Then Luxe in Bloom from Art Gallery Fabrics arrived at my house (thank you AGF!) and I petted it for a while trying to decide what to do with it - when AHA! I realized it was the perfect collection to go with a new gray Chain Linked pattern! I love when I'm smart sometimes.
Luxe in Bloom is Sarah Watson's first collection with Art Gallery Fabrics and I think it is SO pretty. The color scheme is soft and springy, yet subtly sophisticated. (How's that for a fancy schmancy way of saying, "I dig this fabric.") Not to mention it feels like silk. Luxe in Bloom is available here, here, and here.
I had a few other Art Gallery Fabrics prints from collections like Rock 'n' Romance and Carnaby Street, both by Pat Bravo, to get a little more pink and chartreuse in there and round out the mix. This puppy is off to the quilter. I'll share it in its glory when it comes back. I'm still trying to decide the perfect fabric for binding. Thoughts?
And in news of the weird (yes, those are my feet) the outside of my left foot and underneath the arch were suddenly sore on Monday and I couldn't figure out what I'd done. I started to wonder if I'd pulled or strained it hiking last week, or what.
Then last night I sat down to sew at my kitchen table and realized that while I pushed the pedal with my right foot, I would arch and push back on the floor with my left foot, without thinking. So I think I strained my foot while sewing. How's that for the dumbest sewing injury ever? I am in the process of making a conscious effort to retrain myself to put my left foot flat on the ground while I sew. So. Dumb.
I must be getting old.
Colleen
I can commiserate. I have strained my leg just below the knee. My peddle/desk/chair set up is not ergonomic I guess. I need to figure it out because it hurts to walk and drive!
Sinta Renee
I always make a joke that I pulled my hamstring while applying the brake to make a red light. I guess this ranks up there with it! I think yellow would be a good pick for binding on your gorgeous new creation Any!
Q @ JAQS
Love that idea for the Luxe collection. I have it in my stash but wasn't sure how I should use it and I love what you did with it :).<br /><br />And very funny about the foot thing. My foot starting hurting a few days ago also. I realized that I can't sit indian-style anymore on the floor while typing. Guess we're not young anymore :(....
the mrs
I had to laugh about your sewing injury. Maybe quilting qualifies as exercise since you can get hurt?! But what I'm more interested in is your foot pedal that doesn't have a cord. I've never seen that before, but I guess since they've got cordless everything else nowadays a sewing machine foot pedal couldn't be far behind.<br /><br />Lovin' the quilt, btw.
amy smart
Hah! That's so funny! I had to go back and look at the picture because my machine is so old school that has a big fat cord. When I looked at the pic I thought, "Where did it go??!?" Then I realized my right leg must be totally hiding it. Better than photoshop!
Books_Bound
Love your gray chain links! When you commented that you liked the gray and yellow one I made on Quilt Story, it was easily my quilt blogging highlight. Yours was the first blog I read when I thought I might like to quilt (courtesy of your beginning quilter series) and I read all of it (yup.) So you are sort of my Quilt Mother, I guess. :)<br /><br />Sorry about your foot. It's funny what
Cindy
Love your new quilt. I'm really liking gray in quilts.<br /><br />I would get so tense with the pedal while sewing that now I don't use my sewing pedal. Just use the start/stop button on my machine. My stitches look much nicer as I'm not reving up and down the pedal as if I'm driving.<br /><br />Hope all is well Amy!
B.
Love your fabric choices! The bright fabrics look great against the gray.
Karen
Beautiful rendition of Chain Linked! I had a similar discovery about foot pain. I eventually realized I did basically the same thing as you when I was working at my computer. I pull my feet up onto the base of the chair, and when I am barefoot, they are really way to flexed to stay that way for so long. It's kind of amazing how well our bodies put up with us!
Krysta
People don't believe me when I tell them that sewing can be painful/dangerous to your health. I just spent a few evenings cutting out 375 squares and my carpal tunnel is acting up now because of it! (Not like that is going to stop me!)
Mary on Lake Pulaski
Way cool new Chain Linked Amy. I have that pattern and may need to make it again!
scrappin' girl
absolutely luv this quilt !!!
Sewing Mom
I love this! Great job...and great colors.
Missy Shay
I have actually done that too! Once I dropped the pedal on my foot and could not sew for a few days!
Kristina
I'm thinking Chartreuse for the binding - is that too out there? I bought the chain linked patter about a year ago, gathered all the fabrics save one that I want to use in it (the other shade for the chain, I chose a dark chocolate pattern for the first one). I love seeing it in your blog again!
CathyK
Such a gorgeous quilt!!! I sure hope the foot feels better. Isn't it funny the things we do when we are in the "sewing zone"?
Melissa James
I do the same thing with my left foot as well. I have a sewing machine that will sew without the pedal and I still do that with my left foot and it is only when I am sewing. I guess you have to hold your foot just right to get your corners to match. lol 😉
Esther
LOL, I do the same with my foot! In the first weeks off my new obsession ( this January ) I had many muscle aches... From sewing! Pain in the neck, pain in the feet, ahhh you name it girl! It has nothing to do with age, just the way we concentrate, right....because we are not old! :-)<br />i love your quilt and I " just dig that fabric" too!<br />Esther<br /><br />esthersipatchandquilt
Kirsten
Your quilt looks beautiful - these are such lovely fabrics and perfect for your design!
Erica at Sew So Crafty
Still having a laugh at your injury but I'm sure I'm laughing with you! I would love to know what other funny sewing injuries there are out there! Love you quilt ... binding in perhaps the colour of your favourite peony print!
