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Wednesday 21 September 2016

What Happened to the Rejects?

After a manic week work wise which included me catering for a weekend event which included, not only several vegetarians but three vegans, I now have the painter here.   It is impossible to sew, I am camped out between my bedroom and the kitchen.  I had to empty the bookcases in the dining room and carry all the books upstairs into the spare bedroom, then there was the pictures from the dining room and the lounge and all the bits and pieces, good job I prefer it a more minimalist look.  So this is what I held back from my post last week.

Just to recap I showed you the block I designed, Barcodes.


And explained a bit about the process with a pic of my rejects including.......


My first attempt.

 I loved the colours in the first one, so......


I salvaged it, by adding five of the block units, the ones at the top and right of the pic, and made it into a cushion (pillow).   I had to change the right middle one so it would fit in.  There is still a unit that is on the large size, but I managed to disguise the one on the edge which is now the middle block.  


Slightly unbalanced, but worth salvaging or what?  Perfect for my rocking chair, which has new blue seat cushions.


I used what I had for the backing, which has two colours to use up a 10 inch width of fabric strip of red and a smaller piece of blue.


I did my favourite serpentine stitch quilting and I also stitched just under 1/4 inch all around the edge to stop the bright backing from showing.

Now I'm thinking it would look great if I used Barcodes to make a scrappy quilt..........


And what about the gruesome reject?  Well I haven't binned it, but so far I haven't had time to do anything with it.   Although I do make cushion covers for the cushions we use at work so I could always add a border and use it up.  Some of the plain ones I made from dreadful fabric I bought when I was a new quilter have received several compliments, so I guess someone will love the gruesome one, especially if they are colour blind!!!  I need to have a think about it, maybe go radical, after all if I make a complete dogs dinner out of it I haven't lost much have I?  One things for sure, when I do get it done, you will see the whole process, however it turns out.


Remember this pic?  Sorry, no wonderful transformational pics to show you, in fact it got much worse, so much for doing out my sewing room.


This was the last glimpse you got of it, just a reminder the blue splurge is the thread catcher!!!




This is what I would like, see the aperture where the machine fits in so you can have it level with the table?  And look at all that space, it makes a great cutting table too, and it tilts so you can out it against the walk if you need the space for anything.  Perfect except for one thing, it is £899, or that's what it said yesterday, I have been told the prices are going up at the end of the month.

This is more affordable at £179, which will rise to £189 next month. It is smaller, and I won't be able to move it, but, with an Ikea table to the back, and maybe another at the side for quilting, it might make a very nice setup. It has lots of room for me to sit which the small cabinet didn't, I felt my legs were squashed and I couldn't get as close as I would like. It comes in white, beech and teak, I'm hovering between white and beech.

I will sell the small Horne Cabinet I already have which are about £400 new.  I have been advised they sell for between £100 and £150 secondhand, but mine is teak and a bit older so I will advertise it for £99 and settle for £80 which would make it a good buy.

If you would like to see more Horne cabinets check out the website.

But today the lounge and dining room will be finished and tomorrow the painter will start the transformation of the sewing room which is already cleared.  I already have great new lighting, LED lights inset into the ceiling, and now my north facing room is flooded with light.  It is the coldest room as it is above the garage, so I will look at a small electric fan heater.  I know they are more expensive to run but it will probably be for shorter periods as I do have a radiator in the room anyway.

So, from the confines of my bedroom I am sending you smiles,
From
Kate

Linking up with Lorna @ Let's Bee Social, Kelly @ Needle'n' Thread Thursday, Sarah @ Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? 



30 comments:

  1. A lovely pillow and a great tip on how to stop the backing showing. I feel your pain as we are also renovating but the end result will be so worth it!

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  2. It was worth salvaging for sure! This bar code design is very interesting. I pinned it for future references. Have a good day!

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  3. That pillow is super sweet and a great way to make use of your practice blocks! You have sure come up with some great ideas for your sewing room. I think the second set up would be great because, although it doesn't have wheels, it does allow for your machine to be set in level with the table top. Can't wait to see how it goes! Hugs from Canada to you!

