Pink Panther Gets a Border

 

I'd long known that the Pink Panter needed a border, but I finally decided to add one. This white wasn't quite what I had in mind.

This pink looked great, but apparently I didn't take pictures of any of the other pink fabrics I tried.

This is it, and I like it. I have also worked out what to do for the backing, and I'll work on that next.

The Little Cousin

 

These birds were made by my friend The Selvage Fairy. She actually lives in the same town that I do. She wrote to me that when she was getting the bird ready to mail, his little cousin jumped into the envelope. TSF told him that he wasn't quite right for this project, but he wanted to come anyway.

The little cousin looks like a hummingbird, and I am thrilled he decided to come along.

I tell folks that my students teach me things, and this is another example of that.

If you would like to contribute to my student bird quilt, I'd be happy to receive your donation. the block should have a mostly light background and be at least 8" square. You can get my bird tutorial here, at my Etsy shop.

 

A Nevada Bird

Today's bird is from Susan, in Nevada. I love the way the bird looks like it is walking because of the way Susan crossed the legs.

Getting the mail every day is so much fun when I find a package with birds! Keep them coming, please!! Email me if you would like to contribute a bird for my student bird quilt. I can be reached at patcherymenagerie AT gmail DOT com. If you would like to make a bird, you can get my tutorial here, at my Etsy shop. It's an instant download so you can get started right away.

 

 It was fun to read about all the ways we mix up the names of people we love. I have the photo below on display at my office at work. I thought you'd like to see it after yesterday's photo.

This photo was taken in 1998. It shows both my brothers, my son and me. What's funny about this isn't just Gizzy in the lower left, but that the four of us look so alike. If I didn't tell you the young man on the right is my son, you'd think the four of us were siblings.

And you are?

 

This bird is from Tina, who included the following note:

WELL!! Talk about attitude! This is just too cool! It is so much fun to see the birds that students (customers?) make from my tutorial. I've seen lots of pictures, but having the birds right in front of my is a very special experience. Thank you so much Tina!

 

And YESTERDAY's birds were from RITA, not, as I mistakenly called her, Ruth. I am so sorry Rita. 

 

I am really bad at names. Let me show you just how bad.

These two dudes are my brothers, Mark and Paul. (I am not going to tell you which is which.) I am older than  both of them, so I have known them all their lives. They are totally different, one mellow and relaxed, the other very intense. As you can see, one is about six inches taller than the other, too. I know EXACTLY which is which, but I look at Mark and say "Paul," and I look at Paul and I say "Mark." Been like this for years, so we all laugh about it. Nowadays, before I say either name, I scrunch up my face to make sure I bring up the CORRECT name for CORRECT brother. They just laugh at me.

This photo was taken yesterday when one brother visited the other. They currently live at least 1,000 miles away from each other, so this is a special picture.

Birds Landing!

 The first birds from my Bird Call have landed at my house!

These two are from Rita K, who lives in Maryland.

Rita wrote:

"Lynne, I am sending two birds. Use either one. They are a little large (9-1/2" x 11") or so. I love making your birds but it takes me a bit as I keep changing my mind."

Yup! I know that feeling!

If you would like to make birds, you can get my tutorial here, at my Etsy shop. It's an instant download, so you can get started right away!

Triangling Around

 

I rotated all the pieces and made these W shapes. This is a bit too regular for me. So I decided to break up some of those shapes.

Here I have moved a few blocks around,

This is getting somewhere, but if I pursue this I am going to be careful. Using all this bright color can look like a mess and sloppy. I have to make more blocks and play around to really see where I want to take this.

Here the shapes are mixed up more, and the colors are also mixed up. This doesn't have to vitality of the top photo, where the shapes were consistent and regular and the colors were arranged to take advantage of the light/dark contrast. Here you don't know where to look - your eye isn't drawn to anything in particular.

So not only do I have to make more blocks, I also have to figure out where I want it to go and what I want it to do. Usually those problems are resolved by just working, even if there is no "end game" in sight, and that's what I have to do. I've had a lot of distractions lately - who among us hasn't - so that's been a bit rough. I'll get there, and there's no guarantee I'll continue to follow this particular path.

