Dessert Auction

Mostly it was rainy and dark yesterday so I never did get this quilt outside. I tried one more better lighting photo in the house.

People liked the quilt but I know for next year this particular auction is not the right venue. :) It was still good for me to have a sewing project right now. Perhaps NASCAR quilt is back in my future.

I did get Nim and I out for a fast hike between the rain. By the time we got to our turn around point we were even above the clouds!

I also baked for the auction:

Peanut Better Doughtzel Balls (all gluten free ingredients)
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (all gluten free ingredients)
Chocolate Pumpkin Loaf (not gluten free)

I used the Bob's Red Mill GF mix for both cookies. I definitely prefer spelt or something more wheaty in the oatmeal raisin.

I think the peanut butter cancels out the lack of wheat taste in the other cookies. Maybe oat flour would work for the oatmeal raisin? Both recipes do well gluten free however.

Pinwheels Quilt Finished

This has been a long day of sitting and I am paying for it now. Nim (and honestly me) is going nuts from lack of activity and my back is worn out from the quilting.

I just came in from walking Nim in circles in the dark in my yard, but I will have to do better tomorrow - pacing the yard is hardly a dent in his activity needs.

Turns out the cats don't much care about what I am doing until after 2pm. Prior to that they are still sleeping.

Today was boring for everyone in general. Too much quilting for cats and no exciting cutting or measuring.

I have moved the dog bed under the sewing table. Sigh. This is because primarily because Emile was too cold next to the windows and I kept finding him on the slate next to a space heater. Leela spent a lot of time on the chair behind me while I was sewing.

I still think I liked turning the sewing machine like we learned at the Puyallup Sewing and Stitchery Expo. My biggest struggle is that with the machine in this position I occasionally sew over my own stitches. I never had that problem before.

If the weather cooperates tomorrow I will try and get a better lighting photo tomorrow, but I love how this quilt turned out. It is in the wash as we speak given all the cat participation.

Tomorrow is baking! Technically this quilt is going to be an item at a dessert auction, but they wanted to have non-dessert options. They have never had a quilt or anything like a quilt so let's hope it does OK.

Quilt Progress (give me strength)

I had every intention of finishing the quilt this weekend (totally doable) but my schedule ended up completely off and I didn't get it done.

At least I did have some time at home to make progress. My first attempt at the full quilting process in the general living area with cats nearby  has proven to be at times frustrating and at times funny.

Everything sewing related has become an obstacle to steal (LOTS of theft going on), chew, jump, or hide in.

The measuring tape is a hot item. I rescued it from Leela (who used to drag a stuffed hippo that was larger than herself around the house and stash it), only to watch it immediately start to disappear off another corner of the table.

I looked over the edge table...yup, Emile.

Other hot item: the scissors. Perhaps Emile will lose those last pounds in exercise.

Leela is always present. She has no problem being in my space and taking what she wants. Emile is stealth attack.

Leela enticing Emile for an attack:

The above photo was followed by some jumping and hissing.

Leela supervises my every move while contemplating what she is going to touch or take next.

She also has this roll technique to get under the cardboard:

Regardless if I have something carefully laid out on the cardboard.

Leela also invited Nim to get on there with her which he had no problem doing. She can get a really fast scamper/spin going on the smooth coated cardboard which is attractive to both Nim and Emile and sends anything on the board flying. Grrr!

Despite a ton of interruptions that were either too blurry to post or too fast to capture the top is done. I should be sandwiching later this morning and getting the quilting going.

It is dark, rainy, and cold out here. Have a great week!

Cough-Free Friday

It is almost 4pm and Nim has gone all day without coughing. I hope we are done with the "dog cold."

It is really cold today, but no rain so as long as I bundle up and get moving I actually can enjoy it.

The blocks are all together and now to search my stash for some borders. The lighting doesn't do this quilt justice so you will just have to trust me that it is a fun combination. Hopefully I can find a better way to photograph it when it is done.

Have a great Friday night and hopefully a relaxing weekend!

November Quilt Project

This latest project is a favorite pattern of mine from "Phenomenal far quarter quilts" by M'Liss Rae Hawley. If I can get it done by Tuesday I will submit it for an auction.

The "patterned" fabric comes from a bundle I got years ago at the Sew Expo in Puyallup. The main background fabric is extra bought for that darn NASCAR quilt which is on break right now. I am sure I will return to the NASCAR quilt soon as well. I am completely unemployed right now and it is helping me to have other structured projects besides job applying and studying.

