On Vacation!

Well another week has just flown by. It was pretty good for me, how about for you? I am just finishing up a Farmer's Market Bag, first one I've made for myself!

Of course it still needs the handles, need to finish that up today. I wanted a nice big bag for the show this weekend.

I am taking a whole week off of blogging.. probably. We get home mid-week but who knows how fast we'll get back in the groove! It's been a long time since we took an actual vacation. We're staying at Disneyland, so I suspect I'll need a couple of days to recuperate from all the fun having.

In the mean time take notes people! I don't want to miss a thing. I expect you to tell me all about it when I get back! xo

the Key to My Heart

Hi there! How are things in your neck of the woods? Elizabeth and I are finally done with our project!



This is Key to My Heart! I love the cheerful look of this pattern. And for all of you who have been asking for Elizabeth's instructions for finishing a pillow, this is your chance to get them! She's offering it as a printed pattern as usual, and also as a down loadable PDF!

Head over to her blog and get all the news!

Surprises!

Yesterday morning I woke up really early and decided to just get up. Usually I decide to get up, but then roll over and pull up the covers and go back to sleep then kick myself when I wake up late feeling groggy from too much sleep. I made coffee then hopped onto the internet for some blog cruising with my new found free time. I almost shrieked when I saw this over at the Strawberry Patches Blog!

Better yet, it's a tutorial!

Later in the day Marby from Wooden Gate Quilts emailed me a photo of a quilt Margaret Lindeman made using the Kitty Panel. So cute right? I love PKM in action.



Totally a super day!

P.S. Head over to visit Quilt Dad for this month's Bloggers Block of the Month Block! IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO START!

Lucky Lucky Lucky!

Honestly! I could not be luckier if I tried. Yesterday April from Prairie Queens Quilt Shop emailed me some wonderful photos of their shop window.

You can see the wonderful blocks from the Piece O' Cake My Whimsical Quilt Garden book. April said that she'd been waiting for the perfect line to make this quilt. I can't believe how darling all the blocks are.

I'm so excited to see the display. Prairie Queens is a wonderful store. They have the full line and even have the kit for the Whimsical Quilt Garden in PKM. Thanks Debbie and April for ordering PKM!

Rainy Days

Hi there and welcome to Monday! It's not so bad once you get used to it, right?

It was a nice cozy rainy weekend here in Livermore, how about where you live? I managed to get some sewing done, this is just a little corner of a project Elizabeth and I are working on. I used my nice red Aurifil 12 wt. thread for blanket stitching and I really like the results.

I'm counting the days till the weekend. I'm meeting up with Roseann in Anaheim and we're going to the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show. Its the crafty version of Quilt Market and I'm so excited. I've barely even peeked at the list of exhibitors..I know it's going to be amazing.

Ok, tell me all about the weekend!

TG.. well you know, it's Friday.

Hi there Friday, how are you? I've been looking forward to you all week. Which you know, for someone who's at home, seems weird. Isn't basically everyday Friday?

Didn't get a ton done this week. Still working on the little project with Elizabeth. She is using felt for little leaves, but I don't have any nice green felt, so I fused two layers of fabric, traced the leaf shape and then cut with my scallop scissors. So super cute right? Not my idea, just something I collected in my travels and stored away for use at a later date.

The scissors are amazing. You can find them here, and probably other places, but these for sure are the same as mine. They cut so nice and clean, right through those 2 fused fabrics.

Now, isn't that little framed initial and Coffee Break Buddy cute? Melissa sent them to me. You can find the tutorials over at her place.

Ok, peeps, hope you have a happy weekend! xo

And then my head exploded

Yesterday I went up to Danville to Wooden Gate Quilts to drop off Elizabeth's new quilt Pam's Garden and Emma's English Posies, for display in their PKM fabric area. You know I've seen a lot of photos of my fabric in shops now, but somehow opening the door and seeing this right as you walk in .. well words can't express it.

My head totally exploded off my shoulders. Honestly, what a thrill. I am reminded once again how thankful I am to all you shop owners who ordered and all you quilters that bought PKM.. it seriously means the world to me!!! xo

New projects.

Yup, I finally pulled all my fabrics for the project Elizabeth and I are working on. Good grief I like to torture myself over selections.