I'm still collecting bird blocks. I'd love one of yours! Email me for my mailing address. Here's a block  I made from the scraps that were sitting around on my work table. If you want to make some birds, you can get my tutorial here, at my Etsy shop.

Picking Up the Proverbial Pencil

 

I've been kind of "blah" the last couple of weeks. The studio needs cleaning, and I'm just not in the mood. I don't really want to do the work I should be doing (preparing backings for a couple of quilts). 

 I've done another jigsaw puzzle, I've watched a bunch of TV. I've gotten into the NY Times Crossword Puzzles. Nothing has excited me.

I even spent an afternoon sewing fabric scraps together (recognize these?) and then cutting them apart into scrap slab triangles. (see top photo.) But still blah.

I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO...

I have to get in there and PICK UP THE PENCIL... (go read that blog post I wrote in 2012)

I just have to Get. To. Work.

I knew I had a bin of scrap slab triangles somewhere - I just had to find it. I finally did, and tossed some up on the design wall. Totally nothing spectacular. I've done enough rainbow quilts. Been there, done that, don't need to go there again. But it was something to tinker with.
 

Years ago in one of my classes, my students discovered this sort of W shape, made by lining up five triangles in a particular way. I thought it would be fun to play with, so I tried that.

I played around a bit more, then thought I might like it better sideways, so I rotated a picture...

Yup, this has potential, and it has peaked my interest. I'll be playing around with these more in the next few days (and OF COURSE) I have to make more blocks (gee, where have you heard that before?)

I had always wondered what a scrap slab triangle quilt would look like if I didn't use any side triangles. I guess I'm about to find out.

You can get my Scrap Slab Tutorial here, in my Etsy shop. It's an instant download so you can get started right away.

A Call for Birds

 

Ladies, Gents, Bird Lovers all over the world, I need you. I am putting together a quilt of student made bird blocks, so I am asking from one bird block to all of you who are willing to donate one. 

I'll need about 60 - 80 blocks. The only requirement is they have a light background and that the finished block be at least 8" square.

I'll be happy with birds facing left or right, and birds with accessories are most welcome. Ronda and Buffy have shown us all to make birds look up and down, to dance and sing. I'd welcome any unique birds, even "baby" birds are welcome.

If you are interested, let me know and I will send you my mailing address. You can email me at patcherymenagerie AT gmail DOT com.

Thanks in advance!

You can get my bird tutorial here: at my Etsy shop. It's an instant download so you can get started right away.

A Day Off

 

My boss encouraged me to take Friday off. Who was I to refuse? What did I do with my three days off? Not much. I changed out the table quilt for August, and set out the bowl that Julie gave me for my birthday. It's one of her husband Larry's creations. I have several.

The fabrics I will use for the backing of the Pink Panther quilt have arrived. I will use the stripe at the top (each stripe is about 10 inches wide) and the teacups. I might use some others. The birds and the colored raindrops might be used for binding. There was only 1/2 yard of the birds.

I also bought this panel. I haven't decided if I will use it or not.

I watched the Olympics, and some tennis, and did some laundry and cleaned out my refrigerator. Otherwise I pretty much took it easy.
 

I like to check out my reviews on my Etsy page. I found this one:

"The instructions are exceptionally good. Great pictures."

and this one that really made my day:

"The pattern was very easy to follow and customize. Decided to make just one bird to try it out and ended up with 35 before I stopped...."

The Day My Life Changed

 

Adopting a cat is not generally considered to be a life-altering event. Fifteen years ago today I drove down to Springfield MA to pick up a feral rescue kitten and bring her to live with me.

Millie had been living in New Haven CT as a feral kitty when she was hit by a car and left for dead in the middle of a busy street. One of her back legs had been broken in two places and dislocated at the hip. A passerby rescued her and brought her to a nearby animal hospital. Then he wrote about her on his blog, because she needed expensive surgery ($3,000 at the time) to put a pin in her leg. The Animal Hospital would help because he was a good samaritan, and the surgeon would donate his fees, but there were some costs that they couldn't make go away. The final cost would be about $1,000. He asked cat lovers if they could help foot the bill. He put pictures of the X-rays and the invoice on his blog to show this was all real. 

