Weekend Boy

We had Donovan both days this weekend while his mom got caught up on her pup grooming backlog. 

Yesterday we took him with us to Ikea for bookcases and a cart full of stuff we didn’t know we needed . . . 

and today he made me a snake (please note the blue face)

practiced his drawing, 

and cutting - lots of cutting! -

while I made his Christmas present right beside him.

His only comment? “Grandma, look, that’s a T-Rex” before going back to his project. He loves his dinosaurs but cutting with scissors is way cooler. 

Fixed it: that bottom border just looked wrong. Upside down dinos are much better. 😜

Crafting

Donovan has been staying with us since Sunday night.

We’ve had a *lot* of fun, especially when he discovered my stash of puff balls and colored glue. It’s surprising how long that kept him entertained.

Despite chasing after the world’s cutest 3-year-old (biased grandma), I also managed to finish two sets of pillowcase siblings,

one set from sale fabric I picked up in Orcutt

and the other from fabric Leanne found on the sale rack at Roxanne’s. I was surprised she wanted the gray, but she loooooves it.

A couple of burrito’s later,

we have the best dressed beds around. Note to self: it’s time to change that ironing board cover. As soon as the holidays are over. 

Done-ish

Sent this off for long-arm quilting today and hoping it doesn’t take the full four weeks the shop is predicting before I get it back.

I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out (although if I had a do-over I’d probably leave out the blues and add more reds). It’s much prettier in person and uses a lot of the Christmas fabrics I’ve been collecting-

reindeer, Hogwarts, Grogu (still Baby Yoda to me),

cactus Christmas trees and Santa in his BVD’s er, swimwear. 

The backing is two yards of snowy Downton Abbey fabric I’ve been hoarding for years - I was starting to think I’d never find the right project for it - paired with my favorite poinsettias. I’m using an extra thick batting so this is going to be *warm* and cozy. Can’t wait to try it out!

Scout Tee

One of my local quilt stores offered a shirt making class this past week, so Felix and I signed up. 

I’ve tried sewing clothes before without much success, but maybe this would be my time? Hope springs eternal. 

The instructor was excellent, with a background in production sewing, and had a ton of tips and tricks to share. I got the shoulder seams and sleeves sewn in - on the first try! - during class but that left me to do the bias neck facing on my own . . . 

Of course I messed it up. Despite clipping the *facing* instead of the seam -good grief - I still managed to finish this in a day. 

It’s a bit big, especially in the shoulders and neckline, and I’d like it to be longer, but that’s fixable on the next one. 

I’m thrilled I made a wearable thing!

Decisions

I had to rip and re-sew a few more reversed blocks, but the top is now done except for borders. 

I originally thought I’d leave the borders off, but this looks  . . .  unfinished? I’ve narrowed border  choices to the white poinsettias on the left, the green rabbits on the right or going shopping, which I’d really rather not do.

I love the rabbits but I’m not sure they work here. Maybe a 2” strip of poinsettias, then a larger border of rabbits? 

I’m waiting until I can see this in daylight to make a final decision. Opinions/suggestions  welcome!

Here’s Your Sign

I purchased this sign back in April, then put it in a “safe place” until hubby had a chance to hang it.

Found it again this week. That is one gooooood hiding place.

Also put Jac to work, peeling carrots (her first time - she loved it!) She drew the line at snapping beans though; she’s been there, done that and now it’s boring. 😂

Each One, Teach One

Helped a friend make her first ever quilt today

as a surprise Christmas present for her grandson.

Panels are a great way to start -

fast (we finished in an afternoon), easy-ish (they are NEVER printed straight) and colorful.

I think she’s hooked - she’s already talking about what she could make for the young Mister’s sister. 😀😀

Spooky Day

Happy Halloween, y’all! 

 Travis and Isaac

In a burst of optimism, hubby bought 7 or 8 bags of candy . . .

Leanne, Jaclyn and friends

and Marie brought over a big bunch of non-candy - tattoos, slinkies, erasers . . .

 Addison is a zombie assassin and her friend is the ultimate in scary-a politician!

and we had a grand total of *4* groups of trick or treaters, maybe 15 kids total. 

 Donovan 

Oh, well. The grands had fun and Marie’s taking all the leftover candy to work, so it’s out.of.our.house. 

 Leia 

Perfect!

Addy’s costume challenge for next year. Think her mom can pull it off??

Two Steps Back

Took another look at yesterday’s project . . . and broke out the seam ripper.

I thought there was too much blue, especially at the top, and hubby really disliked the row of black squares.

Fortunately, I only needed to rip out one entire row and parts of three others to switch fabrics.

It wasn’t fun but I’m infinitely happier with the results. It’s so much brighter and more cheerful.

Still only 7 rows to go!

Halfway

224 squares cut,

12 columns pinned,

6 rows sewn.

Halfway done. 

Christmas Is Coming

Spent two days picking out, and arranging, the 14 fabrics I need for this year’s Christmas quilt.

And realized today that, since I need to fussy cut some of the fabrics, I get to cut all 168 5” blocks individually, rather than doing it the ‘easy’ way with strip piecing. 

It’ll be worth it, right???

Also hoping, probably foolishly, to make this one too. And I bought fabric this week to make Donovan a quilt so I can teach Wenona how to make a quilt for her grandson out of the same fabric. In time for Christmas, of course. I think I’m going to be busy . . . . .

Duck, Duck, Goose

Today was the quilter’s equivalent of duck, duck, goose - 

 Supervision

 Backing for hubby’s UFO quilt

back, 

 Double checking that the backing is big enough

 This looks like sea coral to me but the designer says it’s a leopard print. Still pretty. 

back, 

top.

And one more backing, just to tidy things up.  

It’s even prettier up close. And it was 50% off at Roxanne’s last week, 

where we also found this treasure. I do love a good sale!