Stuck in My Head: "Topaz" by the B-52's

Okay. So that last post looked like something I would delete from my inbox. But really, can you believe that the only things I wouldn't try again are salted lassi and Krispie Kreme doughnuts?
I finished up "On the Riverbank." Yay! Now I can put that project to bed. (har!) You see, it's a quilt and I punned on the... never mind.
And here is "Cielo." It's another double 4-patch swap quilt. I made about 4 of the blocks in it. Pictured here it is laid out for pinning. The medium blue back is peeking out around the top. In other words, please don't think I'm putting 3 borders on this!
And here is "Liberty Bears" in progress. I've decided to leave the checked border with just the navy. You can see where I've started in on white, but I'll pull that out shortly.
Gotta big day. I'm going to a moving party, playing mah jongg, and participating in an interview about funny women. If it's as cool as it sounds, I'll tell you all about it.

Listening to: "On the Sunny Side of the Street"

Whoa. I begin to realize that I'm not just blogging for me. I love being part of the online crafting community! Valerie asked that my "Way Too Many Projects" section be converted to something clickable. I put it off because it seemed like a real time commitment. It wasn't. But I had to think it through. So feel free to click away, kids!

I sat in the window this morning and sewed on the binding for "On the Riverbank," below. You can see I'm almost halfway done. I provided a pic of the front, because it's honestly more interesting. And during another "Escape From the House," I went to see "House Bunny." As the socks are doable without any attention (PLEASE don't say boring--I'm trying not to think it... Oh, now you've done it), I knitted through the flicker. It was just what I had hoped: innocently crass and even a little charming. So I've completed the gusset on sock #2. (Click for the definition of a gusset) So I'll call 'em 60% done on my ravelry page.

And here's the first pic of Sleeves Without a Sweater. Okay, Sleeve Without a Sweater. It's pretty basic: stockinette in the round until the last six rows where I'll put some ribbing.

Liberty Bears got a little attention, too. I added some backstitching to the bears. All that's left is the numbers and finishing. I think I may finish it soft. What I mean is that I'll make it into a mini-quilt for the wall. Border, back, binding, and some kind of stiff batting to help it keep its shape. I'm thinking of sewing two little rings on the back for hanging it up. Has anyone done that? I'd appreciate any tips on the subject.

Rabbithole Thoughts

Today I HAD to get out of the house. You know how it is: three people, summer heat, not enough sleep between them... So I was sitting in Daily's, a little "healthy" fast food restaurant in La Jolla, with my Big Bag of Activities*. I chose the Girl Scout vest and got to work. That made what could have been a difficult morning into a pleasantly amusing one. (I got to people-watch at the same time!)
This is my take-along sewing kit. I made it from a Ver-Mints box (ginger variety) and some scraps from current projects. I just glued the docorations on and a magnet to the inside lid. The scrap of fabric inside is stored on top of the scissors to keep it away from the magnet.
I've been quilting like a fiend (note to self: find out if fiends really quilt) and finding out that it's really a good bicep workout. All three quilts now have the binding attached and ready to be sewn down.
Here's a close-up of my deliberate meander quilting style.
And I've taken to making Continuous Bias Binding, following the instructions from buzzville. I've heard that bias binding is preferable to non-bias because it wears better. Whatever. Once I have it ironed in half, I don't want to have to iron it again later or get it tangled, so I roll it up on a TP tube. Works great. I still have one roll left to go.
Then it stays neat as I sew it down. See how it works as I'm attaching the binding to "Home Sweet Home".
*Current inventory of the Big Bag of Activities: one quilt that needs binding sewn down, multicolored sock project, the Red Thread sampler, snacks, hand wipes, one copy of Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine, and one pink Bible. It's kinda like a toddler's busy bag.