Baby Shower and Life

 I went to a baby shower today for my son's best friend and his wife.

I had a long time friend ride with me and we met up with one more friend at the party.

I have not seen these ladies in such a long time!

It was such a joy to catch up with these ladies.

Here are the mama and papa to be with me.

Doesn't she look amazing?

They are the sweetest kids and are going to be fabulous parents!

I got all the binding made for the three unicorn quilts earlier in this week.

I love them all.

Cole often attends me in my sewing room.

I have a quilt that he lays on, just like Autumn used to do.

It's so difficult to get a good photo of a black cat.

The light was good and I put my phone on portrait mode.

I managed to get some really nice shots of him.

I must say, I think I missed the mark with his name.

I should have named him Shadow, as he is always near me!

~XOP~

Meags and Me New Patterns

 I had the opportunity to work on 2 of the new patterns coming our for Meags and Me.

 I love pattern testing for these guys!  

Patterns I did were Tweet Tweet and Bird Brain.  

Tweet Tweet is at the quilter's and I just finished Bird Brain last night.

Here are pics from Bird Brain.

I did a machine free motion straight stitch around the applique.

I used the same for the legs, beak and ( ) on the birds.

I hand embroidered the eyes using a satin stitch.

I did the same free motion straight stitch around each of the flower petals.

I find this to go MUCH faster than doing a traditional blanket stitch.

I love using black thread to stitch around the applique as it really makes it stand out.

I made this entire project using fabrics from my stash!

I even found an aqua minky for the back that I had in my stash.

I used "frankenbatting" to sew batting pieces together for the batting too.

I just love how that Alison Glass fabric fit in that green block!

I decided to make bindings yesterday too.

I now have binding for both of the bird quilts as well as 2 others that used the same fabrics

that I used in the Tweet Tweet quilt.

I like to make my binding before I send the quilt away as I'm not a fan of making it at all.

That way when the quilt comes back I am ready to trim and bind.

Sometimes I forget which binding I made for which quilt.

This time I cut a post-it note into thirds and folded it into a U and stuck it in each of the bindings.

Hoping this will help me remember what goes together with what.

What do you use to keep track of your batting?

Do you like to make it before you send your quilt for quilting or after you get it back?

I have to do some house cleaning today.

Also hoping to get some more fabric listed for sale.

Then, I get to work on a new quilt for a baby that will be arriving soon.

(not my new grand baby)

What are you up to on this glorious Caturday?

~XOP~

Current Projects

 I have been working so hard to finish up some of the things I had started.  
I got the Economy Fox quilt finished, but only snapped this picture. 
 I love that border! 
 It took me so long to finally cut into it and then to try to get it to line up (somewhat).  

I put the borders on my All Hallows Eve quilt using this pattern.  

I had 3 blocks left over so made this table runner out of them.

I used the left over border fabric for the back too. 

 Used scrap batting too.

I got my new quilt labels in the mail too so used one on the back of the table runner.

I now have 5 quilts heading to my quilter!

All Hallows Eve

Kitty Corn Buffalo Plaid

Prissy Pumpking

Quite Contrary

Economy Foxes

I made binding for 4 of them.

Still need to make binding for the fox quilt

I ordered some Red fox fur Minky for the back of that one!

You can see all my binding babies holding my bindings.

Last but not least for now.

I have all the stuff to make 2 Changing Stations (Made By Annie Pattern)

You can see the first one I made here.

I made one for my daughter and intended to make more.

It was pretty time intensive for a non 3-D maker so I just put it off.

I will be retreating next weekend with my SIL and thought, BINGO!

I'll bring all the stuff and all she will need is fabric and 3 zippers

This gets a HUGE bag out of my sewing room too, BONUS!

This is the fabric I plan to use for mine.

The birds for the outside, the aqua for the lining, and the stripe for binding and handle.

I have a few more things to share, but need to take some pictures.

~XOP~

Catching Up

 I have been doing a LOT of binding lately. 
 It's not great for photos but it is what I have been working on. 

