Chips N Dip Table Runner

Momcat and I just finished this table runner top. If she doesn't pick up a subbing assignment tomorrow then we'll get it quilted, too.

It's another great pattern from the Dealer's Choice book by Atkinson Designs. That's the same book that we used for the Go Fish quilt.

There's a lot on the plate (but not in my food dish. Hhrrumph!). Momcat heads to court for the last time this Monday. The final hearing on the divorce is scheduled for 9 a.m.  From what I understand, she'll walk out of that proceeding officially, legally single for the first time in 31 years. That evening she also starts her new job at the customer service call center.

Sadly, she decided to leave her job at the quilt shop. Momcat is going to miss her friends at the shop and especially going to the shows. However, if I've learned anything from my Momcat at all, it's that she believes in moving forward to the next chapter.



KAREN MONTGOMERY

Karen Montgomery of The Quilt Company was a recent guest at The River City Quilt Guild, to which Momcat belongs.  Karen's lecture on the process of getting fabric from the imagination of the designer to your local quilt shop was fascinating. 


She also brought along a wonderful trunk show. Sit back and enjoy, and if you ever get a chance to have Karen come to your guild, please do so.  She's an interesting, multi-tasking lady.

 

 

I hope you each take 15 minutes daily to create.

Hugs and purrs,
Piwacket and Momcat

Stash Report Sunday - August 8, 2010

Very little crafting going on here as Momcat focuses on job-hunting. The spousal support she's due to receive covers only 1/3 of our monthly expenses. If she starts skimping on my kibble I'm going to be VERY hard to live with.

Although she works two jobs, as a substitute teacher and weekends at the quilt shop, those occupations don't pay as much as we need to live on, plus they don't have any benefits. I keep trying to convince her to put Maggie up on ebay, but she just scoffs at me.

Anyway, boring stash report. Nothing in, nothing out.

Used this Week:               0 yards 
Used year to Date:      119  yards
Added this Week:             0 yards
Added Year to Date:    47.75   yards
 

Net Used for 2010:     71.25 yards

Judy's putting us all to shame as usual. Take a look for yourself by clicking here.

Momcat belongs to the River City Quilt Guild which will be hosting Karen Montgomery, of The Quilt Company. Karen will be presenting a talk on how fabric gets from the imagination of the designer onto the shelf at your local quilt shop. Pictures to follow!

Happy creating!

Piwacket

9 Patch A Day Challenge Progress

Karen Montgomery of The Quilt Company is mom to the 9 Patch A Day Challenge that started on June 1. We've completed 14 scrappy red, white, blue and tan blocks.  The picture below is NOT indicative of any final design. What a fun way to use up those 2.5" squares from scraps.

My siblings pay me in kibble for the privilege of coming up to snuggle in my throne with me. Sundance has paid the proper fee....for now.

Purringly,

Piwacket

Stash Report Sunday - June 6, 2010

Darn This n That Patterns and Cindy Taylor Oates!

The good news is that I did not break my New Year's Resolution. I purchased fabrics only for a specific purpose and did not buy extra yardage. The bad news is that I did make some purchases last week.

After seeing my friend Cheryl from the shop make and wear so many cute shirts from this pattern, I decided I needed to have one.  Since Cheryl also teaches the class at the shop, I can use her expertise. I don't sew clothes. I've never made a sleeve or a buttonhole, so it's about time I learned!

My goal is to have my shirt finished by the time I represent the shop at a couple of quilt shows later this month.  If you're in Cincinnati for the Creative Festival the end of June, or in Columbus,Ohio for the NQA show please stop by the Best Friends Quilt Shoppe booth to say "Hi!"


Here are the fabrics I selected. Piwacket has turned away in wrath, but Maggie is quite pleased with me. Of course, Maggie is happy no matter what I do.

I have a few patterns from This n That. I decided it was time to make some cute little bags from them.  I cut out enough fabric for three Abby's Treasure Box.  This picture is from the cover of the pattern. Mine aren't complete yet.

I picked up a charm pack of Frolic by Moda and a few fat quarters as well.  Here's my first box in process.

I love these cheerful brights and think they're perfect for this pattern.

I also cut out enough for four Sweet Stuff bags.  This picture is from the pattern cover. I haven't started sewing mine yet.

