Saturday 19 September 2009

Well I Survived

Thank you all for your lovely and encouraging comments on my last post - I'm sorry I haven't had time to reply to you all individually - this working malarky certainly cuts into my blogging/email-ing time!!!

So I've made it through my first week in the new job and it's ok but isn't filling me with joy!!!

But I suppose few jobs really do ;o)

Hopefully it will get busier and more interesting as the term progresses and next week should be fairly eventful as the students will all be arriving.

But I'd much rather be playing in here


or snuggled up under this

or this

reading a nice book, or knitting, or stitching

and generally doing all the nice things I like to do with my time!

But I need to earn some money so I suppose I'd better just get on with it!

Roll on pay day!


I finished the two quilts above over the summer holiday and hand quilted them both. The Amy Butler one has a panel of linen near the top with the quotation "Live, love, laugh and be happy" from "When the red, red, robin goes bob bob bobbing along" which seemed like the perfect motto for life in general

and I quilted it by drawing round a dinner plate over each block of 4 squares and then overlapping the circles. I used one row of overlapping sideplates for the top section and left the linen un-quilted.

Although the stitches are uneven and the fabrics are a bit puckered, I love the effect of the quilting - I just need to improve my technique.

The smaller quilt was made with 2 charm packs of Urban Chiks Swell

and I quilted this in a cross-hatch pattern - again I love the back almost as much as the front - and again, it's wrinkly and uneven, but it still makes me happy!

One day I might be brave enough to try machine quilting...............but don't hold your breath!

29 comments:

Esther said...

I think the quilting is beautiful. Hand quilted items have so much more character than machine quilted ones!

dottycookie said...

Oh, I LOVE your quilting, I did one hand quilted lap quilt recently, and am just machine quilting another one but it's much harder! I'll steal your circles idea next time.

Sorry the job is not mega exciting, but as you say, few are! I hope you're going to be having some fabric rewards come payday ...

trash said...

Hurrah for survival, Locket! Hang in there until payday, that nice pretty money slip will make evrything seem worthwhile. Promise ;-)

Little House By The Sea said...

Your sewing is beautiful, well done. I am glad you survived your first week, sorry it was not that thrilling but it will probably pick up once you get into the swing of things. If not then just think about all the fabric you can buy come pay day.
Sarah x

Quinn said...

Your quilts are lovely! I grew up wrapped in hand-quilting, and always thought the "back" was quite as magical as the "front."

Jobs. Erm, yes. Sometimes slightly dull can be better than "interesting," in my experience ;)

Gina said...

I love the look of your hand quilting. Beautiful!

Thimbleanna said...

Oh Lucy! They look fabulous!!! I love gorgeous fabrics on both of them. I've just been quilting big dinner plate circles too -- aren't they fun? I REALLY love that you incorporated the quote with your quilt -- just beautiful!!!

As for the job...I'm like you, I'd much rather be hiding out in the dungeon sewing. But, at least the boredom during the week is compensated with a paycheck!

jane said...

Well done for managing to get through your first week at work. Love the quilts they are beautiful, you are very talented
Jane

XUE said...

Lovely quilts & how nice - that glimpse into your cosy sewing space!

Jodie said...

Glad you got through the first week.
I think your handquilting is perfect !!! LOve the plate idea!

rachelmp said...

Great quilts Lucy! I hope the job is a bit easier next week

Heleen said...

Love your quilts! I always love it when they are hand quilted.
Hope work will get better for you.

loulee said...

They look stunning. Machine quilting in straight lines is easy! Else I wouldn't do it! LOL

I like your circles idea.

Ali said...

I was just thinking today about no matter how nice work is, not working is so so so much nicer.

periwinkle said...

I think your quilts look great , the plate idea is a great one . Hopefully the job will get better soon, it is only your first week :-)

French Knots said...

Love your quilts, what a good idea to use a plate as a template.
I think a job needs to hold your attention while you are there so the day passes quickly but not stay with you once you leave so you don't take worry home. Hopefully yours will pan out well.

Helen said...

Think of the money, honey!!
Love Helen x

elaine said...

I love the quilts. The imperfections give them great character, they're so pretty. I also enjoyed seeing your sewing room..I like.
p.s. I hope you have time for work an for creating. xox

JuliaB said...

Hi Lucy, I expect as the term goes on, you will settle into it more .. just think of all the charm packs you can buy with your paycheck!! Lovely quilts!! I'm not even brave enough to hand quilt, never mind use a machine to do it.. i just end up with a ruched mess!! xx

Mrs Moog said...

Oh Locket - your quilts are both fabulous!! I love the handquilting - the interlocking circles are fab. You really can't beat a nice bit of hand quilting :)

Well done on making it through the week. I must say it's seemed extremely quiet round here without your funny phone calls!!

Roll on payday and a healthy bit of fabric shopping !

xxx

julie said...

That's great that the first week is out of the way, it's always peculiar when you're settling into a new routine but hopefully you'll be able to strike a balance between paradise in the pink room and earning a crust! Your quilts are so beautiful you've done an amazing job.

Kitty said...

Those quilts are absolutely gorgeous Lucy - I am full of admiration.

Glad the new dog is easing you in slowly ;-)

x

ladydi said...

Hey, Lucy! I feel inspired by your hand quilting - what a great idea to use dinner plates for pattens. And to think I've been struggling with machine quilting all these years. What do you use to mark the circles? Nicely done with the work thing. I feel the same, thankful to have a job, but . . .

Unknown said...

Lovely little blog that I found through a Lucy Attic 24 connection. I just finish my ripple and was browsing through google and stumbled upon you. Hope you don't mind if I follow... Love your stuff

The Garden Bell

joanie said...

Lucy I LOVE that circle quilting, you're a star! I really hope the excitement level with the new job improves. Maybe you could sneak a little crafty goodness into that gorgeous new handbag to work on at lunch time :)

Jane said...

Your quilting is beautiful Lucy, I do hope that work will get better for you. My latest motto is; My work pays for my cross stitch/crafting habit! Jane x

wonderwoman said...

lucy your quilts are gorgeous and the quilting is brilliant. believe me hand quilting,although it takes long, is sooo much easier than machine quilting!!!

xx

Leanne said...

I am so impressed with the hand quilting. Do you use a hoop? Well done on surviving the first week yes pay days make it seem worth while.

Anonymous said...

Lovely quilting. You are much braver than I. I'm afraid I am a machine quilter. I get too hot, too achey a wrist, too whiny to hand quilt.

I do however had a king size quilt rolled up on the sitting room floor waiting for me to pluck up the courage to quilt it. Only problem is, there isn't a king size quilt space behind my machine for me to quilt it into. So I think it will sit there for a little longer.

Also, the Amy Butler Dasiy Chain fabric...great isn't it? I used it a while ago to make a summer quilt and it makes me smile every time I see it.