Time Flies! - FRIENDS Swap 2013

Has it really been a year? Time flies!

Hurry on over to visit Khris at Sew Prim Khris to join up for the 2013 FRIENDS Swap. This will be my fourth year and the swap is lots of fun! Tell Khris I sent you.

Lincoln - Well Sort of

This month's Another Year of Schnibbles is Carrie Nelson, Miss Rosie's Quilt Company's Lincoln. I started out with good intentions and then my fabric sort of took control. I ended with a rail fence(less) version of Carrie's pattern. Carrie's book - Another Bite of Schnibbles -  has two sizes of the pattern. I wanted to do a wall-hanging using a crazy cat fabric I had. Showcasing the cats required the larger pattern but I had the idea to make less blocks to achieve the size I wanted.

Well the fabric - or CATS! - got out of hand. I was having such a grand time making them that I suddenly realized I had made way too many but when I tried to eliminate specific cat blocks to make room for the rail fence blocks and still get a smaller overall size ....  

Well, the CATS REFUSED! 

All of the CATS demanded inclusion. What is a quilter to do? Give in to the CATS, of course ....

My adaptation of Carrie's rail fence block is the colorful stripped fabric of the cornerstones. I'm quite sure Carrie was not thinking of CATS and MICE when she designed Lincoln. Sorry, Carrie, the CATS have a mind of their own. I love how patterns can be used in so many different ways.This is my version of Lincoln - 

Mouse Trap!

Ms  Cha Cha Cat is pleased the cats are all contained in one place. She has suspected they were eating her cat treats when she wasn't looking. lol!

The Another Year of Schnibbles parade will be August 1 at Sinta's Pink Pincushion and Sherri's A Quilting Life blogs. Mark your calendar to be part of the fun.

Chugging Along

The crazy cats - now called Mouse Trap - need only borders to be a flimsy. I going to look at this for a bit; but I'm thinking the border is going to simply be the black polka dot fabric. There is already an explosion of COLOR!

But first things first - Ms Cha Cha Cat and I are going to take a nice, comfy Sunday afternoon nap.

I am linking with Kim of Kim's Big Quilting Adventure for Scrap Basket Sunday. Kim was so very sweet to setup this event, especially this weekend as Kim and hubby are somewhere between their home and Alaska. Kim is going on a cruise!

I Won!

Henry Glass Fabrics held a Summer Party and I was one of the winners. Look what was sitting at my front door when I got from work today ...

Absolutely beautiful! There are 8 fourth yard cuts of Winter Games by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass. I'm so excited!

THANK YOU, HENRY GLASS!

Crazy Cats

If Abe Lincoln did not have cats, he should have!

These are my star blocks for Carrie Nelson's Lincoln, the Another Year of Schnibbles for July. I am using her larger sized pattern to accommodate the Cats! but I still want only a wall hanging so 8 starred Cats! will be all. Rail fencing, or my version as this wall hanging is getting too large, to follow.

Enjoy your day!

Christmas in July

Day Two - Third and Final Post for the Weekend

 The bottom two blocks are not sewn together nor are the flying geese squared up. All of the flying geese; however, are stitched and pressed!

EEK!!!! says Ms Cha Cha Cat - there is another PLAID cat! and a crazy green one with TRIANGLE shapes. Ms Cat thinks her will go sleep off whatever is causing this!

Ladies, that is all for me for the day. It is still early in Panama City - not quite 4 p.m. - and I have places to go and people to see. Hazel of Hazel's Quilts has been an awesome hostess this weekend. Thanks, Hazel!

Next month, second weekend I hear we have all been invited to Joanna's, Needle, Thread, Happiness. And, next month I fully intend to actually work on my challenge project for the QAL. See you there.

Day Two - Post Two -

Featured Cat #1

Featured Cats #1, #2 and #3

 Ms Cha Cha Cat says - Her has seen yellow cats, orange cats, stripped cats and cats with spots. Her knows some shinny black cats look blue in the right light as do a few silver grey cats. But ....

HER AIN'T NEVER SEEN A PLAID CAT!

And, that most surely is a PLAID blue and yellow in the left hand corner of the picture! 

Her thinks this cat must belong to/or be somehow associated with Lynn! Her hears Lynn of Sew'n Wild Oaks  talk about PLAID all the time.

Speaking of Lynn ... my backing came for my Country Charmer yesterday -

I love it. The color is perfect.

Well back to the flying geese which are forming the star points for my featured cats. Hope everyone is having as much fun as I am today!

Sunday - Day Two of the Christmas QAL & Challenge for July. I'm linked to Hazel of Hazel's Quilts for the QAL. Hazel is our hostess for July ... and one fine hostess she is!

I am also linking to Kim of   Kim's Big Quilting Adventure for Scrap Basket Sunday - my Christmas gift to myself is not only very bright but very scrappy!

All the wildly colored pieces for the stars are cut - cat print center of star, blues star points and polka dots the background. I haven't a clue what the rail fence between the star blocks will be - perhaps I will try to tone this down - or maybe not! ( Dr Seuss colors keep popping into my mind!)

I am  actually thinking about the Christmas QAL & Challenge. My pattern and fabric await and I've been considering applique methods, as applique will be a new adventure for me.

Come check out the fun going on at both Hazel's and Kim's today. Happy quilting!


Update #2:  Ms Cha Cha and I got very little done in the way of sewing today. We had unexpected, yet very welcomed guests, and the day turned to chit chat and coffee. We will get back to the projects tomorrow. Hope everyone has had a lovely time visiting with Hazel so far. Can you believe she really wants us all to come back in the morning? Hazel is a fantastic hostess. See you tomorrow.