Finally, I also purchased enough material to make two Brand X purses, which is an original pattern from our shop.  Visit Best Friends Quilt Shoppe online to purchase your own pattern. Take a look at our tote bag, courier bag and backpack patterns as well!

Fortunately, I did manage to get some cutting done, including 300 2.5" squares in order to participate in Karen Montgomery's 9 Patch A Day challenge.  I really like how my red, white, blue and tan blocks are coming together!


Used this Week:              5.5  yards
Used year to Date:      110.0  yards
Added this Week:         11.75  yards
Added Year to Date:    44.75   yards

 

Net Used for 2010:     65.25 yards

Judy's blog includes not only her own stashbusting efforts, but the reports from several of us playing along. Take a peek for yourself.

I wish you a week of happy creativity!

Linda/Momcat

Rotating Snowballs and Nine-Patches Quilt Along

SNOWBALLING

In January a group of us started a quilt along making 9-patches and snowballs. You can see the list of participants on the sidebar.  If you've been following along each month and making six blocks per month, by now you'll have 30 blocks with which to play!

I have 32, and will need to make four more by the end of this month.  Here's a picture of what I have so far (please keep in mind that I have not trimmed any of the blocks yet and this is not a final design).

I really like how this is turning out.


9 PATCH A DAY CHALLENGE

Nine-Patch Fever must be going around. Karen Montgomery of The Quilt Company is hosting a 9-Patch A Day Challenge that started on June 1. That means there's plenty of time for you to catch up.  Go to her blog at Karen Says Sew to learn more.  She also has created a group on Facebook for those of us participating.  It's a great project for using up scraps. I'm using 2.5" squares.

Here's the Facebook link:  

http://www.facebook.com/pages/9-Patch-Project/116885848345468?v=wall&ref=tshttp:

I decided to do a red, white, blue and tan version from my scraps.  I don't care about the motif or theme of the fabric, or whether there's a few other colors mixed in or even the value. My only goal is to use scraps and have them "read" Red, White, Blue or Tan from a distance.

These are just a few of the scraps that I'm starting with. There's even a piece of denim or two in the blue stack.  I actually cut about 200 squares total on Memorial Day.  Notice me in the corner of the table taking a much-needed break. Momcat will cut for hours, but I need a catnap every 5 minutes or so.

I sorted my cut pieces by color (putting the tans and the whites together), placing them in drawer organizers so that they'll be handy next to my sewing machine.  Any time I'm sewing anything, this can be my leader/ender project.  I picked up the tip about the drawer organizers from Judy Martin's Log Cabin Quilt Book. 

Karen's goal is for us to make just a block a day, understanding that we might really get going and make several at once. So far I've made three, one ugly on purpose to show you (really!)

Here's the two scrappy versions that I like.

And here's the ugly one. If you try to get too matchy (is that a word?) on these, they end up looking dumb. The scrappier the better. This one will be unsewn and the pieces all put back into the pile for picking.

TROUBLE'S HOME

A little over a month ago Trouble and Logan went to live with CatDaddy. Logan has adjusted really well, but Trouble never did. Momcat and CatDaddy decided it was best for her to come back to live with us. Usually when one of us has been gone, it takes everybody else awhile to reaccept them.

In this case, as soon as Trouble walked out of the cat carrier Butch and Sundance came to greet her. The three of them touched noses and apparently are going to live happily ever after together on the kitty condo. I'm going to let them stay in the crow's nest for now.  They all know that it's MY throne!

When Butch and Sundance came to live with us as babies, Trouble immediately adopted them even though she's never had kittens of her own. I think she was grieving for "her" babies and that's why she couldn't get used to her new environment. That's Trouble (with her head hanging down) and Butch up in the crow's nest, with Sunny on the shelf just beneath them.

I'm glad she's home. She's been my best student as far as quilt quality control. She's especially good about working her way into the midst of a quilt while Momcat does the binding.



PHILIP'S COSTUME.....

....won first prize at the costume party! His friends wanted to know where he purchased such a cool costume. Leanne, Philip's sweet girlfriend, came in 2nd place with her Jean Grey from the X-Men disguise.


About to reclaim my throne for awhile,
Piwacket