On the landing when I finally finish painting it, maybe. It needs to have its wee meece sitting nearby so just hanging on a wall won't do. And I want to be able to see it nice and clearly. Not a bad problem to have though, eh?

some last minute January sewing stuff

So, I was invited to be in the Fab Little Quilt Swap a few weeks ago. It's a secret swap so I don't know who is making for me but my partner has fairly specific, if wide varied, tastes. This first mini quilt top was based on a photo she has in her Flickr favourites and I confess I love it to bits. Even though it's not in my colours. Maybe that's just as well coz I wasn't happy with it (it just seemed too ...simple) so I'm keeping it.

And she's getting this one. Once it's quilted and things, obviously. It's based on.....well, let's just say it's pertaining to her profession and leave it at that. I'm really pleased with it; I hadn't free pieced like this before. You know, chop into the fabric and go with it sort of thing. A bit gung ho and I loved it!! I do like how it has a really strong modern art vibe about it, too. I will have to do one for myself.

In smaller sewing things. Chook is collecting Moshi Monsters (anyone with kids under 10 will know what I mean - unless you're really lucky!!) and you may remember she got a much longed-for figure Gigi at Christmas. She's been a bit wary of taking her to school (there's been some small incidents of thieving lately) since she doesn't always have her trousers on with the zippy pockets to keep her safe. So I offered to make a wee snug for her to hang on her badge lanyard.

God, things that small are nigh on impossible to machine!! I managed, though (although I wish I had remembered to top stitch that flap!) and Chookie is a happy girl.

As is Gigi herself!

I can't believe how loooong January has been! I can't remember if I've sewn much but we'll no doubt find out tomorrow when it's Fresh Sewing Day. I think I may go and hunt out some photos to see...

on modern art.

I appreciate art of most schools. But I LOVE modern art. Specifically early to mid 20th century stuff. You know the sort: cubism, expressionism, minimalism and op art (without the P!). Some favourite artists in a loooong list would be,

Jackson Pollock (Summertime - 9A)

Piet Mondrian (Composition with yellow, blue and red)

Giacomo Balla (Abstract Speed and Sound)

Bridget Riley (Kiss)

Now, I know not everyone likes modern art. A very dear friend always said she just doesn't "get" it and she likes her painting to look like things.

"But, Lynz, what is it supposed to beeee?!?!"

*snort* It's supposed to be something pretty to look at, dearest! What makes a drift of tulips beautiful? The colour? The shapes? Same thing, innit? So why can't pretty shapes and colours on a canvas or wood be appreciated just for being pretty? Tulips don't mean anything! They just ARE.

I'll be the first to admit that I am an intelligent woman who doesn't enjoy particularly cerebral things. I like trashy books and escapist telly. I don't enjoy debating politics or religion (I have barely an opinion on one and an unshakeable and frankly quite bald opinion of the other) and likewise I'm not overly thoughtful over my art loves. But that's it right there. I love them. It's purely an emotional response, not an intellectual one. I mean, yeah, I see dancers in the Pollock above and the residual movement of whatever has whizzed through the Balla, a sexy curve in the Riley but I don't actively look for things in them. Sometimes things pop out but I'm equally quite happy to just appreciate them for being pretty - the Mondrian I have always loved (I think it's the straight lines - so unusual!). Does that make me a bit shallow? Or a bit of a flake?

Frankly? I don't care. Although I will admit to not "getting" most YBA installations. You know the ones. Unmade beds and the like. I mean, huh? Even the shark in formaldehide has more interest than that!!!!