~ Eight Armfuls of Angst ~

I'm not sure why it took me so long to finish this one, but I have ...

... and I'm happy!!

Wait ... maybe it was because I had tremendous trouble sewing with this lovely blue metallic thread. It pretty much broke one or two times per wave.

I changed to a metallic needle, adjusted my tension about 16 times and yelled out loud to no one in particular.

I finally had a measure of success when I switched the thread to a horizontal rather than a vertical position.

Ah, who cares!

He is done and he is cute as a button (admit it.)

He is also up on my Etsy Shop and you can find him here.

Always.  Worth.  The.  Effort.

~ Swimming with the Fishes ~

It's going to be a binding kind of day.

How about you?

~ Rabbits & Mermaids & Fish, Oh My ~

Because of popular demand (well ... one request) I offer here a picture of the "Nuclear Powered Killer Rabbit" flag that was mentioned in my previous post.  My little 11 year-old's were appropriately thrilled with the outcome and my work (many hours of it) was not done in vain.  (Not to mention how fun it was to do).  It must be noted that I did not draw the rabbit or design the flag.  I just put it into fabric form because ...

well ... because that is what I do.

And now that I have your attention (and I bet I do), I want to point out that I have added a new section to my Etsy Shop of Sea Wall Art and have put these four beauties up for sale again.

If these colors and patterns are not a good fit in your home, you might consider them for your office. (Or your husband/spouse's office or your friend's office ... you get the idea.)

And by the way, I am having an ocean of fun with my Octopus Art at the moment.

You have to admit it ... I have range.

~ Dinner for Eight: II ~

So I am well aware that my blogging skills as of late have been less than stellar.

The truth is that I took some time out to make some things for my grand kids and  ... the Boy Scouts. The work for my local 11-year old troop, involved sewing a flag that was embellished with a rabbit.

A Nuclear Powered Killer Rabbit to be specific.

But, I digress.

Before starting those other fun projects, I had already decided on my next Sea Quilts adventure and had already set aside my piles of fabric ... paint.

I decided to reprise my very first Art Quilt, which has long since sold and is no longer in my possession. I am pretty excited not to be starting from Square One, especially since Square Two (the fabric picking process) is my favorite Square of all.

And what is your favorite part of the creative process?

`

~She Sews Sea Horses on a Surfboard by the Sea ~

This was SO much fun!!

~ Sea Pillows ~

This morning I added two new items to my Etsy Shop ... and these ones are the real, finished deal! They come fully constructed with no work on your part ... except perhaps for a little fluffing.

They are both 21" square pillow slipcovers, stuffed with commercially made down pillow forms.  They are edged in thin, covered piping.

So take your pick ...

Elegant Sea Coral or Lively Lobster.

Here's the crazy part:  I made these both last fall and literally forgot about them.  That just shows what the holidays will to do your mind and/or level of sanity.

~ Machine Quilting: A Bug's Eye View ~

Once upon a time ... I used to dread the machine quilting process.  It hurt my back. 

Still does.

But with the passing of time and hours and hours of practice, I have actually come to look forward to this part of the process. I recognize it as part of the design and not just a necessary evil.

I have come to terms with the fact that my back hurts a lot anyway ... so I might as well enjoy it.

I'm also very excited about my Sea Horse Surfboard. So many favorites all in one quilt!

How about you? How do you feel about the machine quilting process? Endurance or Enjoyment?

Or "Eh"?