Friday, May 11, 2018

Finishes and Beginnings

It's been one of those challenging weeks here in The Magpie's Nest. Consequently I've been doing a lot of embroidery. I finished up this pair of pillowcases, although they need a nicer finish to the hem in my opinion.


I got so carried away when I was working on the middle of the large flower that I didn't think to check the pattern for color changes. Turns out the pattern calls for those spokes to be red or pink. Oh well. I added the buttonhole circle in the very center on my own too. Even that could have been a contrasting color and it would have helped I think. I'm overriding the Perfectionist Within and leaving them just the way they are. But I will put in a nicer hem!

I also finished up this pair of pillowcases:


They still have to be laundered but at least they have an acceptable lace edging, no hemming required. I chose my own colors again, using Nancy's hand dyed flosses. I also added the buttonhole stitched accents to the leaves. The sharp needles among you may remember I'd embellished the centers of the focal bloom with additional stitches. They have been removed, for the good of the end product I'd say.

These two finishes gave me a couple of empty project boxes so I've started a pair of dish towels.


I've decided that my vintage ironing board must be slightly warped. I can't seem to get a solid transfer from the iron-on patterns I've been using. So, parts of the designs are very dark and other parts are barely visible. And the pattern shifted, of course, and in spite of my best efforts, between the first and second attempts to get darker lines where I needed them. {sigh} Going to have to figure out how to overcome that. It certainly wouldn't hurt to put another layer (or two) of batting between the metal ironing board and the muslin cover. What I really need though, is a firmer, flatter surface underneath the padding.


On another front, one of my local quilt shop owners recently celebrated her 20th year in business. Woohoo! Naturally I want to support her and keep her in business. My generous
sister sent me an early birthday gift when she heard about it. That made it possible for me to bring home this collection of prints by Kaffe Fassett, Philip Jacobs, and Brandon Mably (along with a few other things 😉).


My plan is to apply these to a free pattern offered by Free Spirit Fabrics called Rainbow Blur. I'll be making a slightly smaller version than the pattern creates, with 15" blocks instead of 18 inch. I just have to recruit some energy to start cutting. Which may not happen soon because I have an eye appointment Monday. I fully expect that experience to take me out of commission for a good 24 hours. I do look forward to being able to update my eyeglass frames however. I've been wearing the same frames with the same prescription for probably twenty years now.



6 comments:

  1. What a grand collection.New frames, I need new distance lenses, had an appt last Thursday, came home, and promptly lost my glasses!!! So new lenses will arrive on Tuesday, maybe I will have to get new frames to fit them now, and hope he has some the same shape. Yours look wonderful.

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  2. Ooh - I love your fabric purchases and the Rainbow Blur quilt will really show them off well if that's what you decide to go with.

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  3. Your embroidery is so pretty, Sue. A great thing to be able to do if you don't have the energy for the quilting, although I can see why your fingers are itching to get to your new fabric. It is a gorgeous combination. I love that photo of you and wonder what frames you will buy. Will there be a photo? I hope you have lots of energy very soon. xxx

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  4. What a wonderful and enviable collection of fabrics! I shall look forward to seeing what will arise out of them :-) And best of luck with your optical appointment, I hope you find frames that you love and lenses that open up the world for you!

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  5. What a luscious bunch of fabrics! Have fun!
    Good luck with the eye appointment, and happy frame choosing! I just got new glasses in March, and was thrilled that they have a new test so they don't have to do the eye-dilation anymore. That was the part I've always dreaded most!

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