Thursday, January 28, 2010

My creative space...

I'm so glad Kirsty's got the creative spaces back up and running for the year... now I will have more impetus to both create and blog! It is quite clear to me now just how much participating in this meme last year kept up my enthusiasm for both.

Today I'm up to my ears in shades of green...



Ugh, I feel a little ill looking at it all. These bits of fabric are supposed to be coming together in a slightly-haphazard-but-mostly-symmetrical 12 block quilt top for my sister. Siffice to say she likes green. We picked out the fabrics for her last year and tried to figure out together what she would like.




 Naturally, I launched in late last year without really planning, as I tend to work better as I go. Problem is, I now don't really know what I'm up to, and I've spent the morning so far ironing these kind-of-log-cabin squares and attempting to calculate sashing requirements. Not that we really agreed on a size, either!

I think I've learned from this that, in quilting, I really DO need to visualise a little more clearly where I'm going prior to cutting and sewing. It is a little harder though when I'm trying to visualise on behalf of someone else, and I don't really have full ownership of the project...


Meanwhile, I'm trying to save my eyeballs from green-overload, and shock myself into cleaning the bathroom, by wearing my favourite apron, this whacky bright smock number (and hiding unwashed hair under old t-shirt, classy!). I'm showing you because I want to make something similar for a friend, but I need to ask whether making an apron for someone to clean the house in would be considered demeaning?!


Anyway, after I've tackled the soap scum I'm going to come back and check out what YOU'VE been up to. Join in here.

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33 comments:

  1. Firstly, you do seriously glamourous housewife. Secondly, green just rocks.

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  2. That certainly is a lot of green!

    I have a whole bunch of aprons, some rather similar to your lovely example there, and I luffs them, and yours!

    If your friend actually cleans, what could be considered demeaning about it? Useful, thoughtful, handy, yes. Demeaning, not so much. :)

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  3. DO IT, aprons are the best. I pop one on and somehow it transforms me to a glam 50's housewife......although one that still doesn't like housework but love to cook in it!!!

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  4. I like green. I think the apron is a great idea. & I'm glad the space is back too...it keeps me going. x

    PS: I like your shoes too.

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  5. Wow! What a lot of green! Happy creating, love melski xx

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  6. I think a handmade apron is a lovely gift - one I'd be pleased to receive. It's not like your going to give someone some old gray faded and stained apron. It'll be fresh, new and motivating. Goodness knows we all need some motivation when it comes to cleaning. Much like a new work outfit, a new apron makes you want to jump into that soap scum with lots of spirit.

    Well, maybe not actually into the soap scum. Then you might fall. And your apron would get all gross and you'd just feel silly.

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  7. Sometimes when you look at something for a long time it can see too, well, green! The greens look great and I can't wait to see your quilt, however and whatever shape and size it turns out.

    And apron for cleaning is a great present. Maybe you could team it up with some bi carb and vinegar!

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  8. Gorgeous colours! Yes, quilting is one of those things that requires a bit more planning than most crafts, especially if you want it to go together nice and smooth without any obscenities! Good luck with the housework!

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  9. Green is so under rated but nothing looks fresher!! Love Posie

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  10. Green is great. You can never have too much!

    Aprons are also good, and should be a much appreciated present, though it depends on the friend and how they feel about things like aprons and housework...!

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  11. Wow that is a lot of green! It is going to make a fabulous quilt for a green lover.I think the apron is a lovely idea but to me cleaning the bathroom is never something I plan to do. Cleaning the bathroom is something that happens when I am in there using it and get a glimpse of the scum and realise that it is a health hazard.

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  12. Love the apron! Not so sure about the green though! Good luck with the quilt top :)

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  13. Totally yes to the apron. Whether we like to admit it or not, they are fab and practical. And mean less washing in the long run.
    And green is not my fav but a totally necessary colour, for what is the tropics with it ;) xox

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  14. looking lovely at your place Gina.
    i took the liberty of nominating you for a sunshine award because your blog brings sunshine to my day. i have no expectation of comttment it is simply a thumbs up to you

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  15. I'm loving the green, but yes, planning is a word I associate with quilting... Probably why I've been avoiding going there ;)

    Love that apron and I think your friend would not feel demeaned at all... I mean, it's not like giving someone an iron, is it?! An apron can be worn for whatever occasion you choose.

    Love the head wrap btw :) Kx

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  16. Personally I would LOVE to get an apron as a gift. But that's just me.

    You look absolutely glam by the way!

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  17. Anything that inspires me to clean rather than sew would be a good thing - or more correctly perhaps a miracle thing! I think a glam apron is great, and would make cleaning seem that bit more interesting.

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  18. I l.o.v.e the apron! I agree with you about the needing to plan patchwork but not really wanting to thing. But your colours definitely go together ;)

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  19. that apron is so fab! green is my fave colour so I dont feel at all ill when looking at it. goos luck with your green mission x

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  20. Love the apron. Sure, I don't really clean much, but it would still be a nice present. Could wear it when I bake!

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  21. i'd be comfortable if not completely happy in all that green!
    re apron ~ had a little laugh re demeaning nature but am sure it would be handy and cool :)

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  22. i'm green with envy! the only creating that's been going around here are the creation of dustballs. love the apron- the cool green is a nice contrast to the warmth of the oven. xo m.

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  23. That green reminds me of Nicole's ratty blankie that she dragged around well beyond the ears falling off the sheep. Where is the green sheep? I think she still has it somewhere...

    Difficult to make something that you don't totally own the creativeness of. Perhaps Moo could sketch you something as some kind of quilt-spiration?

    I love your apron. Not demeaning at all. And your hair-hiding device just makes you look like a movie housewife.

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  24. Nuh I reckon aprons are the new [insert something cool here] especially if it was made by you ;)

    Now you see if I needed a break from green there'd be no escape in my bathroom ;)

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  25. You look gorgeous daaaaaaarling - who wouldn't want a great apron like that (seriously - if it makes housework more enjoyable it's got my vote!). I really love the green quilt squares - I can't wait to see how that works out. Nic

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  26. I love green. It's great. But I agree it can be really hard to get entirely into a project where someone else has certain ideas about what the outcome will be- so good luck. Great apron. Great pressie.

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  27. Loving the green - I think that this is going to look good in it's organic process

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  28. I think the green looks good... but I can see that it might make you feel like you were going green if you spent too much time immersed in. Perhaps you're more a miss piggy than a kermit?

    Then again... perhaps not. Don't think miss piggy would've ever srubbed a bathroom!
    Think the apron rocks - although I'm more partial to the term 'pinnie'! Loving the head wear too... mmmmmm.... maybe you are miss piggy afterall - getting all dolled up to clean the muck :)

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  29. BTW - I'm not wearing any shoes!!!

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  30. Green is my favorite, so you'll have no complaints from me! I tend to just start cutting and sewing too, and sometimes that works great. Others ... not so much. :)

    I think the apron is a great idea. I guess it's up to you to know whether your friend is the kind of person who'd take it wrong. I doubt it, though, when it's so lovely.

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  31. Gifting an apron is definately not demeaning - i think its a lovely gift. i have only started wearing aprons recently - and I cannot believe I used to cook or clean without one! It helps keep my clothes clean and hence washing to a minimum :-)

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  32. Now who wouldn't like to look a little bit glam while cleaning the house. No matter how much we hate the cooking and cleaning, I think most of us like a nice pinny. Especially if it looks like yours.

    I can't wait to see how the green quilt turns out. I am in awe of anyone who can make a whole quilt. I am sure that no matter how you feel about it now - planning or not - that it is going to be gorgeous.

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“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
~Albert Einstein