A Change in the City

I suppose it was bound to happen...winter has arrived in Paris.

Lots of cold, gray, and generally gloomy weather in the forecast indefinitely.

Great quilting weather!

I've embarked on a new project...finally able to make a decision. I pulled out some fabric I brought to Paris last year with high hopes of turning into a bed quilt for our apartment. You know that old saying, "better late then never."

I am often drawn to batik fabrics with large floral designs but never know how to use them without losing the large print. Just adding the print as the final border doesn't cut it for me...especially because I prefer pieced borders. I've sewn up the variation of my Paris Flower block without the "y" seam petal...this version is quick and easy. You can see I am alternating my 12-inch blocks with the same sized blocks of my themed/inspiration fabric. I needed to pull in some of the greens in the fabric so the little green borders are going around each pieced block. I only have the two colors of yardage available for the flowers...it is working out pretty good! 

I am most excited about the pieced border I have planned...saving for later.

I did some rearranging in my sewing room...made a sewing island. So much better use of the space. I accomplished two things with this change. I now can reach my design wall from my sewing machine and I can cut from both sides of my cutting table.  And a third less obvious advantage is the one chair I use at my machine and computer now only has to spin around to get where it needs to go.

I am also formally introducing  a collection of inspirational design elements from my Paris world. Right now I am stuck on all the wrought iron work I see everywhere. Future quilting designs will probably reflect some of this inspiration.

I feel the need to do some doodling...

A few of these photos will be showing up now and then on my blog. I will start a pinterest page for them...easiest way for me to access them all in one place wherever I am.