Tuesday

Good morning and happy Tuesday!  I know. Late to the party this week. Did you have a good one?  It was busy here at Casa de Kitty, Saturday I had a sew day and it was awesome!  Debbie hosted and it was great as usual.  Deb came up from San Luis Obispo and she brought a fantastic cake from the  Madonna Inn.   You can see a photo on Instagram here.  We laughed and ate and sewed the day away.  I think we all got something done, I got the center of the pieced blocks done, and yesterday I finished those up.   I also even managed to get a couple of small projects bound.

Sunday we went to the birthday party for the son of a long time friend of ours. Of course I can't believe our friend Shawn is old enough to have a child to begin with, Mason turned 3 ! It's been a long time since we hung out where there were kids, holy cow! All that energy!

 

I'm now into blanket stitching on the Tulip Garden blocks and I love it. I will stitch all the reds, then the pink then the greens. I'm always curious how other people approach a project.  Do you finish each block before moving on? Or do you have some other method? 

 

No stitching for me this morning, I'm off to the dentist for my cleaning!  Hope you have a good day peoples! xo

Friday

Happy Friday!   How did the week go for you?  I hope it was a good one!   Nice and busy here, although now that it's Friday I don't even remember what I did earlier this week!   I  finally got busy on my Sew Sweet Bee block. This month it's Missy's turn, and she requested at 12 inch basket block.  Donna provided us with a nice tutorial on making it.  

 

I don't know why this block is so challenging to me.  I think it looks wonky because of the camera angle but I'll be getting out the ruler again.  This is the third time I've made it and I'm pretty sure it's as close to right as its going to get.  Being a triangle on point means there's a lot of give so any slight discrepancy will work it's self out when Missy puts it into a quilt.   I may try again later to see if cutting the upper triangle the exact size instead of oversized makes a difference for me. Next month is Nanette's turn! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!  Then come September it's me!  I'm still pondering my choices. 

 

Have you participated in any sewing bees? I know there are a lot of fun bee's out there, I see blocks all the time on Instagram and Facebook.  It's my first time in one of these fun bees. It's intimidating though!!!

 

Do you have big plans this weekend? I'm having a sew day with my friends the Debbies and I can't wait to see them.  I suspect I'll be doing a lot more visiting than sewing but I'll still pack up things to work on.  Hope you all have a super fun weekend! xop

Backyard friends

Hi there happy friends how are you?  It's been a busy week here at PamKittyville.  You know, the usual run of the mill stuff.  I did get my Diamond Ring quilt all put together and ready to drop off at Diana's when I pick up the  quilts I dropped last week.  And as ever, I have some things coming up that are fun.. just can't show them yet.  Sorry!  Thanks for all your kind comments on my Makin' it Cute post.  Those flowers were so fun.

The drought has brought a lot of friends into the backyard.  My hummingbirds are back more often for  drinks at the feeder.  I suspect there's a lot less in the way of flowers for them.   I have a new Canon PowerShot SX700 HS and it's zoom is great. This is taken from the back door, which is probably 15 -20 feet from the feeder?  This is one of the smaller hummers, there is a big  one regularly joins the smaller pair.  The small ones still come right up to me, which I pretend is because they know me but more than likely they're just not afraid of me.

 

Also in residence are the squirrels.  I know most people don't like them but they provide me with a lot of entertainment.  This is on of a pair of adolescents that are pretty playful.  He's pretty  far from me.  I love watching them play on the fence and on the ugly palm tree.  Kids!  There have been some cooler moments lately that make it nice for sitting outside.

That's about it around here! Hope you are having a great week! xo

Makin' it Cute

Hi there! Happy Monday! Welcome to Fat Quarter Shop and Me and My Sister's Makin' it Cute Day!

 

What is the Makin' it Cute Petal Pack?  It's a cute set of templates for 3 different size flowers, a center circle and a pretty leaf.  The templates come with a nice simple set of instructions explaining how to make pretty dimensional flowers from felt or fabric and batting. 

 

You simply trace the template onto your fabric with a temporary marker, sew inside the line and cut out on the line.  I stitched with my regular sewing foot, then tried free motion stitching and it was really fast and fun. 

