Dog Agility Trials in Fort Worth

Now, Larry & I don't even have a dog anymore, but we love watching dog agility trials on TV. So when we saw that they were holding trials locally, we had to check it out. I brought my camera and you can see my slide show of dogs flying through the air. I don't know any of the dogs or any of the people, but they ALL impressed me a lot! Here are some of my best shots.
The little shelties were so excited they were like coiled springs at the starting gate. They tended to make more errors of enthusiasm than mistakes. 8)

Then there were the little powder puff balls who zoomed around the course with almost as must skill as their working cousins. Impressive amounts of work had to go into making these little darlings show so well in the ring, since they were mostly bred to look beautiful.

This little guy could really jump! Look at the extension on his hind legs.

We didn't stay for the award presentation, but I'm guessing the border collies did very well. They were as enthusiastic as their sheltie brethren, but seemed a little less excitable. Congratulations to everyone who worked their dogs; my hat goes off to you! And special kudos to the Boxer Rescue League who ran all the events.

BTW Feel free to copy any of the doggie pictures.

August Completion: All done!

Here it is, all done. I love the polka-dot border. I think it really sets the quilt off nicely. I've finally learned exactly how to apply a 2 1/2" single fold binding to get the best results. Took me long enough! 8)

Here are the three appliques. I don't think you can tell that they are structural components too. And BTW did this quilt ever shrink! I don't know what was in that batting, but it lost at least 3" in either direction. I've never heard of such a thing! That's more like 8% than 5% shrinkage. It got extra soft too, especially the flannel.

And here's my Sweetie Pie, looking for all the world like the next door neighbor in Home Improvement. He's such a big help to me. 8)

Done Stippling - YEAH!

Last night I got all the stippling done and got it squared up. It always looks so much better when the rough edges are cut off.
I'm liking how it's turning out. I think the brown polka-dot binding will make a nice accent and call attention to the circle appliques.

I thought I would get started on the binding tonight, but that's not going to happen. I worked late, then went to the gym this evening and swam. Now I'm almost too tired to type. 8)

Tight stippling takes FOREVER!

I love to stipple. It's like doodling, and I've always loved to doodle. But I had forgotten how long it takes to do a really tight stipple like this.

This may well be the smallest stipple I've ever done on a quilt top. Believe me, it needs the extra strength! I kept finding more weak seams as I went on.
I think the polka dot binding will really bring out the applique patches. I was lucky to find such a snazzy coordinating fabric.

This is where it's at now. I would say it's about 90% stippled - 5 bobbins worth. All that enormous Minkee stippling made me forget how much thread can be consumed by such a small quilt!

I should be able to easily finish all the stippling tomorrow. All that's left then is to bind it, label it, wash it and dry it. I definitely want to have it ready for the Blanketeer meeting this Friday. I haven't finished anything in ages and I have to set a good example. 8)

Another UFO to finish for someone else

The Blanketeers inherited another sack of fabric, not all cotton, but much better than the old sheets and pillowcases last time. In it was a little quilt top. Let's just say it had its issues.


For whatever reason, it got washed before its time. And in doing so, became the poster child for why 1/4" seams are the gold standard of minimum seam allowances. But after a bit of trimming...

OK, a LOT of trimming; it's little flaws were exposed and sighed over.

Well, a good pressing makes everything look better.
I've decided I'll applique decorative circles over its few little owies. I found a coordinating brown fabric with white polka-dots last weekend for the applique. It will work for the back and binding too. A nice tight stipple should strengthen its mini seams enough for lots of wear and tear. Now I just have to get it done and it will be my August finish. I hate having skipped two months!

More Siggies

These first two lovely siggies are from Canada, and they really reflect their Canadian roots. I love Monique Boucher's Fleur-de-lis. It's not hard to tell that she's from Quebec, non?

And this lovely from Windsor, Ontario is from Sherry Bedard. I've never seen a siggy done like this before. I love the flag fabric. It reminds me of the Olympics. I'm a little concerned that if I EVER get to actually MAKE this quilt, some of the embroidered text will go missing. It should still be legible though, and it's soooo pretty! I'm also not sure which end is up, but I decided that it bothered me more to see the flags flying upside-down (think mayday, mayday, SOS!), than to read upside down text. 8)

The next two siggies were from Mother and Daughter in Germany. My German is non-existent, but if I understand her letter correctly, Martha is 10 years old and lives in Korb, Germany, and has made a lovely free-hand machine embroidered kitty! (I see I missed the string there. Sigh.)
Martha's Mother, Regina, has made me this lovely machine embroidered flower siggy. They each sent pictures of themselves with their letters (I love that) and they have the CUTEST little doggy!

This last siggy, on a lovely batik from Mia Jansens of Geldrop, Netherlands highlights Winnie the Pooh. He's adorable! I'm a little concerned that the flowers ran a bit when I spritzed them with water while ironing, but thankfully, not enough to spoil it. (Man, some of these siggies come with almost permanent wrinkles. That's why I've chosen to send mine out in oversized envelopes, though folding down the ears is a good choice too. Folding in half, not so much!)

It will be 4 weeks Wednesday since my surgery. I had been doing really well, but then had a bit of a setback last week. Nothing serious, just a bit annoying and depressing because I thought I was PAST that part, you know?

Siggies and Hemorrhoids

Remember that painful flare-up I mentioned in my last post? Well, the hemorrhoids are history as of Wednesday, but they didn't exactly go quietly into the night. I haven't had much post-op pain, I just can't pee without having a sitz bath first. And I feel as if I have to pee ALL the time. Argh! I just keep telling myself, this too shall pass.
I'm way behind on posting my siggies, and I got some really cute ones too. This darling one from Carolyn Hosier in Des Moines is a calico applique of a real calico cat named Miss Abbie. It makes me miss my Libby, a dilute calico I had 25 years ago. She was a sweet kitty too. This highly detailed siggy has an ironed on stamp of penguins that is meant to look like cross-stitch. (At least, I think that's how it was done.) The stamp is very smooth, but really looks like cross-stitch. Ineke lives with her husband in Maassluis, Netherlands and has a big collection of penguins.
This pretty siggy with embroidered ravens comes from Lotte Klint in Frederiksberg, Denmark. Lotte tells me that these two ravens have a role in Nordic mythology. One is Hugin (thought), the other is Munin (memory). They were sent out at dawn to gather information and return in the evening. Then they would perch on Odin's shoulders and whisper the news from all over the world. What a fitting symbol for siggies, which go all over the world sharing news of fellow quilters. 8)

Last, but not least, is this delightful little siggy from Janet Lee Monnett in Cloverdale, Indiana. I'm trying to find out if Janet Lee is related to Terry, my 2009 Secret Pal, since they have the same last name and are from the same small town. Janet Lee is an experienced quilter with lots of ties to Texas. The heart symbolizes the heart of friendship that goes out with each siggy. What a lovely sentiment!

Hey! I just pee'd without having to take a sitz bath first. That's progress! Wish me luck, and if you think of me in your prayers, please remember to bless my bottom. 8)

I'll be back soon

This past month or two have been hell: stress, Stress and more STRESS! Between uncertain hidden health issues, a painful flareup of a known condition, AND having to be at work to teach a VERY important class, May and June have really kicked my butt. This weekend I hope to get some relief and I'll have the chance to catch up on my siggy obligations, get a June completion done and catch up on my blogging, all of which are SADLY behind.

Wish me luck!

May Completion - The End of an Era

Here it is; the last of the "First Steps" quilt tops, all bound and completed. It really is the end of an era; I've been working on these quilts since June. I think this one was my favorite, with all its deep rich colors.

Plus, the robin's egg blue Minkee is my favorite of the Minkee colors. It's really luscious - so soft and pretty!

This was my best binding so far too; I was actually pleased with the results for a change. I still struggle to get it just right. It's a good thing I'm not too particular. 8)

There weren't even any annoying waves along the edges, or only slight ones anyway. I wish I knew what it was that I did differently to make it come out right THIS time. lol

A big thanks to my DH for helping me get these pictures taken before work today. I had to turn this and the map quilt in at noon today at the Blanketeer's meeting. I didn't even get to enjoy seeing it hanging completed over the stairwell for a few days. 8(

April Finish - Map Quilt Completed

It's the last day of the month and I still haven't blogged about my April finish - that just won't do! I inherited this map panel from Brandy after her adopted son showed up unexpectedly last month. She had already pieced the back, so all I had to do was sandwich, quilt and bind it.We all decided that "it would be really cool" if I outlined all the states with invisible thread, so that's what I did. Fifteen broken needles later, here's what the back looks like. Of course, it's all in reverse, but I like the way it turned out.

Here's Florida in reverse, with a little sailboat outlined as well. The oceans and gulf were too empty, so I outlined some of the little pictures too.
Here's my home state of Wisconsin, and I'm sure the UP'ers, LP'ers and Minnesotans amongst us will recognize their states as well.
And here's Texas, complete with the Alamo (remember the Alamo!) and a cow. Texas was too big to leave empty - lol. And you can see the compass rose at the lower left, helping to quilt up the Gulf of Mexico.

Well, that's my April finish. It will take a few years for me to forget what a HUGE pain it is to work with invisible thread again, but it was worth it for this - especially now that it is done! 8)