Finding My Sew-Jo!

It has taken a few days.

I only returned home on Thursday - and when I returned things were busy beyond measure.

Some things just can't be forced, but yesterday, in between rounds of laundry - I was able to finally sit and do some string piecing just for pleasure.

I had played around with some block ideas before leaving for Ireland, and now that those ideas have gelled into something with great possibilities, I am diving in!

What is it about string piecing that captivates me so?

I don't have any answers - other than the ideas for places where strings can be used is infinite.

Strings can cover any shape in any size - and I've been playing with traditional block designs in "biggie size" with string piecing as a way to keep things interesting, while fulfilling my need to "string all the things!"

Click to Play:

This was where I began yesterday.

I tend to make a few sample blocks first - which had me going from neutrals to aquas and back to neutrals to get the units made that I needed for the few test blocks I was making.
And once a resounding YES was reached - I turn to assembly line production mode and do ALL of the steps for each unit as needed - no switching back and forth.

All of the squa/turquoise rectangles are done - 

Yesterday was bout power sewing the neutrals to go with them.

So much variety in here!

As I am pulling the ones long enough to use on my phone book paper foundations, anything shorter is being put into a "short bin" to use in the next step to come.

Sometimes that means turning fabrics back-side-up if the front side isn't doing it for me.

There is a place to use EVERYTHING, and maybe that's what I like about string quilts most of all.

Done and de-papered!

When I say everything goes in - that means everything.  Even novelties and weird fabrics you can't see to use any other way than to string them down and use them as a color or a neutral. Like the fabric with the shoes.  It needs to be cut SMALLER! LOL!

BY the time something is put together like this - I don't notice each individual print as much as the overall variety, colors and contrast.

If I can get this together, be looking for Huka Falls to be ready by January 2025 - which is the one year anniversary of my visit to New Zealand.

And I'm happily back to my evening hoop sessions.
There are 2 1/2 rows of blocks let to quilt on this one - It's getting there, but there is still a lot to go.  I'm looking at releasing Ladder Star sometime in the fall.
Today - finishing up the towel baskets for incoming retreaters.
There are beds to make and finishing touches to be done, but we'll be ready by 4pm to greet Judy's Stitchers who are on their way from Mississippi.
And into another retreat week we go.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

This is after yesterday's adventure with an unbalanced load out of control!

That lid lock feature is holding things hostage.

You have to press pause and hold to get the lid to disengage, and it took 3 tries to finally get that load to spin out. I miss the washing machines of my youth!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!