fabric flower

attempt #2 with square set #1. bigger button, better stitching. I got a whole bunch of fat quarters today to make these from, for a secret project. hopefully I'll be able to tell you about it in a week or two. maybe sooner. I hope.

new sewing space!

since the puppy booted me out of the kitchen, I've had no place to sew. today,MOTU cleared off a folding table for me and gave me some space in the bedroom. ahhhhh.

Puppy Pictures!!!

So the bulk can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/texeverlasting/Kini?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPP3-jX2dHp0gE&feat=directlink

But here are a few highlights:

First impressions are really important.  I loved her at first lick.  And second.  And 80th.

 Got her home and walking in the yard...see how smart she is!  She knows if she sits she gets a treat.  Now we need to teach her to do it on command not just when she wants a cookie...

 She's a model.  Look how pretty she is!  The lighter spots down her nose are actually dark spots on her skin...her hair there is all white.  We're thinking there might be some dalmatian in her.

 The first meeting.

 What the heck is THAT???

 Crap, did it see me?

 Kini stayed put, didn't bark, just stared and wagged her tail.  Grisgris veeerrrryyy slooowwwwllyyy walked over and hid behind my legs.

 Maowing down on a chicken flavored chewing bone.

 Down for the count.

 MOTU showin' Kini how this whole sleepin' thing gets done.

Needless to say, it's going to be a while before I get any more sewing done.  Hopefully I can bring my table up from my place tomorrow night so I can do some while she's sleeping.  We'll see.

check the time stamp

yes, it really is <4 am. and I'm so ok with that. :) potty break #2 went perfectly...so far only one accident, and that was because we took too long getting her outside. that was on MOTU's turn anyways teehee. on my turn, everything went perfectly...she's even caught on that she poops at the back fence. and she's not even crying like she did at 1 am. we so got the smartest puppy there. :D pics to come when I'm coherent.

Fencing Matilda

Did you know that flowers are really just loops?  And not terribly consistent ones at that?  Yup, turns out that's all they are.  Check out my free motioning:

I don't know if you can even see it, but I used pale pale pink along the fences to doodle daisy chains (at least that's what I'm calling them).  They're reasonably forgiving for the most part.

Now, the big question of the day.  Do I wear the jeans that are clearly too small (but are nice jeans and I'm tired of wearing polyester) or do I wear the polyester pants that fit better, are a little too long, but don't emphasize how bad quilting has been for my hindquarters?  Either way I'm wearing The Boots.

I've decided to start implementing a rewards program for myself...sewing is no longer something I just "get" to do...no no, ladies and gent, it has to be earned.  No more sewing without working out first.  Minimum of 500 calories burned.  This quilter's/desk jockey's spread has got to stop, and soon.

Save a Horse

Last night was a good night.  I left work at 5:15, was at the gym on the last available elliptical by 5:45.  Maybe I'll need a different gym time.  After that, we went home, showered, went to La Carreta (our go-to spot when there's a reason to celebrate/mourn/eat), went to Lowe's for more mud, B&N for puppy books, then Walmart for puppy/kitty gear.  And THEN I came home and put the borders on the front and back of "Ride a Cowboy"! PHEW!  I LOVE this commute!!!

Work was good.  I think I'm really going to like it here.  Well, I do really like it here.  The sodas are free (thank God for small favors...and they carry Coke products...Pepsi might've been a deal breaker) and the people are just great.  The products are still thoroughly confusing, but the software (the stuff I'll use to write the doc) seems simple enough.  Overall, I feel really good about the whole thing.  Even the fact that when I got there, there was no water (water main break) and we had to use the other buildings if we wanted to use the bathrooms was pretty entertaining.  Seeing how the people dealt with a "crisis" like that was very telling...people were griping a little, but in a funny and non-whiny way.  It was refreshing, really.  I'm happy with my choice.  :-)

In any case, you didn't come here for that, you came for the pictures:

 I got the borders put on the front and the back of Ride a Cowboy (previously referred to as Alishia's Quilt).  I couldn't stop giggling the whole time I was putting the border on the back.  MOTU wouldn't look directly at the fabric (mostly because he was too busy rolling his eyes at me...)  Alishia is going to flip when she sees it.

 Once I got those done, I realized I have a small problem...currently I'm sitting on three finished tops with three corresponding backings ready to baste.  If only I had a) the space to lay them out properly and b) the batting to put in them.  I'm making a trip home today to get more batting and some shelves to alleviate some of the clutter in the kitchen/dining/laundry/sewing/computer/dresser room.  I basted Fencing Matilda this morning.  I think I'm going to stitch in the ditch along the blocks, then do some free motion in pink along the pink and white fences.

 Of course, my QE (Quality Engineer) couldn't pass up the chance to test this top for quality.

 Inspecting every little seam.

Then he retired to his office to type up a report.

In all seriousness, I had no idea he was there...I was chucking dryer sheets over my shoulder for like an hour, then he started purring out of nowhere and I realized I'd be just layering him with soft-scented goodness.  He'd be creepy if he were human, but he's not so he's cute.  :-)

Design (Surface) Monday

Once again, it's not so much a design "wall" as it is a design "anywhere I can get the fabrics to lay flat for a while until my cat sits on them".  As such, I'm kind of sparse on the pictures today, but here's a gem y'all should enjoy:

God bless the women at Joann's.  I almost bought more teal/brown stuff for the back of Alishia's quilt, then the lady at the cutting counter pointed me to this stuff.  I still can't look at it without giggling.  That's going to be the back of her quilt, which is now called "Ride a Cowboy" (soon to be the sister quilt of Jimmy's which will be called "Save a Horse").  Long story cut exceptionally short (I'll expand later, I gotta go to work soon), the three of us have history with that song.  Nothing dirty, just a really funny incident at a night club a while back.  It's also a fun song.

In any case, I gotta jet.  First day at the new company...already it's a completely different vibe.  I hope this was the right choice...I'm pretty sure it was, but I'm still nervous.  Send happy thoughts my way!