Feline Friday - 7/29/16

I am SUCH a good boy!
I've been helping Momma get ready for her camping trip!!

The cooler seems clean enough, with room for plenty of kibble.

I'm holding down the pop-up until she gets it packed. Rumor is these canopy tents can get pretty rowdy with all the excitement. Momma told me she bought a clear shower curtain with pretty butterflies to hang from the canopy just in case it rains. In case, Momma? Have you checked the weather forecast lately?! 60% doesn't sound too promising...

I've also helped arrange the rose stars for Momma's project. It was pretty tiring but she was thrilled with my arrangement! I think there is a lot of blue in this quilt but she didn't ask my opinion before she made them. I suggested a different color for the border and she seems to agree.

And last but not least, I made sure to get some lap time snuggles with Momma! A treat for both of us. GrandMomma comes to feed me so I'm not alone but it's just not the same without my favorite Momma. GrandMomma likes me but I think she's still just a little afraid of me - something about my naughty reputation when I first moved in to CasaGrande... I have NO idea what she is talking about tho cuz I am such a good helper!!

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Design Wall Monday - 7/25/16

I spent quite a bit of time this weekend and last trying to arrange the rose stars for my owl project. I had thought a certain block should be dead center because it "stuck out." I eventually realized that it didn't really stick out all that much so I went back to my original center and it came together fairly quickly. It pays to not second guess oneself!

Yipp - I'm missing one block on the bottom left.
That's because I can't count and thought I had 23. Oopsies.

If you look at the center star, there are 6 stars around that one - half are attached and I hope to have another attached tonight. I've also got 3 across the top attached. The goal is to have as much of the "center" attached as possible before I go camping so that I can finish the center and then surround it all with the background pieces while camping.

On the other hand, Mother Nature is playing with the weather and it's supposed to rain every day. That doesn't mean all day but that is still a possibility. Given the sandy campground, heavy rainfall tends to bounce off the sand and it might not be a good idea to work on a large piece in the rain. I'm going to have to pack a variety of hexie projects for all weather options :) Darn!

While stressing over the owl blocks I also switched it up a little. I now have 7 blue pieced rosettes done. Only 70 more to go!

Feline Friday - 7/22/16

Hey Momma? You done reading the Penny Saver?
If you are ... I can shred it for you...

I stretched first!

All done!

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ADK trip #1

Since I was 10 years old (just a couple years ago!), my family has been camping at 8th Lake Campground which is a NY State run campground.

The campground is nestled in the woods between 8th lake...

and 7th lake. They are part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes.

Rome, NY
3 FQs and 4 2.5" strips for my pieced hexie project

Inlet, NY
6 FQs, mostly for the pieced hexie project

It's a personal tradition to stop at the 2 quilt stores on the way up to the ADK mountains - an excellent way to break up the 4.5 hour drive.

I enjoy walking around the campground and trails early in the morning, allowing me to see the campfire smoke twisting through the trees.

Mt Sawyer with Tom, Kristie, Tyler and Ryan

Mountain climbing is one of our favorite activities. I don't know that I'll ever be a "46-er" but it's fun to find new mountains for every trip. Most of the local towns have "challenges" that include water falls, fire towers, lakes and or mountains so I have plans, on the next trip, to hike the Tupper Lake Triad which means three (easy?!) mountains in one day. The weather isn't supposed to be great most of the trip so my fingers are crossed that at least Thursday will have nice weather so I can complete the TLT.

The Fourth had a lot of activities this year...

We attended the 39th annual Ping Pong Drop. For the last 38 years a seaplane had dropped the colored ping pong balls onto the field but for legal reasons that part of the tradition is over. The kids are broken into 3 age groups and allowed to grab 3 balls per kid. The balls are then traded in for prizes. I suppose I should not have been, but I was surprised at how many people attended.

Later we spent time at the Inlet beach listening to an excellent Springsteen cover band.

And watching the sun set on 4th Lake.

Eventually the barge headed out to set up for the fireworks show.

I think this was about the time that Tyler asked if I ever get tired of hexies. Uh...no!
And when I said I would be posting his goofy pic on my blog, he told me that
only lonely ppl write blogs. I don't think so Dude!

But we continued to goof around with lightsticks and music.

We weren't the only people ready to watch the show - many boats were in the middle of the lake.

That gorgeous tree was in the way for photographing the fireworks which meant I could enjoy them for the fireworks and not be fiddling with my iPhone.

