New WIP

I have a few new works in progress. Did I finish anything before I started these? Opps, I can't remember. Wait, I did finish the citrus colored quilt. That justifies starting three new projects doesn't it? I do have a nice 4 day weekend at home that I should be able to get some thing marked off my list. I took the remaining cat fabric and made small square pot holders. I still need to slip stitch the opening. And maybe add a little quilting to them.

Cut out the fabric for a pair of test oven mitts. Hopefully these will fit an adult not an elf. The stripped green is the lining.

And I picked up these fabrics yesterday at lunchtime. I think I still need one more fabric that is a white with red and black. Then I can start on my project.

Thanksgiving Flamingo

For some odd reason I thought this was funny.

Insul-Bright

I had to go do a little research on the Insul-Bright just to see if I was missing any other opportunities.


This is the list of project ideas they gave:

Pot Holders
Iron Cozy
Table Pads
Casserole Cozy
Oven Mitts
Insulated Soft Lunch Carriers
Baby Warmers
Ironing Board Covers
Water Heater
Cover Tea Cozy
Outdoor Stadium Cushions

They also gave a big warning that it is heat resistant, NOT heat proof.

Cats, No Dogs

We had to pick up David's truck from the shop yesterday afternoon, so I got off work early. It was nice not driving home in the dark for a change. I had extra time at the house to work on a few projects.

I joined a Christmas Stocking swap. My partner likes cats. This was an obvious choice for a Christmas stocking. I love the very non-traditional Christmas colors.

If anyone knows a five year old that likes to cook and likes cats just let me know.

With the left over fabric I decided to attempt a pattern that came on a package of Insul-Bright. First let me explain Insul-Bright. It is an insulated batting for home sewers, has a reflective layer that can be used for oven mitts, pot holder, caserole covers, etc. Of course the pattern directions said to enlarge but didn't say how big. So I didn't enlarge at all, big mistake. You must be 5 years old or younger to use this oven mitt. Back to the drawing board. Once I get the size bigger I think they will be a great project.

Power Company

My husband keeps the house freezing cold all year long. I have just learned to dress in layers around the house, complaining doesn't help. Although I do draw the line of wearing hat and gloves but have been known to have to do it on occasion. The dog is probably the only thing that has saved me from completely turning into an icecube. David can't stand to see the dog shiver. And it is actually pretty pitiful when she hops from rug to rug in the house so she doesn't have to touch the cold tile. Imagine how cold it really is when you are 6 inches off the ground. Anyway the power bill arrived over the weekend. David was livid. He swears the bill was double what it should be. Well he was right. The meter reader read it read it wrong. A whole 1000 kilowatts wrong. There is no way the second dial is a six. The power company is supposed to send someone back out today to read it again. We will see if that actually happens.

Projects Update

Busy weekend. Amazing I got as much done as I did between laundry, running errands and running kids around. I can't wait to have a four day weekend for Thanksgiving. I have even talked David into getting a smoked turkey from one of the local barbque places.

Can you tell what the red and green felt are turning into? I still have a few more stems to sew on and add the seeds.

Buttercup got a new little doggie toy made for her this weekend. I found the pattern for a Scottie dog online. It is a good size for her. She can carry it around so much easier than her other stuffed toys.

This quilt top got finished over the weekend. I wanted to work on a few other projects so I saved the quilting for next weekend.

And last but not least the citus quilt is finally done. All quilted and binding put on. I did have a little problem with the tension on the new machine but it seems to have turned out fine.

Mailbox Goodies

Busy week at the office. No time to do anything extra in my life. Good thing I had sent a bunch of swap packages early. I enjoy sending the swap packages but sometime it is also fun to receive. This box is from the pink and black handmade swap. And the box had all of this ribbon on the inside. Plus buttons and stickers.

One of the confetti swap packes showed up. I love the little high heel shoes in with the hearts.

Then last but certainly not least. A package of fabric charms (5x5 inch) came. There are almost 30 different but coordinated charms. They have a very retro look to them. I can't wait to come up with something special to use these. And maybe if I am real good Santa will let me pick out a few charm packs of my very own for Christmas.

So I haven't been very productive the past few days but my productivity the weeks before has paid off at the mailbox.

Smile for the Camera

Buttercup was all snuggled up in her blanket this morning but as soon as she saw the camera she smiled for her photo op. Silly little dog.

Another WIP

I completely forgot about my other work in progress with the red and green felt. It was also taunting me to work on it.

Have you figured out what they are yet?

WIP and Under the Weather

My works in progress are still in progress. I was feeling a bit under the weather over the weekend. Running a little temp on Sunday and can feel my ears and cheeks getting hot again today. If it wasn't payroll day I would be at home.

I was able to lay out the citrus quilt and get it ready for quilting. However I really need to buy a couple new spools of orange thread before I start. It is laying neatly over the back of a chair taunting me to start quilting it.

