Without Electricity Again!

Unbelievable, but true, for the second time this week our electricity (internet) and phone has been knocked out due to storms!  I love public libraries!  Free internet!

Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

Little Kittie, out at sea.  Having fun practicing my free motion quilting.  The water and the fish are one continuous line of stitching.  I didn't draw any of it ahead of time, just started stitching.  I don't know if my background stitching shows up, but it is there.

Art Exhibit- Scraple Hill

My aunt recently visited Chapel Hill, NC and saw an art exhibit called Scrapel Hill.

It contains works involving cast off materials.  I'm sorry I don't have the artists' names for you. 

The above quilt is comprised of plastic bag yo-yos.

This quilt is all socks.  A great idea for all those lonesome socks missing a partner! 

I bet it would be warm too.

If you are in the area, I believe it goes until July 22, 2012.



Feline Friday- Cat Sewing Pattern

Cat and Mouse, stuffed, toys, decor, paperweight, pin cushion, easy Sewing Pattern -pdf

From catsongstitchery

Meet Cat & Mouse, they are great friends and love to sit in unexpected places around your house. Cat makes a fun paperweight and pin cushion; Mouse can be a cat toy. Easy and quick to sew from scraps, they make adorable gifts. This is a pdf pattern and 5 pages of English instructions. Free shipping! I email it straight to you. Cat is 6" tall and weighted so she will sit up straight- great for displaying broaches too! Mouse can have catnip added for a little extra fun.

Visit catsongstitchery online shop to order!



Dressing Jesus

I was asked to clothe this Jesus doll.  There is a stained class window of Jesus surrounded by lambs at church that I chose as inspiration.  In the window, he is wearing a simple red robe with a white stole.  Once again, my fabric stash came through for me!  I used a red/burgundy broadcloth and a very soft ecru organic cotton herringbone. 

I simply drew a shape around him leaving plenty of room.

I folded the fabric in half so both sides would be the same.  Stitched the sides with 1/4" seams.  I hand hemmed the sleeves and used the selvidge as the bottom hem.  As for fitting it over his head, I cut a slit in back until it would fit.  I serged the edges of the stole.

Jesus is now ready for Vacation Bible School!



Feline Friday- Waiter, there's a cat in my soup!

Yes, I'll have breadsticks with that.

(Alice, don't look so shocked, I'm not really going to eat you!)



How To: Insulin Pump Cover and Receiver Pocket

Here is how I made a receiver pouch and an insulin pump cover.  Before starting, you should check the dimensions of your particular items.  The receiver pouch mounts on a belt and could easily hold a camera or cell phone instead.  The pump cover is similar to a shower cap in that it has elastic and slips over the front.  You could use pre-quilted fabric.  I free motion quilted 2 layers of flannel together (with batting in between). 

First, the receiver pouch:

Cut a piece of fabric 12"x6", slightly rounding one end.  Bind or finish the edges.  Cut unquilted fabric 8"x2 1/2" for the belt loop.  Sew the short sides together, 1/4" seam allowance.

Press flat with the seam in the middle.

Sew the belt loop to the pouch as shown, turning under raw edges. 

Loop is 5 1/4" from the straight, bound edge.

Right sides together, fold up and sew, the straight edged end, 1/4" seam allowance.

Sew across the corners, as shown.  Turn under and top stitch the sides down.

Top stitch the sides down and add Velcro.

Finished front view.

Back view of the belt loop.

Now for the Insulin Pump Cover.

I used the same quilted fabric as before.  Cut a piece 5"x6 1/2".   Then cut each corner off, creating four 1 1/4"x1 1/4" squares.  In one corner, cut an additional notch out for the hose. 

* Make sure you cut the notch in the correct area for your hose!

Sew the 3 similar corners together, right sides together 1/4".  The notched corner will need finishing- I used a serger, you could bind or zigzag instead.

Sew on 7" of 1/4" elastic, extending into the notched area.

Sew on Velcro.

Here is the back finished view.

Here is the front finished view.

Your sizes might vary according to your needs.

Happy Sewing!



Feline Friday- Cat with Pedicure

I call this masterpiece "Cat with Pedicure"!

I finally got to use my birthday gift certificate (from January!) and I can tell Emma approves!



Free Motion Quilting with Cindy Needham

This month's expert for sewcalgal's free motion quilt challenge is Cindy Needham.

It was also a review of sorts, because I went back and practiced patterns I learned during other months.

I found it easier with the space divided up into smaller sections.  I still have to remember to sit up straight and breathe!  Cindy's information was very helpful. 

Feline Friday-Why Cats Paint

I received this book years ago as a gift from my sister, who loves cats as much as I do.  95 pages exploring the theories, styles and artists themselves in fascinating detail.  The feline artists really do have very different aesthetics!  Some examples include Tiger the Spontaneous Reductionist, Smokey the Romantic Ruralist and Bootsie the Trans-Expressionist.  I am truly inspired.  I have been watching my cats very closely for any artistic expression.  Does arranging their food count?  Emma might be a Floral Reductionist because she can reduce a vase of flowers to a pile of petals.  I suppose I should look at the scratching post, otherwise known as a chair, in a whole new way.  Maybe it is Alice's work in progress!

I think they enjoy modeling for my artistic expressions (otherwise known as my fiddling around).

Here are my muses in profile.