Nearly Insane and other projects...

So I'm into/onto the last few blocks of my Nearly Insane.  After much deliberation, I've finally chosen a suitable fabric for the cornerstones and will start assembling the quilt top later this afternoon!  Wow!  Including a six month hiatus where I didn't look at it at all, it will have taken me about 18 months to finish. I still have the zig-zag border to make, but that won't take very long.

Here's my new temporary sewing nook:

And some cute fabric I picked up this morning on a thread run (I wish I'd kept track of how much thread I've used in my NI.  I'm thinking I'm into my third kilometer...).  I'm planning to use this in a cot quilt of some description for my soon to be nephew/niece - I'm tipping that it will be a niece : ).  I really need to get a move on as far as the designing & sewing of the cot quilt goes, seeing as we're into the last nine or so weeks, I think...

Time for an update...

So, here we are, several months later.  I've moved, so unfortunately I no longer have my awesome design wall.  There is a nook near the living room of my new place where I *could* set it up again, but I've decided against that, as one of my new roomies smokes like a chimney and I really don't want anything I create to reek of smoke.
My Nearly Insane quilt is at a standstill for the time being.  I've got about five blocks to go before I can assemble the quilt top, but I'm still trying to find the right fabric for the cornerstones.
My Dear Jane BOM is in its second month, and so far is proving to be fun.  I'm sure you know that you don't get sent a heap of any one fabric when you get your monthly packs for these things, but so far, I'm thinking I have enough leftover fabric to possibly make another DJ!  I'll have to wait and see.

Design Wall!!! #2

Here's the wall - made using a few metres of acrylic felt tacked to the picture rail in my room.  It's neat to be able to stand back and see how a project is taking shape : ).  Suddenly I'm finding the motivation to make a few more blocks this week!

The centre block is finally half done - woohoo.  It's taken ages and it has been quite annoying having to be so accurate *sigh* - still I'm pretty happy with the joins all in all so far.

Design wall!!!

It's official.  I finally, finally, FINALLY have a design wall.  Pics to follow : )

Shoulder Janes

Some people talk about having an angel and a devil that sit on their shoulder and whisper things into their ear.  I think I have shoulder quilts.  DJ keeps whispering in my ear and telling me it's time to step away from the Nearly Insane and The Morrell and focus on her for a while.  I've also been looking at the following Dear Jane BOM for 2012 at Stitchin'Heaven and thinking 'will I, won't I'.  My current sad and sorry attempt at the Dear Jane is a scrap quilt (or at least I hope it will be some day, but seeing as I've only managed to make five blocks so far...).  I'm leaning towards 'I will' - I'm thinking that receiving a fabric bundle each month will help keep me on track/task with this one : )

A (long awaited) finish

I made the top for this quilt about 14 years ago and only recently got around to taking it to my quilting place to get finished.  I got the call that it was done and so I went and got it yesterday after the quilt show.  I love love love how it turned out.  I really love the simplicity of the irish chain pattern and the gorgeous quilting in the cream blocks.
I may have had a slightly unfortunate mishap when trying to remove a couple of decade old fabric marker lines using a little bleach solution (it seeped through to the back and now I have three very small light spots on the reverse of it.....ooooops..... : S.  Still, in 50 years time, who's going to notice as I'm sure it'll collect other spots and marks in the future.

Thanks to quilt-model Murray - nice pose!

After a soak in the tub and drying overnight, I have to say that I'm really happy with the outcome.

In the barn!

Had a nice trip out to Wonga Park to check out the Quilts in the Barn yesterday.  Such a gorgeous day - sunny and warm - genuine Spring weather.  I'd lost the flyer and couldn't remember the address, so I ended up having to call my local quilt shop for the details...

The quilts on show were lovely. It's always interesting to see how other people mix pattern and colour.  One of my roomies tagged along for the ride and supplied us with the quote of the day 'So....these things are called quilts, right?'... quite funny : )

Just lovely

The Barn itself is a nice little building and got my mind ticking over as to how you could fit it out quite comfortably to live in. Hmmmm...  Perhaps the red/white colour scheme helps me to picture living in something like this.