Not Kitten Around Progress

 I'm making 2 versions of Not Kitten Around. One version uses the fabric that came in the kit but the other is just similar fabrics I had in my stash. The stash version will be going to my daughter and her boyfriend. It's a little bit of a challenge keeping the fabrics separate but I've caught myself before I made too much progress. Here are the cat heads and bodies.

Here are the two tails.

Here are the two pumpkins the kitty will be sitting next to.

These leaves will be placed at the top of this piece, above the kitty. This pattern is from Riley Blake and will measure about 12.5" X 14.5". I think it will be a cute addition for Halloween!

I Like Thursday #284

 It's once again time for Thursday Likes! Please visit LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more participating blogs. I love how my Facets quilt is coming along! This pattern is found in Victoria Findlay Wolfe's latest book, The Quilting Experience. I'm using my fabric stash but still buying a few fat quarters to infuse a little color where needed. Each block is 6.5" square. Each round focuses on a different set of colors. Fun!!!

I bought this little kit from Riley Blake. It's a series of monthly banners or can be made into a quilt using all 12 months. I'm just making this one for October. It came with enough fabric to make one quilt but I'm also going to make another one at the same time for my daughter and her boyfriend. They'll love it! Both of them are cat lovers!

Our tomato plants are bursting with tomatoes! It took awhile. I thought I'd share the largest ones! I love how tomato plants smell.  The smell reminds me of nature and the great outdoors! Such a clean smell!

The question this week is which do you prefer, creamsicle or fudgesicle???? As a child, I would have chosen the fudgesicle. I have always loved chocolate especially when I was a kid. However, now that I'm much older, I think I would choose the creamsicle. I'm not sure why but that's my answer! I would never say no to either one!!

Have a great weekend and stay cool!!!!!

Facets Round 4

The heat is back again and I seem to be moving much slower! My house is cool but if I have to go out to do anything, I get pretty hot. I did manage to finish the blocks for the 4th round of the Facets quilt. This round featured red as the main color with light pink contrast. The middle is made up of a flower motif of any color. The blocks measure 6.5" square. I use paper piecing for some of this block which helps me go a little bit faster. I love the contrast of the rows. My next color is purple! It's supposed to be dark purple but I plan on using what's in my stash.

I couldn't find anything in my stash for the binding of the Halloween table topper. I had to go to my local quilt shop to buy a few replacement lights for my longarm and I bought this fabric for the binding.  I only had to cut 3 strips so it was quick to prepare the binding. I'm hoping to sew it on tomorrow. If the heat doesn't get to me!!

I Like Thursday #283

 It's Thursday so it's time to talk about all the things we like! Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more participating blogs. I've been working on this peacock for ages! I finally finished needlepointing the peacock yesterday. I still have the background to work on but I'm thrilled that all those feathers are done! I hope to make it into a 16" pillow. 

I machine quilted my Halloween table topper. I wanted to make a spiderweb in the large light triangles. I looked online for ideas but didn't see anything that I thought would work with this shape. I came up with this idea and like it! It's not perfect but it works! The machine quilting is all done so I just need to make the binding.

I got new couches back in May and put quilts on them to add some color to my family room. I switched one of the quilts to this one, Arcadia Avenue. It measure 72" X 90". I love how it looks on my couch. It adds some really great color. This quilt really showed me what paper piecing was all about. I became very comfortable with this technique after making this quilt.

Our question this week asks if we used a hula hoop when we were younger. I certainly did and I loved it! I remember a few of us would get together in our neighborhood and just use our hula hoops for awhile. We thought it was so much fun!! When my kids were younger, we bought one. I couldn't wait to try it. Was I ever disappointed!! I couldn't get it to even stay up!! It just kept falling down. I never tried again! I guess things just aren't the same once you're all grown up!

It's been a much milder week here temperature wise but things are supposed to heat up once again. Ugh. Have a great weekend!!!

BOO!

This is the August block for the Frightful Fun Block of the Month. It's appropriately named BOO!. It measures 12" X 24". The letters are actually purple even though it looks blue in the pictures!

The directions recommended we make the skulls first since they were going to fit inside the two O's. Although small, these 2 blocks weren't very difficult except for those mouths! Each mouth starts as a square with tiny triangles sewn on each to corner to round it out. Mine didn't come out perfect but close enough. I attempted one mouth 3 times until I liked the result. Done is good!!!

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to center the skulls properly but it really wasn't too hard. I saved the exclamation point for this morning. This was the fastest part of the block! It was nice to finish earlier than expected.

Next month is the final month of this BOM. I have really enjoyed working on this quilt. The patterns were so fun to work on. I can't wait to put it all together and see the end result!

I Like Thursday #282

It's time for Thursday likes! Boy, the weeks just seem to be flying by. Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more participating blogs. The August directions for the Laurel Ridge BOM were out a few days early so I started working on it. I have to make 32 Cat's Cradle Blocks. I'm working on the portion of the block made up of 4 triangles. The pile on the left are the side triangles. The pile in the middle are half square triangles that have to be ironed open and trimmed. The pile on the right are my finished pieces. It's coming together nicely!

We went out to eat last weekend and I got the best drink ever! It was called simply Pineapple Rum Drink. It was so good! It tasted like a pina colada and even had a little nutmeg sprinkled on the top. I don't always finish drinks but I finished every drop of this one!!

I thought Lily looked uncomfortable sleeping on her couch like this. She stayed in this position for awhile so I guess it couldn't have been too bad! Silly kitty!!

The question this week asks if we worked during the summer when we were younger. I worked as a cashier as soon as I turned 16 years old and continued until I went to college. Once in college, I got a full time summer job to help pay for my tuition. I never enjoyed the summer once I was old enough to work. That might be why I'm enjoying my retirement so much! It's so nice to have time off and be able to do whatever I like!

Have a wonderful weekend!! Stay cool! It's been so hot up here in the Northeast. We're finally expecting cooler temps.

Halloween Stratford

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I had a few busy days at the end of last week. I had to take my mother to the doctor. I didn't have a lot of time to sew but somehow, I managed to finish this Halloween version of Stratford Table Topper. It's a quick project so one step every so often adds up quickly.

These are just the diamonds before I sewed them together. I moved them around until I liked the layout. I just alternated black and orange so it didn't take too long. Plus there are only 6 diamonds so there aren't that many variations. 

I found a background in my stash that I liked. I just barely squeaked out enough to finish the topper. I like the lines and little bit of gold in the fabric. Its not really a pattern but adds a little bit of interest to the background. It's just what I wanted! I had to order the batting. I sure miss running to JoAnn's with a coupon! This will give me time to figure out how to quilt it. Hope I think of something good!!