First, (drumroll please) ... I finished the sweater back! Yeah, that's astounding enough, but what's more amazing is, the gauge is dead on. I almost fell over.
Here's a picture a day or two before I officially finished it. It doesn't show the pattern really well, but you'll get the gist.
I've started on the first front piece, and have some delusional hope I might actually get to wear it this spring. And that it might fit.
I'm almost done with the Valentine's themed table mat.
The only thing that still needs done is the backing folded over and sewn to make the binding. There's a specific trick to miter the corners and I can't remember how to do it, and don't know exactly where my quilting basics book is, where the technique is explained. I'll find it, or look it up online. It's a pretty standard technique.
I've also made four blocks of the scrap quilt.
I'm really happy with how these are turning out. One of them has a kind of screwy color combination, but I made up my mind when I started this that I wasn't going to fuss with matching colors in the blocks. For one thing, it's a scrap quilt - that isn't necessary. That's one of the points of making a scrap quilt, not have to fuss with a lot of planning. It's supposed to be relaxing and laid back. I also know that even if I throw together a few ugly combinations, when the whole quilt is put together, it won't really be noticeable.
One of the reasons there isn't a lot of color variety here is that so far I don't have a lot of fabrics to work with. I started with just my stash, which was oddly sparse and monochrome. I know I had several huge boxes of fabric scraps when we moved, already trimmed into 5" squares in anticipation of just this type of quilt, but they're MIA at the moment. Maybe permanently, as I've been through pretty much everything here since we moved, and I've never seen them.
Then I went and bought a bunch of fat quarters (pieces of fabric that are 18" by ... I forget, but they're basically a quarter yard of fabric pre-cut) for the quilt, but in an effort to not go on a huge spending spree, I only bought some of what I'd need ... so, the color selection is still somewhat limited so far. The next time I go fabric shopping I'll pick up the rest, and make sure I mix in some more varied colors, then things should start popping.
Last but not least, I made a bead tonight.
It sounds like a big deal - I made A BEAD! But I actually planned this bead specifically for a necklace I've wanted to make for a couple months, so that's why it's getting the solo treatment. I like the way it turned out. Hopefully this weekend I'll be putting the piece together, and will have a finished picture. (with no reference, it's hard to tell, but it's not that huge - it's about 1" across; I just made it really close-up so you could see the detail).
I'm beyond ecstatic about clay now. It's so freaking fun!! I ordered a book I can't wait to get (it should be here tomorrow!) - it's how to make clay figures, from a woman who is flaming stellar at it. Well, don't take my word for it - her name is Katherine Dewey, and you can see her work here.
It might take years to get as good as that, but I have no doubt I could do it, if I put my mind to it and practice a lot. And that's what I want to do. I enjoy all the rest of this stuff, but this idea I have for clay - I'm just kind of consumed by it. I have a very specific first project planned, but I think I'll keep it a secret so you can be surprised when I post a picture of it (which may be a year from now, but ... baby steps. I am just learning).
This is all heading in the direction of opening the Etsy shop later this year. I know exactly what I want to sell. But I have some steps to get through before I'm ready for that. First, learn and practice and get good. Second, make some inventory. Then the shop.
I'm pretty psyched. This is probably the best mood I've been in for many, many years. All this making of stuff going on! All this creativity in the air! I've even forgotten to get S.A.D. this year, that's how amazing this is.
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