Remember This?

The Cajun Critter Quilt? Well, I've found a few little varments to go with it. I have 9 more to find. I'm in no rush. It's a good thing because some of these may be more difficult to find then others. I'm sure I would be able to find them online somewhere, but it's been fun just finding them here and there. Here are the gator, crab, pelican and possum...or is that oppossum? I'll be looking for a fish, butterfly, frog, mosquito, shrimp, egret, turtle, raccoon and crawfish. YOU KNOW that I am resisting the temptation to just find them all today and purchase them, but I am not going to do that. I wish I was working in my sewing room today but I have some other things that needs to be done. Soon enough I will have a carefree day and be able to play upstairs with that scrappy quilt or maybe even get Cameron's quilt done?? Happy Weekend! Vanessa

Happy, Happy

Happy! Happy, to have finished this quilt. Last night I hand basted the binding, washed it and threw it on the bed! Done! Not a beauty, but a utility quilt. That's fine with me.

I am almost done with this spare room. There was no way I could keep this room empty as it would be too depressing. Glad to have an extra bed and my desk to be tucked away instead of in the hub of the house. My plan is to get the boys graduation and wedding pictures up and make a collage on the wall with them all.

My promise to myself was to finish this room so I could finish my closet. Well, we have most of it done. Except for my shoes. They are still all over the floor. I've never counted how many pairs I have but it's safe to say that I have well over 50. I need to find bins to put them in categories but the thought of shopping for the right size, color and shape gives me hives right now. NOT IN THE SHOPPING MOOD. So, when it hits me I'll take care of it. And that's a (new) promise! I have to get my pictures picked out and framed so I have to add that to the shopping list. That's for a future manic moment, I guess! ;]

Vanessa

THIS means THAT!

Halleluia! Because I finished THIS, I get to work on THAT!

You can see by this stack that I am done for now with customer quilts. Now I can work on Cameron's quilt. I need to get it done in the next few weeks. I don't mind a deadline. I work better under pressure. I play around too much if I have time to spare (see previous post).

And you would think I would have some spare time because I am posting. I do not! See what I mean?!?

Vanessa

A Few Quilt Tops Done

Several weekends ago I finished these two quilt tops. I like them both. You may be able to see that I used a completely different inner sashing (on the quilt with the blocks set on point) than I had previously considered. Unfortunately, I won't be quilting these in the next month or so. Maybe this summer?

You probably recognize the color-book blocks. I think they originally came from a coloring book? Do you know? I think they are adorable. You can see I used colors on mine instead of embroidery. Quicker and easier! That's always my motto when it comes to finishing one of my own quilts!

TTFN,
Vanessa

A Whole Lotta Cuttin' Goin' On!

I got most of Cameron's quilt cut out today. Even made the (34) 9-patches! I have a long way to go but I have to get all these 2 1/2" squares marked on the diagonal before I can go any further. All 350+ of them! Maybe I'll get to work on it tomorrow if I can ignore the quilt top on my design board.

I made a cutting mistake, of course. Three of the 10 1/2" blocks are pieced. Yuck! Maybe I could buy more fabric but it seems vain. The kit was a clearance item so the fabric may not even be available. It bothers me a wee bit but I will get over it. I'll just sew them into the quilt and call them my humility blocks!

Did you pick out fabric or put the border on the row quilt by any chance?

Vanessa

And A Special Thanks Goes To...

Terry! Your idea for an alternate block for the ColorBook block quilt was GREAT! I love how it looks. I have plenty of 2 1/2" blocks left over so I will probably use them in a border.

I have some solids left over from that tablecloth I made for the kid's shower that I thought would look good. I don't think I have enough of the medium tones to use for the mini sashings and the darker tones are too dark! Any suggestions? Do you think I should use the same color I used for the alternate blocks? I thought a different fabric would be MORE interesting. I may have to buy a piece of the perfect color. I had a piece of pumpkin color (on the left) that is perfect but don't have enough. I am glad Ginger's is down the road because now I can't keep my hands off this quilt.

Of course, I still want your opinions.

Au Revoir,
Vanessa

Goat's Milk Soap! Yeah!

Today we made soap! But not just any soap. Goat's Milk Soap! I was afraid. Very afraid to try this. I have a friend who used to make soap all the time and sell it but she was never successful with making goat's milk soap so I figured if she couldn't do it than I shouldn't even try it. BUT, I'm trying to cut out all the "Should not's" in my life or at least some of them so herewe went. My daughter was here to help. I bought goat's milk in a can because I have no source for fresh raw milk.

Half the batch I left with no scent so I could maybe make hand milled soap with it later or incase there are some that can't have fragrance, like my grandson. In the other half I added Ylang Ylang and vanilla. Love those two together. Hope it smells good because the goat's milk didn't smell too good while mixing together. This was expected according to the sources on the internet.

Used a hand blender to bring it to trace. That's when it thickens up and gets like pudding.

This is half the batch. I'm stirring in the essential oils.

This is half poured into one mold. This one is not scented. Sorry didn't get a picture of the second mold. I will take more pics when I unmold it and cut it up. It wasn't as hard as I thought and I WILL MAKE THIS AGAIN! So glad I did it.

Til we meet again,
Terry