Friday 29 November 2013

HAPPY Table Runner Finished & CTTY Winner

* I * Love * This *
Thank You to Jenny of Elefantz for such a gorgeous design.
The applique is just raw-edge... the green strappy leaves are stitched with a little zig-zag stitch & the flowers are done with a small blanket stitch. To keep the layers together nicely,  I did some simple quilting around the very edges of the flowers, & also the main stem of each flower.
I knew my thread of the blue was running really low, & with about 4inches of binding left to stitch down, it ran out! Bah! So I had to wait until the following evening to stitch said binding, with the new reel.
I really loved stitching this... Amazing how some projects just speak to you, isn't it?!
*~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~*
 On the subject of Jenny, she published a couple of thought-provoking posts recently... themed around why we stitch & sew, what we acquire (aka stash), what it all means to us... Jen's reflections resonated with me... the whole thing of buying gorgeous fabrics/books/patterns, but having so much of it, that perhaps it sits for a long time, not seeing the light of day.
The posts are here & here - I hope you will go read them.

The timing of Jenny's posts were uncanny... A couple of situations that have happened in my life in recent months, have given me cause to reflect on some things, one of them being my Overload (or what clever quilting folks call their Stash). I had just made a few decisions regarding my sewing & stitching... One of those things is to do a LOT more sewing from my Overload, & probably even give away or sell some of it if I feel no particular attachment to it.
Sewing with fabrics that I've had for a while is what Jenny calls allowing it to shine... well gosh, I could get my sewing & blogging positively sparkling!!
Now, I'm not declaring anything crazy like "no new fabrics" or "no shopping for a year"...(as if that would work!) I'm just going public with my intention to mine delve into my Overload more often, & make some great things with what I find there. I am looking forward to making these changes; it's got to feel better than the burden I feel about how much stuff I currently have.
Perhaps you have some Stash, waiting for you to show it some attention?
*~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~*
 Thank You to the ladies who linked up for CTTY November... so great to see the variety of gifts being made...
The winner of the lovely little prize is *~*BEV*~*... well done Bev on the RNG picking you on the first time you have linked up! I have your address, so it will be going in the mail for you very soon! x

So glad it's the weekend, I have been flat out at work all week, & will be working every day next week, plus 3 days the following week... looks like it's time to teach the teenagers how to use the washing machine!!
*~* Have a lovely weekend *~*

(just to clarify, I am very territorial about my laundry, so this is more a case of my reluctance to teach them, rather than their reluctance to do it!)

31 comments:

Maria said...

I just love the colours of the fabrics you used for your gorgeous table runner...

Congratulations Bev...

What your teenagers don't do the washing??? Hmm it is time they helped Mum out...

Anonymous said...

Well done Anthea, it's beautiful.......you are clever, I love the combination of fabrics and colours you've used.

My yarn and fabric stash have grown over the past year and this Christmas I have been using them to knit and sew Christmas gifts, but like you there's no way I could say I won't buy any new over the year......I'm duly shamed!!, lol. x

Quilting Chemist (Danette) said...

Anthea, your runner is gorgeous! I love the bright colors you chose. I'm thinking my stash needs to Shine...it just keeps growing!!!

Kate said...

Anthea, your table runner is beautiful! Good luck with your plans to use your overload. I've been doing that for several months now and managing just fine; of course it helps that temptation is an hour drive away or ordering online. I can often be seen drooling over gorgeous fabrics online though. :)

Carin@Ullhärvan said...

The runner is gorgeous!
I certainly need to let my overload shine a lot. My children call me a hoarder, and in a way I understand why and that doesn't feel good!
I'll really try and let it shine and sparkle next year!

Kaisievic said...

Your table runner is so beautifully made, Anthea. Good luck with your overload diminishing and with teaching the teenagers the intricacies of the washing machine (I took that step a few months again and my two young people are managing fine with it.)

Lin said...

Great post Anthea - love your runner! I have to say that all my Christmas present makes (which I will reveal in the New Year) have been made from my stash - some using vintage Laura Ashley fabrics that I have had since the early eighties and which have suddenly 'spoken' to me. I shall be linking up with CTTY in January - 2014 is the year I get organised!!!!!

