So many hobbies!

Why are my weekends so weird?

I spent Saturday morning working on getting rid of my old mattress and box springs.  I decided I needed a new one and my sister had one only a few years old that needed a new home.  I put an ad on Craig's List for a free mattress and box springs and, eventually, a couple arrived to take them away.  A few hours later, my sister and BIL arrived with the "new" mattress, etc.  The old mattress was a full/double and since we all thought the "new" one was as well, I bought sheets, mattress pad and memory foam mattress topper, all in a full-size.  The "new" mattress is a queen.  <sigh>  After much ado, my sister, who plans on eventually buying a new full mattress for a guest room, agreed to take the stuff that's now too small and an agreement was made.  The search is on once again for sheets, mattress pad and a queen-sized memory foam mattress topper, all on sale.  Crap, I'm going to need a new blanket, too.  <sigh>  I'm sure it'll all work out, especially since I really needed a new blanket again anyway.

Speaking of blankets, or, in the case, quilts, I'm trying to come up with a pattern for a Halloween quilt.  I already purchased some fabric for one

but I still need 2 or 3 more.  A couple of solids, green definitely, and maybe another pattern.  A trip to the quilt store is in my future.

When I wasn't moving mattresses around my condo, I was knitting.  I just finished binding off my second Mendocino Shaped Shawl but it still needs the ends woven in and a wash and block. 

While I was knitting, I was being supervised, in case you were wondering:

And while not a chaperone, Galen was with me the whole time:

Who knew?

Apparently, leaving the sewing machine up does make for a more productive week.  The quilt is almost done.  This is the fabric I used for the back:

I've been wondering what would be the perfect quilt to use this fabric in and the cat quilt was it.  I just love this fabric.  I've still got about a yard left so it'll reappear in a future project.  It wasn't quite wide enough for the back so I took a strip of dark royal blue and sewed it up one side.  I should have a finished quilt by Thursday.  This will be the fastest I've ever made a quilt.  Go me!

I've been hitting the fabric again

Last week, I discovered a fabric line called "Catkin" by Julie Paschkis.  I was smitten.

As a cat lover, I just couldn't resist.

Most of this fabric I'll use as quilt backs. 

Now I need to find to perfect quilts worthy of such gorgeous fabric.

Tyr approves of the new fabric line, too.  Actually, it's not new which is why I bought what I did.  I really wanted it and it's becoming very hard to find.  I now return to my former fabric diet and I promise to stop looking for fabric online.  At least for a while.

Tuesday's offering

 

When my sisters and I drove up north Friday, we stopped at Country Stitches in Lansing.  I started with the batik on the far left and built up this run of fabrics.  I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it yet but I'm sure something will come to me. 

 

I treated myself to two of each of these charm packs.  Now I'm trying to decide on the perfect quilt pattern for each one.  I've pretty much decided to go with this quilt for the Terrain charm packs.

 

Tyr, my goofball cat, stole on of my spindle boxes and tried to crawl inside it.  I can now positively say, my spindle boxes won't fit your average cat. 

 

And here's a shot of said goofball cat hanging out on one of the shelves in my livingroom.  Hopefully, tonight she'll let me sleep through the night without being awakened to give her some lovin'.  I could use the sleep.

Kaffe Fassett fat quarters

 

Before my car decided to go kablooey, I ordered a couple of gorgeous Kaffe Fassett fabric bundles from the Fat Quarter Shop.  One in blue and one in natural:

 

I'm really looking forward to cutting into these.  Eventually.

More fabric

Yeah, I bought more:

 

For my next quilt:  greens...

 

and the coppery oranges.

In addition to increasing my fabric stash, I also quilted my contest quilt.  I did some free-motion stitching practicing and frankly, I stink at it.  So, I brought out the walking foot and got busy.  Here's a sneak peek:

 

 

Keeping warm

A big pot of split pea soup!  Finally!  I tried all week to get to the soup but it didn't happen until today.  They were predicting sub-zero temps with the wind chill so I did all my grocery shopping last night and stayed in today.  It was a day of cuddling with the kittens, watching "The Scarlet Pimpernell" with Richard E. Grant, working on the binding for the little quilt and eating yummy soup.  I think the soup was so good because of the fantastic ham I got from my brother.  Yum!

 

This was my Christmas present from my sister.  I've wanted to make a colorbox quilt for a while and thanks to my sister, now I can.  I was going to go with black for the sashing but after seeing this quilt, I'm torn between black and white.  Of course, it's going to have to wait behind the two quilts I've got cut out but not assembled.  And, I've decided to join this contest and the deadline for the contest is March 31st.  While I hope I win, I have no doubts that other quilters with a lot more experience than myself will be joining.  Mostly, I'm joining to have fun and because, who knows, I might just win!

I REALLY want to try this...

Check this out!  Maybe getting lots of snow is a good thing.

Fabric Friday

 

The first set of fabrics for my blue/green quilt.  I haven't raided the stash in the basement yet so there will undoubtedly be more.

Can't wait to cast on

 

If I wasn't in the middle of a pair of socks, I would have already cast on for another pair.  The stats:  Merino/silk/bamboo roving from Woolgatherings on Etsy - two different colorways; after its bath, it ranges between fingering and sport weight; and from 8 ounces, I got about 760 yards.  This is going to make a gorgeous pair of socks and with the added silk, they should wear well.

 

Some new fabric for my stash; I fell in love with the colors.  (In case you're curious, it's Metro Cafe from Kona Bay.)  I want to make a blue and green quilt and the right hand fabric will be perfect.  Actually, the number of quilts I want to make is growing bigger than the time I'll have to make them.  I really need to find a way to become independently wealthy.  Work keeps interfering with my play time.

Fortunately for me, my local quilt store just sent me a coupon for 20% off of sewing machine accessories and I'll be using mine to buy a walking foot for my machine.   A sewing machine foot is an accessory, right?  I hope so 'cause the foot costs $110.   Since I keep making quilts, I'm going to need to quilt at least some of them or I'll end up in the poor house.  Walking feet are only good it you're quilting in a straight line so if I want any fancy quilting done, I'll have to hire out.

Galen found a new place to sleep.  It's where I store my handknits.  He's got good taste: