Strange Days

 My kitties do not snuggle-ever. So imagine my surprise when I "caught" them 

actually touching each other! I couldn't quite believe my eyes!

I like baking when I have the time and a friend of mine was having a shop hop. So I made these little tarts- easy peasy! Pilsbury pie dough, cut in circles into a mini muffin pan. Canned fillings! Voila!

It's not from scratch but they were tasty all the same.

I have come into the twentieth century and bought an Iphone. I've only had to go back to the store once to find out what the heck I'm doing! I like it so far, and am hoping I remember to take more pictures!

Meanwhile I am wrapping clothesline like crazy to make more trivits like the ones in a previous post.

I have called this post Strange Days because I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that my windows are open in March. I have lived in the Buffalo area all my life and I never remember a winter like the one we just had- is it a Twilight episode?

The Versatile Blogger

I want to thank my friend Sarah at sarahdidit.blogspot.com for the Versatile Blogger Award. She encouraged me from the start to do this and I have enjoyed it greatly. It's always fun when I get comments from my friends but also when I hear from a new voice out in the cosmos!

The rules for the Versatile Blogger Award are:
1-Add the award to your blog
2-Thank the blogger who gave it to you
3-Mention seven random things about yourself
4-List the rules
5-Award to 15 bloggers
6-Inform each of those 15 by leaving a comment on their blog

OK, seven random things about myself. Hmmmmmm......
1-I have a degree in Animal Health Technology but since I didn't want to live with my parents for the rest of my life (the pay sucks) I went back to school for Graphic Design
2- I have a tattoo- no I did not get it in my 20's, nor was I intoxicated!
3-I am a homebody. I do go places but I'd much rather be in my "nest"
4-I'm a horrible domestic diva. With 3 furry ones and so much fabric and yarn, I'm always fuzzy anyway
5-I love the old TV series The X-files and am currently on the last season. I intend to start all over again and listen to the "comments" the second time
6-I can swing a hammer, install insulation, paint ceilings- I used to have a 100 year old house that needed lots of work but didn't have the budget to hire out much. So I learned from my dad who is a master carpenter.
7-I would go to the movies every night if I could.

My bloggers will be informed shortly. I need to get a list together!
Thanks again Sarah!

Catching up on Projects

 Two weeks ago - kind of at the last minute- I was invited to take someone's place at a quilt retreat at Chautauqua Institute. Four days of sewing, fun and food. Who could say no? So I dropped everything, packed my projects and went. I got so much done! This top picture is of the HUGE hotel down there, it sort of felt a little like "The Shining" at this time of year. It was totally silent.

 It's very harsh in winter right by the water so a lot of property owners have custom canvas wraps made for their "cottages". Did I mention people have money who have property here.

 I sewed like a fiend and got the entire top made for my raffle quilt for Paws and Claws! That pudgy black furball is Thelma who thought that spreading the quilt out was her own private playground! Now I just have to piece a back and take it to my friend who has volunteered to quilt this gargantuan thing (it's Queen size!) I had a whiskey sour after I got this done!

 I then started making trivits out of wrapped clothesline. I was always fascinated that this stuff sews like butter- I have never had a problem with this!

 A bit of knitting- this cowl kit was a christmas gift and there are three of us making these. I didn't want to be a slacker and not have any done so got a few inches started- it's beautiful soft, soft variagated yarn.

 I made one of these sweaters about 5 years ago and always loved it so decided  to make another one. There are about 5 of us working on these. I am hoping when everyone is done I can get a group picture. They are all turning out very different. Below is the start of mine.

George is done!

George is done! What a gorgeous fellow! I've never had a cat with real long hair- 

I hope he likes to be brushed!

Time Flies...

I can't believe it's the 26th already! What a slacker I am! 

 This is George. He is beautiful! And i need to get my butt in gear this weekend and finish him!

His owner was kind enough to donate to Buffalo Paws and Claws and so I need to as my friend Sarah would say "Gitter done"!

 The middle section of the raffle quilt IS done! Now i just have to do the borders. Sorry this is a little blurry. My first picture was real cute with my dog Jack sitting in the middle but my camera card decided to "poop the bed" so to speak.

 The one table cover is ALMOST done! Just have to sew around the blue letters. I would love to get this done tomorrow if possible.

I don't think I ever showed any pictures of my studio "sections".This is my bead area. The buffet is over 8' long. I have lots of beads. What is the definition of obsessed?

Terrific Tuesday

I took a half day vacation today, and it was great! I got a lot done, and have groceries again! So I don't have to have cheese and mustard sandwiches anymore this week! (Hey, any port in the storm when I'm hungry!)

I finally got the letters down on the table covers I'm making for Paws and Claws- tacked the letters down with a little glue and then will sew around the edges. 

 I also got some more rows done on the raffle quilt. I love how scrappy this looks- there are so many adorable animal prints out there. I used the Fat Cat ruler to cut the pieces. My goal- to have this done by the end of the month!

Spread the word- Whiskerfest 2012 is going to be at the Moose Lodge in East Aurora. Details are on the updated website on this page. It's not until November but lots to do! Mark your calendars!

Bittersweet

 2011 ended sadly- I have lost my beautiful Josie. She got ill so very fast and the evil that is cancer took her away from me. I was fortunate to have her for 5 months. I would do it again in a heartbeat even if I knew how it was going to end. She was a joy and I will try to live my life like she did- no matter what happened to her , she kept on purring and loving life.

 So now it is 2012! And I am planning my fundraising projects for Buffalo Paws and Claws.

Here is the start of a raffle quilt I am making. My game plan is to have this pieced by the end of January so it can go get quilted and start selling tickets ASAP! It is all dog and cat fabric- some I had and some was donated- it will be very scrappy!

 OF COURSE my assistant Louise must inspect every step- the look on her face is so funny.

Here are the first couple of rows sewn together, I have a long way to go! (Louise finally gave up)

Happy New Year!