I think that pretty much covers trip #1 and trip #2 is right around the corner.

I'm changing the travel plans up a little this trip with a stop at the Syracuse-AQS Quilt Show next Wednesday. Is anyone else going to be there?

Design Wall Monday - 7/18/16

I had another productive weekend! I'm not referring to mowing the weeds or doing the dishes but I bet you knew that!

On Saturday I was able to finish 4 more trip around the world blocks. I never took a photo so you'll need to believe me on that. I have just 3 blocks more to go!!

On Sunday I worked at The Co-Op for a few hours. There were only 3 customers which gave me lots of concentrated time to listen to an audiobook on the iPhone and stitch.

Watch out for this owl - he was winking at Janet yesterday...

First I finished this very last rose star!!!! I did get it pressed this morning so if this evening goes well, I plan to lay them out this evening. I kept making stars until I ran out of my 12 FQs so it won't be until I lay it out that I'll figure out how big it is...

Banana fabric was a last minute find in the ADK. Fun!!

Once I finished the star, I stitched up this banana "cog"....

...and then moved to a blue "sparkle" which was finished this morning. OK, I lied. I have one last seam in this to finish and then I can add the green "leaves" at opposite sides of the rosette.

I was going to count all the rosettes as I made them but needing 77 blue and 77 yellow, I am sure it's going to take quite some time to make that many. I'll count them at the end of the year, maybe bagging 10 or 20 at a time or some such idea. In the meantime I'll just enjoy playing with my fabrics.

HeLP for Hexie-aholics - 7/17/16

Hello and welcome to our monthly Hexie Linky Party!!!! The party is open to anyone that does English Paper Piecing of any shape, size or vintage!!

Today's post is about the hexies I completed during my recent vacation -

My first project was to get the rest of the "house" blocks basted for our hexie club birthday swap. I think I actually have 1 more set to do - maybe this weekend since I am working at both the LQS and the local art Co-Op.

I stitched one rosette for my pieced hexie project that Mickey is hosting. Her Facebook page had pieced hexies in neutral colors this morning so I am hoping that will be the "sparkle" blocks we are waiting to hear about. This rosette is pretty pale but it was the only 2 similar blues (TOT and polkadot) I had to do this layout.

Yipp - I did work on hexies while listening to the July Fourth concert
until it got too dark and then I had to pay attention to the fireworks. LOL.

I also got a lot done on my owl project. Traditionally I have only worked on this project while *in* the ADK but since I chose this project for our hexie club UFO challenge I decided to get serious with it and have made great progress both at home and in the ADK.

This is the only block I did with the 3 kites the same fabric - I hope 
it doesn't stick out too much. Maybe it will have to be in the center of the quilt

In total I need 23 blocks...I think I started the last rose star block on Tuesday. It should be finished before the weekend is!

Yikes! Stripes!
I have more of this stripe for the binding.
Loves me some striped binding!

Next comes the hard part - laying out all the blocks to get the colors balanced. If you remember, I spent a lot of time kitting blocks to keep the use of each fabric balanced but I still think it's going to be a bugger to balance the stars since I used some bright fabrics. On the other hand, I only had to make 2 minor changes when I laid Value Proposition out so lets keep our fingers crossed.

Still needs pressing...

I've got a few of the background/filler pieces made but I'll definitely need more.

Last one!!

I expect stitching all the stars and backgrounds together will be cumbersome and time consuming...it always seems to take longer the bigger the project is.

That's it for me - I hope you have something to share! Remember it can be any shape, size or vintage; as long as it's EPP we would love to see your project!

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Feline Friday - 7/15/16

When I first moved into Momma's 'hood, my sissies called me The Introoder. I really wanted to be a part of the family so when Momma sat on the porch steps I would jump in her lap to show her what a good boy I was.

Do you prefer this side?

I still kinda like to sit in Momma's lap just not as often as she wants. I mean - I'm already in the family, right? I don't need to sit in her lap anymore?

Except, now there is a new Introoder and he is starting to jump in Momma's lap and I. Just. Don't. Like. It!!!

Or this side?

Maybe I better get back into Momma's lap more often to remind her what a good boy I am...

An InLinkz Link-up

Vacation Sewing

Why is there always so much "overtime" required before and after a vacation to take the actual vacation? It seems like I've just been go go go all week to make up for a few days off. Maybe after today I'll be caught up...

