Tag Archives: raining cats and dog

20

Aug. ’17

Sunday plans

Yesterday was a very productive day.  I was able to do the first 5 items on my crafty to do list and interspersed other non-crafty tasks within.  Then we had a wonderful dinner catching up with friends we hadn’t seen since the beginning of summer.

Today will be a mixed day of getting ready for the upcoming week, crossing things off my crafty to do list and Game of Thrones.

Here’s today’s crafty list:

#1 – wash and fold new fabric

#2 – A Rainbow Garden – spend some time applique-ing the first set of pieces on.  Here’s a picture from my Sunday stash post earlier today.

A Rainbow Garden
Block 8 – cut the pieces and pressed the paper onto the wool fabric
8/6/17

#3 – Maxwell Bag – I wasn’t able to do this task item yesterday so it’s closer to the top of the list today.  The next steps are to cut the rope to size for the handles, cover it with soft and stable, make the fabric tube and cover the rope with the fabric tube.  I want to get these tasks done before my next bag class this coming Saturday.

The outer and inner parts put together
5/2017

#4 – Starting Point Shawl – Yesterday, I was only able to do one front row.  I’m in the section that does a lot of PTBL and KTBL (purl through the back look and knit through the back loop) and that takes a lot of concentration from me.  I only have 1 row left in this section and then I can move onto the next color which is much easier.  So today I want to do that last row and the next two rows in the new section.  I also need to take a new picture.

Starting Point Shawl
8/9/17

#5 – secret project – hand sew the binding

#6 – Raining Cats and Dogs – spend some time hand quilting this project and apparently take a new picture.  The last picture I have of this project was from last year.

#7 – Kimono – continue working on it. The plan is to do a right side and a wrong side on each sleeve every day.  I hope by the time I make it out to knit night at my LYS, I’ve got the right sleeve done and I can concentrate on the left sleeve.

#8 – Cross Stitch – work more on Mama’s Bukid.

#9 – August socks – do a couple of the 4-row repeats.  Yesterday I finished by 7th repeat so I need 5 repeats to do.  At that point, I’ll try it on and hopefully, I can start on the toes this week.

#10 – And if I have time, pull out my pajama pants and get to the next step.  To be honest, I do not think I’ll have the brain power to do this if I get to task #10.  But I notice that if it’s on my to do list, I will get to it at some point.

 

 

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30

Aug. ’16

Fabric Tuesday, 8/30/16

Happy Tuesday!

I’m back to hand quilting Raining Cats and Dogs.  I’m enjoying it again.  I’m working on outlining with the cream colored thread.  I just finished the third block in the first row.  Once I get all the blocks done, I’ll work on quilting some other part.  I see this as a very long term project.

img_2286

 

Here’s a close up of my quilting.  I’m working on consistency and straightness.  Sometimes I get it spot on, other times I can see I need more practice! 🙂

img_2287

This is one of those quilts that will be on the wall or on display some where.   For right now, I’m using the hand quilting frame I bought from a friend of DezertSuz some months ago.  I finally had the time to put it together a couple of weekends ago and while I had the quilt laying on top of it, I finally put it on and started quilting.

img_2288It does take getting used to.

Of course the quilt is on wrong, so that might be part of the problem.  I can’t remember all the details but by the time I received the frame, I had already gotten the quilt basted and ready for hand quilting.  So I didn’t need to set up the frame.  That’s partly why it took so long to get it set up in the first place.  Anyway, I just laid the quilt on there and rolled it up.  Next time I work on a hand quilting project, I’ll be able to put all the layers on without having to baste it!

hand quilting Raining Cat and Dogs 8/30/2016

hand quilting
Raining Cat and Dogs
8/30/2016

 

~Happy quilting!

~Melanie

 

Linking with   and Fresh Poppy Designand Scraptastic Tuesday

~Melanie

 

 

 

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11

Jan. ’16

Monday Madness – 1/11/2016

Happy Monday!

