The eyes have (had) it...

I have come to the conclusion that I can't sew a straight line without (ugh!) reading glasses.

Which is rather humbling, seeing as I already wear glasses -- have since first grade. Without them, I'm pretty much legally blind, as illustrated by the alarm clock I have with the REALLY BIG numbers that are so bright that if I turn over toward it in my sleep, the glow wakes me up. But at least I can see what time it is from more than six inches away. Zheesh.

I caved and got bifocal contacts earlier this year (kind of cool, even though they took some time to adjust to), but sewing with those has proven to be even more hazardous to my seams. I'm sure it's a function of age, and working on a computer for 10+ hours a day for oh, 25 years, but still...

Evidence of this affliction is showing up on this quilt. I had so many issues with the piecing, it's no surprise that the quilting is also challenging me, simple as it is (meaning I'm too stubborn to admit that just wearing the stupid $3 glasses along with my own would make steering infinitely easier). I wonder what problems the binding will pose...


All that aside, I'm in LOVE with this multi-colored thread. The strong primary colors really stand out on the white. I'm hoping in the end, all the problems I've had with this project won't matter because it's just really cute!

And from now on, it looks like I'll be rockin' the glasses-over-glasses look if I want my stitches straight.



P.S. Resizing picture conundrum resolved! If you rearrange any photos within the editing window, it breaks the link with the original photo...which is why some pictures will magnify and others won't. I'll stop doing that, but it's a hard habit to break (I rearrange my furniture a lot, too). Mystery solved!

Everybody's a critic

The Safari blocks are taking shape, though not the Bento Box pattern I originally intended. Those looked too busy, and for some reason just rotating them seemed to calm it down a bit and let it get a little more whimsical. It's still pretty loud, but taking shape:

No sooner had I repositioned these blocks when Archie weighed in with an alternative arrangement, which leaves me seriously questioning his design skills...


I appreciate the suggestion, but I think I'll stick with my original layout.

Back on safari...

I had lots of leftovers from the Silly Safari jelly roll, so started putting these together this morning. Not sure how I feel about them -- they're busy even for me! Maybe some sashing, or maybe just pillows to go with the quilt. I wanted to do a Bento Box with the batiks I just bought, so I figured these were a good warm-up and I was using up scraps in the process. A two-fer!

It always feels so darn good after a long week at work (even though it was a short one) to sleep in on a Saturday morning (the cat even waited until after 8am to start licking my ears), wake up, turn on NPR, brew a couple shots of espresso (kept far away from my sewing table -- learned that one the hard way) and dive into a project. Sewing: best therapy there is!

And speaking of the cat, we're winding up Week Two together. I know he's still pretty young, at eighteen months, but after dealing with a geriatric cat for the past several years, I was in no way prepared for Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde kitten behavior. By day, he's tearing around my condo like his tail's on fire, jumping up on anything that doesn't move, and attacking anything that does (this includes me -- he's had a lot of time-outs in the half-bath). By night, he's the happiest, most wonderful little cuddler, snuggling into my side and purring himself into a deep, deep sleep -- apparently storing up the crapload of energy he unleashes every day when the sun comes up. But we're dealing, and have high hopes for a future of compatability and serenity. At least I do.

His name, I've decided, is Archie.

Archie at play. He later attacked the camera.

Archie at rest, smiling in his sleep.

Only a so-so expedition...

The Safari top is done...more or less. I was so off with this one, and the pinning-it-to-the-ironing-board technique I used to take the picture makes it look even more crooked. It's square, honest!

I couldn't figure out why none of the blocks was turning out the same size, or why the sashing strips didn't want to fit. I haven't been that far off since I started quilting! I attributed it to me being too distracted by the Olympics, or just wanting to get something done quickly...and then I realized my mistake. I'm kicking myself for not looking more closely when I started, but I just wanted to get the pedal to the floor and start sewing, dammit!

The jelly roll was pinked...and from tip to tip, all of the strips are the tiniest bit wider than two and a half inches -- enough to make a difference when lining them up for a seam allowance. I would have thought that something would have been the correct measurement, but valley-to-valley was less than 2.5", and peak-to-peak was more. Valley-to-peak didn't even measure correctly. My bad, I should have double-checked, and definitely would have made some adjustments before it was too late.

It's going to be a charity quilt...or at best given to someone who knows nothing about sewing.

