The Calico Cat

How I spent my weekend. Cutting 10.5 inch squares for scrappy backgrounds.

2012-01-31T05:37:00.001-05:00

How I spent my weekend. Cutting 10.5 inch squares for scrappy backgrounds., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I guess Bonnie Hunter gets the credit for this idea... (I've been cutting these off & on for a while, I did not cut all of these this past weekend, though I did probably cut 200 or so this past weekend.)

Draped over the back of the chair are pieces for a friend who is going to make a cat charm quilt.

I've done 2 of those & many of these cats are in 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of my I SPY quilts/UFO's so I can easily share.

I am generating scraps too - which is good because I had Jackie at Caton Village Quilt Works cut strips for my "unifying" pieces for an out rageous scrap project that is fermenting in ye olde brain.

Yes, my birthday was yesterday. I had jury duty. My number was 214 - number 213 was the last juror selected.

& I want to make some mini-stars & the scraps will owrk for that project as well.

More about the pile = 80 of them are missing already - those will be for my brown & cat "winter" quilt. The cats are in bare trees & you can see snow = winter.

Once upon a time ago, I wanted to make seasonal quilts. Autumn stalled out seriously. Spring = 100% done, Summer was donated to charity.

Back to the pile: some are duplicated (or more - if I was cutting "the rest" of the fabric) most are singles - the print wasn't big enough to get more that one 10.5 inch square out of it. There are pillow panels & other too large for my I SPY projects pieces - or just larger scenes, so that you can see more than just the cannon/cannon ball on that pirate print.

Meanwhile, I still have some yardage that I bought to be a back, so how well/quickly I will use this pile is up for speculation.

(Do you see a red starta - I have a red/ufo that I really want to get back to - especially after seeing that strata.)

Diabetic

2012-01-26T05:42:00.001-05:00

Diabetic, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Can I handle it?

I've created a monster...

2012-01-23T11:10:00.002-05:00

My son has only been on 2 cruises & both of those were out of Baltimore. (Not Florida where seeing cruise ships is not so novel.)
The other day we went to Baltimore to see Ft. McHenry & passed by a cruise ship in port - my son sure was disappointed to find out that we were not going on a cruise!

His concept of time doesn't jive to well with "We will go on another cruise this summer."

Not to worry, this morning he was excited to get to go to my birthday. (What exactly we are doing for my birthday is still up in the air.)

2012-01-20T10:09:00.002-05:00

Blogger is finally letting me play again. (or I finally took a minute or two to figure out why it wasn't letting me play to begin with.)

Neither here nor there...

I managed to not bring (as opposed to forgot) my camera on yet another outing - this time to Ft. McHenry on MLK day - it was FREEZING cold, so the camera probably would have stayed in my coat anyway. We mostly went to get a National Parks passport. Weird? Well I figure that we make a point to get our real passports stamped - even if it is not required, so we might as well get them for the parks too.

I spent last night taking the paper off of several paper pieced projects - I am not a paper piecer, but I can't get that through my thick skull. I will begrudgingly trudge through a couple more blocks - 7 does not a quilt make...

I am signed for for another swap - no I will never learn.
I am also in a round robin - see the previous comment.

We are eating through the freezer - interesting theory, huh? You don't just shove stuff up there to have on hand... :o) Meat sauce last night, pea soup last weekend, baklava last wekeend, brisket tonight... Maybe we will eventually have room for a birthday ice cream cake? I doubt it.
Speaking of my birthday, I got selected for Jury Duty on my birthday.

I am 99% prepared for our next vacation - Alaska in June!

What are you up to?

kitties in a tree fabrics

2012-01-17T07:58:00.001-05:00

kitties in a tree fabrics, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

1. Yes, this picture is old as heck & has been on the blog once or twice before.
2. I have added more browns (I may have removed some as well.)
3. The browns have been cut into strips - randowm widths.
4. I am sewing those strips together - randomly into "strata."
(I sewed strips together last weekend - hence the post.)
5. Once the strata are wide enough (I need to look at the pattern again.) I will use them to border the kitty print.
6. This is my "winter" quilt - that is a snow scene...
7. The pattern - "Marquee" by Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr in their book, The Modern Quilt Workshop. (I am more or less following the pattern - I don't really recall right now.)