I used this cute label as my inspiration. It's a darling bottle of Ramune Soda... with 'marble'. I'm not completely sure what 'marble' is but I bet my dentist wouldn't like it. Actually according to the warning label I must not swallow the the opener nor try and remove that marble. Yikes. So many potential complications. I was going to say thank goodness this project isn't filled with as much danger, but considering that I'll be using a rotary cutter, an iron and some scissors maybe I shouldn't tempt fate.

Baby it's cold outside.

Brr people, it's late and it's still in the 20s here! But oh so gloriously sunny! I love the sun and plan on enjoying it, as later this week we'll have much needed rain.

I had a bold visitor this morning while I was out in the backyard. This is a new to my yard little hummingbird. He's much more fat and colorful than the other hummingbirds, and apparently very friendly. He let me get quite close before he spread his wings a bit and then left.

Today I can't squander my day like yesterday. Elizabeth is working on a new pattern and I'm making a very PKM version of it. Should be fun, right? Hope you guys have a super awesome day! xo

Al Fresco

Last Friday I went over to visit Holly for the afternoon. Typical Holly fashion we had lots of chatting and a wonderful lunch.

Followed by a delightful dessert. Don't worry we walked it off hiking up that hill I mentioned before. The weather was spectacular, and even though it was late in the afternoon it was quite sunny and warm.

Not only did we catch up on all the latest, I had a chance to see all the wonderful strike offs for the latest Penelope collection.

They really are lovely. It's so much fun to see them laid out in their colorways and I look forward to having some to work with.

The weekend was good. How about for you?

Sunny

Welcome to Friday, the gateway to the weekend! Love it right? I have some plans to meet up with this magazine this weekend. Valentine's season is pretty much my favorite thing about Christmas. Weird right? But I love that after what seems like months of Christmas decorations,things turn all red and pink. And feels like spring. It's safe to go to Target again. No holiday crowds.

It's been really sunny here in California. We've had to run the sprinklers, no rain. Low 30s in the mornings, which I know is kid-stuff-cold to some of you. I'm enjoying the sun while I can, it's not going to last. Next week, RAIN! Yahoo for that too.

Happy weekending peeps. xo

P.S. Check it out, Elizabeth actually posted!

P.S.2 Check out the cute pillow Roseann made!

Wednesday!

So peeps, what did you do with your Wednesday? I spent the morning at the Hayward Hall of Justice (honestly, shouldn't some Super Friends be there?) in the jury room. But, I was totally lucky! Except for the first round pick of folks, we were excused around 11!! Then our parking was free! I couldn't believe my luck. It made waiting outside in the 32 degree morning chill for my turn through the metal detectors seem like no big deal.

Totally squandered my afternoon. Did some reading, some dancing, some organizing. But felt like it was a crazy bonus day off so I lived it up. What did you do Super Friends?

Revisiting December's Bloggers Block

Everytime I walk down the hall I see my blocks for the Blogger's Block of the month in a little grouping. The more I walked by the more I didn't like the way that December's block turned out. I'm trying to make my blocks out of leftover strips from other projects, and I had some prints leftever from my pillow just waiting.

I tried my block in two configurations, but in the end put the blue meeting in the center, I think it works well with my first block.

I still have a ways to go with my camera but I'm having a lot of fun. Ok a lot of frustration but a lot of fun too! Thanks everyone for all their tips! You guys are awesome! xo

Pillow talk

Yesterday I finished up the pillow. I had already quilted the top like my last pillow. All I really needed to do was decide on the backing fabrics, make some covered buttons and buttonholes.

People who really get stuff done would have that done before lunch. People like Melissa. You should head there next and see the tutorial she has for a sweet little Coffee Break Buddy. You can use it for other stuff. It's not all about coffee.

I'm happy with the pillow. Look how nicely it plays with my other pillow out of Annie's Farm Stand. And what doesn't look cute with that darling crochet pillow?

Monday!

I hope the weekend was awesome! We didn't do much here, but we enjoyed some sunshine. The last of the front yard leaves were raked, and what wouldn't fit in the green can we bagged up for later. Backyard still needs quite a bit of work, but at least the neighbors can't see it. We actually had to turn on the sprinklers, it's been so dry here.

I worked on some asterisk blocks and put together the top for a pillow. I must be doing something wrong, mine never turn out to be square in the end. Maybe someone who's made this block will tell me the secret. I guess today I'll put that together, I have the pillow form and the buttons to cover.. nothing holding me back but myself. Of course I find myself to be a formidable opponent!

So tell me what you did! I can't wait to hear, then click over here to see something really sweet!

