November, With a Finished Polaroid I-Spy Top

Good morning and happy November!

I opened up my email the other day to see that,

according to a popular retailer, "Christmas has arrived!"

<Cringe>

Um, no it hasn't.  Not by a long shot.

I want fall to drag out for a good long time yet.

And I want to celebrate Thanksgiving!

We've had beautiful fall weather but I have been
hibernating in my sewing room nursing a lousy cold
 that I likely picked up while traveling.  Yesterday I 
vowed to get outside no matter how I felt,
knowing that the temps were dropping soon.
Just as soon as the I-Spy top was completed.

Nothing like an ultimatum.
It worked:  the top is done and I got outside to do some
yard work just as the clouds were hitting the horizon.
Good timing.
A nice big roll of white batting arrived on my porch
just yesterday morning so that was good timing as well.
I've started using more white backgrounds so it makes
sense for me to get one of those in my stash.
(If you're a "Warm" brand person, the price just dropped on
Amazon by $25 on the 90"/40yd; Warm & Natural is less.)

At the risk of sounding like I'm an Amazon rep, I want
to share a favorite product of mine--if I haven't already?
 I would not be without this marking pen
in my sewing room for anything.

Pilot Frixion

I use it for marking everything.  Here I'm marking where to

line up my vertical sashing pieces when sewing my rows

together--because nothing looks worse than when

sashing doesn't line straight up on your quilt.

Does it make you nervous seeing a black pen so close

to white fabric?

How about I just draw right on it!?

Remember the carpet commercial where a guest

spills something scary like red punch or wine and the

hostess says, "That's okay!"  That will never be me

with my carpet but it is me with this pen.

Because, in just one second, the tap of an iron

erases it completely.  It's absolutely magic.

(why can't they make red punch and wine like that?)

It's only advertised as an erasable pen so I never

would've thought of it for sewing but for finding

one in a quilt shop.

I noticed it gets mixed reviews for its erasability

on paper but I've used it for a year and it has

come right off of every fabric I've used it on.

The only issue I've had is when I mark things and then

for some reason decide to iron a little wrinkle or seam
and poof, it's gone.  Gotta think ahead there!

Back to the Polaroid I-Spy quilt...
Today, with the cold wind blowing outside,
makes for a good long arm day.  I didn't get an exact
measure of it but it's on the frame now.  I'd call it
a "large throw".  I have a simple design picked out so
there should be no problem getting it done today.

Now if I could just get over this cold.
Tomorrow marks day 7, and we're having company
for dinner on Saturday.  Surely it'll clear up by then?

Happy quilting!