I’ve spent the last few days quilting Tell It To The Stars!  No pretty pictures since they all look like this:

IMG_8837

Or some variation of that.  I’ve got all the orange quilted and now I’m working on the light blue.

Nothing on the design wall since it still isn’t up. 🙁  Maybe I should get the hubby a new drill so he can “practice” using it by putting up my design wall. 🙂  lol…

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

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04

Jan. ’16

Monday Madness – 1/4/2016

Happy Monday!

Raining Cats and Dogs Block 7 All pieces appliqued! Next Step: Embroider

Raining Cats and Dogs
Block 7
All pieces appliqued!
Next Step: Embroider

 

Cross Stitch "Welcome" Project 1/3/2016

Cross Stitch
“Welcome” Project
1/3/2016

 

 

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

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21

Dec. ’15

Monday Madness – 12/21/2015

Happy Monday! Here’s where I ended the weekend with:

For Allietare, I got 3 sets of this week’s clue completed (even though the picture only shows 2 sets).

Allietare! Step 4 12/20/2015 2 sets done

Allietare!
Step 4
12/20/2015
2 sets done

For Missing Ivy, I finished Step 8!

Missing Ivy Step 8 complete! 12/19/15

Missing Ivy
Step 8 complete!
12/19/15

 

I got the second cat on for Raining Cats and Dogs and prepped it for the last cat! 🙂

Raining Cats and Dogs Block 7 2 cats down 1 more to go 12/19/15

Raining Cats and Dogs
Block 7
2 cats down
1 more to go
12/19/15

More stitches on the old Welcome cross stitch project:

IMG_9134

As you can see, the letter “M” is finished and now I’ll work on the bottom border.

I’m still working on getting the dark blue parts of Tell It To The Stars quilted.  I’m so DONE with this project.  I’m not happy with the quilting.  I’m not going to unquilt it.  I just have to finish it, get it off the frame and bind it and move on.  I’m sure whoever I give this to will love it just cuz I made it regardless of the quality of the quilting.  At least that is what I tell myself. 🙂

And I posted the Rosie Hat on Instagram!  Here it is for those who follow the blog and not me on Instagram.

The Rosie Hat 12/20/2015

The Rosie Hat
12/20/2015

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

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18

Dec. ’15

TGIF, 12/18/2015

Another week, and not a lot of progress made.

I haven’t touched my sewing machine since last week.  It’s so lonely.  I’m a little out of sorts and haven’t been tackling any projects throughout the week like I normally do.  It’s mainly because we’ve had a lot of activities.  The random free day here and there finds me too tired to do anything.  It might also have something to do with the girl taking over the floor of my sewing room so she could study.  This was fine when her grandmother was in town and in her room but now that that is not the case, I will need to kick her out.  Her last final is today so she’ll have to move.  I like that she’s in the room so I can talk to someone while I’m quilting but she is usually sprawled over the floor.  And I need my floor to walk from my ironing board to the sewing table to the cutting area. 🙂

It’s Friday and another clue to Allietare comes out today!  I didn’t get step 3 done from last week since I was out of town, but that won’t stop me from starting up step 4.  I plan to get started on these on Saturday.

Raining Cats and Dogs Block 7 1 cat down 2 more to go 12/15/15

Raining Cats and Dogs
Block 7
1 cat down
2 more to go
12/15/15

 

Linking with –

Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Happy Quilting Friends!

Melanie

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11

Dec. ’15

TGIF, 12/11/2015

Another week, and not a lot of progress made.

