I saw a Kaleidoscope quilt on one of my favorite blogs, Exuberant Color, Wanda creates the most beautiful quilts and I check out her blog daily because she always shares wonderful pictures of her garden and has such a positive outlook. She was teaching a class on Kaleidoscope quilts and I fell in love with the design. AS soon as I saw her post I knew I had to try it. I had seen this block layout before, but I was looking for some inspiration on what to do with my Moda Gypsy Rose FQ's.
Here are some of my Pink/Brown blocks:
Not sure if I have the correct values of dark to light with the fabric I used, but I love the color play of the scrappy strip combo's. Hopefully there is enough value difference between the strips to make the kaleidoscope effect when the quilt is finished.
I had to make my own Kaleidoscope ruler from cardboard and that was a pain getting the correct isosceles 45degree angles and strip measurements. My blocks are each approx. 16". I intend to make a Queen size quilt, and a child's too if I have enough left over fabric. (So far I've only used the pink and brown of Gypsy rose fq, there are also Greens and purples and from my Allspice Jelly roll there are reds and robin blues) . I have tons of other fabrics to add too if I need more contrast.
I finished my Amy Butler Weekender bag a week or more ago, but haven't had a chance to post pics until now (I kept leaving camera upstairs in sewing room LOL)
Inside bag view (I added additional pockets inside)
I didn't have enough pink fabric to make image perfectly aligned on main panel and pockets, but I think it turned out ok for a first attempt.
A very cool Christmas Block of the Month project and giveaway being held! Go visit Helen's blog and read all about it, enter and maybe you'll win! I couldn't resist this giveaway, the project is soooo adorable!!
I spent Tuesday and Wed night coming up with a purse for my neighbor and friend, Josie. She was with me when I put Sabi to sleep. Her favorite color is blue. But I couldn't find the right fabric in Blue in my stash so I used a dark steel gray blue as my pop fabric that alsoappears throughout the rusty red/orange floral pattern that comprises the main body of the purse. I attempted to add pleats, but forgot to pleat the interfacing too so even though I pressed them in the fabric and pinned them in place, they sort of flattened out. Oh well live and learn. I had no pattern it was just trial and error. But I love my little hand sewn 1" button !! I think that gives purse a lot of character ;)
Measurements: top opening 10 1/2" acrosst; bottom widest width13 1/2" across. Height is 11 1/2". The straps are 10", perfect hobo length IMO. I
I am facing the hardest day today. I am bringing my fur-baby Sebastian in to be put to rest.
He had stopped eating late Wednesday night (June 3rd) and drinking water. I tried everything but his body is failing and his liver has been damaged by his dehydration and began to shut down over the weekend. I am heartbroken.
On Friday the vet sent me home with pain meds but I could tell she knew I would be bringing him in today. She saw how frail and broken down his body had become. I hate this . . . I have no idea how to deal with this. I lost our dog in March to stomach cancer too. That is two animals in such a short period of the same thing. I know it is just coincidence and not connected. Sabi is a snowshoe (part Siamese) and that breed (I have now learned) is famous for contracting intestinal and stomach cancer. As I said earlier I Love my baby boy and thank god for every moment I had with him, he is the best cat ever! I will try to think of all the wonderful moments and memories I had with him and all my other cats... I know he will be missed by many people. He was everyone's favorite of all the cats.
I am so excited that the Moda "Gypsy Rose" FQ collection came in today's mail. I got a super deal on eBay, I can't wait to use them alongside my Moda "All spice" Jelly Roll I got 2 weeks ago from Sauders fabric shop. I will post pictures in a bit, it is a dreaery rainy day today so I may wait to post photos for a sunny day.
Still working on my Amy Butler Weekender bag... my mind is consumed with my cat Sebastian.
I thought about starting a pet blog about my ten year old Snowshoe cat Sebastion, but decided against it since I am enmeshed in my daily life with all his ups and downs. I decided to just write down snippets here or on my Livejournal page when my head gets too full and needs to unload.
