Category Archives: Uncategorized

Today I finished cutting out my red paw prints fabric. I had fun laying out all the squares on the floor and envisioning what the entire quilt top will look like. For some reason, Bruno always decides to come help! Today our other cat laid down on the blocks as well but she didn’t stay long enough for me to get her in the picture.

When I laid all the squares out, I realized that I needed to sew together some more of the four part blocks. Since I’ve been working on this quilt since April (off and on), I couldn’t remember if I knew I needed to make more blocks or if I thought I had made enough. Either way, I’m short.

I have a ton of the 8″ squares. If I use all of those, I only need to make a few more of the four block squares. The blank spots in each photo are where the four block squares will go. What do you think? Which design do you think looks better?

Option 1 – as viewed from the bottom of the quilt

Option 1 – as viewed from the top of the quilt

Option 2 – as viewed from the bottom of the quilt

Option 2 – as viewed from the top of the quilt

Option 2 will be the easiest to complete as I would be using all of the solid 8″ blocks I already have cut, plus make a few more of the 4 square blocks. I don’t mind doing extra work and going with option 1 if that will look the best. I’m just afraid option 1 will look too busy with all of the smaller squares (think top 2 rows repeated all the way down) as opposed to the larger solid pieces in option 2.

I just can’t decide! Which one do you think is the better design?

My days are starting to get into a pretty good routine. Now that the apartment is basically clean, daily chores don’t take nearly so long. I’m finding I have extra time for reading, quilting, and snatches of quality time with my hubby between his client calls.

I wish I could work on my quilting more, but the injury from my car accident keeps flaring up. Several years ago, I was hit while sitting at a stop light. The other driver didn’t realize the light was red and slammed into the back of another car, which then slammed into me. The police estimated the driver at fault was going 45 mph when she hit us. My car was totaled and I have permanent damage to my shoulder. Leaning over a rotary board or sitting perfectly still at a sewing machine for awhile causes my shoulder muscles to start feeling like they are on fire.

At least when the accident occurred, I had just made the payment on my car that flipped it right side up so I wasn’t left with financing and no car!

Today I was able to cut out all of the squares on my tan fabric. All that’s left is to cut out squares from the red doggy paws fabric and then I can start sewing it all together! Hopefully I’ll get to start on that tomorrow, provided I’m ready for the Sabbath on time.

Yesterday I laid out some of my blocks on the floor to get an idea of what the finished quilt will look like. My kitty decided he wanted to help!

These are about half the blocks I have complete so far. I still have to cut blocks out of the tan fabric and the red with doggy prints. As a matter of fact, I think I’m going to set up my ironing board and get the rest of the fabric ready to cut! Hubby is working tonight so it’s just me and a classical CD.

By 11 this morning, I found myself sitting at my computer wondering what to do. My basic housework was complete. I was finished with my one hour of Japanese studies. I have a pile of projects to work on but I’m not used to having time to actually start some of it!

So what did I do? Eat lunch. Yes, I ate lunch. Very productive!

But this afternoon I did pull out my quilting supplies and iron a big piece of fabric. I decided it was time to get back to work on the quilt for my grandpa. I cut 8″ strips and then cut it down in 8″ squares. So far I only have the first 5 squares complete, but I do have four more strips to cut into squares. Tomorrow.

It felt good to be productive again!

I’m not sure I like this fabric, but it will work. I have a hard time picking out fabric when it’s a gift to someone else. Who knows if they will like it?