I know I have shown this before, but...

2012-01-15T19:30:00.001-05:00

The promise of something good to come., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I am about to buy the classic & bright rolls as well - These are all pinned to b&w prints waiting to be sewn & I have at least 80 more waiting for their solids. Good thing I have a birthday at the end of the month.

So far this long weekend (a 5 day-er for me) I have sewn a bunch - YIPPEE! (Some CW squares for my checker board quilt, some blocks for a swap, & my "winter" quilt.)

last weekend

2012-01-10T06:24:00.001-05:00

DSCF7080.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Last weekend, we went to a Birthday party - Jacob had a blast!

We also went to the Udvar-Hazy portion of the Air & Space museum... This time instead of accidentally deleting all of my photos, I forgot my camera... We'll probably go back, they have an observation tower where your can see the planes landing & taking off from Dulles.

He's 3

2012-01-09T05:38:00.001-05:00

He's 3 a video by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Are 3 year olds supposed to be able to spell their names? People are either suprised or non-plussed - so I can't tell.

I told you so.

2012-01-09T05:36:00.001-05:00

DSCF7041 a video by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

That cat will put up with anything!

In a color...

2012-01-03T08:18:00.001-05:00

Kona-peacock, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

This might explain a lot. I am feeling rather blue, unmotivated, etc.
Unlike my little boy cat who was having an allergy flare-up & was also blue not just fur color - he would crawl into the linen closet & stay there all day. No Meowing for his supper...
He got a shot yesterday & poof almost like magic is close to his ole self. (He did not lost any weight - he must have been siphoning off more from my girl than I realized. He is still 7 lbs.)
This is the first day back to reality for my family. My husband & son were off the last week in December & my son & I were off yesterday. I wish I could report on all of the festivites that ensued, but some one is afraid of big toilets & someone else is afraid of accidents - so we were fairly homebound - though not very adventurous at home.
We did go to the Air & Space museum in DC - but I accidentally deleted all of the photos in my camera.
I am not in the mood to reflect on 2011.
With that said, in 2012, I want to get at least 1 of my CW repro UFO's to the "Top" stage. In that vein, I cut a lot of squares for a checkerboard quilt.
I signed up for some obligation sewing & worked on that, while trying once again to use Bonnie's method of "Leaders/Enders" - I have a few blocks for "ME" done & a miniscule amout of motivation associated with that L/E addition to the obligation sewing.
I am excited about our trip to Alaska in June, but I have a lot of that figured out (not to be confused with planned out) so now I am just to the "How long do we have to wait until out vacation?" stage...
I would like to lose weight, but I am at a loss on the how...
I hope that my color cahanges soon...

Truer words have never been spoken.

2011-12-27T06:28:00.001-05:00

Hubby knows me wellp, a photo by Samelia's Mum on Flickr.

I did a fair bit of sewing over the long weekend - all things considered!

Another group quilt.

2011-12-25T09:15:00.001-05:00

DSCF6978.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Mine is on the top row - not photographed well. (My second is on the back - designers prerogative - who knew that started "pr?.)

Dreidel sugar cookie - the only one that did not spread out into a circle.

2011-12-23T16:49:00.001-05:00

Dreidel sugar cookie - the only one that did not spread out into a circle., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

My recipe is apparently too soft.
Care to share your recipe?

I did a tray with sugar - a bit of nostalgia on my part. (I had 6 colors.)

The rest are waiting for Jacob to decorate. I ended up making circles - since the rest spread into circles anyway.

group quilt

2011-12-23T06:47:00.002-05:00

DSCF6974.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Another group quilt that I participated in. Can you guess which block is mine?

