TheTulips Finally Bloomed

Some of you may remember that Momcat wanted to finish the Springtime Tulips top during her vacation in Virginia Beach. She did and here's the result. I really like the piano key border!

She also started working on a pieced back, using scraps left over from the top. Then she ran out of the scraps. Since we're keeping this quilt (I know, a quilter who is actually keeping one of her own creations....did the world just stop?) to use as a spring wall hanging, it really doesn't matter what the back looks like.

Today we finished sewing on some plain yellow cotton from the stash. We'll make sure that the blah yellow is the part that gets most of it cut off after the quilting process is finished.

That means we now have two projects ready for quilting: Springtime Tulips and The Poky Little Puppy.

We're behind on our Rotating Snowballs Quilt-Along, so it's back to the sewing room.

Purrs,
Piwacket

The Poky Little Puppy

The Poky Little Puppy quilt top was completed while listening to the sound of the sea at Virginia Beach. I love it!  I think some simple meandering will work perfectly on this.

The pattern came from Super Simple Fat Quarter Quilts by Lynda Milligan & Nancy Smith.  It's called "Hyde Park" in the book, using a beautiful floral print for its focus.

This quilt is so easy to make that our shop (Best Friends Quilt Shoppe) has used it as a beginner's quilt in classes several times. We have been saddened this week to find out that the publisher plans to discontinue the printing of the book and at this time there is no indication that any of the patterns will be published separately. I am very glad that I already have my copy of this terrific book and hope that the publisher will reconsider.

Examining my possibilities,
Piwacket

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Vacation

Momcat is heading out first thing on Friday morning for a brief vacation. With the divorce and money woes the vacation was almost canceled. After some thinking through and talking with friends she's decided to go anyway for the following reasons:

• The condo was reserved over a year ago with a non-refundable deposit.
• It has a kitchen so she can cook her own meals. She'd have to buy groceries here anyway.
• It's directly on the beach and Momcat's never been to Virginia Beach.
• She's going to spend two days with her parents on the way down.
• She's opting to leave vacation two days early in order to work a quilt show in Ohio Amish country with her boss from the quilt shop.

Although there will be no sight-seeing or shopping, walking on the beach is free. There's a balcony with the condo so viewing the beach scene while reading a book will be relaxing.  She even seems pleased that there won't be any furry friends waking her up at 5 a.m. for feeding. Hrrumph!

Cross-stitch projects, knitting schemes, and quilting UFOs are making the trip too.

"Springtime Tulips" is the first UFO to win a spot on the Virginia Vacation Express.

This quilt is SEW close to being done! It calls for two borders. The first border is 2-1/2" and matches the background color.

The outside border will be pieced from all the 30s prints used within the body of the quilt.

This pattern is from the book Surprisingly Simple Quilts and was much easier to make than it looks. Isn't it a perfect project to keep Momcat busy over spring break?

Another take-along will be the "Tuffets" pattern for pincushions made from charm squares and The Poky Little Puppy fabric from Quilting Treasures made up in a Hyde Park design.

I'll miss Momcat while she's gone. Manchild Philip will be here taking care of Maggie, Butch, Sundance and me. Logan and Trouble have gone to live with CatDaddy. The beans miss them, but I don't. More lap time for me. Mmmmwwwwhahahahaha.

Worship me,
Piwacket