Done But Not Shared

I finished this quilt a week ago... I know it was before September started because I needed another finish so I could actually USE more fabric. Pitiful, I know. But it did get me to do the quilting and binding quickly! A lucky friend of mine is going to get it but she doesn't know yet. I haven't decided when I'll give it to her. She may have to wait for her birthday.

Unfortunately I took the picture in the late afternoon so it is a bit dark. But you get the overall feel. I showed the quilting up close on this day.

Raggs, of course, had to come out to see what I was doing. He sure has some strange habits -- notice he's got his bottom on one step and his feet on the step below. And, he's shaggy again. He's going for a day at Bark Avenue tomorrow. Phew, just in time as he stinks like a dog! (well, he is a dog... but, ....)

I hope to have another top finished this morning. I may wait for the quilting to get done before I share it with you. It was a mystery on Mysteries for Relay, a yahoo group that Marge runs. You make a donation to cancer research through Marge's relay site and Marge provides the mystery. I've had to pass on doing some of the mysteries as I had a bunch of things piling up. I still need to finish some tops but I think I'm jumping in to do the next mystery. It's coming on September 26. If you've never tried a mystery this is a great way to get your feet wet. You can join for just one mystery or for a year of mysteries. And, if you want to get an idea of what a year of mysteries looks like visit the home page of the group. Two of my quilts are shown. Woot, Woot!

Happy Quilting All!

If You See One, Are There Others to Follow?

When we took Raggs for a walk last evening I grabbed this leaf off the driveway. WAIT it isn't even September! YIKES. It such a wonderful red -- I love it. We had such a wet summer we should see a lot of leaf colors this fall.

I'm off to work on the binding of my wonky 9 patch. Not sure what is up tomorrow. Our work date fell apart because I forgot about a meeting. We did move a little furniture and hung the thread rack. Pat will be cutting a piece of furniture into two pieces. But, that will be done over a couple of weeks.

Happy Quilting All!

Shopping Trip

I went to my local quilt store for their buy 2 yards get a 3rd yard free.  Woowee!  I was buying backing fabrics -- and found 3 nice pieces.  So here's my shopping results. (I'm not going to be thrilled when the month ends and I have a net gain in fabrics... but watch out June!) 

Wonky 9 patch -- the binding will be the same as the border. I forgot to check what this is called but it reminds me of Quilters Suede that was out in the 90's. 

String X -- Pat suggested trying this dark blue piece after I had tried it in purple.  I like it!  It will also be used as a border. I believe it was an older Moda Triangles. (I think I might actually already have some or I've used it before...) 

And, finally, Simply Squares. This was a mystery quilt that I tested for Marge.  She now sells the pattern on her relay site to benefit cancer research.  I'm not putting a border on this one.  I thought this would be a bright backing for this dark, medium and light blue quilt.  

Now, I need my Nolting 18" to arrive and for me to get proficient at it.  I'm sure I can do a nice stipple but I'm going to want to do some thing more involved with some of these.  I've got a small border to put on the streak of lightning I have been working on and then find a backing in the stash.  It'll be my first attempt on the new machine.  I've also found a panel of green with houses and streets and such on it.  I think I'll make a backing out of pieced blocks and then quilt it around the streets and buildings.  

The rain has started up again.  I think we had two days with no rain but now it is raining pretty hard.  Time to read email, surf a bit and then start in on my recent book.  Happy Quilting All.   

Back to Quiting

Here is what I've been working on the most -- my wonky 9 patch.  This has been time intensive to make this.  The directions failed to mention that you must use the pieces in the same direction.  And, each piece needs to be marked with a quarter inch on each corner. And the finished blocks only go one way or so it seems! Oops, I've got two of the same block next to each other.   This is what it looked like this morning.  As of this evening I only have 1 more to make if I go with a 4 x 4 setting.  I'm planning to put it together tomorrow and then decide if I need another row and/or borders.  

Suze at The Thread and I has inspired me to try the Wonder Wallet again (from Lazy Girl Designs). I tried making one this summer and some how screwed it up.  I finally had to dump the whole thing.  Next time I'm reading the directions better!  That will be a great fast project -- if I can do it right!  

My Nolting 18 should be coming in sometime during May.  I've got several tops ready to be quilted but I need to get the backings ready.  So that should be moved to the top of my list along with acquiring some batting. 

Raggs hanging out in the Great Room. 

Happy Quilting All     Bonnie 

Animals -- Real and Not

Pat and I were sitting in the former eat in kitchen that is now a nook with a couple of comfy chairs in it. We were probably surfing the net on our laptops when we heard a strange noise.  On the side window a squirrel was hanging around!  Dumb squirrel.  He came back again and we were able to snap his picture.  I can't tell if this is my nemesis or not.  Pat caught one on the bird feeder and went out to scare him off the feeder.  (He did the same thing I did but didn't slam the door behind him hard enough to lock himself out -- plus I was on the inside watching.)  It scared the heck out of him (squirrel, not Pat.)  All the squirrels on the ground scampered off.  The one on the feeder pretty much jumped off the feeder all the way to the ground (from the second story deck!) A couple of the ground feeders are finally back again.  

I've been promising pictures of my bunny for a while.  This bunny has been sitting naked in the studio for many years. (Even did a couple of months in storage when we moved.) How could I have done this to her?  She obviously trusted me way too much!  

Here she is in all her glory with the tulips I bought cause we have NO flowers in the yard.  I have to laugh at this photo because I spread a piece of white paper down, tried to get a neutral background (didn't work... the great room is in the back).  I'm staging a bunny picture?  Have I lost my mind?  Evidently the answer is yes because I am going to buy a foam core presentation board so I can have a backdrop. 5 bucks or so at Staples.  Bigger question is when I will be going to the big city again.  Give me a week or so and then you can see if I have succeeded with the background!  

Here's my next project.  This was shown in McCall's Quilting magazine, I think the February issue. I thought it was interesting and a bit different. After finishing a few things I thought I could start something new. I plan to give this to a friend for her birthday. We'll see if that happens or not!  I am happy the block lies flat.  I wasn't sure it would once I got it all together.  It won't be a fast project like I thought because each corner of the individual pieces need a cross hatch at 1/4".  More stuff to do in front of the tv.  (and I am such a hugh tv watcher, NOT!)  

 I've got a baby quilt ready to sew the binding down by hand.  I had planned to do both front and back by machine but zoned out when I sewed the first side on the wrong side of the quilt.  Oh well. 

That's it from the studio and the decks here in the Poconos.  Dinner is out -- no cooking sounds good to me.  

Happy quilting all!  Bonnie