Moment from Mommyhood:
(Back story, we call "boogers" "yuckies.")

Jacob: "I like yuckies."
Mommy: "Why?"
Jacob: "They taste like me."
Mommy: stunned silence.

Second scenario (not as gross.)
After having been given a bag of treats for Hanukkah.

I gave Jacob one cookie (He had already eaten a donut.)
I said, "You can have one."
Jacob said, "Just one."
I said, "Yes."
Jacob said, "Not two?"
I said, "Not two."
After he finished the first one he took a second one & said, "Just one."

(Apparently I meant, One at a time. His father hid them while we walked away.)

Happy Hanukkah!

2011-12-22T06:03:00.001-05:00

DSCF6979.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I'm not sure how I got that effect, but I like it!

Happy Hanukkah

2011-12-21T07:01:00.001-05:00

DSCF4679, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

This is a close-up shot from a quilt that I saw in Hershey last year.

I would have posted a photograph of our festivities, but we had a meltdown.
First over apple juice. Then over candle colors (the box has white, blue, orange, & yellow - we chose blue & orange - then he wanted yellow, but it was too late...) Then over not being able to blow them out.
Then over sour cream. I like my latkes with sour cream, Jacob does not. (apple sauce is another traditional option - I served that too.)
Then over having to finish his latke before having his donut... (It's all about the miracle of light brought by oil - so we eat fried foods.)
Luckily we have 7 nights!

a first

2011-12-19T09:39:00.001-05:00

DSCF6966.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Why yes, he is peeling his own Cutie, while pressing the foot thingy to keep the trash can open, so that the peels can go into the trash can - while holding his toy cat!

Softly Spoken

2011-12-16T06:33:00.004-05:00

The pattern is Plain Spoken by Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr in their book: The Modern Quilt Workshop. Pieced by me. Quilted by Linda Sue in Michigan - if you want her contact info, let me know. She always does a great job.
I call this Softly Spoken because I mixed in prints, where the original pattern uses only solids.

If I had to guess, it is king size. I used 9 yards of flannel on the back. (100 in. x 120 in.)
8 yards of the cats, 1 of the polka dot. I have no idea why I only bought 8 yards. I only buy flannel for quilt backs & in that vein I buy 6 or 9 yards.
The binding - I was going to use that red circle print... In the end I preferred the neutral strip with the top & the back.
Once upon a time ago, all of my quilts had either cats or stars (Judaica) in them - all of them. So much so that when I would send quilt out to JudyL. for quilting, her son would look for them.
Cat tested!
I was hugely inspired by a couple quilts on flickr by Rita of Red Pepper Quilts &
Malka of Stitchindye.
Malka Dubrawsky's Windmill pillow cover.
Rita's Tiffany Quilt.

My boy cat loves a shopping bag!

2011-12-13T05:43:00.001-05:00

My boy cat loves a shopping bag!, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Does yours? I use them to drop my snips in while I am cutting - he smooshes them down for me. And he is so stubborn that if it is a marathon cutting session, then he will be covered with fresh cuttings by the time he leaves as well.

My little girl (old lady cat) was there to help while I cut fabric.

2011-12-12T07:19:00.001-05:00

My little girl (old lady cat) was there to help while I cut fabric., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

& I wouldn't have it any other way.

(I need to remember this photo the next time I am not in the mood to sew. Wait a minute - I still haven't actually sewed...)

& my three neat piles of a minute ago, may not be so neat anymore...

2011-12-11T15:55:00.001-05:00

& my three neat piles of a minute ago, may not be so neat anymore..., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

nuff said.

The promise of something good to come.

2011-12-11T15:07:00.001-05:00

The promise of something good to come., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I really have nothing to add - beyond a pile of black & white prints! These will frame black & whites.

It's Friday!

2011-12-09T05:43:00.001-05:00

DSCF6753.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

& I've felt fairly grouchy & tired like this all week. (Mamaratzi attacks. "No camera.") I've thought about sewing, but I have never made it past the thinking part...

