Let's See If I Remember How to Blog

Well hello there (especially to Dianne who reminded me that I need to blog and read my emails more often).   I guess it's been a over a year since I posted. Wow time goes by.  I've been Instagramming so if you've missed the cats, images around NM, more cats, and a few quilts you can find me over there (@stellabellaquilts).

We are all fine. Cats are happy, S. is happy, I am happy.  Santa Fe is marvelous. I just fell out of the blogging ritual and maybe turned a little inward.  There's too much to catch up on so I'm just going to start from now.

This is the latest quilt that I finished.  It's a well-aged top that finally was expertly quilted by Mary at Quilt Hollow in the winter and then it waited for binding until now. Whew! Like I said it's been an I-can't-get-it-together kind of year. Anywhoo--
Voila!  Halloween Night fabric by Minick & Simpson and the pattern is Lilypads in the book Time Out Quilts by Atkinson Designs. The color is a little to yellow because I took this at night when Mr. Quilt Holder was able to be a quilt holder.

I love this quilt. It is on the bed now since it's after Labor Day and in my book, we can get Halloween stuff out.

Here's a cat photo. Remy kitty is as ever photogenic.

A Friday Finish

I can't believe it's been almost two months since I posted here.  Spring just flew by in a busy flash and we are now in the long warm days of summer.  We are all fine here; I just haven't gotten around to blogging in a long while.

I finished this small lap quilt recently quilted, bound, washed, and de-cat-haired (for all of five seconds).  The pattern is Charm Box Quilt, a free pattern by Fat Quarter Shop.  I used two charm packs of Persimmon by Basic Gray and a Moda Bella solid in Prussian Blue.

I quilted it myself using the ever-so-easy squiggly stitch using Aurifil thread.

The backing is from the same fabric line.

We are slowly adding Southwest art and colors to our house and this fabric line seemed perfect for a quilt to throw over the chair in our living room (which is actually a quilt for cats to sleep on, of course).

This quilt matches nicely with the Native American ledger art we bought last year at Indian Market.

I have several other projects in the works but was inspired to start a new project (left).  Perfect colors for summer :)

A Finish Just in Time

 I finished quilting and binding the baby quilt for my soon-to-be-new-niece-or-nephew.  The baby is due any day now.

I quilted it myself using a "wavy" stitch in horizontal lines across the quilt.  It reminds me of the clouds in some of the blocks.

The quilt is all washed and crinkly and in the mail.

Here's a view of the back and a close-up of the fabric and quilting.


I just love this fabric line from Kate & Birdie for Moda called Storybook.  The pattern is Charm Pack Cherry by Fat Quarter Shop.

I had lots of cat help on this project from beginning to end.

I woke Gomez up from a nap by snapping photos of him.  This is his usual sleeping spot every night--on the pillows above my head. We both like fun quilting fabric pillowcases :) 

A Friday Finish and a Feline Friday Photo

Spring is here!  The sun is shining and the birds are singing.  I am looking forward to seeing what spring is like in Santa Fe.  Hopefully, I will not have the same problem with spring allergies as I did in Atlanta.

I am still trying to get situated here.  The house still has boxes--mostly my sewing stuff that I have no where to put.  Sigh.  It's just about time to start sewing something though because I'm tired of unpacking and I want to sew.

I still have a full email-inbox to wade through so if you commented on my previous posts or emailed me THANK YOU and I will respond soon-ish.

I am just behind on things.

Recently, I managed to hand sew the binding on Mr. SBQ's "Mad Men" quilt while watching True Detective (a riveting show! anyone else see it???).  I finished the top last February and quilted it myself using the easy wavy stitch in horizontal rows while I was in Georgia at the end of the year.  The backing is a dark green Kona solid.

Mr. SBQ is very happy to have his quilt finished--just in time for Mad Men to start back up again soon.

He is also doing an excellent job of being a quilt holder on a windy day.

Here is another view in our driveway.  It's a good size quilt and will be perfect for the bed in the guest room/sewing room or for watching TV on a cool evening.  

And for Feline Friday, here is a cutemous photo of Remy in his new favorite spot.  I put quilts on my purple upholstered Victorian chair to keep cat hair off of it and the chair has become the new favorite cat evening sleeping spot in the living room.

