Drive-by Post

Hi everyone,

I'm just stopping by right quick to let you know I can't really post until the weekend. Work is kicking my butt and I'm going to be away on an overnight business trip at the end of the week.

No sewing is being done here. I'm madly washing doggie beds and blankets and toys because Kobie and Dorey are going on a sleepover! They will be staying with my niece while I'm away. This is a first for the dogs and I really hope it goes well (cross fingers, toes, eyes, etc.)

Just look at these two troublemakers. Would you take them into your home for a sleepover? No, I didn't think so.

Try not to have too much fun without me. :)

What happens in the sewing room stays in the sewing room

... unless I blog about it.

So, I'm working on the Little Bouquet Quilt Along. Cherri's instructions are wonderful, full of step-by-step text and pictures.

But, my type A self is having trouble wrapping my head around making wonky flowers. As you can see, on the left - my first attempt is pitiful. I could tell immediately it was WRONG so I tried again. The second attempt (on the right) is better, because I started using triangle scraps instead of strips. Now I have to keep practicing.

Note: Mr. Troll wanders into photos from time to time. He can usually be found in the presence of swear words.




I also spent some time this weekend working on my Doll Quilt Swap #7 design. It is just a small log cabin, nothing wonky or weird about it whatsoever. (4 inch finished, featuring Ducky and friends)

Do you think I could get this tiny little block right the first time? No. Let's just say I spent some quality time with my seam ripper. My excuse? I'm thinking too much about work. I am in the process of hiring a new employee so I have a lot to think about.

Yeah, that's it. Blame it on work. Heh.

How was your weekend?

A new swap in town

Hi everyone,

Are you up for a virtual quilting bee with a year long commitment? Then I have just the swap for you.

The "A Piece of Work B" group is starting up. So far there are 6 members but we need 12 to get going. The idea is that each member is assigned a month in which to send out fabric and choice of block style. Everybody makes a block and sends it back. By the end we will have a quilt full of blocks and some new friends!

Sound good? The signups are at the Flicker group, go here. Click to join and introduce yourself to the admin.

Hope to see you in our bee!

Swap Profile

Hi everyone,
Quilt swaps are a lot of fun but the process can be frustrating if the partner you are given is too mysterious. When I am trying to decide on a project for a partner I like lots of information about likes and dislikes to help me choose.

So, in the interests of being a good swap partner, here is a bunch of information about me.

I am:
Canadian, middle aged, divorced, employed full-time, child free by choice, companion to 2 small dogs and a young cat, home owner, introvert, Apple fan girl

I can:
quilt, knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, rug hook, sew clothes, teach others how to use computers

Some examples of styles I like:
can be found at my Flickr favorites page and I am currently in love with all things Shabby Chic and the fresh modern quilt styles. My most favourite blogger right now is Oh, Fransson!

I really enjoy:
needlework of any kind, reading, listening to music

I dislike:
cooking

I will not:
garden

I try to avoid:
controversy, driving after dark

I have the following types of stashes:
fabric, yarn, quilting thread, beads, scrap book paper, coloured pencils and crayons. O.K., I admit it, I adore sparkly, shiny, colourful, pretty things. I must have been a dragon in a prior life!

I read:
science fiction and fantasy such as William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, Cathryanne Valente, Cory Doctorow, Anne McCaffery (love those dragons!)

My guilty pleasures:
Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, chocolate

I am currently listening to:
The Lord of the Rings soundtrack, Otis Turner, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Abney Park, Rasputina, The Penguin Cafe Orchestra

I would love to have:
any fabric by Kafe Fassett, Amy Butler, Lizzy House, or any of the other currently popular designers. Where I live the quilt shops are a year or two behind the trends. I could order on line but I hate to pay for shipping.

Items I would love to have but will never get around to making for myself:
quilted purse;
iPhone cozy;
placemats.

Whew! I think that's enough about me. See you around the blogosphere!

Little Bouquet Quilt Along experiment

I am participating in the Little Bouquet Quilt Along. Much fun is being had.

One of the supply list items could not be found in my stash (ya, I was shocked too). I don't have any non-fusible interfacing. I do have fusible (miles of the stuff). So the designer suggested I try fusing two pieces together.

Another participant mentioned that she is using baby wipes, which reminded me that I have a stash of used dryer sheets (they work really well for applique). I decided to try both the dryer sheets and the fusible.

This pic shows the difference in weight and transparency between the two. The fusible is heavenly soft whereas the dryer sheet is rough.

LBQ experiment

This pic shows the finished blocks. There is no visible difference. The weight and stability are surprisingly different. I'm not sure how the dryer sheet version would hold up to machine quilting. However, since I prefer hand quilting, I can't see myself trying to get my needle through the thickness of the fusible block.

LBQ fronts

LBQ backs

Conclusion : depending on your quilting method, either version of interfacing will do. Or, you could just go your LQS and buy some non-fusible. :)

I have two blocks of twelve done so far. But the sewing machine must be abandoned for the moment, because my two "kids" are demanding some attention. Kobie is telling me in no uncertain terms to turn off the sewing machine and pay attention to her or she will find something to amuse herself with. And I won't like it.

Kountess Kobie

Duchess Dorey

Duchess Dorey says "Mama, pay attention to meeeee. Me! Me! Me!"

The cat is very quiet though. Hmmm, better go see what she is up to. Excuse me....

"Lulu? Where are you? Lulu?"