Red and White Trimmings

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This is the pile after grading the seams on two of the red and white Feathered Star/Sunflower blocks. Two blocks left to go and then I can start putting the top together. It will probably take less time to stitch the blocks together than it has to grade the seams. If nothing else, this may be the final time I need to learn the lesson to grade seams as I make the blocks but it is worth the effort as the difference in weight is noticeable and the quilt will drape quite nicely. I put a nickel beside the pile of trimmings just to give it some perspective.

When I needed a break from the grading, I went looking in my stash for another candidate for kaleidoscope stars. This fabric has a relatively small repeat which would mean little fabric waste, but I have a feeling the stars would all end up looking alike. So back it goes to the stash to be used in something else.

Baxter had a very busy day on Tuesday. Kitty TV has started – a squirrel was seen out on the roof garden. So last night he was relaxing in “his” chair.

Possibilities for Kaleidoscope Stars

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So much fun was had making the kaleidoscope stars like this one that I couldn’t resist doing a little hunting in my stash for some other fabrics that might be likely candidates for interesting kaleidoscope stars.

This one is a definite possibility and will be easy to fussy cut/print for some more kaleidoscope stars.

This one has a larger repeat, but I think some really striking kaleidoscope stars might be the result. I don’t have a lot of it, but perhaps an interesting wallhanging can be made using kaleidoscope stars from it.

This is the fabric combination from yesterday’s post that I was 90 per cent sure I was going to select. It was interesting to read how many of you also felt the same way. So that’s another project waiting in the wings. I’m going to make one block using the two fabrics before I start on that project in earnest.

Last night I was working again on the red and white quilt. I’m really motivated to at least get the 12 blocks together this week. Then I’ll make a decision on whether a small stop border is added before the pieced border.

This picture of Baxter makes me laugh.  If you look closely, you can see that his tongue is sticking out just a bit.

Possible Fabric Combinations

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While almost all my stitching time on the weekend was spent working on the red and white Feathered Star/Sunflower quilt top, some time was spent auditioning possible partners for the purple batik. First  I had to try a white on white with it.

The second possibility was this gold with it.

The third possibility was this sea green/lime green with it.

I think I know which I’m going to choose, but am not a hundred per cent decided. Which would you choose and why?

If I stick with the design idea I’m thinking of, there will be a lot of whichever ends up as the “neutral” in the quilt.

Baxter had a busy weekend watching out the window. It’s getting milder and milder every day and I think he knows that kitty TV will be starting any day with the arrival of some birds and hopefully some squirrels.

Remember when he used to sleep like this as a little kitten? That shot was taken in July, when he was barely 3 months old.

This is his “I’m a big kitty now” version of the pose. This was taken on the weekend, and he’s almost 11 months old now.

Red and White Feathered Stars

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Preparation of the centre blocks is almost complete. All that’s really left is to do is the grading of seams on the first 6 blocks.

It presses beautifully. The final six blocks have had all the seams graded. Why I left it with the first six I have no idea, but it won’t take long and is definitely worth the effort. It will make the quilt drape better, there will be no chance of the red shadowing through to the front and it will make the quilting easier.

I stacked them together for fun. It will be fabulous to see this quilt centre put together, but taking a picture of it will definitely have to wait until we can get out on the roof garden. Which, by the looks of our weather forecast, may not be too far off at all.

Making these blocks has been so much easier than they look, thanks to the perfect stitching lines and matching points of Inklingo, that I’ve got an idea for a completely different feathered star quilt that I’d like to make.

Baxter had to get in on the act of photographing the blocks. Mr. Q.O. labelled this one, “The Critic.”

Although it was Mr. Q.O.’s birthday yesterday, Baxter got a present. One of our neighbours gave this to him. He absolutely loves it and played with it for hours.

Stars in Pink

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A few of these stars are made every once in a while. There are now 18 of them done, each measuring 6″ from tip to tip.

The box in which the pieces reside is almost empty. There are only 12 stars left to make and then I can free this box up for another project.

At the rate I’m going on a few of these smaller projects, I think there may be a flurry of finishes over the next while. Scrappy Star and the red and white Feathered Star/Sunflower quilt remain at the top of the list but sometimes it’s nice to work on a small project. A pink star wall hanging sounds like it might just fill the bill.

