What's up 'Doc'?

Another last minute Schnibbles finish.  Less than 30 minutes to go on this one.  I couldn't have cut it much closer.  In fact, I really questioned whether I could finish or not.  But being so close, I decided to try hard and I'm glad I did!

May's Schnibbles Quilt 'Doc' - aka 'Candy Shop'

Sherri's and Sinta's selection for May's Another Year of Schnibbles was Doc.  (Be sure to check out the parade of Doc quilts they'll have on their blogs starting June 1st!)  I was looking forward to making this quilt because I've never made a card trick block before.  I picked a couple of Chutes and Ladders Charm Packs and a Bella Solid from my stash to make it at the beginning of the month.

May's Schnibbles Pattern and Fabrics

However, that's kind of where I got stuck.  I've been so busy on other projects that I didn't even start this quilt until a few days ago.  I started by making a bunch of half-square triangles and then cutting them down.  Then I paired up the rest of my fabrics for the card trick blocks...

This is one of those quilts where you have to make the blocks one at a time.  Otherwise, it's simply too confusing.  So I'd lay out one block at a time and sew the individual units together...

All the pieces for a single Card Trick block

Slowly, I made progress.  And by the time I went to bed last night, I had 8 of the 9 blocks made.

Results as of bedtime last night

I thought I'd have plenty of time to finish the quilt today, but I always underestimate how long it takes to add sashing and borders.  You'd think I'd learn after all these years, but I still continue to do it.  So here it is, a few minutes before midnight and I'm furiously trying to finish this post and send off my pictures.  Maybe next month will be different?

I'm renaming this one 'Candy Shop' because the fabrics remind me of chocolate and other bits of candy.  It's going to be another donation quilt.  Although it's 42" square, I'm tossing around the idea of adding another border to make it bigger for a child.  I'll have to see what I have in my stash.

David was a big 'help' tonight as I was trying to finish this.  He alternated between lying on top of the quilt and in front of my sewing machine.  And as I'm typing this, he's lying in my lap in front of the keyboard.  He's another one of my big helpers.

Until later...

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 

1 John 3:18 (NLT)

E is for Elf...

and F is for Fir.  I've now finished the 5th block for the Snowmen A to ZZZZ quilt.  This was one of several double size ones.

Before starting a block, I always look at it to see what I think the most time consuming part will be and that's what I start with.  Is anyone else like that?  On this block, I thought it was going to be the elf and that the fir would go pretty quickly.  I was wrong!

E is for Elf

Although the branch was pretty mindless stitching, it took such a long time!  Back and forth, back and forth. Ughh.  I began to wonder if I would ever finish with it.  But I did!

F is for Fir

Now I really have to put this aside and work on a few other things.  I've got a binding to hand sew down and then I've got to start appliqueing some bats.  Hopefully it won't be too long before I get back to these though.  For the most part, I find the embroidery to be very relaxing (just not these branches).

I've been spending a little more time in my sewing room lately and Sam has been keeping me company.  Here she is getting cozy with my sewing machine...

Sam rubbing on my sewing machine

Until later...

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. 

1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NLT)

Gabriel Jr...

I love where we live.  Every so often, Mr. Quilting Bug tries to convince me that we should move, but I really don't think we could find a better place to live.  The other night was a perfect example of this.

First some background.  We celebrate May 8th as Gabriel's birthday.  It's really the anniversary of the day I found her by the side of the road.  The vet thought she was around a year old, so we adopted it as her official birthday.

Gabriel and her ball

On the evening of this birthday, Mr. Quilting Bug and I were outside on the deck with Gabriel.  We had been playing a little bit of ball with her, but were mostly just sitting and talking.  He suddenly noticed something going underneath our deck (we're pretty high off the ground) and thought it was a deer.  We're quite used to seeing a dozen or so deer in the yard each night, but this was unusual.  When we went down to check it out, we saw a deer in the process of giving birth!  I have never seen anything so amazing (and a little bit gross at the same time).

We didn't want to upset her, so we took Gabriel and went back inside.  Unfortunately, when we looked for them later, they were gone.  We prayed she had a safe delivery, but didn't see either mother or baby around. However, in honor of the baby being born on Gabriel's 'birthday', we named it Gabriel Jr.

Fast forward 10 days later when I was lying down with a bad headache.  The exact moment that I got up, I saw the tiniest baby deer enter our yard and lay down in front of our bedroom window.  There's no doubt that it's Gabriel Jr.  S/he stayed for about half an hour before leaving.  I'm sure mom was close by, but I didn't want to go outside and scare either of them.  This isn't the greatest picture as I had to take it from inside the house.  To give you an idea of proportion, this deer is about the size of my 22lb cat, but with much longer legs.

Gabriel Jr - 10 days old

I haven't seen either of them since, but I was glad to see that the baby was healthy.  I just love where we live!

Until later...

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 

Matthew 5:8 (NLT)

Stash Report Weeks #14-20

April 1st - May 19th, 2012

I figure it's about time I do one of these, before I completely lose track of what's been coming in or going out.  Not that it's a lot, but still some movement has been happening.

