Sept. 27 -- A Sad Day

Last year, on this day, at 10:45 a.m., Pretty Sofie died. She was born in May 1989 in our bedroom closet and I chose her from the litter of four to say with us. Her siblings (Magellan, Everest, and Winston) were adopted by a pumpkin farmer. She was the best lap cat ever, but she had a nasty habit of thinking the world was her bathroom. I remember taking her to the vet early on and the woeful telephone call: "I have good news and bad news. She's a very healthy kitty, but she has behavioral problems." He might as well have been talking about ME! She hated Bhu and he hated her, but their evil games were fun to watch!
So, Bhu, do you miss Sofie? "No, me do notz! Okay, maybe a little. Me liked to jumpz on her back and chase her thru house. Me liked jumping on bed and scaring her so she HISSSS at me! She hiss and growl, very meanz to me. Where she goez?" We'll talk about that later Bhu. "See mah belleh? Happy Birthday, Sweet P!"

God rest the soul of Paul Newman. He was super hot in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Quilting this one right now. I get really hung up on trying to do continuous line quilting, but I can't seem to work that out on this one. Doesn't matter. If I was quilting it by hand, it wouldn't be continuous line either. I have about 50 more of these blocks, so I guess I will be making more of these little quilts!

Finally, a sobering note: half the people who are going to vote in the upcoming presidential election don't know that if something happens to the president, the vice president takes over. Think it can't happen? Remember Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford? Peace Out, Babies!

Fall Cleaning

Going to do a little work on the blog sidebar. I'm taking the Mark Lipinski link off because he just isn't blogging much anymore and when he does it's pretty boring. I joined his group for about fifteen minutes, but it wasn't my cup of tea; I thought it would be more exciting and inspiring. Toodles, Turtle!!

I'm adding a link to Jane Sassaman's blog, which is like MIND BLOWING!! She's a true artist and I wouldn't say she has a lot of humility, but she is mature, productive and inspiring.

You will also see Wanda's blog A Frayed of Fibers. She's got great photography, the triangle bag tutorial, and inspiration galore.

I'm also adding a link to the Made in Jerome Pottery website where you can order and purchase kitteh-inspired pottery designed by Jane Moore. She has made for us coffee cups, a vase and a plate using Bhu's image. Of course, there's plenty Moore on the site (pardon ze puny pun). I will blog about the wonderful work she's done for us in the very near future, but for now, go there and browse!

Hope you're all having a wonderful three-day weekend! xxoo Patty & Bhu

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Don't know if it is an unlucky day, but we came home to no dial tone or DSL last night. I'd planned to take off today for vacation (and, yes, I will not be at work on 090909, either) and wound up waiting for telephone dude to come by. Actually, I called telephone company and pitched a fit. We keep losing service since they put in that new telecom box down the street. Teleco is trying to tell me it's because "there were storms in the area." What a crock, I say, the storms were 60 miles away. I'm sorry, that's not EVEN CLOSE! It's time to find the problem and FIX IT, not just put a bandaid on it! We are in BIG trouble in this country. Our telecom infrastructure is corroding and Teleco doesn't care (or doesn't know what to do about it). Ironically, while I'm sitting there on hold after calling them on my cell phone, they kept playing this marketing schpiel about how you should always have a corded phone because in case of bad weather it will probably work. Then the customer "service" rep comes on and his excuse for no dial tone is "there were storms in the region." HUH? Yes, they think we're stupid and if we're not stupid then we're complacent and if we're not complacent then we're "difficult."











So while I was trapped at home by telebungling, I started quilting la Amy Butler charm quilt top and Bhu helped. When Sophie and Rachel still lived with us, Bhu would never come to the sewing room. As a matter of fact, whenever the tornado sirens went off we had to put him in the pet carrier and haul him to the basement because he wouldn't go voluntarily and he would always sit at the top of the stairs waiting for someone to open the door. Rachel crossed the bridge three years ago and Sophie crossed almost a year ago and, since then, he has relaxed more and actually comes to find me and hangs out with me down there.

Hope you're all getting a little cooler weather! xxoo

Quiltsapoppin!

Ta-Da! Watcha think? I LOVE it! Believe it or not, it took me hours and hours of careful thought and repositioning of fabrics to come up with this arrangement. I love the way it flows.
Bhu seems pretty impressed and let me tell you he is not easily impressed! He's seen HUNDREDS of quilts laid out on the basement floor, although none quite so colorful.
It's a hot, steamy day again. Yesterday the garden yielded it's first tomato and here it is. At this point the spinach has bolted and not much else is happening other than herbs taking off and zinnias getting taller.

Goma Stars in Music Video!