Remy likes having his toys nearby.

The "Black Cat" quilt is a Country Threads pattern that I made way back in 2005.

First Finish and First New Project for 2014

I finished the binding on "Minnesota Hot Dish" and it's all washing and ready for gifting.  I machine quilted it myself with some basic quilting stitches so I could get it done quickly.  I did a simple stitch-in-the-ditch grid and wavy-line horizontal quilting across the main part of the quilt and two rows of wavy-line quilting around the border.

I'm looking forward to Another Year of Schnibbles.  These are so much fun to make and it's a good way to use up some charm packs (or find excuses to pick up new ones).  I doubt I'll make the deadline for this month with moving, but I did make a start. 

This month's pattern is "Jersey Girl." I thought I'd get a late early start on the holidays and use Kate Spain's cutemous "In From the Cold" line.  I'm suing the gray-on-white star print for the background. 

 Two blocks done and I put my improvised sewing station away so the house could be shown this weekend.

Mr. SBQ sent this photo of Remy in his box.  Remy's expression made me laugh; he looks a little annoyed at something.  Maybe being interrupted from his afternoon nap? Apparently, the spoiled little guy has TWO boxes now--one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen.  

A Finish for May

The second gift quilt is finally quilted and bound. Hooray!!!  I quilted this myself with some simple stitch-in-the-ditch and the great wavy line patten in the borders.

It's a good size lap quilt  (or couch quilt as I call it) with extra borders that were not part of the original pattern.  The pattern is Blaze's Star by Buggy Barn quilts.  

This was a project from my sewing group many, many moons ago (back when Silver Thimbles was called Stitch n' Sisters).  The top was nearly finished and needed borders and was waiting for a good home. I added slightly smaller boarders and then it was ready for quilting and binding.

  

This is a belated wedding present for friends of mine.  I thought the hearts were fitting for a wedding quilt.

In this second photo, you can see Gomez trying to photobomb the quilt.  Gotta be fast to not get one cat or another in a photo at my house.

End of Week Report

Happy to say that I did finish the baby quilt.  Done, quilted, bound, labeled, and photographed.

I just did some simple stitch-in-the-ditch quilting along the sashing and outlined some of the shapes in the blocks.  I also added the wavy-stitch quilting down the middle of the sashing and borders.  Easy peasy and I'm happy that this top will have a new home. 

Don't you love Edgar Poe on the cat perch supervising S.'s quilt holding.  

I have the next gift quilt pin-basted and need to work on that this next week.  Hooray for more finishes in 2013. 

Back from Michigan

I had a very quick and much to short long weekend trip to Michigan this past weekend.  It was niece Mackenzie's 3rd birthday and I met nephew Cameron for the first time.   Cameron is the cutest little guy!  He is 5 weeks old and the sweetest thing (I'll check with my SIL and see if I can post a photo). He is a very mellow baby and was happy to be held when I wasn't busy playing with Mackenzie.

Cameron's quilt was delivered to him.  And so Mackenzie didn't feel left out, I finished my "T is for Thelma" Schnibble quilt and gave it to her.

"T is for Thelma" Schnibble 

scrappy back

 Excuse the wrinkles, it was rolled and stuffed in my suitcase.

Mackenzie is faster than the fastest camera setting

 Mackenzie is in a "no photographs!" phase (she never stands still either) so this is the best photo I could get with her and her quilt.

Reminds me of Remy hiding under things.


I'm a sad auntie today missing the kids.  Hope to see them sometime this summer.

Cameron's Quilt

Here is the big reveal. YAY!!! It's all done!!!  I machine quilted it myself in a wavy line pattern that I saw on Camille's (Thimble Blossom) blog on this post.  I am pleased with how it turned out and can't wait to gift it to little Cameron.  Thank you to my quilt holder for holding it up almost straight....

Fabric is all Moda solids and American Jane panel and prints; the pattern is "Alphablocks" by American Jane.

Obligatory cat photo:  Gomez sleeping on a pile of quilts

Labor Day 2012

Happy Labor Day everyone in the U.S.! Hope you are enjoying a day off.  I have part of a day off and then I am off to Starbucks this evening.

I did get a bit of sewing in this morning before doing some long-neglected housework.

