Sunday 23 September 2012

...oops...cubed.

Do you ever set out to sew and end up feeling like a fraud?  Like you have no business buying fabulous fabric and planning awesome quilts, when you cant get a single sodding block right?!  That's the week I've had...

busy



With both Brit Quilt Swap 3 and Sailors Mouth Swap all done and sent off, I was feeling a bit more like catching up on things could be achievable...

 Brit Bee - Miss September, our lovely Laulipop, wanted two blocks of 4 mini Churn Dash blocks.  She was kind enough to cut us all the bits too!  These blocks took me the longest to do though, so much trimming at every stage... forgot to trim one block at the final stage and I ended up with one block a bit bigger than the other....  oops....



My second bee, Modern Stitches Bee, kicked off in August, and I got off to a terrible start by not getting my blocks done til last week...  oops...

Leanne asked us for scrappy two colour Granny Squares blocks.  No matter how much I pinned, I starched, I took it at a snails pace, putting the borders on still went a bit wonky...  oops...  I might have lost one or two points...  And I may or may not have had to do it more than once due to a bit of an unwanted wave or two...  oops...



September was Chrissys turn, and she requested the Four Acres block from the 99 Modern Blocks book.  Now, I had some experience with this block before.  Unfortunately not good experience either.  Last time I made it my logs went totally wonky.  As in not a single 90 degree angle to be had on the entire thing...  This time, however, I was utterly determined.  I took it one log at a time.  I pinned and took it slow, I had even measured a quarter inch from edge of each new log and drew a line on with my Frixxon pen to sew along.   I finger pressed each one as I went along.

When I had my two lovely square framed blocks, the next step was the painful "cut into four" bit.  As I had to cut them, I took them to the ironing board to press them properly first.  BIG MISTAKE.  Two reasonably good blocks ruined, neither were even or square after that.  One was so bad I had to ditch it completely and start again.  When I had version two ready to press, I starched first.  This time, not only did it go wonky, I discovered that the brown I'd used had a distinct aversion to direct heat too...

Nothing to do but grit my teeth and get on with it.  Again, I have one block a bit bigger than the other...  ooops.



But aren't photos brilliant?!  Don't you just love that in the photos, all 6 blocks look reasonably pretty, and apart from the odd vanishing point, I'd say in the photos they don't look quite so disastrous.
It might have taken all week, and that was with 4 blocks pre-cut, but I did get them all done, and 4 siggy blocks (forgot to send one for Brit Bee August... oops...) and posted off this morning.  Phew!

Also got my stack of charms cut for Rebecca's Low Volume Swap, and got them in the post too.
Best of all though, I got STACKS of post this week....much to the bemusement of postie...  The Japanese Charm Swap is gathering momentum and I now have 46 sets of charms out of 56...  I am getting quite excited!  Hard to believe it, but so far most of them are looking even nicer in real life - and they looked pretty awesome in pictures too!  Fingers crossed this time next week I might have them all in and ready to sort.

Other than all that... I've had nothing but making lots of sweary mini's on my mind!  Couldn't possibly have had anything to do with the language in the cupboard this week, no, not at all....



29 comments:

  1. I love my blocks, such pretty fabrics. I am sorry they gave you trouble, and I will be looking forward to their arrival. The other blocks are all also lovely, even if they were difficult.

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  2. Just wanted you to know, I often feel that way too!! And I love your pictures!

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  3. Well it's good to know I'm not the only one who cocks up the simple stuff! But perseverance paid off.

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  4. aieeee! Bias edges make me itch! The blocks look great from here though - don't be too hard on yourself ;-)

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  5. I think they look great too and well done for getting all that in the post :)

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  6. Oops? They look flipping marvellous!

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  7. Looks like you need to take a break and have a cuppa or something stronger and do something else! Come back all refreshed or slightly tipsy depending on your tipple of choice and remember you're doing this for FUN! :)

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  8. I think it is so very easy to get very easy things so very wrong, I speak from experience.x

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  9. They look brilliant, and I often feel like that too x

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  10. Oh arse, that sounds a bit shite, but they do look great in the end. It's funny how things never seem to show the amount of blood, sweat and tears you've poured into them!

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  11. Every last block looks brilliant and you would never know the angst involved. And that was a lot of work in one week!

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  12. They all look great, and a tremendous work output for one week! Better than I managed, anyway. Can't wait to see the japanese charms - am very envious of you getting the sneaky advance peaks... although have to say not so envious of you having to sort them all out to send back ;-)

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  13. Now I think they look just fantastic! Keep stitching and making beautiful things. xx

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  14. The photos make them all look fab and not at all stressy. Believe me you're not the only one this happens too. There was a bee block for Bee Blessed I made twice and both times got it smaller than it should be. I asked Judith to see if she could see where I was going wrong and she couldn't see either. Sometimes the sewing gods just decide we need a bit of swearing a cupboard to bring us into line again :-s

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  15. You know how they say that with real boobs one may be slightly bigger than the other? Well I reckon you could cal these blocks great pairs of boobs!! They look fab no matter.

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  16. Awww, sorry it's been such a trying week, but like everyone who's already commented, I think your blocks look fantastic! Well done for persevering!!

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  17. your blocks (and points!) all look fab to me.

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  18. I'm in complete admiration of your perseverance, I think I'd have dissolved into tears at some stage. The blocks look wonderful - and I'm sure they'll be loved. I do like the look of grannie squares - one I'd really like to try sometime. Juliex

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  19. are you going to do round two of the sailor mouth swap? i just can't say no! ;)

    i love all your blocks my dear and i think they all look great! xo

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  20. As usual everything looks great. They're not mistakes, they're 'learning chances'! Funnily, learning chances often trigger violent outbursts in myself!

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  21. Gosh what an ordeal you went through to make those blocks! They look great though in the pictures! =D

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  22. Ooh I was late with those grannies too and remade them several times - glad I'm not the only one! You are ahead of me as I have not touched my September blocks yet! Eek!

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  23. Your bee blocks look flippin' awesome, and I'm pretty sure they haven't been photo-shopped! Well done chick! Jxo

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  24. Oh Sarah I have weeks like that let alone days! Your blocks are beautiful and definitely worth all the effort. Now go relax.

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  25. Your blocks look great from here! Sometimes points just aren't meant to be pointy - maybe they're shy?! It's been so long since I stitched anything that I think I've forgotten how to thread a needle ;o) I hope you're sewing something for yourself after all that bee business?!

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  26. Oh well done bird, blocks look fabulous (even if just in the little photos on my screen) :) xx

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  27. Hi there, I thought they all looked lovely! But I do know what you mean about the "impostor syndrome". Nasty one, that.
    Thanks for being a part of Blogtoberfest, hosted by Cathy aka {tinniegirl} last year. Thought you might be interested to know that we're running it again in 2012. You can find all the info at: http://isawyoudancing.blogspot.com.au/p/blogtoberfest-2012.html
    And we're kicking off this Monday! Would love to see you there.
    Kat xxx

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  28. Those blocks all look good to me. If you hadn't said, I would have thought all were perfect!

    Hope you had happier sewing this week!

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