Sunshine on a Rainy Day

There's been a change in the weather. After the cold and sunshine of last week, we're back into the gray and gloomy. Thanks to my little cat Smitty, I was up bright and early yesterday morning to catch this glimpse of Mt. St. Helens. It took on a pink and ghostly hue.

Not as much was accomplished as I'd hoped yesterday. Thanks to my early morning, I was dragging around the house until after lunch when I gave up and took a nap. Still, I finished off the third of the Tiny Tuesday blocks. This one was designed by our friends over at Objects of Design. Great tutorial from Sally. Of course, she has cats to help her with this stuff. I thought I was finished when I had it this far.

And then I remembered it's supposed to have a straight setting.

Also, I made the first two blocks for the Garden Sunshine BOM. You can find a link to this free BOM there in my right sidebar. First, I made the backgrounds. This took far longer than it should have because I was trying to cut the pinks from a too-small scrap of fabric. No matter how many times I cut it, it was still too small. Some folks learn this lesson earlier than I did. With a large enough piece of fabric, it was a whole lot easier.

Next, I needed to add the applique. This is the first new applique project I've started since purchasing a new fusing medium. A woman came into a quilt shop I was visiting with an applique project that was so nice and soft...without the stiffness I get from Heat 'n Bond. I decided to give it a try, but I didn't want to switch fusibles in the middle of a project.

It looks and feels a lot like Wonder Under. I've rejected Wonder Under because I find it too difficult to remove the paper from the back. And, yes, I know to use a pin, but I still don't like the way the glue comes off with the paper. So let's just see how Soft Fuse works, shall we? It was easy enough to remove the paper. I like that it's somewhat tacky, and so the pieces clung to the fabric as I manipulated them into place.

I won't know for sure how I like it until I top-stitch down the pieces today. When I felt it last night, I can't say it felt any more flexible than Heat 'n Bond, but I didn't want to really squeeze it in my hands too much until the pieces were secured with top-stitching. Also, I want to see how well the fabric edges hold up to all that stitching. Some fusibles allow the edges of the fabric to fray.

So I'm not ready to give my complete opinion on this new product, but you can bet I'll let you know by tomorrow whether I think it's an improvement over Heat 'n Bond.

The kitties were very entertaining last night. Smitty was on a roll telling Sadie jokes.

Hey, Sadie...Why don't cats play poker in the jungle?

I don't know, Smitty, why?

There are too many cheetahs.

Oh, Smitty, you're killing me! What a card! What a kidder! What a catmedian! Stop kitten around!

That's how it is around here...just one bad cat joke after another.

Today I'm hoping to get the top-stitching finished on the Garden Sunshine blocks, and then I'll move along to the Mulligan Stew blocks. Also, I suppose I should try to fit in the housework that got usurped by my nap yesterday. When I woke up, it was well past time for housework. What could I do but spend the rest of the afternoon in the sewing room? I'm sure you understand the dilemma.