3/26/15

Charmed, I'm Sure

If the third time's a charm, then I'm here to charm you because this is my third finished quilt this month. Granted, two of them were small, but they still count, right? This morning I got to work early quilting the "Sew Helpful" quilt. It took me practically no time at all, and it was finished. 


I used a design I had pinned on Pinterest. It's just a series of loops that start small and get larger. For my design, I tried doing a ascending series of six before going back to small. It was easy to do, and fairly easy to change direction, although I had to sort of turn my brain around whenever I tried. You know what I mean? 


Interestingly, this design is for sale in a pantograph form on a website that shall remain nameless. Really? I've been using this design for decades whenever I want to get the ink started in a ball point pen. So, really? It's actually for sale? It's reminds me of the time I got on a rant about a fabric company copyrighting polka dots. Really? (You can read my rant right here, if you like.)

Anyway...I used this variegated thread color. The gray batik was used on a larger quilt, and so I'm using scraps. I used this thread once before on the same fabric, and I liked the looks of it. And, honestly, who am I to tamper with success?


And once I had it quilted, I sewed on the binding, and Voila! Three finished quilts for March.


Here's how it looks from the back. I simply outlined the center applique.


This was my January Let's Book It Project. The pattern was called "Quilter's Helper" and it appears on the cover of this book by Carol Armstrong:


I did mine in Smitty colors.

While I was sewing on the binding, I was trying to decide whether I was going to make a label for it. When I uploaded my pictures, I discovered one I'd already made one day when I was apparently in a labeling mood. 


Now that's printed off and so I just need to fuse it to the back. This one is destined for the Wall of Cats in my stairwell.

Speaking of cats, Bob the Bobcat made his first appearance of the season the other day. He just strolled through the lower edge of the field out front, big as you please. He was hunting for little furry mammals, much like someone else I know...only bigger.


I figure with that bobbed tail of his, he's pretty envious of Smitty's longish one. You know how male cats are about the length of their...er, never mind.


We were hand-holding the camera from quite a distance away, and so the pictures aren't as sharp as they might be. Mike managed to sneak outside and used the digital zoom for these. They aren't bad.


Now that we've seen him, it's tempting to mount my SLR camera with a telephoto lens and leave it set up on a tripod. It makes me nervous, however, with the catdemonium we often have going on around here. 

It's supposed to reach 74°F here today, but at nearly 1:00 p.m., we're still at 58°. The day is going to have to go some to reach that lofty temperature. We'll see. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful day of sunshine, and I'm going to get out and enjoy it while it lasts.

14 comments:

Christine M said...

Your quilt looks great, Barbara. I love the label you have made for it. Bob looks like he is quite big. We don't have bob cats in Australia.

Diane Wild said...

A darling quilt. So YOU. Glad to see that Bob made it through another year.

WoolenSails said...

That is a wonderful thread for the piece, love how it came out.
Having that guy in my yard would make me nervous, my dumb cats would probably try to play with him.

Debbie

Anonymous said...

Love your posts...and your humor! I especially love how you incorporate nature and quilting in your blog.....feels good

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Oh look at the gorgeous colors in Bob's coat.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Verigated thread is so fun to play with and gives such depth to a project - good choice. This is a wonderful addition to your 'wall of cats'. What a handsome Bob and even if a little blurry, great shots.

Quilting Babcia said...

That's one handsome Bob-cat! Though I think I'd be a bit nervous about letting the domestic critters outside with that guy lurking around. Great portrait of your little helper too.

Dana Gaffney said...

I think everything counts, even mug rugs when life can get nuts. I'm not surprised they sell that design for quilting, I see stencils for stippling and wonder what a horror that would be trying to follow those chalk lines. I like Bob the bobcat, but I worry about Smitty, would Bob go after him? I'm sure Smitty is more than aware when he's around though. We had a Manx named Bob a long time ago, it's a good name. :)

liniecat said...

Wow, that's one cool visitor. doesn't his visiting unnerve the residents ever?
Good job he doesn't consider the 3 Cats Ranch cats as possible lunch!

KMSC said...

Please tell me Smitty and Gracie are indoor cats! I love your Sew Helpful quilt!

Auntiepatch said...

One of my male cats climbs the screen door when another cat enters our back yard. (Our cats are indoor cats!) I'm not sure what he would do if Bob showed up. LOL!

quiltzyx said...

The loops look like what happens when the thread er, FALLS off of a bobbin! LOL Nice choice!

Bob the Bobcat is looking pretty healthy this spring!

Dar said...

Your cat quilt looks good. I love that cute label too. I'd be afraid to let Smitty or Gracie out with Mr. Bob in the vicinity. He doesn't look too friendly to me.

Michele said...

Your cat quilt is just adorable. I just hope Smitty gets along nice with it.