Here is the first block for Barbara Brackman's new Block of the Week "Grandmother's Choice: Votes for Women."  The block is called Grandmother's Choice.  I decided to make the quilt in the colors associated with the women's suffrage movement--green, purple, and white.  Since purple and green are my two of my favorite colors, I have no shortage of fabric in my stash for this quilt.

I also made Block 3 of the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Quilt.  Love these cheery, clear, bright colors.  

I did finish my third gift quilt in time for my friend's 50th birthday.  She has worked with me at Starbucks for years and is the best pet sitter around.  Cats and dogs just adore her.  My cats love having her cat sit; I don't think they miss us very much when she does.   I had a bunch of this fabric line with cats and coffee motifs. I don't remember the name of it.  Had the top done eons ago (I think the pattern is Turning 20 Again) and then eureka!  perfect gift for my dear friend's birthday.  

I quilted it myself in a straight line design.  Quilting is not my favorite part of the process and this quilt was bigger than I like to tackle on my own.  But it is done and gifted and made with love.   Here is the back so you can see the cat & coffee theme.  

Remy has been taking up a lot of blog space as of late so it's Edgar Poe's turn now.  I caught this funny photo with my iPhone. I just love his looooooong whiskers.   

Gift Quilts

I don't know where time keeps going.  I haven't kept up with the blog very well this month at all.  

Thanks to everyone who's entered the giveaway so far!!  Remy is enjoying his month-long birthday wishes and is well on his way to letting it all go to his head.  LOL!  

I did get two of the gift quilts done, mailed, delivered, and the recipients are so happy with them.  Yea!  

This first quit was a kit from one of the Moda Blackbird Designs fabric lines.  I gave it to my aunt in Wisconsin.  I am so happy that she really liked it. 

This quilt is for my cousin, his wife and their two adorable little girls, also in Wisconsin.   They bought absolutely wonderful historic house and this is a belated new old-housewarming present for them.  I asked them awhile back to email me photos and guess what, the quilt matching their house.  Sneaky aren't I?   

Of course not one but two cats photobombed this photo. There is Stella and Remy trying to find S., the quilt holder.

 Oh and here's a new Remy photo for the Remy fans.  He ADORES paper bags and I have a few so he gets one until it completely is shredded, it goes in the recycling bin, and then he gets a new one.  This is one is about half-way through its life span.  

Happy Thursday everyone!  Only one more day and then the weekend.  I need to finish up the 3rd gift quilt this weekend for my friend's big b-day ending in zero.  

Morpheus' Quilt Finished

The quilt top was finished back in September 2009.  My best beloved cat Morpheus helped me make it in this post.   A while after Morph passed away last September, I gave it to my local long-arm quilter to quilt the top.  I had her add Morpheus' name and dates to the bottom border.   

Border reads:  Morpheus J. ____ August 1994 -- 4 September 2011

scrappy back

It took a long time to sew the binding.  Maybe because it made me so sad.  I miss my beloved cat Morpheus every day.  And I love that I have a memorial quilt to wrap up in.

Pets on Quilts 2011

With four cats, when are pets not on quilts around here lol!  I also have at least 50-11 photos of the cats on various quilts so it's difficult to pick one cat let alone one quilt to highlight.  But choose I did and here is my entry in this year's Pets on Quilts Show hosted by Sew Cal Girl.

Morpheus and summer quilts

 This is Morpheus, my dearest, sweetest, black kitty and shadow.  Morpheus is 17 years young and I found him as a stray all those years ago.  You can read more about Morph's story on one of my early posts here. 

As you can see, Morpheus has a very comfy life.  Here he is on a pile of three summer quilts on the couch. 

I usually have lots of quilts on the couch and chair and switch them out seasonally.   

This quilt is one of the first quilts I made.  I just adore this quilt made from the Gingham Rose line by Moda.  The fabric is so soft and buttery feeling and the colors remind me of strawberries and lemonade and bright green early summer leaves.

The pattern is an early version of Strawberry Pie by my friend Pat Wys of Silver Thimble Quilt Co. 

The corners are rounded to give a soft feel to the edges too.

Click on the Pets on Quilts button on the left sidebar and check out all the entries and vote on your favorites. 

With all the dreary news, pets and quilts are guaranteed to make you smile. 

