Taadaa!!!

Dave’s Christmas skull socks are done! And I love them!

Now I’m off to make myself a matchy-non-matchy pair!

First, I’ve got to apologize again for the quality of photos. Not only is my DSLR down for the count, but so is my iPhone. (It’s supplied by work, so a new one is on the way) I’m down to using my five-year-old cheapo Android phone. It gets the job done, but well…

Anyway, onto the post!

It’s frosty out there, we’ve even had a little snow. But some flowers just cling on!

The Toad Lilies aren’t really a shocker, they are late bloomers and seem to love the cold.

The marigolds are pretty hardy too, but after the snow melted off them the other day, they look a little like they are encased in ice.

There’s no butterflies around any more, but the butterfly bush has still got a few blooms.

Chicago Peace just never quits!

But can you believe these darn irises!?!?

Or these strawberries? I doubt they’ll ripen, but you’ve got to give it an A for effort!

I mentioned earlier that the sashing fabric had finally come in for Dave’s Christmas quilt.

Isn’t it beautiful? But to really do it justice, I had to do some precise fussy cutting, which wasn’t much fun…

…but it was worth the effort. It’s not perfect (there’s a little more background on one side than the other), but I’m far from a perfectionist so it’s just fine in my books.

Once I got all the sashing done, I decided the quilt needed at least one border. Luckily Lens carries most of the fabric line, and is just around the corner.

So  I got a couple yards of the lovely mottled orange and added 6 inches to each side, and 4 inches to top and bottom.

And that gives me a completed top! Since Dave and I don’t share blankets, it didn’t need to be super wide (it just hangs over each side of our Queen-sized bed), but it did need to be long. I think it’s about 90″.  That man of mine is a tall one, and he keeps complaining that none of the quilts I’ve made are long enough.

This should keep him quiet!

It’s good to know, I’m not the only one with a derpy cat…

It doesn’t look like it, it doesn’t feel like it… but I am making progress on the poncho.  I’m diligently putting on at least four rows a day. As a result, I’m (I think) a little past half way on this piece…. and then I have to make another just like it…. sigh….

Forest Stroll has been quilted and bound, and I couldn’t be happier with it!

Isn’t it just the coolest little lap blanket? When I started cutting the tree fabric for the border, I was a little worried it was going to be too dark for that bright cheery centre. But once I got it on there, I was thrilled.

It creates a beautiful frame and echoes almost all the colours from those scrappy leaves.

The little ladybugs marching around the binding are just too cute! (And were a great way to use up some leftover fabric.)

And on the back we have a cozy chunk of flannel that gives this one its name. Once again, the art of quilting amazes me with its ability to bring together random pieces of fabric and create a practical work of art!

I haven’t made as much headway on the second skully sock as I would like…

.. but  ihave made some progress. All the cuff skulls are complete, and I’m almost to the heel. Since it’s pretty much vanilla until I get to the toe skulls, I’ve been working on it mostly when I’ve needed some zen.  I’ve got plenty of time to get it done before Christmas, so there’s definitely no rush.

You knew it wouldn’t take me long to fill that empty project box, didn’t you?

The other day, I dove into the stash and came up with this fabulous Cat Nip fat quarter pack.

I bought it back in March when I bought the FQs for Dave’s Celtic quilt, because I just couldn’t resist those cute kitties and cheerful colours.

After picking out the fabric, I searched for the purrfect pattern… and settled on Milky Way .

As you know, I adore star blocks, and this one is such a fun twist. This time around, I did something unusual for me… I cut ALL my fabric before hand, (usually I cut as I go, depending on the block), so  I can sit down and whip up a block or two whenever the mood strikes. This works well with my need to have shorter sewing sessions.

I’ve already got the first two blocks done (they are the same – each pair of FQs gives you two matching blocks)

…and I am absolutely smitten with those starry kittens!

At least that’s what my plants are telling me…

Leaving my Christmas cacti out until the weather cools always makes them bloom well. The white one is in full flower.

The pink one won’t be far behind it.

And apparently Easter is on its way too…

This is my Easter Cactus. It’s related to the cactus, but has slightly different leaves and flowers. I’ve had it for a couple of years now, but this is the first time I’ve been able to get it to rebloom.

And for a little extra credit…

My spider plant is blooming too. It just loved being outside all summer and now it’s pushing out babies galore!

Despite my shorter sewing sessions, those Leader/Ender geese have been stacking up quick!

My basket was pretty much full, so before making more, I decided to start assembling them into blocks to see how many I get. That way I can see how many I have, and decide how big I want to make the quilt. I have lots more scraps I can cut up if I need to.

I’m just assembling them into pairs at this point, but I couldn’t resist taking a few of those pairs to see how the final blocks will look.

Totally scraptastic!!!! I’m calling this one: Whirly Geese!

Here’s where everything else is at.

• Celtic Dreams – My backing and sashing have arrived! I’ll be taking this one to Mom’s to finish. She’s got a bigger, better space for cutting, and I have some fussy cutting to do.
• Pinkerville quilt – Almost done my blocks. I hope to have be assembling the top in the next week or so.
• Unbe-Leaf-able – Just adding borders, this one will be quilted soon.
• Leader and Ender quilt – As you see above.

And yep… you counted right… I’ve got a project box free…. oh the possibilities!!!