Naughty Sparkie

Hi all,  today is the big day.....we go to the VET again.   I hope the needle is not too big and that the shots don't hurt too much.  Mom says we leave soon and I have to get in my little red carrier.  I think I will jump around inside and hang  upside down from the top of the carrier like last time.  It makes mom all worried when I carry on like that.
I played a good trick on mom last night.  When her friend went out the back door I sneaked OUTSIDE  to  have a look around.  She says I can't go outside, that I am too little.  Maybe a coyote will eat me up....I wonder what is a coyote??  I am still pretty little, but when the VET weighs me today, maybe I will have gained a couple pounds.  Mom says I am getting bigger....my legs are getting longer and my body is longer too.  I  think I have gained a half pound by now.
Mom is going to the airport after we see the VET....she is going to pick up a  couple of quilting friends.  One is a famous author, Freddy Moran, and the other one of her customers.  It is exciting because she has never met her customer Molly from Illinois.  Freddy will be teaching this weekend at  Aunt Mary's Quilt shop.  I guess I better start thinking of hiding so I don't have to go in my little carrier.  Mom has to eat breakfast and off we go.  I would rather go to the airport.  I wonder where I could go....Someplace warm and sunny, as I am getting tired of the foggy cool mornings.  It is a good thing I didn't have to stay outside all night long.  It has been pretty cold at night lately.
I hope you all have a great day, and I will report on my big visit to the VET next time.   Love, from Sparkie!

 Mom's  friend Molly's quilt.  It will be so much fun to meet her today.

 Gosh, what a cute kitten.   Look how tiny I am.

 Mom saw spiderwebs one morning at took this picture.  Spider webs are so amazing. I like to chase spiders...I can run really fast and catch them!

Dazzling Dahlia quilt from MQX...
by Andrea Brokenshire....so  beautifully done.

Notes from Sparkie

Hi all my kitty fans!
I have had such a time lately.  Mom has been gone to  a quilt show at the Museum for 4 days and left me all alone all day.  When she got home I had to run around like a  cannonball.   I had to climb up her leg...one of my favorite things to do, and climb up the quilts on the quilt ladder.  I got all the way to the top before the quilt slid off and I fell to the big pile of quilts on the couch near-by.  Mom was not too happy about that adventure.  Yesterday I tried to climb up to the window sill, but the blinds were in the way, so I was hanging by my toenails to the window sill until I finally fell down.  Being a kitten is such hard work, but around here there are so many interesting things to peak my curiosity. 
I found a great little piece of cardboard from the mail package....boy, it that fun to play with.  And mom's pony tail scrunchies are really fun too.  I have found 2 of them, and they are like soft little hockey pucks that I can speed around the wood floor.
Yesterday mom weighed me and I finally reached two pounds.  She was able to put the flea medicine on that the VET gave her.  And now she is  talking about another visit to that VET for more shots.  I hope that needle is smaller than the last time.  I wonder how many more visits to the VET for shots I will have.
I spent this morning snuggled under mom's chin purring in her ear....she loves that.  I have her fooled.  I get all snuggly, and then I run around like crazy getting into all kinds of things.   How can she get mad at such a cute and snuggly kitty? 
Well, mom will have to write about her MQX adventures in the next blog.  I will try to post some more pictures this morning.  I couldn't get anything to work last time I tried.  Mom is going to feed the fish on her way to the studio....I have not yet been outside....I am sure there are plenty of things to entertain me out there.  I hope you all have fun with your cats and dogs today.   We love to make you happy and entertained.  Love   from  Sparkie.

 These are some shots of of the quilt I did of my dad and nephew.  My nephew is over 40 years old now. I entered this quilt in the La Conner show.  It was my first attempt at a person type pictorial.  I used the photo because I wanted it to look really "real".  It took me about 6 months to make this quilt.....of course, it had been started several times over the last 15 years!  I am going to do one of my mom next.

 Who is that cute kitty?  She looks like she if full of mischief to me.

