Friday

Ahh, another week has gone by, how did it go.  Have to say it had it's ups and downs.  But before we get started, did you work on your Splendid Sampler block?  I can' t believe we're on the 18th block already!  This week's block, Lina's Gift is by Pat Sloan, and you can find it here.  It's a straightforward block to make and I've really enjoyed seeing them pop up on Facebook and Instagram. 

 

This block looks pretty bold, but it helps some of my other bolder blocks fit in with the softer colors.  Balance is hard for me on these kinds of projects.  I get in little ruts with color and fabric and then suddenly I have a bunch of soft looking blocks and a handful of STANDOUTS.  You can see a ton of great Splendid Sampler blocks on Instagram here.

 

I'm working on my sewing table.. I tend to just pile stuff up till I'm sewing on a little tiny portion of my table.  So I started at the top of the pile and worked my way down.  First up on my pile were all my flower box blocks.  I posted about being hung up on them way back last November here.  As soon as I picked them up I realized what had derailed me.  The last few blocks weren't done because I had run out of combinations where the text would all go one direction.  I pondered it for a while and then I just threw caution to the wind and sewed the remaining blocks.  Now they're in a tidy pile for a time when I can lay them all out. 

 

The next thing on the pile was my Scallop Quilt.  The quilt was the prototype for Holly's Two by Two quilt , and like the flower box blocks, I started it last year at my March retreat. I had the blocks all made and was at the assembly part of the project when I made some silly piecing errors, sewing some things going the wrong direction.  I picked it all up again and after a lot of the same kind of ridiculous errors I have the center pieced together.  All that's left is the borders.  I don't know about you but one of my least favorite things is cutting those long borders.   So that's folded up and OFF the table for right now, waiting. 

 

You might also remember these giant petunia blocks.  Why did I think I had a ton of those done?  I moved those off the table for now and I'll think about it later.  Now there's a lot more room on the table, but it's by no means done.  I still feel pretty good about it.  In the shuffling I saw another couple of things that just need borders.. hmm. Sounds like a problem for FuturePam.

 

That's a lot of reading to go along with one picture.  Hope you all have a happy weekend. xop

Monday!

Good morning!  How are things with you this fine Monday morning?  I got a few things  done this weekend.  Here's my wrinkly looking Splendid Sampler block. Kimberly Jolly desgined this block for us and she's got a sweet story behind it that you can read about over at the Jolly Jabber. Then head over and download your block, just in case you haven't yet.  I had lunch with a friend this past week, and we talked a bit about sewing.  I'm going to try out her advice for lengthening my stitch a bit, maybe that will cure my problems with pulling.  I've tried the starching, and also pressing my seams open, nothing seems to really work for me.  Well I should say work for me consistently.  So I'll just keep chugging along.  I'm in persuit of a good looking flat block like I see so much of online, but you know what, if I can't get it, it's not going to stop me from sewing and enjoying myself. 

 

Also on my agenda was trying out this star.  Way way back when I first started quilting Alex Anderson had a wonderful quilt she was teaching at the shop I worked at, it was a 54-40 or fight quilt.  At that time there were no readily available templates like there are now, and if there were, I didn't know about them because you know, the internet was in it's infancy.  You could just hop on and Google triangle in a square template an find a bunch of stuff.  I mean it's like it was the dark ages for pete's sake! 

 

I ordered up this great die from Sizzix.  I like that it has not only the isosceles triangle, it also has the right triangles to turn it into a triangle in a square. The points are trimmed already which makes lining them up a breeze.  And while I'm pretty sure I have several rulers that I could do this with, I'm in love with the accuracy with the die cuts and how easy it is to line them up.  I couldn't be happier with how fast it was. 

 

I've been toying with the idea of a navy and green quilt.. I've seen a lot of that combination lately in fashion and in quilts, so maybe I'll go that direction. Here's a few things I've saved on Pinterest.   But navy kind of sets me down the more patriaotic path so there's red, then I just can't help but add yellow and before you know it's all the PamKittyColors at once.   So before I start cutting I'm playing around on Photoshop to see what I like.  What do you think?

