At Last, Some Quilty Content

I figured out today that I am approximately 2 weeks behind on everything.  Except laundry and taking care of the cats.  Everything else...

...fuggit about it

I do have a few blocks to show.  Not much in the way of completed quilts lately.

Today, I did catch up with the Grandmother's Choice Block of the Week.

Block #2 was Amethyst.  Look fast and move on 'cause this block is all kinds of wonky.  This is my second attempt and I am unhappy with it but even more unhappy at the thought of trying again.  Like I said move along...

Today's block was Union Square:  Red for Rebellion.  I liked the thought of a splash of red (and a bit of rebellion) in my quilt so I make it in red and white small prints.

Red little prints always make me think of my friend Sarah, No Blog. (waving to you Sarah)

Yesterday's mail brought the Fat Quarter Shop Block of the Month. I always like to do these right away so I don't get behind.  Usually the day the block arrive.  This is block 4.  I can't believe it's block 4 already.  I better get a jump on that finishing kit...

 I had cut all the fabrics for this month's Schnibbles project (well really it's a Little Bites pattern), but had not started sewing.

Here is one block done.  It is so cute and tiny, you just want to kiss it. MWAH!

Here's some more hexies for the Hexy Quilt Along.  I have about half of them done.  These are fun to sew in the car on long trips and while watching TV.  I really am hooked on English paper-piecing now.

And if you made it all the way down here.  Here's some gratuitous Remy toes .

Fun with Hexagons

I jumped right into the Fat Quarterly Hexy Quilt Along without previously trying English Paper Piecing (EPP).

I am pleased to report that it is way fun and I am hooked on sewing these hexies.  

It's a great project to work on when it's too hot to do much of anything or when it's thunderstorming and I don't want to risk running the Bernina or when watching all day marathons of (fill in your favorite show here).

These are the first eight flowers I have done out of the 68 to make for the quilt.

It's a start!

OK Now It's the Heat

Most of the country is broiling this week under a record-breaking heat wave.  According to the LA Times, nearly 35,000 record high temps have been recorded in the past year.

Yesterday in Atlanta it was 104F, breaking a record for the day.

The record-high heat in Atlanta is 105F and it is forecast to reach 106F today.

We also have had code-red smog alerts the past few days, which means terribly unhealthy air quality.

Guess where I'll be?

Inside sewing in the air-conditioning.  Hope y'all are too.

I had a busy week this past week, which is also a trend for the past several months.  Here's a rundown of what was going on at Stella Bella's house.

 I received this package of lovely patterns from Sherri at This & That.  I won her giveaway for the awesome "Farmer's Market" tote pattern and she added some extras.  Thank you so much Sherri!!  I just love them!!

In the evenings, I alternated between sewing binding on my Eventide quilt and basting hexies.  Sewing binding is much more fun in the wintertime but I am persevering.

I have a lot more hexies to baste but am anxiously awaiting the next step in Hexy Quilt Along.   I am glue-basting these using a Sewline glue pen.  Super easy.

Both of these are perfect projects to work on while partaking in the latest obsession at Stella Bella Quilts--watching "Game of Thrones."

S. and I missed this show the first time around, but since there is a lull right now in TV land (my favorite shows: Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels, Luther, and The Hour are all on hiatus) we are catching up.

Remy is demonstrating what the cats have been up to this week.

Oh the life of cats at Stella Bella house.

Remy is such a goof.  This is how he sleeps most of the time--very uncatlike.

Stay cool everyone!

Edited to add:  It's official 106F the hottest ever recorded temperature in Atlanta.  And it's only June....

It's the Humidity

This is the kind of weather that makes you ever so thankful for air-conditioning.  Mid-90s and about 2,000% humidity in Atlanta.  Seriously.

OK so checked NOAA and it's 50% humidity.

So I was close.

Anyway---

S. has done a tremendous amount of yard work and outside chores this weekend including washing the siding and making pea gravel paths.  My house and yard look great.  Better than great--amazing!

Saturday, I stayed inside and cleaned house, cooked, and prepped hexies.

Today, I worked at Starbucks, did laundry, made blackberry cobbler, and am sewing binding.

 I really would like to say we are tied for the amount of work done this weekend, but I'll admit washing the siding in this humidity is winning.

Bits and Pieces

It's been a busy Sunday with working at Starbucks, wishing Happy Father's Day to my dad, and grocery shopping for the week.  Now I need to get a few chores done and get ready for another week.

I was so excited to get the first block and the finishing kit in the mail for the 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop

The Moda Vintage Modern fabrics are to die for--gorgeous saturated colors. YUM!

First block is done.

Next up is my first finished block for this month's Schnibble--the brand new pattern called Leap Year.  I just love 16-patch blocks. I love them better than 9-patches; don't know why.  I am using 2 charm packs of Little Apples fabrics. Cutemous!!!!!!  Look at the little fussy-cut squirrels. Adorable. 

In another (ahem) package from Fat Quarter Shop this week came a fat quarter bundle of Lily Belle by Bari J. in the cool color way for the Hexy Quilt Along on the Fat Quarterly blog.   The manufacturer is Art Gallery Fabrics and the silky hand of the fabric is just wonderful.   Beautiful fabrics that computer screens don't do justice too. You need to see in person.  It is nearly too pretty to cut up.  

Oh Hello Mid-June

Apparently I fell off the blogging cliff for awhile.  Too much BS going on with day job and my head has been full of dark & stormy clouds so I haven't been doing much of anything.

Well I'll try to shake out the cobwebs and get back into things. Although I have been saying the same thing for 2 weeks now and it hasn't happened, but as Dory says in Finding Nemo "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."

I did manage to get a new project started and completed.

The pattern is "School Day Satchel" by Fig Tree Quilts and the fabric is my favorite prints and color from Flea Market Fancy.   I made the laptop bag, although I think I'm going to use it for a regular briefcase bag.  It was a fun project to make, but it is helpful if you have made some bag projects before in constructing this pattern.

As usual (for a quilter), I am getting pulled into another quilt along-- a Hexy Quilt Along held by Fat Quarterly.   I love this modern version of a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt and have ordered the supplies.  I'm using stash, a FQ bundle of Lily Belle in the cool colorway, and Moda Bella solid in Granite.  Anyone else joining in?  Anyone have an idea why I thought I needed another project???

I am also coveting these soon-to-be released fabrics from Liberty of London, which should play nicely in the Hexy quilt too.

Remy is growing up so fast.  He is about the same size as Gomez now.  His one-year birthday is approaching in August and he is just as mischievous as ever.

Here he is after getting in trouble for biting on my MacBook cord.  Look at that face. You know he's going to attack that cord again.