What's up?

Greetings friends! Surprise, here I am.  Hope you're doing well.  It seems like nothing much is new here, and maybe the boring everyday things aren't interesting enough to share. Who tunes into read about how I drank coffee like I didn't drink coffee every day (or just about) since the last time I drank coffee. And in all the years since 2006 when I started this blog. 

  

 

Ok, sure that coffee photo is from last year during summer. That plant isn't blooming yet.  But the days are warming up and the branches are getting all their leaves so hopefully it won't be long.  I know so many people are just getting spring time weather right now, but we're already having days in the nineties, so it's basically summer to me. Chris, on hot days you know I'm thinking about you!

Some things are new to me.  A month or so ago I started helping out over at the Quilt Show Store taking photos of incoming goods.  So many pretty things, it's a little like working in a brick and mortar shop again.  This was just a little corner of the table of things I took pictures of recently.  It's nice to get out of the house and see people even though  most of the work takes place here at home on the computer.  The extra bonus is having a little more structure in my day to day, which has led to a tiny bit more productivity in the rest of my life.  But just a tiny bit. 

Mostly people follow along on instagram, and I haven't been too good with that either.  But I posted this photo a while ago, kind of a teaser at the time.  But now it's finally coming around to being able to talk about it.  Pat Sloan asked if I'd like to participate in her Table Topper Book Tour and of course I said yes!  One of the best things for me is working on things like this.  Plus the runner I made is cute, so bonus.  You can check out Pat's Instagram post about it here, and see all the sneak peeks. 

Glad I hopped on over here today to catch up.  I have to reteach myself how to use blogger each time when it's been so long between posts, My last post was my little box tutorial a bit more than a year ago.  Looking at the post it seems like so much longer than that though.  The new changes are nice, once you remember how to do it.  Maybe I'll be here more often, who knows.  I know I'll be back a couple of time, once for the table toppers tour, for sure.  

So anyway most of you post on instagram and I follow along there.  Your posts always make me so happy to see and read about all the things you're up to.  Many of the way-back bloggers have kids grown up and in college or graduated and there's nothing like that to show you how time has passed by.  Maybe it' an old people thing to mention but time does seem to be flying by right, even though in the moment it seems to plod along.  I hope you're all healthy and doing well. xop

How to make a little box.

Hi there friends! So a couple of DM'd me on IG to ask me if I had a pattern for my cute little box and I don't.  But trust me it's SO EASY you'll be amazed, and these not that great photos and the word salad that goes with them should be enough for you to make one too.  

Ok, here we go.  The box will measure about 7" x 4" x 4", I say about because your final box size is influenced by how well you sew, and you might sew a lot more accurately than I do, so your numbers could vary slightly.  

You'll need your basic sewing supplies, two 12" squares of fabric, one for your outer box and one for lining.  You'll need a 12" square of stabilizer, I used Shapeflex (Pellon SF101), but you probably have something laying around that will work just as well.  This fabric is regular quilt weight and it's stiff enough to suit my fancy.  I like how nice Shapeflex fuses to the fabric, I don't get that weird orange peel look that I sometimes get.  You'll also need about 28 inches of large rick rack. It takes less, but you want enough to have a nice joining area.  I pressed my fabric with a generous amount of spray starch so it's nice and crisp.

RECAP... Two 12" squares of fabric, one 12" square of stabilizer, and rick rack. Seams are 1/4 inch unless noted. 

Fuse stabilizer to outside  piece of fabric.  Fold right sides together and press, stitch side seams.  Press seams open.  Repeat with lining fabric leaving an opening on one side for turning your box right side out.  Press a crease in the bottom of  each piece.

Cut a 2" square off the bottom of each side of both your lining and outside fabric. Fold the side seam to the crease in the bottom of your piece to create one side of the  boxed bottom. Repeat on each side of the lining and outside piece. 

Turn outer fabric right side out, line rick rack up with the top of the outer  box fabric and baste in place using a 1/8 inch seam allowance. 

Insert outside box  into lining RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.  Match side seams and pin around the top.  Stitch all the way around using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Turn right side out through the opening in the lining.  Press.  Stitch the lining closed by hand or machine.  

Stuff your lining down into your box and press well.  I used a small folded towel inside the box to press the outside of the box and form nice corners.  You can fuss around with it so it looks nice and rectangular.  

I am quite happy how it turned out.  It's so much fun to make, from fabric selection (both pieces from Sunny Day Supply) to rick rack matching.  Use what you have on hand, it's  very easy  and just about anything would work.  You could leave the top plain or add a ruffle instead of rick rack.  Embellish the heck out of it.  

