We All Grow Better with Love

Another finish for 2018!

Aw. I decided it was a good time to make a little something for me. This has been a lot of fun to work on while watching Pixar's UP and The Incredibles with Steve.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't find the original book to credit the designer, but that really cute hanger was found in the knitting department at Hobby Lobby for just a few dollars.

Embroidery Cat

Is it me?

Steve's daughter has moved into her own place, which she's renting with friends. She has decided to decorate her place with objects d' art that represent her loved ones. From her father, she has a collage of selfies, each trying to "out funny face" the other! They are a hoot and spend WAY too long at it!

From me she wanted a mini-quilt. If it's me, it would have to be embroidered. 

I thought a fat cat ready for adventure would be fitting

Do you see my gray fur?  I didn't design the pattern - it's from Anni Downs's Simply Pleasures book. And, typical of me, I had to over-complicate it - there are 8 unique stitches in this 4" square.

The toughest part was how to finish it. I didn't want to do a fake binding but binding it traditionally had its own challenges. To prevent slippage (since I'm not quilting it), I drew a line 1/8" smaller than it's final size and stitched all three layers together. 

Trimmed up, I can new sew the binding on - it's 1/4" seam will cover the stay stitching.

I'm using Sewn Into the Fabric's bias binding technique -- easily create a small strip of bias binding from a 10" square. This is the same technique I used with my Dad's stocking last year.

Quirky, joyous, and done! I hope Brenna likes it!

The Generosity of Quilters: A Pay-it-Forward Story

I have three more antique tops to share with you, but I thought I'd share a "feel good" story with you first.

When the mystery bundle of antique quilt tops were handed to me, they were wrapped in a sheet and held straight by a solid object.  The solid object turned out to be a bolt of T-Rex panels!  Pretty fun, eh?  And totally not what I was expecting.

Well, I don't have a need for T-Rex panels anymore so I posted a message on the Michigan Quilts Facebook page.  I thought since I was given this beautiful bundle of tops that it was only right to "pay it forward".  I asked if anyone was interested, and I would send them out free of charge.  

With ten quilters requesting the nine panels, we held a drawing and then requested addresses. Several of the "winners" offered to pay for postage, but I had posted these with no strings attached.  Luckily, to the postmistress's consternation, I apparently packaged them in such a way that I was able to mail them quite reasonably.

Fast forward to today.  I received a thick envelope in the mail from Cindy R.  Oh, I thought.  A thank you note?  Yes it was, but with an added bonus!  

photographed outdoors - fabric is white

She embroidered a kitty quilt label for me!  How adorable is this! And take another look at the card!  It's handmade, too.  It's looks like the flowers were machine embroidered on the checked fabric and then adhered within the card stock.

photographed indoors - on top of a cream backing
So excited to share I didn't think to iron it first!

Thank you so much, Cindy R - absolutely adorable!  I can't wait to attach it to my 1930's-era snowball quilt! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!