1/22/16

Birds, Cats, and Dogs

What a lot of fun I had in the sewing room yesterday working on something...anything...besides the Quiltmaker's Garden. First, I made the January block for the Block Lotto. This one is called "Birds in the Air". I chose the "nine-patch" method of making it, which allowed me to avoid working with bias edges. This went together pretty quickly.


Then I got to work making Block 3 for "It's Raining Cats and Dogs". Here is the pattern picture of the block I'm making this time around.


The most difficult thing about this quilt is choosing the fabrics. It's all done in pastels, and so choosing fabrics with enough contrast, and yet light enough, is a challenge. It often means using the wrong sides of the fabrics. I chose these three for my background piece.


And then I was able to get this far with it before quitting for the day.


All that's left now are the leaves, the "umbrella" flower, and the cat. And then, of course, there is the top-stitching. Sometimes there is hand embroidery to do, but the embroidery for this block can all be done by machine. The dog has some details stitched in that will bring out its form a little more, but I find myself wishing I'd used the right side of the fabric for the body to give it more contrast. I might still decide to peel it up and start again.

All's well in Catland, although we're still negotiating the terms of our living arrangements. Smitty has been a perfect gentleman for the most part, although he's still up for a good game of chase any time Maggie wants to run. Maggie, on the other hand, has had quite enough of his shenanigans and lets him know it with a good hiss every time she sees him. Yesterday, Smitty came innocently into Mike's office to scratch his chin on a box conveniently placed at his level. He didn't even know Maggie was in the room until she started hissing at him.


If looks could kill...


We're leaving them alone together now, although we still isolate her at night. We really, really, really don't want to be awakened by the sound of cats fighting.

This morning, I'm heading off to the Stitches in Bloom quilt show. And, of course, that means I'll have some pictures of quilts to show you tomorrow and for a day or two afterward. I swear I'm not going to take pictures of every quilt I see this time. And I know I say that every time I go to a show. But this time I really mean it!

Don't think I can't hear you laughing...I can.

12 comments:

gayle said...

I would probably be laughing louder if I didn't enjoy the pictures so much! Have a super time!

Quilting Babcia said...

Hehe, bring them on, I love visiting quilt shows and I live in a quilting desert now. Plus there's at least one quilt from McMinnville in the show.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Have a wonderful time - we look forward to pictures, so snap away.

Quilting Babcia said...

P.s.,I'm loving the Raining Cats and Dogs blocks. Love the softer pastels.

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

I've been missing in action because of computer problems but I've been following along with cat adventures and piecing woes (how I hate paper piecing). Bring on the virtual quilt show it's a much needed distraction right now.

Dana Gaffney said...

I'm not laughing, I want pictures of them all, some of us go to quilt shows vicariously through you.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Sounds like Maggie is holding her own with Smitty....:)

Kate said...

Both projects are looking great. Glad you got in some enjoyable stitching time. I'm looking forward to what you post from the quilt show. They are far and few in between in my neck of the woods.

Diane Wild said...

A productive day all around. Awaiting pics from the show.

Carol Swift said...

I love the Raining Cats and Dogs...too cute! It's always an adventure to introduce pets to new friends. Love the look!

Brown Family said...

I love the colors in your birds in the air block! Glad you are now working on something different

quiltzyx said...

Maggie, Maggie, Maggie! Time to get over yourself girlie. Smitty's being such a patient guy (good job Smitster!) and you're just choosing to be nasty. Shame on you.