12/10/13

A Little Snowing, but Not Much Sewing

It's been a busy couple of days here at the Three Cat's Ranch. Yesterday I ran around doing errands prior to going to my guild meeting in the afternoon. It was my guild's Christmas party, and so we had potluck and played fabric Bingo. Kind of fun, but the whole day was shot. I did manage to get a couple more rows tied on the Salt Water Taffy quilt, and then I did a few more today. I have eight of twelve rows tied now, so I should have the rest done tomorrow or the next day. Then, I'll be ready to bind it.


Mike has already told me that he's looking forward to this one. I think I had in mind to put it in the trailer, but for now, it'll stay in the living room. It's been so cold, one can truly never have enough quilts to bundle up in. And, speaking of cold, we got a little dusting of snow last night. With the cold weather we've had, I was hoping for more. It's supposed to warm up to the 40's as the week wears on, and so I'm afraid this whole cold snap will pass without a good proper snowstorm. Bummer. I know some folks hate the snow, but I like it for a little while each winter. Ours never sticks around for very long.

So today I needed to go to the grocery store, and I went swimming. I've only been swimming once per week for the time being. I was disappointed to learn that they are closing the pool at the end of this week for some badly needed repairs. Today, I was heartened to learn that the nearby YMCA will be accepting our passes during the closure, so I can keep up with my swimming. My goal is to add another day after the first of the year. For now, I'm taking it slow and easy. It does flare my knee up a little, but it doesn't last more than the afternoon. Also, I walked with my friend Sue last Friday for the first time in months. We didn't go far, and again, my knee was hurting a little more that afternoon, but better by morning. Little by little, I'm getting there. I have a propensity to hurry my recovery from injury too quickly, and then I pay the price. It goes against the grain, but I'm taking it very slow this time.

When I got home, I tied a few more rows on the Salt Water Taffy quilt, and then I used the rest of the afternoon to paper-piece the skirts for my little turquoise rainbow ladies. I'll have time to finish this block tomorrow, and that will be all the blocks. Hurray!


It's been too cold for Smitty to be outside much, which makes him very unhappy. Also, there are no vermin to hunt, and that is quite a demotivator for Mighty Hunter Cat. I have appreciated having fewer feathers to vacuum up during this period of time.


But things got a little more lively right here because Gracie made a rare appearance in the sewing room.


Smitty took the opportunity to get a good sniff of her nether regions. You have to keep up with what a cat's been doing, you know.

"Hey, Bucko, watch where your putting your nose."


"Oh, uh, sorry. Not."


So speaking of cats, I've had occasion recently to have a little email chat with Robin Kingsley of Bird Brain Designs. I absolutely love their patterns. In the process, I shared a picture of the Love Me, Love My Cat quilt...which, I am happy to say, you voted as the "Best Pet-Themed Quilt" in this year's Pets on Quilts Show. Thank you. Anyway...I shared this picture with her.


Today, I received the nicest email from her, to-wit:

I don’t know if you are aware of our Redwork Challenge and special exhibit at Road to California in January. That is a BIG show and our favorite.
http://www.birdbraindesigns.net/t/RedworkChallenge
Wondering if you would consider sending your super Love Me, Love My Cat quilt to the exhibit??? I am a kitty lover too with my 6 outdoor feral (getting friendly) friends outside and Oscar inside. 
Hope you will consider “taking our challenge”, your quilt will be well received! 
Robin 

Now, what did I say recently about massaging my ego? I said, that if you massage my ego, I'll do just about anything. So, after reading her email, I ventured into the stairwell where the quilt is hanging to have a good look at it and decide whether I'm proud enough of it to submit it to the challenge. In a major Doh! moment, I discovered that I had neglected to quilt a portion of it.


I used one of the fancy stitches on my sewing machine to quilt the sashing, and look at that sashing to the right of the star! No quilting! As I was saying, Doh! No problem, I can fix that. I think I had the stitch lengthened out a little bit, so I might have to fiddle with it to get it right. Note to self: write down your settings next time for future Doh! episodes.

Anyway, once I fix the quilting I decided that, indeed, I will enter the challenge. It's always a little scary to mail a quilt off to some faraway destination, and since I can't attend the show this year, it'll be a major leap of faith to do so. I'll have to make a different sleeve for it since the one I put on it won't work for the show. Also, I'll have to label it. Bad quilter, not labeling all my quilts. In my defense, I'll say that no quilt leaves the house without a label.


It's not a large quilt, so that won't take very long. Anyway....if you're attending the show in January, be on the lookout for my quilt, and take a picture if you're so inclined!

So that's about it from me today. I have physical therapy tomorrow, and I'm behind in my housework, but I should still have some time for sewing the next couple of days. 

How are all of you doing in the Big Chill of 2013? Is it getting any warmer where you are?

22 comments:

Tami C said...

It did get a lot warmer here today. It got all the way up to 44 today! It's good that you are entering the Redwork Challenge. You do such lovely work!

Cath said...

Oh yes, it is getting warmer here! Tropical in fact with a little rain forecast later! How lovely to be asked once again to submit a quilt and it is such a lovely one...congrats

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Oh wow, how lovely to be asked to enter such a show and challenge with a specific piece in mind. We got what was left of the Mid West/Plains snow storm - a whole inch of snow! But it has been cold for a long time, but our usual temps for this area at this time of year.

Meg said...

