the cat helping me sew...

Cats sleep anywhere
Any table, any chair
Top of piano, window ledge
In the middle, on the edge
Open drawer, empty shoe
Anybody's lap will do
Fitted in a cardboard box
In the cupboard with your frocks
They don't care
Cats sleep anywhere!

Eleanor Farjeon

Today, Tesla helped me baste my quilt. Which lay in the sun. Then Tesla forgot her job as official helper and fell asleep.

 Even so, I got this sucker pinned together.

 

Up the stairs I went to get it quilted. Tesla came as well. Ready and eager to start her duties as quilting helper.

 ...and she fell asleep on my fabric stash. Well, now I know why it takes costco packs of lint rollers to keep my projects cat fur free.

She expressed only slight annoyance that I had the audacity to disturb her with a picture.

The hexagons have found me....

"Laura was sewing two long breadths of muslin together to make a sheet. She pinned the edges together carefully and fastened them with a pin to her dress at the knee. Carefully holding the edges even she whipped them together with even tiny stitches."

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Hexagons. Taking the quilting world by storm. And now... me. 

Lake time found me basting fabric to paper hexagons.

The car ride home began the whip stitching (BY HAND!!) together.
Winter evenings will be full of hexagons. I will sew them together until my fingers are calloused and strong. I will have a blanket of hexagons.

In the meantime, it's a lazy Saturday in bed with the cat.

She sleeps on a recently thrift-ed quilt, a true find with hand quilting goodness all over it. We listen to Bobcat football (the cat listening to the Cats) with hubby. A wonderful day with sewing and crafting in the future. And chicken soup. Pictures to follow.

Two fierce cats.

Emily- this post is just for you. No words needed.

It's getting hot in here

A Move to the Sun

I've moved outside! And the cat came with me:

She curled up under my chair for a bit to eat some grass. Hours of begging to be outside... and she spends her time eating grass.
What's that on my lap desk?

 A nest that was tucked in the roses. The birds have long since left the nest, we got to see them when they were just open beaks and some beady eyes- now they are off flying in the trees.
Trees?-- Check out my view from my new chair-

My toes are so happy to be soaking up some rays. I'm so happy to be out of the house. I think this is an important part of my recovery. I know a few people that expressed sympathy that I couldn't do my surgery in the winter when "There is nothing to do". But... it's hard to imagine recovery on dark, stormy days. I love a sunny day, laying in the sun, reading my books, perhaps a little crafting...

(I KNOW- adorable! I found this vintage embroidery pattern online and printed and made an iron transfer. SO kitchy, but I couldn't resist. Look how the boy duck likes the girl duck. QUACK!)

And I can think of no better excuse than knee surgery to be ignoring laundry, gutter cleaning, yard work, dishes.... of course, while I ignore it, my husband has to deal with it-

But I make a good cheerleader/boss/backseat driver.
We did have to put Tesla back in the house, as she was getting too adventurous with her exploring. S had to chase her down- see her tail? She came to hide by me, but alas, I am not a place of sanctuary.

A little sun does a lot to help a girl's spirit. I'm happy to be outside.

A nod to the cat... a constant craft room companion

This character will probably be frequent in my crafting stories... here Tesla helps with her first quilt.

and more help...