New FO for April

Thank goodness it's time for Aprils New Fo's at Cat Patches. I'm so glad to say a not so fond goodbye to April. My catch word for the past few weeks has to be distracted and I'm ready to get my mojo back, it's gone completely missing.

My fairly new computer started making the click of death (thanks for a quality product DELL) and after spending almost a week in the shop it was returned with nothing on it. I back-up, but lost every quilt design I've made in EQ, I backed up the wrong folder :(

When I got back up and running imagine my surprise to find my spam folder on AOL full of Daemon Mailer with almost every comment I had left on blogs, I had wondered why people weren't answering me. Turns out all of AOL was hacked and so much spam was pouring out that every server except gmail was rejecting it, including AOL. So, I want you to know, I've been reading and commenting you just haven't seen them. I've switched over to my gmail account so I'm hoping it's fixed.

What have I been sewing? Not much, this is just a top I made to use up the frog fabric that's been here way to long.

This was going to be the back, but so much work and too big (distracted) I decided to turn it into a top and threw it into the pile. 
I never have a pile, but do now.

I made a bunch of these blocks in different colors, then changed direction and now they're in the pile.

I did finish one quilt, my Let's Book It project

This one definitely makes me smile.

A flurry of phone calls last night and this morning has April ending on a high note, my beautiful daughter is on her way to the Keys with a Red Alert rescue (red alert means the dog's time is up). Oreo wasn't given any time because he is sick with, we think, mange. Hopefully I'll have freedom ride pictures. Suddenly April doesn't look so bad :)

Have you made anything this month? just started something? why not join us over at Cat Patches for the linky party? Lots of nice people and a fun hostess, I hope to see you there.

Later gators,

Dana

Book It for April

When I first started quilting 6 years ago I thought magazines were a great way to see lots of styles and patterns, so I went to Ebay and bought up tons of older magazines, then I discovered blogs and tutorials so those magazines gathered dust. "Book It" has me digging through those magazines and I can see how far I've come, easy patterns that I'm far past and styles that are just not "me". The magazines have been flying out of here and I'm planning what to do with that extra shelf space, so once again "Thank You Sharon".

Now when I buy a magazine it's because of a quilt with lots of color and this one certainly fits.

Love of Quilting Jan/Feb 2014

Gumdrops by Nancy Mahoney, I always like her quilts.

I actually followed her directions, except to change the size to a baby quilt, I've never done that before. 

I really love this one, it's all appliqued so it went together fast and easy, the blocks are only 4" each. I outline stitched for the quilting so it's soft and puffy after washing. 

"Book It" is the brain child of Sharon at Vroomans Quilts and has been growing every month. Pretty much anything that makes you want to make a quilt works, make the quilt and cross it off your bucket list, we can all relate to that. Why not join us? Fun and easy, love it!

Later gators,

Dana

New FO for March

The end of another month and it's time for the linky party at Cat Patches, the infamous "just start something, you don't have to finish it" party, I always say that with a Bruce Willis voice "come out to the coast, we'll have a few laughs..."

First up is my "Book It Challenge" quilt

This is such a great challenge, if you haven't joined in yet, think about it, pick a book, magazine or pattern that you already own and make a quilt. Sharon's a genius

Even though I'm sticking to a strict fabric diet, when I saw this chevron fabric I saw the quilt I'd make, when vision's appear you have to buy it or you'll be haunted and end up going back and buying it anyway, and what if it's sold out when you go back?
Just a peak at my thought process, LOL.

   I only bought a yard and used stash for the rest so it's like eating chocolate covered strawberries, they cancel each other out, right?

Right after that one, David said the terrible words "I think it's time to replace your car", What!!?? I love my car, sure it's old and getting rusted and those little annoying red lights keep coming on and costing a fortune to turn off, but, I love my car. So car shopping and mourning Eddie (my car) pretty much ate my brain. Shopping for cars was all about how much they could hold, David would mention the terrible twins and every salesman would fold down seats to show the cargo area and I would be horrified, the twins ride seat belted in the back seat, the cargo area is for the two bird cages when we need to evacuate. Yep, I'm pretty sure there are pictures of me on a black list with the words "crazy animal woman" in car dealerships all over Miami.  
David said it was the best time he's ever had shopping for cars.

So without a brain I needed to sew without thinking, I made this

and then this

Both from precuts, no thinking really required.

So that's it for March, I hope you'll join us for the no pressure link up "just start something... we'll have a few laughs". 

Later gators,

Dana

Book It for March

I'm still loving the idea that Sharon at Vroomans Quilts came up with, pick a book, pattern or magazine, blow off the dust and make a quilt. Since I have stacks of magazines all opened to a specific quilt this idea is perfect for me, plus I'm using some older stash fabrics when possible, win win.

This month I picked this magazine

And this quilt

The quilt was built around that center block, but I changed that so it would match the border fabric I wanted to use, which I've had way too long.

I pulled all of the colors from the border fabric too, so it's nice and bright. I like that the daisies overlap the blocks, it adds a little depth to the quilt, plus I like unrestrained daisies :)

The quilt finished at 41" square and other than changing the main block I followed the directions (first time ever).