 

Ok, that's it for today!  Tell me what you're up to!  Have a great week! xo

 

 

TGIF

Hi everybody, HAPPY FRIDAY!  I had a great week, how about you?  I'm back on track with my Splendid Sampler blocks!  This is Lindsay Mayland's Pieces of Friendship block.  I love the vibrant colors I used, but wish that I'd used a little more contrast with my yellows, that would have made this block more in the style it was designed. I might make it again, I might just learn my lesson and move on.  Hard to say. Since Lindsay says "finished is better than perfect" I should  take her advice and leave it.

 

Hop over to the All People Quilt blog and check out the bonus project for this block and read about Lindsay and her sewing story.

 

Now for my coffee break reading, I've had this book for a while, but wanted to share it with you. It's Helen Phillips Modern Vintage Gifts.  This isn't the first book I have by Helen, she's such an inspiration to me.  The book has big and small projects, and Helen's photographs are so inviting.  Have you visited her blog?  I know a lot of us have cut back on our blog reading but I have made an exception for Helen's blog.  Delightful.

 

Helen uses a lot of Pam Kitty fabric, and so I'm extra happy when I see bits and pieces used in her charming projects. 

 

I guess that's it for this week!  What's on your agenda for the weekend?  I'm feeling kind of motivated to take a peek at some pesky ufos that are cluttering up my sewing table.  Maybe.  Maybe I'll start something new.  Hard to say.  Hope your weekend is happy! xo

 

 

Pam Kitty Cute

Hi there!  Just popping in to show you the cute phone case I made yesterday.  Seriously simple and done so quickly!  The pattern is from Jennie at Clover and Violet, called the Phoebe phone and id case.  I've been wanting something to pop my debit card in when I went to the grocers.  I usually put it in my pocket along with my phone and list, which isn't always practical. I have been thinking about drafting up something but when I saw this little case I knew I'd hit the jackpot!

 

I cut out the pieces and luckily I had everything I needed on hand.  Roseann had given me some cute deer buttons (they're really for scrapbooking, no holes) and I knew they'd be perfect for my project. 

 

I got everything together I needed to assemble the case and then had to run some errands.. I kind of thought I wouldn't have time to finish it but I came back home but I put it together in less than an hour.  And that included fiddling with the Fabric-Tac that I used to glue down the deer and the Velcro tab on the flap.  (and watch TV, check Instagram etc)

 

I used the size shown for the iPhone 6, although I have a Samsung Galaxy s6, it's in a chunky case so the fit was perfect.  Jennie provides a simple chart to plug in your phone dimensions and figure out what size to cut your pieces.  VERY CLEVER.  I attached a swivel hook for my keys or possibly I'll make a matching wrist strap for it.. who knows. It could happen. 

 

I'm really having fun just dorking around doing different things.  What are you up to?

Monday

Good Morning!  How are things in your neck of the woods?  We had a nice sunny weekend here in PamKittyville.  Saturday we headed out to see Frankie and joined the throngs of people heading to the coast on California Highway 17.  As soon as the weather really gets nice we will need to parachute in the traffic will be so bad.  We had a fun afternoon with her.

 

Even though we went out and about, I still had time to finish up the last of my blocks for the Scrapbasket Sampler. It has been fun to work on them, kind of like  a low pressure refresher course in piecing.  I like that she uses the traditional methods of piecing with triangles and I had great results going old skool. Not perfect by any means, but much better maybe than normal. 

 

Here they all are, 24 little 4 inch blocks.  I only used what was in my basket of fabric scraps, and kept it predominantly aqua and pink.  Super fun. I'm looking forward to the next steps. 

Coffee break reading time.. Sunday morning I took some time to relax with some inspirational reading. This is Sarah Fielke's Old Quilts New Life.  I loved this quilt from the very first snippets of it that appeared on Instagram.  Still my favorite.

 

I have had this book since it came out, but I still love to open it and wonder at all the quilts.  Sarah chose nine quilts from the American Folk Art Museum and created two designs based on each quilt, one a traditional interpretation, and one with a modern look. There's so much to learn about design and color by studying her work.    And you might remember I was a lucky swapper in the Little Quilts Blog tour swap and Sarah made my quilt.  You can see it here.

