Do You EQ? This Could Be Fun!

I know I said I wouldn't be back again til maybe later this week, but I read a post on Mark Lipinski's Fan Page (FB) and he mentioned this fun little Sew Along that EQ is starting Oct. 1st. Click on their link on the right of this page for more information. They will be using BlockBase. If you don't have that - you might get lucky and be a winner - they are Giving Away 5 copies of BlockBase ...be sure to visit them and sign up on their contest page by 9am EST Wednesday, Sept. 19th. 

We DID go to the Jaguars game today....I DID bring my needle and thread....I did NOT stitch one single quilt top edge...(boo hoo)

but I DID spend almost 3 hours with needle and thread....

Here are the 'beginnings' of a couple pincushions. I would have had a 3rd one...but halfway thru the game...it rained and I couldn't stitch 'inside' my poncho ~ I tried! LOL 

All in all I think I logged in close to 6 hours of handwork this week....getting closer to the magic number "7"

Lynn ~ The Thimblemouse >"<

A Little This...A Little That...

Just a few more days til the big quilt show and I'm in official Crazy mode. You won't see me here again until after the show...unless I pop in to show you some pictures from the show (which I probably will since some of you were sweet to ask for a few show 'peeks').

Every year when this show rolls around I promise that NEXT year I'll be better prepared....I know...silly girl...but I can dream....

We do have a lot of things ready but you never know when Mr.UPS is going to deliver unexpected fabric (well, it's not unexpected, after all we ordered it, however delivery dates written, aren't written in stone). For instance, this really cute fabric from Michael Miller arrived this week.

 Naturally I want a sample.

My friend Sandie offered volunteered said YES when I asked her just yesterday if she could make up a quickie quilt. I began to cut her a kit and realized one very important fabric was missing from the order. The  free pattern download from MM only called for 1/6th of a yard...surely I could substitute something else....I looked...I hunted...I tried this and that....Surely I could NOT!

It was a crucial fabric for their border design and I played with ideas for hours...getting my little mouse tail in a tizzy with every passing minute. This was supposed to be easy. This was supposed to be FUN!  

I went to sleep and at 5AM this morning ~ I woke up with an

....raced to my graph paper (I love my "ElectricQuilt" program but sometimes paper and pencil and eraser are just what you need) ~ this afternoon at the shop my loving Spouse took over shop duty so I could cut and sew...

Top Done! Ta-Da!

There's also a cute elephant panel in the line with an equally cute pattern you can download for free from MM

- and because I do not want to disappoint Sandie, I've cut her the kit so she can have "Fun at the Circus" (did you hear that Sandie? Oh and Sandie...I've appliqued the stars for you! LOL).

I had planned to sew tonight but truly I'm one tired little mouse. I did put together some 'handwork' for Sunday's first season home game with my guys, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Spouse and I will tailgate with friends (quilters too! Imagine that). While we visit before the game, I have a few quilt tops to handbaste the edges under ~ no time to get these quilted by Wednesday and don't want my edges to fray ~ plus they look nicer displayed with a kinda-sorta-finished-edge.

And call me crazy, but that little bag you see right in the middle on the bottom? That's my handwork for INSIDE the stadium while we sit and watch the game. This will be a first. I wonder if anyone will notice? I must remember to take a picture of that!  (if you follow Bonnie Hunters blog - you know we have a 'needle & thread' challenge this month...wowee...I should get 3hrs of needle & thread time in...at least...maybe we'll tie and go into 'overtime' and there will be more! And won't Bonnie be impressed when I post a picture of 'where' I did my stitching this week? haha).

....

It's after midnight and I guess it's time to say goodnight. If I stay up much longer, I could get a second wind and decide to sew...which means during tailgating time I'd be taking a nap...and I think the Spouse would frown upon that. 

But before I go...just a couple reminders...there is still a little time left to enter Sewhooked's  Tabby Face Block Lotto ~ maybe you'll win the blocks (or maybe I'll win yours) .... and don't forget to mark your calendar for the Halloween Blog Hop hosted by Whims and Fancies 

....and last but No Way Least...

