Finished to flimsy/kitties!

I just finish up the top about an hour ago.  Woohoo there though I still need to seam the binding, that may wait till tomorrow.    I will wait to get the "beauty shot" minus the painters tape once I have it quilted.  It finished 37 inches square with the change in the inner border size.

Today's tip is how to make an even narrow border.  Varying thoughts attribute this to Joen Wolfrom and it did appear in Ricky Tims' Convergence book as well.  I have posted these two links before but no harm in repeating them.

passage in Google Books from Convergence

from the quilting boards  http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/narrow-borders-t170116.html    it has good step by step graphics.  Scroll down to the #6 post to the poster  going by the screen name of "ghostrider".  It works!!  She states it is better to get it even than worry about seam allowance.  My little bit of red finishes at 3/8 inch (cut it one inch)  Just enough of a bit of color without overwhelming the borders.

 I am beat!!  Not from sewing but dealing with the weeds and kudzu out on the bank.   Such a hot dirty job, whacking some of it back and spraying other parts.  I have already used up one gallon of Roundup but I do have another bottle for tomorrow's onslaught.   I'm afraid that Oscar got short shrift in the walking department today---just going out twice instead of 3 or 4 trips.  He is back in the house now and I'm heading in to keep him company soon.

Glynda called me over last evening as they had the babies out of the box and playing over by the beauty shop area.    These two were taking turns getting in and out of the planter.  Then one of them started climbing up the fire place screen right behind it.

Chasing each other.   These two are my favorites

We decided that the white one was a female after all.  Check its little bobbed tail and the hint of cream color there.   There is also a bit on the tips of her ears.   The calico is probably the feistiest of all of kitties.

The black male is the only one without extra toes.  He seems to be the most timid too.

Mama was calling the kids to come eat.

The black one was missing dinner, the calico was too busy playing.  The white one should have no fur left from all the grooming it was getting!    What fun watching them.  It will not be long and they will be jumping out of that box they are in so we talked about maybe containing them in one of the large dog kennels.  Glynda was washing it out tonight as I walked Oscar/

some progress

The stacks are getting smaller. I am making some progress (see photo below) but not quite there yet.    For one thing there is a lot of layers where the points of the Square in a Square and/or the little Economy Patches meet at the diamond tips.  Good thing I am not trying to sew this on the Brother as it balks at 4 layers in a seam allowance.  I'm using the trusty old Singer.  It may not be fancy or electronic, needle down, knee lift and all that jazz but it is heavy duty and sews well.

I have also found if I flop the little Economy patches over so I have the way the seam crosses over going the opposite direction and mash it down a bit with my stiletto it is sewing a bit easier.  I know that I am not explaining myself very well but my "theory" seems to be working.  In addition, I started out sewing with the foundation paper still in with the plan to sew right on the line printed on the paper.  That proved to be counterproductive as I can line it up far better at the point, and sew on the diamond side without slippery paper on the feed dogs.

Okay, maybe this shows what I mean a little better.  The red seam' s ridge is going to the right while the gray is pointing to the left.  That means that in spite of the difference in the angle the red seam will not be overlapping the gray seam, rather while they are still the same thickness the ridge is not right on top of the other one.   Make any more sense?? LOL

 This just shows the stab method for placing the pieces in alignment.  The angles are different for the diamond than the square in a square---like what?  45 degree angle for one and 30/150 for the other?

Line it all up and then pull the center pin to actually sew it----mash down the bulk at the center with the edge of the stiletto.

Finished seam---not too bad.  Even if I were a thread or two off and believe me, I am in a few spots I don't think it will be easy to spot.  I often say if you have your nose in there inspecting things that close,  you had better be the owner of the quilt or the person making it!

 I DO like the newsprint paper I am using and can recommend Blick's All Purpose Newsprint reams.  I used to use stuff from School Specialty but then they seemed to discontinue the 8 1/2 x 11 sheets.  Trimming down 9 x 12's made feeding through the printer a nightmare so I was happy to discover this source.   This removes fairly easily for the larger pieces but like any foundation piecing the tight spots usually require some fingernail scraping to get the smallest bits out.  My tip for the day, LOL.

