Nervous.

Saturday we pick out our puppy.  For a while I was all:



But after the supplies were purchased, appointments made, and dog food was picked,  my energy had nowhere to go and turned into "OMG It's so fluffy WHAT IF IT DIES".  Anxiety.  The kind of anxiety I used to get when I would hold my breath to watch my babies breathe.  It's a good thing I never had triplets or I would have passed out from oxygen deprivation many a night! 


Not much sewing going on...I hope to be back in the saddle...er...seat very soon.  I'm a one track mind and right now that track is puppyville.  Do you have a one track mind, too?

Batting Battle: Fairfield Nature-fil Bamboo Batting

Today's Batting Battle is brought to you by the generosity of my bloggy friend and long arm quilter, Cindy. She writes a great blog called Tops to Treasures. Check her out!  She sent a box of scraps from long-arm projects and I will be reviewing them as I sew them up.

Today we have Nature-fil Bamboo Batting made by Fairfield (the same maker of the ubiquitous polyfil poly batting).   This is actually a blend of half bamboo, half organic cotton.  The bamboo is said to have natural anti-bacterial properties meaning the company is able to leave disinfecting chemicals out of the manufacturing process.  This is definitely something to consider if you have a chemical sensitive loved one or are making a quilt for someone who has a serious illness.  Bamboo is also said to be breathable & moisture wicking while retaining warmth.  If you've seen bamboo growing you know it can be quite invasive.  The upside is that this makes bamboo a very renewable resource.  Bamboo absorbs 2/3 more carbon dioxide and released 2/3 more oxygen than any plant on earth.  This product seems to be earth friendly.

  Cindy purchased this as a full-size batting in a bag at Joann.  Since I don't know the exact price I will be using the price at Amazon.   If you purchase at Joann, remember to use your super saver tips (and check the comments section of this post for more!).

The Cost Rundown

Nature-fil amazon price = $17.87/yard (90" width)
Warm &Natural= 10.37/yard (90" width)

The Feel

This is no contest.  The bamboo batting has a very silky hand.  It seems to fuzz more than the warm and natural.  The warm and natural is just downright nubby compared to the bamboo batting.  It could just be me, but it seems like Warm and Natural is not the same as it used to be.  Anyone else feel this way?  It just seems less consistently thick.

Quilting Distance

This batting needs to be quilted every 8".  Warm and Natural is every 10".  This batting is suitable for loosely quilted quilts...perfect for when you feel a little lazy or just want a softer, squishier quilt.

Shrinkage

I experienced about 1/2" shrinkage all around with my table runner.  In my experience this is the same level of shrinkage I would expect from Warm & Natural or Warm &White.

The pictures

 Here are the battings on my window.  As you can tell, they are of similar thickness.  I cut the squares different sizes this time...sorry, I was being lazy!

 The bamboo (top) is stretchier than the Warm batting.

 They both go back to their shape pretty well.  

All sewn up

 As you can see, this gave a nice "wrinkly" look like a cotton batting.

 Up close...

The Verdict

I would definitely use this batting again but the price will deter me.   It seems like it would be easier to hand quilt on than Warm batting (but I don't hand quilt, sorry I cannot give a true endorsement on that front).  I loved the feel of the batting but once it gets sandwiched between fabrics that is no longer a factor for me.  I am interested in the antibacterial properties and the earth friendly nature of this batting.  Perhaps if it becomes more popular it will also become more affordable.  If the price comes down to the same price of a similar cotton batting, I can see myself switching over to this full time.

Have you used this batting before?  Do you know anything about bamboo batting? Add your thoughts in the comments!

Nesting.

Our family is due for a new baby in 2 weeks and we are bubbling over with excitement.  Not much sewing is going on but I am trying to get the house as clean as I can in expectation of the chaos and mess to come.  Do you want to know what I am having???

Source: google.com via Jeanne on Pinterest

We're having a BOY...a scottish terrier, to be exact.  The kids wanted another dog like our last who passed away in December.  They are pretty sentimental just like their dad.  His name will be Bosco and we've already started stocking up on toys and new supplies.  Our other dog supplies had seen better days after almost 10 years of use!  Luckily for him being our 2nd dog, he will not be subjected to the indignity of doggie sweaters, doggie bathrobes, and doggie boots (yes, I cop to all those!).  I will be making him some bandanas, though. 

I hope all the stress and potty accidents are worth it.  I am hoping my twins helping out and teaching the dog to potty will cement their own mastery.  Little boys can be kind of gross on that front.  My husband and I are now feeling twinges of regret but I know that will be over once the dog is fully trained.  I feel like I have been toilet training someone or something for 10 years now!

And just a note for anyone who says "who not rescue?"  I looked into that and because we have children we are not eligible for the local breed rescue.  Also, our veterinarian friend discouraged that avenue due to having small children.  I love Scotties and ours was a faithful "big brother" to our boys but socialization and work goes into making a Scottie a family pet.  They can be aloof , stubborn, and cantankerous  unless they are "used to" something....sounds awfully familiar to me- probably why I love the breed so much! 

So, fellow pet owners...any great products I must buy or training tips I must know??

Ready to win some fabulous prizes???

It's time for the annual Accuquilt Barn Quilt Design Contest!

