Yikes, it's Design Wall Monday again

Well, another week has passed and here we are again, Design Wall Monday. And since nothing has been on my design wall all week, I decided I better get something up there that I plan to work on. So, this is my new UFO project.

These are swap blocks that have been sitting on a shelf for at least the past 18 months. Saturday night I worked on a plan for them (see the center of the wall) and Sunday I put them up so I could look at them: hadn’t seen them for quite a while. This week I will have to start looking for coordinating fabrics and figure out how to do that very large Dresden plate. I was thinking about putting either an applique or embroidery in the center of it.

What I have been working on is Christmas: I am very pleased with what I am doing but can’t show it yet. What I can show is some of how I am able to get it done. Does anyone remember the towel holder I used to hold my bias stems? And the strips for Going Dotty? Well, now it is being used to hold my cut fabric pieces.

I have had trouble carrying the cut pieces from the cutting table to the sewing machine (two different rooms) while keeping them in order. So, I cut an old cutting mat in half and duck tapped them back together, making a kind of book. I can lay the pieces on the inside and then cover them and everything stays in place.

However, once I get to the sewing machine the fan in the room wants to blow them all over. So, I use my towel rack to hold the top of the holder thus keeping the fan away from the fabric pieces.

See how I can keep it from moving either way?

I am really proud of this invention and how versatile my towel holder has been.

I did spend a little money last weekend.

I found this at an antique/flea market place for almost nothing. When I plug it in no electricity happens so it is going to a Singer repair place today and he thinks that it is just a cord problem. The machine doesn’t look like it was much used: no scratches, the gold etching is perfect, and I am really excited. I have never used a featherweight but I am anxious to try.

And one more thing. Do you remember the cat my dog chased up a tree? Well, she and her two sisters have been visiting and the little calico has become very friendly.

The other two still run when we come around but that’s ok since we don’t really need pets but if they want to take care of any vermin living in the fields around us.

Be sure to visit Judy's blog to see what other quilters are working on.

What Fun

The first fun was when our puppy found a partially grown kitten. And just like the cartoons, as Abby charged forward (only wanting to play, I’m sure) the kitten swiftly climbed a tree. Here we see her up in the tree.

And here she is telling me to go away so she could figure out how to get down.

When I went out an hour later the kitten was gone and we have not seen her since.

And the second fun? I finished quilting Going Dotty!

Here it is coming off the frame.

And out in the sun.

And showing the backing.

And here are my two binding choices.

And last: I learned that I tend to bend my wrist and a funny angle as I am guiding for the panto. In order to correct this (as it was causing pain) I put this brace on. It keeps me from bending my wrist at all and I finished up the quilting pain free. Learning that was fun, too.