I actually finished them all. It was kind of a chore toward the end.
They all turned out cute, but now that I'm at the end, there are a few things I'd have done differently.
Whiskers....there has to be a better way to do those whiskers....Looks bad on the back. (As I hang them again in 2025, I'll redo the whiskers.)
No more BOMs, unless it's a group where we actually meet face-to-face.
...I think of Sunflowers.
One of my favorite flowers. So happy and Sunny!
Now that I am back in a house and have a garden, each spring when I plant Sunflowers...
this is what I envision... Big, Fat, Beautiful flowers.
This is my reality:
They'll probably have these down to the nubbins by the end of the week.
But they can't get the Sunflowers on my door! (MSQC Hat on a Cat)
These days my Friday evenings are divided between two live sessions: Ukulele Zoom and
Cheryl Sleboda Whited of Muppins Sewing Emporium.
This past week she was introducing all kinds of new items in the shop, among them this fat quarter bundle.
This picture of the Fat Quarters does not do the fabric justice. The colors are so vibrant. I just HAD to have them....
My Sister's 32nd wedding anniversary is coming up so I made them a small gift
In these last days of summer, it isn't too late to to accomplish something in the studio (she said to herself.)
UPDATE: August 22, 2024
Miracle upon miracles...I have a Sunflower!
Shhhhhhh, don't say that too loud, the deer might here!
*Ukulele Zoom: HERE 4 pm Pacific Time. This group is open to all. If you don't play the ukulele, now is a good time to start.
*Muppin's Live on YouTube: HERE 5 pm Pacific Time
** I have a new plan for next year...I'm going to plant the Sunflowers with the Zinnias (incognito) in the flower bed nearest to the house.
They don't seem to eat the Zinnias. See if that intimidates the deer a bit. And, if not...at least I'm feeding the wild life.
Well....WAS it a successful, productive three days???
Mostly "YES." I did cross off quite a few items from my ToDo list...but I also took a bunch of naps and
spent some time with my baby sister....so, it was a very pleasant, relaxing three days.
However....
Mother Nature had her own ideas of what this weekend would bring, too:
Lot's of tornadoes touching down all around Paducah, from the Texas panhandle up through the plains states and traveled all the way across to the edges of the Eastern Seaboard. It WAS Mr. Toad's Wild Ride...thanking the Lord that He controls the weather.
(Psalm 147:8, 148:8)
Anyway, nasty weather did mess up one a whole day and evening...glued to Ryan Hall Y'all weather guy on YouTube.
(I like him because he's a Kentucky guy.) I do feel bad for Eastern Kentucky, Eddyville and Dawson Springs. They were hit pretty bad. *
People will be talking about "The Memorial Day Storms" for years to come.
But, I didn't do a thing in the studio...not a stinkin' thing.
I did sew the binding on Hat-on-a-Cat for June. Other than that, no real sewing happened this weekend. **
I hope to change that TODAY!!
Finally work is at a slower pace for the next couple of weeks so I can relax more during the day and recharge. I need to start with a good "tidy up" in the studio and get encouraged to actually sit down and sew!!
Karen Brown calls this a "Reboot." ***
*Video of the Tornado in Eddyville, KY. HERE
**Something I learned from the FMQ class I took earlier this month....how to release the pressure from the Presser Foot shaft....I'm hoping to NOT have quilting puckers in the next "Hat" door hanger.
***One of my favorite Sewing Ladies, Karen Brown, on "The Reboot" HERE
Finishing up a bunch of small projects and getting ready to travel.
Small quilts for my Small Quilt Wall:..One of them Auntie Nyla's only attempt at FPP*.
(She hated this block and threw it away...I rescued it....I love it!!)
Quilt it.
Bind it.
Hang it.
Pretty Little City: Embracing my new "home state." This is a Muppin's Sewing Emporium exclusive.
Cheryl created this pattern for out-of-town visitors to her shop. (The Heart button is Paducah.)
The Small Quilt Wall is nearly Full!
The Pincushion Doll also by Muppin's Sewing Emporium. I shall call her "Polly" (for Polly Pincushion.)
Hummmmm....my first attempt was NOT a success!
The dress-base is too small. There are fabric cutting calculations in the pattern based on the size of the doll body, but somehow they didn't translate from
paper to product.
Can you say "Date with Jack"?
Sew Much Better!
I'm sure someday I'll make her another frock and then I'll have a better idea of how it all goes together (I wrote it in the pattern.)
I think she looks cheery, though, don't you?
Makes me want to do-si-do.
I imagine her wearing cowgirl boots,
muddy cowgirl boots, under her costume.
When you purchase patterns, fabric and notions from your local shop you have a resource available for help get you out of a conundrum.
Thank you, Cheryl Sleboda for setting me on the right track.
Buy local when possible!
Crayon Pouch for the coloring Catalina: A video popped up on my FaceBook. It looked cute (and easy) so I followed the link...they wanted $22 for the pattern!!! I'm sorry...that is too much money for a downloadable pattern....so, I made the little zipper pouch without a pattern! So There!
Well...not so fast....I'll admit there were more than a few "gosh darn" moments assembling this thing, especially the zipper.