The best part of a fun project like this is that it's just 2 squares of fabric... if it turns out crappy you can just throw it away!!!  But it's so easy I know you can do it.  I hope this slipshod tutorial  will help you make one of these boxes or ton of them.   Thanks for indulging me.  Seriously, so fun.  

One track mind

 Hi there! I'm back at it with the boxes.  You probably already saw these on Instagram, but I love it so much I had to blog about it. I'm thinking of making a little blog tutorial, what do you think? I had some people contact me asking if it was a pattern.  It isn't, it's just something I made.  The original one that Frankie wanted was more like this.  Like I said I didn't remember making the old one at all.  

The box looks nice and stiff but it just has Pellon SF101, commonly known as Shapeflex, in it.  And just on the outside fabric.  The cat fabric is a medium weight fabric, kind of canvas like, but not quite as heavy.  You could use any kind of stabilizer you have laying around really.  

Careful pressing really gave this box it's shape.   I really starched my fabric before hand so it presses up really nice even after being manhandled when turning right side out.  

Might start on a tutorial soon, it's so easy I just made another and took a bunch of pictures.  It won't be fancy like a lot of people do these days,  but enough info to get the job done.   I love little projects like this, practically instant gratification.  I mean if you don't count in fabric selection you could make it in less than an hour.  I would even say 30 minutes if you didn't stop to admire your work so many times. 

Hope you're well friends!   

Welp, now it's May

 So how are things with you ?  Not much going on here in PamKittyVille.  I haven't felt much like sewing anything big lately, just working my way through a bunch of small fun projects.  All the little bags are from Jean at Little Mint Designs.  Super fun to make. Perfect for some hand sanitizer and maybe a lip balm.  I couldn't stop making them, this is just a few of them.  (now I've done something so that this photo isn't in the center and I can't fix it and I'm not trying anymore, sorry.  Sometimes it's just TOO MUCH.)

Frankie wanted some little baskets to organize things in her IKEA cart.  I'd made a couple for her before and she needed new ones.  I didn't actually remember making the first ones, so I tried to figure out what I'd done.  I had made some small berry baskets from Ayda's Made for Baby book, so I made a couple of those.  I have a stash of fabrics I've picked up for Frankie-stuff, and a small supply of that cute bias tape.  She brought over her old basket and I didn't remember making it at all.  Yikes.

I decided I'd make a pincushion. I know this is all old news for people who follow me on Instagram.  I haven't paper pieced in a long time, so it was a fun mini-challenge.  This is from Ayumi Mill's Patchwork Please book. I might even try the hexagon potholder if I can master enlarging on my printer.   

Also made some scrunchies.  One thing that happened this past year is that I didn't have my hair cut and colored so I have ponytail hair. (that is also half gray, weird)  This is for Frankie and it  matches a mask I made her.  

Still hanging out with this guy.  He comes daily to my yard to check in.  He's kind of a jerk but I like him ok.  I guess he doesn't want me to get too attached since he belongs to some kids down the street. I get it.  

Last week, or the week before, WHO EVEN KNOWS ANYMORE, I picked up Elizabeth from the airport and we spent the day hanging out.  She was visiting her kids and meeting her new granddaughter. What a great day.  You can see a picture of that new baby over on her instagram. I can't believe I didn't take a photo.  We're both vaccinated so it was a safe visit for both of us!  And speaking of vaccinated, I met up with my sewing friends last week and it was great.  Looking forward to more of that kind of thing now.  My people will get their second shot next week and I couldn't be happier. 

Hope things are going well for you all.  I am going to head into my sewing room and figure out how to make those larger baskets for Frankie.  I want to cross that project off my list next!  Tell me how it's going!  xop

Spring and all that.

Good morning friends!  Hope you're well. The coffee is on, and it's the season.  Did you see that Peeps and Pepsi have gotten together to "usher in the joyous, relaxing vibes of springtime". What could a Pepsi/Peep combo beverage even taste like?   You can read about it here on the Pepsi website.  Wow right?  Anyway my friend (read that as a fun guy I follow on Instagram who I don't really know) Shay Spence  wrote about it for People Magazine and you can read about it here.  Marshmallow Cola.  Wow.    

                                               

Anyway I hadn't had Peeps in ages, but my cousin Linda texted me her coffee cup with a giant Peep next to it and what else was I supposed to do? 

