"Critter Comfort" - DONE

The back is as attractive as the front - just goes to show - use that old fabric you've been saving and put it on the back.  I was concerned I'd have "wrong" fabrics next to other "wrong" fabrics.  Nope - it's all just fine and dandy!   The narrow "sashing" adds  appeal - again, I used a variety - makes things interesting!  The  quilt binding is black with a tiny lime green flange, sewn down on the front.  I found it impossible to keep my stitches from showing in a wrong place on the back. Half showed on the black binding, half on the backing - was unable to sew consistantly. Perhaps a slightly wider binding?  Sharpies can be used for many things.  8-)

"Critter Comfort" - progress

Above is the back of my kid-friendly Quilt As You Go.  I already had the squares of fabric, 77 of them, planning to use them as backing on an adult quilt.  That idea sorta lost it's luster, thinking of sewing them all together, then quilting them on my DSM.  But, when using them for QAYG on a kid  quilt, and sashing them with novelty fabrics, they looked less intimidating.  Also, I DID foolishly begin to plan the backing squares to be in a planned pattern ... uh, no, don't go there Elaine Adair!

Here are 3 rows together,  (to myself)  upper left corner is a Sturgis motorcycle.  There are 8 rows, 48 blocks in all.  I see the remnants of numerous kid quilts!

Putting the blocks together was easy.  There was a lot of non-traditional flopping back and forth, so some sort of labeling was needed.  There was some organization of fabrics and colors, not a lot.  The back sashing was cut just 1 inch, and front sashing cut 1 1/2 in. then folded in half.  The seams/batting nested together nicely.  It was not easy to get the back sashing seam threads in the right place so as not to show -- I was only partly successful.  A busy backing would help.  

This is not a quilt for a show - it's a quilt for a little kid - he/she won't care if seams show.  I will  simply bind it, not add borders.  Actually, making this little quilt was a delightful experience -- I had been wanting to do something different, and those cheerful critters made me happy! 

This gal has a lovely QAYG project with instructions on her video.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb8vcA_Z2HU

QAYG, "Critter Comfort"

QAYG is a great technique to use up fabric bits (in case no one ever told you!).  It also eliminates the final quilting as it is machine quilted by sewing strings to the precut backing/batting pieces.  The backing pieces were already cut, cutting the batting pieces went fast, and sewing the kids prints/strings took 3 days - that's all.

Back in the '80s -- (that would be the previous century!!!!), I learned Quilt as you Go, from Georgia Bonesteel, the only quilt program  available on TV.  It was aired on the Public TV, coming from North Carolina.  She is responsible for this lovely addiction!

I'm trying this method, slightly modified from the original.  Many tutorials are available all over YouTube.  I've used strings, and the sewing goes to the edges of the block, and I will machine sew very narrow sashing to front and back, between the blocks.  That's the plan, but have NOT started that part yet.  Here are 49 blocks that are trimmed to 8 1/4 inch.  The only constant is the white diagonal.   I DID make a dent in my kids prints hoard as well as my batting scraps!  Blocks will be set 6 x 8 (one extra).  Some of the blocks look clever together, most are accidental - the white center strip gives the blocks continuity.  Bbacking squares are a variety of fabric.  

 

Here is kinda what they might look like when putting 4 together, without sashing for now.  Note, the cats and the cat food cans!  Toooooo cute!  

One fabric of green polka dots and monkeys was given to me by Kathy, a fellow resident and quilter, who passed away unexpectedly recently.  Thank you Kathy - I used it for good purpose.  

Plenty Plaids, almost a Flimsie Fence Rail

This was  Bonnie Hunter's/Quiltville Leaders and Enders project, a Fence Rail.  Thanks Bonnie!  I tend to sit down and SEW until it's DONE - prefer to NOT drag it out.  There is one more border to go, then I'll bind it in black.  There are parts of MANY shirts in that quilt, and a few strips that refuse to conform.   

It is astonishing how many varieties of Fence Rail Quilts people come up with!

Rail Fence, Quiltville Version, and Heat

I saw this scrappy Rail Fence on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville page a few days ago, and thought I'd use my plaid scraps on this version.  So far, so good!  It's kinda "fiddly" but I AM using up bits.  I had to be careful to keep the strips pressed straight.  The black/white holds the design together, doesn't it?  Blocks are 6 inch.  Those black/white checks had me checking my sanity periodically!  LOL

Different subject - I am in western Nebraska - look at the outdoor temp, far right of the thermostat!  Admittedly, it is on the sunny side, but even under trees it's about 104 degrees.  We've lived here almost 20 years and I've never experienced such heat.  

Owls heard my computer

We've seen the screech owls on and off this spring, even thru July 4th bombs and explosions - nothing seems to faze them!  If we sit outside at dusk and listen to the robins screeching and hollering and dive bombing, we know the Eastern Screech Owls are somewhere nearby.  We live in western Nebraska, in town.

Tonight, I had the bright idea of taking the computer outside on the deck, and playing YouTube sounds of Screech Owls, wondering what might happen -  I kinda hoped one owl might land on my computer - however, we ALL remember "The Birds"! 

I heard the robins making a ruckus, so played an Eastern Screech owl's sounds and calls,  and in a matter of 5 minutes there was one little guy sitting on the deck rail, looking back at us.  DH  and I sat there mesmerized.  Soon the robins found this little owl and did their pestering and dive bombing, so he fluttered to a nearby spruce for safety.  I continued to replay the Youtube video and I could see him listening (I think) and also he replied with his little trill.  Soon a second owl arrived in the area, sitting on a cable.  Eventually both of them took off, without a sound.   

I didn't have my camera so will repost 2 photos from a few years back when they roosted in our backyard spruce.  We feel blessed they shared a few moments with us.