Is It Hot Where You Are?

We are having four days of very hot weather here and breaking records. It is really nice to have air conditioning when this happens.

In spite of the heat I have been getting some things accomplished. Yesterday DH and a friend put up my pegboard so I could get my Accuquilt products displayed.

 

After some looking they finally found the studs. We were looking for 24" on center and they were 16" on center. Once we knew where to look it went smoothly. I finally ended up with the following:

 

Now to get a shelf to go under it so I can put the Go Baby and the Accuquilt Go cutters.

 

Some other things I have been working on and finishing are a couple of quilts using some of the dies for the cutter. The design wall is up and in use. The quilt on it is a donation quilt I am working on for Cropwalk this fall. The tumbler quilt was made using the 3.5" die and lots of scraps. It's a partial inventory of my fabrics. (A full inventory the quilt would cover many beds).





This quilt was made using the 4.5" Equilateral Triangle die and is fast and easy to do. I used a soft fleece backing and now batting in this one.

The Blue & White Tumbler Quilt was made using the 4.5" Tumbler Die from the Nested Studion Die set. It is even faster to do than the triangles. This one was a gift for a friends new grandson.

This quilt I've had the top done for about 18 years. Couldn't decide if I wanted to leave it as is or make it larger. I finally decided to quilt it as it was. It measures 61" x 61" and was done in a class taught by Marilyn Doheny in Edmonds, WA. To get it to curve I cut the print strips 3" and the white strips 1.5" and put it together just as you would a regular log cabin. All the prints in it are flower fabrics.

Last but definitely not least Squeak has decided to squeeze himself into a small box to take his afternoon nap. DH says he's packed and ready to ship. We would miss him greatly if he were gone. Well, that's what I've been up to the last several weeks. What have you been doing in your corner of the world???

Squeaker Reclaiming his territory and Design Wall Monday

A couple of days ago I caught Lucy up on the cat tree. Until the last few weeks the only cat to climb the stand was Squeak. Then Lucy started sitting on the first perch. Then one day she was on the second one. A couple of days ago I looked up and she was on the top one just quietly enjoying herself.

Squeaker was in the sunroom for a time out. I wish I'd had my camera ready when he saw Lucy up on what he considers to be his Cat Tree. His face registered such disbelief.  He wasted no time climbing up there to claim his territory. He really wasn't happy about someone else in what he considers to be his space. 

I've managed to get some sewing done and a bit of knitting. I've been working on a Scrappy Mini Trips quilt you can find the pattern here Quiltville . Unlike Bonnie I didn't plan where to sew the strips I just put them together at random. It's fine with me I'm using up 2.5" strips and that was the goal. So far I have 15 blocks done and I think I'll make some more just not sure how many yet.

I have this quilt in the machine, but I am going to have to rip out the quilting because something isn't right and it's a mess. Quilts is still pretty though. It is one done like the Jelly Roll Race on Youtube . That's pretty much what is happening here. What's happening where you are?

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas. We had a quiet Christmas here with a beautiful sunny day and cool weather. I took a picture of the sunset this evening:

Santa left a present for the cats (mostly Squeaker) and it has been inspected and approved.

 

Squeaker is the primary user of the stand. The older cats will scratch on the bottom and Lucy has gotten brave enough to get up to the second tier. Squeaker loves the cat stand this is the third one he's had.

Miss Emma usually sits like this while she takes her bath. DH calls her a hussy and  is always telling her to sit like a lady, but she never does.

So that was the excitement around here today. I did go out to the sewing room for awhile this afternoon and make some Toasty Toes. I try to make DH a pair for Christmas every year. He loves them and says they keep his feet warm.

Early Christmas

Today Christmas came early at our house. I'd rec'd an email earlier in the week from the Daughter Unit saying be looking for a box with an early Christmas Present. Since for the last several years we've always told the Kids we want nothing we already have everything we were wondering what would show up. This afternoon Fedex delivered a box which was to heavy to be nothing. Meet Neato.

