Scrap Graveyard

This post is brought to you by Harry. He likes sunning in the window just as much as I love my scraps!

So, over the weekend I was cutting away and found myself with this lovely little pile of scraps. Actually there are even more pieces then this. Shhhh, don't tell. ;) I found myself simply unable to throw them out. Do you do that to?

I mean look at that cute kitten face in the pale green print on the end. Could you throw him out? ;)
I am in the process of deciding what to do with these leftovers!

All those pieces came as a result of cutting wedges for these Dresden plates. I use this ruler. Makes cutting wedges a breeze!

I've had mini pincushions swirling in my head for a while now. Yesterday I pieced this one using teeny, tiny leftover scraps. I'm quite smitten. Especially with the vintage button I put in the center!

More of these beauties are coming. They will be added to my shop soon!

What's your favorite thing to make with scraps?

New Camera

Please forgive this post for being a bit heavy on the photos! I finally took the jump into DSLR photography and bought a Nikon D3100. I love it! I have been playing around with the camera set on automatic and I am thrilled with the results thus far.  

I started by taking some photos of some of my works in progress and my cats. LOL Although, photo sessions with cats tend to be a game of sorts.  Harry is more interested in the light that reflects off the camera lens and he won't sit still! Needless, to say he's a fidgety one.

These are some mug rugs in process for my shop.

This is a sweet table topper I stitched up using a charm pack featuring Lori Holt's Polka Dot Stitches line, and some white Moda Bella cotton.

I had pinwheels stuck in my head the instant I laid eyes on Bonnie and Camille's new line Happy Go Lucky. It's a baby sized quilt and I quite like how it turned out!

Tex couldn't resist getting into the picture too ;)

I have a small landing outside my kitchen and the kitties love to go out there when I return home from work in the evenings, to soak up the late day sunshine. Tex tends to be a better subject in that he cooperates for the picture taking. ;)

Here's Harry chasing the light around with his eyes.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week! What have you been working on?

Charming Lucy

A couple of dear friends of mine are about to welcome their baby boy into the word. I searched online and found a free pattern called Charming Lucy and new that this was the one! They have received the quilt so it's safe for me to post photos of it here.

I used a stack of fabric I had from the line Lucy's Crab Shack by Sweetwater for Moda and accented with white Kona cotton. I love the result! 

I tried my best to get a full shot of the quilt. Please excuse the less than delightful photo but you get the idea!

In other news, dare I say that spring has  FINALLY sprung in central New York and today is full of sunshine. Though we had snow last week, I am crossing my fingers that the snow is behind us until next winter! 

What are you doing on this fine Saturday?

Quilting and Scones...

....Make for a lovely Sunday. How was your Sunday?

Is it spring yet? and finishes of late

Hello, hello! I am happily stitching away at Chez Swing Kitten and have some projects to share. Since winter just won't leave us alone, most all of my free time is spent quilting and sewing. Is it spring yet? I'm ready!

 I finished another table runner for my shop featuring two sweetly pieced star blocks. I do love making these! Both the star blocks and the table runners!

My sweet vintage ceramic kitty models the table runner so nicely. ;)

Not quite finished yet but getting there is this doll quilt I pieced using this free pattern.  It seemed to take some time cutting the little blue and patterned squares at 2 5/8" each, then cutting them on the diagonal and finally stitching them back together into half square triangles.  But I like the result! Now I am trying to decide whether I'll hand quilt, or machine quilt the top. Decisions, decisions....

I whipped up this little embroidery while watching an entertaining  bad Lifetime movie on Saturday night.  My excuse is that at least I made something cute while watching. ;) I used a few motifs from Aneela Hoey's super wonderful book Little Stitches.  I cut a circle around the stitching and then stuck it in an inexpensive embroidery hoop. I used a piece of pink rick rack looped through the top of the hoop to hang it. Wonderful!

The boys say hello. I keep asking them to get busy around the apartment while I'm gone at work during the day, but all they want to do is nap.

What are you working on lately? Have a great week! 

Coming soon to my shop!

Working on getting my shop updated tonight! Hope you're enjoying the weekend!

A Quilted Finish

I am pleased as punch that I finished my star quilt! This is the second large-ish quilt I've made. It measures in at 56 x 56 which was a struggle at times to quilt on my Janome. I usually stick to baby quilts for their ease in quilting, being so much smaller. But I'm glad I made this one and  actually saw a project through to the end! 

 It could be a nice throw but I'll probably put it on my bed once the weather gets warmer, and the down comforter gets put away. We can only hope for an early spring!

 I used a combination of some of my favorite prints from my stash.  Bliss, Sherbet Pips, Pam Kitty Love,  Ruby.... it will definitely be cherished!

For the back I used a sweet floral print I purchased at my LQS.  I believe it's called "Rambling Rose".

For the binding I used a print from Sherbet Pips that I've been hoarding   saving. ;)

This is also the first quilt I machine bound on both sides.  I tend to sew the binding on the front by machine and then tack down by hand on the back. For this quilt I pulled out my trusty walking foot and stitched away! I am quite happy with the results!

I got one shot out on my landing in natural light. It was so bitterly cold out today, and a bit windy so I only got the one! 

The yellow and pink block is one of my favorites! 

While I busied myself with taking pictures, the cats napped in the sunlight. They're not the only ones who appreciate all the natural light  I get in my living room. It definitely makes the winter more bearable!

Off to watch the season finale of Downton! I can hardly believe the season is over already. One of life's simple pleasures for sure.

I'll be back tomorrow with some new goodies I finished for the shop. Hope you enjoyed your weekend!