Foundation Paper Piecing - Victory!

As I said yesterday, I really haven't had any me time for sewing in months.  So, as today was the international posting deadline for the For The Love of Solids Swap  on Flickr,  I've had to do some serious planning and sewing the last few nights after work ... But ... 

... I foundation pieced my wacky triangles idea!!  I can't quite believe it  ... This is the only thing I've ever foundation pieced, except for a pathetically disastrous quarter of a flying geese circle a year ago which took me 3 hours, was hell and I didn't even leave enough for seam allowance! *shudder* 

This time I watched a gazillion videos and read a gazillion wise and talented people to help psych myself up.  This is one of my big things I wanted to do this year.  To give it another go. 

So, I drew the pattern in my notebook ...

 then I blew it up on the photocopier and taped it all together ...  

I traced it onto extra large tracing paper and then used that as my foundation, pre-folding all the lines before I started sewing ... I have to say that taking all the guesswork out of where the bloomin fabric goes made it a hell of a lot easier for me.  That and the 'butterfly' trick really helped me keep my cool  ...  It came together pretty quickly.

I only had to rip one seam (forgot the butterfly trick! Doh!) and I used an add a 1/4" ruler for trimming back - what a brilliant thing it is (I bought it at Bletchley!)

I didn't even practice easier ones first ... But what I did do was unplug RoboSew (my sluggish one year old Brother) and dust off glorious beautiful Damiel - my 50s Novum again ... honestly ... it sews like butter, I may never go back to modernity ... 

So here's how it came out!  Not bad eh?  Not perfect by any means, but I'm delighted and massively relieved that my partner will be getting something at least acceptable and only just fashionably late!

It's backed and bound with a deep turquoise linen and ready for quilting tomorrow and the post on Monday, so it's only a day or so late ... not bad considering what I took on! I'll post more pics another day but I just wanted to share my delight at conquering a fear!  If any of you reading this are yet to take the leap I can only say that if I can ... anyone can ... You just need to be logical (and use tracing paper LOL!) 

I think I might be a convert  ... 

198 followers? - sounds like it's nearly time for another Eternal Maker Giveaway!

Wow! It’s been a busy couple of months here - I’m utterly delighted to see so many people following my random blatherings … thank you! 24,000 hits in under a year?! I know it’s not in the gazillions, like many other blogs, but it means a great deal to me. I am deeply thankful that you’ve come along for the ride.


So, to celebrate this, and more importantly (for them at least!) the fact that The Eternal Maker have a fantabulous new website, we’re getting together again to do another giveaway … This one will be a two parter! It starts on Monday 08/08.

But today let’s have a little look at the new site … I think you will really appreciate all the hard work that Anna has put in. You can see pretty much everything that you can get in their bricks and mortar store …

It’s so worth spending some time here … There’s lots of good stuff - designer bundles, scrap bags, monthly swatch clubs - everything from FQs to charm squares - and some lovely organic cottons.


But, what I really really love about The Eternal Maker is that along with what I would call ‘normal’ stock like Moda, Kaufman, Miller, et al - they also specialise in Japanese imports from manufacturers like Hokkoh, Kinkame, Kiyohara, Kobayashi, Kokka, Lecien etc.


There is wonderfulness here …

how about this lovely deco rose print from Kobayashi?	or this great alphabet print from Kinkame?	or this vintage newspaper linen blend from Kokka?

… For me of course it has to be all of these dreamy Etsuko Furuya prints for Kokka …

(I couldn’t fit the whole range on the page! - trust me I tried LOL!)

Oh how I dream of an unlimited Echino stash. I honestly think I’d swap all my prints just to work only with Echino and solids. 

 Are you listening to that Kokka? LOL!

So - come back on Monday (08/08) for Part 1 of the giveaway …  I promise you it’s a little cracker that could keep you happy all year!

p.s. a little bird told me you might just be able to get your hands on some gorgeous RubyStarSpring at the FOQ next week if the nice delivery man turns up in time ... oh yes ... fingers crossed !!