Why do cats always lay on fabric? It's just like laying in the middle of a game. I guess they just like to be with us.

Love that quilt - I love red quilts period. The backing fabric is really nice love the print. I also love the binding - I guess maybe dots are a good close second to stripes.

Weather? Ugh. This morning (530am) its -4. It was supposed to get colder than that. Have been driving our youngest daughter Natalie's car because in the bad weather she said it slipped all over the place. It was a good excuse to be able to drive her dad's car with all wheel drive. That instituted a total rotation in cars, leaving me with Natalie's Saturn. The car came with an remote starter and am totally taking advantage of that - but boy does that suck the gas. Oh well, who cares.....

We are going on spring break to Fort Myers Beach in March - light at the end of the rainbow!

Have a great day!

Meg

Meg said...

Why do cats always lay on fabric? It's just like laying in the middle of a game. I guess they just like to be with us.

Love that quilt - I love red quilts period. The backing fabric is really nice love the print. I also love the binding - I guess maybe dots are a good close second to stripes.

Weather? Ugh. This morning (530am) its -4. It was supposed to get colder than that. Have been driving our youngest daughter Natalie's car because in the bad weather she said it slipped all over the place. It was a good excuse to be able to drive her dad's car with all wheel drive. That instituted a total rotation in cars, leaving me with Natalie's Saturn. The car came with an remote starter and am totally taking advantage of that - but boy does that suck the gas. Oh well, who cares.....

We are going on spring break to Fort Myers Beach in March - light at the end of the rainbow!

Have a great day!

Meg

Meg said...

Why do cats always lay on fabric? It's just like laying in the middle of a game. I guess they just like to be with us.

Love that quilt - I love red quilts period. The backing fabric is really nice love the print. I also love the binding - I guess maybe dots are a good close second to stripes.

Weather? Ugh. This morning (530am) its -4. It was supposed to get colder than that. Have been driving our youngest daughter Natalie's car because in the bad weather she said it slipped all over the place. It was a good excuse to be able to drive her dad's car with all wheel drive. That instituted a total rotation in cars, leaving me with Natalie's Saturn. The car came with an remote starter and am totally taking advantage of that - but boy does that suck the gas. Oh well, who cares.....

We are going on spring break to Fort Myers Beach in March - light at the end of the rainbow!

Have a great day!

Meg

gpc said...

You are really rocking your quilts this year! Congratulations! Michigan is super cold and snowy so I flew south -- only to find that it's cold as heck in Louisiana, too! Wish I'd packed some fleece. :)

Quilting Babcia said...

Wow! Congratulations on your quilt being invited to the show! That's fabulous news! Our snow is pretty much gone now, and I have to say that makes me happy!

works4me said...

I'm glad you are taking the exercise regime slowly. I'm doing the same as I am tired of spraining every time I exercise. Slow and steady increase of activity gets the job done.

While I adore seeing photos of Smitty, it sure is nice to see Gracie put in an appearance.

Congratulations on being asked to enter your quilt. What a well deserved honour.

WoolenSails said...

You always get a lot more sewing done than I do, lol.
I need to finish up some boxes and then I am going to start some applique blocks for next years christmas quilts.

Debbie

Teresa in Music City said...

Congrats!!! What a great boost to your ego, right? You'd have to burst mine like a balloon if that had happened to me LOL!!! I'm glad you decided to enter it because it's such a great quilt - it deserves to be admired :*)

Junebug613 said...

Enjoy the cooler weather that you have. Did you see that "National Hate Florida Day" was yesterday, from the Weather channel? It's in the 80's still... Very hard to get into the "Christmas spirit" when the mosquitoes are biting as you hang your outdoor lights..... I love the saltwater taffy quilt! It looks very inviting. I see that no quilt can sneak by without a proper cat inspection in your home too. You go girl, with your quilt show invitations!! You deserve the honors. Glad to hear your knee is doing better too!

Diane Wild said...

I love that quilt, Barbara. What fun to be invited to a show. Gracie always looks cantankerous or like her fur is being brushed backwards. We're still below zero in Minnesota. Yikes.

Janarama said...

Very cool that you were asked to enter your quilt. It's still bitterly cold here in the Chicago suburbs. It's only 15 degrees with a -1 wind chill and temps will be falling all afternoon. We got another inch of snow overnight. Ugh. I'm not a fan of snow at all. Love seeing that Gracie made an appearance today. She's a beautiful cat. Happy to hear your knee is doing ok. As they say, slow and steady wins the race. Who are "they" anyway? :)

Judy1522 said...

Congratulations on being asked to enter your quilt in the show. It is a beautiful quilt.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

It is a really pretty quilt! It's nice to see Gracie out and about.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

That's wonderful to be ask. Congratulations!

Brown Family said...

WE did get above freezing again today and most of the ice is gone, but not all. A couple of tree guys came and took down our broken limbs. We did not mind paying them just so we would not have to do it.

Angie in SoCal said...

I'll be at the show in January, so I'll be on the look out for your wonderful quilt.

quiltzyx said...

If you don't mind me snitching your photo, I'll post it in my guild newsletter and let our members know to be on the lookout! How exciting to be asked to send it to Road!!! WOOOooooOOHOOooooOO!!!

Michele said...

Wow. I'm sure you are still floating on the clouds over this great news.

Kate said...

What a great opportunity! Though I agree it is scary to send your quilt off to somewhere you are not going.