Wednesday 4 December 2013

An Incomplete Tale…

Another tale that started long ago kiddies…

Back in the mists of time, three friends went for a lovely weekend to Beechworth* and a great time was had by all…out and about during the weekend, while one friend wandered the antique shops, two popped into the then local patchwork/quilting shop for a quick look…and emerged hours later…one of the friends clutching amongst her purchases a small plastic box containing a square of cream fabric with small squares of 1930's reproduction fabrics and a dog shape template (well with a combination of dog and '30's fabrics what hope did she have really).  Back home and the little dog shapes were blanket stitch appliquéd to the background square…and...
small - about 15" square
...all ideas of what to do next escaped the maker (except the quilting involving bone shapes but the bit in between was a mystery)...so it languished…forgotten and waiting…until one day it was found once again and the idea came to frame the square with apple core shapes…and so the square was pinned to the design wall, shapes were cut, arranged around the square, carefully stitched together in rows…and...oh bugger, two shapes short for the square…so it sat, or rather hung, on the wall…and was there so long, becoming such a part of the wall, acceptance was that it should be there (sad really)…until finally the maker stopped being so darn lazy, cutting and stitching the final two shapes to finish the square of shapes…
...which of course didn't fit the background square without encroaching over the dog shapes *sigh*…so it hung some more…and some more...waiting for inspiration…until finally came the knowing of what to do but not being able to settle on a fabric to do it with (the maker going all seriously Libran with the decision making on this one!)…then with a whoosh came the spark of light to see which fabric to use (and after all that, the maker used another cream fabric - how hard was it really!) and the motivation (and time/headspace) to do it…
still small - 23" square now
…a strip added around the square to provide a background on which to appliqué the apple core frame…and tah dah! finally out of the mists of time comes a finished top…

Which leads the maker to the next obstacle to overcome in her quest…which perle thread to use for the quilting bit...
strutting their stuff...
…potentials have been selected…auditions have taken place…
nervous line up…silent prayers of pick me...
And now they wait for the maker's nod…don't they look pretty all lined up…which one will get the part, oh the tension that is the in air…

Oh that and finding a bit of fabric for the backing…because when the maker went to get out the piece in mind it couldn't be found…because it was used it on something else and there is none left…so typically, the maker moved on to something else…

And there the tale rests for now…the ending still being written…

Happy stitching...

* Beechworth - historical gold rush town in the north east of Victoria, Australia

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow Annette that is gorgeous,love the colours.xx

Kerry said...

Simply so gorgeous. Sending bolt of inspirational lightening your way- perhaps that lovely pastel blue, or green.

marina said...

Love it!
Hope the maker doesn't dilly dally for much longer and decides to finish this beauty asap!

Mistea said...

Cute puppies.if they like playing in flowers I might know where they can find some pretty daisies?
Love the 'bones'.

Shay said...

Sounds like this project has a mind of it's own ! Im sure it'll let you know which perle thread to use too.

By the way - it's gorgeous!

Christine M said...

I love it!

Grethe said...

How sweet poppies, Annette! Love the 1930`s,
full of nice colours:-)

Sisbabestitches said...

Ah. This is just the way I work the creative process, winding ways seemingly going nowhere, and spots of resting under lovely shady trees, forgetting to move on- must the Libran bit in me- Thank Goodness I now know where that comes in ;) It is a lovely little ongoing project :) And lovely story too :)

Narelle said...

Beautiful rainbow of pastels ... gorgeous!