Another one bites the dust :)

Pink and brown owl quilt - 42x42

Owl quilt - back

This morning I finished up UFO #5 for the year - a toddler quilt that will be going to Blue Hills.  The wrinkly bits at the bottom of the quilt aren't really wrinkly bits - it's just where the quilt was pinned over the clothesline to dry - it's pretty well wrinkle free, if I do say so myself! 

5 down of 15 -- only 10 more to go!  My POS Babylock underwent some repairs last week and - knock on wood - worked very well at doing all the quilting on this little guy - I still don't trust it, but it sure did well for THIS particular project!  Jaret did a magnificent job getting it up and running - I'm glad to have discovered this place - they're fabulous to deal with :)

2013 UFO #4 finished :)

Blue scrappy quilt - finished to 43" x 43" :)

Thanks to Mother Nature for showing the quilt back - blue faux minky :)

Last night I finished my 4th UFO for the year (of 15) -- 4 down, 11 more to go :)   I believe my co-UFO-finisher Mickie has completed quite a few more than I have, but we're both doing well - YAY!

Last Santa Sack finished :D

Santa Sack - based on this tutorial :)

I made 5 of these Santa sacks - one for each g-niece/nephew - one per month starting in January.  Now they're all ready for Christmas, YAY :)

Gentlemen ... prefer tulips :)

I recently tried a new-to-me tutorial for a Riley Blake tulip petal hat - the hat is surprisingly easy to make (although I do suggest making it from patterned fabric).  I made the blue one first, and got 2/3 of my men (DS2 flatly refused, haha) to model it for me :)

Hubby preparing to eat supper (in front of the tv, which is where we usually eat :D) in his new hat ;)

DS1 modelling the hat ... I think you can tell how he feels about this particular modelling job :D

The back! LOL!!

Sorry for the dark photo - it was rainy and overcast outside and equally dark in the house!

He's such a good sport!!!!

Isn't this pretty?  I should have taken a picture of the red gingham lining!

Ladybug button stitched to the centre of the hat to keep the lining and outside fabrics together :)  My points actually did match almost perfectly - I even impressed myself!

The blue hat worked out very well so I tried another one with some ladybug fabric I had purchased @ Joanns this past weekend.  The lining is red gingham, and I made a couple of minor changes to the tutorial.  Instead of leaving the turning opening in the outer edge of one of the petals, I left it in the seam stitching two (lining) petals together - it worked out better for me.  For the ties I cut 2 pieces of fabric 16" x 1.5" - folded in quarters and topstitched.  Threaded the end through 2 large wooden beads, then tied the ends off.  I haven't tried the hat on a kid yet (it seems awfully big for a 2 year old, but the sizing is for 2-5 years) so 16" may be too long - I'm not sure.  At least I can cut it down if it's too long - I can't add to it if it's too short, lol.

All in all I give this tutorial TWO THUMBS UP - it's a very simple project to make (under 2 hours start to finish), and looks adorable.  Even on adult men :D

Riley Blake tulip petal sun hat --- fingers crossed :D

My first attempt at a Riley Blake Tulip Petal Sun Hat  - this is just the outside - I haven't done the lining yet :D  I need a fun model for my kiddy stuff!

My QAYG quilt top is now finished, so I'll be looking for backing tomorrow in Buffalo - hopefully I can get the quilt done by the end of May - fingers crossed :D 

 

QAYG quilt under construction ... and finishes from April :)

I had to take a bit of a break after we lost dear Zoomer ... I finally got back to my machine and have been working on this QAYG (quilt as you go) scrap quilt. The blocks are all quilted and finished, and most have been stitched together - I need to stitch the two halves of the top together and then it'll be an official flimsy. We're going to Buffalo this weekend - hi David & Cassendra & Olive Garden! - and will look for some backing fabric.  The blocks were stitched then trimmed down to 10" and stitched with a 3/8" s.a. so the top will be about 55X74" :)

QAYG quilt - two halves make a whole :)

QAYG quilt back (2 halves)

QAYG quilt - close-up of quilting

Here are the last of my April finishes - I just didn't get around to posting them.   My favourite is the pink boxy bag (3rd from the bottom) :D

 

Hmmmmmmm all these zipper bags and I haven't made much of a dent in my zipper stash, lol.

RIP sweet Zoomer -- July 1, 2001 - May 2, 2013

Zoomer May 2, 2013 - my gorgeous boy :/

Poem is from here.  


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 
Author unknown...

Our beautiful boy has had health issues for many years now, but we were able to manage things fairly well with medication and special food.   In the last month he went downhill pretty quickly, and today I had to make The Decision.  Tonight, with the help of one of our wonderful vets (Dr. Nora from LeGallais) our Zoomer, with all 4 of us with him, crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge peacefully and quietly.  He'll see his sister Sneaky (1986 - 2001) there, along with all the other family furbabies that have crossed before him.  I miss him so much already, but I had to do what was best for him, and he was in an awful lot of pain :(

I'm going to close comments on this post as I need to take a bit of a break to deal with this, and right now I think someone is cutting a lot of onions in here :/