Squishy in my Mailbox and More

When I went out to my mailbox today I discovered a wonderful "SQUISHY"... the best thing to find in ones mailbox. In it I found the small bag and I say "SMALL" but really mean BIG as this is nice and deep and has LOADS of extra pockets. The bag was part of a "Small Bag" swap with my on-line quilting group; I sent 2 FQ's, some trim and closures to my partner, Lisa and she added a fabric and her talents to make me this awesome bag. Right up my alley too... KITTY CAT'S ALL THE WAY! LOVE IT!!!!
HA HA... An Alley Cat Bag!

Yesterday I worked some more on the Batik Quilt and got it all laid out and the rows pinned together; ready for sewing. I got one row sewn together and the rest are still waiting for me. I also made two pillow tops using the remnants from the strips used to make the block units. I will add something to make them a perfect 12x12 pillow. I'm debating whether to keep these pillow tops of a sort of remembrance of this project or to include them with the quilt as part of the gift. I'll come to a decision by the time it's all ready for mailing. I haven't been feeling too well the past couple of days and have been sleeping a good bit - I think the Fall Hibernation bug is trying to hold me down.

Tesla has been sticking quite close to me and cutting up every chance he gets to have his belly rubbed. I think he is the only cat I have ever had that has enjoyed his tummy rubbed. Such a goof ball and when one of us leaves the house he pines and pines and carries on meowing and meowing.

Yesterday morning I had the windows open and the front door as well and I caught sight of movement on the front porch - a Morning Dove was gathering grit from the front porch; not in the least concerned about any of the neighborhood cats. It kept looking in the front door so I grabbed the camera and took it's picture before it caught sight of me.

Quilt Progress

Well last night I left off at this point....

The blocks just needed to be sewn down the middle and thats just what I did when I first got up this morning. The blocks are all sewn into complete blocks now; I still have some pressing and trimming to do but I should be able to get the top done tomorrow. I would have had it done today but decided that I would go ahead and sew the squares and rectangles together that will make up the binding for the quilt. I even got it pressed in half and ready to be sewn to the edge of the quilt when the time comes. I'm hoping that I have enough to go all the way around the quilt. Time will tell on that one - the binding I made is rolled up in the center of the following photo...

Once I get the remaining blocks pressed and trimmed I will play around with the layout so that I don't get globs of the same colors right next to one another. I think it's going to be quite lovely when completed.

Yesterday's Progress on Batik Quilt

Yesterday I got all the strips sewn into the strip units and pressed well. Then I got about half of those cut into the 4 1/2" units to create the blocks and I left off last night in the middle of sewing some of the units together. I didn't sleep well at all last night and if my sewing room was out in the bonus room I would have just kept sewing well into the night/morning. But it's not and I didn't want to disturb Scott's sleep since he had to work today. I've gone through about 6 bobbins of thread and when the bobbin I'm using now runs out I will have to stop and wind some more so that I can continue. Thats OK -I'm using up a bunch of thread. Once I get this quilt done and a few block swap items made I'm going to make my winter robe because I have a feeling it won't be too much longer and I'm going to NEED it in the mornings. I can hardly wait to have it done as it's a gorgeous paisley print fleece. Always another project in my head.

Project for Love

I've decided to make the quilt featured on the cover of the Sept./Oct. issue of McCalls Quilting for my nephew and his new bride. I will be doing it in Batiks instead of prints. I've got nearly all the strips cut - just need another 28 of the 1 1/2" strips and then I can get started sewing. I may cut more strips so that I can make it one block longer - we'll see. For now I am cutting what the pattern calls for. I've all ready cut way more 2 1/2" squares and 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" rectangles than I need for the binding so cutting a few more strips for blocks shouldn't be a problem at all. The Batiks were all in my stash waiting for the perfect project so I'm using something else up... which will make Scott happy. He laughs every time he comes in my sewing room when I'm working in there - says it smells like Jo-Ann Fabrics - can't imagine why!
HA HA!