(Yes, my MIL's sofa is WHITE!)

The lip!

2011-12-08T06:12:00.001-05:00

The lip!, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Japanese elephants & cars

2011-12-07T05:58:00.001-05:00

Japanese elephants & cars, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I am so loving small scale prints like these!

I found you!

2011-12-06T06:31:00.001-05:00

I found you!, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

No the sexiest mail, but it is just want I needed for my UFO

2011-12-05T06:04:00.001-05:00

No the sexiest mail, but it is just want I needed for my UFO, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Now to cut, then to pair up with the balck & white prints then to sew. (Sounds simple, right.)

??

2011-12-04T19:06:00.001-05:00

DSCF6879.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Any guesses where we spent the day? (Reciprocation for quilt show attendance is your clue.)

The Holidays have begun...

2011-12-03T19:28:00.004-05:00

My husband's work party was Friday night & they had a couple people hired to entertain the kids. Jacob is in general a sidelines guy - preferring to watch & wait.

But he too had fun!

He can pay attention with the best of them (older kids.) He wasn't the youngest, but the average age was about 7. (So my husband keeps getting to go to the party for a couple more years - at least.)

In case you were wondering...

2011-12-01T06:20:00.001-05:00

DSCF6772.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

this is what JOY looks like. (The ballons were at the Bat Mitzvah that we attended the night before - as was that sparkly hat.)

The whole quilt

2011-11-30T12:21:00.001-05:00

DSCF6630.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

My chicken/duck is in the center on the bottom row.

Is it a chicken or a duck?

2011-11-29T19:06:00.001-05:00

DSCF6628.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I'm not sure but it was m contribution to a gift quilt. The bird was supposed to be autobiographical. Do you think this one says me?

November 2011 Jacob almost 3

2011-11-29T06:26:00.001-05:00

November 2011 Jacob almost 3, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Well he's 3 now! I have not downloaded any photos frommy camera in DAYS! His party at school is today, so I'll have even more to download by the time I get there.

BTW I after a very nice trip to NY for Thanksgiving, I am thankful to be home.

Thankful

2011-11-24T06:46:00.001-05:00

Us Nov. 2011, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you Americans & to everyone else, I wish you a day in which you can be Thankful.

In that vein, please reply with something that you are Thankful about.

I'll go first, I am thankful to have a healthy family.

Bermuda's Pink Sand

2011-11-23T05:46:00.001-05:00

Bermuda's Pink Sand, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

In case you were wondering if the sand really is pink in Bermuda. As you can see the white outnumber the pink by at least 100 to 1, so you actually have to look rather closely to see the pink. Meanwhile in the tourist shops they sell pink sand that based on this evidence they either sifted to remove the white or they colored it...

hmmm

2011-11-22T05:45:00.001-05:00

DSCF6021.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Not unlike a lot of people, I tend not to like photos of myself. This one I like, too bad my son was not cooperating... (I was not suprised about the lack of cooperation.)

Sweet as Sugar

2011-11-21T04:31:00.001-05:00

DSCF6338.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Good Morning.

One of my better vacation shots.

2011-11-19T12:36:00.001-05:00

DSCF6348.JPG, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Thanks

2011-11-18T09:24:00.001-05:00

DSCF6068 a video by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Thanks for all of the advice & stories about culling toys & books. We now have two of these "baby computers" plus my old MAC that I let him type on.

I am ready to push back here too. I am still amazed that people (grandparents & some parents) are so ready to push this type of entertainment onto a child when they did not have it & still learned the things that children need to learn - sharing, reading, group play, manners...

Sorry if that was too somber a thought for a Friday, but I am 1/2 an hour away from donating a bag of books & several baby/toddler toys. I am not 100% comfortable with the process (I wanted to involved Jacob, but I want it done & our family time is limited already...)

Anyone have any thoughts on all of these electronic (or just plain noisy) toys?

Another random vacation shot. I love how his eyes look in this one.

