The robot monkey quilt is done!

I'm glad to have finally finished my first "real" quilt.  Unfortunately there were many errors, but it ended up pretty nice and helped me get a little better.  At least I'm learning some things NOT to do. :)

For example, machine bind the quilt and let the seam show unless you're going to get it professionally done.  Hand sewing thousands of stitches, taking a week to do, when you're the worst hand sewer on the planet is probably not the way to go.  Still, it made for an interesting groove/texture thing on the back (at least that's what I tell myself).

Soooooo many stitches

I didn't take any photos of the squares before I sewed them into rows, and then the rows together, but here's a picture as I was preparing to sew on the border:

As you can see, there were already many imperfections and poorly matched seams.  I swear I tried to do better!

Finally it was time to add the padding and the back.  Here it is getting pinned down and ready for quilting:

And here's my work station as I was quilting.  Not perfect, but it's all I've got. :)

And here's where I found out that though my machine is nice for embroidery and great for regular sewing tasks, it's not so hot for quilting.  I barely had room to pass a baby quilt through that small arm. A full sized quilt will be a struggle, if not impossible.

Because I had so many problems with lining up the rows, I ended up only doing horizontal stitching in the ditch.  Not exciting nor interesting, but it worked.  I also didn't have a walking foot so I think my options were pretty limited (hey, I'm still learning).  I was also running out of time as my broken machine had set me back a few weeks.

Finally it was time to add the binding.  I ended up cheating here and buying pre-cut and folded blanket binding.  I was lucky to find just the right color.  I followed the binding instructions in the beginning quilting book only to realize those instructions hated me. :) I machine sewed the binding to the front and then hand sewed the back.  Ugh.  It looked strange because I'm so bad at hand sewing and it took ages to do.  But, when it was done, I was finally done.  Yay!

Here it is complete.  I hope my friends like it!

Filter Fiasco

I should probably include a fish update.

Things aren't going as smoothly as I would have liked.  I originally planned for the 20g upstairs to host the freshwater fish in the house.  I was mostly planning on Emerald Catfish (we have 4) with something else in there with a little more pizazz.  I put in a sand substrate as that is absolutely ideal for catfish and, as predicted, they freaking love it.

The downstairs fish tank would be brackish and would home the sailfin molly and more of his kind, as well as a few bumblebee gobies.  They also have sand.

SIX filters later...

The sand is killing the HOB filters I put upstairs and filters are too damn expensive to be gone through like this. I had invested in a canister filter for the bigger tank downstairs but I have yet, after two canisters, to get it to work.  It is infuriating!

So I have decided, once I can finally get the canister to work downstairs, to move the catfish and all the sand to the downstairs, now freshwater, tank.  The upstairs tank will be brackish with a few mollies and a rock substrate.  Hopefully the canister will work better with the sand and the rock upstairs will finally make the HOBs happier.  Of course this means more time and money to accomplish, which just gets me angrier, but hopefully better results are on the horizon.

I just need to get that damn canister working...

Update!

Unfortunately, I spent the last two weeks with a family suffering from the stomach flu.  Mine alone lasted seven days.  Ugh.  However, I'm feeling much better now!  Of course that means I am extremely behind on my projects with two that are very pressing.  I finally started feeling normal on Sunday and so Sunday night was spent finally quilting the quilt.   Today I'm dipping my toes into the scary, confusing and unknown waters that are "binding" and hopefully tomorrow night, after more hand sewing, I'll finally complete the quilt.   I'll have photos of the quilt process once it's finished and sent.

And after that...hair jewelry!

Spring Bows!

Here are some of the bows I've been working on for a show on Friday (thanks Rebecca!).  They still need a little work and to be attached to clips.  Hopefully I'll be able to finish the princess bows this evening.

Double boutique with spikes

Double ruffle boutique

Single boutique

Removable layer bows with headband

Close up of the pink/green layer bow

Close up of the red/black layer bow

Double boutique

Double boutique with spikes

Sewing machine update

Well, the machine shop has gotten back to me and basically the bobbin case needs filing down, the needle placement fixed and everything reseated.  It'll be done this afternoon and is embarrassingly expensive.  *sigh*

At least I can get back to this quilt this weekend!

FW tank has finally cycled!

Well, just when I was starting to lose hope, the 20g freshwater tank has completed it's cycle.  I waited a couple days to make sure ammonia would cycle within 24 hours and then went out to get some fish.  On Wednesday, George, Dora and Boots (*sigh*), all Emerald Catfish, joined Mr. Cat in the big tank.  There was much rejoicing.  Unfortunately my second Aqua-Tech filter decided to almost explode (I'm guessing from the sand the cats were churning up) so I switched it with the Aqua-Tech filter from the BW tank that's still cycling downstairs. By yesterday morning that filter was toast as well.  I'm very frustrated but glad that the retailer would take them back.  This morning I exchanged one of the filters for my 4th (and LAST...this is where I draw the line) Aqua-Tech filter.  This time I shoved a piece of sponge on the intake tube in an attempt to keep out the sand.  We'll see if it works.  Unfortunately I have to stick with this filter until I can get something else in there to keep the nitrifying bacteria alive.

The FW tank, ready for fish!

Emerald Catfish (not mine).  They might look ugly but they are awesome.

As for the BW tank that had donated it's filter to the cause, I'm afraid it's cycle will at best be stalled and at worst be lost and I'll have to start it all up again once I get a permanent filter for it.  That's another month gone.  I've actually ordered a canister filter for it, and just need to wait until it arrives to get going again. Seriously, if anyone needs pet supplies, buy them from drsfostersmith.com...they're AWESOME. For example, I ordered a number of things on a Thursday night and they delivered them on a SATURDAY.  FEDEX.  NO ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS.  Awesome.

Anyway, in about a week I'll start purchasing a school of tetras, probably Long Fin Red Minor Tetras.  I think I'll be getting about six, but will start with three so that the bacteria can adjust to the bioload.  A week after that I'll get the last of the tetras and hopefully will FINALLY be done with that tank, minus regular maintenance.

I reserve the right to change my mind about the tetras at the last minute.  :)

Long Fin Minor Tetra

My only other concern is that one of the emerald's is acting insanely.  He is constantly darting up and down the tank walls and won't school.  As much as I would hate to do it, I might have to bring him back to the store tomorrow. 

Mr. Black is still not doing well.  I've been treating him for about two weeks for what I think is constipation and/or swim bladder disease.  He's been a sickness magnet.  I really need to get him in proper conditions.  Anyway, he spends most of his time in the hospital tank either lying on the bottom of the tank, or hovering near the top looking like an apostrophe.  He's certainly gotten better but, to be honest, he's either dying or the saddest fish on the planet.  After two weeks of forcing him to eat peas and have epsom salt baths, on top of the daily water changes, I have made the decision to put him in with the emerald cats.  I don't think what he has is contagious (Mr. Cat has been fine) and if there's any hope for him at this point, it's in a well heated, fully cycled, appropriately sized tank.  And now that I might have to restart the cycle on his future home, it's probably for the best.  Of course if he is suffering greatly in the FW tank, I'll put him back in the hospital tank and hope he does better in his BW tank, once it's ready.  He's is currently going through a gentle acclimation process and in a couple hours I'll put him in the tank and see how he does.  I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that this will be good for him.

New bow style

Here's a new style of bow I've been working on, the "Twisted Boutique".  These are just my first attempts at the style, and they are far from perfect.  Still, I think they have a little more personality than a "regular" bow.