Starting the new year

I started off the new year busy sewing. Although I am not making it an official resolution, I am going to be diligent on getting UFOs finished. Starting off, I finally got around to putting the borders on my Mardi Gras quilt (aka Bonnie Hunter's Orange Crush mystery quilt).
(This is half of the quilt--too big to get the whole quilt in the photo--and the backing fabric). This will be the next quilt off to the long-arm quilter...

I also finished another quilt top (photo after it is gifted sorry!) So that is TWO quilt tops finished and it's only January 4th! Yea!

While I was in Michigan, I made a zillion of these for Bonnie Hunter's Double Delight quilt. Still need to make a zillion more I think. I also have pulled fabric for the Carolina Christmas quilt, got caught up on BOMs, and cut all the strips for my fabric swap. Whew! We are on a quilting roll so far!

Mystery Quilt: Christmas Lights Part 2

The weather was hot hot hot and humid this weekend. Yuck! Cathi from Ontario would LOVE it. I keep trying to send this weather her way but I think it gets tied up in customs. Cathi--please take this sunny and 94F weather!! Nothing to do but stay inside and sew.

I worked on Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery called "Christmas Lights." Mine is not going to be for Xmas and I changed up the colors/fabrics somewhat. Instead of doing scrappy darks in the four-patches, I did scrappy blues,
(I also ran out of green so added another one for these blocks)
and instead of one red for the other blocks, I scrapped those up too.

I didn't want to buy any fabrics for the quilt hence the scrappiness. The next clue isn't until the October issue of Quiltmaker magazine so I'm all caught up until then.

This weekend sure went by fast! I am dreading the ATL traffic-hell tomorrow with all the kids going back to school. It's so nice in the summer when there is only about half-a-hell worth of traffic out there.

I'm Glad it's August....

because July went out in an avalanche of annoyances. I was tired and worn out from working too many days in a row at SBux last week (4 days in a row is torture when you also work Mon-Fri at the day job). Day job was nothing but problem projects and complicated phone calls. It was also sad because one of my co-workers in my work unit left and with the budget cuts, all open positions are frozen and who knows when it will be unfrozen. This of course means more work for the remaining employees. And he was a really great person and will be missed a lot.

So I am glad it is a new month. Of course August means back to school around here which means more traffic but let's not think of that right now....

It's rained a lot here in Atlanta and it was humid, a little too warm, and very mosquito-y outside today. This required staying inside and sewing rather than doing yard work (oh darn ;). I completed step one of Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery. It's called "Christmas Lights" but I'm changing it up a bit to not be Christmas-y colors. I think Becky, Brenda, Karin, Cindi, and Karin are all making this quilt too. The pattern is in Quiltmaker magazine. The next issue is coming out so I knew I better get step one done.

Here's my HSTs, four-patches (which I did in assorted lights and blues instead of completely scrappy as the pattern said), and my Mary's triangles (also called combination triangle squares). I'm not a gotta-have-every-new-notion kind of quilter but I LOVE these two new notions that Mary Ellen from Little Quilts demoed at our last Thimbles class. The "Quilter's Magic Wand" for drawing lines for making HSTs and "Tucker's Trimmer" for making HST, Mary's triangles, and hourglass blocks. Awesome tools and your triangles turn out PERFECT!!! You can check out the items here and see if your LQS carries them. I don't usually recommend quilting stuff but these are some gotta-haves.

I neglected to post my Sweet Home Quilt Co. purchases from last weekend (shame on me). Melisa is having great sales all month to celebrate her big 5-0 b-day and last week was Christmas fabric. I bought some of Moda's "Figgy Pudding" fabric (on sale), a random gray fabric, and backing for my blue & white quilt.
The Figgy Pudding fabric plus my previously purchased FP charm pack is going to be made into a project from Moda Bake Shop, which I hope to start soon.