I used just about the last of that smiling daisy fabric that I've been trying to use up for years as the backing, it matched perfectly and I only have about a fat quarter left. 

You'll see this magazine again, it has a cute Halloween wall hanging I'd like to make and at least one quilt block that I want to play with. 

Once again, Thank You Sharon! This is the incentive I needed to clean out that pile of magazines, most of which only have one quilt I want to make. It will take me years, but I'm already planning what I can put on that shelf, LOL. 

Please think about joining in, it's a great way to go though all of those books, patterns and magazines we've all been hoarding collecting and please check out the linky party for lots of inspiration. 

Later Gators,

Dana 

A Favor Please and a Question

Yesterday March 21 was World Down Syndrome Day, so this seems like the right time to ask a favor. My cousin is the director of MARC, Monroe Assoc. for Remarkable Citizens here in the Keys. They run two group homes, teach life skills, vocational skills and are pretty much amazing. A local bank is having a vote for your favorite charity fundraiser, could you take two seconds to vote for them? Three clicks is all it takes and they don't ask for any of your info. 

Go here:  www.keystosaving.org

at the bottom of the page is #3 Vote for your favorite charity

Click that, vote for MARC then hit vote, that's it. 

Thank you so much, they do so much good and with the economy and budget cuts it's been a constant struggle, every cent counts.

Here's a link to their web page if you're interested:

http://www.marchouse.org/

Now the questions, I've been asked to make a T-shirt quilt, does anyone have tips for me? What kind of stabilizer is the best for them? I'm a little worried that the picture on the shirt may melt when ironed, so is there a light, low heat stabilizer I should find? And last, what's the best way to quilt it? I was thinking just stitch in the ditch, but the shirts may be big and will that work? So basically, HELP.

Thanks again.

The pictures are just because....there must be pictures :)

These are scrap quilts I've been working on trying to use up the ever growing pile of strings.

Thank you,

Dana

Rescue Me

Lily Pad Quilting, home of the amazing "Pets on Quilts" show is doing it again with a linky party for rescued pets, it's a warm up for Pets on Quilts coming in August, but seriously, just ask any of us about our rescues and we're there. There's even a gorgeous jelly roll prize donated by Green Fairy Quilts. So think about joining in, even if you don't have a rescue at home there are other ways to be involved, no we won't send you a pet unless you'd like one :)

 This adorable guy is Hudson, he was my first rescue and started me on the path of working for and advocating for rescues. I saw him at the local pound, sick, scared and covered in ticks. That was it for me, we we're the best of friends and I still miss him daily. Every thing I do for rescues now are done in his honor.

If you've been here before, you probably know the "terrible twins" my two babies that bring so much laughter and joy to my life.

First up is Miss Maya Grace

 Maya and her brothers and sisters were dumped on the side of a busy highway, luckily they were found before disaster happened. All of the puppies were taken to homes that would take them in, my whole family is thankful that our doorbell rang that night.

Then came Mr. Brady Bug

We saw Brady at a pet store in Miami where a local rescue was set up. All of those hairless spots on his face and body are mange, he had other health problems and of course I fell in love with that sad little face and we brought him home. David took one look and said "you brought home a junk yard dog?"

The two of them are about 2 months apart in age, so they grew up together and act like brother and sister, lots of love with some arguing here and there. They are total opposites, Maya is afraid of everything, Brady has courage to spare. A noise outside sends Brady running out the back door and Maya running to me, when he comes back in he lays down next to her or on top of her and she relaxes. Maya loves to cuddle, Brady not so much. Maya demands what she wants and will try to "Lassie" us outside or to the cookies, Brady is content to lay in his bed and chew on a toy. They are perfect together.

And here they are today

Happy and healthy.

I do have two other rescues in my life, these are my two granddogs, yes, my daughter proudly carries on the rescue tradition (I'm so proud of her)

Miss Lola

Miss Hanna

Hanna came from a "kill" shelter where they tattooed her, if she ever came back they would put her down immediately. Everytime I see that mark on her I can't love her enough. 

Please visit Lily Pad Quilting and read more wonderful stories about our beloved rescues. Rescuing a homeless animal can make you feel like a super hero and you are paid with unconditional love, it doesn't get any better than that. 

Later gators,

Dana

New FO for February

It's time again for the New FO linky party at Cat Patches. This month the first thing I did was my "Book It" quilt for the link up at Vroomans Quilts. 

This one was so different from the style and color I usually do, so I ran straight for my brightest colors and made this

I had originally planned for the entire quilt being the HST's, but found it a little boring, (I know :), so I switched out the set in triangles for solids, which left me with left over blocks, so I made this, it was a bit of a puzzle to figure out, but I like that.

I took part in a Red and White design challenge over at SewCalGals and decided to play a little with one of the designs, I switched the colors to blues and purples.

After making those three I had my bright fix.

When I threw the scraps into my strings stash they came flying right back out at me so I'm working on using up some scraps and making a string quilt or two, you know how that goes, it sounds great until making string blocks has you screaming and running away. 

That's it for February, not bad for such a short month. Remember you only have to start something to join this challenge, start a quilt, make one block and you're qualified, LOL. Easy and fun, just the way I like them. I hope you'll check out the party at Cat Patches.

Later Gators,

Dana