What Now?

Well, now that I'm not working, and it's not looking like I will be re-entering the workforce anytime soon, I have been trying to work out what on earth I am going to do with myself.

I have thought of going back to TAFE, but what would I do? and then there are the fees, how on earth would I pay for those? Time to scrap that idea for now. Then I searched WEA, there are a couple of courses in there that interest me, but the cost is still there and then the outlay for the tools and materials and it's just not a viable option for me right now. Besides, the courses I am interest in only go over one day! Now that's not going to fill in much time is it?

I participated in the #scrappytripalong, which has so far kept me busy for just three evenings.

Here is my #scrappytripalong quilt so far. I used a Balipop and this is as far as I could stretch the 2 1/2" squares, as far as blocks go. I have quite a few odd squares left and I am thinking of adding a strip of three or four squares across the top and the bottom of the quilt to make it longer. I still have plenty of that purple batik that I can add another, wider border to it.

I've come to a bit of a standstill with this, trying to figure out how to make it a little larger and then trying to work out how to quilt it, can I quilt it myself? I certainly don't have the funds to have it quilted this time.

Then I stumbled upon this blog, Red Pepper Quilts where Rita has quilted her quilt herself. I am inspired and I think I may be able to do mine as well :-)

Then I stumbled upon Cheryll at GoNe StItChIn' who is doing a PhD (Projects Half Done) and I thought I might join in with this.

I don't even know where to start with this one, I have so many PhD's. I will have to start sorting through my boxes and bags and create a list.

I think that should keep me busy for a while. What do you think?

Check back soon to see my list of PhD's.

A Scrappy Trip

Well, I've finally worked out to to be able to upload images again. I had to switch over to Google Chrome. I have no idea why but it worked so I'm not complaining.

I have stumbled upon a #scrappytripalong on IG so decided that I just had to join in. I thought it would be a great way to use up one of those Balipop's I had laying around. You can find a tutorial HERE over at Quiltville

I used a Hoffman Balipop in a colourway called Rum Raisin. It looked a bit like this;

so here is a picture of my first block

then here is my second

 Here are my first four blocks together

Here are the same four in black and white to check the values. I am pretty pleased with them so I continued with another 12 blocks.

 and here is my final 16 blocks which is the most I could squeeze out of my balipop.

I have so far placed a 2 1/2" border in a purple batik all around the quilt. I have some more 2 1/2" squares left that I might piece together and add a double row of blocks to the top and bottom of the quilt. If I have enough to do a strip of four 2 1/2" blocks at the top and bottom, I will do that and then add about a 5 - 10" border of the purple batik all the way around the quilt to make it a little bigger.

Have you joined in as well or do you plan to? 

Go on, you should, it's fun!