You really have to see this cuz it's supah CUTE! Click here to see Goma starring in The Smittens music video! Can I has ur paw-tograph, Goma?
Bhu is hoping we will take him to the library this afternoon, so he's camping out on the book bag. He's thinking someone there might want him to be in a video, and he can be a star like Goma!


In honor of Goma and his first starring role, I am sharing this photo of the Shimmering Stars quilt I made several years ago for Meg. I used 1800's reproduction fabrics and it's one of my favorites. xxooo P

Twisty Bhu!

Twisty Bhu! Cute, huh? He don fitz, but he don carez! Yesterday I created a new thread saver block. This one is based on the log cabin design. I had these little strips left over from some project or another and I kept them in a little pile on the cutting table because I liked the fabric. That was about two years ago. Yesterday I saw them and decided, "Time to take care of these scraps." I have many baskets filled with long strips of fabric from projects, so a new thread saver block was created. They can be arranged just like log cabin blocks.

Nancy asked me what is a thread saver block. When you get to the end of a block, or any other sewing project, you always have a dangling length of thread that has to be cut off. Some people use a little square of fabric at the end of each seam to "capture" those threads. I just make more blocks. I have baskets an baskets of little pinwheels and flying geese that have been made from cast offs of other blocks.
Here are two ways to arrange the blocks, ala log cabin. Not entirely unpleasant and a better use of this beautiful fabric than tossing it into a landfill. BTW, I use some of the strips of fabric leftovers as "ribbon" to wrap presents. FUN!!

Oh say, can U C?

This is what we are doing on the Fourth of July: Bhu sleeping nearby (Me can relaxz on holidayz!). . .
Mark playing a vintage 'puter game in the basement . . .
and me, laundry done and on the line outside, finally quilting the thread saver pinwheels top! All in all, a perfect day. It will all be capped, sadly, by an entire evening of raucous fireworks.

Celebrate our freedoms and revel in your citizenship (or, if you happen to be an illegal alien, celebrate your successful assimilation SO FAR). xxoo P

SAD not GLAD

Our (by invitation only) farewell lunch for Penny was so FUN, but so sad. I will miss her A LOT!! Do you remember when we said farewell to Megan about six months ago? They worked in the same office. There is a lot of conventional "wisdom" about what it takes to succeed in the world of work, but as with everything else in life, it's a crapshoot. Doesn't matter if you have all the right stuff. What if your boss SUCKS? What if your organization is completely DYSFUNCTIONAL? For those of you out there who think "this will never happen to ME," you are completely delusional. Hard work begets hard work and loyalty does not earn the like in kind. AMEN.

This is Kyle's quilt, which will be mailed Monday. We had a little accident with a bag of microwave popcorn the other day (well, I say "we" but I really mean "I") and the house filled with smoke. We opened all the windows and aired the place out, but you know how natural fibers are: they absorb odors. So the quilt is taking a breath of fresh air today before being packed up and sent away.

Poor Bhu had to go to the Vet yesterday. He HATES her! As soon as she enters the room, he hisses and growls and behaves just HORRIBLY! I am SO MORTIFIED when this happens! Well, she had to stick him in the butt with a needle and he was writhing so much that the needle pulled out and she had to stick him again. Anyway, the poor little guy was feeling so sorry for himself, but eventually he forgave me and we are BFFL again! One good thing: he has gained weight! There's more of him to love! The GATO rules the world! xxoo P

Memorable Day!

Using the Canon EOS Rebel today and had to resize, so this will be an adventure. The Canon is like an APPLIANCE! Anyway, I am in the stash today trying to choose fabric(s) for the backing of the thread-saver pinwheel top I finished a couple of months ago. Time flies!

I met this paisley at a yard sale up the street and I think it's perfect for the backing, but there's not enough. Isn't that always the case? So I need to add more and my MO is up the middle.

Yesterday I sewed the binding on Kyle's quilt and took photos of that process, but it turned out the disc was not in the camera! Those moments are lost forever, but you can see I am now in the process of handsewing the binding . . . only three more sides to go!

I had to postpone my planned Memorial Day extravaganza featuring pages and photos from my father's war journal because our scanner has "retired." I hope to bring that to you tomorrow. It will be worth the wait, I promise. This has been one of the SUCKIEST three-day weekends! All these storms wreak havoc on our bodies in many ways and the yard is simply a huge layer of muck. We had to move the compost bin because it was crawling with ants! Somehow, the compost tea missed the pan and it's all over the porch now. Grilling is planned and I'm gonna sew. Hope you all are dry and happy.

I wish that people didn't have to sacrifice their lives in wars and I hate Memorial Day because it is too sad. If you are a past or present soldier I can only be grateful that you served and offer my sincerest apology for the traumas that you suffered in my name. xxxooo P

It's a Lena Horne Day

It's 9 in the morning but it's dark as night. Unfortunate, since I bragged to Gerri yesterday about my garden and by the time this rain ends I'm sure the rose petals will be on the ground, not on the bush! Here we are folding quilts, which Bhu misinterpreted: "Oh, mai mom is making tentz for me! Yay! I go in!"

