They Call Me MRS. Crabbypants

Well, okay, that's what they'll be calling me tomorrow.

I have to check in for our Southwest flight at 6:30 a.m., which means I need to roll out of bed at 6:15. Why me? The hubs goes up to bed at 9:00 (that's correct, that is not a typo), with a book. In the meantime, I've got laundry to finish, cleaning to touch up, packing lists to create, soakers in the sink. Men! I want to be one, and I want to be married to me.

Took the sewing machine in for it's one year old check up on Saturday, so there hasn't been any sewing going on here. There could be, I do have another machine, but with everything else going on, it was best to just set it aside for what will amount to two weeks. (I'll be a raving lunatic by next Wednesday....oh, perfect....that's when I was called for jury duty.)

In case you're wondering how I've managed to survive without my quilting creative outlet.....

I took this

 and with about 5 hours free time on my hands on Sunday

assembled the copper and turquoise Christmas tree in our bedroom. Sorry I don't have a great full view shot yet. No time, and bad lighting. But I'll send one along when I can get the picture.

For now, I really need to spend a few minutes tidying up, check my to-do list, and hit the sheets--6:15 comes early when you aren't really expecting it.

I'll likely post from the road. This month's Follower Appreciation winner is going to receive a fabulous prize picked up somewhere in the lovely, warm state of Florida. (And no, I will not send an alligator). We will begin that giveaway on my return next week.

In the meantime, stay warm, keep your nose to the grindstone on those quilty Christmas gifts, and enjoy your week.

Halloween.....Not Just for the Kiddies

(Note: Not technically my second post of the day. The first one was my Quilt Festival Entry I forgot to post over the weekend.)

I'm adorable, yes?

Seriously, is this not one of the cutest dogs you've ever seen? (And I'm not saying that just because he's my grandpup.)

Ahoy Matey!

 How many dogs would wear dreadlocks? How many dogs would wear that hat?

Watching a little TV with my dad.

The dog is oblivious to the fact that he's wearing a hot dog costume. He has absolutely no shame. 

What are you looking at?

This costume originally belonged to Paco, who would chew his paws off before being caught dead in the little cuffs. (Not to mention he'd repeatedly bash his little chihuahua head against the cabinets trying to get the headpiece off).

Rick is clearly a dog that enjoys playing dress up. One who's doghood is not threatened by donning a hat or two (even a goofy dino cap).

Hope you enjoyed your Halloween as much as Ricky enjoyed his!

Stay tuned later this week for word on the November Follower's Appreciation Giveaway. Check out my entry in the Bloggers Quilt Festival (the post before this). I've got a Guild meeting tonight, but should be back in the studio tomorrow night to burn even more thread on The Pumpkins Gone Wild Project. I'm into my second 250M spool of thread that's just used in the bobbin. Keeping fingers and toes crossed the Aurafil I'm using in the top holds out until I get to a point where it would be okay to switch colors.

Enjoy your week.....finish up (or put away) your fall projects and get a head start on quilts and table runners for the Holidays....they will be here before you know it. Enjoy!

Fall 2010 Bloggers Quilt Festival

A late entry into the current Blogger's Quilt Festival. Thanks so much to Amy (Amy's Creative Side) for hosting this fabulous display of creativity once again. Right now I'm working on what is going to be my next entry in the Festival, but for now, completed quilts, Neptune (pictured above) is my favorite quilt.

I love all things beach/ocean. I also love Moda fabric. I've only been quilting a few years now and I found this fabric at one of the first shows I attended--Quilters Unlimited in June 2009. The pattern was relatively simple (a design by Cottonseed Glory, an Annapolis, MD quilt shop), and I just knew I had to make it, the minute I saw it.

I whipped the quilt top out right away,sandwiched and ready to go by the end of June 2009, but I was so in love with that project that I did not want to attempt to quilt this baby until I had a few classes in freemotion, and after that, procrastinator that I am, I decided it needed to wait until I had a new sewing machine as well (a Bernina with a BSR).

Of course, I got that machine last October, but I wasn't confident enough to start the quilting on Neptune until this past June, where I was careful, a little daring, and quilted the heck out of it (which is a look I just love).

In the beginning of my quilt experience I made meticulous little signature blocks to put on the backs of each quilt I made (that got old pretty quick).

I'm very pleased with how it all turned out, so was Paco

The most important things I learned from making this quilt are:

1. Have confidence in your ability to freemotion. You won't be sorry. While you can study designs, chalk them on fabric, sew through paper, the best thing (and the one that won't result in looking forced) you can do is to let your mind guide the fabric through your needle. You'll be far less disappointed (and rip out far fewer stitches) if you aren't trying to copy what someone else was feeling while they stitched. Freemotion is not about rigidity and coloring inside the lines. Think about it....free motion.
2. Heavy quilting uses lots of thread :) It also results in an interesting look which has a non-comforter feel to it. I like it. The more it's washed, the more it looks like a comfortable, been around for a long time quilt.
3. Never feel bad about setting something aside until you're feeling the need to work on it. This sandwich hung on my studio door for a year. Had I rushed into quilting it, it most definitely would not have become my favorite quilt, or a project I was proud of in the end. Don't look at something as a UFO that needs to be rushed through. Look at it as a project you're savoring, something deserving of your full, unrushed attention, a quilt top that is waiting for you to decide you're ready to turn it into your current masterpiece. We've all heard 'the best things in life are worth waiting for'. 

Thanks for checking out my 'masterpiece'. I hope you're inspired to create your own.