After unpacking Neato we sent him to the charger for about 3 hours. About 4:30 I thought I'd turn him on and see what happened. He's louder than I thought, but very interesting to watch. Neato came out of the starting gate and Squeak immediately went over to see what was this noisy thing.

Meanwhile, Lucy and Emma were trying to figure out what was it doing, were they safe where they were, and how to hide from it. Emma hid in the corner until she could out run it.

 Squeak didn't trust it so he was keeping an eye on it as long as it didn't turn around and come after him.

P.S. See the nice new laminate floor the Daughter Unit and The Soon To Be Son In Law Helped to do.

Squeak and Cantaloupe

When I cut up some cantaloupe a couple of weeks ago Squeak was in the kitchen standing on his hind legs reaching for the counter and tapping me quite firmly on the leg. He wanted some cantaloupe. I thought it was his, whatever you have I want some too, attitude.  I raised him since he was 4 weeks old so he really thinks he should have whatever I am eating or drinking. The one thing we both really like is cantaloupe so when I again cut some up this morning he wanted his right now.

He cleaned his plate and was looking around for more. So I'm sure that tonight he'll be in my lap trying to get his head in my bowl. 
Do you have an animal who thinks he should have whatever you are having no matter what it is?

Lazy Sunday For Some Here Today

Some of us (Squeak) are having a nap while others of us are quilting. It's a good thing he is taking a nap because even though he tries he is not helpful running the quilting machine.

DH is out on the farm helping to clear last years garden spot so it can be readied for planting this year. Friends of ours own the farm and they do a large garden every year and I think half the county gets food given to them. This is the third year DH has helped with the gardening. The picture shows an old tree in the pasture that blew down in a winter storm a year ago. After they cut the top of it off and made firewood of it they set the bottom back in it's hole and it is showing new growth.

Well, it is time to get back to work on the quilt in the machine. Have a good Sunday.

Squeak's on the Shelf

Spring must not be to far away. Squeak has been full of it for the last week. Every morning he gets out of the kennel, stretches, eats two or three pieces of food, stretches again and then does his "King of theJungle" strut into the living room to see who is available to play. When he is finished annoying everything breathing in sight he comes over to check and see if I'd like to be chewed on. Sometimes he climbs his stand and you can hear his very loud sigh kind of like poor me I'm so bored. He's discovered an empty shelf in a stand that holds various odds and ends and he loves to hide in there. He reminds me of a spider in the web just waiting for something to come along.

Squeak Naughty or Nice

Today Squeak has been a real pill. Anything he can climb he does and anything he knows he's not supposed to do he does (more than once). I finally told him it was beginning to look like Santa was going to pass him by - didn't seem to phase him much. While I was in the quilt room this evening trying to get some sewing done in between chasing him to get the pins back he had taken out of the pincushion I found him on top of a 4 shelf stand playing with the chain on the light fixture. When I told him he had to get down he started batting at me. I think he has finaly reached his teenage phase. I sure hope it is a short one. Hope everyone is ready for Christmas.

End of July Already

Seems like July just started and it's gone already. Yesterday I spent the day in the quilt room ironing and folding fabric trying to get it all put away. I probably could have accomplished more if I hadn't taken Squeak out with me to give the girls a break. He teases and torments them without a break. So he played and had a good time. He played with fabric, hid in the fabric and attacked the fabric I was trying to iron and fold.

When he wore me out with his help I decided to sew a couple more of the 36 patch blocks and use my new sewing machine. I got this machine from a man in Twin Falls, brought it home and cleaned it up. It sew a beautiful stitch. I think the cabinet is the original cabinet. I found the sales reciept in one of the drawers and the lady bought it in 1953. It has been well used and will get some more use around here.