In other news, got Kyle's quilt back and will be putting on the binding this weekend, since it's supposed to rain the next five days. Linda did a great job, as usual, and VERY fast! See the sidebar for her url. We also got the memory foam mattress for LR camping and I will be making a cover for it from stash fabrics. That was also a fast transaction via Amazon.com (All Sleep).

As for the garden, if it clears up a bit this afternoon, I'll take photos of the hydrangea and roses. TA DA: we have arugula and turnips, too!

At this moment, Mark is delivering this Hunter's Star quilt to the Professor, whose wife recently had their fifth child. I like the back, too. It's one of my favorite patterns for boy baby quilts, although the only other one I've made was for my grandnephew Gavin.

Stay dry! xxoo P

Stormy Day!

This is the Amy Butler quilt pattern I have been alluding to lately. Amy has a lot of free patterns on her website: notebook covers, yoga bags, quilts, pillows and other stuff. Lots of photos in the "Inspirations" section, just in case you can't figure out what to do with her fabrics.


Sunday we took Bhu for an official debut walk in the park. As soon as we got to the nature trail entrance, the mayor came up with his new puppy and was very curious. We didn't get 50 feet when we came upon two moms and their kids in the playground area and they were also curious. At that point, Bhu started complaining loudly "Me want HOME NOW!" He is getting used to it, though, and we often find him sleeping in it.

A Taxing Day!

This is Susan at Satin Stitches measuring the backing fabric for Kyle's quilt. The color's right and the print brings to mind "velocity." I also went to the post office today and was surprised that the line wasn't too long. The guy in front of me had his tax forms with him and he actually asked the postal worker for tax advice!! A little confused, I think.

Was having a difficult, tear-my-hair-right-outta-my-haid morning and the phone rang: Margaret wanted to give me $141.43 (I'll take whatever I can get). She said they had discussed it for 30 minutes and they kept changing their minds about who was gonna get it and she had to keep erasing her notes and all she had was her gum eraser that left eraser crumbles all over everything. She wished she had her red eraser (pictured), her special once-a-year-budget-time tool. I searched all over the building to find someone who had one of these, but none exist! I googled "red eraser" and found a cool blog about ERASERS! Apparently, the Ruby is a vintage office item (just like ME)! WHO KNEW?

http://eraserjoy.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html

Lovely day, have a stroll! xxoo P

Hoppy E-Oster, Frosty!

Phase III done. It now measures 72 x 72. Now, I can add 12" to the "length" by (a) adding another row of blocks, or (b) adding a 6" border on "top" and "bottom" with a narrower border on the "sides." Whaddya think? If I add another row of blocks, I won't add a border. Now, if I had EQ, this would have been all figured out before I made a stitch. I think of EQ as "creationism"; my kinda quiltmaking is more evolutionary.

It's been snowing all day, but it's not sticking. My evil twin (Pitty) thinks it would be fun to make a snowman (Frosty) on Easter. My goofy neighbor is fiddling once again with one of his numerous antique BMWs. Or is that my goofy twin and evil neighbor? Uh, dunno.

Easter dinner today was a BK Whopper, Mark's treat. I would have liked to have Shakespeare's pizza, but it's closed (SLACKERS!).

Bad memory confession: When I was a kid I LOVED peeps. I used to pop 'em whole right into my little gluttonous mouth. Later, I would have a violent peep puke, and that is what I remember most about Easter. Toodles, Turtles! xxoo psp

MC&C "Tutorial"

Kyle needs a large bed quilt, so the block is designed to be 12-1/2" square unfinished, so I am using a 4-1/2" unit. For each block you need one dark square, one light square, three 4-1/2" half-square triangles and four 4-1/2 double half-square triangles.
To make the half-square triangles, cut a 5" square from both dark and light fabrics. Draw a line from corner to corner down the middle and sew 1/4" on each side of the line. Rotary cut along the line after sewing on both sides. To make the double half-square triangles, cut a 5-1/2' square from both dark and light fabrics and draw a line from corner to corner down the middle, sewing on both sides of the line. Rotary cut along the line after sewing on both sides and then again, corner to corner.
Press them as shown. Sew the double-half square triangles as shown.
I always square up. It's a "fussy" habit, but even Eleanor does it!
I always arrange the pieces before sewing them together with 1/4" seams. That's it!

