New Addition

Well our new addition to the family came rather unexpectantly. I am a person that believes that there are signs leading us down the path we are supposed to take or guiding us to do things that are in our best interest. Granted some people might not heed these signs, but I do put stock in them.

Remember last time I posted about getting nipped by a bird? Definitely turned me off from getting a bird that day. Well I went to get my normal stock of bird food, toys, bird litter, etc, and I didn't realize that my favorite "bird mom", Katy, was in that day. I had not seen her forever! She was showing me all the wonderful "fids" (feathered kids in the bird world) she was hand raising. I told her what happened at the show and she told me that she just hand raised a rose-breasted cockatoo....the kind I was considering...the only kind I thought I would add to my flock...and she was a cutie with personality and such a love! Welcome Poppy!

Quilts to show you care

The best "purpose" for a quilt is to give it to someone to let him/her know you are thinking of them in good or tough times. Or that you care about that person and wanted to show them this through your creative endeavors. Granted many might not know the time, $$, and creativity that goes into a quilt, but when I am included in a "show you care" quilt, I know it brightens someones day as well as my own. A few friends made some blocks and gave me the floral fabric to make a quilt for a lady we know who has cancer. I added sashing and was a little creative on the borders due to the fabric I had left...oh yes those are called design elements ;o) I quilted it and I finished the binding yesterday at Sunday Sisters (I normally don't go on this day). It is bright and cheery, just what a person needs to lift them up!

Busy and Productive

I have had a few busy days! Finished the Holly and Berries top, pieced the backing and made the binding. I also completed a rag quilt I made from 5" charm square packs. They are brushed cotton and feel great! I washed the quilt for the "raggy" look and noticed that the tangled mess one normally gets when pulling the quilt out of the washer was not as bad. I think it is because of the "pinked" charmed squares. The "pinked" part did make sewing rather MESSY! My clothes were covered in little threads. Overall, I would do another rag quilt out of them. I went to Sweet Home Quilts in Conyers and bought a tote pattern...and of course the new Hemming House fabric to make it. I have it all finished already! Will post a pic when I can find my digital camera...know the mind is getting old when I keep forgetting where I put things! On Saturday, my family went to a Bird Show. Yes they actually have these! It is a fun place to see different birds...mostly parrots, finches, pet birds...and buy supplies at great prices. I did not get a bird, but one actually nipped me good! That has not happened to me yet, even with my own birds. Ouch! Saturday afternoon I went to a meeting about getting my Specialist degree at UGA. It was an informative meeting with what we are expected to do, etc. It is going to be great and hard work. I have 2 friends in the Cohort with me that are going to be great media specialists when they get certified!

Holly and Berries Quilt

Worked on a UFO today. Made up my mind that I needed to finish an old project before I could start the quilt I received in the mail yesterday. (Trying to be good.) I am finishing the borders for Holly and Berries, a 2007 Stitch 'n Sisters kit. It is interesting how things get "pushed aside" when something new comes along and says "I have to be done right now!" The Holly and Berries top has been all together except for the over 200 1/2 square triangles for the borders (I made my quilt bigger than the pattern)...hmm wonder why I put it aside ;o) Well I can say that the borders are together finally after sewing them all wrong this morning! Yes, I pieced the 1/2 square triangles into pairs all wrong!! I laugh now because I laid them out as in the picture, put right sides together, but sewed the wrong seam on all of them....so I ripped them all out and resewed! The points did come out rather nicely (the second time). Tomorrow I will sew the borders on the quilt and piece the backing out of the extra blacks I had from the top. I have been inspired to finish some UFO's because 2 of my friends are...right Becky and Brenda??? You are a good influence on me! Well except when we go shopping for quilt fabric...
k

Package in the Mail

Always a treat to get a quilt kit in the mail!! It is a pattern from Primitive Pieces by Lynda. I ordered the kit from Homestead Hearth (such great cust. service!) Check out Peter, Paul and Aunt Mary!

http://homestead.securesites.com/index.php

Welcome

One might not understand why the title of this blog is M.S. Dolittle Quilter. I have always liked to think of names that might have double meanings or need to be read into more to fully understand...so here is the explaination of the blog name.
Quilter is obvious. I love to quilt, read about quilts, buy fabric for quilts, anything to do with quilting...I'm there.
M.S. could stand for Ms....like Ms. Smith, but it does not. It is an abbreviation for my profession. I am an elementary school Media Specialist in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.
Dolittle is definitely not because I "do little" in quilting! It is because I have a "zoo" at my house. I love animals! I am particularly fond of dogs and parrots.
So there you have it...the origins of M.S. Dolittle Quilter. k