Allison Hazel
An absolutely stunning quilt!
Michele
The new quilt colors are so pretty. Great idea. And no you aren't getting old. I do something just like that too and noticed my left foot getting sore so I too am trying to be more aware of what I'm doing. Ahhh the things we do to ourselves to create art!
Sew Create It - Jane
Ouch... It's funny how we sit when we sew...I sit with a twist and my back hurts if I'm not careful! Getting old sucks! LOL
Kathy
That wouldn't happen with a treadle . . . ;-)<br />And beautiful quilt by the way!
More Than A Mom
I wear hard soled shoes and I find that helps my foot not to bend as easily. Funny how we get our "sewing injuries". I wonder ... if you can get an injury while doing something, does that mean it may one day qualify as an Olympic sport?
Abigail Cashelle
Believe it or not, that's a common pianist injury as well. Because pianists use their feet on pedals, and usually only use their right foot, that happens a lot with the left foot. I actually had really, really swollen soles for about a year and we couldn't figure out how to make it go away. (It turned out that flat feet plus bad shoes plus stress plus... were the culprit.) But my piano
Lisa
I'm right there with you. I developed trigger thumb on my left hand, couldn't figure out what in the world I had done. Go in to start cutting some fabric and was like "OH" that's what I did. Holding the silly ruller to hard I hurt my thumb. Two steriod shots and holding the ruler different I seam (ha ha) to be ok!
Kathy@KayakQuilting
...and isn't sewing barefoot the easiest? I find I can control the speed so much better without shoes on. Makes for an interesting picture in sewing classes!<br /><br />I love your quilt! Lovely combination! What are the grays that you used? Binding: Is that a coral in the print? I'd go with either the coral (lovely with gray) or chartreuse! Can't wait to see the finish!
jodydeschenes
that block/quilt pattern is FAB and i adore Art Gallery - so.....FABULOUS, GORGEOUS QUILT!
studiocharm
A few months back I purchased your chain link pattern and made a gray and white quilt with some really fun prints inside. I had Melissa quilt it and now it is ready for binding. I'll send you a pic when it is done. I love how it turned out!! Your quilt turned out so sophisticated and lovely!
LynCC
But you're Smart ALL the time. ;D The pattern looks so great in the grays. And wow - Xtreme Quilting!! hehe
rmeyfe
OK I had to read through the comments and see if anyone else asked if you had a wireless pedal and I was going to ask where I get one!! LOL!! Beautiful quilt, I love it in the greys!
Pat Bravo
Thank you so much for using my Rock 'n Romance and Carnaby Street in your Art Gallery Fabrics Quilt! Can't wait to see it all finished. 🙂
Katy Cameron
And there was me thinking you were always Smart... (sorry, I couldn't resist ;o) )<br /><br />I have a wee step thing from Ikea next to where I sew, and I realised I was resting my left foot up a step when I was sewing when I started getting hip pains o.O
Elise Lea
Love love love your quilt. The colors are great and the interior of the blocks are so fun. Thanks for sharing!
pandchintz
Love those fabrics and your quilt is gorgeous!! Hope your foot is better soon - you silly!!
gale
If it makes you feel better, last year I sneezed and threw out my back. I could barely walk for days.
amy smart
Hahahahah. Sorry. I truly laughed out loud when I read your comment. I'm sure it was far from fun at the time, but it sure makes a great story!!<br /><br />Thanks for making me feel better. 🙂
pragmaticpatchwork
You'll just have to super-glue one foot to the machine pedal, and one to the floor! Great excuse not to do any more housework either... Come to think of it, if I did that, my sewing productivity would increase immensely -- and it would make a nice change from feeling chained to my desk at work. JJ
Jessica Pyykkonen
Beautiful quilt. It is funny the strangest things happen to my body/muscles while sewing sometimes, especially when I FMQ. I tense all up, hold my breath, and then realize I should relax and breathe!
Anna and Sarah
What cute fabric in the quilt! Come visit and follow our blog! Thanks!<br /><br />quackadoodlequilt.blogspot.com
amy smart
Okay, I truly laughed at so many of these comments. Thanks for the love and the quilting-aches-and-pains solidarity. That's what great artistes do for their art, right?
Elisabeth DeMoo
Oh. I just love this quilt. I have been wanting to make it for so long. It looks great. Thanks for sharing.
tamidug
Oh my gosh, I figured out a few months ago that I do something very similar with my feet. Instead of pushing back with my left foot, I tuck my toes under on my left foot when I sew. I was not hurting when I discovered this, it just kind of came to me one day that I have been sewing for over 40 years and I do this strange thing with my other foot while pushing on the foot pedal with the right.
Maria
I know that when I sew for too long, my shoulders tend to hunch over and it is when I get up that I feel all that pain - ouch! Stop and do some stretches for your feet so that they will not be in the same position all the time 🙂 Your quilt is just lovely by the way 😀 m.
Amber
Amy, I actually find myself doing that all the time. Or curling my toes. Duh :)<br /><br />Is that the quilt you worked on at the retreat? It looks great!<br /><br />Amber
Vanessa
I'm glad I'm not the only one that does things like this! I take my left leg and push it up against the chair leg, kinda like to brace myself, and then I wonder why the side of my calf hurts! <br />Vanessa
Vanessa
I'm glad I'm not the only one that does things like this! I take my left leg and push it up against the chair leg, kinda like to brace myself, and then I wonder why the side of my calf hurts! <br />Vanessa