 That and embroidering and sewing on labels. 

 I have bound 2 quilts for babies and now working on a third,

 to gift to a very special friend for her birthday (which I will miss this year). 

 I have also been making yummy keto foods from new to me recipes.  

Is there any interest in that?  

I've also been giving plasma

 (right now twice a week, but once that commitment is over I will give once a week).  

Since I have recovered from Covid, my antibodies in my plasma can help others that need the antibody therapy to get better. 

 WHEW. 

 The plasma donations make me a little tired for the day though so I just take it easy on those days.  

Wanna see some of these things now?  

First up was binding a second baby quilt.

  I think I showed the other baby quilt, the Dogs in Sweaters.
This one is made using the Neverland fabric line by Jill Howarth for RBD.  

You can see the corner of the label peeking out there.  

I need to get a photo of the front of this one all quilted. 

 So sweet.  

These Neverland fabrics are so cute!

I will show the labels once the quilts have been gifted.

So some of that keto food.
This is a pulled pork sandwich.
I made the port in the Instant Pot and it was so easy and so good!
Recipe can be found here

After 2 days of pulled pork I wanted something else. 

 I was at Aldi getting eggs and saw their shaved beef.  

Made me think Philly Cheese Steaks. 

 I found a casserole on Wholesome Yum but I changed it a little bit.

  I used the shaved beef instead of ground beef, I added half a package of sliced mushrooms.  

I didn't have provolone cheese so I added some shredded mozzarella and then slices of swiss cheese. 

 It was so good! 

 Really easy to make and so yummy! 

 This is what it looked like coming out of the oven.

This is what it looked like on my plate before I devoured it!

My daughter asked me to make a self binding blanket for a friend of hers.  

Is there any interest in a self binding blanket tutorial?

Or do you all already know how to make them?

They had a baby recently and their last name is fox, so a fox version it was! 

 Finny approved of it too.

I had a little bit of the flannel left over so I cut it into 5" squares 

and paired it with some orange flannel and made a burp cloth to go with the blanket.  

I am just waiting for the address to send this one away.

I recently gifted a chenille blanket to a friend to pass along to a friend of hers that had a baby.  

It seems the package may have gotten misplaced/lost.  
I keep hoping it will show up.

I had a quilt here that was custom quilted but the colors were not something I would ever be able to use. A friend of mine is raising money for a little boy and his family (he is in the hospital). 
 When her Go Fund Me page reaches certain milestones she gives away a quilt, 
so I offered up this quilt. 
 I said if she preferred she could give to the family or the grandmother 
(who is keeping their other child and is her friend).  
So I am gifting that in the near future.

Doesn't it feel so good to send good out into the world?  
That quilt was not bringing joy to anyone sitting in my closet! 
 
One of my all time favorite sayings is "What goes around comes around".
Have a great day my friends!!
~XOP~

Catching Up

Lest you think I have forgotten about you all, I am going to make a post.

I have been busy with wedding stuff and life in general.

I finally took my dress in for alterations too.

I made some cinnamon roll scones (Keto).

They were just ok.

They didn't rise very much and I really wanted to love them but...meh.

Don't get me wrong though, I froze them and plan on eating them anyway, 

just not as good as the real deal.

 My daughter asked me to make a pennant that one of the little boys in the wedding can wave. 

I finally got around to making that this weekend. 

I just need to find a dowel and then sew a ribbon casing to the short side. 

 I think I will put a few streamers on the top also.  It turned out better than I expected.

I still need to make her veil but what did I do instead?

Made some sloth pillow cases!

Aren't they adorable??

My SIL asked me if I would bind a quilt for her so I worked on that this weekend and

 I finally got it all hand stitched down too.  

I love using Minky for backings! 

 It is SO soft!!

I have a hair cut and highlight appointment tonight and 

hope to get the binding made for the wedding quilt.  

My friend that quilted it has it all finished so I get to pick it up tomorrow. 

 I am so excited to see it!

I think that catches you all up.