Maggie asked me to pass a little message on to you about a very worthwhile and FUN post she read on my blog list this week (ok, ok...I read the story to her...but only because if I let her use my computer, she'd be playing Petville on FB all day..woof woof)...anyways...if you're an animal person... Maggie's asking you to donate some time and your "paws" for this very worthwhile cause ~

Pet Lovers Unite! Big Animal-loving Announcement for International Quilt Festival/Houston!.. read all about it on Pokey's Ponderings. 

OK..yikes...wouldya look at the time ( it's almost 1:30am ...gee...I'm awake...I could sew a few hours before we leave for the game....Just Kidding...) I will get some sleep because it's embarrassing falling asleep in a crowd of 50,000+...ya wouldn't think that could happen....with all that noise....but it can ...ask me how I know!

Lynn >"<

P.S. If you're confused about when I wrote this post...I actually started it on Saturday night...but oh my - it's now 2AM Sunday morning...eegads! Lights OUT!

Good Vibrations

The clock is ticking...one week from today we'll be setting up our booth at the Jacksonville QuiltFest. We're in the 'crazies' mode right about now - writing our lists, and checking them twice...trying to pack goodies, that quilters will think nice. Cutting and folding fat quarters galore...rolling up bundles...did Mr.UPS just bring in MORE? 

I should be happy with the samples I have already made. I wanted to spend this week working on new table covers...(I plan every year to make new ones...they haven't happened yet!). Instead new fabrics come thru the door suddenly they are all I can think about. I must make a new quilt!

"Good Vibrations" from Windham Fabrics just arrived at the shop less than a week ago. Black, Reds & Whites with a musical theme...they've been on my mind. Our friend Ann has been helping us in our hours of need...she put together bundles of 7 fats. I challenged myself to make up a lap quilt using the bundle. Yesterday afternoon I cut out a little kit for my 'homework' last night. Using all 7 fat quarters and 1/2 yd of the little music notes from Timeless Treasures  I finished the top today.

Of course I added more fabrics for borders...but the center is pieced just using the fats and the 1/2yd of notes. I'm pleased...now if I could only get inspired to make those new table covers!

Lynn ~ The Thimblemouse >"<

With Needle and Thread ~ Update

One week ago Monday, Quiltville's Bonnie Hunter challenged us to log in one hour a day of  "needle & thread" time
 - whether it be handquilting, handpiecing, applique....you get the idea...anything done with just needle & thread.
I took the challenge and posted a pic of my UFO "hand work" project box here. I had such "high hopes.... she had high hopes ....she had high apple pie in the skyyyy hopes" 

(yikes - now THAT tune will be in my head for awhile).

Well....I did get a few hours in. Actually 5hrs + 10 minutes in.

Finished the binding on my Mom's little wall hanging...yey!

 
I love mini quilts - they're so easy to 'hang' when you add in little corner "pockets" as you attach your binding.

But those pincushions? *sigh* Those pincushions....still don't look like pincushions...

And only got to "3" of them (still haven't counted how many I have cut out...I don't think I wanna know).

On the bright side....my sweet hubby (aka The Spouse)...snuck this quick little quilt on his longarm for me...

I attached the binding when it was quilted and with "needle & thread" I finished the binding while watching the Jaguars play on Sunday afternoon. Sometimes a simple little panel just needs to be quilted and bound...this one is called "Tool Time" from Northcott Fabrics.

Of course the quilt was NOT in my little project box last week...but I'm still counting it! And there is another little 'panel' wall hanging I've been finishing the binding on...that will count towards my 7 hours THIS week. [Hmmm....wonder if I still 'owe' 1hr and 50 minutes from LAST week? At this rate, by Christmas I will owe more than I've stitched - LOL]

All in all....I AM really enjoying keeping track of my handwork time...it's made me do a 'few more stitches' some nights when I would have normally done something not as exciting...like gone to sleep.

 With our big quilt show in just 10 days....I think I better make up that "lost" time from last week....besides, sleep is soooooo overrated (unless you're a cat) ...and there are those 'pincushions' waiting on me....."high hopes"...lalalala

Happy Stitches!
Lynn ~ The Thimblemouse >"<