Tuesday 17 May 2011

Chopping and changing.....

and still not sure I like it!    

I've lost count of the number of times I've re-arranged these....


and still I can't say I'm really happy with the result.    It's strange because I really love the fabrics.... Pure by Sweetwater.... so I don't understand why I'm finding it so difficult to arrange them.    I've changed them again since I took this photo.

I thought they'd be perfect for this....


it's the Madeline bag pattern I bought from Clover & Violet..... but now I'm having doubts.   I felt so smug about using this charm pack too..... it came from stash.    I get points for that... right!  

I've already placed an order with  The Fat Quarters for some of the dark brown wording for the sides and base and a blue with brown spot for the handles and ties.    I'm committed..... or maybe I should be.   But I can't shake the feeling  that I'm making a pigs breakfast out of a great bag.

I'd better sleep on it....... again!

On a brighter note Mac made me this today.....


my very own revolving cutting table.

I know you can buy them but they'd certainly cost a lot more than this one.   He used a revolving turntable bought from a Pound store.... the kind for putting portable TVs on.... then cut and glued a circle from a small cutting mat onto the top.

It's so dinky... and it works perfectly for cutting hexies with a rotary cutter.  I've plans to try more paper piecing too so it's going to be really useful long term.

Cut these in no time this afternoon.....


I plan to sew these tomorrow.  I'm stewarding at a craft exhibition the whole day.  There's an awful lot of sitting involved so I'm hoping stitching these will help pass the time.  Mac has sticks in the exhibition so I'm keeping my fingers crossed he gets some sales.

Better get myself up to bed and hope I dream up a solution to my bag problem.

Till next time

Josie X

11 comments:

~Niki~ said...

hmm, i like your pure fabrics like that~cannot wait to see what the bag looks like with those prints. I have a revolving cutting table and hate it LOL.
it moves as i'm cutting. i spent a lot too.

rosie said...

Hi Josie, I love the way those fabrics look. Maybe you need to step away and view them with new eyes!(anyway, that's what I do when I get frustrated with how things look...)
Love the turntable, clever hubby..

Wendy said...

Well ... I think your fabrics look pretty ... It will be interesting to see what you end up doing!! Love your turntable and hexies! Wendy

Q said...

I think you just need to flip a coin or draw a number out of a hat for the pure fabric layouts, maybe they are just all so awesome, they are faking mundane. Any arrangement would probably look great in the bag. You could be completely random and draw the actual fabrics out of a hat? I know, I'm way to OCD to do that too...

Goodluck to Mac and happy turning of the cutting thingiemabob!

Just Sew Sue said...

Just sew them together, they'll be smaller and closer together which may work for you. If you don't like the bag, you can send it to me and start another for yourself. :)

Pootle said...

Ive made some patchwork cushions with Pure (piccies on my blog if you wanna peek) and I had the same problem as you when I was trying to put the fabrics together in some kind of aesthetically pleasing order but once you actually start sewing them they look totally fine. I love Pure by Sweetwater!

Kaye R said...

We all get too close to a project. I think they look absolutely lovely. Hope you find your comfort zone with them soon. And I agree with one of the other comments, once you start sewing them together they will be fine. Top marks to Hubby......

Chookyblue...... said...

I like the layout of the pieces.........
i'm hoping to get a rotating cutting mat at the quilt show next month.........

Jennie {Clover and Violet} said...

Oh goodness, I love Pure! In fact, I wanted to make one out of it too...I think it will be great. And I think I need a revolving cutting table, but can't bring myself to spending so much, this is a fabulous idea!

Lynda said...

The fabrics look great the way you have them. Sometimes I tend to "overthink" an arrangement and waste a lot of time that could have been spent sewing. I'm sure you'll settle on a pattern soon.

Love the revolving cutting mat. Always fun to make your own.

Anonymous said...

Josie i love the bag pattern and i love your choice of fabrics,you are putting to much pressure on yourself i think it wont matter what order as they all look great together,good luck and cant wait to see the finished bag