4/5/16

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: April

Our good weather is back, and I have a run around day ahead. I need to make four stops. For one thing, I'm stopping off at a local produce market. When I stopped in there the other day, they had some beautiful tomatillos, and that put me in the mood for salsa verde. We ate all that I made last season, and so I'm ready for more. After that, I need to stop off at the post office, then at my local mega mart to pick up annuals and do my regular grocery shopping. I'm guessing it'll be a no sewing day.

That's okay because I had a pretty laid back day on Monday. I was able to finish the April block for

RSC16

April's color was "monarch". In other words, orange with hints of brown and/or black. When I was finished with the fusible, here's where it stood.


After that, I had plenty of time to do the top-stitching and it was finished.


Of course, the cat has the best seat in the house. You thought it would be otherwise? 

Now here's a question for those of you who are more "crafty" than I. Those little flower buttons in the window box are glued down with a glue gun. I have trouble with the glue gun leaving strings of glue every time I move it away from the spot I'm trying to glue. What am I doing wrong? Anything? Is there some way to keep that from happening? I tried putting the glue down in a different container, thinking I could use a pin or a bamboo skewer to put a dot right where I wanted it. That didn't work because it hardened almost instantly. So...I got 'er done, but I have to think there's a better way. If you know glue guns, please share.

So here are the four blocks I have for the "Wheel Estate" quilt so far:

Also yesterday, I checked the greenhouse and found that 3 of 5 of the seeds for the butterhead lettuce have already sprouted. I tried to take a picture, but they're really still too tiny for photography. I'll get them when they show themselves a little more. It's always exciting when things start sprouting. For now, all I have to show you are these little flowers on the wild strawberries at the upper end of the herb garden. The strawberries they produce are no larger than a caper, but they're still fun to pop into your mouth on a summer day.


When I get back to the machine, I'm going to start piecing together the Cats of a Different Color.


No doubt, I'll be spending some time with my flower pots before I have time to do more sewing.

30 comments:

Charlene S said...

Our side yard is full of the wild strawberries. The orange camper appeals to me the most of all. I just love your cats!

beaquilter said...

love the campers! and great cats too

Angie in SoCal said...

your wheel estates are oh so cute! I'm not crafty, so I can't put in my 2 cents. Do those buttons have holes or are those just painted on? Could a hot needle make a hole for sewing? Just wondering.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I would rather sew the buttons on - glue will only dislodge after time. Hot glue does 'spider' and I have no solution for that problem.

Shirley said...

Loving you Wheel Estate quilt blocks! Did you create the cats from a pattern, cut printed cats from fabric or embroider them? They are definitely the finishing touch on each block. While I seldom comment (because for some reason the comment block disappears when I try - probably something with my computer), I have loved the story of Maggie's transition into your family. Both cats are just beautiful!

Cath said...

I love the wheel estate blocks....the blue one calls to me but where is the cat in that one?

Dana Gaffney said...

I love the new camper, actually I'm loving this whole pattern, but now the orange is my favorite. Glue guns and I don't play well together, those strings you talked about? they always end up across my hands and fingers.

Becky said...

hi Barb! Just randomly came to see what you're up to these days, and BAM, you make me feel inadequate! BUT, I just got the Like That Garden app and I love it!!!!! Thanks for posting it!
Your home looks beautiful as do your quilts and your garden!
Thanks again!

Barbara said...

Hi, Shirley...I can't respond to you directly because you're set at no-reply. I'm hoping you'll see the answer here. The cats are fussy cut from a scrap of fabric I happened to have. It was a stroke of luck that I had it and that there are so many different cats on it. I have to shorten the length and width of my stitch because they are quite tiny. Glad you like the living kitties. I'm kind of partial to them myself.

quiltzyx said...

Too cute! The campers, cats & the tiny strawberry plant!

liniecat said...

The cold glue gun versions spider less but it's one of those Sod's law things and pva is often better. Just leave it a. Minute or two to gel then press on the button or whatever and it generally then holds. But I'd stitch the buttons too because they'll so easily come off with handling of most kinds. Do you machine or hand stitch the edges by the way?

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Your campers are my FAVORITE!!!! LOVE THEM...just so stinking cute!

Susan said...

I am not an expert with glue guns. If the buttons are real buttons with holes, I would sew them on. Much easier, faster and definitely cleaner for me. That said, it sounds like you are putting the dot of glue on the fabric and then pressing the button on. Have you tried putting a dot of glue on the button and then pressing the button onto the fabric?

Brenda, from Georgia said...

The campers are beautiful.....but the Blue One has no cat....that I can find? Enjoy and love reading your post every day. I even share it with my husband. He enjoys Smitty adventures.

Barbara said...

Brenda, I can't reply to you directly because you're settings are at no-reply. You are correct. There is no cat in that picture. I included the wrong picture in my collage. The cat was added after that picture was taken (I think I may have decided to add cats when I made the 2nd block). In any case, there is a cat sitting directly below the sign on the actual block.

gayle said...

I love the polka dot awning in the orange block! What a fun project you've got going on!
And I'm now reminded that I should hunt up the cat blocks I did last year. I had thought to use them for RSC this year, but completely forgot about them...

Brown Family said...

Are you going to sash the rainbow kitties? Are you going to go back and ass a cat to the blue trailer?

Pamela Arbour said...

Your cats and campers are fantastic!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Wheel Estate is so full of fun and whimsy! I've not seen that design before.

LA Paylor said...

I like the canopy! Cat quilt is whimsically charming
LeeAnna

Magpie Sue said...

Every camper is cuter than the last one! There's a Boxer in our neighborhood who sits on the deck chair on his owner's front porch when he's done patrolling the yard. The cat in the chair in front of this camper reminded me of him!

Ivani said...

Your Wheel State quilt will be beautiful, love all the campers, and so the cats. Why don't you stitch the bottons instead of glue them?

Peggyinno said...

I was wondering where that cat had run off to!! I remember seeing it below the sign on the blue block!! I anxiously await your campers and you haven't disappointed yet!! Great blocks!!

Sue Noetzel said...

Your camper blocks made me smile! They are adorable!

PaulaB quilts said...

The orange camper looks like it's in Arizona, maybe owned by a snowbird spending the winter.

Marly said...

I like your orange caravan; very festive! Sorry I can't help with the glue gun; I've never even seen one!

Sheila said...

Oh my. What cute colorful campers! I Love Them!

Sheila said...

Oh my. What cute colorful campers! I Love Them!

Kate said...

The campers are such fun and so colorful. The orange one is my favorite so far.

Marsha Cooper said...

Still loving the camper blocks. They are just the coolest things.