 I took a very fun class, actually two, from Claudia Pfeil of Germany.   She was loads of fun, and had some great ideas and gave me lots of inspiration to try some new things. 

This is one of Claudia's samples....the paisley above she did in class and attached the little mirror with the long-arm.  I love taking classes and getting some new ideas, or getting the inspiration to find the time to try things that have been rolling around in my head for a long time.  You are never too old to learn.

Oh, the most exciting thing was that I got a 3rd place ribbon at the MQX show.   I was especially thrilled since I am probably one of the oldest long-armers still at it, and have a 16 year old Gammill with no stitch regulator.   There is always hope!  I thought it was fun to win over lots of those fancy computerized machines!

Fun and Inspiration at the La Conner Quiltfestival 2013

Hi everyone.....while Sparkie takes a break, I will fill you in on the Quiltfestival at La Conner.....what inspirational quilts there were.  Kathy McNeill was the Best of Show winner with another of her beautiful pictorial quilts.  There were so many other great ones...I especially loved one from Iowa that was pieced and appliqued on top of an antique quilt.....big, wonderful cornstalks with leaves all around and buttons galore.
There was a great chicken, and underwater scene, and many others that made my creative brain spin!
The weather was great, which made walking around town fun, too. 
I worked all day Wed. thru Saturday......had to get the vendors set up, and then make sure they got their breaks.
Oh, did I mention the garments that were so wonderful, especially the one with the New York city skyline and prairie points small than my baby fingernail!  An artist from Holland entered a few that were appliqued....WOW, is all I can say. 
Sadly pictures were not allowed, so you will have to send for a DVD....you can find it on the Museum website.  Then you can be inspired, too.
Sparkie did pretty well with me being gone so much, but  I did miss her, and she was happy to see me everyday when I got home.  Oh, Oh,   the VET again next week.....maybe they can clip those razor sharp little toenails she has.
I hope you will all be inspired to quilt something new and exciting, too.   Judy
Since I can't post pictures of the La Conner show I will post some of the MQX show.....another awe-inspiring show with unbelievably beautiful quilts.

Well, after about 10 tries to insert image.....the computer keeps giving me a message that won't allow pix to load....will have to try again tomorrow....makes for a dull blog!  Judy

A Visit to the VET

Good morning kitty fans!   Well, I finally have to tell you that I learned what that VET thing was all about.  Mom got up early today and  put me in  that little red house with the screens all around.  Then she zipped up one end and locked me in!!   I was stuck in that thing......out the door and into that big, black, noisy car.  Gosh it was scarey.   I think it needs a new muffler as it was so noisy and every time we went over a bump my little red house would bounce up and down....how scarey is that for a tiny kitty??  Mom kept talking to me so I wouldn't be afraid, but it was still scarey.  Finally we got to the VET and mom took me out of the noisy car and into the VET....we sat and waited a few minutes until the VET's helper came and took me away into the back room.  Mom didn't come, but I pretended to be brave and went with him.  I could always scratch him with my teeny little needle claws if I had to. 
They said I weighed 1.3 pounds...what does that mean?   Gosh, that does not sound like much to me...mom said I like to eat way too much, so  I hope she keeps my kibble dish nice and full.  The VET gave me something called a shot.....it didn't hurt too much....they checked me out and thought I wasn't quite as old as mom thought.  The VET said I looked good, but, then, I knew that.  I am sooooo cute.   Mom was happy to hear that, and made another date for the VET next month....oh, nooooo......do I have to go back there again??
The Vet said I might not feel well after the shot.......I did pretty well for awhile when I got home, but pretty soon I got a fever and just wanted to cuddle up under mom's chin and rest.  Mom was so worried that I was sick....but by next morning I was my usual rowdy self.
 I have been keeping busy since then  running around the house, up and down dad's big chair by that computer, and  playing on the bed at night when they are trying to sleep.  Even though I am naughty sometimes, they love me and tell me how cute I am.  I gotta make the best of this now, cuz when I am older I don't think I will be so cute, and will not play and do all those cute tricks I can do now!
Today mom has to get busy on a quilt with a VW on it.  Later this week she has to work at the big quilt show in La Conner.  I won't get to see her much while she is working there.  I will have to think up some cute new tricks to show her while she is away working.
I hope you will check in on me later this week to see what I am doing.  I hope you have fun today climbing up the backs of chairs and jumping off the footstool, too.   I can jump about 3 feet....maybe I will  join the circus when I get older.  I could work on the trapeze!   Have a fun day....Sparkie

 See, aren't I cute???

