I’ve started working on the log cabin blocks using my new fabric. Once again I’m foundation piecing. I know it can be easily done cutting strips with a rotary cutter, but my cutting skills are appalling and this way I can get accurate blocks. I apologise in advance for the photos - it was night time and I had had a glass of wine!

I was disappointed that the stitching was visible in the centre square and I wanted to make more use of the floral fabric (with the light background), so I redesigned my pattern and swapped the floral for the plain tan fabric.

I’m happier with this, but there is still some stitching showing. I’m also thinking about swapping the red fabric (my favourite) with the green floral. Any opinions?

I’ve been trying to find a cheap source of Calico. I use Calico to stabilise my embroideries. I have bought a roll of it from Spotlightbefore, but my closest Spotlight has closed down, so I’ve been trying to source another supplier. Part of my ‘research’ involves visiting fabric stores.

Last week my two year old and I went on an excursion. We visited a toy store (for her) and Textile Traders (for me). Now I’ve always had quite a low opinion of Textile Traders. Not really sure why, but I thought the fabric was cheap and nasty. However, this time I found some lovely Modafabric - part of the Three Sisters range and it was cheap. Similar fabric at my favourite fabric store (Calico and Ivy) is three times more expensive, so of course I had to have some. I wasn’t sure how much I would need, but I thought 3 metres would be enough for any project.

The red fabric (second from the bottom) is quite christmassy, but I thought in small amounts the christmas feel won’t be noticeable and besides I loved it.

My current plan (which of course may change) is to make a Log Cabin quilt out of it. I haven’t thought how to arrange the fabric, but I’m sure something will occur to me soon.

I’ve been making more T-Shirts for my market stall. I’ve completed the embroidery, but have not yet attached the embroidery to the T-Shirts. Of course I haven’t even started the administration stuff. You know order forms, receipt book, etc.

I also have to write a book review for JASA (Jane Austen Society of Australia). The book is Cassandra’s Sisterby Veronica Bennett and I’m desperately trying to find something positive to write! I think it’s a bit unfair to say ‘this book turned me off reading for life’, but that’s how I felt. Usually I read a book a week, but I was determined not to read anything else while reading this book and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to make myself finish it.

So what all this means is that I’ve been too busy to work on my Snail’s Trail quilt or my Log Cabin quilt. Although I did find time to correct my log cabin foundation.

Not much craft has happened around here lately. I’ve managed to sew some of my snail trail blocks into a bigger block.

 This block is 26 cm by 26 cm. I’m comtemplating making a small wall hanging or dolls quilt from similar blocks.

My other idea is to make a series of individual blocks - snail’s trail, log cabin, etc
and frame them individually.

Now if only I could get some time!

I spent the brief bit of free time I had today designing T-Shirts for my market stall. I make personalised childrens and babies clothes - that is I put names or initials on T-Shirts and body suits. Check out my other site - www.excessivelydiverted.com. Here is an example …

 I wanted to have a few more styles in my range. Here is one of today’s designs …

 I’ll put this on a body suit - probably use a pink embroidery thread and a pink print fabric. Maybe this very thread and fabric combination. The image is a bit small, but the fabric is spotty pink. I find it hard to resist spotty fabric.

I’ve stopped working on the Snail’s Trail quilt to make a friend of mine a baby present. I decided to embellish a body suit with a cross stitch (machine embroidered of course).

From this …

 To this …

 As you can see, I should have stabilised more. I’m still on the look out for a good cheap stabiliser. For this piece I used two layers of a medium weight interfacing rather than a proper embroidery stabiliser.

I apologise for the wonky picture!

 I decided to use this one in the end (even though it is far from perfect) because I simply don’t have the time to make another.

Here is an image of the final product …

 I’ve been working on foundation piece quilting. I’m trying to make a Snail’s Trail quilt for my daughter’s bed.

This was my first attempt, but it required sewing in two halves and then joining together. I decided I needed an easier version. I decided to start with a centre square (rather than the four small sqaures).

I’m much happier with this second version and given that I have to make 120 of them this is probably good. Now if I can only manage to cut the pieces the right size everytime, there might be a slim chance that this quilt gets finished.