Hopefully I will be able to post a bit more soon.  

I just seem to be so anxious about all the wedding stuff and getting all my parts done.  

~XOP~

Binding Extravaganza

I was determined to get binding attached to the 3 baby quilts I have at home waiting. 

I found one more quilt that has been quilted and just waiting for binding, 

so I made binding for that one too.

First up was putting the binding on the 2 baby quilts.

Then the third baby quilt and the Christmas quilt (from 2010!)

My handsome helper was upset that I took "his" quilt so I put my fleece down for his bed.

He finally settled down on that and was so much more content.

As you can see I had loads of binding to do this weekend.  

I hate having the binding all wadded up in my lap when I attach it. 

I have used binding babies in the past but they are pricey. 

 I have taken to winding the binding around my empty Aurifil thread spools.  

I had seen when someone attached their binding on to big spools, like from Tulle.  

I put my spool on my knee lifter and it unspooled as I attached it to the quilt!

Bad news is I think I killed my sewing machine!  It started making a rattling sound. 

 Sort of like when something is near a motor and that is the thing rattling, 

but I moved all the stuff from around my machine and it was not that. 

 I tried cleaning the bobbin area and oiling it. 

 Not that either, although, GROSS, it really needed a good cleaning. 

 I have no idea what it is.  It is super loud and the hand wheel is very difficult to turn.  

The place I take her for her usual spa day is not open until tomorrow, so for now she will wait.

I have another machine I can use (who am I kidding, I have many).  

My second choice is another Bernina.  

It is the one I keep in our camper.  I'm hoping my fix it guy, Jay, will be able to work his magic and quickly as I have lots to sew and I miss her when she is gone.

How was your weekend?

~XOP~

Quick Update

Hi all!  

I have been sewing but not ready to share just yet.  

I did manage to finish the label on this baby quilt.

I got all the hand work done on the binding this past weekend too.

I will be able to share the whole quit very soon.

Another thing I worked on was one of the March (yes I am a little bit behind) blocks from the CDTC.

I LOVE how this block came out!

I am furiously working to get my portion of the traveling quilt done so I can send that along.  

I have the entire top portion pieced and attached to the quilt. 

 YAY!  

Yesterday hubby had a medical procedure done so after I was done with that I had time to sew.

 I went to my sewing room around 2pm and after awhile, 

my hubby came upstairs to tell me it was 7pm! 

 WHATTTTTT?  

I completely lost 5 whole hours! 

 It was great. 

 I managed to get 2 of the 5 paper pieced blocks sewn.  

I need to add more background to one as I want to change the orientation of the critter.  

I'll show you when I get it all done.

I am hoping to have some time to sew tonight. 

 Tomorrow night and Saturday will be busy with non sewing related life.  

Have you had time to sew lately?  

I seem to be struggling to find time.

~XOP~

WIPs With Friends

Since instituting my Google monthly goal spreadsheet with my friends I find

 I am being even more productive than I was before. 

 It is crazy, but I put some pretty lofty goals on it each month then kill myself to achieve those goals.  Now, every month won't be like that but for now it is working for me.

I have been working on some binding (with a helper of course)

My oldest daughter used to draw dragons. 

 She drew this one a long time ago and I promised I would make him into a quilt. *sigh* 

What was I thinking??  

Well I have come across him again and think he needs to go on the list of things to work on. 

 I blew up the drawing and have traced all the parts on to fusible.  

That is as far as I have gotten, LOL. 

 His name is Prismata.

On my goal sheet is also doing my Bee blocks every month and I finally did this month's blocks.

I also put one Ocean Waves block on the monthly goal list.  Here is this month's block.

Additionally I have been working to finish the green quilt's binding. 

I am almost finished with this one.

I leave you with Finny giving me a couple of "shaky" hugs. 

 He wraps his little paws around my arm and just squeezes so tight his whole body shakes! 

 It is the cutest!

Now it is your turn to link up with what you are working on.

Click on the linky button to add your project

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up