And in my defiance, when I went to my sewing room tonight, I didn't work on my Black History Month quilts, nor did I work on something warm and wintery/cuddly (although it's snowing like mad out there); no, no, I decided to make something to welcome spring!



It's a crazy drunk tote.  *laughs* 

I'm exploring my continued interest in this pseudo-crazy quilt thing that began last December (and looks like sticking around for awhile); and because my brain leaps like that, as I was pulling fabrics, I pulled the largest of my drunkard's path templates too.  And the result was a crazy drunk tote. 

*hiccup!*

SEVEN fabrics in this tote (which, is mind boggling to me - unless it's a monochromatic quilt, I rarely use more than four) so maybe I was druink - drunk on fabric!




And with my new seaming technique (okay somebody else probably invented it already, like somebody else [apparently] invented pinwheels, but I digress); with the seaming technique - the bag is reversible:


So, you could actually use it three ways! (Once I trim that errant thread, that is.  *ahem*)

I used blanket binding for the handles and the trim, batting throughout, and quilted the handles with extra batting for more stability. 

Fifteen by 14 inches wide, it's a Goldilocks tote (not too big and not too small) and I really like it.  Originally, it was going to be a market bag (which is why I didn't add pockets); but when I was adding the lining, I couldn't resist the lure of quilting.  *hee*  And now I have a crazy drunk tote.

Take that, Groundhogs of North America!

After some thinking last week, I decided to give myself a break and make something new. And I was pretty excited about it!

Around this time last year, I had made my second-to-last visit to a quilters' shop, and came across a fabric that I found sort of broadly appealing, but couldn't imagine actually using.  I circled the store a couple of times, and finally went back to it, deciding to pick up three yards of it despite my ambivalence.  I had the feeling that if I did find a use for it, I would want a lot of it.  *hee*

Although I have lots of quite concrete ideas for quilts dancing in my head, for some reason, when I gave myself permission to make something new, I pulled out the "African ladies" fabric, as I call it.  And the second I touched it, I knew what I wanted to do with it.  (The subconscious is a strange place.)


Without hesitation, I gathered together my scraps in golds and browns and oranges, rusts and greens and creams, and as if I'd been thinking about it all along, the pattern for my next quilt was in my head.   I made a couple of sample blocks for sizing and calculating fabric usage, and began sewing.

I decided that I would feature a single lady in each block, and scatter them with crazy quilt blocks in complementary colours.  I made enough crazy quilt and dancing woman blocks for a queen sized quilt, but once they were done, I realized that three metres of my cream linen would not be enough.  So, I'm going to make two versions of this quilt, both lap sized, one in cream and one in black. 


I'm really excited to be making these quilts and am looking forward to showing them to you when they're completed.  And when I'm done those, I'm sure I'll be content to go back to finishing up a WIP or two.  ;)

P.S. I started a Modern Quilt Guild and our first meeting was on Sunday.  If you're a local follower, please come and join us - clicky on the linky!

E.P.S. - Holy cow!  The last time I checked my followers in September, I had 35.  Now I have 89!  Welcome to all of you - thanks so much for joining me here.  :)   I think when I get to 100, I'll have to have a giveway celebration.  That'll be fun! :)

1. Brice Creek, Umpqua National Forest...., 2. Kerala3, 3. Foggy Morning, 4. Nevena Uzurov - Lonely...

I picked these photos this week because I am feeling green at the moment. "Green" is such a paltry word to describe the seemingly infinite array of textures and correlating emotions that are encapsulated in such a short word, which is why I am not just feeling green, I am craving it.

The lush sensuousness of a rich, mossy green soft against your cheek or earthy yellow greens  - encouraging and wise.  The strength and maturity of smooth green leaves in their prime, or youthful blue based reeds trailing through your fingers. The restful yin of powder-y grey lichen, reminding us that one day, all our cares will be dust or the yang of fresh spring greens and their whisper of encouragment.

But  most especially, I am feeling diffused, translucent green  - that filtering green seen through water or fog: the perfect green through which to see your dreams coming toward you -  just there - turning the corner.

(If you don't know that knock knock joke, you'll have no idea what I'm referencing with my title. *hee*)

Anyway, I'm "dwowning" alright - I'm drowning in WIPS!!!  So, you know how I said I wanted to finish my WIPs and start the year fresh? 

Does it STILL count if most of your WIPs look this:




(Please note, that since I don't use patterns, I design the whole thing in my head and then cut my fabric, and so, of course, I now have no idea what it is I was supposed to do with all those neatly cut pieces.)

How 'bout this:





And that doesn't look so bad, right? Right. Except.  Except (!) there are enough of those stars to make FOUR queen sized quilts, and not enough purple background fabric to make ONE. (Again, another "let's wing this puppy" project.  Works fine with my developing style - not so much with quilts based on BLOCKS.)

But wait, there's MORE!



And still more.  *sigh*  And those are in addition to my already pieced tops!

So, I've decided to give myself a break.  I mean, I REALLY want to get started on some new ideas I have! To that end, I'm going to finish the tops I have until I run out of batting (*heh*); and then I 'm going to start on new projects - finishing one WIP per month thereafter.

And THAT means that I could start producing new stuff as soon as the end of February!  *does a happy dance*

Which means, I should have all of my (current) WIPS finished by the end of 2010.  But it's best not to think that way.  Right? 

Right.

See you Friday!  :)

1. Cuore verde, 2. Untitled, 3. Tranquillità in un lago dorato, 4. These rocks actually get pounded pretty bad

Why they're my faves, after the jump.



I have always been struck by shades of green like that fern, especially when juxtaposed against a dark background like this.  A couple of years ago, I came across a photographer who done something simliar, and I fell in love with it.  Unfortunately, he doesn't upload at Flickr, but I had his site bookmarked for years, just so I could look at that photo.  (Sadly, the site was lost in the great 'puter crash of '09.  It's amazing how you can go to sites over and over and forget what they're called!)

In the photo of the ducks, I love the way the water turns to liquid gold in the setting sun,  The gold against the blue of the water is so luscious and beautiful - some day I'm going to translate that into fabric.

One of my favourites, moss covered rocks.  Even as a child, I loved vibrant green moss - whether the soft spongy kind in forests (which I used to collect and make beds out of for my Barbies - if I  couldn't sleep on it, someone should!) or this kind, which though equally beautiful, doesn't feel as nice.

I would like to translate some aspect of all of these photos into fabric some day. 

I don't know what the multi-coloured piece is - the artist was writing about it in a language I don't understand.  But it's stunning.  The depth of colour and sheen, the way your eye moves everywhere but doesn't feel "tired" from looking at it - the textural nature of it - I want to stroke it. 

Silks, satin, wool blend jacquard - as usual, you'll see the finished product on Monday. 

On Friday, I'm going to be looking at images that inspire me. 

Happy hump day!