Diamond Dog Progress

Check out the baby cardinals in the previous post, if you missed them.


 I worked out the dimensions of the odd pieces that filled in the edges.  I don't  measure in inches though.  I did it the easy way!





I took a background diamond, cut a piece just over half horizontally (and another vertically) and used that for the ones across the bottom (and down the sides).

The four corners were more of a challenge, they are directional.  But I got that figured out post haste.

Here are all the pieces just out on the design wall, pre-sewing.

And I am off and running!

First corner done.

I have one side done and I was beginning to get bored.  So I switched to the right bottom side and started working upwards.

This is exactly halfway done.  




Here is where I left it to go watch American Ninja Warriors.

The two middle rows are left to do.  Love those red centers.  It looks like it might just be square.  That left side is about 64 inches long. 

All the materials here came from the stash, still have not bought any fabric!  My goal is to be able to put all the fabrics into my quilt room.  Right now it is spread out into the long arm dining room too.  

Baby Chicks and Diamond Dogs

I got the mountains quilt completely bound.  Now I need a label......forgot the label.

I worked on the Diamond Dogs quilt.  Got the background cut and will decide how to create the edges some time today.  I don't know how I want to make the edges look.  I have a limited amount of background dogs, so I actually can make the outside diamonds a different color, like a tan or a darker color more toward brown.

I made low carb, low fat, low sugar chia donuts.  They actually taste pretty good. 
These are frosted but they do have a nutmeg glaze that I didn't make because I thought they might stick together if I stored them.  And I would have to eat them all at one sitting, you know.

I also painted my window sill grey.  It was beige and I wanted it grey. In Louisiana, we will often call that a window seal.  Yep, we do.  I envision the orking, flipper slapping fish eating seal.  In a window of course.

Baby bonus!


We have new babies just outside my den window.  I mean Brand New Babies!

The daddy is a big red cardinal.  I see him coming and feeding, but I haven't seen the momma.  She must come when I am not watching.

Aren't they totally cute and awesome?

Diamonds from Michael Young

Here are some places you can find Michael Young.
http://www.gulfstatesquilting.org/MichaelYoung.html
 http://www.quilterblogs.com/tag/michael%20young/
http://www.pinterest.com/michaelquilts/

It is worth looking at sites that have his work.  He is an ncredible fiber artist, kimono creator, teacher, and quilter.

I made it all day long without dying or making them feel like they were with Typhoid Mary.   I took a lot of cough medicine and managed not to cough.....much.

Since Frank was out of town I had to deal with the dogs by myself.  Three is a chore on a good day, four was tough on a bad day.  I did come home at lunch and get them bones and bathroom breaks.  McGee and DiNozzo got in some sun time before i had to head back to class.

And to add to the misery, I bent down to latch the gate on McGee's crate and felt my back go out.  I was in serious pain.  All day.  Miserable.  No matter what I did, I could not move it back in alignment.

Ibuprofen just didn't even touch it.

Was t worth it?  You bet!

He approved my choice of fabrics.  He liked them!   I was happy.

I could have made this quilt without him but he gave us some tips that made it easier.  And that was worth double the price of admission.   I am loving this quilt so far.   know what I will change, I need some diversity in my small diamond sashing.  But that is  because I am so afraid of my choices that I wanted to close myself in with fabrics.  I know, trust myself!

This is what  I have so far.  I know it is not much but it is a lot of work to get the diamonds cut out, the flange placed, the sashing made and the two types of half triangles put together.

And yes, there are Y seams!  Lots of them.  You should have heard the moaning and complaining.    didn't  complain one iota.  My aches and pains and coughing was noting compared to what Michael was going through.  He had another round of chemo yesterday and was here teaching today.  Amazing.  This is his third bout with cancer.  And he is still fighting.

 I had nothing to complain about.

Reconsideration of the Diamond Quilt Fabrics

After that last post, I realized I was still uneasy about the fabrics I chose for the Diamonds quilt on Tuesday.  I had pulled some Dutch Wax Prints to pair with a batik center I had from 10 years ago.  they seemed to like each other but I was not happy with what we had pulled for the companion fabrics.  Through no fault if its own, the store is really not able to fill in as it is more modern and traditional than this quilt will be. 

I was never comfortable with the mix of fabrics.  So I got out a box that was buried under a pile of other boxes.  I never know  what will surface when.  And this box is a good argument for not ever giving away or selling any of your fabric.  You liked it when you bought it, right?


The box contained some of the fabrics I had purchased over about a year time period for the Ellies Quilt.  Some are the same fabrics and some are different but of the same colors and tones.  I do like them.  I also have a Moroccan Patch No  Work Quilt that I need to finish one of these days.  (It was intended to be my bed quilt, so I do want to finish it this year.)

So.

I have some larger pieces that will fit with the pattern.  The large print is great for the center panel.

There are two possibilities for the half triangles.  One is the black on the left and another is the rust character print. 

I can come up with 18 pieces for the smaller diamonds.  And the black can be used for the sashing for one or more levels if not used for the half diamonds.

These are the two I purchased for the sashing and half diamonds for the Dutch Wax prints, and they do fit into the color scheme for the Ellie colors.

I think these are more pleasant for me to look at.  And I can leave the marfelous Dutch Wax prints for their original plan.


Much better, much better. 

I can take a nap now.

Yes.  Sleep and drugs.  More cough meds please.  Oh, nobody's home, gotta get it myself.