11/13/15

Slow Quilting

The momentum is picking up a little on the Doors of Ireland quilt, but I can see that this is going to take longer than I'd anticipated. There's no rush, and so I'm just taking my time and enjoying the process.

I've completed 3 of the 13 Irish chain blocks, and I've done a little bit of quilting on a few of the door blocks. These are the blocks that have at least some quilting on them.


Since I'm a quilter who is easily bored, I have to mix in a little bit of quilting on both kinds of blocks. 

There are going to be lots of changes of thread color associated with the actual doors, and so I'm focusing my attention on the ones where I can use the same off-white thread I'm using in the Irish chain blocks. Yesterday, I quilted in the "mortar" between the bricks and stones on this door. This is my favorite kind of quilting...quilting in the details. It's as much free motion machine embroidery as it is quilting, and I love the texture it gives the blocks.


Also, I quilted in a crack in the top terra cotta pot and gave that gravel a little texture. I guess it's supposed to be gravel. I'm not really sure what I had in mind for that little spot. I know that I added the stack of pots because it was just kind of a mess right there. That was a door leading into a storage shed at the Connamara Gardens. Here's the original door image.


And this image was right next to it in my photo library, so I must have been standing nearby when I took it. It's different when you see things in context.
 

Also, I did a little quilting on this block, just to outline the door and window. I'll do a little more on the sidewalk and step below, but I'll need to switch to gray thread for that.


The work would probably go a little faster with less weight on the quilt, but sometimes you just have to stop and pay attention for a while. With the weather turning cold and rainy, there are more interruptions these days.


We've been forecast a deluge for the weekend, although the arrival of said storm keeps getting moved out. I donned my rain gear for my walk with Sue this morning, and we encountered nary a drop. Lately I've been heading toward the New Seasons Market after our walks to pick up some shrimp spring rolls that I'm absolutely hooked on. Mainly, I'm hooked on the accompanying peanut sauce. The shrimp rolls are just the vehicle. I don't go into town that direction very often, but whenever I do, I stop in. This morning, I saw this display that made me smile.


Tomorrow we're going to the RV show. We're not in the market for an RV, but we still like to go and look. Erik is going with us this time. Both Erik and Matthew have expressed interest in RVing recently, and so Erik is dipping a toe into the water for this show. Matthew wanted to go too, but he's got other things going on.

Between now and then, I'll just keep on working away at my doors. 

5 comments:

Debbie said...

It's looking good. I love your interpretation of the blue door, The cracks in the pots are so fun.

Dana Gaffney said...

Those lolipops made me smile too, I think I'll be watching for them just to make a bouquet as a decoration people can take from :)

Anonymous said...

I agree with Debbie--I like your interpretation of the blue (although I would call it turquoise) door and the crack in the flower pot.

When I saw the lollipops, I thought there has to be a quilt design in those. Reminds me of some of the vortex quilts I have seen.

gpc said...

Since I have been off sugar for a week, those lollipops REALLY made me smile. Sigh. I love the whole idea of the doors, I just cannot think of a better way to preserve a memory. :)

Kate said...

Progress is progress, even if it's slow going. You'll be so happy you took the time, but it is a pain while you are doing. Hope you enjoy the RV show.