I Can See Friday from Here

Oh hurry up Friday, I am done with this week and ready for the weekend. Here is the second of my two-part July UFO that I really finished in August.

The pattern is "Civil War Scrappy" from my one of my favorite books Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott.

This is my second completely finished quilt from the book.  I have two tops done, one started, and four in project-in-bag status. I really love this book.

Here's a detail.  The fabric is "Heritage Collection for a Cause" by Moda.



Tomorrow is Friday.  Yeah!!!

July UFO Challenge in August

Bet you thought I had forgotten given up fallen behind again on Judy's UFO Challenge.  That's OK, I thought the same myself.  July's challenge was #2 on the UFO list so I did work on bindings (in the middle of the hottest blasted summer ever and then the A/C went out which kind of delayed having quilts anywhere around). Even though it is August, here is one quilt, binding all done, and being held up by Quilt Holder S.

and here is another photo with Stella trying to see what is holding her the quilt up. 




The pattern is called Friendship Crossing by my friend Pat of Silver Thimble Quilt Co.  I think I bought this kit way back in 2004 and finished the top a couple years later and then had it quilted and then it sat and now finally it's finished.  Hooray!  Just like fine wine--it needed some resting time.

The quilt now has a purpose too.  A friend and former Starbucks co-worker of mine is moving to Germany with her husband and young son for 2 years while her husband works on his dissertation.  In honor of her super sweet, wonderful personality and the fun and friendship of working together.  I'm going to give this quilt to her.  The colors remind me of Starbucks too.  The endless green and white cups with red thrown in during Holiday.  Hope they enjoy this quilt and it helps keep them warm in the upcoming winter.

I'll post the 2nd July UFO tomorrow. 

Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2010

My favorite quilt at the moment is, of course, the one I recently finished.  I loved this fabric line "A Morris Workshop" by Barbara Brackman for Moda when it arrived a couple of years ago.  The Arts and Crafts movement in architecture and decorative arts is a favorite of mine. I chose the pattern of large blocks so the piecing wouldn't compete with the busy prints.


It is a queen-size bed quilt so I had to put it up on the fence outside to photograph it. 

detail of fabrics.

Here is a view of the back of the quilt. I pieced together all the remaining pieces from the fat quarter bundle to make this scrappy back.

quilting detail.  Long-arm quilting by Peggy Barkle.

This quilt was a challenge because it was so big and by piecing the back it was like making two huge quilts!

Big thanks for Amy for this wonderful on-line quilt show!

Another Finish and Celebrating October

I LOVE October!  Let's all do a Snoopy Happy Dance for October!  It is my absolute favorite month of the year.  October is the beginning of Autumn in the ATL; fall festivals; my favorite holiday Halloween; time for pumpkins, apples, squash, apple cider, stews, soups, and yummy comfort food; and oh yeah my birthday month!!!  I've been gathering some goodies for a big b-day giveaway later this month (check back or better yet sign up to be a follower if you are interested). Onto my next finish...
Voila! 

This poor quilt was lingering around without its binding for a couple of years(!!) and I finally finished it.  The pattern is by Gundrun (who is hosting a super fun October blog hop).  I can't remember what the real name of the quilt is but I call it "Sleep Deprivation" because I made the quilt while working insane hours at two jobs and the crazy colors and pattern perfectly fit my zombie life at the time.  Gorgeous colors in this Moda line.  My quilt holder was outside mowing the lawn so I thought I'd get photos in daylight so the colors would be true.

Yesterday was Groovy Girl day at Bad Melisa's.  Tons of fun at 8:30AM. Check out Melisa's new fall display as you walk in the store.

The project for this month is the best set of drawstring bags ever. I'll be working on several this month.
 
Melisa also has a great display of Dr. Seuss fabric. I love me some Dr. Seuss!  Especially the Grinch and Max.
 
















After a lengthy visit at Sweet Home, I went to Old Navy to finish up a little goodies box to send to Mackenzie.  I bought a great little bib for her at Target this week and rounded out the outfit with a Halloween shirt and socks at Old Navy. How cute is that shirt with the little black cat????!!!???  I bought some other cute fall outfits (no pink!) on clearance so she'll be stylin' this fall. I love being an aunt :)