So here we are across the hall on the "design wall".  I'm still considering how I want to use this wall----hang a rod up high and make like a flannel curtain or something I can roll up?  Build a frame?   I don't want to make any more holes in the wall or damage them in such a manner that I'll have to spackle and paint.   I want to get the curtain replaced that will match the new dust ruffle first though.  Thoughts for another day there.

Anyway, I got sidetracked a bit.  The top row is completed.  You can see the center star taking shape and determine just where this is going anyway.  It resembles the EQ sketch in one of my recent posts if you page back.  The gray batik is subtle but it does show up.

I plan on a narrow bit of the red as the first border, maybe a flap of it rather than an actual border.  Or if I can remember what I did for sewing a narrow border from a previous project I'll try that.   What I cannot decide to this point is which of the colors for the outer border.  I am leaning toward the medium aqua/teal shade that you see in the half square triangles of the Economy Patches and then use the darkest print for the binding.  Initially I thought the lighter shade in the diamonds but I think that might be TOO light though I believe I have enough of that batik piece to do it having bought a yard of it.

Got an opinion you want to share??  I do hope to get this completed tomorrow as I need to get it quilted and sent on to my niece within the next week.  You know how pokey I am with binding!! A baby shower is planned for Kristine in early June and I would hope that this would be there in time for that.  I don't have time to dawdle either as the Picnic Hop looms.

I've got a date with the Kudzu tomorrow with Roundup at the ready though I need to get the pumper ready.  That stuff can grow so fast and we have some hot, hot 90's on the way by Wednesday or Thursday though dry.  I might cut some of the green shoots for a wreath idea I have but the rest is getting dealt with.... and soon.  I already cut a bit out of the holly bush at the end of the lane and I sure don't want it scurrying across the yard and messing with the lawn mower. 

Okay, break over and Oscar will be howling if I don't get the food bowl out to him soon!  Skyler could care less as he is conked out in the perch in the master bedroom.   I have not seen the kitties today but Saturday Miss Kathryn called me over as she had had the babies out of the tall sided box they were in and on the porch of her mobile home.  One of them, the little orange tabby, wandered off and he moved so fast she could not catch him.  Down he went under the ramp and back where she could not reach him.   She had to leave and no one else was at home on the compound to watch out for the baby.  Between Mamacita and myself I finally nabbed the little booger.  Sharp, sharp claws and squirmy!!!!  Still, they are all so darned cute. 

Kitties!

2 posts in one day.  Since this mornings before lunch post, I have managed to dust and clean the kitchen and utility room floors and vacuumed the whole house.  After lunch, I loaded Oscar up in the car and we walked two laps in the city park.  He hates the carrier but he loves the park so I get two miles worth of whining all the in and back.

I started up the laundry.  Then I decided to vacuum out the car and wash it.  This was a little problematic in that I cannot find what he did with the fleece mitt thing or the chamois cloth.  In addition I could not hook the hose up in the back of the house and for some unknown reason he had discarded the hose reel.  I drug I don't know how many feet of hose to the front faucet and pretty much flooded the carport so I had to sweep up the carport again as there is a low spot that holds water.  The car looks good though.

In the meantime Glynda came over my cat carrier as Mamacita had finally brought out one of her babies, an all black one with blue eyes.    The German Shepherd dog that belongs to their son stays out during the day time in an outdoor pen and was barking up a storm at the baby kitty and Glynda had gone to inspect.  Apparently they had either been under Miss Kathryn's mobile home that whole time or she had moved them to that spot.  We removed a section of underpinning to try to find the others if there were any.  Mamacita was coaxed into bringing them out but she chose the location.  There were 4 babies, born on April 12th, making them 5 weeks old tomorrow.  She is a 5 toed green eyed calico.