There’s an idea nagging away at me to make a quilt using a purple batik and … well, the and isn’t quite yet decided but that would mean another in the series of two-colour quilts I want to make. I may play with that this weekend for a bit to see if I have anything on hand that works as the other colour.

Today is a big day in the household. It’s Mr. Q.O.’s birthday. The birthday bears will have to come out to sing Happy Birthday to him.

It was incredibly mild here yesterday, definitely felt like spring. But very windy. Baxter was up on the windowsill repeatedly. Later on, he was resting up in his chair.

Little Bits

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The centre of the last of the red and white Feathered Star/Sunflower blocks is ready. I’m getting very close to having the main body of the quilt done. The pieced border is going to take a bit of time, but I think once the centre is done and together it’s going to put this quilt right up at the top of the list to be worked on until it’s completed.

The seams are graded and it’s pressed, ready to be put in the centre of that last block.

Two sides of the Scrappy Star now have the pieced border attached. I think I want to try to add those final two sides before I get started on the pieced border for the Feathered Star quilt, as I’d love to see the Scrappy Star top done and ready to baste. It’s getting a bit large to get a decent photo of inside but the weather is getting better every day, so a roof garden photo may not be that far off.

A few more sets for the Kaleidoscope Stars are ready to stitch. They’re a fun, quick stitch. I think I’ll end up with 20 of them and will then put them into a small top.

Thanks for all the great comments on the orchids. I’m really hoping I can keep this plant alive and see it flower again.

Baxter appears to love draping himself over the arm of the chair. Makes me laugh every time as he seems to be almost having a conversation with us.

Gifted Blocks and a Gift of Orchids

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I’ve blogged about these blocks before that were given to me by a good friend, but now I feel I have enough experience with the sewing machine to set them together successfully. There are a stack of these blocks that will finish at 7.75″.

And a stack of these, which also finish at 7.75″. As well, I was given a lot of the fabric that was used to make them. I’m going to play with some setting ideas over the next few days. They were foundation pieced on muslin so it’s going to be a heavy quilt and one which I will have to figure out how to machine quilt.

Last night, Mr. Q.O. took the garbage down the hall and came back with a pot of orchids. One of our neighbours gave it to us. The instructions on its care seem rather odd to me. It says to water the plant by giving it 3 ice cubes once a week. Three ice cubes? I would have thought that would shock the poor plant. If any of you have grown orchids successfully and have some hints, please share. I’d love to keep this plant growing and hopefully flowering.

There are some buds on it that look very close to opening. I love the colour of the flowers. Such a wonderful pink, my favourite colour.

Baxter’s look says it all, “An orchid? Yummy!” We have it well out of his reach.

Jumping Up and Down!

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I just can’t wait until tomorrow to post this. Inklingo Stars, one of the other designs I submitted to the Love the Lines contest, is in the Top 25. It was on both the EQ and All About Inklingo blogs today!

Baxter looks somewhat startled. He’s not quite sure what all the excitement is about but is happy as long as his toy is nearby.

Egads, 3 blog posts in one day? That’s a first for me!

Finger Pincushion

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This video is too funny.  I’ve watched it now countless times and laugh out loud every time. It’s well worth a watch on how to make the finger pincushions. Want a chance to win one of them? Then head to this post on Linda Franz’ blog and leave a comment for a chance to win. Comments have to be left before Tuesday, March 6, 2012, so don’t delay!

Look at the look on Baxter’s (slightly damp) face! If I win one of those pincushions, I’m going to have to make sure it stays on my finger and out of his water bowl!

Colourful Little Nine Patches

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Over the past few months, I have worked on putting the 9-patch blocks together bit by bit. Sometimes when I’m stitching a block like a Feathered Star, I’ll reach the end of some continuous stitching and, rather than begin the next stage, it’s the perfect time to make one or two of these blocks. There are nine left to make and then I’ll have the total needed for the little quilt I have in mind.

Seconds after that photo was taken, Baxter had one of the 9-patch blocks in his mouth and was proudly carting it off towards the kitchen. I have a feeling he was taking it to put in his water bowl. Thankfully I rescued it before he got that far!

The stack of finished 9-patch blocks on point have also been growing as that’s another easy stitch to pick up after some more involved piecing.

But the box full of the 9-patch blocks waiting to be surrounded by triangles has grown at a faster pace than those that have been finished.  The box is now full to the brim.

Baxter was curled up in his kitty bed beside the toy basket. He loves to curl up there, particularly on cooler evenings which last night definitely was.