2011-11-17T06:25:00.001-05:00

Another random vacation shot. I love how his eyes look in this one., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Another post that has nothing to do with the photo...

SO alack of responses to my questions yesterday - does that mean that everyone has a stash of all of their kids toys & books from the begining? (If you do, can you send me all of your old Play Skool & Fisher Price toys?)

Am I the only one who plans on culling the art work too?

I just picked him up from camp where he had been napping.

2011-11-16T06:01:00.001-05:00

I just picked him up from camp where he had been napping., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

This post has nothing to do with this random photo from our vacation...

I need some advice on sorting toddler stuff...

How did/do you go about sorting books & toys for donation?

We are "one & done" & do not have an attic, garage, or basement for long term storage - aka grandkids.

I set some of those wooden puzzles aside because they hadn't been looked at in quite a while & he is getting at least closer to a more challenging puzzle style, but last night he wanted to puzzle again...

I've pulled some books as well - those that are not on our current rotation & are simpler (I had some other reasons behind my sort as well, but they are extraneous to my question.)

so tired...

2011-11-15T06:06:00.001-05:00

so tired..., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I'm back, but I have not even thought about looking at my google reader...

Please Thank You You Welcome

2011-11-05T19:37:00.001-05:00

Please Thank You You Welcome a video by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

All in one string - because you can never be too polite.
& If you use the wrong one you might not get what you want.

Good Bye

2011-11-05T06:20:00.003-05:00

Good Bye Andy Rooney. You were a fine example of a human being. When you were wrong, you apologized and meant it. Everyone needs to learn that lesson. & your curmudgeonliness was sweet like everyones awkward grand parents.

First Hair Cut!

2011-11-05T04:35:00.001-05:00

First Hair Cut!, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Not a single tear or fight or complaint from the younger one.
(Which was surprising because the morning & afternoon were full of tears & tantrums.)

Did not want to finish the eye exam.

2011-11-04T06:47:00.001-05:00

Did not want to finish the eye exam., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

He can see, but when it came time to test one eye alone - no go!

This little boy

2011-11-03T06:07:00.001-05:00

DSCF5867, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Is in for a lot of "suprises."

1. 3-year old check-up this afternoon.
2. First haircut tomorrow.
3. Vacation starting on Sunday!

weekending

2011-11-02T06:08:00.001-05:00

DSCF5887, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Last weekend on Sunday, we rode the Western Maryland Scenic Rail Road from Cumberland to Frostburg. This was taken in Frostburg, you can see the train in the background.

Mary's Rock Tunnel

2011-11-01T05:26:00.001-05:00

Mary's Rock Tunnel, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Jacob loves a good tunnel. (Heck, he likes Mommy made tunnels...)
This one is on skyline drive, we went through a different one on our train ride.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T03:13:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Snow - in October!

2011-10-30T06:43:00.001-05:00

Snow - in October!, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

This was taken using my cell phone, which has a fairly good camera. I so can not see how people use only their cell phones... First, I have as many shots of him in a blur or facing a different direction as I have of him facing me/the camera. Second the white on his face - that is not snow... It works in a pinch, but on Friday in the mountains I had some serious camera envy. People were hiking with long lenses & tripods!

FALL

2011-10-29T11:15:00.001-05:00

FALL, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I don't think that the camera ever captures what your eye sees, but this is fairly close. (It was overcast the whole day. Can you imagine this with bight blue skies? Or partly cloudy with streams of sunlight hitting those yellow leaves?)

DSCF5820

2011-10-29T11:13:00.001-05:00

DSCF5820, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I tried to get the road without "getting the road."

DSCF5776

2011-10-29T11:11:00.001-05:00

DSCF5776, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

At first, I tried to edit the dead trees out of my photos, but this one was really cool...

lichen

2011-10-29T11:10:00.001-05:00

lichen, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Many of the stops are not the best for "intimate" photos (Just grand sweeping landscapes) but this one did & I was quite happy with this lichen shot.