Celtic Solstice Block A more partial blocks made 12/11/2015

Celtic Solstice
Block A
more partial blocks made
12/11/2015

I need to make a lot of these blocks and I’m probably a third of the way through.  I’m just trying to do a bit at a time so that eventually they will get done.  I’m taking my time. Snipping the little ears, pinning, piecing, pressing.  I’m trying to be precise.  There’s no rush and I’m enjoying the meditative process of it all.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t make exciting blog posts or pictures. 🙂

It’s Friday and another clue to Allietare comes out today!  Unfortunately, I’m out of town this weekend so I will not be getting much done on that front.  I will be taking my hand work with me though: Raining Cats and Dogs!  I did start working on getting the cat on but it required a lot of thinking and hard work to get the head on so I stopped to rest as soon as it was on.  I wasn’t able to take a good picture yet so the old picture and your imagination will have to do. 🙂

Raining Cats and Dogs Block 7 old picture 12/11/2015

Raining Cats and Dogs
Block 7
old picture
12/11/2015

Linking with –

WIPs Be Gone

Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Happy Quilting Friends!

Melanie

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07

Dec. ’15

Monday Madness – 12/7/2015

Wow, with a very busy schedule last week, I really needed a Sunday just to sit in my sewing room and relax with my crafts.  I got a lot done yesterday.

For Allietare, I got 3 sets of this week’s clue completed.

Allietare Step 2 3 Sets completed 12/6/2015

Allietare
Step 2
3 Sets completed
12/6/2015

In between, some of the sets, I got a few of those top two rows pieced together for Celtic Solstice (Bonnie’s mystery quilt-a-long from 2013).

Celtic Solstice Step 6 Block A 11/15/2015

Celtic Solstice
Step 6
Block A
11/15/2015

I got the last two leaves on for Raining Cats and Dogs and prepped it for the first cat! 🙂  I’ve been waiting a long time to get that cat on and I’m sew very excited to almost be done with this block.

Raining Cats and Dogs Block 7 all the leaves are down now it's the cats turn! 12/6/2015

Raining Cats and Dogs
Block 7
all the leaves are down
now it’s the cats turn!
12/6/2015

More stitches on the old Welcome cross stitch project:

Welcome Project Cross Stitch 12/6/2015

Welcome Project
Cross Stitch
12/6/2015

As you can see, the pink flower on the top right is complete now.  I’m working on getting the letter “M” finished and then I”ll work on the bottom part.

I got all the background quilted for Tell It To The Stars.  Now I’ve changed threads and I’m working on quilting the dark blue parts of the quilt.  I’m not loving the quilting.  I’m actually really mad at the mid arm and the frame.  It pulls and is hard to move in certain parts of the frame.  It also needs to be seriously cleaned.  I did my best before I started quilting Tell It To The Stars but now I see that it really needs to be professionally serviced.  I’m going to start saving for a new frame because once the mid arm is cleaned, I think a new frame will help me.  But that’s not going to happen anytime soon so I’ll continue using what I’ve got.  In the meantime, I need to use easy meandering quilting and not try to do anything more complicated that that.  I probably should continue to watch youtube videos and look to see what other Bailey owners feel about their machines.

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

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30

Nov. ’15

Monday Madness – 11/30/2015

I hope everyone had a great break!  We’re back to the regular schedule – for the next few weeks anyway.  These next few weeks will be very busy as we head into Christmas.

This coming weekend I will be going to a tea festival in Downtown and then ending it with a Clipper Game.  It’s my first tea festival so I’m excited to see how it goes.

Next weekend, the family and I will be going to Las Vegas for the weekend.  Bad planning because my sister and her family will be coming down that same weekend to spend at Disneyland.  We’ll stay in town for them to visit Thursday evening and will head off to Vegas Friday morning when they leave for Anaheim.  Then we’ll head back to see them Sunday evening.  I still need to coordinate timing and all that.  But my mother will be planning on coming down too and will go to Vegas with us.

There’s a short respite the following weekend and then it’s Christmas.  I’m taking one day at a time.

Yesterday, I was able to knit while watching basketball.  I finished a beanie that I started while the boy was still playing basketball (I think May).  I took a break from knitting during the summer but now that basketball is on, I plan to knit while I watch the games.  The beanie was really for the hubby but the boy claimed it.  I started a new hat for me or the girl.  It’s the Rosie Hat in the Craftsy class – Hats Four Ways with Stephanie Japel.  After this class, I think I’ll start a sock class.  I’ve been hearing how great knit socks are during the winter and I want to learn how to knit them.