 

I love the book and highly recommend it.  Thank you Sarah for including me in your list of bloggers at the end of this book. 

 

Ok peoples!  I hope you have a good week ahead of you!! xo

 

 

Friday

Good morning!  How was the week?  I'm telling you, the days just fly by. Don't have tons to show for it though.  I  did manage to finish piecing my Easy Addition blocks, they're in a stack ready to layout.  I made 35 blocks for a 5 x 7 layout.  Now to find a place to lay them all out.  Some vacuuming is in order first. 

 

I have almost all of my ScrapBasket Sampler blocks done.  These have been such a treat. I'm telling you, Cheri's Friendship Group is so nice.  Next week we move onto the applique portion, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm waiting till I see it to decide on which fabric/fabrics to use for my alternate blocks.  I love how nice and casual this sampler is.  I've been a little too casual this week though and still have to catch up. 

 

Ok, it's April.  NO JOKE! That's shocking news.

xop

Tuesday

The weekend got away from me, so here it is Tuesday and I'm just getting around to posting.  Frankie was home for a  couple of days for the holiday, that was fun. Did you have a good weekend?

 

I have prepped this cute little Just for You block from Pat.  She posted it on National Quilting Day and its the perfect size to add into your Splendid Sampler blocks. I love blanket stitching.  One of my not-so-secret weapons is a size 9 Microtex Sharp needle, especially when the pieces are dainty like this. Yikes I'm down to my last one, although I have about 5 packets of 10s, which also will work.  I use Microtex Sharp 10s for piecing, what about you? 

 

Hope things are going well on your side of the screen!  Time to get busy with some stitching.  xo

Fridays

Where do the days go?  Was your week a busy one?  I hope you plan on getting your Splendid Sampler block done! The Checkerboard is an easy one.  I love seeing all the variations out there.

 

It's Easter weekend for those who celebrate.  Frankie will be home  for a couple of days and it will be fun to hang out with her.  Will you have big doings?  Hope it's fun and springy wherever you are.

 

xo

Just Walk Away

There are just some days it doesn't pay to thread the machine.  Sunday I was sewing away on my Easy Addition blocks and suddenly looked at the block I was working on and thought, hmm, I wonder if I'm laying this out right.    AND I HAD NOT.  I had sewn prior to this about 30 blocks.I went through all of them and  there were a whopping 5 correct, and I distinctly remember at the time thinking they looked different.   OHMYGOSH. As you can see that one on the right is all kinds of wrong with it's little contrast squares out to the edge and not by the plus. 

 

Luckily, if there can be a luckily to this situation, my scrappy backgrounds make this not a real big problem, you know except in my brain, so I'm going to soldier on.  Even if you made it as the pattern is written, with a single background, it's not a problem, all that gives you away are  the seams. The design elements are correct.  Except in the case of Righty there, who has already been fixed.

 

Turns out that this wasn't the mindless project I needed for the retreat, I'm  just a mindless sewer.  I found the last of the blocks I needed to put together and I will make those this week. Or maybe I won't. It's a busy week.  No hurry.  Right?  

 

I share this because I know we're all sitting at our machines feeling dense sometimes! You're having a good day/ bad day/  fun day / mad day... and then something happens and bam. Sad Day. It happens to all of us.  Even the best of us, which ugh, I don't think I'm the best, but I do think the best get their rippers out sometimes.

I'll soldier on.  Lessons are learned. I still love my blocks, the crazy scrappy backgrounds and the bright red plusses make me feel cheerful.  Happy day! xo

Monday

Good morning! Happy Monday!  How was your weekend? Spend time sewing? Seems like it based on all the pictures I saw!   I did some time sewing, but we also had plenty to do around the house.  Bit by bit we're going through our boxes and deciding what is 'kitchen worthy'.  Honestly, can't I set up a kitchen in the garage and then just use my real kitchen to look at?  Because that's all I want to do. 

 

And also, take a thousand pictures of my coffee at the kitchen window, and  my $3.99 cake stand from the Target Dollar Spot or whatever it's called now.  I went to the garden center and picked up a couple of pretties, first this pretty campanula  in faux berry basket and a daisy of some sort for outside the window on the ledge.  I have  a cute polka dot pot courtesy of one of my many trips to Home Goods in the past and the daisy looks so cheerful.  And just so I can stare at this little wedge of kitchen day and night, I put a battery operated candle with a timer in a little galvanized lantern type thing outside the window.. OMG I need to move away from the window.