 Mom is teaching me how to use the computer so I can blog!

WE tried a lava cake recipe...ooooohhhhh, soooo good....I love chocolate.

More notes from Sparkie

Hi kitty lovers.....Well today I met some of my aunts.   Janet came over to see how cute I was.  She is a great knitter, and I hope I looked cute enough to have her knit me some cute mittens for the winter.  She made my mom some socks, but I think mittens would work better for  kittens!  Then Aunt Opal came by too.   She is a great photographer.  She took some  pictures of me, which she put  on Flickr.....lots of people thought I was soooo cute.   Aunt Arlene, our neighbor came by, too, and she was impressed with my cute little face.  It is a good thing, since   she will be  feeding   me whenever mom and dad  go away.  
Mom got me a strange looking little red house, with screens on the sides and front.  She says it will be fun to ride in when I go to the VET....I am still not sure about this VET thing.  I am pretty little to go in the car for a ride in that strange little red house.  She even put kibble inside to  get me to try it out.   The kibble is good, but I am not sure I  am going to fall for her   tricks!
Mom finished some more quilts and went to the Post Office.  She leaves me in the house and I cuddle up under her big quilt  in the recliner  and take a nap till she comes in for lunch.  Today I hid on her, and when she came in she couldn't find me right away.  I finally jumped out and surprised her.  She didn't think it was very funny, because she was worried  that I was lost or maybe sick.  She needs to lighten up a bit!
Well tomorrow I will let you know how my ride to the VET went in that funny little red house.  Mom will be working on a T shirt quilt, so I will get a big, long nap.  She finished Freddy's modern looking quilt today, too.  Freddy's quilts are so colorful.  I like all those bright, happy colors. I think mom should make a quilt for me.....maybe with mice and birds on it. 
Well, it is getting close to my bedtime, and I have to get ready to jump around on the bed and annoy mom and dad.  Sometimes I crawl under the covers and tickle mom. 
I hope you all  have a great night's sleep tonite, too.    Sparkie

P.S.   I cannot get my picture to work tonite on the computer.   I will post some pictures tomorrow.

A Note From Sparkie

Hi  kitten lovers!
My name is Sparkie, and I have  recently been adopted by my new mom and dad, Ken and Judy.  I was the perfect choice, even though they thought another black cat would be perfect.  When Judy came in to look at the kittens  in my house, she picked me right up....I guess it was the beautiful sparkly eyes that spoke to her!  They were blue last week, but I think they are changing a little more to green, just like the sparkly green eyes that were in her cat dream last month!
I had to stay with my other family till Tuesday night when "mom" got home from Whidbey Island.   They already had my new litter box and food dish, food and such necessary items.  I just looked so cute, they couldn't help but love me right off, and I felt right at home from when first got to their house.
I didn't hide under the couch or try to play hard to get at all. 
I  chased toys, ran around looking cute, and  ate out of my new bowl and used my litter box without any coaching at all.  Of course mom had to mash up my kibble a little bit.  Even for kitten food it was pretty big,  so I guess she figured it needed tinier pieces.  Meow Mix, my favorite.
The first night was pretty good...I guess mom was afraid she would roll over on me in bed, so she got up about 1 am and slept in her recliner with me right on her tummy and snuggled under her chin.  The next night I slept in the recliner all by myself, snuggled up in  a great big quilt.
Of course the next day I had to be as cute as possible so she would really love me and  give me lots of kisses and hold me whenever she could. I love to climb up her jeans leg and try to see what is cooking in the kitchen.  I even tried to climb up the drawer pulls, and made it up to the third one. 
I love to follow their big feet around the house and jump out to scare them!  Climbing onto their lap when they are busy is great fun, too.
I love my kibble, so mom will have to watch that I don't get too fat like my cousin Obie...he is 25 pounds...yikes.   I don't want to have to on the treadmill or give up my kibble allowance.
I love to play with my toys, and even use my scratching post.  Mom thinks I am pretty smart and brags about me all the time.  Right now I am climbing up her leg to take a quick nap on her lap while she is  helping me type this blog.  What is a blog, anyway??
I will have to learn how to be more technically literate in the 21st century.  Being a cat used to be so simple....just eat, play, look cute, and sleep.  Now I have to know how to do the keyboard and write blogs.
This morning I woke mom up  early trying to crawl under her chin and into her hands.....she gave up and sat in her recliner.  I guess I better stop for now, and let her give me some hugs.  I know she has to go back to work, and I will take a nap in her chair all snuggled up in my quilt.   She says I have to go to something called a VET.....I wonder what that is.  I hope they have   toys and treats.   with love, Sparkie

