Foster Kitten Friday - Taking Notes

Knowing I write about foster kitties on Fridays I spend my week taking notes on the babes so I have something to say. My weeks with solo Hans Solo are no different. Notes about his progress and about things we've done. Comparisons to other foster kitties who have come before him. But some weeks - like this one - those notes wind up being worthless.

On Monday, I was ready to make a video of the little guy. It was going to be of him climbing from his playpen and using a bridge to get to the couch. It was going to be just like my favorite video I've made of kittens, this one of the Yellowstone Crew:

But Hans Solo had another idea. He thought it best to sprint up the pen and run. Run fast like a cheetah. So fast I couldn't even capture the cuteness of him making his way across the bridge. Toss away those notes.

On Tuesday, I was ready to make sure I got plenty of pictures of him playing with toys. He was somewhat cooperative. Wrestling pictures? Check. We'll keep those notes. Playing with the wand toy pictures? The boy was too fast there, too.

Wednesday I thought I'd be able to share how much he loves the couch. How it's his favorite place to play and how I would soon be introducing him to the big playpen called the living room floor. Was he on the couch? For a brief moment.

Until he decided he should find out more about the air cast boot that lives on my foot. Yep, he decided he would get himself to the floor all by himself with no introduction needed from me. He's found the floor (and every single corner and nook and cranny) and thinks he owns it. Toss those couch notes out the window.

After Wednesday's not-on-the-couch adventures, I thought on Thursday we'd have some great things to share about his floor time. How it would be a couple days before he could get onto the furniture by himself. Uh...no. I don't know who was more surprised when this little face popped up from the side of my chair. Goodbye, draft Thursday notes.

But why did he choose my chair to climb into first? Kinda obvious, right? Not really...

On Friday, I found out there was more to the story. It wasn't me he was after. It was my notes!

Little Mr. Nosy had to get his nose into some of my other business on Friday, too. A pattern I'm writing for a quilt shop is in the works. 

Guess he's taking notes on me now.

Foster Kitten Friday - Milestones

It was a little over six months ago when the Duck Tales Gang - Huey, Dewey, and Louie - had started out with a good week. They were hitting some milestones like moving into the pop ups and getting big enough for supervised play on the couch. But the fun ended when they were found to have ringworm and had to be isolated for the next several weeks. And I learned all about foster home biosecurity. 

It was also the week I was bragging about my Etsy shop taking off with me having sewn (and sold) 800 vaccination card holders. With my sales now approaching 4,000 I am reminded how much things change. And how much they remain the same.

Mr. Hans Solo/Mr. Milestone, what a guy you are becoming. For those who don't know, when he came into Simply Cats just three weeks ago he was cold, dirty, underweight, dehydrated, with low blood sugar and infected eyes. 

Poor Hans Solo 3 weeks ago.
Photo credit: Simply Cats

Two of his siblings were with me, but despite all our efforts – medications, IVs, tube feedings, glucose, and an incubator - they were so sick they didn’t make it. But by some miracle Hans Solo did.

With him being so much smaller than he should have been, the developmental milestones you would expect from a kitten were a bit off. But boy, the boy is making up for it now. This week was an exciting one for the little fella.

He learned the ways of Spiderman and climbed out of the pop up pens. 

He also learned he has one entire room of the tent devoted to a litter box. Let me tell ya, the boy knows how to use it.  (I'll spare you that picture.)

He got his first crack at supervised play on the couch. He learned how to be a mountain goat, climbing up and down the cushions.

He also practiced being a race horse, running back and forth from end to end. He then, of course, had to strut to show us what a beautiful breed he was.

He even found time to be a flamingo. Or maybe an ostrich?

Wait, this isn't sand?!

This is the week he started transitioning from formula to gruel. It's a mixture of jarred baby food, canned cat food, and kitten formula and gets him ready for real cat food. Gruel needs to be introduced slowly so his system has a chance to get used to the new stuff. But it can sometimes be confusing going back and forth between the two.

What? This was straight formula?
Look at the mess you made me make!

And now you're making me messy with gruel?
I'm so confused!

Fine, I'll use my own tongue to clean it up!

Delayed milestones? No need to worry about this dude!

See my beautiful paws? Don't you just want to take me home?
Can't have me yet. But soon, I promise.

Quick and Easy Mitered Binding - Tutorial Tuesday

For today's Tutorial Tuesday we'll be learning a simple technique for mitering corners when sewing and quilting. Sure, you can purchase a mitering tool like this one, but if you prefer the DIY method, here's the way I've been doing it when doing the fold-over binding method.

Note: For this example, 1" of my backing is showing so I'm marking 1" from the corner. If the backing is 2" I would measure 2", if 3" of the backing was showing I would measure 3" from the corner, etc.

•Measure 1” away from each corner and mark. Draw a straight line to connect the marks. Cut on the line.

•Fold the raw edge corner over the corner of the batting and front fabric. Press. 

•Fold one of the sides so the raw edge of the fabric meets the raw edge of the batting and press. 

•Fold the backing over one more time so it becomes the binding on the front. Press.

•Fold the other side in so the raw edge of the fabric meets the raw edge of the batting and press. 

•Fold the backing fabric over one more time on one side and press. Adjust your corner as needed.

That's it. Easy peasy!

Make Your Own Fabric Christmas Light Bulb Bunting - A Quick and Easy DIY Garland Project

Today we're making another garland, a Christmas light bulb one! It's another quick and easy handmade sewing project to get your home ready for the Christmas holiday. This bunting is great way to decorate your tree, mantel, wall, or anywhere else in your home you'd like to add a pop of color. You could even use the Christmas lights as handmade Christmas tree ornaments! This DIY holiday sewing project is a great one for beginners, too. 

