It's Saturday. A day when one has more options than during the work week. The schedule, if there is one, is a little more relaxed. For some reason, today, there are too many choices rattling around in my head and I haven't settled on a single one. So far, all I have managed to do is pick up the dry cleaning.
This morning when I was eating breakfast I noticed a couple of Blue Jays. First there were two, then four, then five. There may have been six, but he may have been hiding just out of my view. They were so pretty. Their colors flashing in the light and their peaked hats. And just as quickly as they arrived, they were gone again.
I finally took some pictures of the two most recent chair covers. I think they turned out nicely. These two chairs are a little smaller than the four around the table, so the covers are a little large. I decided to make them all the same size anyway. I can throw them on any chair after washing and not worry about whether they are on the 'correct' chair.
The Unusually Helpful Helpers have discovered these. One chair sits in a Southwest corner which picks up the afternoon sun - when it decides to come out. They have determined this is a great spot for a little siesta. Which means I needed to get out the lint roller before I took pictures this morning.
I used a water soluble marker to line up the patterns for these. I got the biggest kick out of spritzing them with water and watching the marker disappear. It was a blast.
"Look Sweetie! Disappearing ink! Isn't that just the coolest thing ever?!"
The Sweetie seemed amused but not nearly as excited as I was and gave me one of those worried looks. You know, the one that looks concerned about ones mental state. I don't care. It was cool and I had great fun with the water bottle. It doesn't appear to take much to amuse me.
This never fails. I have a plan. Let's call it Plan A. And in my mind it's wonderful - sometimes for a few minutes, even sometimes for a couple of days. Then there's a new thought that creeps in and before you know it, there's Plan B. I love Plan B. It's better than Plan A. And then another thought or suggestion creeps in... and you can see where this is going, right?
I am still working on seat covers for the dining room chairs, but the plan seems to have changed a tiny bit. Here's the first image (which is right in line with my original sketch).
Then the Sweetie says, "Are you goin' to make them all the same?"
"Sure. This is what I sketched out, remember? It's mimicking the wallpaper. Remember?" Little did I know that the Plan B seed had been planted. Sneaky little bugger.
I began to lay out the leaves for the second seat cover... and I start to think, "It might be boring to work on this project if all of them are the same." Whammo! Plan B!
Plan B was all sandwiched together and I begin the third. "Hmm, should I do two patterns or three? I have two different chair styles so two patterns would work. Or... I have six chairs. There could be two of each if I do three patterns." KaPow!! Plan C!
Now you know that can't be the end of the story.
Plan D. Bamm!
Plan E. Zammo! (I have no idea why Blogger has decided this image should be Portrait rather than Landscape.)
Plan F. Crash!
I may need a cocktail when I finish quilting Plan F. This one certainly has more twiddly, fiddly little pieces than the others. And none of the pieces connect. Heck, I might need one just for cutting out all of those twiddly, fiddly pieces.
Now should anyone ask why I have six different chair covers I will reply, with my readers low on my nose, "I decided to explore the pattern possibilities using a simple shape and two colors. They are simple repeats, based on the original idea of 'wallpaper'." Gah! What a snob!
But we will all know the true answer is has more to do with the power of suggestion, a short attention span, and boredom with Plan A.
So I got to thinkin'. Perhaps I should try machine applique before I cut out a gazillion leaves. Some times a tiny voice of reason sneaks in over the din.
I had some scrap squares from a recent project. I thought I could make a quick drink coaster.
Here's the front;
And the back. All of the directions I've read, say to go over the applique piece two or three time.
How about a close up view? Not so good. Thank goodness this is a practice piece.
My first attempt. My stitching is all over the place!
My last attempt. Things are starting to improve a little.
I think this is going to take a little more practice before I begin on chair covers.
A set of Wonky drink coasters anyone?
I was super excited this week when I received a call that the free motion foot I ordered had arrived. I had quilted about 75% of the quilt when the foot broke. I have an older sewing machine and no one had the foot in stock. It was a huge relief to receive the call.
The quilt came out of hibernation and I finished quilting yesterday and applied the binding this morning. Then the best surprise was that the weather has turned out better than forecast. On a Saturday! That meant I could take photos outside!!
This shot is in front of one of the old remaining structures from the Sand Point Naval Base in Seattle. It was turned over to the city a number of years ago. This can be found in Magnuson Park on the shores of Lake Washington.
The back of the quilt. I think it's super cute with the single row of pinwheels at the bottom. I love how bright the orange is.
The orange back is Aboriginal Dots by Kaffe Fassett. The location: the shore of Lake Washington in Magnuson Park.
I used three Moda Punctuation Charm Packs by Moda on the front. And a muslin colored fabric - whose name escapes me.
The Sweetie's arms were nearly ready to fall off at this point... I can't even tell you the number of shots I deleted.
The binding is a cute yellow fabric by Liesl Gibson of Oliver +S, and ties nicely to the center yellow diamond on the front. This was not my usual color palette - I trend toward the darker side, but this is so bright and cheery I might need to explore the bright side again.
This quilt was about trying new things: Triangles, brighter colors, and free motion quilting. Free motion quilting was fun! I am very pleased with the result.
And just because... even the weeds found in the spring grass are cute!
