Remy-versary

I missed posting on November 13th, the one-year anniversary of Remy's adoption.

Here he was a year ago--just a little guy

And here he is today (on the same quilt no less)--

In the past year, Remy has:

1. Spilled countless bowls of water because he likes to play in the water bowls and really likes to drop cat toys in the water then fish them out
2. Ate all the tails off the toy mice, chewed ears off the others, shredded lots of toys because he thinks he is a dog
3. Chewed the straps off my favorite pair of Mary Jane chunky heeled shoes because he thinks he is a dog
4. Torn up countless paper bags, played in countless boxes, and chewed on every box, bag and any other paper in the house because he thinks he is a  Remy recycling machine
5. Hid under rugs, under couches, up in the box spring of the bed, under dressers and armoires because he thinks he is a hermit crab 
6. Reminded us that the cat food container was nearing empty by fretting and fretting and meowing and rubbing against the container whenever it was getting low because he never wants to miss a meal.
7. Kept Edgar, Stella, and Gomez on edge from countless Remy-stealth-ninja-kitty attacks 
8. Caused great joy and laughter in the past year

We love you Rem, you silly cat.  

Finally a Bit of Sewing

There seems to be a paltry lack of sewing going on at Stella Bella Quilts.  I have no idea what I have been doing but I am still behind in everything--emails, sewing, blogging, reading blogs, etc.

If you commented on my posts or emailed me and I haven't responded, I am very sorry and thank you for commenting/emailing. I read everything and sometimes forget to reply back.

September and October flew away and now it's almost Thanksgiving.  I am working more at Starbucks and getting ready for the big weekend promotion this week (buy one, share one holiday drinks 2PM -5PM Nov. 15th-18th. Take a friend and )

This is the little bit I have done:

1. Sewed three backings together for Hubble, Civil War Block of the Week  and Good Fortune.  Made one binding, and have binding fabric for the other two quilts. Now I just need to get these to the quilter (not gifts--thankfully--all for me).  A big task finished 'cause I really dislike sewing backings together.

2. Figured out most of the Xmas gifts for this year--ordered some online, making some the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving, plans for the rest, no malls/stores/madness for me.

3. Made October & November's blocks for the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Block of the Month

October FQS BOM

November FQS BOM

4. Made a couple Votes for Women Block of the Week blocks.  I am behind in this from being so busy in October and getting hung up on hand piecing (OY!!) the sunflower block from week 4 (I am still working on that one).

Here is New Jersey (week 5)

And Aunt Eliza's Star (week 6)

Nights are getting chilly and Stella has perfected the quintessential cat-curled-up-in-quilts pose.

My thoughts are with everyone two- and four-legged affected by Hurricane Sandy.  It is going to be a long road to recovering, particularly with winter arriving.  On behalf of my warm, safe, & healthy cats, I made donations to the ASPCA, which is on the ground helping rescue & reunite pets.  I know there are a lot of causes and people out there helping & it's much needed.

Veterans Day

Image from The Guardian newspaper accessed 11/11/12

Remembering the sacrifices of our men and women who served our country past and present. Thank you from a grateful nation.

A Halloween Hubble Finish

Whew!  Got this month's Another Year of Schibbles quilt in just under the wire.  Yes, it is still hot from the iron and I had to take a not-very-good photo but it's done!

I used Kate Spain's Serenade line and Moda Bella Solid in Eggplant.  I love the autumn colors and can't wait to get it quilted.  

I also need to get a better photo outside when my quilt holder is home.

And how about a Halloween Remy photo?

Here is Remy in his disguise as The Creature Under the Bathroom Rug (with special effects flash).   

The Creature Under the Bathroom Rug appears most weekday mornings when I am trying to get ready for work.  

I'll tell you a secret:  The Creature Under the Bathroom Rug is more funny than scary.

Happy Halloween!

I'm Back! It's October! It's the end of October!

Sleeping on the job.  No help blogging here.

I did not realize it had been nearly a month since I last blogged.  Sigh.  What a bad blogger I've been this year.
















I just got back yesterday from a week long trip to Michigan to visit my family,

celebrate October birthdays,



and spend oodles of time with this little cutie

Mackenzie 2 1/2 years old.

 My sister-in-law, aunt, mom, and I spent some time sewing.  I finished the center of the Schnibbles quilt for this month "Hubble".  I am using "Serenade" by Kate Spain charm packs and Moda Bella Solid in Eggplant.

Love the autumn-ness of these colors.   

Mackenzie, dad, and I picked raspberries and made a raspberry pie.  Mackenzie *may* have eaten more berries than ended up in her basket.

Now to get caught up on everything.

September's Schnibble: Speck

Stella photobombs just about every quilt photo session around here.  But that's OK 'cause she's pretty cute. 

I finished up the top for this month's Another Year of Schnibbles this afternoon.  This was a fun and immensely cutemous quilt to make.  The pattern is "Speck" from Miss Rosie's new line of "Little Bites" patterns made from 2 1/2" squares.  

I used a bundle of scraps that I won eons ago from Cloud 9 fabrics.  This is an older collection called "Forest Friends" and it's their organic cotton flannel.   I have enough left over to make a scrappy back and binding.   The sashing and borders are a regular cotton solid (Moda Bella or Kona--don't know which. I usually try to write on the edge of solids the manufacturer and color but forgot to on this piece.)  Can't wait for the parade this month. I've seen some adorable versions around the internets. Hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of September.  

Savannah Trip

 Well I am still two weeks behind on everything so I'll go ahead and post photos of my Savannah trip from two weeks ago :)

S. and I escaped for the weekend (Sept. 7th-Sept. 9th) for a very relaxing trip to Savannah.  

It was the best kind of trip, no where to be at a certain time, no place in particular to go, we have both been to Savannah numerous times so it was fun to just walk around and enjoy the end-of-summer weather and eat lots of good food. 

Savannah is the most walkable place in Georgia.  

I think it one of the prettiest places too. 

River Street

Gen. James Oglethorpe monument in Chippewa Square

 Savannah is famous in recent pop culture as the location for movies, books, ghost tours, food, famous people on the Food Channel, St. Patrick's Day green beer festival, etc. etc.

Savannah is also famous among architectural history and urban planning geeks for its historic plan (1733) that is laid out into squares. 
This is one of the best aspects of Savannah in my opinion. 






 Along with amazing architecture. 

Congregation Mickve Israel (est. 1733, building dates to 1878)

Savannah Row Houses

 

Colonial Cemetery (est. 1750)

Colonial Cemetery 

This ice cream is TO DIE FOR!!!  Coffee Chocolate Chip with Hot Fudge

One of my favorite houses