Orange Crush

I got some of my darks cut tonight.

Bonnie Hunter's Orange Crush Mystery

I think I've found my fabrics for Bonnie's new mystery, Orange Crush. I've got two blues that I have enough yardage of, but both have patterns. Not sure which or if either will work because the patterns that are not mute but they are like tone on tone blues. Suggestions are welcome. The black isn't a true solid black. It's got a leaf pattern that's kinda gray/brownish with a black background but looks solid enough. The orange is a piece of fabric I 'just had to have' many years ago, before I started quilting, from a trip to the first Super Joann's I went to in CT. with a friend. Neither of us had a clue what were doing. Well, I've still got it, have never used that 'just had to have' fabric so I'm using it here. It's got cactus and suns with tone on tone shades of orange. One of those fabrics you look at and go "What was I thinking!"

Mz Mouse

Mz Mouse is quite old. She came here with a litter of 4 kittens many years ago. We found homes for the little kitties, but nobody wanted mom. Because she was so small, skinny and her color, we named her Mz Mouse. She's been here forever and hasn't gone outside since she stepped foot inside the front door those many years ago. I was getting ready to go the Post Office for mail and found her sleeping in my goose down coat. It's been terribly cold, windy and snowy here for the last two weeks, so I don't blame her. She likes to sleep in boxes, lays on my fabrics (usually when I'm trying to figure out what goes where and she sits right beside the sewing machine sometimes when I'm trying to sew.

In the Beginning

This is a picture of Mr. Big Stuff at 8 weeks old. He only weighed 3 lbs. Normal weight for a Portuguese Water Dog Puppy at that age is around 6-8lbs. Guess I never should have given him the idea he could get on the table.

Mr. Big Stuff

Here's a picture of Mr. Big Stuff, the little hairball that ate my glasses. Looks harmless doesn't he.

Twisted Sister and Liberated Stars classes

Gwen Marston was the guest speaker at our Guild last month. She was kind enough to grace us with three of her classes. I attended the Liberated Stars, enjoyed her wit and had a lot of fun. This will be one of those projects I finish rather than send it to the deep with the ill fated Storm At Sea.

Ami Simms presented her Twisted Sisters class at the E. Grand Rapids Library on Sat. What a great day and another wonderful class. Another project that won't share space with Storm At Sea. I've already got the rest of my blocks cut out sitting at the sewing machine waiting to be put together.

Step 9 Carolina Crossroads

My top is together! Next step is the borders. This went together much easier than I expected.

Step 9 Carolina Crossroads

I finished the last blocks for Bonnie' mystery quilt. Here's a picture of one corner I laid out on my table. If the weather is as bad as they predict it for the weekend, I'll be able to get it together this weekend.

Step 6 Carolina Crossroads Mystery

Step 6 has been completed and cant' wait to see how this goes together. The mystery process of putting a quilt together has been a lot of fun.

Step 6 Carolina Crossroads Mystery

Cruzer's new ear piece

Cruzer is doing well with his new ear piece. Sometime between Tues morning and Tue night, he developed a huge hematoma on his ear. It was quite painful for him so Dr. Karyl took care of it yesterday. He must wear his new ear piece until the end of the month and we hope it heals well. At almost 14 there are always concerns. He's a lot more comfortable and doesn't seem to mind the new jewelry.

Bright Sun Shiny Day

Today is such a beautiful sun shiny day for Jan. that I decided to take these pictures outside. It was also quite windy. Binding will come on a cold snowy or rainy day. The sun was so bright, it's a little difficult to see the colors in the one quilt. They're pale pink, yellow, green, purple or lavender against white. The green flower border will be scalloped, something I've never done, so that will take some time just to cut it correctly. The sampler is a collection of blocks I did to improve matching seams and while waiting for Birdie to have her last litter of puppies a while ago.

The quilting on both (and Radiant Suns) are done by Rita Galaska, a professional quilter and a dear friend. I'm a challenge for her as I'm not a long time quilter and if something comes up 'short' I just fix it by adding a piece here and there. I sometimes drive her crazy. :-))) She's always so kind and quilts away.

No more quilting till I get new glasses though. Mr. Big Stuff, one of Birdie's puppies, decided he needed to see the world through my eyes while I was in the shower. He's 18 lbs of shear untrained, delight. He got on the table, with the computer, took a bottle of water and my glasses. He's seeing things more clearly now, however, I'm not!

puppies gone bad

I was gone for less than an hour and came home to THIS.................. isn't my mess, but............it involves a lot of MY stuff. (Notice cord to iron and what looks like chewed up paper) Those are pieces from the new Rowenta iron, attached to that cord, the puppies pulled into their pen from the kitchen counter along with some new quilt books, new quilt patterns, Christmas cards, unpaid bills, my new medical benefit book and printed quilt blocks.......all together with their toys. They were so proud.................. I believe they had some help from young Trixie who sits on the counter above their pen and teases them.

Here's little "Mavrik" He's 8 weeks old in this picture.