Here’s all my accomplishments this weekend:

I got step 7 of Missing Ivy done and put it away to play with other projects:

Missing Ivy Step #7 11/28/2015

Missing Ivy
Step #7
11/28/2015

I cut more scraps for Scrapitude 2016.  I finished cutting all but the background.  Since the first clue comes out January 12, I’m taking a break on cutting this week.

I got two leaves on for Raining Cats and Dogs.  I meant to put a third leaf yesterday but spent more time on knitting than I meant to.  It’s so fun to start something new.

Raining Cats and Dogs 2 leaves on 2 leaves left 11/29/2015

Raining Cats and Dogs
2 leaves on
2 leaves left
11/29/2015

A few HSTs for Allietare:

Allietare! Step 1 11/28/2015

Allietare!
Step 1
11/28/2015

More stitches on the old Welcome cross stitch project:

Cross Stitch Welcome Project 11/29/2015

Cross Stitch
Welcome Project
11/29/2015

And here’s the finished beanie:

The boy's new beanie 11/29/2015

The boy’s new beanie
11/29/2015

I didn’t get to work on Hampton Ridge so the plan is to get Border #2 and Border #3 on Hampton Ridge, quilt Tell It To The Stars and clean the quilty closet.  I’ve been keeping the quilty stuff somewhat organized but there are a few items that got put in the closet when we first moved in that needs to be relegated elsewhere.  It’s difficult to reach (because I’m short) so in order for me to get to them I need to remove the stuff at the bottom so I can reach the shelf at the top.  I know I could ask the hubby to get it for me but I want to go through the stuff at the bottom anyway.

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

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23

Nov. ’15

Monday Madness – 11/23/2015

I am feeling so much better today!  Thank you everyone for all of your warm wishes. 🙂

I pulled out Missing Ivy to work on this week!

Missing Ivy Blocks A and B placed Design Floor 11/2/2015

Missing Ivy
Blocks A and B placed
Design Floor
11/2/2015

Of all my projects currently in rotation, I’m most excited about Missing Ivy.  It’s coming together really nice and I’m loving the colors and the coordination.  I haven’t yet looked at what the next steps are this week but I have a feeling they are the triangles to fill in the quilt.

I cut more scraps for Scrapitude 2016.  I actually finished cutting for all the medium to dark pieces.  I pulled out my lights from bin #3 and need to separate between lights and very lights.  Then I’ll start cutting.  I know Bonnie Hunter’s mystery starts this Friday but I haven’t gotten my fabric together and I’m still not sure what I’m going to do.  I have a feeling I’ll be heading to my LQS on Wednesday afternoon to grab something because I want to play with everyone.  We’ll see.

I’ll be working on the leaves next for Raining Cats and Dogs and then I’ll be getting the kitties on.  In case you’re wondering why it takes me forever on these, I’m actually hand appliqueing everything.  (you know, needleturn…)  And I have the patience of a fly.  I can only do 1-2 strings of thread at a time.  But that little bit of progress is enough for me right now.

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And if you’re coming back from last Monday, just a quick update on Razzle – Over the weekend, I pieced the blocks and sashes together to make 4 separate rows.  Then I went to put together the cornerstones (not part of the pic) with the sashing and discovered that I miscut them. So… sheesh, I feel like every time I get ready to go to the next step in one project I discover something that is messed up or wrong – sometimes it’s something I did like in this case but other times its the kit or the pattern.  It’s good that none of these are Christmas presents and I’m just quilting for the joy of quilting.

Design Floor Razzle 11/15/2015

Design Floor
Razzle
11/15/2015

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Design Wall, Quilting. Tags: , , , , , . 16 Comments