I got these all cut, just need to sew them when I feel like I have some energy.

And with the left over I did take a moment to sew up this tissue holder.

Love the ricrac Mom. It covered up the horrible thread tension on the new sewing machine.

Christmas Music

The local radio station was playing Christmas music on my drive to work today. Give me a break it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. I haven't bought the first Christmas present. No wonder by the time a holiday arrives I am tired of the holiday. Christmas music two weeks before Thanksgiving, there has got to be a law broken there somewhere. I may just have to listen to the satellite radio for the next two weeks and forget about trying to get the traffic report.

Red and Green Felt

Red and green felt. If you are thinking a Christmas project you would be wrong. Stay tuned to see what I used red and green felt to make.

Old Red Barn Quilt Give Away X3

Yes, you read that correctly, the Old Red Barn is giving away three quilts. Go to their blog and post a comment for a chance to win. Can't get much easier than that.

Fabric Choices

Too many decisions...
I think I am going to use the green to back the butterflies and stripes. And then use the orange to back the citrus colors. And then use the opposite color for the binding on each of the quilts. Hard to believe it is the middle of November with all these bright pretty colors.

Sewing With Abbie

Sewing with Abbie has a great quilt giveaway going on. I love the heart, how precious is that.

Check out this post to see more photos. Hurry you only have until Thursday at midnight to enter. I am so inspired by her creativity.

Spring Colors

Hard to believe it is fall with all these bright cheery spring time colors.

The disappearing nine patch in the fabulous citrus colors is done. Well it actually needs a little more fabric for the edge and then it can be quilted. Then I started on these gorgeous spring colors. I have 12 nine patches done. Hopefully I can cut them and make them disappear during the week. I wasn't sure how I would like a large scale print but it seems to be working.

Simplify Blog Giveaway

Check out Camille's blog she has a great quilt giveaway going on. She has many great patterns on her website at Thimbleblossoms.I love her style, I think this is my favorite of all her patterns.

Dogs and Cat Quilt Plus Dog

I finished the dog and cat quilt over the weekend. Even had a chance to get the binding put on. Someone decided if it was a dog and cat quilt it must have a real dog in the photo. Normally Buttercup doesn't get in my way when I try to take photos but she really thought this was all about her.

Monster Mania

My monster mania making day is over. Actually he didn't take too long to make. The black looks a little brown to me in the photo but he is a deep shinny black with hot pink and green accents. And he has a little one eyed friend.

He now just needs a name, a box to be mailed and he will be off to his new home.
And here is a side view of him, you get a better look at his tail.

Snowmen and Monster Fur

I have two of these snowmen panels. One is becoming a table runner. This one I decided to follow their directions and turn into a dish towel. It gave me the chance to use the decorative edging on the new sewing machine. It didn't turn out too awful. I would have throught it through and gotten the corners a little more aligned but it will do. You know how you buy a new cell phone with all those cool features but all you do is make phone calls. The new sewing machine is like that. It has all these really cool stitches that I will probably never use.

This is the fur for the monster. The black is very black if you can't tell. I am thinking a black monster with pink lips and eyebrows. I fondled all the fur in the store yesterday before picking this out because it has a great silky soft touch to it.

Buttercup

Some one had to get her nails trimmed yesterday. So not much else got done around the house. But Buttercup is happy all snuggly in her bed now. Notice how the two ears are just about the size of her entire head. Amazing how 5 pounds of dog can run an entire house.

Disappearing Nine Patch

It starts with a nine patch.

Cut into fourths, two of the pieces turned 180 degrees and comes out like this. It was actually simplier than I thought it would be.

I finished 12 nine patches last night. And from that have finished 4 of the disappearing. Hopefully I can cut and finish the other 8 disappearing tonight. Wow that is pretty simple.

Tangerine Charms

I was able to start sewing a few of the tangerine charms last night. The stripes and flowers coordinate very well together.

Kim came in and made stacks of three for me so I could sew a little faster. The plan is to try the disappearing 9 patch with these tangerine colored charms.

These are the other five inch charms I cut on Sunday. I will probably do something similar with them. I sure wish I had a few days at the house alone to work on some of my projects.

Weekend Update

The only thing I accomplished this weekend was getting caught up with an old friend. Mason and I went to middle Tennessee to visit a friend and her daughter that were there for a softball tournament. We had beautiful weather and even better company for Saturday. Great friends and great weather what more could I ask for?

I did get a little time last night to start cutting up the fabric I bought on craigslist for a quilt. Haven't quite decided on the quilt design. I think it will "speak" to me when I start sewing. At least I hope it does. I will post some progress on that this week.

And I joined a swap for a stuffed Monster. Yikes!! I have never made one before. Hopefully I can find some creativity and create a scary little friend.