3 Finishes!!!

See what happens when my machine actually works??  Check these puppies out:

First up, three of my four Quilts for Kids:

That's (top to bottom) "The Robots Win", "Treasure Everywhere", and "Ninjas Kick Butt!"

The label close up of "The Robots Win".

Notice the top border?  I was using the backing as border fabric, got done with 3 sides, then realized there was not even close to enough to finish out the quilt...I was about 6 inches shy!  Fortunately, I had what you see of the green stuff from "Treasure Everywhere", so I ripped out everything back around to the top, added the green as the top border, continued along, and now I have about 18 inches of the red stuff left.  Oh well, you can't win them all.  :-)  I'm saving all my scraps from these to make some kind of "Scraps for Kids" quilt once I've got enough.  The mini pinwheel will definitely be part of it.

"Treasure Everywhere"

Label closeup for "Treasure Everywhere".  I think the picture above this is more representative of the actual colors in this. 

I always scoffed at my mom when she said "make sure you change your needle every time you hit a pin."  I was like "pshaw, who hits pins??"  I do, that's who.  Wowee.  This sucker snapped off, hit me in the cheek (I feel like I should be wearing safety goggles!), and landed on the quilt.  I had a heck of a time getting the basting pin off.  Can you see the hole the needle punched in it??  Yikes.  Needless to say, I changed my needle. 

Scariest part to me...washing everything.  I put it on the meanest cycle (hot/cold, longest wash) to make sure they could all take it.  They came out fine (see first picture).  Even the waves held up...phew!

Of course, Grisgris was helpful, as ever. 

And now...are you ready for this? 

Presenting, for the first time...ABBY'S ROAD!!!  

He was so much cuter on there like 5 seconds before, but the batteries died in my camera and MOTU was asleep so I couldn't ask where he'd put the spares.  Oh well, you get the idea.  He likes it, so it must be ok, right?  :-)

Here it is, folded with a glimpse of the backing fabric.  The whole thing feels so much friendlier now that it's washed.  This one, too, survived the wash (I held my breath all night lol).

And finally, the finished pile.  I'll be shipping everything either today or tomorrow, depending on how nasty the weather is...so far it's looking like it's gonna be tomorrow (it's pouring and in the mid-30's...blech).  That might change if I get cabin-crazy though lol.

fnsi #2

he steals my spot every time I get up. don't let the comfy pose fool you, he barely got up there because I barely left.

fnsi#3

my attempt at creating a kitty corner

fnsi#4

he left and sulked on my bed for a while then wandered back in a while later

fnsi#12

playing the "stuff on my kitty" game

Pics from Yesterday's Exploits

Nick walked into my sewing room a few minutes ago, took a look around (I expanded my doodle wall a bit) and said "You're so OCD, I love it."  I was confused, but then realized he meant ADD.  That I can't argue with.  Here's the day's rundown: 

Mai's quilt, a quick update.  I did a total of 5 blocks today, and that was enough to mull on.  I'm not sure where I'm going with it, but I have high hopes.  We'll see. 

Soaking the squares for Alishia's quilt so I could take the paper off.  This was the bulk of the day, and it took FOREVER to get done.  My fingers were pruney, but...

Eventually it started coming together. 

A quick close up of Mai's squares, rearranged a bit. 

Some of the paper I took off of Alishia's blocks. 

Taadaa!  All the blocks I have done for Alishia's quilt so far. 

And finally, my two favorite boys, in eerily similar positions. I love these boys.  One of them needs some teeth pulled though...unfortunately, not the human one.  :-(  

Anyways, I hope everyone had a great weekend!  

Picture Update!

Finally, some pictures!  

The weekend's spoils:

This took less time than you'd think to iron and fold.  It's also bigger than it looks in the picture...this heap filled my hamper to the top and then some.  :-)

Now, the I Spy quilt for SAPD c/o Project Linus.

Starting the I Spy quilt:

More I Spy:

More I Spy:

 

The kitty spies (don't worry, I'll be washing this before I send it in...incidentally, if anyone has recommendations for what laundry detergent works best on pet allergens, I'm all ears):

 

The front done:

 I am TOTALLY in love with the blue stuff I used between blocks...it's a batik from the remnants bin.  God, I love the remnants bin!  :-D

With batting and backing:

 The backing is a blue flannel with tugboats and lighthouses.  <3

Also for SAPD, here's the fleece rag blanket:

 The top three rows are sewn together.  The bottom 5 aren't yet. The pink edging is the same stuff I used for my mom's quilt.  :-)

After a 3-day binge of daily Joann's visits (three different stores I might add), my closet looks like this:

Don't judge. :-D

So that's the wrap up for now. I'm taking a break from doing the binding on the I Spy quilt. I'm about halfway done...this is only the second binding I've done by hand (I did my mom's all by machine...epic fail), and already I feel way more comfortable about it.  I'm hoping I can get it done tonight so I can have something to show tomorrow night (maybe) at my first ever Quilters' Guild meeting...I won't be able to be a member, since membership is limited to 50 and this particular one is already full, but I really want to go make friends.


Oh!  Speaking of friends, I totally gave advice at Joann's today!  This girl was asking about batting, and she was making her first quilt.  I was so excited for her (she was about my age), I wanted to hug her and tell her to come be my friend lol.


And on that note, I'm off to finish this binding.  Night all!

my number one fan

he never lays like this on my regular comforter. I mustve done something right :)

plaid rag in one piece

it's all sewn together! it's super heavy and so warm...I'm sleeping under it tonight and saving some oil money. :) still need to slip it and wash it, but it'll do for now!

good company

as usual, he's helpin me

right there

oh what, this isn't for me?

do i have something on my butt?

nick somehow got him tangled up in crepe paper.

not an action shot

he just laid like that for a while

he loves flannel...

have I mentioned that? I'm a big fan of that fabric too. I got extra of it. :)

al borlen would be proud...

...I'm working on the rag quilt I'm making for nick's couch. I have I think 9 or 10 flavors of plaid here, all of which I just can't wait to wrap up in. I'm cutting them into 12x10 inch squares and then I'll count how many I have to see how big it'll be

always...

...that's the piece I just cut out. like 5 minutes ago. sigh. at least he's upstairs.

more pants

he LOVES flannel :)

impending doom

I think he thinks its a runway...

final frontal stiching

just 2 more borders to go!

The end of an era

No more triangles, squares, parallelograms, or funky fabrics.  That's right, folks, the middle section is all cut out and, mostly, sewn!  It's still in a few major chunks, but it looks like it's supposed to!

 

First, here are all the rest of the pieces cut out.  That bottom left (ok, top left in this picture) square was the last piece to be cut.  It took me a few minutes to decide what fabric should get that honor, so I went with one I haven't used as much.  Man, I have a lot of fabric left over.  

Drum roll please.....

......

......

......

 

Here it is!!!!!!  I can't believe it's already at this point!!  If I had some spare time, I might even be able to get this done for your birthday...but then I wouldn't be able to see you open it, so it's SO worth it to make this a Christmas gift.  

Anyway, I digress.  

The chunks are the same as the last post, plus a few more between the thumb and forefinger.  I am TERRIFIED to start sewing this all into one big chunk...I need to work from the center out to get it done right.  I'm still debating embroidering the middle two fingers, too...they look great in the picture and they actually look pretty ok in person, but I'm not sure.  I guess the doubt should say something...I'll let them be.  

It's 10 pm on a Saturday, Nick's in Boston having a business meeting all night, so I'm gonna keep going.  

I'm so psyched it's coming along!!!!  I want to call you SO BAD!!!!!!! :-)