This coming weekend we are going to a quilt and woodworking show in Kuna, ID which is west of Boise. Friends have a machine and cabinet I purchased online and they picked up for me so I could get it when we came up. It is a Singer 301. So I'm looking forward to getting that set up to use also.

Well, guess I'd better get some more fabric put away.

Popping in Again

You've probably been wondering where I've been. Well, I've been trying to sew, stay warm and get taxes done. In the last three weeks we have had one storm system after another pass through and a couple of them have left views like this: While the weather was being difficult I did get the red and white 9 patch snowball quilt done using the spirals template from Circle Lord. Yesterday we drove up to Mt. Home to look at 4 wheel drive Jeeps. Dh was wanting something with 4 wheel drive so he ended up getting a 2005 Jeep Liberty. It's a nice small vehicle and gets 20 to 24 miles to the gallon. After Dh was done with the car business we went on to Boise to visit some friends and I was lucky enough to work in a visit to The Quilt Crossing and KnitWits both very nice and a must for a return visit. This morning we had pancakes for breakfast and Squeak being the spoiled baby that he is had to have some also. In the midst of all this we recieved a post card from the vet telling us that it was time to bring in Squeak to be spayed. I drop Squeak off and by the time I return home the vet has left a message on the machine. I return the call and the Vet says,"Did you know that Squeak is MALE??? MALE says I in shock. MY SQUEAK is MALE?? Yes, says they - Do you want him neutered? "Of course, says I then I hang up the phone. Squeak has been in to see the vet before this so how come the vet didn't know Squeak was male, and the place I left him overnight while we were gone once never said anything about him being male so how was I supposed to know this? It's been real interesting learning to say him instead of her when referring to "Studly" Squeak. It does however, explain Squeak's P & V attitude.

On The Needles

I've been working on a knitted baby blanket for no reason other than to try out a new stitch. I really like the look of it and it is a very easy pattern. It's called the Farrow Rib Stitch and if you google it, it is easy to find. The nice thing about this pattern is it looks the same on both sides.

It is a beautiful 40 degree windy day here. There is a mouse in the house and all the older cats have taken turns guarding it's location. Then Squeak comes along and it is a growl and hiss stand off. So most of my day has been spent saving Squeak from being torn limb from limb. I'm beginning to think she will never learn when to back off. Well, I'm off to try and get some sewing done, again, we'll see how long that lasts.

Just Because the calendar says so

My calendar says it is Spring, but I look out my window and it still looks like winter to me. The wind is blowing and the sky is overcast and it is chilly so I'm thinking maybe my calendar jumped the gun a little.

This morning Squeak was showing signs of spring fever. She found and empty box and entertained herself and us playing with it.

She loves bags and boxes to play with, I think, more than her toys. She sure gets the most out of each day. Since coming to live with us she has provided daily laughs. May you all be so lucky to have someone or something in your life to make you laugh and the day just a bit brighter.

A Spring Like Day

Today the temperature made it over 50 degrees here in Rupert. It should be mid 50's most of the day tomorrow before the next cold front gets here tomorrow evening with the thread of thunder showers. It was a lovely day today and just serves to make me want spring right now. Managed to get two blocks put together before I was ready to do Squeak in. She thinks she is supposed to be on the cutting table to help cut, on the sewing table to help sew and play with the iron cord to make ironing as difficult as possible before she unplugs the iron and takes off at light speed when she is yelled at. She can be so annoying, but even so I wouldn't trade her. The older cats, however, would trade her in a second.

Get Ready

Okay, I hope you are all ready to play give away with me. The give away will start at midnight tonight Friday the 18th, Mountain time and will run through Friday the 25th at midnight my time (Mountain). The rules are simple:

1. You must have a blog for your entry to count and post about my give away on your blog. All others are welcome to post, but no blog no entry, sorry.