Some Progress and Still Hoping for a Snow Day

Well I finally finished sewing the rows together for my Mardi Gras quilt (aka Orange Crush mystery quilt). This is a quick photo; my quilter-holder-upper was impatient. I really like it! I need to go to Melisa's and get some advise for borders. I'm thinking of a thin inner border (something that "pops" maybe a light, bright green?) and an outer border.

I also finished the February block for the Little Quilts BOM. I can't wait for the next one to show up in the mail! I am really hoping that it gets icy out and they cancel work and the area schools--all the quilters want a snow day!!!!!!

Making Progress

Well I am making progress on my Mardi Gras quilt (aka Bonnie Hunter's Orange Crush mystery quilt from last year). I finished the blocks and am ready to start sewing the rows together.

Here are some of the album blocks. I wish there was more contrast between the center black squares and the purple squares but they are all done and are staying done. There is no way I am ripping all that out! I think it's going to be a very busy quilt but I am happy that it is all from stash.

Here is Morpheus in his zen kitty pose. He is very comfy on a big pile of pillows and quilts.

Is it really Sunday evening???

Where did my weekend go? Not much happened around here this week and I was so looking forward to getting a lot done this weekend. Of course weekend days somehow are much shorter than week days (I think week days seem to be about 34 hours long and weekend days about 14 hours long don't you?)

I did get some sewing time in and finished the top and backing for E.'s flannel quilt. It is a BIG quilt (for me--about 72 X 93") and I have no where in the house to lay it out flat so here it is folded up. It is all ready to go to my long arm quilter once she gets back from Florida.

I also worked on Bonnie Hunter's Orange Crush (aka my Mardi Gras quilt). I was farther along than I remembered and finished up the 30 spinning star blocks. I have to square up the pieced part of the album blocks and get those sewed together. Maybe I will finish it up by the end of the month.

This quilt is a lot of fun to make and I'm using all stash except for the main yellow.

The new "Irish Quilting" magazine I ordered from Pat Sloan's website came in the mail. It's a really great magazine with lots of projects I would like to make someday. Although I need another magazine subscription like I need a hole in my head, I may check out the subscription price....

I Cleaned My Sewing Space Yesterday

Yes, I broke down and cleaned up my sewing space. I now can see some parts of the floor and more importantly, have a space on my table bigger than 2" x 2" to sew (yes that's inches!) Although I hate cleaning (I would rather be sewing!!!!), I love the results. I am happy happy to have some sense of somewhat more order in my sewing space (it's still rather cluttered with UFOs in bags...). Of course my allergies went haywire and I was snuffly for the rest of the day and up half the night (I am extremely allergic to dust--another reason not to clean).

I started cutting Bonnie's Double Delight Mystery Quilt. Wow that's a lot of cutting! I also found a Valentine's Day table topper project made of charm squares so got that cut out too. Bonnie's mystery from last year "Orange Crush" (aka my Mardi Gras quilt) was unearthed and I figured out where I left off.

Sewing Goals for this month: Finish Orange Crush and V-day quilts. Get working on Double Delight.

Have you all seen Anne's great BOM over at Bunny Hill Designs???!!!!

It is sooo cute! I am printing out the patterns but probably not starting this until later. I think my mom would like this applique--Mom, check it out by clicking the link above! Wonder if Karin will join in on this BOM since she is taking a dreaded "A" class soon (dreaded "A" = applique for Karin).

New Year's Eve

I seem to have talked some more quilters into joining the New Year's Eve Mystery quilt over at www.quiltville.com. Hooray! I decided to follow Bonnie's fabric choices for my mystery quilt. Unfortunately, it was not hard to pull a zillion fabrics from my stash:
These are all fat quarters or part fat quarters. I may not have enough of the cheddar/gold but I definitely have enough of the other colors.Where did I get all these pinks when I don't like pink?????? It's going to be nice to use up some of this reproduction fabric so I can buy more...um I mean so I can reduce my stash. I don't know if I will start cutting tonight but at least I have the fabric ready.

