New epp project - some progress

I have decided on the block design and also think to know how I want to arrange the blocks. But this is again a step that can be changed along the way. So for now I'll just keep making little squares and sew them together into blocks of 25 squares each. I need 48 blocks and this being the first one I have lots of defined working time ahead and nothing to worry about.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer or winter!

New epp project

It will take a while until I'll start quilting Steps IV. Too many distractions going on right now that are preventing me to focus and free up enough time to work on it. Plus there is a longer trip coming closer and I don't want to interrupt the quilting process once started. So I postponed finishing Steps IV to later in the year.

What to do in the meantime? I find it good to always have a hand sewing project on the side. And so I have started a new quilt with the epp method. I'm going to reuse the papers from my Trip Around The World and invent something new. It is such an easy and relaxing sewing project once you have your colors and fabrics chosen. And arranging little squares give you so many possibilities of layout. That is fun and difficult at the same time. Eventually you have to settle on a layout and start sewing the squares together. But first I can just have fun preparing lots of cute little squares.

Plum feast !

It's currently hard to make time to sew! But I don't really mind. There is a time for sewing and then there are other times.

Our neighbors have invited us to help ourselves with their over boarding plum tree. The plums are gorgeous, really sweet and juicy. In other words just yummy! So I'm cooking jam and preparing portions to go into the freezer for future plum pies.
And then there is still my parent's vegetable garden I can take benefit from while they are on vacation. There is a lot going on in my kitchen these days.

Sewing studio has to wait. Maybe even some more as a longer trip is also on the horizon.
Hope you are enjoying your summer too!

Steps IV // 6

I'm taking my time with this. I still haven't started on the backing and I'm also out of batting. But it is always on my mind and I'm thinking a lot about how I want to quilt it.

To help me visualize my ideas I print several copies of a picture and draw imagined quilting lines on them. Here in red so that I can see something. But my plan is to use a light grey or similar color of quilting thread. In the end it will all be about texture and highlighting areas. We'll see how it works out. Most probably I won't start quilting before October anyway. Lot's of time to change my mind again and again.

And here just one of the other things keeping me busy as well. No tending and watering. Just harvesting and processing thanks to my parents! Still time-consuming but oh so good and satisfying!

Steps IV // 5

I'm happy to share my finished top of Steps IV.  And I'm very happy how it turned out. It is pretty much how I envisioned it. I am really fond of the colors and the movement.

Some close-ups.

Perhaps you are a little tired of seeing it but I think you won't see it for a while now. First because other things are coming up that require my time, second because I have to study how I want to quilt it. I have a rough idea but I'm not sure I can make it work. So I will not rush and take the necessary time.