Sew...my vacation...was 5 days camping in the ADK Mts (which included a 3 day weekend and holiday), 1 day at home, 1 loooooong day at work and then a 3 day weekend. Three day weekends are a summer staple at my job = lucky me!! I'll share pictures of the Mts next week. I have to do that ASAP cuz before I'll be camping again before the end of the month and we don't want to get things all confused...

All y'all know that I took hexies camping but I am going to save them for the Hexie Linky Party this coming Sunday. Instead I'll show you the UFO I pulled out over the weekend.

The way that Dad constructed my cutting table allows
me to hang my 20 trips blocks from a pants hangar

It took a while to get my mojo in motion. Because of the bronchitis I didn't do much on any given day and lying around like a log lump was about my top speed until Saturday afternoon when all the sudden I was inspired and pulled out my looooooooooooong ignored Scrappy Trails project. Feel free to check the TATW label to see my other blocks and the funky layout I've created.

I finished 3 more blocks over the weekend...

yes - they all have a yellow down the center!

I have another block in the works and you can see the 3 others waiting for their final stitching in the background.

I think I only need 2 or 3 more blocks to finish this.

And what's a girl to do when she's stitching but work on leader-enders as well!! I stitched up 3 sets of pieced hexies for Mickey Depre's project over the weekend as well!

Not a bad vacation weekend once I finally got my act in gear!

The Bibliophile Files - 7/12/16

Hello and Welcome to July's edition of The Bibliophile Files, my monthly list of the books I finished.

Goodreads says that I am halfway through my reading challenge of 84 books for the year. Since I think I've now kicked the bronchitis to the curb and I'm getting back to my walking routines**, I am confident I can beat my challenge. Fingers are crossed!

FINISHED
     NYPD Red 4
     The Kingdom
     Queen of the Night
     Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
     Zac and Mia
     Donny's Brain
     Alert
     44 Scotland Street
     The Boy Born Dead

IN PROGRESS
     On my car stereo - Calculated in Death
     On my home stereo - Family Honor
     On my iPhone - Words in the Dust

And now it's your turn to share the books you've read in the last month. Anything counts: novels, magazines, quilt pattern books, cereal boxes. I'm always looking for suggestions...I'm sure there are others as well.



**I listen to audiobooks on my iPhone while I walk. As an aside...I've walked 1,782 miles in the last year!! When I reach 1,869 miles I get another "badge" from my Fitbit. Makes me happy but prob doesn't mean much to anyone else...

Feline Friday - 7/8/16

Hi Momma! 

Welcome home from camping in the ADK.

Never mind the weeds.
They are the only thing green in the lawn.
We. Need. Rain!!!

Can I sit with you all day now that you're home?
Translation: I'm sorry about last Friday and I really, really missed you!!

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Happy July Fourth

PS - Bibliophile Files will be delayed until next week - I've got tomorrow off!!!!

Feline Friday - 7/1/16

I may look all cool, calm and collected but I am in the dog house and I'm not sure how I'm gonna get out of this one...

It started last night when Momma was just about to go to bed but the ambulance siren went off. I always want to go outside when Momma goes on a rescue call so she let me out. Last night I thought it would be fun to follow Momma...see where she goes! She kept telling me to go home but I didn't listen - not even when she went to cross Main Street. I waited till she crossed and then started to follow her across but she freaked cuz she could see cars coming so she ran back and grabbed me, mumbling something about my skinny butt.

Eventually the rest of the crew showed up and I was kinda checking them out but decided to go back to my side of the street but, like usual, I didn't look first and started across causing a humongous pick up truck to stop and make sure they didn't hit me. They even pulled over which caused Momma to freak again so she jumped out of the ambulance and came to check on me. I was just sitting there chasing a frog - don't know what all the fuss was about!

Eventually Momma came home at 12:30am and I ran into Washington Street so she could carry me home. I let her do that so she knows I love her!  She put me down when we got to our driveway but The Introoder was following her cuz he wanted some scritches too. Then *I* freaked when Momma tried to pick me up again and I scratched the "living daylights" out of of her leg and both knees. It was not my best moment. She didn't cry "ow" or yell at me or anything; she just turned around, went in the house, closed the door and went to bed, leaving me outside. OK, so she did came back to the door once but I didn't come running so she closed it again.

Then, to top it all off, I didn't set my feline alarm to be on the porch *before* Momma got up this morning. I was late - how could I be late???

Maybe I better find a gift for Momma before she gets home from work?? What do you think? Mouse? Bird? Baby bunny? Or maybe just me, on time, at the door, waiting for her?

I really screwed up this time...

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