Sweet Gin

I'm too sad to quilt. I lost my sweet, little Gin yesterday. My love, my sunshine, of 18 years crossed the Rainbow Bridge last night.

How can I sit at my machine without her supervising my stitching? Or embroider without her sitting in the middle of the pattern? Who's gong to test my quilting for softness and claim every quilt as her own? 

Heartbroken.

Why We Quilt...

Someone is enjoying the air mattress...

Ginger Made Me Do It!

While on vacation, Ginger is cracking the whip to ensure I get this Japanese butterfly top done.  She must be a good taskmaster - those are the only butterflies left to add!

She is a bit of a fabric snob, though. She's laying on imported cotton!

Supervisor On Duty

Ginger has decided she needs to keep a better eye on me as the piecing is taking too long!

I'm really motivated to finish this now that Spring has sprung!

Snuggly Blanket Thieves

Oscar and Ginger confiscated the snuggly blanket!

Who Threw Away A Perfectly Good Cat?

Started that new memory quilt today. It's a dream as it's all cotton Oxfords in a wide array of colors. The only problem was my assistant...

Ginger had to get into the act!

Look at these colors! Mixed in with her crisp white Oxfords, this quilt is screaming Churn Dash, don't you think? Maybe those elongated ones?

I'm only a quarter of the way through the bag. The happy part is that I'm catching up on my podcasts, too....as long as Oscar stops lounging across my iPad!

Happy stitching!
Elisa

I Have Not Been Nabbed By Zombies...

Life has taken many turns in the last six weeks.... Sorry for the absence... It had nothing to do with zombies. To make it up to you, here's a cute picture of Ginger:

Thought I'd share my latest Facebook post, too:

Alot of pressure starting New Years resolutions on New Years Day. So I decided to start a month early and start small. Resolution #1: I vow to be supportive of my sisters-in-law's baking habits. I will do my best to sample everything this season :)

What do you think? A realistic goal?

Happy December 1st!

Pretty Girl - Birthday Baby

 Today is Ginger's birthday. She's 14.

You may think I'm making a big deal over "a cat", but Gin has given me unconditional love all her life. She has seen me through lonely years as a military wife, a divorce, uncertainty, heartache, depression.

In exchange for fresh food, a cozy pillow, and periodic treats, she loves me and accepts me for who I am.

Most days, I think many people can learn from her example.

Happy Birthday!

Careful Quilting and Cats

Nothing hurts your heart like hearing your baby in distress.

Several years ago I was in a quilt class where the lady at the next table was in distress. Her kitty had eaten a threaded needle. The needle punctured its belly and the thread wrapped itself around its internal organs. After many months and much money, her cat survived.

I try to be as careful as possible, but I've been a little lax lately. Ginger got ahold of a needle (she's okay). This post is as much as a reminder for me as it is a warning for you.

Do not leave threaded needles around.

Do not store straight pins on shirt sleeves, chair arms or pajama tops.

Keep kitty away from moving sewing machine needles (she's enthralled with the up-and-down motion)

Thread Heaven and glues are potentially poisonous or tummy distressing

Rotary cutters

Avoid heavy irons precariously perched on wobbly ironing boards

Bobbins may be fun to bat but small enough to swallow.

What else? How else do we keep our babies safe? 

And can we answer the age-old question..... What is it about cats and quilters?

Cheers, Elisa

She Has More Quilts Than Me!

Ginger stole another one.....

They're all for her!

First Finish!

I have three goals for this long holiday weekend, and I've finished my first project.

Here's my mug rug for a very dear friend.  It's from Anni Downs' Simple Pleasures.  I didn't realize how small the rug looked with the big mug on it!

I hope she likes it.  

Finally got to use one of my new labels

Happy Memorial Day weekend, my friends!

Elisa

p.s. Do any of you have this problem?  My patchwork princess, Ginger, is so determined to spend time with me in the quilt room (excuse the mess!) that she perches on the back of my computer chair like a vulture.  She cracks me up!

Patchwork Princess isn't Perfect!

Yep, even under the watchful gaze of the Patchwork Princess, still blew it.

Here's Ginger watching me sew the last strip upside down!  Some supervisor!