For this project you will need:

• fabric for the light bulbs

• fabric for the light bulb tops

• cotton batting

• jute or twine

• fabric clips or pins

• iron 

• printable light bulb template from pattern

• pinking shears or pinking blade

• sewing machine and matching thread

• always helpful for sewing: scissors, rotary cutter, cutting ruler, cutting mat 

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Click to get your copy of the pattern today!

The written pattern contains step-by-step how-to directions, photos, light bulb template, and link to the video tutorial to make a 8’-9’ long bunting with 20-24 fabric Christmas light bulbs each measuring approximately 2½" x 4".  It's an instant digital download pattern so you can start on your project right away.

Looking for a different holiday bunting? Check out some of my others!

Looking for more fun Christmas projects?

Check out some of the other patterns and tutorials in my Etsy shop, DebsDaysDesigns!

Or just hang with us as we make the Christmas light bulb bunting:

Make a Cute Snowman Potholder for Christmas - An Appliquéd and Quilted Kitchen Sewing Project

Make your holiday and winter baking feel more festive by making your very own cute snowman potholder, hot pad, or trivet with today's step-by-step tutorial. It's a fun project for your Christmas kitchen decor, and since it's a snowman you can continue to use him for your baking and cooking throughout the winter. We're both appliquéing and quilting with this sewing project.

For this project you will need:

• fabric scraps for the applique
• fabric for the front and back
• cotton batting or Insul-Bright
• paper-backed fusible web like HeatnBond light
• pencil
• fabric clips or pins
• iron
• sewing machine and matching thread
• basting spray or powder
• scissors, rotary cutter, cutting mat, cutting ruler
• optional: walking foot or free motion foot, tear away stabilizer
• snowman templates from pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Click to get your copy of the pattern today!

The written pattern contains step-by-step how-to directions, photos, link to the video tutorial, and the printable snowman template to make a potholder, trivet, or hot pad measuring approximately 9" x 9". Instructions for an optional hanging loop included.

Looking for more potholders, hot pads, and trivets? Check out some of my other project patterns available

Otherwise, watch as we make the snowman potholder:

Make a Fabric Pinwheel Christmas Tree Ornament - A No-Sew DIY Holiday Project

If you're looking for unique handmade Christmas tree ornament sewing or crafting project ideas, check out this fabric pinwheel Christmas tree ornament project and tutorial. Learn how to make your own homemade pinwheel fabric tree decoration with fusible fleece and hot glue. It's an easy (and cute) DIY no-sew Christmas tree ornament holiday project you can make in minutes!

For this project you will need:

• fabric 
• fusible fleece
• button
• ribbon
• hot glue
• marking pencil
• iron and ironing surface
• scissors or rotary cutter, cutting ruler, and cutting mat
• printable pinwheel template from the pattern
• optional pinking shears or pinking blade

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Click to get your copy of the pattern today!

The written pattern contains step-by-step how-to directions, photos, pinwheel cutting template, and link to the video tutorial to make a 6" fabric pinwheel Christmas tree ornament. It's an instant digital download pattern so you can start on your project right away.

Looking for more fun Christmas projects?

Check out some of my other patterns and tutorials!

Or just hang out with us as we make the pinwheel tree decoration:

Foster Kitten Friday - The Holiday Dilemma

It was exactly three years ago on this date when we were boarding the Grand Princess cruise ship to finish off our very long year of travel. Knowing we'd be arriving back home on Christmas Eve we decided to skip putting up a Christmas tree.

Two years ago there was no tree because we were finishing up yet another big trip in December. Then last Christmas? We had the Wild West Gang, and with Mama Kate and four little kitties who would have too much fun with a tree, we skipped it yet again.

So this was going to be the year of the Christmas tree.

Until my three teeny tiny sick foster kitties showed up. Unfortunately two didn't make it, but one did. And this week I almost got a number two! A potential mama cat to adopt an in-need-of-a-mama baby. She was beautiful and sweet and loving. To me, at least.

Such a beauty!

But to little Hans Solo? She hissed. And hissed. And swatted at him. And hissed again. Even with the gradual introduction techniques we found nothing but hissing and swatting. So our household went back to just the solo Hans Solo. And we had a holiday dilemma. 

Christmas tree or no Christmas tree?

Well, the space where a tree should be right now has a little baby kitten who is exploring his own two room tent. (It's really two pop up pens I've connected together.) 

Let a kitten go camping or put up a Christmas tree? 
It was an easy decision this year.

After struggling to get healthy, little Hans Solo is on his way to being a big strong boy. He's already trying to find a way to make a prison break.

So if I chew through these clips I can 
get out, right?

He runs from pen to pen, back and forth and back and forth. It's so exciting to see him get those little legs moving. When he can't run anymore, he picks a place to curl up - or spread out - and sleep.

Yes, I can sleep anywhere. No need to be jealous.

Not surprisingly he even seems to think a lap is a good place to plant himself for a little nap, too. 

Yawwnn...

It's not all sleeping and running for him, either. Playing with toys? He's working on it.

Learning to balance on my back legs is hard!

Even without a cat mama and just a human mama, he's learning to clean himself.

Remind me what I'm supposed to do with my tongue?

Clean the blanket? No?

I remember now. I'm supposed to clean myself!

From where he started to where he is now, this foster parent couldn't be more proud of him. 

I, Hans Solo, designate today as Show-Off-My-Belly Day.

I'm happy to say he's the only Christmas decoration I need.

I definitely deserve to be someone's present this year.
Tree or no tree.