ozcountryquiltingmum

Free piecing frenzy

My husband often says that one day they will find a cure for this addiction-usually when he calls into the sewing room to say hello and searches in vain for a free place to sit!
I am bad enough with normal piecing but when I go all free piecing crazy it is very difficult to remember to feed the kids-it is very fortunate for them that they are getting bigger and can now open packets themselves!
But this is all the Spring quilt swaps fault. If I hadn't got out that big pack of hand dyeds and just decided to have a little play i wouldn't have got the bug, it's funny, after a day's play I got a comment asking how to do it (the free pieced roses in my sidebar are free pieced), well just cut up bits and play, with a lot of flipping and turning and pressing thrown it. It is very much trial and error, not like following a plan. You have no idea what you will actually achieve and not much idea how to get there anyway! I could do a tutorial if anyone wanted.
I am not that happy with any of these but thought i would still show them, can't always just show the good stuff or else the blog isn't "real."

This was the first, using the pale hand dyeds. Was pretty happy with this until I used far too light a green for the leaves and they meld into the yellow 2 tone background. bought some green DMC and think I may outline the leaves, hence it is already backed and ready. I also didn't curve the edges of the petals, forgot they need that to lok flower like.

Then played with this, got more curving and contrast at the edge of the flower but should have used something other than the pale green in the centre, perhaps a light pink, and edging some of the petals with a more solid pink or really dark yellow would give it more definition-like shading.

Then, hating waste, I picked up all my tiny scraps from the flip and sew technique used on the other two blocks and sewed them into this however they came into my hand. This would be about 6 inches toatl size whereas the others are 10-12 inches.
And don't worry, none of these will end up in the swap quilt, I have started on something nice and safe and universal!

Off to see my sister today, mailing these internationally ...and nationally Leigh...on the way...have found a few more that need to go as well. I will really get the third degree at the PO today, I'll just say I am finally catching up with my international friends!!