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  4. It makes me happy to see rejects used, and your pillow is amazing. Just shows that its worth playing with unused blocks!! The top table you showed looks a lot like the table I bought at IKEA. It doesn't have the machine insert, but it does have the crank to adjust the table height! I haven't put it together...my room looks much like your soon to be sewing room!

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  5. Kate, the pillow turned out great! Your design is perfect for a scrap or controlled scraps. I hope you'll be back organized and sewing again soon!

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  6. I love your cushion, the texture is lovely! I hope your table dreams come true.

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  7. I like that you have turned your rejects into something lovely. This barcode block has lots of possibilities and you are right, it would make a great scrappy quilt. Good luck sorting out your sewing room; how is it that we can always find exactly what we want, but not at a price we can afford?

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  8. I love the pillow and thank you for the tip about sewing a 1/4 inch around. Could you sew the gruesome one into two pillows, one green/blue and one red/yellow. I'm thinking team colours. Just an idea. Visiting from Sew Fresh Quilts.

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  9. That pillow is GREAT! I can't wait to see how your newly updated sewing room turns out!

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  10. The pillow is awesome Kate. I'm also on the lookout for a nice sewing table ...Make sure what you pick can take the weight of the table. My favourite table is about $2000 Canadian which is about $1000pounds. It's wooden made locally and has drawers and stuff. Needless to say I am still drooling over it.

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  11. It's a lovely cushion Kate ! I like very much the serpentine quilting. I really have to try that soon ;-)

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  12. Echoing what Sophie (above) has said, I *love* your serpentine quilting! The curves are so *regular*! Wowsers. A quietly dramatic presentation, for sure.

    You've made lemonade out of lemons, which is always a good thing.

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  13. Love, love, love the pillow, and I don't think the scrap is gruesome. With some tender loving care, I'm sure it would be a keeper! Wendy at piecefulthoughts@gmail.com

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  14. Kate, I LOVE what you did with your Bar Code mock block. How do you do that quilting so perfectly? I haven't tried that method but I don't think I have a steady enough hand to do it. Again, your talent shines through! :)

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  15. You are amazing! That pillow is a winner and looks beautiful sitting on your rocking chair! Well done! When the painting is all finished, all the hard work will have been worth it. Glad your weekend event went off without a hitch. Perhaps you've discovered a little side business to help you save up for a new sewing machine table! XO

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  16. What a bright and lively pillow from rejects! The other one might go for a team or school colors, or separate the two blocks. It's the mix that works so well on the pillow, and of course the serpentine rows. The second table looks like a good choice and is small enough to be flexibly regrouped if you change your room around,(no, not at this time). I wish you health and peace at this hectic time.

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  17. Like all those before me, I LOVE the pillow. It is colorful, bright and the lines are wonderful. The curves on the quilting work wonderfully.

    I hope you get to come out of your room soon. ;-)

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  18. See - not a reject but just differently appropriated . Loving the table , both old and new . I sew on my old Mexican line tiled table , a bit bumpy as the tiles are rustic

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  19. This pattern has so much potential. I love the modern look. The pillow has motivated me, as I need some new pillows for my living room. I am going to think about this pattern in shades of green, brown and off white. Thank you for the inspiration.

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  20. Gorgeous cushion there Kate - so glad it got rescued and used. Doesn't sound fun having workmen in the house, hope they are soon finished, tidy up and are off!!

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  21. I really like your barcode block! Seems very versatile.

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  22. Your cushion is gorgeous - and oh what a wonderful rabbit hole I've just been down looking at sewing tables - ah well maybe one day!!

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  23. Love your barcode block! The pillow is a nice save as well - such happy colors and creativity shining through!

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  24. Thank you for participating to my Fabric, Thread and Yarn link party. I was happy to see your blocks appear on my page. Have a beautiful Sunday!

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  25. Tolles Kissen! Dein Barcode-Block gefällt mir sehr gut!
    Liebe Grüße Bine

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  26. Love the resurrection of the rejects. What a gorgeous colorful pillow you made. It will brighten any space.
    Hugs,
    Preeti.

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  27. I adore your cushion! And love the block pattern you created. TFS!

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With smiles from,
Kate