Spring has sprung around PamKittyVille, and although the days aren't all sunshine and blue skies it's been pretty nice.  Some really windy days, nor the rain, could ruin my pretty crabapple tree.  It looks so pink and fluffy right now I can't even stand it.

Lately Frankie has helped me with going through a bunch of stuff. Found this little charmer that I love.  I made it ages ago with a package of tiny hand cut scottie dogs that I bought from one of my favorite Pacific International Quilt Festival vendors, Quilting Cousins of Pismo Beach.  The sold them in little packets and I bought a couple (and I know that I have another one somewhere.  Hopefully not with the tailors ham I still can't find.)

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It's a small quilt, with simple borders and I used it a lot on a side table.  It was fun to see it again. I enjoyed seeing a lot of old projects.   Same with going through a lot of my old books.  Wow, the past sure has influenced the present, that's for sure!!!  

That's what's up with me.  What's up with you?  Doing anything fun?  Tell me all about it Happy Weekend!!! 

Little Camellia Pouch

Good morning friends!  Sitting here having my coffee, it's sunny out, its going to be nice weather for a few days, but the mornings are still pretty chilly.  It feels familiar to sit here with my morning coffee,  it's my old early morning routine.  

Surprise, I finished my first Little Camellia Pouch! I love it!  I think the fabrics worked, the colors in that Lori Holt fabric  ( I don't remember which collection but it's recent) has all the colors of the Kokka Message for You fabric.  I see it's sold out at Sunny Day Supply but there are some similar Kokka prints in the line still available.  

I like how the bag came together.  I wish my zipper application had been more even on the front pocket.  I don't know how I managed to get the more zipper tape showing on one side of the zipper.  But I'll make this again and see if I can't remedy that.  It doesn't ruin it for me.  I don't sew a lot on these kinds of projects so it's nice to try and then see if I can't improve on it. 

The lining is a nice finish inside.  It fits well and I was a little worried about the top stitching but it went just fine, and didn't make the lining funky like I was afraid of.  I did do a lot of careful pressing and I took my time.  The construction of the bag is very clever. 

Here's the  iron on  messages that are coordinates for this line of fabric.  Super cute right? No idea what I will choose, there are a lot of options.  I want to wait, as you cannot iron over them after application.  Mary (from Sunny Day Supply) talked about this on IG. 

I chose the lining because of the cute black and white lettering stickers.  I just think the whole line is so cute and it's such a clever idea. 

Anyway that's how I spent yesterday afternoon.  It was fun, and I have more zippers and fabric left for a couple of more pouches, including the smaller version of the Little Camellia Pouch.  I have a couple of other patterns to try out as well.  Crossing my fingers that the next projects turn out as well. Happy weekend friends.  Stay well!!! xop

February

Hi there friends!  How are you?   Keeping busy?  I haven't really been up to much lately.  I'm not making an active effort to settle down and focus on much of anything.  The weather has been gloomy and we've been settling into a little cozy lazy spell here, reading, watching tv, chit chatting with friends via DMs on Instagram.  Not beating myself up over it though.  

Yesterday I switched out my old ironing board cover.  It was so cute but had become, like so many covers before it, a gross scorched version of itself, and I had to get rid of it. I really hoped this new one  would brighten up the space and cheer me onto making stuff. (p.s. that's just starch overspray on my iron, not dust.. although maybe a little dust.)

Frankie has been asking (bugging) me for another apron for a while.  Like for months. I had made the Fat Quarter Shop Pockets and Pies apron years ago, (you can see my apron here) and she loves it and wanted another.  Pockets for your cell phone when you bop around the house to music and a towel to wipe your hands on.  Genius.  And people it's a half hour make. Anyway just our good fortune Fat Quarter Shop came out with an update to their free pattern and it encouraged me to get busy. 

Lucky I found this oyster white towel because I had the perfect Hello Kitty fabric waiting for something like this. I made it just like the pattern with the exception of the tab with the D ring so she can hook her keys to it when she goes out with the trash.  

I also managed to get started FINALLY cutting out the fabric for a Little Camellia Pouch from Little Mint Designs.  I saw plenty of cute photos of the pattern samples and I had ordered the cute Kokka fabric from Sunny Day Supply. so it was perfect timing.  It's rather an eclectic mix of fabrics that I hope works.  The white tossed alphabet will be the lining, the animal fabric is called Message for You and I liked the idea of that combined with letters. 