I have a number of projects I've been working on lately - a soldier mystery quilt, May's Schnibbles quilt, a secret Christmas present, quilting a quilt for my brother-in-law and working on the quilt for my Grandpa (as well as a few others).  All of them are seeing progress, but I can't count the fabric from these just yet.  About the only project I can count is the April Schnibbles Quilt, Feathered Friends.  I used 4 yards for the quilt top and for the pieced backing.

Feathered Friends Quilt Top

I've made a couple of additions in the last 6 weeks as well.  I bought 1.25 yards of Luna Notte fabric which I then used in the Feathered Friends top and backing.  I also purchased this Coconut Bali Pop for use in the secret Christmas project.  That's a total of 4 yards purchased.

Coconut Bali Pop

I didn't plan it, but isn't it nice when what comes in perfectly matches what gets used?  I really do have some fabric I need to purchase this week though - another Coconut Bali Pop plus the border and backing fabric for my Grandpa's quilt.  Hopefully I can find some good deals on them.

So...
Purchased-this-week: 4 yards
Used-this-week: 4 yards
Purchased-to-date: 19 yards
Used-to-date: 30 yards
Net used: 11 yards

Until later...

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. 

Luke 6:31 (NLT)

Sew-in results...

This past Wednesday, my quilt bee came over for an all day sew in.  Everyone brought their machines and worked on their own projects.  I started sewing the blocks for a quilt for my Grandpa.  I started with this Berry Bliss Bali Pop.

Berry Bliss Bali Pop

This is such an easy quilt to make that in just over 4 hours, I managed to make all 40 blocks for the quilt center.

20 light, 20 dark blocks for the quilt center

After another hour or so today, I laid out the blocks and sewed them together.  There are very few seams to match up, so everything goes together lickety split.

Rows laid out and ready to be sewn together

Hopefully tomorrow I can sew the rows together and have the center completed.  Before adding the borders, I want to applique my Grandpa's name and DOB on them.  He's living in a nursing home right now and I've been warned about problems with theft.  I'm hoping that having his name prominently displayed might dissuade someone from walking off with it, but I know that it's still a possibility.  My Grandpa is also suffering from dementia and could end up just giving it away.  He has a tendency to do that.  But I'm making this quilt for him, knowing all those things could happen and I'm OK with that.  I just want him to know that I love him and was thinking of him when I made it.  And to be honest, it's also why I chose a simpler pattern (although one I still really enjoy making).

Our animals are a mixed bag when it comes to company coming over.  A couple of the cats will hide away until the last guest leaves, while Jack and Sam love to interact with them.  On Wednesday, Sam made herself at home in the middle of Susan's sewing.  Fortunately, Susan has several furbabies of her own (including her own Sam) and didn't mind the intrusion.

Sam lying on Susan's sewing stuff

I think we all had a fun and productive day!

Until later...

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. 

John 13:35 (NLT)

An update...

Still crazy busy around here.  I think it's just the new normal.  As a result, some things have fallen by the wayside and obviously blogging is one of them.  Here's just a quick post as to a few of the things going on...

I picked out my fabrics for May's Another Year of Schnibbles, but haven't started sewing yet.  I have decided this will be another donation quilt though.

My big sewing accomplishment has been to finally assemble my Baltimore Halloween quilt.  I spent 3 years hand appliqueing these blocks.  All that's left is to applique 20 bats in the borders (and of course to quilt it) before Halloween.  Unfortunately, I ran out of fabric and it's on back order.  Hopefully it'll come in early next week.

Baltimore Halloween by P3 Designs

My mom and I also got started on a quilt for my Grandpa who recently turned 89.  However, we ran into some issues and I've decided to make a different quilt altogether.  I'm using this Bali Pop and one of my go to patterns.  In fact, I'm hosting my quilt bee for a sewing day tomorrow and this is the project I'll be working on.  I'm hoping to finish this one by the end of the month.

Fabric for Grandpa's Quilt

And last, but not least, a very special girl had a birthday last week.  Gabriel turned 6 last Tuesday.  We racked our brains trying to figure out how to make it special, but finally determined that we treat every day like her birthday!  (She's awfully spoiled.)

Happy Birthday Gabriel!

Plenty of other stuff going on, but this post is long enough for one day.  I hope you're enjoying some beautiful weather in your neck of the woods!

Until later...

You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3

D is for Drummer Boy....

I've just finished the next block for the Snowmen A to ZZZZ quilt by Crapabble Hill Studios.

D is for Drummer Boy

Another fairly quick stitchery with the exception of all those circles on the drum.  I probably could have used French Knots or Colonial Knots, but I liked the look of the open circles.

Closeup of Block

I've gone ahead and started on the next block, which is a combination of the letters E and F.  I'm still trying to get a hand applique project ready, and as soon as I do, I'll take a break and switch over to it for a while.

Just as a recap, here's all my snowmen blocks so far....

Snowmen A to ZZZZ Blocks 1 - 4

Warmer weather has made an appearance here lately.  It was actually 94 degrees today!  I caught Jack enjoying some of the sunshine, after a bit of catnip earlier.

Jack on the cat scratcher

Until later...

In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:3 (NLT)