Works-in-progress, of which I have plenty!

 

It's mid-week, and I'm mid-project with so many crafty endeavours.  This is what I'm referring to as my leftovers quilt as it's cobbled together out of orphan patchwork blocks and various odds & ends.  Over the last few days I've tacked the wadding on to the back of the patchwork top, and have been burrowing through my stash trying to find material large enough for the backing fabric. 

I've nothing sizeable enough, but there are three pieces I should be able to stitch together.  They need to be approx 65 x 70 inches, so I think this will end up being the largest quilt I've made.  I usually stick to lap sized ones or single bed sized.  Easier to handle, especially with my basic model sewing machine that gets huffy and misbehaves if I ask too much of it.  

I also completed another page of the Lorna Scobie book, '365 Days of Creativity'.  It's not very good, and I do get frustrated by how what I want to draw doesn't end up being what I get down on paper.  The prompt was to show the view through a doorway.  

I used a combination of watercolour pencils and soft pastels, & collaged on flowers and a hedgehog.  I mean, it's okay, but it's not particularly exciting and I could've been more creative.  Anyway, I'm trying not to obsess about the finished result and concentrate on what I learnt through the process.  I'm trying.  Not entirely succeeding, but trying!

Thanks if you're one of the people who viewed my shaky YouTube video, by the way.  Much appreciated.  I'd have been chuffed if the video got 20 views, but it's had 86 so far.  Not bad for a first attempt.  I'm continuing with making the crazy patchwork style bag to store the book in.  

I'm trying to use variations on simple stitches - as simple stitches are the only ones I know! - and these little crosses worked well.  It isn't obvious from this photo, but I've used two different colour threads on them.  You sew lots of little dashes, as if you were making seed stitch, then thread your needle with a different colour and turn those dashes into crosses.  On a different stitched piece, they'd look very effective with sharply contrasting threads, like black & white. 

I've also embroidered this grey material with different colours, with detached chain a.k.a. lazy daisy stitches.  I've been using up odd lengths of thread, what YouTuber Marion refers to as her 'tangle'.  Incidentally, she's got a playlist of mini-tutorials on learning embroidery stitches, if you're interested.  Well worth a look. She explains things so clearly.  Plus she's a fellow left-hander, so I'm biased in her favour.  

That's all for now.  Reluctantly, I need to interrupt my crafting as the hoover's got to be dragged around and the houseplants watered.  Bye for now.