Quilt dye disaster

I am delighted to say Helen has returned to full time nursing following her crohns flare up She was off nearly 13 weeks and returned on 20 hours which have over 3 weeks been increased to full time. Next week she should be working nights but they have said no nights for a couple of months.  She loves her job nursing in a hospice but it is very demanding but she would not change it for the world.  I am so very proud of her as she is in a lot of pain at times but keeps going,  injecting herself twice a week and numerous tablets too.

I finally plucked up courage to have a go at FMQ on my disappearing nine patch lap quilt.  I did a little practice but of course as soon as I tried it on the quilt all was not so well.  I seem to have trouble feeding the quilt though,  presume it is to do with the size, weight etc.  I quilted with a sort of squiggle on the large squares changing the cotton to match the colours then squiggled some more on the sashing and borders.  My stitches varied quite a bit in size but it is the first one so did not get too worked up about them.  I then attached the binding and put it in the washer.  I always have colour catchers in just in case there is a problem,  I expect you guessed no colour catcher and the orange ran into all the white fabrics.  I tried re washing with colour catchers this time but the damage was done.   Never mind it is only for me and I will certainly be more careful in future.   I always wash fabric when I buy it but of course this piece must have slipped through without a wash.

                                               Prior to quilting and dyeing

now this is what it looks like

Fortunately the colour does not show too much on the photo!

I have also caught up on the hexie BOM.  This year they are geometric pieces and are meant to be made using three quarter inch hexies but I have used 1" again as I have stacks of card cut out in 1" and find smaller is too fiddly for my big hands.

                                              The kitchen floor comes in handy for photography.

not sure why they look so pale and have not a clue what I will do when all 12 have been done. I still have those from last year unfinished.  Maybe I will use some of them on tote bag fronts or maybe not.

  

This year I have not taken part in the crazy BOM due to being absent from stitching for 3 months but maybe will take part next year as I do enjoy a bit of craziness.

Ancestral gifts Kaffe Fassett exhibition

Last tuesday I went to the quilt museum in York to see an amazing exhibition.  Kaffe Fassett had chosen 15 quilts from the museum collection and then he created new quilts.  Here are some of them  both the original and his version.  I was so pleased that we were allowed to take photos as usually it is no photo policy at the museum.  I have shown the origonal followed by the modern version,  sorry not too clear as no flash was allowed.

There is going to be a book based on these quilts     I think it will be finding its way into my book collection.  I was a good girl and only bought 2 half metre lengths of his fabric  a bit out of my price range but there were 2 I could not resist.

I seem to be having more blog problems,  I can not comment on blogs that have been put on using iphones,  ipads etc the comment box disappears soon as I click on it   wonder if anyone else is having the same problem.