I am looking forward to staying in tonight for New Year's. S. and I are going to watch a movie and snack on my mom's super-duper party mix (called Scrabble in my family. I don't know why. Anyone have any guesses?)

Everyone have a fun and happy New Year's Eve!

Busted!!!

I decided to go to Sweet Home Quilt Co. today since Melisa was having a sale on her sale fabrics. (I don't know about you, but when I read sale twice in one sentence, I'm there!). I pulled in the parking lot and who did I park next to? Becky. She asked a bunch of us to go with her to Melisa's on Memorial Day and I said I couldn't go because I am saving $$ for my vacation, too much fabric, yada yada. Well I walk in the door and Becky and Kristie yell "Busted!!!!!" Don't you just love your quilt buddies!!!

Yes I was busted. Might as well make the best of it. So I bought a few things...

just a few...(I know my eagle-eyed friend Debbie can tell how full this bag is). If you think I'm showing the contents of this bag, you're crazy. I did pick up backing for my OC quilt from the sale room.

Just for the record, Becky finished not one but TWO bolts of fabrics.

Rainy Saturday Plans

Woo hoo I have a weekend off!! Yes, I did a happy dance closing SBux last night knowing I had the weekend off. I hope the second step of the Orange Crush quilt are posted this weekend. Here are my 4-patches all done:

I am enjoying a pot of our new Pike Place Roast. If you haven't tried it, put down the mouse and run and get some. This is truly a fabulous coffee. And yes, I drank the Howard Schultz (coffee-flavored) Kool Aid but really it's a great coffee. Mmmmm can you smell the beans.

This is my new canister. I am such a SBux geek--I have a zillion mugs, shirts, Bearista bears, and who knows what else. But what can I say? I love the company and I love my job there (and I get a discount hee hee).

Here is Gomez enjoying the rain. Hooray for rain in the ATL! A brief respite from the Green Menace (aka pollen).

I was hoping to spend all day in my pjs but I need to pick up my Bernina. Keeping fingers crossed and cautiously optimistic.

I had a somewhat bizarre Twilight Zone experience last night at SBux. A dear friend of mine from college who I haven't seen in 12 years came into my store. In the middle of me saying "Hello can I help...." recognition. It was so great to see him even for a few minutes. I *found* him on Facebook and am so glad to have reconnected. Even though my crazy stupid schedule/life has prevented me from seeing him when he has been in town, I am glad to know he is out there. In a very disconnected society, it is nice to know that parts of your past that you thought you'd lost can be found through the wonders of the Internet. Well, more later. My cup is empty and the rain has stopped and need to run my errands.

ASPCA Day--Go orange! (and Morticia update)

A cause near and dear to my heart. Do you know that the Empire State Building in NYC will be lit in orange today in honor of the founding of the ASPCA in 1866? The famous Wall Street bull sculpture will sport orange ribbons too. Visit http://www.aspca.org/ for ways that you can help make the world a better place for animals. One year when I was "volunteered" to be in charge of the Yellow Daisy Quilt Guild's holiday party, my co-chair and I decided that the theme would be cats and dogs and we made cookies in the shape of dog biscuits and made little catnip favors out of four-patches. The favors went home with people who had cats or members could put them in a basket for donation to the local humane society.

If anyone has leftover four-patches from the Orange Crush quilt, you can make really cute cat toys by sewing two four-patches wrong sides together and leaving a space to turn rightside out. Stuff with leftover cotton batting (you know all those little scraps you have everywhere) and add a couple of spoonfuls of dried catnip (organic is best since it has the best catnippiness). Sew up and voila a quilty cat toy! My cats LOVE these little quick, easy toys from scraps. I made a bunch and donated them to the local humane society and gave out to my friends who have cats. And it's a great way to use up scraps.

