Kitty Cat Quilt

The kitty cat quilt top is completed. This is the second quilt top where I have placed the blocks on the border of the quilt rather than queued up in the middle. Going through my fabric, I found the center panel that was manufactured over ten years ago. Usually, I remember where I bought the thrifted fabric, but this panel I don't remember at all. 

A quick peek at the backing, which is fairly nondescript and muted, nearly all cat print themed fabric. 

There are enough remnants left over for the donation quilt for the work gift basket raffle. 

In my first fabric pull for the tiki quilt, I favor the light-colored batik and know I have more of that in my offsite storage. I am still working out how I want to put this all together. 

Thrifting update: I bought this lined picnic basket for $2.99, and filled it with thrifted goodies. 

The drink glass watercolor was created by an Amador County artist, there are a couple pieces of clothing, costume jewelry, and a stuffed Chihuahua. 

Grimacing kitty cat is the precursor to the October Weird and Wacky post at the end of this month.  

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186134239247

Purging of the Pyrex

I knew I had squirreled away Pyrex, but didn't realize I had three bowls to list. I pick up Pyrex if it is priced low enough when I can find it. I keep a few smaller pieces for my everyday use.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186126281569

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186126292517

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186126327458

The zodiac one is the piece de resistance as it has its faded lid. The combined total listings are over $100. Icheeewahwah. 

On to quilt update: I am zooming along on the cat quilt for my niece. My goal is to make it king-sized with enough left over to make a donation quilt for our gift basket raffle at work for the Sacramento Food Bank. Here are the first 4 completed blocks. 

I am anxious to get a tiki bar quilt completed and listed on my Etsy store. I can applique tiki gods from other fabric on this first go around. For my competition quilt, it looks like I will have to patchwork piece the tiki. 

Hoping this day finds you well and sassy. 

Little Crocheted Critter and the Cat Quilt

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186089768386

This crocheted critter came in a pieces in a $5 bag of crocheted items from the Attic Thrift Store in Fort Bragg, California. I sewed on the legs and muzzle which were pieces in the bag.   

I knew I could find a button nose for him since I have a good-sized collection.

Rag doll was also a recent thrift shop find. Toys were priced half off at thrift. She was spruced up by a lingerie bag washing in Woolite. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186089777907

I began work on a cat-themed quilt for a relative. Going through my stash, I stumbled on this pieced cat fabric backing. I can't remember when I made it. All the better because it just moves this project along even quicker. I began the quilt top listening to the Cal Tjader's Latin Kick album.

The brightly-colored side of the cat print fabric is called the Catsville line, with a skosh of purple Moda grunge. 

I hope to get the cat quilt in to the longarmer before month's end. That will make three quilts in for completion. 

There are a couple of big garage sale events coming up at the end of the month. One sale scheduled is a church rummage sale. Those sales are the absolute best because they usually don't know the potential value of what they are selling. Books usually go for a song, and fabric-related items they nearly give away. 

Our weather is finally cooling from the intense heat of summer. Phew!

Christmas Quilts and Donating Time

Seven years ago, I donated this poinsettia quilt for a work raffle gift basket. 

Kitty cat quilt in the wild, more about that process below. 

Day 5 to the Countdown to Christmas highlights quilting, with one project completed last month. When I was organizing my plaid and Christmas fabric, I discovered the Glad Tidings quilt panel. I know I bought it secondhand but can't remember where and when. It is possible it has been in my stash for a number of years. Since I am back in office, it was time to decorate with one of those types of hangings. 

Pieced backing

Selvage showing Glad Tidings fabric by RJR Fabric

Detail on the binding stitch

Quilt in the cubicle

I made a number of changes on this project. I used wool rather than cotton batting. I may buy that on my next retail purchase. I think I am allergic to some cotton battings. My nose itches constantly and I sneeze way too much. 

Pre-printed panels really are fun to work with. Since the pattern is stamped on, you don't have to piece it. 

Rather than cut separate strips for the binding, I used backing as the binding. I have specialty stitches on my Baby Lock and used a star pattern. I will use that method for some gifted quilts. I hand sew the binding for my keeper quilts. 

This kitty cat quilt was for a raffle gift basket at work.  

A rainy day allowed me to complete this project in one day from start to finish. 

Total time involved was about 8 hours. The image below is what I call the "unwinding stage." To keep the top and backing from puckering, I wind both onto 8' long painted baseboards. Then I unwind the top, insert the backing, and unwind the backing, pin basting the quilt sandwich together. 

Mistakes were made, and it isn't a masterpiece but will work well as a cute throw quilt, measuring 48" x 48". I toned down the creepy cat print fabric with purple print borders and kitty in a teacup pink print. 

The reason I can give away fabric is I simply buy too much. This stack of mainly chintz and one of my absolute favorites midnight blue batik were $2 at thrift. 

I made this Christmas quilt two years ago. 

Moving past my creative log jam this year, I also finished off a baby quilt this month. Dash, my daughter's cattle dog, has photobombed my effort. 

What I'm Listening to - John Denver Christmas Celebration Concert