Nim has been sick (kind of like kennel cough or some respiratory infection).

Today he finally was feeling a lot better and drinking so for everyone's well-being we got a fall hike in.

It was cold out here today...that cold, clear type of day that makes you think of snow. Have a great evening!

Emile! (and apparently everyone past and present)

Emile is about one more incident away from earning himself regularly reports.This honor was previously held by Rusty.

(Rusty - 2010)

Emile is positive that he is STARVING. He is sure that at this time of the year he is supposed to be eating excessively to build winter girth.

Since he has been on a "diet" most of the year...aka normal eating for his healthy weight...he has taken to chewing other things to demonstrate his displeasure. Paper has been a standby for years. I have a minimum of 3 notebooks going at any given time that used to be safe in a detached office, not anymore:

New this season is cords and other personal items, such as the handle on my new and expensive collapsible dog crate. This would be my electric blanket cord:

How many electric blanket fires are caused by failing cords?

So I begrudgingly got out the scale yesterday and dealt with weighing cats. Despite the fact this doesn't not involve a kennel, going to the vet, or pain, they still are melodramatic about the process. I am pretty sure I have never weighed Leela without her rear being in my face as she tries to back up my body.

I remember one vet telling me you can just put the cat in a bag and put them on the scale and I was even dumb enough to try it once. That only worked with the my 5 pound persian-mix Chloe who was a big believer in going limp in the moment (maybe some growling) while planning revenge for later.

(Chloe with Leela - 2005)

(Chloe with Odin - 2007)

Emile certainly doesn't look too skinny, but I decided if he was around 12 pounds I would bring his food up. Sadly that was not the case:

Emile: 15 pounds - sorry Emile, no food increase for you. (16.9 in March, 15.8 in May -  it is amazing how slow the loss has been. I don't have a lot of experience in this area with cats, but normally I can take weight off dogs much faster)

Leela: 11 pounds (holding steady - ALL YEAR)

Leela says she has a "set point" and she had some not publishable suggestions for my scale.

You have to feel bad for them. I mean I wouldn't put up with someone restricting my food.

Meanwhile I am watching Webinars and cutting out a new quilt.

Speaking of quilting, I am sad I didn't have a quilt ready for the fall Quilt Festival, but I am still getting out there to vote and meet other quilters:

I am running into a lot more not user-friendly commenting systems out there which is unfortunate. I don't know who came up with that random text/number validation system but they clearly didn't come from the same usability background I did.

So I am not leaving as many comments this year and as someone who loves comments that bums me out a bit, but please visit sites! The stories and the art behind many of these quilts are so inspiring.

Have a great Tuesday. I am planning on another productive one!

This is one of my favorite Chloe photos and I had forgotten about it. When I would go to Costco I would make a point of finding her the perfect box. She wore "chicken of the sea" well.

 (Sherman on the dog bed, Odin, and Chloe - 2005)

These three were a great mix. Sherman (Shepherd-mix, almost made it to age 15) would have actually probably chased Chloe had he noticed her moving around the house. She was the best dog trainer of any cat I ever had, in part I am sure because of her belief that the world should accommodate her.

I have never tried putting everyone, past and present, in one blog post. This might be my favorite post for awhile...and all because Emile is starving. :)

Tova Shirt Completed

Finally the Tova shirt is complete. I really enjoyed the support and suggestions from verykerryberry, it made me wish I had found her site at the start of the sew-a-long so I could have participated. The instructions are very clear but I so rarely make clothing that following those instructions does not come easy to me.

I really like the finished result, however I think I will go a size up next time.

While the sizing was based on the bust, it is actually my broad shoulders and back that fill in this shirt, and I know better. Fitting my shoulders in women's commercial cuts is right up there with my long torso as a problem areas.

Since I don't know enough about altering, going a size up is about the only option I have. The shirt fits, but I don't like it tight across the upper back and that is where I feel it.

With Tova done I am free to start another project much to the cats' delight (I hope we all survive my sewing area + cats).

I was ironing and cutting fabric while watching Kathy Sdao dog training video (which is completely inspiring) and I kept feeling this pulling below me.

Once I stepped away from the ironing board the full battle was on.

Nim slept through all the commotion.

Have a gentle Sunday. I am more than ready for a new week...