2. Please tell me how long you have been quilting, why you got started and your favorite quilt pattern to make. Anything else you want to mention is fine also. Example: I have been quilting since 1989. In 1990 I got my first quilting machine because I really didn't like quilting on my sewing machine and I didn't like to tie my quilts. When I got the machine DH said, "It's to expensive ($3200.00) for you to have and maybe not use, so I went into to business just so I could have the machine. I discovered I really liked it and I am still in business today. My favorite quilt pattern is the Ohio Star. It's really hard to pick just one.

3. Last but not least have fun.

The first winner will get the signed copy of Bonnie Hunter's new book Scraps & Shirttails II. I'll have a couple of other things also and will post them over the weekend. Winners will be picked by a random number generator.

So if you don't have a blog and really want to be in the running for a chance you have time to get one set up. Like me you may find you enjoy it more than you thought you would.

I'll leave you with a picture of Squeak enjoying her new climbing, scratching stand. She loves to sit on it and watch the action or create her own.

February Already?

You've probably wondered where I've been and what I've been up to if you haven't just given up on me. Well, I've been working on Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt that I started at Thanksgiving, writing the instructions to the block I am teaching at one of my quilting guilds this month, and cleaning and sorting paperwork trying to establish some order so taxes won't be such a chore this year. (Who am I kidding on that one).

The green and white block is a Disappearing Four Patch Block. I started with 4 6" squares sewn together and then I cut 1.5" from the center line top, bottom, left and right and turn the 4 center rectangles 90 degrees and sew it all back together. Easy and fast to do.

Monday when I was trying to sew Squeak was making all kinds of

noise unter the sewing table and when I stopped to take a look this is what I found. Squeak had thrown herself away. She is not helpful when it com

es to sewing so everything takes much longer to finish.

Last but not least Connecting Threads has a new feature called Kit Builder. You can build your own kit

and they will send you the kit you built. This one is for a baby quilt and is costing me just under $13.00 pluse the backing.

Merry Christmas from Squeak

It's been a busy month around here and Squeak (that's me) is really getting into her first Christmas. She's been helping Mom (who is busy working on the mystery quilt over at quiltville.com) with her quilting by testing out the quilt top before it is finished. After her nap Squeak said it was okay to get it quilted. After an afternoon spent annoying the older 3 cats Squeak took a minute to enjoy a refreshing drink of buttermilk. (It was Dad's glass, but she just knew he wouldn't mind sharing). Once refreshed it was on to wrapping presents. Who knew tissue paper was so hard to get a grip on and requires constant flattening so it can be used. Once presents were all wrapped it was time to take a nap and what better place than on Dad's lap while he talks on the phone to Auntie Vonda. Squeak's dreaming of next year when they'll put up the Big tree. By then she should be old enough not to tear it to shreads. (She overhead Mom say that was why they had the little tree put up where she couldn't reach it this year). I can hardly wait until New Year's Eve. I'm not sure what happens then, but it should be fun. Merry Christmas everyone.






Love,


Squeak

November Already

I don't know where the time goes. As you can see the Squeak is still with us and becoming fast friends with DH. She is now about 8 weeks old and it's like having a two year old toddler. She has provided alot of entertainment around here the last few weeks.

Last night the This and That guild met and we had a very nice turn out. We are a group made up of knitters, crocheters, spinners and quilters.

Since it was Veteran's Day DH was home enjoying being a retired veteran.

I am looking for a heater for the quilting room. The weather has finally turned colder here so the little space heaters I have aren't getting the room warm enough fast enough so I need something larger. Since it is so chilly out there I haven't been getting as much done as I would like. I may have to set up a machine in the house to get some piecing done. I have a Connecting Threads kit almost cut out and ready to put together. I'm also planning on doing the new mystery quilt Bonnie Hunter will be starting on the 19th of Novermber over at quiltville.com . Her mysteries always produce stunning scrap quilts.
Our glorious fall colors are mostly gone with the wind and rain we have had over the last week.

That's about it for what's happening here lately. What's happening in your part of the country???