Simone Harding said...

I absolutely love your table runner. Gorgeous.

Lin said...

Thank you so much for sharing the link to Jenny's posts which I loved.

Anonymous said...

wow that table runner is awesome Anthea and yes i have been thinking about what Jenny said as well,have a lovely weekend Anthea.xx

Christine M said...

Your table runner is lovely Anthea. Isn't it just so annoying when you run out of thread with only a couple of inches to go! Good luck with your overload.

Helen said...

Love your tablerunner the colours just sing out the design. I also enjoyed reading your thought s and Jenny's on the stash busting etc. Hmm..... makes one think ..... Thanks !

Cheryll said...

Gorgeous runner... and YES my fabric will shine too in 2014. I sooooo need to do this! Congrats to BEV.:)

marina said...

Your runner looks gorgeous!!
well done.
Am going to pop over to Jenny's links to have a sticky.
good luck with your laundry instruction.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Beautiful project! I love it too!
Congrat's to Bev! I will be sewing until the last minute on some gifts. ;-) LOL Even though I sewed all year! Happy weekend!

retdairyqueen said...

Love the runner Turned out very nicely I think you have done justice to Jenny's pattern
I made that very same vow last year re. the fabric, but somehow the colour I need is just never there

Unknown said...

That pattern is so Cute and Fresh love your Fabrics.

Melody said...

Beautiful sewing, you clever cookie.

Marilyn said...

I do like the fabrics you have used for your table runner, Anthea. I hear you about our stashes. I have for the last couple of years tried very hard to use from my stash before heading off to buy new fabrics. Sometimes it works well, but other times I dont have enough of a fabric, or dont have anything to coordinate.

barb's creations said...

Congratulations Bev!
I too have come to this same realisation and decided to only use what was in my stash to do my swap commitments with and lets just say I still have way too much! next year I'll be continuing with this theme and will hopefully only need to purchase fabric for backing and binding to finish of some long overdue WIP :) Barb.

Susan said...

Great runner, your raw edge appliqué is so neat. Good luck with your resolution........stitching really is more fun than shopping.

Fiona said...

your runner is just gorgeous and your work so lovely.....
it's a good idea to use what we have.... can't take it with us...
Hugz

Sisbabestitches said...

Lovely job on your runner Anthea :)

Yes Jenny's posts resonated with where I have been heading too, though I think I was waiting to feel more skill confident before cutting into my cherished collection. Looks like there may be a lot of projects with nostalgic fabrics shining in blogland in 2014. Perfect, now I'll see fabric I love and WON'T be able to buy it cos it ain't available any more, LOL

Oh and congrats Bev :)

Bev C said...

Hello Anthea,
Your runner is stunning, love the backing fabric too. Running out of thread can be very annoying. Jenny's post was a great reminder to use up what we have. I enter my sewing room now and say to myself "How big is your coffin." I know that seems a awful thing to say but it helps me use it up. Plus when you look at the evening news and see what some people have to put up with it makes that stash seem just so stupid.My best friend lately is the delete button on my email account after receiving those lovely enticing newsletters with the latest must have products.

Enjoy your Sunday.
Bev.

Katherine said...

I don't think I would let my two put the washing on either lol. Love your post and that Jennifer pattern is gorgeous.

chrissie said...

Stunning runner with great design and colour

Chrissie x

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Cheering you on!! \o/
You will inspire others...and that's the way it should be. A continual flow of inspiration from one to another.
xxx

Nicky said...

Your runner is beautiful, you make such a neat job of the machine applique. Definitely thought provoking to wonder whether we really need the latest 'must-haves' that are constantly appearing...

Nicky said...

Your runner is beautiful, you make such a neat job of the machine applique. Definitely thought provoking to wonder whether we really need the latest 'must-haves' that are constantly appearing...

Jindi's Cottage said...

What a happy table runner, just love it. I love shopping in my stash, I find all sorts of treasures without leaving the house (or spending any $$), have fun finding treasures in yours...

Lyn said...

What a lovely tablerunner...I followed the link to Jenny's blog..very powerful words from her..really takes you to the heart of what is important..

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