QUILTERS ON THE ROCK.....ROCK!

Hi all....well, another fabulous group of gals at the Quilters on the Rock guild  with a trunk show and class made for a fabulous two days on Whidbey Island.
I stayed with a great gal, Dorothy, who was just about the best handquilter I have ever seen.  It makes we wish I could hand quilt, but it just makes me so frustrated.  All I see is a big blank quilt in front of me, with miles of handquilting to go.  They have a great guild, and it was nice to see a few gals I already knew from here and there!
While at Dorothy's I met her cute and cuddly Corgi dog, Maggie.  She was smart as a whip, and minded so well....Maggie, go to your room!   And off she went.  Her husband, Bill, makes great airplanes out of pop cans, and they are so realistic.  Hobbies are so wonderful, and I often wonder how people live without at least one hobby!  
Tuesday we had class where we did three different projects:  fabric weaving, machine quilting, and the lone star.   We got so busy I even forgot to take pictures...but I am hoping they will send me pictures that I can post.  Near the end, one very funky Halloween quilt began to emerge into a great lone star.  There were some great samples of machine quilting  and  woven quilts that will be fabulous when finished.  I am so looking forward to seeing pictures of the finished projects.  It was just too much fun.  I love to teach and teaching 3 at a time is all the more fun.
The La Conner Quiltfest is drawing close in just a couple weeks, and I also have to get my quilts shipped to MQX for their show coming up in early October. Lots to do with quilting my customer quilts, too.  I have some really fun ones lately, but I think all the quilts I get are quite spectacular. and I enjoy quilting on every one of them. 
This Saturday we have our class for Gathering Fabric at the Woodinville Grange.  It will be fun as we have had a few gals gone for vacation and such, so it will be like a reunion again!
My last class at Pacific Fabrics, Northgate, was great too.  Nine gals including one junior high gal who did magnificent machine quilting.  I got a nice note from my young gal's mom...it seems like she was really taken by machine quilting.  We really have to get those young gals into the quilting world.
We had two smashing thunder storms recently, and they were LOUD and magnificent....a great sound and light show.  I miss thunder storms so much.
Well, kitty girl....Sparkie is so much fun.  I had forgotten how cute kittens can be.  I think I should have named her funny girl.
Well, my lunch break  has been long enough, I better close for now and get back to the machine....have a great day.  Judy

 Freddy's newest project...a table runner....so cheery.  We love Freddy's happy quilts.

 Sparkie sitting on the arm of my chair.  She gets her kitten shots this Wednesday.

 Opal took this great picture with her fancy camera.   Sparkie is playing with my toes right now!

Another lone star I am working on.  My ode to the more modern quilt look!

Quilt Camp at Barb's...my sis-in-law's.  We sewed in her dining room....what fun!