 

I made several flowers and leaves.  For the leaves I did some free motion lines down the center to make them leafier!  I also tried blanket stitching the center of one flower onto the petals to have a puffy center.  And look how cute that covered button looks, I used the flower center template to cute my circle for the button. 

There are so many fun possibilities with these templates, I feel like I've just gotten started. I hope you'll hop on over to see what Fat Quarter Shop and Mary and Barb are up to today and to see who else is Makin' it Cute!  There just might be a give away going on!

 

So that' s it for today. Just look how extra-cute my Noodlehead Open Wide Zipper Pouch is with my Makin' it Cute Flowers! Now.. remember head over to the Jolly Jabber and check it out!

TGIF

Happy Friday friends!  We've made it through another week.  Was it a good one?  I have been pretty productive which is quite the shocker!

 

Today I am working on something cute and fun and I'm pretty excited about it. I will share it with you next week.  But oh how I love that pile of red!

 

Have any big plans for this weekend?  Nothing thrilling here, just catching up on stuff around the house and taking it easy. Hope you guys have a great weekend keeping cool if you're on the hot side of the world or warm if you're on the other half!  xo

Thursday

I actually had to look at my phone to see what day it is.  How sad is that.  My schedule is a bit out of whack, Bret was gone to Atlanta for a couple of days, so I didn't have that start of the week feeling on Monday like normal.  He's back though... so it's business as usual here. 

I've set aside my This Diamond Ring quilt and I'm working on a quicky project that I'll be showing soon.  So many fun things going on and you know my attention span isn't the greatest. But I'll be back at it soon, I have to pick up my quilt  at Diana's next week, and then I can drop off that quilt, so I need to get busy.. can't bring it in strips.

 

I love my new cup so much, glad I didn't get over it and headed over to Alden Lane to get it.  Blanket stitching is one of my favorite sewing things to do so it just seems right. 

 

What are you up to? Is summer a busy or slow season for sewing? .  I'm always curious about other people and their daily lives. 

 

Ok, better drink up and get busy. Hope you're having a good week!

Regular Days

Hi there! How as Monday?  I think it went pretty well here.  It was a humid weird overcast day.. the kind that make you feel a bit sluggish. I was hoping for a little rain, but no luck.

 

I did get some sewing in, I have all my This Diamond Ring quilt blocks sewn in rows and the sashing is sewn, all I need to do is put them together. I had hoped to get them done in time to take them to Diana, my quilter, this morning, but I can drop it off when I pick up the quilt next week. 

 

When I finished the rows and sashing and I knew I couldn't get it done I figured I'd just stop there and treat myself to fusing a Tulip Garden Block.  I still love the shape of that tulip and I'm kind of considering getting a custom die from Accuquilt.  I think a large and small tulip and some leaves would be fun to have. I can think of a lot of fun projects using them, so it could be worth it.  Something to think about. 

 

Anyway, I still love the block.  I think I'll work on fusing them all then start with the blanket stitching.  It will go fast, just three colors of thread, red, green and pink.  How do you approach a project like this? I usually do all of one color, then switch to the next.  Just take my time, turn on the tv and go! It's so relaxing to me.

 

Ok I guess I should get a start on the day.  Hope the week is going well for you! xo

The Aftermath

Hi there! How was your weekend?  I had a great weekend and I can't wait to show you pictures of Pat's place!  We had such a great time at the party!  Pat always has her house fixed up nice, her porch is so inviting. 

The back yard is really where all the action  is.  Somehow no matter how hot it gets during the day, Pat's backyard is always very pleasant.  There are a lot of beautiful old shade trees in the neighborhood, so it seems a bit like an oasis. She's managing to keep her potted plants looking good, and it was a pleasure to walk around her yard.  Very sunny though, so pictures were hard. 

 

The inside is decorated as well.  Here's a bunch of pictures from brunches past.  I'm not sure we took a picture this year.. sometimes I get to excited out in the world and forget!  I know, I'm a nut.  So many people to talk to !  So many things to see.  I'm like a little kid!

