Ginger isn't going to like this but I've been so side-tracked and behind these past few weeks that there are something like eighty-three things I need to tell you about.
So here goes:
One. Let me start with Rosie having surgery two weeks ago. It's all good - she's fine. But a one-to-two hour scheduled surgery for a tooth extraction turned into five teeth extracted and almost four hours of surgery. I won't pretend - both my Mom and I were more anxious about Rosie having surgery than we were about my Mom's having surgery. The good news is that Rosie sailed through the procedure - even her doctor said so. As soon as she was awake, she made it abundantly clear that she did not like being in a crate. The vet moved her to a small blocked-off area where she could see-and-be-seen, and according to Dr. Owen, it was immediately apparent that Rosie was planning her escape. I was able to pick her up an hour or so later and as soon as she walked in the door - groggy and tired - she perked up because she realized it was time for her dinner. I took that as a very good sign.
No pictures of Rosie - she refuses to sit still until she's had a spa day.
Two. I have completely forgotten to tell you about the Quiltmaker Block Party event in Portland, Oregon next March - the 20th through the 23rd. Registration is open already! The teachers are:
- Gudrun Erla, GE Designs
- Beth Ferrier, Applewood Farm
- Diane Harris, QM Interactive Editor
- Julie Herman, Jaybird Quilts
- Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville
- Jo Morton, Jo Morton Quilts
- Carrie Nelson, Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.
- Peg Spradlin, Handicrafts by Peg
I'll be doing three classes: a Schnibble quilts - Lincoln - and two new designs. One is based on the block I have in the upcoming 100 Blocks issue and the other is a bit of a mystery. Yeah, yeah... that means I haven't finished the quilt yet but I know what it's going to be. I even know the name of it. When the 100 Blocks issue comes out, I'm going to have to tell you about my block. When you see it, a whole lot of people are going to think I copied someone's fabulously cute quilt.
Three. I have not forgotten about the pincushions. It really was harder than I expected to figure out where to start - even starting with making a pincushion proved troublesome. But the first post is written and you can look for that on Monday.
Four. I was at the quilt shop yesterday to pick out fabrics for the kits for a class/club I'm doing starting in - egad! - three weeks! This isn't the first month's kit, it's the second month's kit. The projects will be published patterns - Schnibbles and Little Bites - though I think we'll be venturing into one or two new things next Spring. While I was at Olde World picking fabrics, one of the ladies there was telling a customer - Michele - that I occasionally include gratuitous pictures of Daniel Craig on my blog - when I blog, of course.
So this is for Alice. And for Michele.
Okay. It's for me too.
Five. Do you know what this is?
Me either. I truly don't a clue what it's for, or what it pertains to. I found it in my work room and I can only assume that it's some quilt-math. I haven't any idea what project it might belong to so I tossed it. You know what that means? I'll go looking for it next week when I remember what it was for - and then it will take me an hour of looking before I realize it was this card that I threw away. Though it just occurred to me that by posting a picture of it here, I can throw it away and still have the information! How long do you think it will take me to remember that when I go looking for it? I agree - longer than it should.
The reason I'm showing you this is because I spent two days earlier this week writing a new pattern. I had forgotten how "labor intensive" writing cutting instructions for a big quilt could be, and how much yardage was required. The frightening part is that I decided to write the cutting for fat quarters and for fat eighths. Fat quarters are more efficient but fat eighths are scrappier - guess which one I used to make my quilt? Since the blocks have flying geese and square-in-a-square units, I also wanted to provide the cutting for my favorite Open Gate Quilts' rulers - the Fit to be Geese and Fit to be Quarter 6.5 & Companion rulers. So that meant writing ruler cutting for fat quarters and ruler cutting for fat eighths. Four different cutting plans! Seriously... if - when! - I really do lose my marbles, I will know the exact moment that it started to happen.
But Marguerite has been photographed and I hope to get pattern covers by the end of this coming week.
As for the quilt, it's at the quilter. This is what I made with my bundle of Chateau Rouge fat eighths.
I fell in love with that yellow/maize fabric. I also wound up adding backgrounds and a few extra fabrics to the mix... but more on that soon.
Six. Design walls. A few years back, I asked you about what you do for design walls and lame twit that I am, I never got around to showing you what I actually wound up doing. I tried flannel - in gray and in off-white - but I would up preferring regular old batting. I took the knobs off of three closet doors - actually, I just turned them around so that they're backwards - and then used wide blue painter's tape to secure the batting on the inside of the door. I will not show you a picture of that because it isn't very neat. I don't care about it not being neat because it works and that's what matters. But even though I don't care that it's not neat doesn't mean I'm going to show it to you!
When I replace the batting - it's getting a little worn and fuzzy after almost three years - I'll try for a neater inside finish.
This is my "design wall".
But do you see the blocks on the floor?
Yes. I have a "design wall" but I still use the "design floor".
Seven. That's it. There weren't really eighty-three things. I exaggerated just a little - by seventy-seven things. Okay, a lot.
Have a happy weekend - I hope you're having a lovely Fall where you are.
See you Monday!
