WOW: Back to Shirt Collars

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

As I try to downsize and minimize, I keep finding things that are too good to throw away quality wise but too boring to keep in their present condition. This week I've been sorting through my wardrobe - and I found some excellent jumpers in need of some revival - so you know what that means? More collars of course! I don't know about you, but I just like collars - on everything! It seems like more and more collars are being neglected on garments and this is not a trend I'm a fan of. In fact, the last few tops I've tried on at the stores have had enormous necklines, really wide and low - I honestly don't know who's wearing them?!

I just love creating collars with my beautiful quilting fabrics. Most of you already know that I've been here before, I do it each winter, it's just fun and so practical as well and a good excuse to allow myself permission to buy extra fabrics - like these here: what do you think?

I know I just finished a set of shirts a few months ago, but its winter now and that means its time for a set of revived jumpers and I've decided that there's just too much black everywhere. Of course, I do love wearing black like so many women, but I'm going to ban it without some beautiful fabric pepping it up on the collar and cuffs. It's my compromise.

I waited years to find clothes that reflected my colouring and were practical as well as stylish - they were few and far between. So, now I just make my own. What about you? Have you been driven to revamp your wardrobe?

What's your WOW ?

An InLinkz Link-up

Here's My New Tablecloth!

Quickest WOW ever, I love getting projects completed in under 48 hours!

This fabric is just gorgeous, it reminds me of Dutch blue plates which also reminds my of one of my new BOM designs. I think it's a fine fabric for a tablecloth. And being cotton means that its so easy to wash. Unfortunately it also means I'll have to iron it each time I wash it, and I do hate ironing but I think the beauty of having it makes up for that (and you never know, one of my DDs might offer to do it ..?)

The fabric had 'borders' which I cut out and stitched around as the hem to finish off the tablecloth as the table itself is oval shaped. I was going to use a lovely wide navy blue ribbon I had, but it would mean far too much ironing and buckling later on and I do like my tablecloths to hang straight. Because of this, I usually select heavier weight fabrics and light upholstery prints for my special occasion cloths but even they need ironing when un-packed so I guess its just something you can never get away from!

I have to iron the center crease in after each wash or I'll never get it centered on my table! This trick really helps and saves me walking around trying to tug it into position. I also starch the tablecloth so that the center line stays.

And this is the real reason this particular fabric print caught my eye; my tableware is all white and the blue and white print with patches of french toile makes each meal feel like a scene from a rural painting....

At least until the washing up...

Have a beautiful weekend

WOW: Quickest Tablecloth Ever

WOW = WIPS On Wednesdays

Time just flies when I'm working on LE, but I need to take frequent breaks from it, to give my eyes a rest - its incredible how much eye strain I've been having lately with all my hand sewing and intense focusing! I need a little break to keep my perception fresh about the colours and fabrics I'm working with too. I find that when I spend all day with the same fabrics, it's good to put is aside for a few days and then re-look at it with 'fresh eyes',  it's interesting how just a few days can really change your mind about colour choices. 

I'm lucky enough to have an extra large table that serves as our dining table (officially) but is really just an excuse for me to design and create in the middle of the house. It needs a daily tablecloth so I can distinguish my creative time (hardwood) from our eating time (tablecloth). I have one tablecloth for special occasions, but I need a daily one and making one is long overdue. I just never have the time. I was considering making a patchworky HST tablecloth from the thousands of fabrics in my stash - but I don't actually want to invest that much time in it right now (although the idea definitely appeals). Yesterday I stumbled across this wide-back fabric which I've had in my stash for years. There's enough of it to make a tablecloth and napkins so that's what I'm doing. Today I'm measuring up the napkin sizes and later in the afternoon I will simply turn the edge of the fabric and call it another finished WIP!

Does anyone bother with tablecloths anymore? Do you?

I like the ceremony of setting a table for family time. Maybe it's an old fashioned idea, but I think some old fashioned ideas have merit and sitting down when you can, to spend time with family seems more precious the older I get. My DDs don't think a tablecloth is necessary at all. Perhaps my new blue one will change their minds... Personally, I can't wait to lighten my stash and set the table for dinner. 

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Earliest Quilt WIP

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays

Here's an early quilt of mine, made in my first year of quilting. I guess you could say it's my oldest WIP! It's 13 years old. That's a long time to have to wait to be basted and quilted!

Actually, I still like it and I definitely will quilt it..

eventually...

What's Your Oldest WIP?

Love Entwined Part 13 is Launched

It's time for the willow motif to take it's place

It's interested me that so many of you mentioned in your BOM Group sign up, that you'd always wanted to make the 'willow' quilt from the Averil Colby book.

Hmmmm, I thought, what willow quilt are they all talking about?!

In the original, I always 'saw' this motif as a palm tree and never questioned what I saw until so many of you duly informed me that it was willow. I think I was influenced by the angels turning throughout border 3 and assumed a palm tree was a kind of natural allegorical progression. However, upon looking more closely, it was obvious that you were all right! So this month it's time to put into place that design element which has spoken and reached out to so many of you over the years through the pages of a book: the willow.

The willow motif is applied diagonally over all of the four fabric corners of Border 3 and each willow motif slightly overlaps the side applique of Parts 11 & 12 on each side.

Cut the pattern out of paper first and make any adjustments  for each direction as required so that it will perfectly fit your own quilt.

On the original, it appears that there might be broderie perse cut outs scattered around the willow. The spaces around the willow are all perfect spots for embellishing. I suggest you add any suitably sized shapes or embellishments all around and between the willow as suitable, according to your fabric and embellishing style so far.

Which brings us this far

which leaves me somewhat speechless... has this BOM really come this far? already?

Can't wait to see the progress pics this month...

‘Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet’ is a Free 18 Month Historic BOM

Each ‘block’ of the month is released monthly, on the 15th of each month. 

All ‘blocks’ are available for download via my Yahoo BOM Group only

WOW: Prioritizing WIPs

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday 

I'd actually forgotten I ever made this quilt top, until I found it last night in a cupboard. This is the risk of having so many WIPs, you might actually forget some of them exist! This quilt needs to be basted and quilted. I'm in a real dilemma with it because I have several quilts to be basted and don't have the time to do it myself (on the floor, using the wooden plank method) and my quilting time is so precious nowadays. 

I'm not sure what I'll do with it at the moment. I have some more sorting to get through this week. I have been downsizing for about 3 years (attempting to downsize might be a more accurate description) but whenever I decide to straighten things out, I find hidden gems and get distracted all over again. 

The plan today is to uncover all these put aside my WIPs and come up with a basting plan for them so I can finally have them finished!

What's Your WOW ?

WOW: The Vases Have Spoken

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

I think I've found the perfect fabric for my vases - and just when I wasn't looking. This quilt is really having its own way with me: all my original ideas are gone, I just let the quilt decide. And this beautiful fabric goes beautifully with my patchwork style compass and crown. I love it when these finds just happen, what do you think?

What's Your WOW ?