Back to work, sad girls and a new topper...

It was back to school for me on Monday, and the cats didn't seem to understand why they couldn't go out for their early morning run. Right before I left, I found Mama and Smokey looking out the window.

 I made this tabletopper over the weekend. Even got it quilted and bound....though it isn't bound in this picture. The asian fabrics are much more vibrant than in this picture. I will have to try to take a better one tomorrow.

 Mama Kitty, "Looks really nice outside today".
Smokey, "Yea, I'm really upset we can't go out...wait til she leaves...I know where there's a nice pile of fabric..."

Sunday and Pets on Quilts

 

I have entered the Pets on Quilts contest hosted by SewCalGal. I think I have many qualifications for winning this contest because I can't keep my pets OFF my quilts. It is hard to decide on which picture to enter, so I entered this post from Aug.10. I hope this  picture counts for the contest, since I am working on the quilt, but some of my best cat pictures are with quilts in progress. Plus she is just so happy in these pictures! (I did finish the quilt last week too.)
I have posted the link to the right, so feel free to go vote for your favorite pet on quilt photo. Mine is Jean's Page, #50 on the list.

I have been working on class paperwork today and finished sewing a tabletopper for an upcoming class. Am heading up to quilt it now. It's back to school for me tomorrow. sigh....

A finish day

I worked on  the bargello today, sewed on  the binding (used the same fabric as the border) and tacked down the sleeve...it is officially finished! The binding is not my favorite part to do, so sometimes I procrastinate. (So I'm really proud of myself.)

I then got to work on this landscape wallhanging I started several years ago after a trip to Canada to see my sister. I found the pattern in a shop there and enjoyed learning how to do this type of applique. I hand quilted it, but was never sure if it was finished. You know the feeling? 

So it has been sitting here for a few years like that. In fact, last year I hung it by my sewing machine in hopes that I would be inspired to finish it. So today I got it down, chose  a binding (it is all of 17" x 24") and sewed it and a sleeve on. I then decided to do a little more quilting, but did it with invisible thread and my machine.

These are closeups of the handquilting.

You are probably sick of seeing the bargello, but here is the proof the binding is done. You will have to take my word for it that the sleeve is sewn down...

Back to the bargello

.

I spent all day sewing today. I finished the curvy bargello by adding the border.

I got the backs sewn together for it and the diamond quilt. This dropped out of the backing piece. She pounced on it and claimed it for her own.

 This is more like it.

Then I quilted the bargello. It went pretty fast as it really isn't that big (about 47" x 47"). I used a bright variegated thread and like how it blends in with the front.

You can see it better here.

From the back...I used this panto because it is looser and has lots of movement. With all the seams in it, I didn't want too tight a pattern. Anyone want to guess how many squares in this one?

I cut the binding and made a sleeve for it, so might actually get it finished! But not tonight...

Another helper and a top finished.

I got the Diamonds Forever quilt top done today, so have to think about getting a back and quilting it. I made it a little wider than the pattern, as it was only 57". So now it's almost square. I added a 2" border too because I was worried about it  stretching on the quilt frame without one. This isn't the best picture, hopefully will get a better one  after I quilt it.

It passed Gwennie's inspection.

Trying to lay out the diamonds!

I have entered the Pets on Quilts contest hosted by SewCalGal. I think I have many qualifications for winning this contest because I can't keep my pets OFF my quilts. I hope this  picture counts for the contest, since I am working on the quilt, but some of my best cat pictures are with quilts in progress. Plus she is just so happy in these pictures! (I did finish the quilt last week too.)
I have posted the link to the right, so feel free to go vote for your favorite pet on quilt photo. Mine is Jean's Page, #50 on the list.

 I had more help than I wanted or needed when trying to lay out the diamonds today.

At one point I had Mama and Smokey wrestling on it, but didn't take any pictures as I was too busy trying to get them off! Luckily by that point I had the blocks numbered!

She just kept rolling around...lol...I am sewing therows together now, before she decides to help again.