(I have a fall UFO - I know, I know I have a lot of UFO's, but the binding will be a Kaffe Fassett print called lichen.)

DSCF5602

2011-10-29T11:06:00.001-05:00

DSCF5602, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I don't know what kind of rocks these are, but I tried to include them to juxtapose the yellows & oranges. Also having something in the foreground allows your mind to see the distance (I think).

One of the better "color" shots.

2011-10-29T11:04:00.001-05:00

One of the better "color" shots., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Little did we know, but some of the best "color" shots would be as one of (if not the) first stop on our trip.

On Skyline Drive

2011-10-29T11:01:00.001-05:00

DSCF5770, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

The purple flower that I focus on in the next shot is in the lower right corner of this photo.

An "arty" shot

2011-10-29T11:00:00.001-05:00

DSCF5771, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

As always, I tried for an arty shot using my macro, so that the distance would be in soft focus. (I probably should have helped nature by getting rid of that "twig." next to the flower. I was also hoping for more yellow to really juxtapose against the purple.)

He was almost tame...

2011-10-29T10:48:00.001-05:00

DSCF5674, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

No I did not try to pet him, but they were right close to the parking lot - people & cars. (Thankfully, no one was feeding them.)

Deer we saw yesterday.

2011-10-29T10:47:00.001-05:00

DSCF5675, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I have better shots of him - but they are very light... Not as good a one as this one showing the proverbial south side of a north facing deer.

I'm 2.

2011-10-29T10:41:00.001-05:00

I'm 2., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

1. It was a full 10 to 15 degrees colder in the mountains that where we live.
2. We were not dressed to be outside for long stretches. (We were in a warm car most of the time.)
3. He had a long sleeved red shirt (with t-shirt) on under his warmer than a wind breaker, but not his warmest coat & no mittens, etc. which I think would have made for a lovely fall photo.
4. He napped though half of the trek, & stayed in the car for another 1/4 of the stops, so when he was able to get out of the car - cooperation was not what he had in mind. (Can you blame him? Hence the 2... I asked him, "How old are you?")
5. This spot - between the entrance near Harrisonburg & Luray, VA. would be a good one to return to for a hike.
6. It snowed at home (where it was probably 20 degrees warmer than it was up in the mountains.) this morning. It is still October (It has only snowed in Maryland in October a few times since they have been keeping track) & It is supposed to be in the 60's again by the end of the week.
7. Tomorrow we will be back in the mountains & better prepared. On tomorrows agenda? A ride on the Western Maryland Railroad.

I love him.

2011-10-27T05:11:00.001-05:00

I love him. a video by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I hope you like fall. We are going to Skyline Drive tomorrow. (Probably with quite a few of our "friends" - It is know to be very crowded in the fall.)

patience

2011-10-26T04:33:00.001-05:00

DSCF5531 a video by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

He waited so patiently to have a turn with the steering wheel/crank. On the belt were cups in which you placed feed, that went up to the goats. That little girl in the picture actually had some feed, so Jacobs turn was cut short.

new friends?

2011-10-25T04:54:00.001-05:00

DSCF5541, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Which one is the biggest ham?

in the pumpkin patch 2011

2011-10-24T05:09:00.001-05:00

in the pumpkin patch 2011, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Our weekend!

round here

2011-10-14T04:59:00.001-05:00

DSCF5496, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

It is Apple Season!

Straight out of the camera.

2011-10-13T05:12:00.001-05:00

DSCF5499, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I wish we were having this weather today...

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T05:06:00.001-05:00

DSCF5488, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

"I want water."

2011-10-11T05:49:00.001-05:00

DSCF5464, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

So I sent his father off with $2.00 - luckily it only cost $1, because the adult all you can drink homemade soda with a fancy metal cup was $12 - gulp & several more to hopefully get our moneys worth out of that investment.

(But I do love some sasparilla!)

& at the end of the day, how can you complain when your almost 3 year old says, "I want water."?

