12/5/13

Declaring Victory

It tried to defeat me, but in the end, I prevailed over Block 1 of the Wind in the Whiskers quilt. This block is called "Laundry Day", and today was a day for laundry. In fact, I actually did our own laundry today, but that was strictly a coincidence.

Today, I made the last applique pieces for this block and now they are safely tucked away in a zip lock bag waiting for their turn to be fused to the background. When the time comes, the completed block will look like this:


Yesterday, I completed all the fusing for the background:



All the parts for the clothesline will come later, but the pieces are all ready to go. Today, I made the dress:


A pair of socks:


A bra and matching pair of panties:


I feel I must pause here to point out that this is the second quilt I've made in six months that contained ladies' unmentionables. Here is the other one:


While I continued on with the rest of the applique pieces, I considered the larger meaning in this apparent obsession with undergarments. I came up with a few things, but I'm declining to share them. Feel free to speculate among yourselves. On this issue, my lips are sealed.

Continuing on, I made the third kitten:


And then constructed the boxer shorts. This could easily be Smitty.


With all of that done, I was ready to make the final piece, the quilt,


which has batting and a backing.


And that is all I can do on Block 1. It's a pretty good feeling to have all of that done and off my work table. I'm ready to work on something else. I'm not going to work on the next block until I get some other things done, but here is what it will look like. Block 2 is called "I Spy".


And with that, I wrapped up my sewing day feeling pretty good about what I'd accomplished.

Tomorrow I'm going to make the quilt sandwich and start tying the Salt Water Taffy quilt. 


I'll do the tying a little at a time so I can work on some blocks at the same time. I'm hoping I'll have time to finish the last block for my little rainbow ladies. 


And after that, who knows?

When I got up this morning, it was 20° outside. I looked at the temperature at 2:30 p.m. and it was all the way up to 26°. Now, I'm aware that you folks in some of the northern plains states are probably snickering when we here in Oregon are moaning about temperatures well above zero. But for those of us living here in Oregon, it's pretty darned cold. Even Smitty refused to go outside today, and you know it's a cold day at the Three Cats Ranch before that happens.

So I didn't go out today. I'm walking with my friend Sue tomorrow. Sue just retired, and we have lots of new adventures to plot now that she has more spare time. I decided against swimming, preferring to save my knees for tomorrow...a wise choice, don't you think? Actually, it was a pretty good excuse. I thought of it all by myself.

How are things in your world today?

19 comments:

Cathy said...

Your block looks fabulous! I knew you could do it. Every time I see this quilt I think of you and your 3 Cats Ranch and Gracie and Smitty. It will be worth all the headaches when it is done. And the more of them you do, the easier they get.

Lee said...

Wind in the Whiskers is really looking cute...and it looks like a LOT of work, kudos to you! Seeing your Rainbow Ladies reminds me that I should be pulling out O Christmas Tree that I began last March at a quilting class, and get it finished so that it can be hanging on a wall for Christmas!

Lynne said...

That Wind in the Whiskers quilt sure has complicated blocks but it is so appealing! You have do e a great job on Block 1.

Junebug613 said...

Bravo! WITW is fantastic! I knew you'd get it worked out. Brrrrrr! I don't think I'd last long up there. I hope the weather is nice for your walk tomorrow.

kathyinozarks said...

everything looks amazing! I love it.
we are really cold here in Missouri too but so far where I live we are missing most of the ice-thank goodness-but its snowing tonight-we will discover how much in the morning-this is round 1 tomorrow late starts round 2 with colder air

quiltzyx said...

Block 1 looks pretty great, even without the laundry line! See, I knew you could do it. After this one, the other blocks should be like the no-knead bread!

We were in the 50s here, but my sister said it was 25f when she left for work this morning. Even colder than you! Brrrr!

I was called in to work today, but then helped my boss,Laura, with a pillowcase. She & another of my co-workers made a memory quilt for Laura's boss's daughter who lost her husband earlier this year. They used his plaid shirts for the quilt. She's going to use some of the extra blocks for the cuff & a gold fabric they used for sashing as the body of the pillowcase. It can be used to hold the quilt or on a pillow. The two of them did a wonderful job on it.

Lyndsey said...

Great work on the block Barbara, it is looking great. I'm not comments on your obsession with undergarments. How can I when I have to make that corset quilt for a friend (can't wait to get started). I showed her the pattern when you posted about it and she just has to have it.

I shouldn't worry about complaining of the cold. Here in London it was 1C this morning which is above 35F and we are all moaning about how cold it is!

Karen said...

Well done. I am so pleased you have reached a milestone with that block. It seems to have the most work so the rest should be a breeze!

gpc said...

The block is fabulous, and served as a timely reminder to me that I need to get some laundry done today. Thanks.

JLVerde said...

Gorgeous block. I love living vicariously through you (my skill set isn't up to those level of blocks yet).

Why so much underwear? Because underwear are FUNNY.

Jeanie said...

As tough as it's been, your block looks wonderful and well worth all of the trouble. You approached it right by taking it bite by bite and then walking away when it got overwhelming. Some day, when this is all finished, you'll have created a masterpiece! Good luck with the rest of the blocks!

Anonymous said...

You should be so proud of yourself for all the frustration you started with and now what a beautiful block it has become...Wind in the Whiskers is going to be one of those to treasure forever quilts...
Could you please when time permits tell me where to locate the pattern for Rainbow Ladies -- they look so fun.. Can't wait to see the other blocks & about underwear it must be a fasination right now - have see it in several patterns...
MaryLou
Fun4Me1249@aol.com

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

You deserve a medal for perseverance! Great job.

Dar said...

You did an amazing job on your block 1 and you should feel very proud. It looks fabulous! Of course I'm sure you had some great help too (Smitty) or your would not have finished so quickly, right? Your other blocks will be easy now that the hardest one is done. Love how your little rainbow girls are looking. Won't be long now before that will be finished too.

Ann said...

Wow, there are a lot of little pieces in that one block. It looks great. Nice job.

Diane Wild said...

What a sense of accomplishment you must feel getting the WITW block ready to put together. Lots of projects keeps you out of trouble.

Brown Family said...

You did a good job. I did not realize the quilt was a real quilt! We did not venture out today. THe roads are frozen solid so plan to stay in and keep warm. At least I have had power all day. Many have not!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Woohoo! Now that's some significant progress on that quilt. You deserve a break. Stay warm.

Kate said...

Wind in the Whiskers is looking great. I can't imagine working with all those little bitty pieces. Love your "Fashionistas" as well.