Where else can you win fabulous prizes for designing a block that you don't even have to sew???  You can create a block using a digital program or the old fashioned way.  There will be 100 winners to divvy up $6500 in prizes, including

• Grand Prize Package worth $3,450
• Runner-up Prize Package worth $550
• 100 Prize Packages for Top 100 Blocks

So what are you waiting for?  I am going to submit one and hope for the best...you should submit one too!  Click on the pics to find out the details and get started!

 

YO...or NO?

Y'all remember my dog who died of cancer in December?  Well, his 10th birthday was last week.  My kids are still upset.  We are getting a puppy in April but I wanted to do a tribute for Ewan by making a quilt for our family to all use...a big ol' couch quilt.  I don't know if I will do a pattern or not.  If there is interest, please let me know so I can decide.

Let me ask you...

Should I add a yo-yo collar..

or not?

And let me say this is not your grandma's scottie block.  I don't like those because as a person who lived with a scottie for 10 years, they leave out those things that are just so scottie...the eyebrows, that cute little beard, those skirt covered legs.  I drafted a pattern to add those favorite elements.  I didn't want a dark, mostly black quilt...but a fun one, so I added the sweaters to show off some prints and keep the quilt fun and full of HAPPY memories.

And I should never have to say this but this block is like my Houndstooth block or my Eli's Wheels block...it's extremely personal and sentimental.  If you can figure out how to make it on your own, please give credit where it is due and do not sell a pattern based on it.  I've noticed a lot of people doing that lately...change a measurement...change a name...BOOM...you just designed something.  It's not right and my quilting-world-kindness is wearing thin even when I am not the one who has been ripped off.  I'm sure most of you guys wouldn't dream of being such a heel but for the few bad apples I'm just putting it out there.   I'm blaming my grumpiness on being sick so much from these darn allergies...I even have developed a twitchy eye.  Nobody wants to mess with the lady who has a twitchy eye, right??  ;)

Random...

 The feedsack sale ends soon (see last post for link) but I didn't realize how hard it would be to see them go.  I pulled the above stack for a quilt.  There were no bids on those so I felt ok pulling them (but I heard about it later from a none too pleased auction watcher).   I just don't think I'll ever get another opportunity to have an authentic feedsack quilt if I don't take this opportunity.  I think I want one more orange sack to play up that color since it's a favorite.  I have a pattern in mind...but open to suggestions.

 I'm not sewing much of anything right now.  I am, however, getting use out of this little sewn bag.  It's the bag I put our medicines in when we travel.  We have so much sickness going on right now I was tired of pulling things out of the cabinet.  It's holding a antibiotic cream, antibiotics for my strep, ibuprofen, zyrtec for me and my little redhead, and some other things I'm sure my kids would rather me not mention by name.  Allergy season in Texas is killer right now.  The doctor told me the pollen count is 5x normal because of the mild winter.  My medicine is only keeping things to a dull roar. I really need to sew up some sinus compresses...and cold packs...and heat packs.  Oh man...we are falling apart!

I'm kind of becoming obsessed with this color palette...the oranges from Flora, the Ink colorway from Reunion, the Ruby grays, and American Jane green.  I really have considered ordering enough for a twin size quilt but then I look at the stack of quilts in my closet and the stack of fabric in my cabinet and I resist...proof I do have some willpower left.

Feedsack Sale!

 Ok Guys...you may remember these lovelies:

I have listed these all on ebay right now.  20 + feedsacks is like 20 extra yards of fabric in your cabinet and honestly I just don't have the heart to cut into them.  They're almost all full and some are still chain stitched up the side.  I feel like I'm ripping into history.  So y'all can go buy them and I will pretend they are going to a textile museum, mmmmkay? 

Whatever doesn't sell will probably get listed on etsy.  I was hoping to get a huge whack of selling done so I'm not running to the post office once a week for 3 months.  That would be yuck.

Are you still with me?  If so, I have a special surprise.  Readers of the Tulip Patch will a free PDF pattern with feedsack purchase.  You just include a seller note with your auction saying "I want ____ pattern sent to (insert email address)".  Boom.  Free pattern coming your way. 

Is it just me?

Is it just me or is word verification getting crazier and crazier? It's like aliens have taken over and are secretly encoding thier language in us via word verification. I just visited a blog buddy and left a comment, but not before having to decipher the word verification: Offinar Huntat. What the heck is that? I can barely read these things on a full size desktop and if I'm on my phone...just forget it!

If you have not previously had a problem with spam, consider simply disallowing anonymous comments. Not only does it prevent the meanies from doing a drive-by-soul crush, it also prevents a ton of spam. I also enabled comment moderation for comments over 1 month old. In the last year or so this has been my only form of anti-spam and besides a few spams that went straight to my spam box, I've avoided the whole ugly mess.

How can you do this through blogger? It's easy. Go to the Dashboard and click under the "Comments" tab...you know, the one right by the "posting" tab. There you will find all the options I've just mentioned and more.
Just something to consider to make it easier for others to comment and tell you how much they enjoyed what they saw on your blog!

PS I don't really believe in aliens.
PPS Except ALF

Scrap 911. I need advice.

I decided to attack any fabric smaller than a fat quarter and began a scrappy triple 4-patch. I started out doing it somewhat orderly and then gave that up when I had too many orphan blocks.  Right now I'm at 40x40.  I felt the need to make a quilt for a child and I don't know who the child  is (just that it is not one of mine).  This quilt needs SOMETHING but I'm not sure what (please don't say the trash can!) 

Do I...
Add more blocks?
Add a calm border?
Anything???