My fingers are a bit bloodied this morning but it's not from yanking out pachysandra so I'm fine with that. I'm handquilting again after too much time away and I'm wondering what the heck I've been putting it off for. I had somehow forgotten how much I love to see quilting develop a piecework design into something special. This little doll quilt swap has been the best jumpstart and I'm overflowing with ideas and plans for new projects. The other day I pulled out some batting, Quilter's Dream Request, that I picked up years ago after someone recommended it. It's aptly named...it is a quilter's dream. I find myself picking it up to add a few more stitches while I wait for the iron to heat up or the tea water to boil.
I wish I could say that we're all settled in here at the new place, but that process continues. We had a plumbing *incident* Monday night that kept me from attending quilt group Tuesday. In the end, it turned to be a good thing since another contractor showed up while the plumber was here to give an estimate on some work. The biggest challenge, still, is the closet space. In my previous house, we had ridiculous storage space...8 closets (4 of them double) plus 3 walk-in closets. Here, we have 6 closets total, all 1940's size. We had a 2 1/2 car garage, now we have a 1 car garage. (Will it ever house a car?) I'd love to have everything put away, but boxes remain and the sorting continues. Each week results in improvement, but it's a bit of a mental drain. (Translation: Get these boxes out of here!!)
I know you've seen these mittens, but you've never seen them completed! In fact, you've never seen any of my mittens as a complete pair, both thumbs finished, ends all woven (you'll have to take my word for that) and blocked. They're all ready to wear and, coincidentally, the perfect color for covering bloody fingers.
I love hand quilting you have done on that piece -- great how you extend the motif from the border into the quilt. Perhaps you could do a post on hand quilting -- I've never done it myself, but would love to try it!
Posted by: Julie | October 30, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Those mittens are soooo cute! I just found your blog and have added you to my list of must reads.
Posted by: Pat | October 30, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Oh, those mittens are fantastic! Radishes or strawberries, I don't care ... they're perfect.
Posted by: Ruth | October 30, 2008 at 01:38 PM
I'm jealous of your closet space! We have 3 closets in my whole house. Sigh.
But really, your deadlines are all self-imposed. Everything will get done in time, I'm sure.
Posted by: Carole | October 30, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Oh, how I love the hand quilting you've done too! I've had a hankering to do some hand quilting for a while now and I think I will be doing some on my doll quilt swap project. I've been putting some decorative hand stitching on it so far and just really enjoy the hand stitched look...well, plus it's fun. Congrats on the PAIR of mittens! If it were me, I'd probably find myself with two left thumbs. They are lovely!
Posted by: amy | October 30, 2008 at 02:42 PM
I have lots of closet but no basement, a different sort of challenge.
Love the quilting and the mittens.
You're scared me off the hand quilting with the bloody fingers story.
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 30, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Nothing like perfectly executed, multi-colored, hand-knit mittens to disguise bloody fingers. You think of everything.
Posted by: KathieB | October 30, 2008 at 05:59 PM
Sweet gloves and I love your quilting!
Don't worry about the boxes -- they'll get emptied sooner or later. We've been in our new house over three months and just got both cars in the garage two days ago.
Posted by: kristin L | October 30, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Love the motif in the handquilting. I have 40's style closets too.3 of them. Double deep which is not so handy(you have to remove contents to get to the back of them)
but they have a cool refrigerator-type-light-switch that turns the light off when you close the door!?
Hang in there with the house stuff...
I promise I won't drop by unannounced!;)
Posted by: Schnoobie | October 30, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Totally adore these mittens! What wonderful colours! Glad you are getting back into the swing again of sewing.
Posted by: Melanie | October 30, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Stunning mittens.
Truly.
Posted by: blackbird | October 30, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Such exquisite tiny little stitches! And I love that you are repeating the swirls from the rocket fabric.
Posted by: lisa | October 31, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Wheee, I love your handquilting. it's wonderful as is another hint of the quilt itself. sorry the moving in thing continues to be a drag. great mittens!
Posted by: Tonya R | October 31, 2008 at 02:32 AM
Well done on the hand quilting Jan! And I love how you extended the rocket tails out onto the white fabric. Love the mittens too...even with bloodied fingers!
Posted by: Cascade Lily | October 31, 2008 at 03:01 AM
The quilting looks fabulous. I love the swishes. The mittens are amazing!
Posted by: Kristin | October 31, 2008 at 03:36 AM
Your quilting design looks darling. I have one walk-in closet that we can't walk into anymore. It has become a time capsule that will probably be unearthed after I'm gone.
So nice to see your work again.
Posted by: dee | October 31, 2008 at 07:16 AM
You stay away from hand quilting only to come back and quilt like THAT??? It's perfect and even..even is one thing that plagues me the most.
LOVE the stitch pattern...it's perfect!
Posted by: JudyC | October 31, 2008 at 09:43 AM
Hi, Just came into your blog and have to say i love those mittens!!
Posted by: heleen | October 31, 2008 at 10:13 AM
You make handquilting look so smooth and easy. And the mittens are fantastic.
Posted by: Lucette | October 31, 2008 at 05:09 PM
I've been stopping by the doll quilt flickr site and can't believe the fabulous quilts some of you are giving away! Can't wait to see yours ~ design, fabrics, stitching ~ all are divine! Too bad about the bloody fingers. Mine have looked like ground beef after trying to meet a deadline. But keep at it and you'll soon develop callous.
Posted by: diane | October 31, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Glad you're feeling reinspired! And I hope you find places for all your boxes - I know I hate having them sitting around after I move.
Posted by: Chris | October 31, 2008 at 09:01 PM
my fingers get bloody too! I often wonder how much of my DNA is getting swapped too!
teehee!
Posted by: calamity kim | November 01, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Quilter's Dream batting is my mother's favorite to use, and mine, too! Isn't it just the best?
Ever since I discovered the Thimblelady (thimblelady.com), and met her at a quilt show to see her incredible quilts, thimbles and technique in person, I have never had a pricked finger. (And my quilting looks better, too)
Posted by: Jennifer | November 02, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Wow! Such talent!!
Posted by: Stephanie | November 02, 2008 at 11:34 PM
The gloves are beautiful! And hand quilting, I give you lots of credit. I've tried, but the bleeding fingers just take all the joy out of it. which is why I use crazy fabrics to make the quilt pop. Then I machine stitch in the ditch, usually in a spiral formation so that i don't have to worry abt crossing lines and causing puckers.
Posted by: Lynn | November 05, 2008 at 07:19 AM
I hate unpacking, it is hard to see all that empty space cluttering up. I am ashamed to admit that a year or two after each house move I find larger and larger numbers of still unpacked boxes. Nowadays I try to be brave and accept that if they are unpacked after this length of time then I can probably live without them, but it's hard...
The mitts and quilting are both lovely.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 05, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Quilts looks beautiful, made we want to hand quilt again, it's been a LONG time! LOVE the mittens, you have me back in the saddle again, and in time for winter...off to start one tonight. What an inspiration you always are!
Posted by: Wendy | November 05, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Love the way you've tied in the quilting motif with the fabric. I always enjoy your color choices and now it's a double treat: Your quilting and your color. Congratulations on your mittens - b*e*a*u*t*i*f*u*l!! They'll be perfect even after your fingers heal!
Posted by: Heather | November 06, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Well done! finished mittens...so beautiful and cheerful. never mind the boxes...they become invisible...
Posted by: mary jane | November 21, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Your mittens are beautiful!
Posted by: Beadknitter | December 02, 2008 at 02:29 PM