Salster74 Hobbies

Cross Stitch, quilting, patchwork,bags and other similar nonsense.

Monday, 7 January 2008

This year has started with me trying to organise my stash. Although it is usually all neat and tidy in its little boxes I didn't have an up to date list. So starting after Christmas I would take a box out of the shelves and then painstakingly go through each item. I'd add the details in a book, with hopefully designer's name, name of pattern, what status it is, whether it was a freebie or not, and finally if it was a Halloween or Christmas pattern. I managed to go through all bar 1 of my boxes, but stalled on the freebie one. I have so many freebie patterns its silly, most of which I've printed out then stuffed in the box never actually stitching it.
Now these lists are slowly being imported to an excel file, I'll probably post a shameful list later in the month showing the totals. It has made me motivated to set a few goals.

Enjoy my stitching time
Do not purchase any new patterns or kits
Reduce my number of kitted projects and WIPs
Take time to learn to quilt
Try to remain organised and keep track of progress
Ornamentify all outstanding ornaments
As you can see No. 5 has already been started with the lists I've been making.
On Saturday I made a step towards No. 4 I went on a Block by Block course run by The Bramble Patch, a local quilting shop about 25 miles north of me. I had a fantastic day, there was about 12 of us in the class, and although I was 1 of 2 newbies I didn't feel out of my depth. There was plenty of 1 on 1 tuition and I finished the day with 1 complete block and 1 almost complete. I completed a 12 inch Jacob's Ladder Block and had pieced most of a Card Trick Block. They both used half square triangles and rotary cutting. Although I have done some rotary cutting before this was the first time I was actually shown the 'proper' way to do it rather than my muddle along way.

I spent yesterday doing 1 more of each of the blocks, with the intention to combine them and create a small tablecloth for our new coffee table. I did make 1 silly mistake yesterday, I very carefully measured and cut what I thought was a 5.25 inch square, to discover as I was layer it out with the other squares I'd cut a 5.25 * 4.25 inch rectangle *ARGH* Oh well as that was my only mistake that I couldn't undo I feel very pleased with myself.

  • As to other parts of life: Hospital appointment on 19th January to discuss testing to see if I may have the cancer my sister has just been diagnosed with
  • Thinking of joining Slimming World at a meeting tomorrow night
  • Swam 10 lengths 4/1/08