Thinking...I don't think so...

Before you read any further repeat after me, "what was she thinking?" Good. We got that out of the way.

The last couple of weeks I haven't been too productive on the sewing front. A late season respiratory virus sent my MS into overdrive which left me tired, not too accurate with the hand stitching, and not steady enough to handle a rotary cutter. What I did do was spend a lot of time on the internet looking at quilts and reading quilt books. Oh no...you know where this is going don't you...more projects!

A few nights ago when I crawled into my studio (and I do mean crawl) I started sewing together some strips. I knew I had been influenced by a series of Log cabin quilt photos I had studied that day...it wasn't until the next morning when I was back on-line that I realized how much I had been influenced. (a new meaning for "under the influence....")

I sent off a message to the owner of the quilt I had seen asking permission to finish the one I had started. Roderick Kiacofe (who has an e-book coming out this month!) kindly said it was ok and to send a photo of it when it was done. So when I get some more of the solids cut I'll have this back up on the design wall...in the meantime....

Bill Volkening of Wonkyworld posted a "woven" quilt. I said that it wasn't that difficult a design to piece....oh no...you know where this is going....

John Kubinec challenged me to a "quilt-off!" A proverbial fat-quarter face-slap...I'm in! Fortunately I have a bin full of 1-1/2 inch strips left over from the "Pensive" String Quilt. I begged my Dh for help cutting the black center squares...he consented to supervise only after I said "it's a challenge..." (he is sooo competitive...someday I'll post of photo of all those silly "ship on a sticks" he loves to win while on cruises....) Of course then my DH asked what the rules are...as in how do you know if you win? I don't know...I guess you win when you have a finished quilt and get bragging rights? He just shook his head and blames the confusion on my new MS meds....which obviously are working since I figured this pattern out pretty quickly!

I shouldn't poke fun at my Dh. He did stop at a local fabric shop to pick up some thread and batting for me last week. He also brought home a new gadget...

You can never have too many seam rippers right? And a magnifying glass and a light on a seam ripper...that is good! So why is it part of this post you wonder? "It even rotates," my Dh bragged. Wow, I've never had a seam ripper that rotates. It seams (pun intended) there is a reason for that. I use a pretty small stitch. When I have to take them out it takes a bit of a tug to break the thread. Now you see it...instead of breaking the thread my rotating seam ripper well, rotates. (I did wonder for a moment if this had something to do with April Fool's day...)

After "playing" with it for a while I was able to grip it better and it rotated less. I do like the light and the magnifying glass so I think after a bit of duct tape and/or super glue my non-rotating seam ripper is all going to work just fine....