(He also got a yellow helicopter - yes, his parents are push overs.)

Happy apple to ya

2011-10-10T15:59:00.001-05:00

DSCF5502 a video by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

On Sunday, we went to the National Apple Harvest Festival in Pennsylvania. We had only planned on going to the outlets in Gettysburg, but I saw the billboard...

(We overdid it in Gettysburg too... We went for 2 pairs of pants for the toddler, we left with 4 pairs of pants & a hat for the toddler & several shirts, a sweater, & sweatpants for the Momma.)

Today I had to catch up on the Sunday chores.

Softly Spoken

2011-10-07T10:20:00.001-05:00

Softly Spoken, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

This quilt top has been finished for some time now, but it is to big to be photographed indoors & we have been quite wet (or just too busy) for some time now as well. I think this turned out just about exactly how I pictured it! I was inspired to do a light/ low contrast quilt by the works of a couple quilters in blogland & on flickr. The pattern that I used is called Plain Spoken & can be found in the book, Modern Quilt Workshop which was written by Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr. Their quilts in the book used only solids.

Local quilt show

2011-10-06T04:30:00.001-05:00

DSCF5409, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

The next post will show a detail shot of the center block.
I can't go this folky myself. (My brain just doesn't work that way.)
But they sure are fun to look at.

local quilt show

2011-10-06T04:29:00.001-05:00

DSCF5410, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Detail shot.

local quilt show

2011-10-05T06:24:00.001-05:00

DSCF5408, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Another one fromt he local quilt show.
I love a black & white & bright quilt so this one reall spoke to me. I especially like the contract between the black on whites and white on blacks. That could have easily been muddled...
If it were my quilt, I think I would have tried to finishe the edge starts with black points in the border.

Local quilt show

2011-10-04T05:15:00.001-05:00

DSCF5428, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Here is an I SPY quilt from the local quilt show that I attended last weekend. Many of these are in my I SPY quilts - or just that idea expressed differently in fabric. (My crayons are on black - these ar on white...)

local quilt show

2011-10-03T04:20:00.001-05:00

DSCF5444, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Whats not to like about this charmer?

The worlds best toddler quilt show viewer really liked it. First he said "Diamond" then he saw the triangles, then he spouted off the different colors.
Meanwhile, I was amazed that the variety of prints, the value control, & the piecing skills!

local quilt show

2011-10-02T11:10:00.001-05:00

DSCF5448, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

The full quilt is in the next post. This shot was taken to show the hand quilting.

local quilt show

2011-10-02T11:09:00.001-05:00

DSCF5447, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I went to a local quilt show yesterday. This was hand quilted.

oops

2011-10-01T13:39:00.001-05:00

oops, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I guess it is obvious that I had not done any paper piecing for a while...

Chag Sameach/Happy Holiday

2011-09-28T14:51:00.001-05:00

Chag Sameach/Happy Holiday, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown, I tried a new apple cake recipe. (One of my old tried & true apple cakes is in the oven. You can never have too much desert.)
Also on the menu, round raisin challah, apples dipped in honey, roasted root vegetables, tsimmes (a vegetable casserole), and brisket. I keep thinking that I will try a new brisket recipe, but I never do...

Stamp Collection

2011-09-27T04:30:00.003-05:00

Stamp Collection, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Stamp Collection

2011-09-27T04:30:00.001-05:00

Stamp Collection, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

fair quilt

2011-09-26T04:53:00.001-05:00

DSCF5330, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Another folded quilt. At least with this type of quilt, your mind can visually see the rest of the quilt. (Unless they did something unusual.)

fair quilt

2011-09-25T06:50:00.001-05:00

DSCF5334, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Another folded beauty - On some of the others, you can "see" the rest in your mind, but I still wonder what the rest of this looked like.

The last fair of the season

2011-09-24T18:41:00.001-05:00

DSCF5338, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

We went to the Great Frederick Fair today. Not very many quilts & they were all folded a lot... This was the grand champion.