More diamonds

I have more diamonds finished and hope to get to the point of sewing some together later...still have some partially done to finish first. 

 I tried to lay them out nicely, but Mama Kitty insisted on helping. 
I'm also going out to find a border for the curvy bargello later....I want to get it finished.

Well, I think I got rid of the thingie that followed down the page, but now I have to do some more work on my blog to get it back to how I like it. Thanks for all the help!

Sewing today, too hot to do anything else!

Since we are reaching a record high heat index today, I will be working on my diamonds. This is what I got finished on Friday. I also have some more half bordered so they won't take long to finish to this stage. It's a lot of fussy cutting, but think the rest will go quickly.

Went to a baby shower yesterday for my nephew's girlfriend and baby. It was fun....she had a polka dotted cake, but I forgot my camera, so couldn't take a picture. She did get many cute baby girl things and is ready to have her! She is due Sept. 11.

Also, if anyone knows how to get rid of the Photobucket thingie that follows down the page, I would be grateful. I looked it up and think it is an mssmarttag, but haven't been able to get it off. Not sure how I picked it up, one day it was just there.

New Quilt! (& not so exciting house report too)

It is so much fun to start a new quilt, isn't it? I decided I have worked hard enough on my house this week, so I can sew today! I cut the fabrics this morning for the Kaffe Fassett pattern, Diamonds Forever, taken from the June/July issue of Quilt magazine. I have been collecting some of his large floral prints as well as others for awhile now and when I saw that pattern I decided this is why!

I've been cutting all morning, so am taking a break, then will start sewing. Looks like it will be fun and easy to make.

I scrubbed the cupboards the other day & put the new handles on  yesterday, so they look much nicer.

My daughter came over Wednesday and helped me tear out the carpet in the sunroom. That is where I have all my "stuff", computer, tv and sewing machine. It looks so much nicer too. We had taken out the carpet in the living room and dining room a long time ago, as we have hardwood floors and I hate carpet. Just never had gotten around to the sunroom. After cleaning it well, and applying several layers of Orange Glo, it looks pretty good.

House report over.

Retreat fun in Bedford IA

I had so much fun at our retreat at the Farmers Dotter Quilt Retreat in Bedford, IA over the weekend I'm not sure where to begin. Here we are, arriving and getting our things positioned for a weekend of sewing. Pat, Dianne, Diana, Cindy and Rose. In the center, by the cutting table, is Brenda, aka the Farmer's Dotter.

Kim arrived a little later, as she had to work Friday....but she was ready to sew when she got there.

We did a lot of sewing and the area was just right for sewing and talking. We wanted to do this retreat to catch up on projects, or just work on something fun. It is not the type of retreat where there are classes.  She has cutting and ironing areas set up for all to use. Pat finished her Garden Window Sampler as did Rose.

Cindy started a brand-new project when we arrived, using some jellyrolls she had purchased last year.

So it was fun to watch her progress.

Everyone finished at least one project except me. I worked on my curvy bargello. I have posted about it before.  I had 20 rows finished when I got there, and got 19 rows on during retreat. There are 43 rows all together.

So when I left this is what it looked like. I only had 4 rows left to do, and I finished them yesterday. So the center is finished. Now I have to decide what I will do next...borders? or not?

Back to the retreat...what was really nice, you can choose to be pampered, and we did. So Brenda cooked all our meals for us. As you can see, it was wonderful. She has been collecting antiques for 25 years, and has her house decorated with them. She also uses her pretty dishes and has many pretty tablerunners to use on the table. It was so nice to be able to sew and just get up and go eat. What a luxury and a great vacation!

We also visited the Quilt Coop quilt store near Clarinda on our way there, and stopped at Seams To Be Quilt Shoppe in Plattsmouth on our way home.

 This is the patio where we ate dessert every night. It was hot while there, but cooler at night, so pleasant to sit outside for a bit. We had a wonderful time....it was a great group of friends and a wonderful hostess who made us feel like we were in the home of a friend.