Envelope Project

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Quick Update

This past weekend I finished seaming all of the blocks.  The quilt top looks amazing!  I'm now working on the backing that will incorporate the rest of the pinwheels along with the label. Hopefully this weekend will be productive.


This week got off to a rough start when we had to take doggie to the emergency vet clinic at 3 a.m. Monday morning.  He had a hole in his chest that was oozing lots of blood and fluids.  After the emergency clinic visit where they flushed the wound, we took him to our vet to find out he has cancer and it is destroying tissue, hence the hole.  We are flushing it out twice a day, giving him a regimen of drugs and enjoying all our time we get to spend with the doggie. 

    Just watching the world go round.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Work In Progress (WIP)

If anyone is wondering there are 77 blocks that were generously donated to the "secret" project quilt.  Before I could really start I had to get the rotary cutter and mat out and do some trimming. 
I ended up with these beautiful piles of 10 blocks each:
And then it was time to start arranging the blocks:
My sister has been visiting me for a few days so I put her to work.  This is the result of our efforts. 
 After I dropped her off at the airport I went home and started sewing the blocks together during DWTS commercials!!
The blocks in the first four rows of the quilt are seamed.  You can see the difference in the size of the rows.  This quilt is going to be around 60" x 77".  It may be a little bit larger if I put a border on it.  Does anyone in the secret society involved in this quilt have any comments or suggestions.  If not, I will just continue on.  I must say, it looks really stunning in person.  Each of you has done an amazing job with the blocks!  I may have to make me one of these when I'm through 'cause Lord knows, I have me some scraps and then some!!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Shhh . . . It's a Secret!!

Okay, I've finally had a chance to breathe and this morning I took pictures of these:
These are all the awesome blocks sent to me from Australia, Canada, Scotland and U.S.  It's now my task to put all these puppies together to make a super secret project for my friend, Jan-Maree.  As you can see, it is going to be a gorgeous quilt.
I decided that before I get too far along in the project, I should just take a picture or two and then go trim all of these blocks to the same size.  I love all of the different blocks and colors and I know that this quilt will be a super special quilt to the recipient.
These blocks still need to be added to the quilt.  I haven't counted all of the blocks up, but I know there are enough to make a really big quilt.  If it gets too big, we may want to make a couple quilts, but we'll see. 

Jan-Maree surprised me in her package from Australia and this is what I found inside:
Yes, I was the recipient of her cute table runner, potholders and ceramic bunnies!!  And they arrived just in time for Easter dinner!  She also included some other goodies that we don't get in the U.S.
Yummy!!


This week was a tough week as my doggie was sick.  Beginning Easter Sunday, he was no longer able to move his back legs and he was not eating or drinking.  We took him to the vet on Monday and on Tuesday we followed up with a trip to a specialized vet.  After many long, agonizing days, we found out that he did not have a mass and we have been treating him with a regimen of drugs.  He is bouncing back and is walking on his own again.  I cannot tell you how happy I am that he is still here for me to love.

Poor doggie, he had to get shaved for his ultrasound. 

I managed to get this charity quilt finished before my doggie got sick.  Now all it needs is the binding . . . ah, add it to the pile.  I discovered three really nice quilts I made that I haven't binded (or is it "bound") yet.  Hmm, what's up with that.  I even like to hand sew the binding, so I'm not sure why they're just sitting in a pile looking at me with those judgmental stitching lines!!

Okay, I'm off now to go trim all those gorgeous blocks.  I'll keep you posted on the progress . . . 



Sunday, April 1, 2012

Ain't No Fool!

Maybe April Fool's Day is only appreciated by kids; or maybe the fact that it fell on Sunday this year meant that there would be no tomfoolery!  But, I did promise my dog some sewing and so we went into the sewing room and produced a quilt top.

 I'm just trying to use up large chunks of fabric.  It's the quilting that really makes it pop so I'm not too worried about the simple design.

I had made the pillowcase earlier.

And my loyal assistant hung out with me while I created these:




Maybe next weekend I'll find some time to paint them.  All in all it's been a FUN weekend.  I hope you enjoyed yours also.