Next Quilt

I have started on a new quilt. I'm making a very springy colored log cabin. I found the pattern in Shipshewana and bought the fabric while there. The pattern uses two jelly rolls, so at least a little of the cutting has been done for me. I've got the first 6 blocks made. They are good size blocks. I was very surprised when I finished them because they are about 14" square. I was hoping to start on a new show shirt, but just wasn't super motivated to do it. I have to trace the pattern at the next smaller size and I don't have a nice sliding glass door at my disposal to use for a light box. Tracing a pattern without having light behind it isn't the easiest thing to do.

Tomorrow my Appaloosa mare is being picked up by her new owner. She will be moving to Canada. It has been an interesting process figuring out how to export a horse. I'm very lucky because the federal veterinary just happens to be located in my building. Made it much easier to get the paperwork endorsed. I walked up two flights of stairs and they didn't even make me have an appointment. I'm happy that she is going to a new home that I believe will be a good home. I'm sad because I don't know if I will ever show again. It has been my passion for a long time and now I may never have the opportunity. I guess that's life.

At least I'm getting some sewing done these days!

Tote Bag

Yesterday I finished a very cute summer tote. The pattern is by Lazy Girl designs and is super easy. You can make it using 9 fat quarters and it went quickly. I actually completed it in 2 days, but if I would have sat down and worked on it consistently it would have been done in a day. I'm looking forward to using it because it has lots of pockets on the inside and out. Each side of the bag is a different dog print. I found these fat quarters out in Portland, OR when I was visiting my sister.

Today is MLK day, so us federal employees have the day off. I haven't gotten much accomplished yet today, but hopefully I'll get motivated soon. I'm planning to either start a new quilt or a new show shirt. I haven't decided yet. I have to copy the shirt pattern again in a smaller size because the one I made was way too big.

Quilts Finished

Last week I finished my Double Delight mystery quilt and another UFO and took them to my quilter. Its been awhile since I've finished a project that needed to go to the quilter, but luckily she was able to take my quilts. I'm looking forward to getting them back and getting the bindings on them. One is going to be a gift and I'm not sure what I will do with the other. Probably end up keeping it because I hate giving them away after all the work that has gone into creating them. I know its selfish but I love them even if I don't use them but once a year.

I've been working on finishing a show shirt. I'm using a new pattern and it has been frustrating because things are working out correctly. For some reason the pieces that were cut out for the collar don't seem to be big enough. I did some tacking and glueing and it seems to look okay. I just have to finish the cuffs and put the sleeves on, but I'm so frustrated that I haven't worked on it for a couple of days. You'd think I would just get it done and see how it turns out to determine if I want to make more. But no, I want to leave it unfinished. Maybe I will get motivated tonight or tomorrow and just get it done.

I sold my show horse this past weekend. She will be moving to a new family in Canada. Its pretty amazing at was has to happen before you can export an animal to a foreign country. The vet has already been out and once I get the paperwork back from her I can move forward with getting USDA approval. Luckily, I work in the same building as the USDA vets, so it makes it a little easier to get their endorsement on the export papers. Once this happens her new owner will be coming to get her. I'm excited that she is going to a new home, but also sad because I don't know if or when I will get a new horse to show. I'm not ready to give up on showing yet, but it may have to wait awhile.

Bargello Finished

Tonight I finished the binding on the quilt as you go Bargello wallhanging. I started this quilt last spring so I'm glad to have it completed. I'm amazed at how sore my hand is from hand sewing the binding. Guess my hands are out of practice. Luckily, it was only a wallhanging. I might be in trouble with the next one. I'm eager to move on to the next UFO.

Tomorrow I plan to get the backing and possible border fabric for my Double Delight. I really would like to get it finished this week. I also want to get my last UFO going. All the pieces are sewn into blocks I just have to cut the sashing fabric and put the top together. I'm sort of following a pattern with my own changes being inserted. I really like the pattern, but I want the quilt bigger and I'm using special fabric so I want to showcase it a bit.

Ava Update

The girl is doing much better. Today is our last day of antibiotics. I'm hoping that will help stop the throwing up after eating. She is doing much better with eating but still has issues occassionally. I haven't figured out what the connection is between every incident other than the drugs. Her bandage changes are down to once a day and MSU is letting me do them. We are down to just Telfa pads instead of huge packs of gauze. I looked at the wound this morning while changing her bandage and it looks like it is mostly healed. Hopefully Monday will be our last trip to MSU. She is going to have a heck of a scar in that spot as right now it looks like a red angry belly button. I'm just happy my dog is still alive and pretty much back to normal. We haven't switched back to regular dog food yet, but I'm going to start slowly incorporating it back into her diet. She eats a piece here and there and doesn't seem to have a problem. She has however stole a bunch from her brother and it didn't seem to sit very well, as it came back up.

Today I'm working on getting a binding sewn onto a wall hanging that I started last year. I took a class as the LQS this past spring and I'm just getting it finished up. Its a quilt as you go Bargello. It will be nice to get it done. I'm also almost finished with the Double Delight. I need to find a pink fabric for the outer border as I don't have enough left of any I used in the quilt. I also need to get some fabric for the back and then off to the long armer it goes. I have one more UFO to finish after that and then I'm switching gears to shirt making for awhile. I've got lots of fabric to use up for shirts so I want to get them going.