Thursday, January 23, 2014

Best laid plans

Lots of sewing happening at Chez Sunshine until Tuesday when my machine started having issues with the tension.  After playing around, trying to fix it, with no positive results, it's now gone in to sewing machine hospital. It was well overdue for a service and it's going to take two weeks, sigh. So after finally having my mojo back after misplacing it for most of last year, I now have to put my sewing plans on the back burner. Fortunately I have a few hand stitching projects to work on in the meantime.

I've finished 10 of the 38 orange peel/petal blocks. Lucky, I really love making these and I can concentrate on making a few more over the next few weeks. I'm doing the needle turn appliqué method so they are not fast but it's satisfying making these.

9 of the 10 I've finished


The Starflowers top is finally finished, full photos to come later. I really need to think of a new name for it.   I've also made the backing, lucky me, that was the last thing I sewed before the sewing machine called in sick. I still have to get down on the floor and baste this baby, my favourite job, NOT.  I was thinking about sending it out to be quilted but I would really like to hand quilt it. I could get a start on it while my machine is in hospital, although I'm not sure how easy or pleasant hand quilting is going to be with temps in the 30's and high humidity, yuck.


I've also been working on the hexies, slowly, very slowly, I sewed two today!

 Up until the last couple of days, the weather has been really lovely and I've been walking a lot and taking Karma for a walk each day too.
 There's always something to see on our daily walks.
Stand up paddle boarders.







15 comments:

  1. Oh no...sewing machine hospital! Love your OP blocks. Is there an amitie BOM needing hand stitching there?

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  2. I think the EPP might be the way to go with these humid days. Just don't drop them in your cocktails!

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  3. Your orange peel blocks are just lovely. I'm working on an Amitie quilt at the moment which required a few of these blocks too. Great for sewing in front of the telly

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  4. Pretty orange peel blocks and hexies! Good thing your mojo can still function in temps like that.

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  5. Absolutely love your orange peel blocks!

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  6. I think more time drinking cocktails and sewing orange peel blocks might be the most pleasant option while the temperatures are high and the machine is being nursed back to health!

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  7. At least when your machine comes back it will be raring to go! In the meantime you're keeping busy with beautiful things, congratulations on finishing starflowers and your melons are fab. Great glimpse of your walk too.

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  8. Your orange peel blocks look seriously fab - I hope mine look that good once they;re put together !

    Poor machine- hopefully they'll work some magic for you and have it back sooner than a fortnight! Cant let this put a dent in your mojo either!

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  9. Well bugger that on the machine front! Mines been due to go for a service for about 18 months, but I'm doing the lalala, fingers in ears approach and pushing on through, and it seems to be fine *ahem*

    I think you need to take up paddle boarding in your down time... ;o)

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  10. Love those petal blocks. My machine is also due for some love, but it's too hard to part with her right now...

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  11. It is a shame about your machine but it is good that there are other hand sewing items to do while it is repaired. The petals are lovely blocks and very portable, too.
    Do you have anywhere near you that has big tables you can use to baste your quilt, rather than on the floor. My quilt shops lets me use their tables if there are no classes. I have also used tables in meeting rooms of different groups - seniors, U3A, school - that sort of thing.
    Good luck.

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  12. I hope your mojo waits for your machine to get back from the hospital. Why so long?

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  13. The orange peel blocks look great. Hope you get your machine back quickly.

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  14. I think you (and Karma) should try paddle boarding!!!!! I think it looks awesome, but we love laughing at the people trying to learn :)

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  15. I hope your machine gets fixed earlier than expected. loving the orange peel blocks and the hexagons. Your walking track is soooo much better than mine...... and I do understand the reluctance to walk or hand quilt in this bloody heat. Maybe a cool cocktail while quiting will help make it all bearable. I hope to be able to catch up with you IRL soon.

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