Update #1: My printer needs ink and the WalMart on my side of town is out. Bummer! My choice was drive across town or do something else. I decided on something else. And that something else has nothing to do with Christmas unless, like me, you want to call this my Christmas present to myself.

I have been fussy cutting bright colored cats and fabrics to become the stars in Carrie Nelson's Lincoln, which is the Another Year of Schnibbles quilt for July. Now I'm off to see what everyone else is up to. Happy quilting!


I'm linking with the Christmas QAL and Challenge for a fun weekend of sewing and sharing. Hazel of Hazel's Quilts is our hostess for the weekend. Come one! Come All!

Ms Cha Cha Cat and I will be in and out over the weekend. We hope to see you. My plan is to simply update this post as we go along. Right now I need coffee! I'll be back.

Four Corners!

FOUR CORNERS

OR RATHER

A COMPLETED FLIMSY

I will try to get some outside photos before our next monthly Country Charmer link up at Lesley's August 1, 2013. We have had rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain for days - heavy, heavy rain at that - in Panama City, FL. The completed flimsy is much too large for my design tablecloth so the two factors combined this is the best I can do for pictures right now. The weather will eventually improved.


In between stitching borders and enjoying some family fun at my sister's home with all five of her grandchildren, I found time to read emails. Wouldn't you know - BackSide Fabrics had wide width backing fabrics on sale through last Sunday. Well I had to browse and this popped into my cart..Some fabric has a mind of its own and this one wanted to live at my house!

I am all about Paisley like Lynn, our lovely Country Charmer pattern designer, is about plaid. The beautiful Kaufman Paisley I had planned to piece into a back for this quilt will become part of another quilt top.

My design wall looks so lonely. I think I will start Lincoln, this month's Another Year of Schnibbles quilt. Then again I still have last month's to finish start. And, next weekend is the link up for the Christmas QAL and Challenge. I do believe Hazel will be our hostess for the two day event. My fabrics are waiting patiently.Decisions!

Attentive Scrutiny

Here are a few shots of the un-stitched inner and outer borders for my Country Charmer (pattern designed by Lynn Wilder of Sew'n Wild Oaks). The borders are simply smoothed onto the design wall so are not even or correctly spaced.

And version #2 using my beloved Double Chocolate by Three Sisters. This was my original choice for the inner border, which I had rejected and ordered the Generals Wives by Nancy Gere. Now the Double Chocolate is tending to be my favorite again. I like the more muted brown and the blue carry through.Then I do like the plaid effect from the Generals Wives. What do you think?

Ms Cha Cha Cat and I will be giving ....

ATTENTIVE SCRUTINY!

Which one do we Love?

Who am I kidding?

I let Ms Cha Cha Cat decide. I  said - Meow, for your choice.Holding up her cat treat bag when I said Double Chocolate got a Meow.  She is one smart kitty. I got my Dark Chocolate and she got her treats! 

The flimsy is now too large for my design tablecloth which is why the top is not laying flat. Two sides of the inner border are attached. The inner border is done! 

One of the corner blocks. You can see how nicely Lynn's pattern continues to match up.

Just the outer border to go and my Country Charmer will be a Flimsy!

The Generals Wives may still be part of this quilt. My brain is playing with using it for the binding. Time will tell!

I'm linking with Kim of Kim's Big Quilting Adventure for Scrap Basket Sunday. Drop on over to Kim's to see what everyone else is doing.

What a Relief!

What a relief! I'm so HAPPY. The fabric arrived yesterday and  the final sashing went together on my Country Charmer without any hitches.

Okay, I will have to admit Ms Cha Cha Cat cared less about the fabric arrival or finished sashing. She was really just washing her face after her treats and before her nap in the first picture. Ms Cat aside here is my Country Charmer with all the sashing waiting for the borders .....

I love this quilt!

And, I am rather enjoying the fact the cheap Dollar General bright blue tablecloth (design wall) is capable of supporting the whole (less borders) quilt top. The tablecloth was a well spent investment! ha! ha!

Ms Cha Cha Cat says alright, already - Leave Me Alone! It is nap time and the stupid camera flash is annoying me.

 

Rainy Fourth of July

I read a Yahoo article online this morning - Three Things to Do on a Rainy Fourth of July. The article suggests 1) board game, 2) 3D puzzle and 3) indoor picnic and movie night. Hmmm .... ??? .....

Ms Cha Cha Cat and I have a much better plan. Ms Cat plans on sleeping. She may transport herself from the chair to the couch to the bed or even the floor a couple of times - cats need variety while dozing the day away.

But me? I do believe ....

I WILL GET SOME QUALITY

QUILTING TIME

 HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Country Charmer July Update

Bottom Row of Sashing/Cornerstones Added

Second Row

Third Row

Fourth Row

All Sashing Except the Very Top - Waiting on Fabric to Arrive

I am pleased with my Country Charmer. I love the blocks. I love the sashing. I love the 9 patch cornerstones. I love the fabrics. I love this quilt. And I especially love how easily the Irish chain formed as the blocks and sashing were sewn together.

Irish Chain Close-up

 

More Irish Chain - All Lined Up! Oh yeah!

One More Block

I'm linking with Lesley of The Cuddle Quilter. Country Charmer pattern by Lynn Wilder of Sew'n Wild Oaks. Go see all the wonderful Country Charmer quilts being displayed on Lesley's blog.

I AM LOVING MY COUNTRY CHARMER!

While you are browsing the Internet stop by Sinta of Pink Pincushion and Sherri of A Quilting Life for Another Year of Schnibbles July parade of  Dulcinea. There will be many, many beautiful Dulcinea(s) parading some time today! Don't miss it! Mine sadly will miss the parade this month.. My Country Charmer won out on my somewhat limited quilting time. I will get Dulcinea done as it is a lovely Carrie Nelson Schnibbles.