String Pillow - Blogger's Quilt Festival

I am submitting my recently finished Scrappy String Pillow for this fall's Blogger's Quilt Festival in the Mini Quilt category.

I have several throw pillows that are old and worn, and that I've intended to replace for a year or two.  I made the first replacement this summer.  I had collected several neat patterns I wanted to try (I know at least one of them came from prior Blogger's Quilt Festival entries).  This pillow was a chance to try two of them.

The first side is a string web pattern.  I had a lot of blue scrap to burn through - so that is the primary color for this quilt.  I recently bought a new freemotion foot for my sewing machine, and have taken the plunge for freemotion quilting.  I just stipple quilted the white, but am so pleased with how it turned out.

Cornucopia

When I was in the basement digging out the pignic equipment, I came across a cornucopia.  I bought it a few years ago for a Fall photo with Willow, Bertie and Pinniped.  I thought it might be nice to dust it off and use it again.

I was amazed that Cannoli fit into the cornucopia as well as she did.  What a loaf.  

Shredded

I was so close to finishing the quilting on my wall hanging, when my sewing machine suddenly locked up.  I manually eased it forward, pulled out the quilt, removed the walking foot and needle, and gently pushed the pedal.  Lots of rattling; occasional sticking.  Everything looked fine from the top, but when I removed the bottom panel, a small pile of black shards fell to the floor.  Closer inspection revealed a stripped gear - the black shards had once been the gear's teeth.  I was surprised the feed dogs had been moving at all.

Just look at that toothless wonder

Well, at least it's no secret what's wrong (to my chagrin and gnashing of my teeth).  The repair guy isn't going to have to search for the problem.  Google tells me the part is inexpensive - so the big unknown is how hard it will be to install.  Fingers crossed!  In the meantime, four quilts are on hold.  I'm dying to show off my latest work and had planned to submit it to the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I was sprinting to the finish and now have no choice but to sit back and be patient.  Humph.

Quietly Quilting

I've started sewing a series of quilts that have been in the planning stages for months.  I can't show much until they're finished and gifted, but I'm sharing what I can.  I am so excited to finally see them come together.

The material is three different weights and it's been a challenge sewing them.  Usually all my fabric is the same weight and weave.  These quilts have some normal quilting cotton, a very light cotton and lastly, a lightweight velvet.  The lightweight cotton doesn't keep it's shape; the velvet's nap is killing me.  It crawls all over, even when using a walking foot.  I hand basted several pieces together in an effort to have my pieces stay put.  Ack!

I considered abandoning the velvet (twice), but it looks so good in the overall design.  So I said bad words and ripped seams nearly as fast as I stitched the pieces together.  It's all together and looks wonderful.  The first two are sandwiched, the third is pieced and the last one is starting to come together.  It's like reading a good book:  I just can't get through it fast enough, there's not enough hours in the day!  I love it when I'm inspired.

Piggy Picture Mug

One of my favorite tea mugs got a big chip on the rim.  Sadness.  I had checked out a few guinea pig mugs online to replace it, but hadn't found one I liked.  Then, a couple of weeks ago tinyprints offered a terrific deal on mugs (free small mug or $4 big one).  I decided to design my own.

It arrived late last week.  Isn't it cute?  I'm really pleased with the color and quality.  I wanted to stuff photos of all of my guinea pigs on it, but there wasn't enough room.  So I opted for the best pictures of my most recent sows.  

Ah.  Tea and pigs.  It makes me smile.  

Marimekko Cozy Giveaway

I recently received a pair of cozy sacks from CavyMadness.  Pinniped and Cannoli already have a large supply, so I thought I would share these with my readers.  Just in time for the cooler weather.

I am giving away a pair of CavyMadness Marimekko print cozies.  These are wider than most of my cozies - 12.5" and 13.5" wide, and each is 12" deep.  So if your pigs are willing to share, there's room for two.  Since there are two cozies, there's two chances to win!

To enter:  leave a comment here (be sure you are not a no-reply blogger, or include your email address in the comment) or on the CavyMadness Facebook page.  Indicate which of your pigs would love these cozies, and if they would prefer the striped or polka-dot cozy (or no preference).  I will be pulling one winner from the blog, the other from Facebook - so comment in both places and increase your chances to win.  This drawing closes on Friday, October 10th at 12pm EDT.  Congrats to Jack, Little Pig and Truffle - the winners of the two cozies!

I have had difficulty contacting winners on Facebook.  Please leave your email in the comments or check back after 12pm on October 10th - I will reply to the winner's comments.  If I cannot successfully contact the winner within 24 hours, I will randomly draw another name.