Cozy Cat Quilt

I finally finished the quilt for Madelyn's bed. It has been sitting on my sewing table for a LONG time. Because I have a strong sense of order, I didn't think I should let myself work on anything else until it was finished.  This meant that I didn't work on any fun projects for the duration. (Yes, I know that's a bit crazy; I'm working on it.)

The real news is that finishing that quilt gave me the mental freedom to start a new quilt. The cats that are the centers of each log cabin block caught my eye some months ago when I realized that leftover strips from a block of the month quilt matched perfectly. A little ingenuity helped me stretched a fat quarter of cute kitties into what will be approximately a 58 x 58 in quilt. I will have to buy batting and backing, but that's why coupons to Joann's are so handy! I think a backing of purple minky would make this the coziest blanket ever for snuggling with my kiddos on our couch.

I thought that I would have the quilt top finished today, but Sirena and I have had a hard time spacing the colors and patterns of the cats so that it felt both scrappy and balanced, if that makes any sense.  Scrappy quilts provide a true challenge for my persnickety self and my equally persnickety daughter.

 preview of the layout

I also have borders that are partially pieced, refugees from another project.

All in all, this quilt is coming together quickly, using a bunch of fabric from my stash, and I'm very pleased.

blog bites

I wanted to call this post sound bites, but since you are reading instead of listening that didn't seem quite right. And now to the news...

1)Nolan is growing bigger and more delightful each day. Sirena and I weighed and measured him this morning: 14 lb 7 oz and 26 in long. He is not quite 2.5 months.

2)Mason is also growing. He's a big boy now as I had the "diapers are just for sleeping-time" talk with him about a week ago. He gave me a lot of grief the first day but now loves running around in his McQueens (Lightning McQueen underwear). Today he is quite fetching wearing nothing but McQueens and a pair of tap shoes from the dress-up box. He doesn't sound fetching as he stomps around the house, but he looks cute in a crazy sort of way. I would take a picture for future blackmail purposes, but I haven't the least idea where the camera is.

3)It's $5 Quilt class this weekend and, as usual, the girls and I will spend today sewing in order to be ready. At the moment I am procrastinating through blogging. It's a proven method around here.

4)I've read some fascinating books lately and am trying to find time to review them here.
Final Salute, by Jim Scheeler
The Omnivore's Dilemna by Michael Pollan

5)Through an amazing gift, I was introduce to the art of Katie M. Berggren. Her painting, "Love Affair" now hangs in my bedroom. It is perfect for this midwife mama of many. Someday, I would love to hang it in my midwifery office (as in, when I have a midwifery office.) Thank you, Kaley.

That's all the news that's fit to print...or all the time I can justify printing it.

Sewing on a deadline

Roberta asked about my sewing projects. I wish I could delegate some of these to my very-efficient mother-in-love!

Here is my sewing list:

1. Finish Maddy's quilt (pin and baste the top to the back, with the batting between and then "quilt" it by stitching in the ditch.) Sirena's matching quilt has been finished for at least 6 months.

2. Stay on top of our quilt class homework. We have 16 log cabin squares (each) this month. My April assignment is done, but I need to supervise/assist the Mara and Sirena. Here is the quilt we are working on. The next assignment will be given out at the April 19th class, 11 days before I am due. So we will need to get that done ASAP as well.

3. Sew 2 simple dresses for Maddy and Nina to wear to Kam's wedding, which is 2.5 weeks after baby is due. The dresses will be sewn from white on white muslin with crimson sashes. (In the pattern photo, it is the white dress in the upper right hand corner.) I am sure my girls will look lovely. I figure each dress will take 2.5 to 3 hours total- including cutting out and hemming. Zippers aren't my favorite, but I prefer them to buttons. I think I will delegate the cutting out of the pattern and fabric to my daughters and/or mother-in-love. I can't really see myself crawling about on the floor with 5 yards of fabric right now.

4. Help my mom finish recovering the family bassinet so that baby Elizabeth has a chance to at least have a photo in it before she outgrows it. My mom can sew the pieces together, but since there is no pattern, I am helping to cut the pieces out and come up with instructions. All the babies for 4 generations have used this bassinet. I will try to post before and after photos.

5. I would LIKE to sew some bedding for the cradle we are using at our house. I keep envisioning something that will match our bedroom...but this in an optional item. I may have to settle for purchasing a pair of king size pillowcases that match my room. Those would cover the cradle mattress and the changing table pad.