My first "Real" quilt and stuff

I finally completed it. My first completed quilt for 2011. Well I cheated and did most of it in 2010 :) but I am not complaining. I made the baby a quilt but that was a trial run blanket for me. This one below....now this one is my first REAL true quilt and I am extremely proud of it.

I found this fabric online in an etsy store. It is Modo Basic Grey. Well we all know how much I love Basic Grey paper so there was no question on whether I should buy this fabric or not. As you can see....I did. lol.

This was a quilt - a - long on the blog, I have to say. She gave great instructions and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. Her instructions would have you completing this in 6 weeks. Of course it took me longer because I just worked on it here and there. This was also the first time I have ever machine quilted. The baby blanket was all hand done. Machine quilting....takes patience. That's all I'm saying on that.

I can't even imagine trying to run a bigger quilt through the machine. This one was challenging enough. I spent two days completing the binding. 6 hours total, one bent needled and 3 very sore fingers. But look at it...isn't it WONDERFUL!!! Gosh I am so proud. And I can't wait to get started on another one. Gasp.

Now that I am finished with this one I don't want to use it. I just want to keep it folded on the chest in the living room and admire it...lol. But...that is not what I made it for and I WILL use it. This is the first real thing I have ever made for ME so yes I will use it. Sometime. Maybe.

My kitty....he is doing so-so. His surgery went well Monday. They removed the tumor in his neck and the small one on his ear. His ear looks like he got in a cat fight with a chunk missing out of the tip. Today is day 2 post op and he is still not 100% himself which breaks my heart. Today he seems to be in pain. He is very quiet and just doesn't want to move. I feel so bad for him and not sure what else to do. He hasn't been eating much so I am trying to feed him tuna in small portions. I hate not being able to be at home to love on him but I know he will be okay. We are just waiting for the test results to come back in which will take a few weeks. If by some chance it is cancer...well...I have already decided what our course of action will be. I swear you just never think these little babies would pull on your heart strings like they do. But they do. And you love them. And they become a part of your life.

On to the projects for 2011. First....I started my first erosion project. I set it out a few days before New Years and will not touch it for 6 months. I have checked on it a few times and I am not sure I have it placed in a good place. It might be to covered by the trees. We will re-evaluate it in a few months and if I need to I will move it. It shall be interesting to see how the pages turn out. They are currently covered in glitter, paint, powders and all kinds of goodies.

Secondly...I found a blog that was talking about Project 52 - Reading Books. So I am jumping on the band wagon as if I don't already have enough to do right. But I so love to read and I have read so many books the last 2 years that what is 52 more! Here are the rules:

1. You may read at your own pace, but I recommend one book per week.

2. No re-reads. If you began a book but didn't finish that is ok

3. No magazines, ebooks, audio books, textbooks, etc

4. Acceptable forms: all fiction, non-fiction, and collections of essays, short stories or poetry. Graphic novels count as long as there are lots of other tpes of books being read too.

I will post about each book after I've read it. I hope you will join in. Reading is so much fun and can take you into so many different worlds.

Alright...gotta get this day started. Stay tuned for tomorrow because I will have a layout here for Magistical Memories. I think it turned out pretty cute but you know I would love your opinion too :)

Happy Wednesday!