Step 4 of the free motion project

Done with the unpicking I could start fresh and being this close to finishing this I have to admit that I abandoned the house and cleaning for a day.  Cut your nose to spite your face as it has to be done at another time.  Why don't housewives get vacation?

This went rather fast (or then still most of a day but faster than the dense stitching I did on the other colors) and I loved every moment of it.

Visited our local PFAFF dealer during the morning and noticed the most lovely metallic Marathon thread on her table.  Just arrived, not even unpacked and I had to have one!!

My photo is unfortunately not that good but hopefully when clicking on it to enlarge it, you'll be able to see the silver pebbles filling the empty spaced between the feathers.

As much as I wanted to finish this there and then I simply had to stop and get some housework done.  Ah well, at least I have something to look forward to tomorrow!

Step 3 of the free motion workshop

Templates cut, I could start packing the shapes to get a nice color variation in every piece.

With this done I used a wide and dense satin stitch to keep the pieces together and with satin stitch not being one of my favorites it felt like this step took forever but looking at the end results worthwhile.

Then I moved on to the center thought bubble, marking my feather placements after the shadow was stitched in place.

I started with Marathon variegated thread color 5005 and got as far as this when my friend from Cape Town phoned.  I was quite happy with the thread and color.

While talking to her however, with my thread box open on the table, I spotted these Metler variegated spools and decided that I liked this more.  The color of the Metler thread is 9981.

So then I had to unpick my previous stitching.  Not that I terribly minded. Our 2 new kittens chased a bug and ran over my quilting several times causing me to have a few nasty stitches.

Here they look ever so calm while sleeping but believe me they can be a handful.  After Catsidy died I literally cried myself into 2 new kittens.  So allow me to introduce Ash and Sasky, with Ash being the tinier one but a week older than Sasky.

Okay, off to bed to sit and do some unpicking.

Second step in my free motion workshop

Another Saturday with DH playing golf gave me time to finish step 2.  I obviously didn't do all of this in one Saturday but had hours of fun densely free motion quilting my colors.  Just loved working on the shaded fabrics as they made much more of a statement than the plain colors did.

With this done I could cut the templates needed to start assembling the different pieces.

I took care of Karin's parrot, Nordic, for the weekend and she actively helped me do my planning.

Coming along nicely at this stage.

Creating for a free-motion workshop

I don’t recall ever offering to help anyone or advertising that I will teach free-motion quilting but somehow it just happened.  I think the fact that I love this part of the quilting process the most must have played a role and now I am in it for better or for worse.  Luckily mostly for better as most of the students eventually see this is after all not brain surgery and just a matter of practice, practice and more practice.

With 2011 not even done and dusted I was again asked when my first workshop in 2012 would be.  So I knew I had to do something but what?  Not having a single artistic bone in my body I had to find something new, fresh and my own to serve as useful end result and also give a beginner enough exercise.  I am so over making and joining squares or dividing a large piece of fabric into squares.  Surely there must be something more pleasing to the eye?

Then one sleepless night while channel hopping on TV I saw this quick flash on Cartoon Network and I think it represented an explosion.   As with anything animated it was funky, alive and extremely colorful and I there and then knew….. THAT would be the next free-motion workshop or then something similar.

I couldn’t start working on it right away as I was busy with the projects for our goody bags for the 2013 National Festival and didn’t want to stop midway during my monthly target, so I had to let it slide. Done with one months’ target and with hubby playing golf early one Saturday morning I could give it a try.  Now obviously by then I only remembered a thought bubble, stars and plenty of curly shapes but for once my bad memory had an advantage as now I am not copying anyone else’s idea.  It was just much cheaper to first create with paper to see what it would look like and if, in fact, it could work.  So I did just that.

Now at this stage I was so chuffed with my art attempt that I stopped just there and actually felt that I accomplished something or then at least made a start.

Another golf day in the blazing sun

As much as I huff and puff about my friends' need to invite me to golf, this one happened timely as I had nothing else to write on my blog.  Still working on the projects for our National Quilt Festival in 2013, started with preparations for my free motion class next year and otherwise finishing up with my very last class being this evening.

Friend Rina invited us to a champagne breakfast at the Oliewenhuis Art Museum and then we set off to hit a couple of balls.

Poor Marie was not at all informed about the plans for the day and having taken a lift with Rina had to simply fall in and even though she played in sandals; did far better than us as she did not lose a ball.

As my heading indicated, it was hell hot in central South Africa and my bottled water soon turned lukewarm and choosing to wear black did not make it any easier.

Now watch Rina - aim, with the sand bunker right in front of her....

Massive hit.....

And yip, it landed right in the sand.  This is so typical of our game and I suppose Marie did not lose a ball as she never hit it far enough to be able to get lost.

Karin sorting through her gear to find the right club.

Fishing for balls - not compliments - as try as you might not even the kindest person would be able to compliment our game or whatever you want to call our attempts to hit the balls.

Thank you girls and especially Rina for the lovely breakfast and gift.