Catching Up!

I haven't posted anything since the July Schnibble.  I've experienced problems with Blogger.  When I  try to log in, I keep getting an error code.  Then I figured out that if I would follow someone new, I could back into my dashboard that way.  Only problem there was to keep finding new blogs that I liked well enough to follow!  After I had commented on a blog one day, I clicked on the blogger symbol, and that got me access.  Sooo, that is what I've been doing lately.    I have been making progress on some projects!  (Insert applause here!) 

 

I worked on this minkee throw during some of our hottest weather.  I bought the kit on shop hop last year, but had a few obstacles to getting it finished.  First off, I could not find my walking foot.  I even checked into buying a new one, but for $100+, I thought I could look harder.  And, I found it.  The next problem was getting it to feed through my machine.  It just was not working, so I shelved it again for a while.  After thinking abouut it, I ended up starting in the middle, and working to the end for the first 2 or three strips.  After that it was a piece of cake.  I machine stitched the binding without too much trouble, and viola, it is done.    I love the softness of it, and it is really, really warm.  It will be great if we ever have a power outage. 

 

Hopefully I will post again soon with some more of my latest and greatest!

 

Thanks for reading along,

 

Carmen

Eva goes to the Dime Store

I got my August Schnibble finished this afternoon.  I made the mistake of thinking that it was the easiest one to date.  Of course, that jinxed me!  Somehow, I used the smaller leftover strips for the middle of the strip sets, and didn't figure that out until after I subcut them!!  Ugh!!!  That really dampened my enthusiasm, but I plugged away and got her finished.  I've had these Eva charm packs for a while, and just happened to buy the pink grunge fabric about six weeks ago.  I think the combination works well.

 

This would make a really cute quilt for a little girl.  And, this really is an easy pattern to put together!

 

 

July Schnibbles on the Road

Well, Roadshow, that is!  What with the current granny square rage that is going on around the web, I thought I would join in just a little.  I used the Moda Collection for a Cause Friendship, with a little Flag Day Farm for the outer border and another Moda piece for the inner sashing.  I was fun to make, and decide what fabrics to use in each block.  It is interesting to look at the photo and really see how the combinations work, or not!  Thanks to my friend Linda who helped with the layout on our guild work day. 

Zebra Shorts

I made mention on my last post about a special pair of shorts for my husband.  Our local hospital has an annual golf tournament, and the team DH plays on usually has some sort of dress code.  This year the team sponsor got pink shirts for everyone.  DH was with me at the quilt store one day and found some pink and black zebra fabric, and asked me to make me a pair of shorts to wear with the shirt.  I wasn't really crazy about the idea, but after I thought about it, decided to give it a shot.  Wisely, DH thought I should make a test pair, which I did out of some golf fabric that I just happened to have laying around.  Imagine that!!  Good thing, since he did not like the way the shorts fit.  I found a Kwik-Sew pattern, 2nd of only two available patterns for men's shorts without elastic waist, and was back in business.  After only one major screw-up, I got them finished in time.







  Here he is the morning of the tournament.  The shirt does not really go with the bright pink of the shorts, but he did get a lot of compliments, and everyone was really impressed when they found out that I actually made them for him! He even said that they fit better than his very expensive Loud Mouth shorts, so I guess they were worth the effort!

Leap Year? Already?

I know time flies, but really, leap year?  Or could that just be the Scnibble for June?  Oh, yes, that's it!  This was an extremely easy pattern, but, of course I piddled around, and made it last a lot longer than necessary!  I used a Benartex line called Heritage for this Schnibble. 



As you can see from the background, it has been quite dry here, and yes, my porch does need to be painted.

That's it for now.  I hope to have some pics to show of my latest project, pink-and-black zebra shorts for my husband.  Don't ask, I'll just have to explain it to you!!

America the Beautiful

This is my America the Beautiful quilt. I started it about a year ago, for a guild project; it was in McCall's quilting magazine last year as an installment each issue.  I wasn't going to make this quilt, but my friend talked me into.  I started out a couple of issues behind, but got caught up until the 4th part.  It was so hard deciding what fabrics and colors to use for every part, I just put it away.  One of the ladies finished hers, and now I am inspired to finish mine. 

what's left?  The four big, white spaces are two rows of HSTs.  I don't know what colors I want to use.  Also, There are several strips necessary to make everything fit together.  Again, not sure what I should do.  Any suggestions? 

I was hoping to maybe finish up this weekend, but I don't think that is going to happen.  Tomorrow I need to get ready for a machine quilting class on Monday that Paula Reid is teaching.  I'm hoping she can give me some confidence to start quilting my filmsys.  ( Is that a word?)  : )

This is Cissy.  She looks innocent, doesn't she?

This is what she did as she passed by.  Just a little skip!  Well, I better get back to my project, it won't sew itself!  Besides, it's 93 outside, so a good day to be inside at the sewing machine.



By The Skin of My Teeth

For the May Schnibble, that is!  I finished 'Doc' at 10:00 pm, last night.  The picture is not the best,  I laid it on my design wall, and snapped it.  I think this is my least favorite so far.  Not sure why, I thought it would be really cute when I started; maybe it is just because of the time crunch.  It does look better in the picture! 