 

There are also stickers that coordinate with this line of fabric, little messages to put on the notes the animals are holding, can't wait to see how that works! Anyway my pieces are all cut, just need to get my stabilizer ready and get sewing.  

That's what's up here in Pamkittyville.  We are headed into a few days of nice weather in the 60s with sunshine, and I am happy for that.  Even though the ground hog said 6 more weeks we'll have a bit of a respite.  Hope you are well. xop

Sew Home in the Kitchen

Hi friends!  Just popping in to share my friend Abi's book Sew Home In the Kitchen and all the projects I made out of it.   I had so much fun!!!  This is the perfect book for new sewists, especially the younger set who might just be starting out sewing and looking for useful, pretty things to make for their homes.  Abi's book is filled with simple to make useful projects.  

The projects use simple techniques, and aren't  bogged down in complicated instructions, which I think is what holds a lot of people back.  There's that perfect mix of information and illustration to get the job done.   Right off I wanted to pull out some Valentine's Day fabric to chase away the winter blahs.  I went right to the Mug Rug, chose my 4 fabrics and had it made in an hour or so.  So cute.  Decided that was so easy I'd make something else, so I went for the Bowl Cozy.  VERY FUN.  The cozy holds a pretty good sized bowl as you can see.  The projects use Insul-Fleece  which is similar to Insul-bright.  I ordered a package but it didn't arrive  in time for my projects, so I used Insul-Bright. I'll let you know how it goes when I try it out.  

Anyway, that went so fast I decided that I'd make a pot holder, so I went right to the Hot Cook Pot Holder Set instructions to whip one out, and that became two.  Super fun, fast.  Perfect with my Valentine's Day fabric.  

I had some squares leftover and so I whipped out a couple of Trivets for Two.  So super cute and fast. Very fast.  Perfect use of little leftover pieces from the Mug Rug. 

They all looks so cute together and I have to say making them really was fun.  Bonus chance to use my cute mug from Frankie.  I love the book, it's fun, and I'm grateful to Abi for her friendship and for sending me a copy of her book.  

If you hop over to Abi's instagram  you can see other projects made by friends.  As for me, I have a cup of coffee and a  Valentine's kitchen towel waiting to be made into a Mama's Hot Rolls Towel. Hope you are well friends!  Happy Sewing!

Small projects

Hi there friends! I suppose it's a bit of a surprise to see me back here again.  What's going on with you? 

I've been working on small things waiting for my fancy zipper order to arrive. Fun.  One of the things I've been guilty of over the years is using potholders long past their expiration date.  My current potholders are burned and plain old worn out.  I'm guilty of making cute potholders then never using them because they're too cute to use.  HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT?  I'm trying to kick the 'saving it for a special occasion' mentality but it's hard.  So I found some fabric in my vast collection and made some new potholders.  

This first round one is my PamKittyPotHolder, it's a free pattern you can find along my side bar there.  It's pretty easy and I whipped up two of them in no time. The only thing I do different from the pattern is I put the pockets on at a slight angle so I don't obsess about the rick rack being just so.  I mean who needs that?  

This rectangular one is a free pattern from Amy Sinabaldi's blog Nana and Co,  called the Pretty Little Potholder, and indeed her's are very pretty. This is the second time I've made it, my pocket is one a little crooked and it's KILLING ME and I keep trying to tell myself it's just a potholder... we'll see how it works out.  I went back to the old post where I had made one. I had one that turned out great and one that was well, a failed experiment.  But in looking back for the post, I searched on "potholder" and looks like I turn to potholders when I need something to sew more than I thought. 

 EXCITING NEWS!  My friend Abi  has written another book!  You may remember her from her book Modern Prairie Sewing.  I blogged about it when it came out in 2014. She sent me a copy and I can't wait to dive in.  Now I can sew something besides potholders, although I peeked and there's a nice potholder pattern in there! 

I'm looking forward to reading about the kinds of things she's making for her home.  I'm so positively thrilled for her.  I was so lucky to meet her and her sisters at quilt market in May of 2012. OMG so long ago.  Time just flies by doesn't it?  Anyway soon I'll be in her book tour so watch for that! 

Ok, that's it for me today. Hope you are all well.  

2021

Happy New Year friends!  2021 started out with some warm sunshine this morning, I went out to check on my sweet peas and couldn't help but grab a coffee photo like the old days.  I'm filled with hope for this year but don't want to discount all the losses this past year.  My heart breaks for the people who have lost loved ones, seen their dreams vanish, lost everything.  It's a bittersweet sunfilled morning.  