 

But for right now I can't.   And no one can make me.  I can stay there  at the counter looking out at the birds and read all my new appliance manuals.  I hope I don't have to go though some kind of certification to use my microwave.  Holy cow, everything is so complicated.

 

Looking forward to a busy week this week, what about you?  Hope it's a good one! xo

INTERNATIONAL QUILTING DAY!

Good morning!  Are you up and at the sewing machine?  It's the perfect day to spend in front of your sewing machine... it's practically your obligation right? It's International Quilting Day! 

You know my pal Alex has a huge give away going on over at The Quilt Show! Here's a short video about  what's going on..

 

 

 

And just click here to head over to The Quilt Show to enter! 

 

And remember you can binge  watch shows from Season 1 to 17 this weekend!  What could be better!  Just click here. There's something for everyone!

 

Ok happy weekend! xo

Friday!

Good morning, happy Friday!  How are you?  How was your week?  It seems like I was busy all week but who knows what I was doing! Some weeks are just like that. 

Yesterday was Splendid Sampler day.  Did you get your Iowa block done?  It's a quick and easy block courtesy of Sherri at A Quilting Life.  Here's mine. 

 

I know I'm just a couple of blocks away from have my Quilts and More Easy Addition quilt ready to lay out, hopefully I can get to those today and start thinking about getting them sewn into rows.  I'm still working on my Scrapbasket Sampler blocks, they're cute and small.. and you can see mine on Instagram. 

 

That's about it.  Big plans this weekend?  It's International Quilt Weekend!!! Lets get quilting!

 

Home again

Hi there! Happy Monday!  I'm excited that today's coffee came straight from my new kitchen, the days of bathroom-kitchen coffee are over!   Most people wouldn't take a picture with an outlet in it, but OMG people, this outlet is one of two new outlets in my kitchen!  For the last thirty plus years we've survived with ONE OUTLET in the kitchen.  I'm giddy!

 

Yesterday was Splendid Sampler day!  Did you download your block?  This block is courtesy of Jane.  The block is named your Local Quilt Shop.  Totally cute.  I am not the best embroiderer, so fussy cutting the name was the way to go for me. 

 

The retreat was fun, and I will have some pictures of the sharing soon.  These women are seasoned quilt retreat attendees and OMG they really get stuff done.  I did get sewing done, but it was kid stuff in comparison.  We did get out and about going to the local quilt shops which was a lot of fun.  I'm lucky that my friends Deb and Debbie have invited me into their group of friends.  

 

I think my week will be filled with puttering around the house trying to restore order.  Something that I'm not that good at really.  I've put some stuff back on my counters and it seems a bit like blasphemy at this point.  But it's got to be done! Hope you have a good week everyone!!! xo 

Retreat Bound

Good Morning !  I'm off and running to my retreat today!  I'ts a 4 hour drive and it all begins at 1pm!  Of course you don't have to be there ON THE DOT.  I want to get into town a little early, there are some fun shops that I like to stop at in Paso Robles.  We will probably hit some quilt shops on Friday or Saturday, but I like the little antiques shops too, so I'll check those out on my way in. 

 

ANYWAY... I've had a busy week!  I have my block done for today!  This block is by Julie Karasek and it's called Friends Around the Square!  Super cute and fun block to make.  Be sure and check out the Splendid Sampler for the details to make this block! 

 

 I've had lots of sewing room time lately, and over on Instagram I saw that Lindsay Mayland, editor at American Patchwork and Quilting and Make it Yourself Magazine, made the cutest set of  meow mug rugs.  I have a lot of scraps in my basket from the Splendid Sampler blocks, so I cut one out, stitched it up, quickly quilted and bound it all in about 45 minutes. Possibly less. I think it's pretty cute and will be a perfect place to plant my coffee! Or stick up on the wall. Or put in the vault.. I just don't know yet. You know me.

