A Fast Finish

It was time to sew the binding on Snips and Snails yesterday, and then I got it clipped and ready for the hand-stitching.

It's always so exciting to me when I get a quilt to this stage. Ordinarily, I wouldn't have sewn the binding on so quickly, but my cousin called. We gabbed on the speaker phone for an hour and a half. There were only just a few inches left to stitch by the time we hung up. This morning I finished off the rest of it.

Here's how it looks from the back.

My quilt inspectors gave it only a cursory review. 

Sadie didn't feel her input was necessary since she'd already inspected it only a day earlier.

There was something much more interesting going on outside.

Smitty tried to stay focused, but then he had to look too.

I was trying to get their pictures for the Pets on Quilts show. Did you see? The button is available now. It's the greatest quilt show on earth, and so I wasted no time getting the button up on my blog. Just click on the button below to find your own. The show starts August 10th!

Mike asked me to hold the quilt across the room, and it was then I realized I'd forgotten to glue on the buttons. When I located my glue gun, there was a tube of a different product sitting with it. Mind like a steel trap, I'd completely forgotten about trying out something new. I forget how I heard about this product called E6000. It's a craft glue, possibly a better choice than a glue gun...possibly not. I really don't know. Someone might have told me about it here...I can't remember...or I might have heard about it on Facebook. Whatever the case, I decided to give it a try. 

First, I got out a paper towel, and I was glad I did because it started leaking from the tube as soon as I removed the cap. I put a small amount on the paper towel, and then used a discarded sewing machine needle as an applicator. A healthy dose was applied to the backs of all the buttons and now they're stuck down. The tube states that it could take as much as 72 hours for it to dry completely, and so I tested them to make sure they wouldn't fall off...they didn't...and then I took one more picture. Now I'll just let this sit for the next couple of days and give them a little tug to be sure they adhere tightly.

Also, I gave the snake a hot fix nail head for an eye, and now it's completely finished. TaDa! It ended up 32 x 46 inches. This is my finish for 

so I'll be attending the finishing party.

This quilt is very special to me since my brother passed away suddenly and unexpectedly back in 2003. We were very close, and he was my only sibling. Shortly after my father took this picture, my brother contracted polio and life was never as innocent for him again. Since this all happened before I was born, this carefree, playful side of my brother was a side I never knew. Having raised two little boys myself, I can imagine the energy of the moment. It was meditative to make it since I thought of him with every stitch. I only wish he were alive to see it. A few years ago, I wrote a little tribute to him on this blog. If you're interested, you can read it right here. Rest easy, my brother.

There was a treasure trove of fun in yesterday's mail delivery. There was a spool of thread from Superior Threads and a fat quarter I purchased to finish off the Solstice Challenge...more about that tomorrow. Also, this book of redwork patterns from my friend Marei. It was included in a bag of scraps she received from another quilter. She's not someone who loves embroidery, and so she passed it along to me. Isn't it fun being a part of the quilting community? I love the generosity, and how things get passed around from quilter to quilter. Thank you, Marei. These will be fun to stitch someday.

Also, while we were on our last trip, my friend Wendy was in the process of reading this book written by a couple who were writing emails to friends about their own travels to America's national parks. Wendy offered to send it along to me when she was finished, and whoa! That sounds like something I'd love to read. So that arrived yesterday. I'm setting it aside to read on the trip we'll be starting this fall. It'll be a perfect diversion for those days when we're without internet service.

But check out this card that came with it. It's a replica of a McCall's 1972 sewing pattern.

The back of the card includes the back of the pattern.

Here's what the purple box says at the top.

So, the card doesn't exactly use the word "vintage" to describe a sewing pattern from 1972...which, I would like to point out, is the year I graduated high school...but it's kind of implied, don't you think? That's probably all I need to say about that. Draw your own conclusions.

Also, Wendy's Max included these toys for the kitties.

Sadie has murdered hers many time over by now.

Also, some cuts of the cutest fabrics:

She sent this one along for the blue jay quilt...the one I keep talking about and purchasing fabric for...the one I am completely going to start on next. Honestly...I really and truly am going to start on it!

But first...a few little catch up items. Thank you, Wendy. It's all wonderful.

We took my car in for service this morning, and so I haven't done my morning dose of embroidery. I'll get a start on that next, and then I want to finish off the last block for the Solstice Challenge. Also, I'm wanting to participate in the Marvelous Mini Monday going on over at Temecula Quilt Company. It's a 12-week sew-along, and the first two blocks have been released. Finally, I want to make a heart for the I Found a Quilted Heart campaign. It's a lot of little catching up items, but I'm bearing down on the start of that blue jay quilt. Just you wait and see.