Thanks for looking!

Summer Days

This is my Summer Days Schnibble for the April parade.  The photo show my cats Buffy and Wolfie checking things out.  I clipped it to the back of a couple of lawn chairs to take the picture.  Go to Pink Pincushion blog to see a picture of the whole thing.  I changed the borders by narrowing the original border, and adding an outer border.  I think it just kind of finished it off.  The fabric is Recipe for Friendship by Mary Engelbreit.  It is nice, cheerful, and carefree, just like summer days should be.

Not so carefree around here today though.  Holstein (see previous post) has still been scratching at his ear.  Today the vet tells me that he has fleas.  UGH!  I have had fleas only once in almost 30 years of cat ownership.  Granted, I now have 2 indoor/outdoor cats, but they do not come into the house.  (I know, I know, I can transfer them inside myself, but still.)  The vet recommends washing all clothes, bedding, etc, plus spraying everything down.  I came home and treated everybody, and started the washer.

This is a real pain because yesterday was the first time I have done laundry in 3 weeks.  I got everything washed up before my surgery, but knew I wouldn't be able to do much of anything for a while after my foot surgery. I guess I will catch back up on laundry in the next couple of days.  Gives me something to look forward to.

I

Here I Am!

As you can see from this photo, I have been moving a little slow lately.  I had bunion and hammer toe surgery on April 9th, and this boot has been with me since then; three more weeks to go.  I can hobble around without it in the house, and it was my left foot, so I can sew. 

 

DH brought a table upstairs, so I don't have to go downstairs to sew, and I have a view out the front window.  Bonus!!                                                             

The pillow is sitting on a milk crate.  I thought I could prop my foot up there, but it didn't work the best.  Still I did make my April Schnibble. 

And, I did manage to get out for a day of Shop Hopping.  I need to post what I got.  Had a lot of fun, and spent the day with friends.  It was good to get out, since I've been cooped up at home pretty much since the surgery.

I'll post my Schnibble later.

May for Me BINGO!

This is the lovely BINGO card that I won from Mary at Needled Mom during the St Patrick's Day blog giveaways.  I have been remiss in blogging about my win, and I apologize to Mary.  The card is very neat, and she did a terrific job from the embroidered bingo at the top to the cute squares and border fabric.  Now is the time to register bingo cards and link up the blog post. 

First requirement is to post a photo (done), and list what each square contains.  Here is my list:

B  Cat, Fish, Stars, Kite, Daisies
I   Flip-Flops, Sun, Dog, Tools, Bee
N  Apple, Hearts, Free, M&M's, Cherry Pie
G  Ladybugs, Mushrooms, Frogs, Turtles, Autos
O  Jigsaw Puzzle, Butterflies, Jelly Beans, Easter Eggs, the letter "M" (for Mary who made my card, thanks again!!)

Now I just need to link-up, something I have not done before, and I will be ready!

Schnibble - Bibelot

This is my March Schnibble, Bibelot.  I wasn't overly crazy about the pattern, so I decided to make it out of Halloween fabrics.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  The picture could be better, but you get a pretty good idea!

Poor Kitty

I like cats.  I have cats; lots of cats.  Over time, I will introduce them to you.  Today, we are meeting Holstein!  Holstein came to us in late 2003.  One of the neighbors had him as an inside cat, and for whatever reason, they put him outside.  He's very friendly, and whenever we would be outside, he came for a visit.  Eventually he became a housecat again, this time at our house.  As you can see by the picture, he is a big boy. 

The reason for the blog title is that he has had some health issues lately.  He got an infection in his inner ear, and scratched himself until he had a sore on the outside, too.  Long story short, apparently he was allergic to the cream the vet gave me for the sore, and he really went to town on it.  We have been doctoring for almost 3 weeks, and he is now on the mend, but it was pretty gross for a while.  Do not look at the photo below if you are squeamish!  His ear is looking much better, so hopefully it will only continue to heal. 

It really does look much better than it did!  Get well soon, Big Guy!!

I.S.T.H. F.I.N.I.S.H.E.D.

Here it is!!  I had a couple days of marathon sewing, but managed to get it finished on time.  It is made with an older Moda line by Sentimental Studios, named Shades of Blue.  The setting triangles are another Moda fabric, and not sure on the background fabric.  The printing on the selvage was so light, I couldn't read it. 

I put in a pretty please to Sherri for no checkerboards this month; they are pretty time consuming.  I will have to say that I used fork pins, and that helped a lot keeping all of the seams lined up with each other.

I'm hope that I can post more often.  Bad blogger!!  I have figured out how to get pictures from the camera to the computer, and onto the blog, so that is a start.  I have a couple more followers, so I need to post something for you to read.  Thanks for hanging in there!

Carmen

Full House Schnibble

This is the third year that Sinta and Sherri are hosting a small quilts quilt-a-long.  I wanted to get in on the action the previous two year, but it just didn't happen.  Hopefully I can keep up this year.  I'm off to a good start with January's Full House.  I purchased the pattern a week ago Thursday at LQS, and completed it this afternoon.  I used Kansas Troubles from my stash, and I think it turned out kinda cute!  OK, I got the picture on here, just not at the bottom where I thought it would be.  Oh well, live and learn!