Eight - final version!

I have been working on my panel with eight pictures quilt and have learned something useful.  I was very happy with the way the eight blocks were joined together to make a 3 x 5 arrangement, but it was in adding the borders to make it a bit squarer where I struggled.  Originally I had added a lilac border which was wider at the sides, to try and compensate.  When I started to add the piano keys border it didn't look right.  So with a little help from friends, Jacquie in particular, I evened out the inner border and added long piano keys along the sides, and small ones top and bottom.

That looks much better.  The balance of the central part is retained, and your eye doesn't realise the piano keys are different lengths, just that it looks right.  Result!

Eight

Why do manufacturers persist in making panels with eight images on them?  Eight is either too many or not enough to make a balanced quilt.  Nine is a good number, as that can be three blocks by three, or even five is OK as you can pad them out with plain blocks.  But eight! (Of course, I do actually know why they make these panels, as two rows of four images fill the fabric nicely.  I suppose the question is more, why do we buy them?!). So, along with most people, I have one of these panels, and decided to work out how to use it. 

Not a prize-winner, but the easy hourglass blocks have made these eight images into a fifteen, or five by three.  A bit long and narrow, but if I add a border on two sides, then a traditional border, I think it will work.

How about that?  I'll put a pink border round the whole thing, and get back. 

Holiday purchases

I We're back safe and sound from our wonderful holiday in Australia, and while I didn't manage to do very much sewing while we were away, I certainly made sure I bought some fabric souvenirs back with me!  I am doing a class in May which requires a fabric with a large design on it, so particularly looked out for that. 

I thought this filled the bill perfectly.  I need a solid to go with it, and will probably go for the cobalt blue or the turquoise.  And of course, I couldn't just bring the fabric I needed, but also bought some which I wanted! 

I wanted fabric which is difficult to get here, and have seen the (gorgeous) fabrics other people have brought, with kangaroos, koalas, ferns and exotic flowers etc on them, and seen how they struggled to use them, so thought I'd try a different direction.  I'm hoping these fabrics can be used in one project, but will also mix into my stash fairly well. I wanted Aboriginal designs as they are so iconic. 

This one is called 'Young Women's Business'.  The Aboriginies separate gender roles into men's and women's business, with each having equal weight.  The circles represent a place of significance, a meeting place, water source, food sorce etc, and the 'C' shapes are the mark a cross legged woman will make on the ground.  The larger C shapes with lines next to them are the women with their digging sticks having a meeting, and the other smaller Cs are the young women having a smaller meeting.  The lines represent journeys or routes.  I suppose the whole design has been stylised, but I like to think it's a message about the importance of a balanced society and their individual roles.  Wonder when I'll dare to cut it up!