And it didn't turn out in real life quite like I'd imagined. Hind-sight being what it is...I should have purchased the
pattern--should-a, would-a, could-a. If you're interested in watching the video and purchasing the pattern, HERE is the link.
And can I just have a short hissy fit about zipper feet?
The feet that came
with my Janome are not worth a plug nickel!
I have all these (on the left): I tried the two top feet....they just wouldn't hold the fabric...
I broke two needles trying.
I finally retrieved the foot from one of my older machines (on the right)....PERFECT!!!
Sometimes the tried-and-true are the best choice, just sayin...
Ok, I'm done. Leave me a comment if you want me to send you the Janome feet.
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Rounding out all the small projects for March,
Hat-on a-Cat** for April:
*FPP=Foundation Paper Piecing.
**Hat on a Cat is from Missouri Star Quilt Company.
What are you doing with your extra day?
I am preparing for a brand, spankin new month!!
While finishing up Auntie Nyla's Coffee Time table runner I kept thinking "What am I going to do with this?"
My dining table is round and I tend to leave it bare. The runner is really too big for the countertop under the coffee-making things. Then I remembered the most-appealing "Small Quilt Wall" I once saw somewhere on the internet.
Here is an example:
So, now, I too shall have a Small Quilt Wall!
Coffee Time is mounted above Misunderstood. And, you might recognize the Happy Camper small quilt from July, 2021.
Next item to finish and add to the wall is Snugly Bugly.
Snugly Bugly has a story....HERE
This one, lonely block was part of a BOM from Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, CA. Each month was packaged up with the pattern and the fabrics. I bought them all, but only ever completed one block. All the blanket stitch was done by hand....took F O R E V E R! I should have switched to doing it by machine.
But, Water under the bridge...
After announcing on FaceBook the remaining kits were free, they did go to a good home. Hopefully she finished what I did not.
This one block will be quilted and bound and a label added for historical purposes.... it was for Cash when he was a youngin' (he is now 17) and then add it to my new Small Quilt Wall.
And, What is on my March UFO list? THREE more small wall quilts!!
Pretty Little City
by Muppin's Sewing Emporium
And part of a sewing panel (purchased from Muppin's).
This will make two.
The wall quilt for my Sister Wife was from this panel. HERE
SSOOOoooo looking forward to March! (It's my birthday month, too.)
I've already changed out my door hanging, that's how excited I am!!
P.S. Happy Birthday to you if you happen to be a "Leapling."
Following along with American Patchwork & Quilting UFO Challenge: HERE
These are my January finishes:
Karen Brown's De-Clutter Challenge...went to the very last day and did clean, de-clutter and purge
"The Unnecessary, The Unwanted and The No Longer Needed" from my studio.
This first WIN will pay dividends for the rest of the year! (I believe this will be an annual thing.)
Mending (my own): Wet Hair wraps--I'm embarrassed to tell you how long these have been in the queue waiting for a teeny piece of elastic... but now they're back in service.
Ana's curtains! Finally stopped procrastinating and shortened them per Ana's measurements.
Bonus pillow from the left over fabric.
This type of sewing is not enjoyable to me,
nothing creative or interesting about it.
It is a labor of LOVE, though.
Hung in their new Home.
Of course I finished the Hat-on-a-Cat door hanger for February.
This is a Kit-of-the-Month from MSQC*. HERE
BONUS: A Valentine bag for Miss Catalina! Riley Blake "Sugar and Spice" panel.
AND, looky-there! An Empty Bin!!!
Woo-Hoo!!! The best WIN for January!!
Just ELEVEN more Bins to go!!
February's number is FOUR.
*MSQC= Missouri Star Quilt Company
Don't you love a nice Clean Slate? We get a Clean Slate...a Fresh Start:
Every Monday
Every First of the Month
Every major holiday that signals a New Beginning: Memorial Day, Labor Day, The First Day of School
AND
Every New Year's Day!
I'm so ready for this new year! I feel like the last two years I've just been marking time. But, I've spent the last couple of weeks getting ready for this clean slate; cleaning, purging, putting away. (My goal is to get rid of at least one thing every day in 2024....so far I'm right on track.)
Helping the process along I am following along with Just Get It Done Quilts sewing room purge for 2024
"Getting rid of the Unwelcome, the Unwanted and the No Longer Necessary....." HERE
These are my 2023 finishes:
Martha's pillow...winging its way home as we speak:
Louie inspecting the back of Martha's Pillow.
Making sure everything lines up nicely.
Sabrina's mending: Note to self...NO MORE MENDING. (Of course, if they ask I won't say NO.)
January's Hat-on-a-Cat BOM* from MSQC**:
There will be a new banner for each month. (I wish the hanger didn't say "I Heart Cats." I like cats...I don't HEART them.)
As a Believer in Jesus Christ as Lord of my life, I don't believe in luck *** but black-eyed peas are still a good idea...lots of health benefits.
 |
| Welcome 2024!! |
I rang in the new year with Sister, Joy and her D.H., Michael
and black-eyed pea with ham soup and a cabbage slaw.
*BOM: Block of the Month. In this case Kit of the Month
**MSQC: Missouri Star Quilt Company
***Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