Wow it's Friday

So by now you've all headed over to the Aurifil blog and downloaded your cute stitchery pdf right? I sure hope so because Roseann's Snowbird is darling. She had thread kits you can order and when I read her 'behind the scenes' post, she said she's got more plans for this.. so be sure and watch her blog. Honestly, I'm a regular follower of Roseann. I met her years ago when I visited her shop with my cousin. You know when you meet a kindred spirit? Yeah, it was like that.

This week has totally gotten the better of me. I cut out some fabric for asterisk blocks but some how totally squandered my time. I mean I was busy, but doing what (besides dancing) I don't know.

Oh, I do know. Trying to get a good photo with my camera. I admit I was a bit full of myself and tried to use some of the other features, the not so automatic ones. Honestly, why doesn't it come with feature that includes cropping out stuff in the background? I need way more of a blur than what I'm getting. WAY MORE. Maybe they just haven't figured out what kind of icon to use to illustrate it?

Of course I could clear the table, hang up my sweater and purse hanging off the chair. And yes that is a candy bar.. emergency Rocky Road rations. You never know.

Ok my delightful peeps, have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

Stitchy Day

Good morning everybody! Big day !!! Exciting day! This morning Roseann kicks off the Aurifil Designer of the Month program with her SnowBird stitchery! I had a sneak peek and it's great, so you should click on over. Pat and Aurifil have collected up a talented bunch of designers and I'm so thrilled to be a part of this program.

Also cute and stitchy is Amanda and Ashleigh's Dessert of the Month Club. I'm a sneak peeker and I got a little preview and it couldn't be cuter. I'm a huge fan of vintage anthropomorphic items, like this little fruit mug, and their charming kawaii designs remind me of some of the little goodies I have collected over the years.

I am going to get stitching on cute little January asap! My mother-in-law and I used to cross stitch together over coffee a lot, and today is her birthday! I've been very lucky in the Mother-In-Law Lottery. Happy Birthday Doris!!!

Phew! That's a lot of info for one day! And holy cow, the week has flown by right? Did you get stuff done?

It isn't just me, is it?

Good morning! Today my picture has nothing to do with anything, I just like that little biscuit jar and of course who doesn't love a cute Scottie? I'm pretty sure that's one of the few spots around the house that actually is how it's supposed to be.

Yesterday I just couldn't get it together. I was up early enough, but I got bogged down on something so ridiculous that I COULD NOT LET GO. I couldn't figure out where the weather widget on my stinken phone went and although my house is in total chaos, I spent ages trying to figure that out. Probably BECAUSE my house is in chaos. Today I need to be better. I want to do some sewing, and there's a cute little project I'd like to start for myself.. and I need to get it together so I can work!

But darn it that weather widget is back. And yesterday that's what mattered.

P. S. HEY! It's Elizabeth's Birthday!!! Hope you'll take a minute and wish her a happy day!

Crazy Town

Good morning! What's new with you since we last met? We totally lost our minds and went out and got this.

I know! Right? I've been wanting this since I saw the first commercial of crazy people dancing, and yesterday on a whim we just went out and picked it up. After what seemed like an age we got it up and running. Then, I put my paws up and got dancing.

First off, WHAT THE HECK???? It video tapes you???? Yeah that was a shocker. We all laughed so hard I thought we'd pass out from lack of oxygen. Lets just hope that we've disabled everything so nothing shows up on you tube. Because people believe me... that is something no one wants to see. Talk about witness protection!

Anyway it was a super week or so with Bret off and even though the house is still in chaos we're happy clams. Now gotta run, I have dance class.

Light reading

Good morning! So how was the weekend? Did you go out and paint the town? Things here were cozy like we like it. I spent the past couple of days reading the manual to my camera. Finally yesterday I popped the lens on the body and gave it a try.

Honestly everything left on auto it takes a pretty nice picture, although it took me about 100 pictures to find that nice picture, then another few hours to figure out the new software to download it to etc. I'm going to enjoy using it I think,but count on seeing a lot more of my usual point and shoot camera photos because that's the one that goes along with me where ever I go.

Today is Bret's last day home, so we're trying to get our space organized. Somehow after Christmas it all turns to chaos till the very last moment, then we have to get it together when he goes back to work.

Ok, tell me all about it in a nice fat juicy comment if you feel so inclined!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year my favorite people!

This past year was a pretty incredible one for me, one that I couldn't have imagined if I tried! I want to thank all of you for your encouragement and support along the way! I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!! xo