And here are the babies.   The white and black ones appear to have blue eyes.  All but one of them have 5 toes.   Glynda thought that three of them are male and the little gray/tan mix was female.

All together now----awwwwww.  I doubt that I can have one or two of them, not with an adult cat who is already a bit miffed with me about the dog.  One of their daughter-in-laws is highly allergic to cats so they can't have one, indoors anyway.  But aren't they adorable?

I don't think that sewing is going to be on tap today.  I am beat from wrestling with the hose and my back is tired from the sweeping and vacuuming.  I already got more done around the house than I planned so it is a trade off.  I can play on the machine tomorrow.

busy week

So far this week has seemed like I have been gone more than home. 6 month check ups for both the medical doctor and the ophthalmologist and there goes the morning.  Tuesday was Bama Belles day. May is always a busy time for folks with Mother's Day weekend and graduations. One gal was even off to an out of state wedding, another off on a trip to the Caribbean.   4 of us showed up.

Lois got 3 more tops pinned, two were from the recent Lickety Split Log Cabin class at JOY group taught by Jean Ann Wright and using her specialty ruler.  She ended up with two donation tops but I don't know if that was her original plan.  She had wanted a medallion type set and that requires an even number of blocks.  She may have had 35 made up and just did 13 more to make 2-24 block sets in the end.  I was busy sewing so Bev and Jane were helping with the pinning.  No pic taken.  We went out for a light lunch and then went on our way. 

 Of course, the next time we meet is right after Memorial Day weekend.  I asked if we should even bother but they said they were available and would be coming.  Like any other meeting,  whoever wants to be there, will.  The door is open. 

Here is the re-colored version of the Storm at Seas wall hanging, sort of what I am shooting for with the fabrics I have purchased to make it based on the paint colors that I know were used in the nursery.  For a closeup view of some of those fabrics, see THIS POST.   My mom was describing the space for me the other day as they had been invited to my niece's home for a Mother's Day cookout this past Saturday.   The red tones will be fine as Grandpa R has incorporated a lighthouse with red in it.  The lighter aquas, greens and grays I am using need a bit of pop and I like how this star at center will be accentuated.

You can see how the actual Square in a Square blocks of the quilt turned out.  Subtly colored really.    The rest is just pieced diamond sashing and Economy Patch cornerstones.  That's what is piled up in the tray there.  I've got those all trimmed since I am foundation piecing.  The next sections are pinned in place and ready to feed through the machine.  The diamond parts will be completed once they are given a final trim.  The smaller cornerstones will need one more round.

I cannot quite decide which print I need but I am leaning towards the lighter aqua print rather than the same fabric as what I used in the diamonds.  Look at the lower right hand corner of the tray.  The half square triangles flank what I used for the center square of the Economy Patch.  It is also the fabric that I used as the dark around the soft green batik in the Square in the Square.   The darker print, the one used in the diamond area MIGHT be the outer border.  I wanted to see the center laid out before I made the decision.  All in all, I hope to have the top together by Saturday evening.  That is my goal.

But first I have a bit of housework to do.  Two days of rain and tracking bits of grass in again does not do the floors any favors.  I've already swept up the debris catching area near the carport door.  The dishes are put away, dishwasher reloaded.  Today's meals are covered.  Should start the laundry.  Should do a lot of things---wash and vacuum out the car.  Cut down whatever that is growing under the crepe myrtle bush.  And while I am at it, what is that mess under the Rose of Sharon bush anyway???  When we finally get some days without rain in the forecast, I really need to spray Roundup on the kudzu as it is rearing its troublesome head.  I am getting just like DJ and cannot go outside without seeing something that needs done.  UGH!    It is days like these that I am reminded what a good helpmate he was.  All the things he did that were seen and unseen, done like magic.  Now to summon the desire and energy to get out of this chair and grab a broom.

