It"s Not My Fauilt

Really, it isn't.

Husband is an enabler.

I leave my Facebook page open all the time and I think he is on there more than I am. Occasionally something will pop up there that he likes and he thinks I will too

A few days ago this one came up and he left it there to see if I liked it. 

When I said it was pretty he said 'get it'. It's a panel called Butterfly Vortex by Studio E. Clicking will take you to Etsy. I found more fabric in the line at Fabric.com. I started looking for patterns that use panels and decided on Bevels by Mountainpeak Creations. Again, this takes you to Etsy.

A few days before that Husband saw the bright butterfly fabric, again. It keeps showing up on Facebook. He asked if I had ordered it yet. When I said I hadn't, he said 'get it'.

It is Unusual Garden. This link goes to Hancock's of Paducah which is where I ordered it from. Each panel has six different butterflies that measure around 16 inches. I don't have a pattern, but I do have a plan!

In other news I finished the binding on the Cow quilt.

I can't think of a clever name for it so I am just calling the Cow Quilt or Makenzie's Cow Quilt.I think she will love it. And if she doesn't Son says he will claim it for himself.

I've been looking at Pat Sloan's Crazy Quilty March Calendar every day and watching her videos. I haven't posted any comments though. I am not strictly following this calendar, but it does make me think about the prompt and whether or not I can improve in that area. I think it might be something to do every month just to stay on top of things.

I wrote the prompt for Monday-an Assistant. While the sewing room might be a mess, the assistants are pretty organized. 

Tuesday and Wednesday's prompts were about long owned Fabric and a Project needing attention. I chose Circle of Life for both those days because it needs attention and has been in my stash for a while. 

Thursday's prompt was Learning. a few weeks ago I purchased a Pineapple Trim Tool by Creative Grids.

The link goes to Amazon. I got mine at a local quilt shop. There is also a Mini tool. I got it out thinking I might make one block, but decided I did NOT want to start another project right now so I put it away for later.

Friday's prompt was UFO.

 Again, I chose Circle of Life. 

Today's prompt was Machine Love - clean your machine, change the needle, etc. My main machine was just in for service so I didn't do anything with it. I did clean and oil the MegaQuilter that is on my frame after I quilted the Cow. 

Pat's Tidy Up prompt made me think about my stash of cotton yarn I use for knitted washcloths. I got that out to see what I have and can use. 

I end up with a lot of little bits of leftovers that aren't enough for a whole washcloth but can sometimes be paired with other colors the make striped ones. I did throw some away GASP! because they just didn't go with any of the other colors I have. 

And, finally, I tried a new recipe. We ran out of coffee creamer because I forgot to get some last weekend when we made our grocery run.

I had these recipes, but had not tried any yet. It turned out ok. Husband hasn't said anything so I don't think he even noticed it isn't what we usually use. 

I washed out the empty creamer bottle and mixed up the recipe in it. I made the French Vanilla. It tastes a little different, but it's good. I will try some of the other flavors. 

Quilted and Other Stuff

I got the quilting finished on the Cow quilt.

I had thought about switching to gray in the face area, but my machine made the decision for me. It didn't like me switching and kept having thread breaks. So it is quilted with the same thread througout. Husband says it looks fine and makes the cow look like it has curly hair on it's face - just like his bull does! 

I folded a bit of the backing around and pinned it to the front. I think I will use that for binding. There will be plenty enough once I trim it. 

In other news the geraniums are blooming. So cheerful in these blah winter months, even when it's dark outside.

We got a little snow the other day. It drifted around the ramp where a rabbit like to hang out. I am thinking this might make a snug little hidey hole for the rabbit. 

The next day it seems Rabbit made a doorway through the snow. 

When Rabbit isn't under the ramp, it is hanging out under this old bench.

 It's a good hiding spot. Can you see it?

 Maybe this will help.

This morning I got an even better shot.

I do enjoy the rabbits, except when they eat my flowers.

This morning I noticed these footprints in the snow. 

I hope they are from a cat. There is a stray tom cat that seems to make his way between several of the neighboring farms every few days. Husband hasn't seen him for a week, so I hope these are his footprints. He is a nice cat. According to husband he doesn't make messes in the barn or fight with the barn cats like other stray tom cats have done. Every once in a while I see him around the house or on the ramp. The mouse population seems to be less since this cat has been visiting. I hope he continues to visit us.

On the frame

I wanted to get this on the frame yesterday.

And, I did. I have made several passes. I am using Sulky Blendables (variegated) thread in Red Brick. It looks great on this quilt.

 

My dilemma now it that I am worried the red-gray variegated thread will not look well on the cow's face. The red really shows in the gray pieces of the 4-patches. 

I am debating whether or not I want to change to solid or variegated gray thread in the light area of the cows face. 

It will require a thread change at least three times. Hhhhmmmm. I might try one pass over the face and see what it looks like. That face is just so cute I don't want to distract from it with the wrong color thread.