Kyle's Quilt Phase II

Do I need to explain? NAH! I'm working on Phase III today and I will try to have enough of it done to have a photo tomorrow. I think this is looking good and welcome comments and suggestions.
Mark has always wanted to have pancakes for breakfast and I could never seem to make them properly so he has been forced to go to IHop to get his pancake fixes. The other day he decided to fulfill HIS lifelong dream of having a pancake griddle and today he made four beautiful, perfect pancakes (and a couple of eggs for me)! This thing cost $20 (which is about the price of three IHop breakfasts), works great, cleans up fast --not a bad thing!

Jenna commented that she'd like the instructions for making MC&C and I would be happy to share with her personally (just send me your e-mail address) or for everyone via a tutorial. Leave a comment, let me know. In the meantime, syruppy kissses & sticky hugs to you! xxoo P

Skypants Delivers!

I am pleased to announce the timely delivery of Josie's quilt. I LOVE this little one -- everything about it from the fabrics to the quilting. I hope you can see that I used a curved line to quilt through the squares. Other quilters might have been doing this for years/centuries/millenia but it's the first time I've done it and I LOVE the look, so it won't be the last. I wrapped the box in lavender paper with a fuschia bow and used a vintage rose card to express Bhu's, Mark's and my best wishes.

Then, here's a peek into my life: I call it GEEK ROMANCE! Mark bought this bouquet for me because he interrupted my Foxfire download Sunday. The vase is heavy duty, custom-made by Jane Moore (see link below) and includes Bhu's picture. Fresh flowers are a magnet for the Bhu-meister and he loves to nibble on roses, daisies and mums. This bouquet is chock-full-o-mums. He also likes to topple vases, so we asked Jane to make this one, which is so heavy he can't push it over. But look, when was the last time your husband bought you flowers because he interrupted your Foxfire download? Something tells me I'm the ONLY ONE.

After delivering the package to Josie, I stopped off at the local mall and went browsing for new shoes at Dillard's. I found these Born sandals: I LOVE THEM!!!! I'm not quite sure how they will look with purple toe-nail polish, but WHO CARES! I LOVE THEM! Anyway, I tried to take a photo of them to include here and the salesman went apopletic, screaming "I'm sorry ma'am [okay, I automatically HATE anyone who calls me ma'am], you can't take a picture in here!" WHATEVER, DUDE! Frankly, I can't even imagine what he thought I was going to do with the photo. So, I told him, "No problem, I'll just go online and get it." Now I am so totally curious to know if Dillard's actually has a policy against taking photos in the store. Wouldn't that be BIZARRE if it was true???

Today I love EVERYONE (even the nervous salesman) because I have the DAY OFF!!! C'mere and let me give you a BIG HUG!!!!

http://www.madeinjerome.com

Patty Failurepants

This is as far as I got yesterday: just a top, no quilt. I blame this on the fact that I had to go to the grocery store, cook dinner and other stuff. I think Eleanor must have a maid and a cook. So, Josie did not get her quilt this morning. You can't see much of her face in this photo, but here she is giving Bhu the treatment. She's the greatest groomer EVER!
Tonight I will make the sandwich and quilt it, sew on the binding and then box it up and take it to her tomorrow or Friday. BTW, I used a lot of Seaside Rose fabrics in this one and, as you can see, mine has fewer "posies" than the original design. It's really quite adorable!

Eleanor 911!

This is what greeted me when I got home from work yesterday! Daffodils trying to peep out of the leaf mulch. Mark and I were supposed to sit down and plan the garden last night, but instead I hauled my lazy ass down to the sewing lair and cut squares for Josie's quilt. YES, I KNOW Bhu's appointment is less than 24 hours away and this is the sum total effort so far! YIKES! Since I'm
maxed out on vacation, I'm going to take off this afternoon and try to finish it. May I also pause to give thanks for no snow, no ice, no wind yesterday and for the abundant sunshine today!
This is my windowbox at work. Some time in April, I'll take them home where they will enjoy spring, summer and fall until the first frost and then they come back here. Note my goofy planter "cozy." Toodles 'til later! xxoo psp

I Keep Telling You: I'm NOT ELEANOR BURNS!

Well, I have putzed around all weekend doing chores and sewing, but not on the baby quilt for Josie! I found this quilt by Bunny Hill Designs on the Fat Quarter Shoppe website and this is what I am going to make, but for some reason I haven't been able to switch projects. My sewing table is filled with fabric and pieces for Kyle's quilt. This is usually not a problem for me, but I am so curious about how Kyle's quilt is going to turn out. Bhu's appointment with Josie is Wednesday morning. Honest, Eleanor, I know I CAN make a quilt in a day, but I don't wanna.

Oh, yeah, did I say yesterday it was 75 but then we had big winds and t-storms around 1 a.m. this morning, so now it's 40 degrees cooler. Scarey! Bhu kept climbing around on me looking for reassurance and comfort, but I just wanted to cover my ears and make the wind go away! It worked! I think it's headed your way, Yankees!

http://www.bunnyhilldesigns.com/