I AM sewing but it may not start till after lunch at this rate.  Maybe one of these days I can actually post a finished to flimsy. 

treasure hunt

My niece and her husband had chosen a Northeastern nautical theme for their expected child's nursery.  When I was back in IL in February we talked about my making a small wall hanging for the room and then I would make a quilt for the baby to drag around.  I picked Storm at Sea.  At the time I purchased fabrics that would be similar in coloration to my EQ sketch.  Then I found out that the paint colors are actually a gray, dark grayed green, aqua/teal and a aqua teal pale tint.  I may use the blues and reds anyway in the drag around quilt and if not for this baby then for another child, even as a donation quilt.

Anyway, I bought fabrics when I was at the Pigeon Forge quilt show recently.  Looking at my sketch is just throwing me off as I need to be thinking aquas/teals.  I think I still need a shade darker than what I had bought.  To that end, I went on a treasure hunt in the bedroom fabric storage.

The bin on the foot locker is the one I was primarily looking for with the leftovers from the PopStix quilt.   I know that most of my teal/aqua prints are in there, some that I had collected at each trip to the Quiltmaker Workshop in Trussville, long closed.   The other 5  containers, 4 small and one large on the bed were moved just so I could get at the bin I  REALLY wanted.

These are the ones still remain on the shelf but I took the opportunity to at least label the contents a bit better.  Oh, I will still have to move everything on the shelf to get at it but now I know where the stuff is!

Right hand side of center of the top shelf of my clothes closet.

Left hand side of center of the top shelf of my clothes closet.

Really it is good thing I did this as I would have had to dig around to find the stuff I need to make another tree skirt.  My niece Amber and Greg will be getting one as a wedding present from me.  The blues kit that I had originally purchased from Connecting Threads will be perfect for them.  We discussed this when I saw her in February.   I put THAT tote smack dab in the middle of the top shelf.

These were the last two I needed to drag out and label.  Turns out one is that ancient "I spy" UFO and the other is some fabric pairings, donation fabric that does sorta kinda go together.

I was already hot from walking Oscar in the damp, dripping wet that we are having today.  Yesterday we got about 2 inches of rain in about a hour and my front yard looked like a lake along the lane.  Since them it had more or less just been dripping and drizzling, humid as all get out though two good downpours have brought us up to another inch for the day.  I just checked the gauge.

Even though Oscar's dog house is turned to face the back door and is tucked up under the eaves so it should not blow in from that direction if it is pouring hard or lightning, I put up the gate and bring him in.  Problem is, when I open the back door for him to back OUT he looks at me with those sad eyes like "what did I do wrong to have to go back out there?  I'm a good dog"  He has a point, LOL.  We don't have the concept of going out for potties down yet but he has not peed on the floor ---just twice and not since.   Normally he is in for the night around 6-6:30 so I know he will be going back out for a little while anyway and we'll go walk again, once or twice.  

Well, I have cooled down a bit with two fans blowing and a big glass of iced tea.  The a/c is on but the outside temps are cool enough that it is not setting it off.  I admit to cranking it down to about 72 for about 5 minutes till I got over the worst of the sweating.  The shower is going to be most welcome once I am done with the outside trips for the day.

I've got the foundation pieces already printed and stayed home from guild today to sew or at least get organized TO sew.  Between that and the uncertain weather the north end of Calhoun County was not represented at guild today.  Now, to go play with the fabric since it is unearthed, make some design decisions.

Happy Mother's Day, y'all--------

a little output

I have managed to get a little bit of sewing done the past few days.  Actually I had finished prepping the 3rd side of the dust ruffle yesterday afternoon.  Then I sort of basted it together with some Elmer's glue and hot iron since I was planning on doing the joining seams on the serger.  It might be a little tedious but it does help you avoid those pesky pins and messing up the machine.   I finished up the evening by doing that big long seam and called it a night.  Only one busted needle to replace and of course it was on the curved corner where I had the most bulk and the tougher negotiation of seam.  You may notice some bunching in the pictures below but I think the bedding will disguise all that.

