Bloggers' Quilt Festival!

Thought I'd join in this time, as I always enjoy looking at everyone else's quilts.  Here is a link to the festival, so you can see everyone else's quilts.  


I've decided to share a quilt I made last fall, but never showed on my blog.  I call it Autumn Crush.

I chose this quilt because I love it, but also because I can share a lot about myself in the story of its' making.


Some friends of ours were getting married last Labor Day Weekend, in the town where we used to live (and that we hope to move back to one day).  As soon as I knew they were engaged, I knew I'd make them a quilt.  But hey, Labor Day was a long way off, so I didn't have to worry about it yet.  Two days before we were supposed to leave, I finally decided to get serious about making the quilt.  I needed inspiration, quick!


Well, it was turning into a lovely fall, and we were traveling north, to Jackson, WY, where fall was well on its way.  I had a fat quarter bundle of Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush, just begging to be put to good use.  Great!  Now, a pattern.  It needs to be simple to cut and sew, because, oh yeah, it should have been done a week ago.  I can't remember where I got this idea, I checked my flickr favorites and folder of ideas, but couldn't find it.  However I'm sure I lifted this off of someone else's blog, so thanks, whoever you are.  Love your work!


So I sliced and sewed, added some Kona Bone and Burgandy, and basted.  And then...it was time to get in the car and drive 8 hours.  With 3 dogs and a sewing machine.  We were staying with friends, and the minute I got there I took over their dining room table and started quilting.  I had some orange variegated thread that I love, and I just did a simple, loose, meander over the center of the quilt.  I wanted something a bit different for the border, but wasn't really sure what to do.  In the end I took a hint from the shapes in the quilt, and did rectangles of different heights.  It looks almost like a city skyline-possibly a weird choice for my friends who live 5 hours from the nearest sky scraper, in the wilds of NW Wyoming.

This pictures is not great, but gives you an idea of what I'm talking about.  It really did look better when seen on the whole quilt, I promise!  


Once I finished quilting, I machine bound it using the same Kona Burgandy and a zig-zag stitch.  That left me just enough time to shower, get dressed, and have a quick take photo shoot (because, again, I love this quilt).  Here a few of the other pictures.

My friends have a lovely home, both the little you can see here, and the rest.  And they have flowers!  That aren't dead!  (I don't).

Now, from the above you have learned that I like autumn colors and Jackson, WY, and that I tend to procrastinate.  The other thing you can learn about me comes from the following gratuitous puppy pictures.

I am a crazy dog lady, and in addition to being momma to three dogs, I foster dogs and puppies.  This is Moses, who was called Cameron or Fluffy at the time this picture was taken.  He is my favorite foster dog ever.  He was tiny and cute and fluffy and had such a personality!  He was, and still is, a gremlin.  He lets you know in no uncertain terms when he is not happy.  However, when he is happy, which is most of the time, he is just delightful!  Look at how alert he is, watching me in that photo.  He weighed about two pounds in the picture above.  He now weighs about 8 pounds, and his momma tells me that he rules the roost, ordering her two boxers around and NEVER sharing the couch.  I had him and his littermates for a month and a half, from the time they were 6 weeks to the time they were 12 weeks.  All three of them went to fantastic homes.

This picture isn't quite as cute, but you see Moses with my 6.5 lb pommie mix, Sirius.  Sirius' leg is shaved because he had broken it about a month before, but he is now fully recovered and back to his normal bouncy self.  Sirius' coat probably inspired my love for that variegated orange thread I mentioned above.  This picture isn't his greatest angle, but he is one beautiful boy.

Seen here sunbathing.

Hope you enjoyed!

A Motley...Post

So, wow, there are many things to say.  Let's start with photos, shall we?

Sirius got new sunglasses, and a backpack.  He looks cool, no?  He's er...getting used to them.

We kept a puppy!  He is cute, and awesome.  He is about 17 weeks and weighs 38lbs.  His name is Polaris.  I think he's a St. Bernard mix.  Here is he pretending to be Daemon.

He and Sirius are close.  They play.  He loves Daemon way more, and follows him everywhere, but I haven't got any good photos.  Polaris wants to be Daemon when he grows up.  Could be a lot worse.

Ferocious.

Kisses.

 

Kisses again.

Polaris Sunday, after his first visit to a dog park.  We took a black and white dog in, and left with a gray and white dog.  He met a Great Dane pup, and they had a fantastic time.  Polaris slept for the rest of the day.

"Momma, leave me alone...I trying to sleep."

We watched Piper, who was Teal that we fostered before.  Our friend adopted her.  Polaris thought she was the best thing since sliced bread.  He is a dogs' dog.

Then she had to go home and he was sad.

We fostered a boxer.  Daemon was terrified of her.  She got adopted Saturday and I got no pictures.

We ordered a tag for Polaris on Etsy.  It is completely adorable.

I made Polaris a collar.  It was easy and cheap.  There are so many girl collars out there, but not many boy collars, so this way I can make him whatever I want.  I ordered the hardware, it was around $7, and I'm sure you could get it cheaper if you looked around, or got plastic, but we are uppity around here.

I am making good progress on my terrain quilt.  Not so good progress on the quilt for my sis, but I need to just do it, and if it's not perfect, so be it.