OK Morticia update. The news is not good. She most likely has soft tissue cancer in her nasal passage and the vet had to remove some of her teeth where the cancer had eaten away her jaw bone. Dr. Harris took biopsies and sent them to the University of GA vet school. We'll get the results back next week. The lump means that the cancer has become aggressive and Dr. Harris said that maybe she will have one to three months, six at the long shot to have a comfortable life. I didn't know it would be so short but I knew that her prognosis was not good. I am going to make sure she is comfortable and pain-free and when it is time then it will be time. I know that she has had the best life possible for the past 10 years. Morticia was adopted from a humane society at the age of 6 months and the other 4 are strays. They really have the best life. My cats eat better than I do, have better health care, have a zillion toys, and are happy to be indoor only cats safe from dangers outside. That's all I can do for them.

One UFO done

Yea! Finished a quilt top

The pattern is called "Road to Romance" by my friend and quilt designer Pat Wys (see the pattern and the quilt made in 1930s prints here: http://silverthimblequilt.com/ and check out her other designs too). I started this quilt in 2007 and the focus fabric is a special dogwood-patterned batik that was printed for the 2007 Atlanta Shop Hop. This quilt makes me think of Ireland since it's so bright and green. Here's a detail.

Worked on another UFO (from 2006) at our sewing group on Saturday. Great day sewing with Karin and Becky. My decision on which quilt to work on went like this: pick up nearest bag off the floor of the sewing room and take it with you LOL! I think I'm going to pick projects this way and maybe at some point it will work up to: pick any project from on(e of several big plastic bins (as soon as I get the ones off the floor done). How's that for a plan????

Also worked on step 1 of the Orange Crush mystery quilt. Karin is way ahead of me and has her 4-patches done. I have some 2-patches and am really glad we have more time for this step. I am jealous of Becky having Spring break and time for quilting and blogging this week. I expect grand things from her LOL!!!!

On Friday, I took 2 cats to the vet. Morpheus went for his annual shots and geriatric blood tests. He is doing good and lost a little weight (which we all need to do here at chez crazy cat lady....) Also took Morticia, who now has a large lump on the side of her nose near her eye. The vet is very concerned about it and I am taking her in on Wednesday for anesthesia, X-rays, and testing. Probably not good and that is what I am expecting. Will post an update when I know something.

Reviews of books and movies I finished over the weekend in another post. It's time to watch John Adams on HBO (yes I am a history geek!)

Orange Crush fabrics

Well I've got my main fabrics all picked out for the Orange Crush mystery quilt. I decided to go with Mardi Gras colors and HOPEFULLY I'll have this done by next Mardi Gras LOL! I think I will keep the same colors for the scrappy four-patches (green, purple, yellow). Green and purple are my favorite colors so I have a TON of those colors. I'll dig into those scraps and working on Step 1 during the weekend.

On Pat Sloan's blog today, she sent a directive to Finish It Up. So AGAIN I am going to try to get the borders on the 2 quilts hanging around this weekend too.

Update on police activity--no it wasn't the quilt police coming to get me for having too many UFOs (although this is a strong possibility...). A local police officer was attacked by a drunk driver who fled the scene (thank you Karin for updating me on the events!) The suspect must have been captured around 2 AM when the helicopter left and I could finally get to bed.

Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K

If anyone has seen the movie "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure", the title to this post is one of my favorite lines in the movie. Yes it is 1:30 AM but the cats and I are awake and wondering what is going on in the area around my house. There are about 10 police cars all around at every intersection and up and down the streets, officers on foot with flashlights, unmarked police cars and now a helicopter with search light. Hmmm must be something really bad. Hope this wraps up soon cause as soon as my laundry is done I'm going to bed. But now I don't want to go to bed until this is over. OK bad guy surrender cause I need to get some sleep!

On a quilty note: after thinking about it all day, I have decided to do my mystery quilt in purple, green, yellow, and black. A Mardi Gras quilt! Will dig through fabrics later in the week even though Bonnie already posted the first step. Ack! I'm already behind.