Sebastian has stomach and intestinal cancer, that went undiagnosed for at least 1 year. he has always been the houses "Good Will Ambassader" He greets everyone who visits, he is loving, purring machine that likes to wrap around peoples legs and trip them for attention.
He was always an overweight kitty so when he began losing weight in summer/fall 2007 I was happy and believed the smaller portions were helping. Then he kept losing weight until he went from a fat healthy 19 lbs to 15 lbs in early 2008 and then 12 lbs in mid 2008, I took him for his annual check-up and got his shots but the doctor didn't seem concerned so I read it as my looking for issues that weren't there. But by Fall 2008 he weighed barely 10 lbs and was looking skinny, frail and his sides indented like a great danes... so I took him to his regular vet and we had blood tests, and FIV tests (he tested negative just like he had as a kitten). All blood tests came back as normal. His Kidneys and liver were ok. But he was looking even more emaciated with dull fur that was getting brittle. And his wonderful sweet spunky personality was getting more subdued. So we re-tested. I and his vet thought he had hypo-thyroid, because he kept losing weight even though he ate ALL the time. So I spent the last 5 months running every test (multiple times) getting an ultrasound. . . even tried hypothyroid drugs even though all bloodwork appeared in normal range. Finally my vet referred us to specialists and from there he saw a cardiologist, and was diagnosed with mild HOCM (Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy) and was put on a daily beta blocker for his heart, then he saw an internist and had an ultrasound and they finally found the tumors, ulcers and cancer at the VRC (Veterinary Referral Center & Emergency services). I chose not to have endoscopy imaging. I chose not to attempt chemo due to the fact that putting him in his frail state through all that for "maybe" the possibility of having an extra 6 months to a year extra didn't make sense. So I've taken to spending the evenings sewing as long as he wants to snuggle with me, I don't get too much done, but I want to spend every moment I can making him comfortable.
After being shaved for his April 2009 Ultrasound
He is currently on a stomach/ulcer coating meds, pepcid, beta blocker, and antibiotics. and anti-vomiting drugs, but those are only allowed to be given temporarily. When he was on steroids he gained some liquid weight but no true fat or muscle and since the steroids caused internal bleeding and bloody vomiting, he was taken off them, There was a brief hope that the steroids would reduce the tumors inflamation and shrink them if they were lymphoma cancer. But his system couldn't handle the high doses of steroids and his tumors were for the most part unaffected. So the options have decreased and the inevitable has truly sunk in.
His fur coat looks much better, his loving, spunky personality are there though some days not so much. When the bad days outnumber the good ones . . .
He gets meds 4-6 times a day. I crush his pills and use water and a monoject to get them in him. He does very well on this regimen. When he starts to suffer from the cancer I will do the right thing, I won't prolong his suffering so I can have more time. As long as I can keep him comfortable and he keeps responding in his endearing affectionate way I will continue to do my best. It's all a waiting game now. But I thank god for bringing him into my life back in January 1999.
Well I spent a few hours measuring and cutting out fabric to make a pattern I've had for a while, Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag. I had bought the fabric from Sauders Fabric shop a couple summers ago. Sauders is a wonderful quilting fabric shop that has a huge assortment of fabrics and a great sale table. The staff there are helpful and really nice. I plan to use this pattern as a basis for smaller purses in future, with a bit of re-shaping and different arranging it seems to be a great basic pattern for purses.
<- This will be the main fabric for the bag . . ..
I am still unsure if I want to use the mustard yellow for bias and handles or if I should go with the light green fabric (Heather Bailey fabric I believe)... I will make up my mind tonight.
I am new to quilting but have loved to sew since I was a child. I am an avid reader and tv watcher, which is great since I tend to have the tv on as background while I cut fabric and plan out patterns. I love sewing in general. I like all styles (Modern, traditional, applique, embroidery, etc...) I like trying new things. I've made purses, quilts, pillows, wall art. And hope to eventually attempt clothing and wool toys and so much more!!
