Basket Crazies

Wow, I can't believe it has been a month since I posted a thing!  One would think I would have tons to show you since surely I have been sewing like crazy.  I've been working on a few small things and am thrilled to actually get one bigger project finished!

A couple of years ago our quilt guild had a workshop using a Buggy Barn pattern called Basket Crazies.  I have a couple of Buggy Barn patterns in my pattern stash just waiting for me but somehow they never seem to make the cut.  So why not take the class and learn their technique so those patterns in waiting move up the list!

I am really pleased with my quilt and really love the colors.  I pulled everything from my stash and some of the fabrics had been there for years and years and worked out perfectly for this quilt.  After the top was finished it was put away to age properly before it was quilted.  Properly aging a quilt top?  Visit Nan from Pots and Pins and learn all about aging quilt tops, get great recipes, and just have a good laugh.  Here is Nan's post on aging quilts from Sew We Quilt.  My aged quilt top turned into a lovely quilt.

I did have a few hiccups along the way with this quilt.  How many times will it take before I learn to check the backing fabric when I quilt near the edge?

It happens more times than I would like to admit.  And then there is always a helper cat along the way so that I have to spend a lot of time adjusting the cat so I can quilt.  Hey, maybe that's the reason the backing fabric gets caught up under the quilt--LOL.

Coconut is a recent addition to our household and she is a fast learner.

One UFO finished and ready for our guild's quilt show in July--woohoo!  Now off to work on a few more items for the show.

Cheers,

Debi

Easy Street Finished!

Yippee!  Easy Street is finished! 

I sent the top out to be quilted and Linda did a wonderful job--thanks Linda!  Feathers all around.

Easy Street has several kitty-cat fabrics in it and so the backing had to have cats as well.  I found the purrfect fabric in my stash--double yippee as I actually had enough for the back of my quilt.

Again, I had helpers while I worked on the binding.  Twinkie and MiniMe are such good helpers and what would any quilt be without a few cat hairs--LOL.

I'll work on getting those extra cat hairs off my quilt as I plan on displaying it at our guild's quilt show in July.

Cheers,

Debi

Jazz Cats

Recently a small group of cat loving friends got together to brainstorm on a quilt pattern for a raffle quilt for SNACK.  We decided to make the Jazz Cats pattern from Janet Kime's book The Cat's Meow.  I decided to try a couple of sample blocks and had a few problems along the way.  First, my machine was giving me fits.  I love my Bernina 1080 (c. 1995) and it never acts up but try and do something special and it is a guarantee that things will go wrong.  

My first block turned out okay considering the machine problems and my lack of ability to count the number of 1 1/2" squares I needed.  It was easy to figure out where I went wrong with the squares and I thought it was easy to figure out what was wrong with my machine.  The needle made a popping noise as it entered the fabric and the fabric was being eaten by the feed dogs when I started to sew.  Okay, change the needle and try again.  Still the same????  Change the needle again, clean and oil the machine.  What is going on?  It's still messed up.  Open a new pack of needles and clean and oil the machine again.  Success!  I guess I didn't figure two needles out of the same pack could be so messed up.

I know it looks like the ears are chopped off, but they aren't.  The ear units actually went together well but I messed up on the tail.

My second attempts were a bit better but I had one heck of a time trying to get the ear units lined up--grrrr! 

Perhaps I need a break and I have put the project down for awhile and will revisit it in a few weeks.

I have been working on a few other projects as well and hope to get a photo of my finished Easy Street posted soon.  I am trying to take my photos outside as they are a bit nicer but the weather around here has just been horrible and today it is actually very nice so I have my fingers crossed I can get out there and get something decent.

Cheers,

Debi

Hello Kitty

I have been working on several small projects over the last few weeks and I'm headed towards the finish line on Easy Street--yippee!  I hope to work on the binding today which is a perfect project for a day when we are supposed to get quite a bit of snow.  Where is spring?

Recently I made pincushions for a group of friends that are working on a cat raffle quilt for SNACK, a TNR group in Central Ohio.  I've had the pattern for several years so it was fun to finally get around to making a few.  The pattern is from Cotton Ginnys.

It was great fun to see all of the kitties hanging out together.

Cheers,

Debi

February Love Block

Late last year the quilt guild I belong to had challenge quilt packets ready for those who wished to participate in the activity in preparation for our quilt show in July.  The packet I pulled out of the basket was for February along with a fat quarter of fabric that must be used somewhere in the block.  I thought I would do some liberated love letters and perhaps surround the block with hearts or flowers.  I have tried a few letters in the past and found that my brain doesn't quite work in the way in which it needs to in order to make wonky, fun letters.  I even have Tonya's Word Play Quilts book, which is amazing by the way, and I still struggle making fun, wonky blocks.  Oh well, my Love letters are done and I am working on the hearts to go around them.  Fingers crossed it all works out and I'll be done soon.

The challenge piece of fabric was used in the L and the little border and it is not really something I would normally purchase even though I love novelty fabrics.

When I went outside to snap a photo of my block I looked out into the field and saw I had an audience.

Aren't they cute.  Actually they were letting me know it was past their breakfast time, but no need to worry as breakfast was delivered a few minutes later.

Cheers,

Debi

A Street Cat Named Bob

I can't believe I haven't posted a thing for a couple of weeks!  Life has just been too busy and that means no sewing.  Thankfully things are slowing down just a bit so I should be able to get back to a little sewing and have something to share in a few days.  

Even if I don't have time to sew I still have a little time each evening to do a little reading and I thought I would share a wonderful book I just finished called A Street Cat Named Bob.  I first learned about this book from Your Cat magazine where I read an article about a London street performer and his cat, Bob.  When I visited London in September I picked up a copy of the book and I finally got around to reading it.  I've been reading too many detective/crime novels here lately and I needed something a bit different and this book was purrfect.

I hope you enjoy the video and consider picking up your very own copy as it is a delightful story.

Cheers,

Debi

Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Valentine's Day I thought I would share a paper-pieced rose I made a couple of weeks ago.  It is a practice piece and I'm not sure if I'll make any more, but it turned out fairly well. 

If you would like to see more Valentine's Day projects you may want to visit Sew We Quilt for the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop.

Cheers!

Debi