Great workday!

When I went off to the Gala quilt day on Tuesday, I was very discouraged. (well, probably tired as well). I had been working solidly on quilting the background of the blocks since our last session, my fingers were sore and there was still so much left to do. I have to admit I rather felt like giving up.

Sunday I worked to midnight and got up at four to deliver rice. Instead of going back to bed upon our return, I went back to work on quilting.

I had an afternoon English class but returned to quilting upon my return and kept at it until midnight again. As ten is my usual bedtime, I think my brain is getting a bit foggy.

Tuesday we met for a full day of work and I was able to mark more of the borders but it is too difficult to quilt in the middle when the group is working around the border so last night I stayed up to midnight again. I work with a large hoop and sit with the quilt all bunched up so it is hard to tell how much is done and I was still feeling panic about the amount left to do.

This morning when we began our second all day session, the quilt was laid out on the table and we could see that only part of the two bottom rows are left to do. We were able to finish marking the borders and with many hands, a lot of those borders were finished.

We were also able to come up with a plan for the corners that will make the borders easy to finish off. We decided at the end of the day to lay the quilt out on the floor and take a picture. I think everyone was happy at the progress and the end is in sight. We will make the deadline ... maybe with time to spare. The positive mood of the group did much to make me feel happier.

Our lovely quilt inspector got close and personal to check out the work.

Does this look like an approval to you?

Since returning home, I have been quilting the outlines for the corners. Three of those are far enough done for the group to finish.

Maybe another hour and I will go to bed.




In January, when Queenie and I met up with Tanya at the Tokyo Dome show, Tanya came bearing gifts for each of us.

Tanya had made us each a little quilt with a flower and the message, "Bloom Where You're Planted".

I just love it and I already have a nice table center Tanya made a while ago.

I was sorry I had nothing to give in return. The gala quilt has really been consuming all my time and energy. BUT, now that the quilting was in progress, I did need something to do while riding the train and sitting in meetings.

I had picked out the print fabric at the Dome show and thought it would be a good reminder of the short time we had to meet.

I know Tanya's six cats are not this color but I pulled a few prints out of my stash that would show up fairly well in a group.

In a box of fabric gifted by my friend in Maryland I found a bright cat print for the backing and I had some of the "night patrol" cats, left over from a quilt made for my son, that could be used for the border.

Several Scout committee meetings and many train rides later, he cats were ready to take a trip to their new home. Today, someone in my group asked if I had finished the cats. Well, yes I had but I had been waiting until they arrived at their new home to post a picture.

It was 1992 that I drafted this pattern on graph paper with my white cat, Pearl, as the model. Two of my daughters have used it for baby quilts for their friends and I have lost count of how many I have made. At one time I was working on a draft for tessellating cats and dogs. One of these days I should dig it out and put it together. Next in line is another baby quilt for a friend. It will be my next take-along project and it could be next week I will actually have time to play in my stash boxes.