Isn't This Where We Came In?

When I first posted a pic of Blooming Horrors after I started working on it again this year, I ended up with a Pokey. And here she is again on the completed top (by the way, woohoo!). I was trying to take photos and there she was, squirming around wanting belly rubs.

I kept trying to take photos then realized what an idiot I was. Belly? I'm taking photos instead of loving belly? So I did that for awhile and made myself and baby happy.

I've got the three layers of quilt top, batting and backing all together and what appears? More Pokey.

I did my usual lazy method of layering unironed backing fabric (hey, to be fair, I had ironed it after I washed it way back in the 1980's), leftover batting that just fit, and the unironed quilt top.

Does it freak you out to see that? I once had to wadge a bit more batting in at the edge when I got to it - worked out fine. I used to leave a couple of inches of backing and batting all around the edges just like the books said to, but eventually realized that I never had a problem. My quilts never shrink up and it was all wasted. I guess it's helpful when you're using a hoop or frame to have all that extra to hold your sandwich in place, but it's unneccessary for my method.

I got my sandwich all pin basted and I've started on the quilting. There are a few little pleats on the back, but who cares. I don't. I just quilt through the extra here and there and have never had a problem. The back of the quilt goes against the wall (or bed or body), I don't care what it looks like.

The pic of my Blooming Horrors looks dull without Pokey on top of it. I think you're just going to have to wait until the quilt is completed to see the whole thing. But if you're in the mood to see a fun Halloween bouquet, go check out Knit One Quilt Too Kristin's marvelous work. Plus she's got a great way to make skinny bias stems.

Laura at Pine Ridge Quilter is one of my favorite people. She makes fantastic, personal quilts, loves Halloween, and I know there is a list of movies that we could happily sit together and quilt too. She recently completed a marvelous ode to her dog Bullvye AND freehand fan quilted a little liberated Amish bits-of-leftovers quilt. Hoopless, hurrah! Oh, and another thing we share? A goofy love of aliens. Go way back to her January 2006 archives and check it out.

I recently posted pics from my inspiration notebook and one of them was a wonderful, lively quilt by Beth Reisman. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Jan at Be*Mused had been pondering works by the very same quilter. Go look at them, they are fabulous. I see life and humor (more Elvi peeking out)... I don't have the right words. I've looked on the web and the most recent information I can find for Beth is two quilts in the Quilter's Connection 2003 show in Massachussetts. Does anyone out there know more? Send me an email, please.

I was very productive yesterday and it felt good. Finished a quilt top, walked in the sunshine, and hand quilted. You know, I'm watching that Battlestar Galactica just to have something to watch, but gotta say it's not way high up there on my list of favorites. The Dresden Files surprised me - I quite liked it. It was a good idea to have Bob appear human so that Harry has someone to interact with, not just a skull. Darn it, I just looked and the show has been cancelled. I swear, it must be the kiss of death for me to love a show. Not that I loved this one yet, but it could have happened.