 

You can sit here on the sofa while you wait your turn to sign the guest book. Every year we write a message to Pat in her 4th of July album.  I think people come prepared, even though I sign it each year, I totally forget about planning out a delightful missive for her.

Pat is a quilter, and it shows around her house.  She had some quilts in the backyard as well.

 

 

I even checked out this pretty quilt in her room.  Her whole house is so charming. 

 

Honestly each time I come there's even more cute mugs.  I have my coffee there in that little gingham mug, found out they were from Alden Lane Nursery so you know I was there on Saturday morning picking up one for myself.  And don't get me started on the adorable one with blanket stitching around the top.  You'll be seeing a lot of it too. How I'm going to fit those into the cupboard.. not even sure.

And how adorable is this cabinet filled with cute vintage and new goods?  I'm dying over that Jubilee plate and those vintage shakers.. and well all the pretty things.  

 

Even Pat's ice is festive, like Pat herself. 

 

No pictures of all the delicious dishes. It's pot luck and there were so many great things, fruit and healthy stuff, and then some egg dishes that were delicious, plus my neighbor Alice-Jane's  hash brown casserole and the Trifle Ann made.. scrumptious.  Even if you have just a bite of  each thing you come away stuffed!   Thanks again Pat for having me!

 

I even sewed over the weekend, lots of indoor time, it's hot!  What did you do? Did you see fireworks? Tell me all about it!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July!!!

This morning I'm off to my friend Pat's for the annual 4th of July Brunch. I can't wait!     Even the weather is cooperating for Pat, this morning it's nice and cool and even if I totally overstay my welcome it won't get much past 84 by 1pm!

 

Hope you have a happy and SAFE holiday!

Wednesday

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!   Monday ended with a pretty spectacular sunset and a good night sleep so Tuesday went a lot better.   A LOT BETTER.  I could tell even though I woke up extra  early Tuesday I felt better.  It was much cooler yesterday and that made a big difference.  I moved a fan into my sewing room and had a pretty nice sew afternoon after running some errands.  Even my sewing went well, there was Law and Order on, what more could I ask for? Thanks for all your comments of support. 

 

I saw this the other day .. people are really embracing the water rationing in town.  Lots of brown lawns even in the nicest neighborhoods.  Our front lawn still looks pretty good, only because we have a big tree out front that shades it, so it takes less water to keep it green.  Our back lawn is another story.

 

I hope that I'll soon see some interesting landscaping projects start.  We've also been considering synthetic grass, anyone have that? How do you like it?  There are so many great options for style and color now, all of it looking really life like. Including some that look like a crappy lawn, so basically realistic in our case.  I bet by next spring we'll see a lot of changes around town.

 

So that' s it for today.  What are you up to? Can you believe it's July?

 

 

 

 

The one with whining.

So that was weird, no post on Monday. I had hoped I'd be over my need to whine about stuff but it turns out I'm not.  So sorry in advance.

 

Honestly I really try to not complain about the heat but the last couple of days really have wiped me out.  Yesterday I went to Target and  it was exhausting.  Target is being a good global citizen and not keeping their store at the frigid temperatures of the olden days but honestly it was so muggy inside it felt good to get out of the store.  

 

To make matters worse, when I got back home wasps were swarming all round my driveway.. trying to get into the eaves. My neighbor Ron came out and we chatted and all I could think of was those stinken things and what would happen if one of us was stung.   Later when I went out back to drizzle some water onto my poor fig tree there was a gigantic BLACK WIDOW spider by my hose. 

 

Seriously, nature is trying to ruin everything this year.

 

I have been sewing together the blocks I partially assembled when I was hanging out with Nanette. Sunday I spent way more time ripping out than actually accomplishing.  Do you baste your seams?  I pin then machine baste then check my intersections. These low volume blocks  hide my less than great matches at least.  I was feeling pretty discouraged Sunday, but Monday I was back at it and things went a lot better. I'm not sure why.  I'm not even going to press those until I have them all ready or until my mood improves.   

 

I'm sure that the fact I haven't slept that well the past few days has brought me here to the whiney place.  I already feel better just getting it out.  Sorry you had to listen to it.  Especially the people who dealt with all the horrible snow this winter. Snow.. it just seems like a magical dream to me.

