I've had a busy week and consequently my workshop with Ruth Issett last week seems ages ago. On Monday I managed to pull my back untangling a thread from the vacuum cleaner brush and then I had to take the car to have a new clutch fitted. I had a bit of a walk into town to catch the bus home which helped ease my back and a routine visit to my chiropractor on Tuesday sorted it out and it is fine now.
I started the straight machine quilting on my quilt last weekend and began some of the hand stitching. It has been so dull that I have needed to work under my daylight bulb. I set my ironing board under the lamp and I could adjust it to just the right height for sitting upright while sewing.
Marvin likes to sleep in my workroom and keep me company, his favourite spot is on the chair just in front of the radiator.
Last Friday I order a secondhand copy of Ruth Issett's Colour on Paper and Fabric and it arrived on Tuesday which gave me something to read while waiting for the call to fetch the car. While resting my back too!
I had also ordered four Karisma Colour pencils which are no longer made, however this company specialises in end of range pencils - 1buy1pencils so I ordered four of the colours I would use. Sadly I have worn out my yellows and would love to get hold of some. I saw a new box of 48 pencils on sale on ebay for £150!!! But I'm not that desperate.
On Wednesday it was time to visit the hairdresser. Consulting my calendar pages I realised it was two months since I have been, no wonder I couldn't see where I was going.
Wednesday afternoon I managed to finish the free motion quilting so I can put the sewing machine away for a while and get on with hand stitching.
My vermicelli stitching isn't too bad, but I'm inclined to move the fabric quickly on the corners so the stitches get longer.
Today a friend and I went to Childwickbury near St Albans to a Christmas Fair held at the home of Christiane and the late Stanley Kubrick. Christiane is an artist and many of her paintings were on sale and she was there painting a beautiful still life, what a treat! I have long admired her colour filled paintings but did not realise until very recently that she had opened her home to the arts, holding two fairs a year. The work on sale was of a very high standard with several textile artists, printmakers and painters showing their work. What a shame it was pouring with rain.
She also holds an Art School in the stables and runs many courses over the year - guess who is going to keep an eye open for next year's dates?
Well that it from me for now! I seem to have another busy week coming up so I'd better get on with some stitching. You must be getting fed up with photographs of this quilt! However I think it is going to be with me for some time yet before it is finished.
Fingers crossed for a bit of sun in the coming week, I hope things are bright with you.
Jill
10 comments:
You have been busy Jill! Like you I discovered that it is 2 months since I had a haircut but my appointment for Thursday was postponed as my "girl" was off work that day so now I will go on Tuesday instead. Your quilt is coming on well and I for one am not fed up at all and am eagerly awaiting the moment when it's finished and available for us to see in all it's glory! It was dry yesterday but today it has been raining yet again - everywhere is sodden and fields are flooded not to mention whole villages a little further north from us! To think we were warned it would be a dry year and we should save water!!
It's great to follow the progress of the quilt - not at all boring! The colours are wonderful!
Love reading your blog and seeing how the quilt is coming on. I made my first quilt last year & it's still waiting for me to get my head round the vermicelli yours its really good xx
That makes my week sound positively laid back!
How nice to see dear Marvin, hope he's keeping well. I'm envious of your neat job with the machine stitching, mine always gets too squashed - must practice!
Sorry to hear about your back. Now it is getting better it's a good excuse not to use the vacuum! Can't wait to see the finished quilt and your papers from Ruth's class are fabulous.
Marvin's got the right idea! Glad that back got sorted, there is nothing worse than a sore back. The lack of light has been awful hasn't it? I can't wait for some brighter weather in order to do arty "stuff" by natural light.
Lucky you to work with Ruth,I am so envious. Your papers look fab. And the quilt...wow! Its going to be something to treasure....
Hope your back stays good....mine comes and goes (depends how silly I've been :-/ )
And Marvin and Peachy...they could be twins!!
xx
Hey Marvin, long time no see! Good to see he's looking fit and fine especially after that dodgy spell last year. How lovely that he keeps you company in the workroom - particularly as you seem to be spending a lot of time in there Jill, but that quilt is looking good - such vibrant colours! Sorry about the back. The moral in that story surely has to be steer clear of vacuum cleaners.... I will happily comply!
You have been busy - and your quilt is looking lovely. Have you had time to knit your dad's yellow scarf yet?!
x
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