 

Then my friend Roseann told me about Cheri Payne's "My Scrapbasket Sampler" .   It's a closed  group on Facebook, but you can ask to join, it's not secret...they let me right in! It's a block a day during the week, and it's just 24 blocks I believe.  I got sucked right in, my scrap basket is full and lots of strips are cut.  The group is basically a friendship group and the sampler is just something fun going on right now!  Maybe you already belong, I saw some familiar names on the list of members! I saw lots of fun pictures of quilts and blocks and cute displays.  Here's my first three blocks. Maybe I'll keep up, maybe not, but so far it's fun! Made these in about half an hour or so.

 

I was working on other things too. I know all of you don't do Instagram but often I have daily goings on there.. and I share projects that people make with PKM fabrics. I think that's a lot of fun. So you can check in there to see what I'm up to as well.

 

Ok, I best get cracking.  Tell me what you're up to this weekend!  I hope you have a good one.  I hope I get tons of sewing done, but most of all I know I'll have tons of fun! xo

Busy Days

Good morning!  How was your weekend?  Kind of busy on this end.  It's the last week of the kitchen update, so Saturday Eric came by to do a little work in preparation  for appliance installation.  I'm excited to have my kitchen back, and I don't plan on taking running water in my kitchen  and cooking appliances for granted again.  Well not for a while anyway! (Gotta keep it real you know?)

 

Anyway I had some last minute prep to do for the retreat.  Not like I still don't have several days before I leave, but no point waiting till the night before.  Our group has a block lotto, and this time we're making scrappy bow tie blocks from Alex's book Scrap Quilting with Alex Anderson.  You can make one or more, and the more you put in, the better your chances are of winning the lot.  I made four, so far anyway.  Bow ties are a favorite, and I can just go through my scrap basket and find pieces just right. 

We also play Left, Right Center, so I have my fabrics for that.  Last year you brought three batik fat quarters, this year we're picking one color and bringing a light, medium and dark.  We might play more than once, so I have enough for two games.  It was pretty exciting last time, I had never played before. 

 

Yesterday was Splendid Sampler day!  Amy designed a cute block she named Snug as a Bug. You can read about it on her blog, and download the pattern over at The Splendid Sampler!  I can't wait to see your blocks!

 

 

Ok, I best get ready and face the day! xo

TGIF

Man this week could not be over fast enough.  How was it for you?  Hope that it went well, regardless though, IT'S IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.

 

I've seen lots of pretty Splendid Sampler blocks out on FB and IG.  What about you?  I whipped mine out, it's a cute block. I'm trying to add more colors as I go.. who knows how it will all work out.  I suspect for me sashing will be the great equalizer!  You can find instructions for Focal Point over here on the Splendid Sampler website, and you can read more about designer Natalia here on her blog, Piece and Quilt.

 

Now that it's time to think about packing up for my retreat, I wanted to share two new additions to my  travel equipment.  Olfa kindly sent me this new Folding Cutting Mat which is perfect for on-the-go sewing.  I think one of the hardest things to bring with you is the mat... and it only takes one time of leaving your mat in the car in even the slightest of bent positions to know it's far to valuable of a tool to risk damaging. This mat will fold up and slide into a tote bag.  Thanks Olfa, and thanks for making those life changing tools. (You can click here and see my video where I talk about life changing things! Its been almost 4 years since I made it but it's all still true. )

 

 

Also on deck is my new Clover Wedge iron. I ordered it after seeing a demo in the Clover booth  at CHA in January.  My regular iron takes up a lot of space and is  power hungry so not practical for this sewing trip, but I'm not ready to give up having a dedicated iron!   I hope this little iron does the trick for me.

 

 

 

 

The lines on this mat disappear with the slightest pressure, so once you lay your fabric on it you can't see that fold at all. 

 

Ok, that's about it for today peoples!  HAPPY WEEKEND! xo

The Name Game

Good morning! How was your weekend? Busy?  I saw a lot of blocks  for the Splendid Sampler pop up in Instagram and Facebook!  Sunday's block is courtesy of Celine Perkins.  It's called Simple Simon and it's just that! You can click over to The Splendid Sampler for the block instructions. Here's my block. 