 I wanted to  start out the day like I want the year to go. I tried to find the actual quote but no luck... or I didn't stick with it long enough.  Yikes already giving up on something.  Anyway I had a good nights sleep, I've been outside to enjoy some fresh air, I've hit the treadmill.  Nothing I don't normally do, it's symbolic really I guess.  No resolutions or word for the year just one foot in front of the other.  

Years ago my late neighbor Alice-Jane brought me some black eyed peas on the first day of the year.  I had never heard they bring good luck for the coming year.  Since then I've made myself her black eyed pea salad every new years eve and have it first thing in the morning.  This years tasted particularly good, so I hope it's a sign!  

Hope you're well friends.  I'm wishing us all a healthy happy 2021. xop

Hello, Kitty.

Hi there friends!  Now that all the hubub is over I can show you my favorite Christmas project.  I had been promising Frankie I'd make her an iPad case and I FINALLY DID IT.  Cue the confetti!  After I finished it I wondered why I had waited so long.  Actually I didn't really wonder, it was that foam interfacing..that's why.  I ended up using  Soft and Stable by Annie.  The pattern, which is the Busy Day Tablet Case by Melissa at PolkaDotChair, has great instructions and illustrations and it's really easy.   It calls for fusible foam, but Soft and Stable isn't fusible, so I used my Fast Fuse and it worked perfectly.  My Sanrio fabric came from Sunny Day Supply, but its' sold out.  You can still find it on etsy I think.  

Anyway, I was worried about foam and that binding but it really was a non-issue. FYI those edges all line up, in spite of what the photo is telling you.  The binding went on so easily.  I had this binding left over and it was 2 1/4" and I was worried it wouldn't go around the foam but it worked easily.  Thank goodness as I'm out of (or can't find) that fabric.  This is a great starting point for sewing with foam. 

Another thing I thought might be a challenge was the zipper pocket.  My end there isn't great, my zipper is slightly too small but it seems like no big deal.  I wouldn't bother showing you a close up if it wasn't for that strawberry pull next to that strawberry!  Now that I have put a zipper like this in, I'll know how to adjust the size of the cut out for a better fit.  And,I don't think it takes away from the rest of the case at all.  And if it does, don't tell me.  

I love the pocket lining, cute little strawberries from Minki Kim's Moments line for Riley Blake. These little details are what makes sewing fun for me.  

The lining is also from the Moments line, it's such cute fabric and I have it in the blue as well, I was a hard choice which to use.  But there are always other projects to make right?  Did you see that Minki has a cute free pattern on you tube?  Adorable little fabric box, and the assembly is to clever and easy.  I will try one of those soon.  

The final touch was the cute button snap also from Sunny Day Supply.  They are also sold out but I'll be honest they're pretty tight snaps so I'm on the fence about them.  They're cute though, and nice for a tablet because there's no chance of scratching the table screen with them.  

Anyway it was a blast to make and I was wishing that I had another one to work on.  But I recently bought a cute bag pattern from Little Mint Designs. Waiting on my zipper order to get started on those.  I am enjoying smaller projects right now, are you working on something?

Hope you are all well and have enjoyed the holiday season.  I'm looking forward to the new year and hope it brings good health and happiness to all of us.  xop

Stomping around

 Hi there friends!  Today is the first day of the Stomping Ground sew along Pat Sloan is hosting.  The pattern is by Wendy Sheppard and you can find it on etsy here. 

It's a darling  pattern, and the etsy listing shows several different color variations for it.  I thought it was super cute.  Pat asked me to sew along and I said I'd make an elephant or two to get the word out.  Not that Pat needs me to get the word out, but she knew I needed some encouragement to get back to my sewing machine.  But then I had what I though was an clever idea.  Why not make some Circus Animal elephant blocks.  I crack myself up sometimes.  

Do you have these pink and white sprinkled cookies where you are?  Mother's is a local brand here in the bay area.  (and those Mother's English Tea Cookies are wonderful.)   Admittedly I hadn't had a circus animal cookie in years and OMG THEY'RE SWEET.  

I had grand dreams of making a stop action IG post like so many people do, with cookies marching across the screen to the tune of baby elephant walk, but like a lot of ideas like that,  well they turn into something more like this. It's winter here and the lighting looks like I am posting from a dark castle where I am being held hostage by an evil Quilt Queen.  Or possibly a witch.  Who knows.  Does it even matter? The blocks are cute and happy, take my word for it! 

I hope you had a nice holiday and have a couple of days to relax.  Hope you are well friends. xop