Bloggers, Crafters, Quilters, Painters: I Need Your Help

 I am working on an icon set for quilters/crafters (little graphics for use on web pages and blogs) What would you love to have in an icon set? examples: bobbins, cute little scissors, glue bottle, needle & thread, paint brush

What is an icon set you ask? from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_set 

A computer icon is a pictogram displayed on a computer screen in order to help user navigate a computer system or mobile device in a similar way traffic signs are used to help a driver navigate traffic; one of the most notable icon designers, Susan Kare was quoted saying "good icons should be more like road signs than illustrations, easily comprehensible, and not cluttered with extraneous detail".^[1]Desktop icons for file/data transfer, clock/awaiting, and running a program.
Icons are part of the graphical user interface and belong to the much larger topic of the history of the graphical user interface that has largely supplanted the text-based interface for casual use. The user can activate them using a mouse, pointer, finger, or recently voice commands. Their placement on the screen, also in relation to other icons, may provide further information to the user about their usage.^[2] In activating an icon, the user can move directly into and out of the identified function without knowing anything further about the location or requirements of the file or code.

Celtic Sosltice - Top Done!

I was up early, really early, this morning working on bookkeeping.  I was using a highlighter to mark things on the paypal records (usps or owner draw) and my highlighter died.  So I found a new pack in the drawer that said "scented highlighters"  And I thought oh must have been something weird Devin picked up for me.  They were so pretty, different colors and ooo scented too!  So I open the package and start sniffing the highlighters. And my thoughts ran something like this:  "That's weird..they just smell like..highlighters.  Wow..I got defective scented highlighters!!   I'm gonna write that company and get new highlighters that smell good!"  So I dig the packaging out of my trash and while looking for the company name, I notice this in big letters at the top of the package "ACCENT HIGHLIGHTERS"   

oh

nvm

need coffee...

in other news..

THE TOP IS DONE!!

I made a fish border.  All of my blues are either water related or have fish in them.  Those tri-recs just naturally wanted to be fish.

Diva guarding the fish.  You don't get to see her too often.  She's about 120 and doesn't like getting her photo taken.  

I made the fish by sewing the tri-recs together at random spots to make different size and shape fish.  Then I added enough blue to bring it back to 9.5 inches (what it would have been) 

I have thought about sending this off to be quilted.  I have never used a long arm quilter.  But I am afraid they will run away screaming when they see the back and all those little seams.  I tried to get them to lay flat, but they have a mind of their own.

All the leaders and enders done during CS!  Almost whole other quilts worth!

Leaders and enders are when you use the little piece of fabric that you use to keep your needle threaded and threads tamed to actually make something. 

Learn more about them here on Quiltville.

See the linky for other CS quilts here!

Monday Funny:

This is my cat, Chief.  He found an entire bag of catnip.  Enough said.

Celtic Solstice - Putting it together

(Sorry for the double post of this post.  I had to re-publish it to get the comments to work. )

Smuagette (aka Annabelle) guarding her treasure!

I got all the blocks put together.  I ended up with these three blocks.  

This is the layout I chose..stars in the center and birthday girl blocks around the edge.

Since I can't leave the blocks on the floor without it turning into a giant cat ice skating ring, I made this chart.  Blank for 54-40 or Fight blocks.

Stars for chevron in block (I call them birthday stars)

Squares for Birthday Girl blocks.

Then I attached a number with a safety pin to the first block in each row.  This way I could chain stitch the column 1 to column 2 blocks  and then the column 2 to column 3 and so on.  I crossed off each square as I got it sewn on to the row.

I think this is like Bonnie's webbing (here)  Only, I needed the chart to keep my pattern correct.  And I cut them apart as I got each column sewn and double checked I had it right.  I did end up pinning the blocks to help keep the seams in line...just don't look to close :)

I was going to show a pic of the rows sewn together, but Smaugette is back.

Will update when I have the rows sewn together and start the border.

In none quilting news, I started a new watercolor for my niece:

Just have the first layers down, but at least it is started!

Please leave a comment...would love to hear from someone out there in internet land.

Celtic Solstice~the big reveal!

The big Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt Reveal:

Bonnie's version:

Isn't it gorgeous!

My version so far.  This is just the 3 inch blocks on the  design wall:

I love love love it!

This was my guess before the reveal...not even close :)

Now I need to get the blocks put together.  I have the  54-40 or Fight! blocks done.

I decided to do half of the Birthday Girl blocks with the chevrons turned in to make a star.  I call them Birthday Stars!  I have those sewn but not pressed.  

Want to see more?  Check out the other linkies here!