Cat update: No distinguishable damage to computer connections or other furniture after Night #1 in his new home, which is good (though I did end up wrapping the legs of the antique wicker chair in packing tape, sticky side out, as a precaution), he's not distructive. I let him out of the spare bedroom the morning, and he's spent the past half hour running laps around my apartment. It must feel so good after being cooped up for so long! He also plays fetch with the catnip mouse. And farts. His diet is getting changed today.

On Safari...

Couldn't wait to sink my teeth into that jelly roll as soon as I got back home...and use the new book! Still piecing, but thought I'd post a shot to show a bit of this week's progress:



Lovin' the Safari fabric, and the contrast of the brights with a really bright white. Also lovin' the speed factor of pre-cut strips.

Slightly concerned with the fact that nothing is pre-washed, especially because of all the colors (with white, for Pete's sake!). I gave everything a good steam press before I started, which should take care of the shrink factor, but doesn't calm my fears about bleeding.

I'm not sure how/when the habit began, but I wash all my fabric when it comes in the door -- which can be frustrating sometimes, because there's that coming-home-from-the-fabric-store-let's-get-started-on-that-quilt enthusiasm that can lose serious momentum if there are enough light/medium/dark purchases to warrant more than a couple loads. Then there's the ironing, and the folding...and now it's just turned into housework, which makes it seem like a chore. Which usually means I get it all done and stacked and go veg on the couch with a glass of wine and watch TV because now I've just been working way too hard. I'll cut into that fabric tomorrow, when I have more energy.

I can understand not prewashing for wall hangings, and I realize that dyes are much more colorfast than they used to be so running isn't as big of an issue, but I'm still very hesistant to break this habit. And besides the "loss of momentum" scenario, anybody have a good argument for not pre-washing your fabric?

Quilter's booty

Well, one of the few goals I had this vacation week -- besides overeating and lazing to the point of utter sloth -- was to get to my favorite quilt shop. And despite repaving traffic woes in this northern haven that turned the quick four-miles into town into 50 minutes each way, fellow quilter Jody and I braved the possibility of idling forever (which was, after all, the theme of the entire vacation) on a two-lane highway narrowed down to one to get our fabric fix. Turns out the traffic was clear by Friday and we had plenty of time and energy left for shopping.


As expected, The Icehouse's fabric selection was fantastic. I restrained myself to a point and carried just the "Safari" jelly roll around with me for about a half an hour while I browsed. Luscious flannels, gorgeous florals, too many jelly rolls (and charm packs and layer cakes) to count and a striking wall of blues could have been my downfall, but I was being good...until I found the "Malibu Monkeys" fat quarters. Then realized I'd walked right by the yardage. So I went back to find it.

I'm such a sucker for that silly sock monkey fabric, and a sucker for my Monkey Girl, who absolutely loves my quilts. She's been living in Bermuda with her parents for five years (having moved from just down the block), and even though I see her fairly often for them being so far away, it's always hard to part after our week together up north. Every quilt, I tell her, is a big hug from Auntie Kate, so when she misses me, she can just wrap herself in it. And as long as she needs hugs (or until I get an "Oh. Another quilt?" reaction), I'll be making her quilts for Christmas.

My Monkey Girl, another year older

And the charm packs? Turns out we'd just missed their annual sidewalk sale the weekend before, and there was a half-price table near the register. Don't know what I'll do with them, but I know from experience that one charm pack is never enough, and two for the price of one? Come on -- who can pass that up?

And just so you can see my life isn't All Quilting, All the Time (though I'm really itching to get back home to my machine), I show you my approach shot from 140 yards out on the second hole of my favorite golf course. I can never do this -- my approach always ends up an $8 cab ride away from the hole and I end up three-putting. So I had to document it. Birdie!

Nothin' like a new book...

...to send me careening off in another direction like a creative pinball. There are at least three quilts in here I'd love to get started on right now.

I'm excited to finally put these two jelly rolls to use -- I picked them up at the International Quilt Show this spring, and every once in a while they call out to me from the stash corner of my kitchen (not the black hole of UFO's -- that's the other corner. I try to separate the two so that the new fabric is ignorant of its potential for living out the rest of its days in a plastic bag).

But work beckons. Oh, to live a life of leisure!

And BTW, here's how the Hopscotch quilt looks now. It's hard to see pale green quilting on white blocks (I'll try to get a better picture, but it involves laying down on the floor and contorting parts that don't contort so well anymore, something I didn't have time for this morning), but I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.