Is that a box?

2011-09-22T16:01:00.001-05:00

Is that a box?, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

The journey to checking the mail begins...

Where one goes the other is sure to follow - to make sure she isn't missing out on anything.

2011-09-22T16:00:00.005-05:00

Where one goes the other is sure to follow - to make sure she isn't missing out on anything., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Do you need help?

2011-09-22T16:00:00.003-05:00

Do you need help?, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

What I got in the swap.

2011-09-22T16:00:00.001-05:00

What I got in the swap., a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I think my swap pkg is at the PO

2011-09-22T05:20:00.001-05:00

I think my swap pkg is at the PO, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

:o)

New car smell

2011-09-21T05:05:00.001-05:00

DSCF5279, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

What ever happened to new car smell? I just got a car that only had 7 miles on the odometer, but nary a whiff of new car smell.

This one played in the show room cars, but refused to let me get a nice photo...

PLEASE CHIME IN!

2011-09-19T04:59:00.001-05:00

DSCF5188, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

What new car would you buy if you were buying right now for a family of 3. (One of whom is over 6 ft., another has strollers & stuff)

Also if you have a Suburu Forester, Do you like it? Would you buy it again? Should I try to wait until the 2012 models are available? Do you think there will be aby price reductions on the 2011 models when the 2012's arrive?

(Pure conjecture on the last two questions, the clutch is slipping on my current car & we just got a new catalytic covnerter - so she is becoming a nickle slot - just keep dropping them in.)

About the quilt, it hung at the State Fair. I like the pine burr pattern, but I probably would have quit after 1 block. - It certainly looks like she gave up after 4, right? A couple years ago, Fon & Porter had this as a pre-cut kit in this coloration. I saw it is kaffe Fassett/Modern colors at a local show & loved it... But alas, I'll never persevere through the number of blocks required to make a bed quilt.

We were at the Vet's office

2011-09-15T05:11:00.001-05:00

IMAG0067.jpg, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

He was rifling through my pocketbook. Then he started to push the door lock fob & heard the horn blow as a result = GRIN!

(We were having RB's allergies checked - ton of scabs on his head & ears...)

fair quilt

2011-09-12T04:24:00.001-05:00

DSCF5176, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

Another one from the state fair.
I am always looking at how to use black & white prints.

recent finish in use

2011-09-10T15:46:00.001-05:00

IMAG0062.jpg, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

That cat crawled in as soon as I pulled it from the dryer! The back is flannel - the novelty & 2 solids.

How does that happen?

2011-09-10T15:45:00.001-05:00

DSCF5292, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I don't care in general about bleeding, but how does the one square (the black & white that is now black & pink) catch a lot while the watches on white did not?

recent finish

2011-09-10T15:44:00.001-05:00

DSCF5290, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

This has been quilted for quite some time, over the last week I did the binding by machine. I attached it to the back & then top stitched it from the front. I am 95% happy with the result & 100% happy that it is done.

Jacob really is into I SPY's now. We sit there & look for different things. :o) (He really likes airplanes, so I am glad that there are 3 or 4 on this quilt. & he can tell that one is an airplane even though the whole thing does not show.

Recent finish

2011-09-09T16:07:00.001-05:00

IMAG0058.jpg, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

I have been participating in a Flickr swap called, "For the Love of Solids." This is what I made for my partner. (Minus the mouse, he is mine all mine!)

Sorry for the car shot, we have had nothing but rain for a week solid. They even shut down part of the Capital Beltway last night & today one of the Commuter Rail lines shutdown (VRE) as well. I also heard on the radio something like 50 roads were closed & several schools... We are fairing well ourselves.

fair quilt

2011-09-08T03:45:00.001-05:00

DSCF5206, a photo by aviva_hadas on Flickr.

This one was actually "dark" in real life, but I really like it. (& Not just because it is a cat quilt.) The cheddar background is so unexpected & all of the kitty prints - remind me of taupes/suitings...