New Books

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Gift cards from bookstores are, I think, one of my favourite gifts! Between us, we had quite a few and have ordered books and CDs. Today’s mail brought these three Kaffe Fassett books:


After seeing what Poppet over at quiltcontemplation was doing getting ready for the catalympics, Lester had to get in some serious training time. He was moving so fast, it was impossible to get anything but a blurry picture of him:


Smudge got in on the training too but he was moving even faster! After their training session they had to have a rest. Lester crashed on the chair:


Smudge had to find a cuddly toy to curl up with:


Ideas for A Future Quilt

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A couple of months ago, a friend sent me these gorgeous pieces of hand-dyed fabrics. I’ve had them on my sewing table since, and look at them daily as I love the colours. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do with them, but am playing with ideas. I put them with the print in this photo just to get an idea how that might work as a background to go with them.


Perhaps a black fabric is the answer for the background with them. The colours seem more vibrant against the black. Stars may be part of the design, or perhaps some curved piecing.


Edited to Add: Poppet at quiltcontemplation has been practising for the De Cat a Lon — by the looks of it, she’s determined to win a medal!

Smudge practising for the imitating hockey puck competition:


While Lester is resting after some vigorous stretching:



Organizing

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One of the things I did over the holidays was get another little box organized with glassine envelopes containing the pieces for 2 more small quilts.

The pieces for a small spool quilt are in there and, while I was organizing, I just had to make a few more of the little blocks:


Also contained in the box are the pieces for these 4.5″ blocks. There’s enough to make 25 or 30 of these.


At the moment, there are 2 boxes containing the pieces for 5 different quilts. Two of them are large, long-term projects being the Patchwork of the Crosses and the Harpsichord Quilt. The pieces for the remaining blocks of Pink Ice are in one of the boxes and, finally, there are the pieces for these 2 little quilts. Am I working on any of them right now? No! I probably won’t touch any of them for at least a week while I get the piece I blogged about on Monday done. I’m getting excited about it now that I have a few of the blocks done. As soon as it’s finished and the pattern written, I’ll show it.

Mr. Q.O. has been very busy the past few weeks doing things like making an external hard drive for his computer, learning some new computer programs and other techie things like that. We have a favourite computer store where there are some marvelous deals to be found. He surprised me on Monday with more memory for my Mac. Amazing difference it made, jumping from 1G to 3 of computer memory.

Monday was another cold windy day. But I did notice it was staying lighter a little bit later. Any sign of warmer weather to come at this point is welcome!

Lester showing off his whiskers:


While Smudge is getting in some real lounging practice — this time with a couple of “friends”.


Beginnings

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Do you ever get a design idea and just have to stop whatever else it is you’re working on to try it? That’s what happened to me over the past few days. The idea has been sort of percolating away in my mind for a week or so and I finally gave in, picked out some fabrics and started working on it. It will eventually be a table runner.

These are the fabrics I chose after a little trial and error. I initially had a fourth Fassett print rather than the white, but it just didn’t work. I needed the part of the design that will be done with the white to really stand out.


The weekend was bitterly cold and windy. Sunday we had a wind chill value of -20C. Saturday wasn’t all that much better. In fact, looking at the forecast for this week, it looks like it will be more of the same. I thought I heard we were to have a mild winter. This does not sound like mild weather!

The cats are in serious training for the lounging competition. First, Smudge who was, I think, perhaps working up to some training for the hidden head competition:


And then Lester, perhaps training for the sleeping curled up as a circle competition:


New Book

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The final mail delivery of 2009 brought this:

The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer is a fabulous book. Lots and lots of inspiration for quilters.

New Year’s Eve was another day/evening of rain and relatively mild weather. I’m keeping my fingers crossed the whole winter is as mild as this!

Lester looking a bit ruffled. Oh, how I’d love to get a picture of him just after we’ve combed/brushed him — particularly his ruff.


Smudge curled up with the torch bearer for the critterlympics.

Pink Ice Block #23

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… seemed to go together in no time. So now there are 7 left to make. With any luck, I’ll reach my goal of having the 30 blocks finished by the end of January.


The back:


I seem to be in the midst of a flare again with my hands, so am limiting my time at the computer for a few days. If I don’t respond to a comment, please know that I am reading and appreciating them and will respond as soon as I can.

Lester, in some serious training for the lounging event:


While Smudge is getting ready for the events which he’ll be watching, rather than participating:


Happy New Year!

Tumbler Star Teddy Bear Qult Top

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… is now done! I love the secondary pattern that appears and have plans for another small quilt using different fabrics that will showcase yet another secondary pattern. This little quilt top measures 24″ square.


While I was putting it together, I decided to try it as a long table runner. This would finish at 12 x 48.

The blocks go together in no time. Now to get it basted and start quilting it.

Thanks to Karen who knew what that little kitchen tool was — a strawberry huller. I’m not sure I’d have figured that one out!

And the boys — lining up for the team lounge (not luge) event.


Christmas Goodies

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The unexpected package that I actually managed to leave wrapped until Christmas was from Mary at Quilt Hollow. I remember seeing the photo of this adorable pillow sham on Mary’s blog here and falling in love with it. I was totally surprised when I opened it and oh, so grateful!! The two kitties she quilted make me smile every time I look at it! If you click on the picture to “embiggen” it, you will see the gorgeous quilting she did on this. As soon as I get a pillow form for it, it’s getting pride of place on the sofa. Thank you, Mary!


With the pillow sham came a card in which there was a package of hot cinnamon spice tea. Cinnamon is one of my favourite flavours. We’re supposed to have a real cold snap this week, so when that hits, I’ll be making some of this tea.


The day before Christmas I took a huge step and went from shoulder length hair to a very short, almost pixie, cut. I still am taken aback each time I look in the mirror. Because I have a lot of natural curl in my hair, it’s taking some getting used to as far as styling it when I dry it goes. Sometimes I think I look like I have an enormous cotton puff on steroids on my head. Other times, Mr. Q.O. is making noises about Shirley Temple! Of course, when I left the hairdresser’s it looked great. I never seem to be able to duplicate how my hairdresser dries my hair.

One of our friends gave me a gift bag with a number of things for baking. But there’s one thing from that gift bag that has me stymied. I have no idea what it is and neither does she! She told me it was in the baking area of a kitchen store and she figured I’d know what it was. I haven’t got a clue other than thinking perhaps it’s a really tiny melon baller. If anyone knows what this is, please let me know.

Smudge, practicing for the alert lounging competition:

While Lester is practicing for the bird imitation event: