In Case You Thought I've Been Slacking . . .

I am just about to start a big project -- two matching twin bed quilts for my god-dauther and her sister. I am super excited to work with the fabric and to make the quilts, but sort of dreading the first few stages. The pattern I'm working with suggests making half-triangle squares in a way that wastes a LOT of fabric (I am sure I could find something to do with 600 little triangles, but I digress). So I have to re-figure out the cutting requirements to do a less wasteful form of half-triangle piece, then do all the cutting and then draw centre lines on about 200 little squares. After that it will be all good. I really love piecing things, its just getting past doing all the math and drawing all those little lines . . .

So, in the noble spirit of procrastination, I decided to do a few little projects before I start. Firstly, I decided the cushions I had in my living room were too dull. So I ripped them open, made plain muslin covered pillows out of the fibrefil, and then made these very bright and cheery slipcovers. They are washable, in colours I love and, best of all, based on a design by William Morris. Dave loves all things Arts and Crafts, so this is actually a very good thing. The other thing I've been working on are a set of these. This is my trial one, and there are four more to come. They are simple unlined canvas with a 2" band of quilting cotton around the top to make them pretty. These are for my friend Sharon's entry way which is very small and crowded. She painted it red, and wanted to put up pegs like the ones I have to add some white. That didn't end up happening, though, so these are sort of a way to add a bit of cream to the space. Also they only really have five hooks for hanging jackets and no shelves or anything for odds and ends. These give her some space to store extra mits and winter stuff in the winter and sunscreen, sunglasses and hats in the summer. I was all excited becuase I thought they were an original thought and I might be able to sell them on etsy, but then I realized they had been seeded by something similar I had seen around Christmas, so no such luck. I will have to make myself a set, though. And, um, take my hand stitching stuff out of this one and give it to Sharon . . .
I'm also working on one more robot and a curtain and a couple of pincushions. I might intersperse these with parts of quilt-making, though, for when I need a break from piecing half-triangles.