torpor

When it's 28 degC at 9.00am I don't feel much like sewing but before the sewing room became too unpleasant to work in (no aircon in that room), I put the another side on this quilt.

I still want to add another plain border before it goes away for quilting. 

rain

At last we've had some - it is most welcome and even though it's causing flooding in areas, it is extinguishing some of the bushfires.

Thank you for your comments on my last post. For unknown reasons, Blogger is not sending them to my email. You know, I may just move this blog to Wordpress.

With Christmas and New Year out of the way, visiting family gone and the house restored to some semblance of order, sewing has recommenced.

I've picked up where I left off (last October - yikes) working on the scrappy Cats Cradle blocks. So easy to make and no triangles. You do need the special ruler. Mine was a gift from a fellow blogger, crafter and quilter Kelli H - thank you Kelli.

Gotta love chain piecing.

bushfires

You may have seen news on the TV or Internet about the terrible bushfires raging across all of Australia.

It is supposedly the worst season in recorded history - loss of life, wildlife, livestock, pets, homes  and businesses. Small towns cut off, tourists and locals trapped for days. Smoke and fire blocking out the sun. It is truly dreadful.

The Australian Defence Forces have been mobilised to support the rural and regular emergency services in each state. Many small country towns have been devastated but the Aussie spirit is alive and well. It will take a long time to recover from this catastrophe and the fire season isn't over yet.

My family have been incredibly fortunate. We live in the suburbs of the city and have been spared all but the smoke.

A heartfelt thank you to the men and women of the volunteer bushfire services; emergency services; wildlife services; various organisations such as Australian Red Cross and the Salvation Army; not to mention thousands of nameless people who stepped up to help a neighbour, a friend, a stranger, or a creature that needed help.

It has been a sobering end to the year and the start of the next.

mistake

A new quilt has begun.

Yes, I went with the scrap quilt from my last post. I kept returning to it again and again. 

As usual, I'll be modifying the layout a wee bit. The Cat's Cradle blocks were made using the Creative Grid ruler. It makes two blocks with very little waste. I'm determined to use some of every fabric from my collection* of random fat quarters. 

I'll be substituting those tiny triangles. Too fiddly and my first effort to make one *by eye* looks like this.

Yes, well. Let's see. Probably should have measured it up first. Never mind, I think I'll use it for the label.

The Cat's Cradle ruler lets you make a number of different sized blocks - the smallest 1 3/4 inches finished!

Hope you found time to sew a little.

*Collection - don't you like the way we quilters call our stash that. Gives it some credibility and gravitas.

indecision

I'm having trouble deciding what to do next.

Start a new quilt with fabric from the stash using this lovely layer cake or  . . .

Make the scrap quilt that caught my eye  and use the stash of random fat quarters I've collected or . . . 

Start quilting that pile of finished tops that are waiting for some attention or . . . 

Make a cup of tea while I think about it. It's important not to rush these decisions.