Cat lovers around the world did not let him down. Within three days, he had collected enough money to pay the big bill. He had a contest to find a name for the little kit. MILLIE, from "mil" the Spanish word for thousand, won by a landslide. Millie was an internet sensation for the next seven weeks as the word of Millie's story spread all over the world. Finally, she needed a home.

I had heard about the story on the second day, read everything I could find, and then donated twenty bucks to the guy who was doing a good thing. I had voted for the name MILLIE. But I had two cats of my own. I hoped she'd find a good home.

My mother often says that "Timing is everything in life." So it was, that a week before Millie found her forever home I brought my two (elderly) cats to the vet for their annual checkups. Gizzy was fine, but Jasmine had a tumor in her eye. As she had already had a cancerous tumor removed a few years prior, this was the end of the road for her. My sister told my not to wait until the end. "Adopt another cat!" was her advice. "Well, that cat in Connecticut is available..."

A few days later I had made arrangement with the owner to pick up Millie and bring her home. I also agreed to do the unthinkable - start a cat blog for Millie so her vast network of followers could see how she was doing. I figured I'd do it for a couple of weeks, just about as long as it would take for the novelty to wear off and everyone to lose interest, and then I could go back to my normal life.

Famous. Last. Words. 

"Millie" posted on her blog regularly for twelve years, then she semi-retired. I started this blog in 2008 and have been going ever since.

Because of Millie I met Tracey and Monty Q, and later, Violette.

Because of Millie I got back into making quilts. I started making free pieced letters, and I started this blog.

I met Julie and Chris, online AND in Real Life!

Because of Millie I met Megan, from Sydney Australia!

Because of Millie I spoke to a group of quilters at Quintessential Quilts 2013 in St Louis, MO, and got to see something I had always wanted to see - The Gateway Arch!

Because of Millie I have had quilts exhibited in many AQS shows all over the US. I've met hundreds of quilters, taught dozens of students, and met so many readers through this blog.

 Darling Millie, whose life really started the day she almost died, changed mine forever.

If it wasn't for Millie, NONE of this would have happened. She's now fifteen, and while she still doesn't come when I call her, she won't sleep next to me at night, she still won't let me pick her up, she does nap beside me when I sit on the couch and write my blogs (or tutorials, or whatever). She lets me know when it's time for treats, and when I need to sit down and chill. SOMETIMES, she even sits on my lap.

If you've seen my quilts on exhibit, if you were a student in my classes, if you have bought one of my tutorials, if you have read this blog once or every single time, you can thank Millie. I know I do, every day.

At fifteen, I know she is aging, and I won't have her forever. Every day with her is a gift, but what she has brought to me, what she has helped me to do, is the real gift.

If you had told me fifteen years ago that adopting a feral cat would change the trajectory of my life I would have laughed in your face.

Yeah, you couldn't make this up!!!

 

Fifty-Eight Carats

 

The Fifty-Eight Carats quilt is finished. It is named because there are 58 unique prints in the quilt. Each is used only once. It is not meant to be a colorwash quilt. I do not want the colors to blend into one another. I want you to see the edges of the diamonds that appear and disappear. One of the fabrics is from 1984. Most are from 2007-2019. I took me about ten days to design. It wasn't easy. There was a lot of grumbling. There are 58 fabrics in this, but I'm pretty sure I went through at least 100 to find the ones that worked.

Thought you'd enjoy seeing the quilt in real space, so you can get a good idea of how big it really is.

The Quiet Room

 It's my birth month, and that means I have to register my car and get it inspected. So on Saturday I brought my car to the dealership. I prefer to wait in their "Quiet Room."

I brought the Fifty-Eight Carats quilt so I could finish sewing the hanging sleeve.

I brought my little mending kit with me. It has everything I need.

It's a chocolate tin. Pretty sure I bought it because I thought the tin was cool, not just for the chocolates inside.

Setting the quilt on the dark gray carpet really shows off the multicolor binding.