Today I had some grocery/incidental shopping to do and when I got home, some binge cooking.  Between dog walks and other household tasks it was mid afternoon before I pressed the seam and held my breath while I tried it on the bed frame.  I am a bit math challenged and at one point took off fabric that was needed on that third side and then had to sew it back on.  You can see why I might have been a little leery if I had calculated in the seam allowances correctly.  I COULD have gone just a bit deeper on the serger seam allowances as it turned out.  Mainly I wanted it to finish at about 14.5 inches or a hair less.  (I had no pattern and was just trying to replicate, in a longer length what used to be on the bed till the new bed frame was obtained.)

I was able to drag the mattress off by myself knowing that I could run up the lane and ask for someone to lend a hand if need be.  Instead the help I got was of the furry variety.  I should put quotes around the word "help", LOL.   He would not budge.  Move him, you say?  I have a cat who will bite/nip more than my dog would even think about.  Pick your battles.  He'll move and I can wait him out.

Okay, so you won't move, Skyler?  How about I take the valence down as I am going to need it for a template to re-make something to match the dust ruffle?  Well, that did not work out either.   I  put up an old topper from one of my old apartments but it looks awful with the dark blue mini blinds in there, only a temporary measure.   I ordered a tad more fabric to finish this part up with a lighter blue print for the backing.  This one has a navy blue ticking on the back and served DJ well over the years.   With the heavier cloth, it also drapes a bit better than the one I made for the space above the kitchen sink.

I got this far in replacing it.   Look who came back?  Nosy, nosy boy.   I got the mattress back on again but that is as far as the bed making went.  He likes to "help" with that too.

Then there was a knock on the door.  Michael was coming over to mow and weed whack the back yard and side yard.  Oscar needed to come in for a while to avoid getting in the way or sprayed with bits of grass.  What a cutie, huh?   I wish I could get a picture of him when he is standing up looking at me through the fence outside.  I swear he looks like he is smiling, and the ears are flared out like he could use them to fly, LOL.

I guess tomorrow I will aspire to finish making that bed, start some laundry and maybe get started on Baby R's Storm at Sea wall hanging for the nursery wall.   Her mama has a baby shower coming up in early June and I will have to get it quilted up and mailed in time for the event.  The picnic piece has a little more leeway and my piecing plan is a fairly straight forward on that one.  It is possible that I will not even get to the guild challenge piece in time but I still want to make the quilt at some point.  I have a Prairie Stroll one to turn in for donation as my one guild required quilt so no biggie.

And sew it goes around here--------it isn't much but then again this year, it would not take much to do anything sewing related.
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5/8 UPDATE:  Snoopy kitty does not learn one darned thing.  I fed Skyler first this morning just like I always do.   He is more vocal about this while Oscar is either still sleeping or just quietly watching the proceedings.  I put the gate up.  Oscar is let loose minus the leash just in case he needs to do his business.  I take the water out first and come back in to get his food bowl but he follows me back in.  Of course, Skyler is in the kitchen.  He froze like a deer in the headlights and then got chased around the table a  couple times before he finally flew over the fence with me grabbing Oscar by the collar, just in case.  Snarl, hiss, bark and claws skittering.   I don't think he would attack Skyler but I am not willing to take that risk.   I think he only chases cats when then run in the first place as he will walk right by Mamacita when I have him on the leash.  Skyler, you silly silly boy are going to give your kitty mama even more gray hair!!

cats vs dogs

You know, I should really consider changing the name of my blog.  I am tending two cats and now a dog, after all.  I'll be honest and say that I am more a cat person than a dog person.  I like dogs, not as much as cats but I have welcomed Oscar into my home and will do my best to take good care of him.  We are still getting to know each other.  The two in combination crack me up.  

Skyler is so nosy to the point of risk sneaking up on Oscar in the open crate last night to see what he was gnawing on (a small rawhide bone).  I had gotten the baby gate to keep Oscar out of the living room but what I had not counted on was Skyler going around or over it.  Twice last night I stopped him from getting any closer to the dog.  The third?  I did not see him in time and Oscar finally did, barked and chased him out of the room.  BUT did that stop him?  NO, he did not learn his lesson---at all.  

