Camping Adventures

 We went camping last week and had a great time.

I visited one of my favorite quilt shops while I was there.

It is called Bittersweet Quilt shop in Pinconing, MI

I saw this sign and thought it was SO appropriate.

Something we quilters should remember

"Beautiful things are never perfect".

SO TRUE!

Some of our friends were in Oscota which is pretty close to where we were.

We met them for lunch in Tawas and fond a new friend, LOL.

I could have stayed at his exact spot for a LOT longer.

On the way home our truck was shaking a bit so we stopped at a rest area to check the tires.

There was a bulge in the rear tire.

The lock to get the spare out was corroded and it probably took Chris about 45 minutes to get it open.

I got the boys out and put them in their pet tent.

It was SO hot in the truck,but very noisy at the rest area.

The boys were not happy.

They would have been more unhappy in the truck though.

Never a dull moment around here!

~XOP~

Improvising Traditions and Autumn

Our collaborative quilt using the Improvising Traditions book has returned from the quilter.  

I had to square up the quilt, make the binding and then I sewed on.  

Now I need to turn it and hand sew it down. 

WIP that I hope to get the binding finished on soon so it can be gifted!

 As per usual my "helper" kitty was there.  

I hope the new owners find it as comfortable as Autumn does!

I love the organic line quilting that Kathy did on this one!

Not sure how I am going to get her off this quilt.

~XOP~

Lizzy House Mini Quilt Swap

I'm not sure how it happened but I got yet another amazing mini quilt from the last round of swapping!

I made this quilt to send away to my partner and I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

My outgoing pack looked like this.  I included a charm pack of all the Pearl Bracelets too.

This is the incredibly amazing quilt I received in return for the one I sent!  Can you believe it?  

I especially love the alley cat in the bottom right corner.  See how it looks like he is missing an ear?  It is really there, just a darker gray like the background.  Cute though.  

Even an orange one just like my Jack!

She also sent some tissue, an adorable cat note book and cat Washi tape. 

 I think I made out like a bandit!  Such a beautiful quilt.  

It is hanging on the wall in my sewing room even as I type this.  

Just look at all that Lizzy House gorgeousness!!!

The back was made with this wonderful green Hello Pilgrim fabric, so lush. 

 She even used LH fabric for the label.  

Thanks Megan, for sending me such an amazing mini quilt.  I just adore it!

~XOP~

Catvent QAL

Is anyone else out there participating in Elizabeth Hartman's Catvent QAL? 

 It's 25 different cat faces in 25 days. 

 Like Advent but with cats!  

It's just purrrrrrfecct.  

I had some "have to" sewing that I needed to finish this past weekend.  

I got that almost finished.  

Just need to stitch around some letters and it will be done. 

 I can't post about it as they are gifts, 

which stinks as you will LOVE these projects once I can blog about them!

I really wanted to join in the Catvent QAL.  

My friend, Stephanie, convinced me to at least get started.  

Without further ado meet the first two cats in my Catvent QAL litter.

First up is Ferdinand. 

All handsome decked out in Tula Pink fabrics he is my first born.

The second born is Bearnadette.  

Isn't she adorable?

Almost looks like she is winking!

Look for some new fur fabric babies to join the litter soon!

If you are interested in playing along, just stop over here and look for all the cats so far!

There is always room for one more cat in the litter!!

I hope you are all getting to do something you love to do before the holiday rush is upon you!

~XOP~

Kitty Toes and Sewing Woes

I was working on my second wedding quilt on Sunday.  

I had all the squares made and it was time to put the top together.  

I had a pattern.  

Easy right? 

 WRONG!  

First I had so much help I couldn't see and sew at the same time.

 Just look at how close those adorable toes were to the needle!

 She finally settled down and I was able to put some of the top together. 

Have you ever started sewing assuming you knew how to put something together?  

I was doing this and could NOT figure out why my top was not coming out like the pattern!!  

Then I looked closer and realized what I was doing wrong. 

 I ended up having to rip out 3 rows and re-sew some ends and rows and ACK, 

it was NOT a great sewing night! 

 I don't happen to have a photo of the top so far but will take one soon.  

You can see the blocks here. 

A 4 patch sashed in white, and a 16 patch using blues and greens.  

The blocks alternate and are set on point.  

I am not sure I am going to do the borders as in the pattern but

 I am hoping to get the center part of the top finished before I leave for my quilting retreat on Friday.  

I am going with some of the others from the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild 

for a quilt retreat this weekend. 

 I will be there from Fri-Sun, meals provided.  

Sounds like a great weekend which should also be very productive!  

I will be back later to share more.

~XOP~

A Study In Cats

I had to take some photos for another online publication and, of course, the cats were right there offering their 2 cents worth. I can't show you the quilt yet, but I can show you my helpers.  I could not resist snapping a few close ups.  I hope you enjoy them!

First up is Aiden checking out why I am even in her room

Settle down Fatty McFatty, let me introduce you to a new friend

 I see, you are bored already eh?

 Companionable silence

 Nap time

 Thank God you took him away, mom

Now it's Hallie's turn to wonder what I am up to.

 Aiden

 Hallie

 I love this photo of her!

 Hallie

Do you think I could get either of them to actually lay on the quilt I needed to photograph? 

NO, so I used the stuffed cat.  

In a house full of 4 cats I ended up using a prop.  

Go figure.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~XOP~

Look Over Here ----->> Shiny Bauble

This seems to be the story of my life right now. 

 I begin one thing only to get side tracked by another! 

 I brought up another bin from the basement and decided to go through it.  

In it I found some flannels from when I was a child! 

 (read really, really vintage here).  

There was not too much of any given one so I thought, 

why not use the GO cutter and cut out some 5" squares?  

Well I will tell you why not, because I don't have that die!

 LOL. 

 I do have the 3 1/2" tumbler die and that would work too.  

I busily cut all the flannels into tumblers. 

 Like I had ANY business spending my time doing that when I had bee blocks to make 

and quilts to make for weddings and any number of "gotta's" to get to but what did I do?  

You got it.  

Things started out well and I began the bee blocks and then I thought,

 I can use those tumblers as leader and enders. 

 I did begin that way.  

Then HEY...shiny bauble look over here ---->>>>happened.

I just started sewing them together and could not stop myself!!  Oh well, I went with it.  As it turns out, I had a great helper too.

You know you can deposit MUCH more cat hair if you roll all over the quilt as mom makes it!

Do you know how difficult it is to try to sew blocks together with this happening??

  Do you??

Some progress was made.  

My goal is to use as much of the vintage flannel as I can and 

make the quilt as large as I can without adding any new fabric to it. 

After pushing her off the table multiple times 

she finally settled for sleeping next to me in the scrap bin.  

Silly, silly Autumn!

I hope you stop back tomorrow because I am in the Blog Hop Giveaway a

nd I have something very amazing to give away to one of my readers!!  

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!!

~XOP~

A Little Help From My Friend

I have been trying to finish up a project that had a deadline by the end of the month. 

 I finally got it all pieced and quilted but needed to put the binding on.  

Autumn thought she needed to help me.

You can see the pins in the binding!

She fell asleep as I stitched and watched Supernatural.

It was a very relaxing afternoon over here.  

Now I have bread rising and laundry in. 

 Getting ready to watch the new Once Upon a Time, Walking Dead and Downton Abbey!

~XOP~