 

Tell me what you're up to.  OH! And if you're headed to the Minnesota Twin Cities area, head over to see Roseann at her shop, Rosebud's Cottage, in White Bear Lake.  As you know Roseann and I are great pals and I created a little tote bag pattern for her to give away with the purchase of a Rosebud's Cottage license plate. You can read about it and see a picture here. What! You don' t know about the Row By Row Experience? Check out their site here. All the cool kids are doing it, you can too!

 

Ok, now that I've had my coffee with you guys I feel better already.  Have a great day. xo

 

 

Shop Hopping

Happy Friday friends! How are you? Was your week good? I'm back at it here in PamKittyville working on projects and watching crime tv.  Hard to believe just last week I was lunch with Lori and Nanette and then going on a mini shop hop.

Before we even left Alpine we went to Just Sew, an adorable shop not far from Nanette's house.  It was fun to meet Alice and see all the cute Pam Kitty Picnic samples they had around the shop.  I really liked this block of the month that Alice had made. 

 

I love this cute apron.  Next up after lunch was our trip to Pine Needles. Their new location is really fantastic! Lots of space, great samples and I believe a nice room for classes up stairs. 

 

I love that there's an option to hang large quilts up, and wow, I love the larger floral quilt on the left.  It was nice to see Holly, the store manager, in the shop, usually I just see her at quilt market.

 

We also stopped in at Material Girls to see my friend Nadine.  Yikes, no photos except this one on instagram.  I got a little carried away talking to Nadine about her exploits with antlers.  Now if only I could remember where I saw all those funny photos of Nadine at the Crabapple Hill retreat. Holy cow she's fun.

 

That's it for this week! Any big weekend plans?  Have fun! xo

My Sewcation

Last week I had a great time. Tuesday I left at about 4am for my sewcation in Utah.  I was reminiscing on the ride up through the California foothills, thinking about previous trips taken to Utah with Elizabeth, and how both times we'd encountered snow. I felt a little sad that this trip in June would mean no snow. 

 

Once I entered Nevada evidence of snow came and went along the mountains, but in my temperature controlled car, I didn't really notice any serious change in temperature.

 

Sure there was rain rain rain..and then I started noticing along the side of the road it looked like  maybe there had been a big hail storm earlier. Then I looked at my temperature gauge and noticed it was dropping like a rock. Then the next thing you know I'm in a blizzard. No picture of that on my camera or phone, but believe me.  BLIZZARD.  Eventually that truck pulling a trailer pulled off the freeway but I just powered through it.. After maybe five hours or really more like 20 minutes it turned to slushy snow and then rain again. 

 

Pretty exiting stuff for me.  Anyway the rest of the trip to Nanette's was uneventful.  The weather turned glorious over the vacation and we had a lovely time.  Some sewing, some  shopping, lunch out with our friend Lori.  We tried to fool her but my instagram photos gave away where I was..no surprising her.

 

Lori brought along her daughter Kassidy at our lunch. Super sweet, it was the first time I met her. We all had a lovely lunch and a good visit.  Super fun. Super friends.

Lori of course brought gifts, I hate to even take it apart it's so cute.  Lots of delicious fabric from her latest collection Vintage Happy. And I know that box of taffy has one of her famous egg sewing kits in it.. I just can't quite bring myself to take it apart yet.  You can see one here on her instagram.

It was a great week. More later on that I'm sure.  Today I'm still catching up on rest after that long drive to get home. So what have you guys been up to?

Monday

Hi there! Happy Monday!  I'm on my way home, but in the mean time, I thought I'd share another little project I made to bring along. 

 

This little laundry bag is perfect for stuffing inside your suitcase when you head out on a trip.  It takes just a little under a half a yard of  fabric for the outside and also the lining.  I think it makes your vacation laundry   a lot more glamorous.  I made a drawstring  out of a two inch strip of fabric folded in quarters, but you could just as easily thread a ribbon though the casing.

 

I love the way the little bit of the lining peeks out the top.  Of course I like that it's personalized. I've had so much fun with applique lately.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend! See you later this week! xo