Oscar meanwhile does not want to go OUT necessarily.  I can stand and hold the back door open and he won't budge.  However, if I get the leash and maybe his food bowl, he will go out the car port side happily.  He has piddled on the floor a couple of times even after walking and being out in the backyard for hours.  Those sad eyes when he is scolded.  "did you do that?"  and he looks like he has been whipped or something.

This morning at 6 when Skyler insisted for over a half an hour that I get up and feed him.  Oscar is buried so far under his towel cover that it looks like he is not even in there.  He did not budge through feeding the cat, my fixing and eating breakfast either.  Not until I went to open the gate did he even stir.  Food and a walk and he is back outside for most of the day.

At the same time, Skyler wants to run and play, wrapping himself completely around his scratching pole and digging in with those back legs.

If I were the one trying to sleep, I think I would want to be more like Oscar and drop like a rock and stay asleep till at least 7.  BUT you know who wouldn't hear of that!

When Oscar and I started out for the walk, Mamacita spotted us and I had to stop and feed her too.  It was a little early and I had not spotted her on my earlier outside trips.  She is getting a little bolder now and has twice walked into the house when I was trying to get back in the door for her food and holding Skyler back.  She has even been in the beauty shop when I went across the lane to get my hair cut earlier in the week!  Still no sign of the baby kittens, born on April 12 so they would not be weaned at 3 weeks.  I don't really mind as long as she and Skyler don't get in a hissing, fighting fit.  He just wanted to sniff and she just wants to get back outside to eat, LOL as that was why she came running when she saw me, after all.

I have had a dog before, back when I was in nursing school with my 4 housemates.  I forget just where she came from but we named her Abner---we watched a lot of Bewitched re-runs back in the early 70's and you remember how nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz used to call her husband "Abner, Abner".  Then came summer break between between junior and senior year and one of us had to take her.  My folks said she could come home with me but she had to be outside.  My brother Steve built her a dog house.  Then graduation came----could not have a dog and my family got custody.  I think my sister Janet was her favorite, after me.

We thought she was some sort of terrier but she really was no bigger than Oscar is.  These were taken when she came down to visit for the day with one of the kids.  The three younger kids would take turns coming to spend the day with me and we would fix whatever food they wanted, go out the mall on the bus, to the park or a movie or whatever.  I have pictures of Janet and I making fondue that were probably taken along with these pictures of Abner.  Phil was thrilled to make tacos as it was not something we had at home at that time.  It was not all that long after this that Diane lived with me for a time while she was attending the same school of nursing.  I loved this little apartment though I did not like the guy who later became the landlord.

This was back in 75 so the fabrics are really dated, LOL.  In the upper left, that was the flowered spread that I had used throughout nursing school in the dorm and house we shared but continued to use until I got a full sized bed. the same one I have today.   I still have and use the granny square afghan as my mom made it for me. I don't have a clue where the other one ended up that I have my head on watching TV with the dog.    In the lower right picture the dog is looking at Vernon the parakeet.  Birds were okay, I guess or I had one anyway for a short time anyway.

A little trip down memory lane, LOL.  In the here and now, since I was up plenty early as I said I have already been busy with the critters, breakfast detail and such.  I also swept up the grass clippings from the car port to try to cut down on the stuff I track in. (Robert mowed on Thursday Then I swept up the kitchen and laundry room, dusted in the living room and vacuumed the entire house.  I sat down to write this post just to cool down a bit!  The dishwasher has been run but needs to be unloaded/reloaded and a basket full of laundry awaits.  I'll save the bathroom cleanup for another day. 

 No sewing---maybe I will feel like it today?  What I need to work on has not changed but I do know now when my assigned day will be for the picnic hop so I have a little leeway but still, it would not be good to procrastinate too long when I have other things to work on too.  If I can only find some energy to get my rear end off this chair.

I hope you are having as lovely a day as we are here---got to love the low humidity and cooler mornings though I hear 80's are coming back in a day or two.   I like it how it is right now!