In other exciting news.. Pam Kitty Morning is featured over on Cindy's blog, Live a Colorful Life!

 

If you've been wondering how the name Pam Kitty Morning came about, head on over and check it out.   It might not be what you think! 

 

Spending time back in the sewing room has really paid off for me.  I have two nice kits cut for  my retreat.  I'm thinking that's probably enough to keep me busy.  Hmm what next.  Maybe I'll tackle some of my ufo's sitting around.  I can go through the stuff piled up at the archaeological dig site...oops I mean my sewing table and find something.  Like maybe those blocks I started last year. WHO KNOWS.   Anything could happen!   Have a great week friends! xo

 

P. S. HAPPY LEAP YEAR DAY!

TGIF

Hi there! Happy Friday!  Hope your week has been a happy one!  I've been a busy bee this week, working in my sewing room, doing a little of this and a little of that.  First things first, yesterday was Splendid Sampler day!  Did you download your block and get busy?  Happy Happy is the theme of Jen Kingwell's block, and indeed it is happy.  I love Jen's style, don't you?  I remember the first time I saw her Green Beans and Sweet Beans Quilt at Quilt Market I lost my mind I loved it so much.  She continues to wow me each time she makes a new quilt.  Magical is all I can say.  Anyway, I love her block and while mine is a bit of departure from hers with no embroidery, I felt happy making it.  I love how people are putting their own spin on it.. check out this block by Debbie Taylor.. so cute.  I  love the machine applique on it.. the 'x' through a couple of flowers and the bird!  Perfect addition. 

 

While I was working on my kit for the retreat, which is still a couple of weeks away, I stopped to try out a block from the American Patchwork and Quilting sew along, It All Adds Up.  This block is from the Easy Addition quilt by Brenda from Just a Little Bit Frayed. Just in case you don't know Brenda, she's a fabric designer and  a shop owner as well. Check out her blog to read about all the other things she's up to. 

 

Anyway, I saw this scrappy version on the All People Quilt instagram feed.  (made by Jeni Baker)  I love that kind of scrappy, so I pulled out a bunch of my low volume prints and got busy. I pulled reds for the pluses and all the low volume prints I've had over the years and got cutting.  Today I'll cut the accent pieces, then do all the subcutting.  Once I'm done I'll pop it in a bag and I'll have a second project ready for retreat sewing.

 

So that was my week in a nutshell.  How was yours.  This weekend we're celebrating my mom's birthday, that should be fun!  Any big plans on your side of the screen?  Are you sewing along with  The Splendid Sampler, or what about the APQ Quilt Along?  There are so many wonderful sew alongs right now!   Ok, happy weekending! xo

 

 

Construction Zone

Good morning!  It's week two on the kitchen update.  It's been pretty painless.  Eric Dennett, our contractor, is probably the tidiest person ever known to work on a house.  We've had him here before, and so I already knew this.  I could only wish we were that tidy.  The countertops and appliances were removed and there' s not a spec of debris anywhere. 

 

I can't even complain too much about the inconvenience. Well honestly, I could because I'm a professional  complainer but it's not that bad.  Coffee is in the main bathroom in the hall.  My inexpensive Mr. Coffee has a timer, so for the first time in many years I set my coffee up at night and when I wake up fresh hot coffee is waiting.  Not as delicious as a cup brewed in a French press pot, but still, pretty good.  That's the taste of convenience.  I can stay in the back of the house and mind my own beeswax while Eric does his thing.  Quietly, and very politely. 

 

Still it's weird to have someone else in the house during the day.  I find it hard to concentrate.  I head off to my retreat the second weekend in March, and so I've tried to focus on cutting myself a quilt kit.  I'm not good a focusing in a group so cutting stuff out before hand is a must.  Of course I won't get near the amount of stuff done as anyone else, but I need something to do!  This will be something for me and I'll tell you all about it later.  In detail.  Every. Boring. Detail.  

 

Ok my friends!  I'm headed into a busy day of walking around the back of my house drinking coffee and pretending I'm busy.  Hope you have a good week! If you feel so inclined, tell me what you're working on. 

 

Oh wait!  Did you see all the QuiltCon postings on IG and Facebook?  What did you think?   Also, did you check in with Pat and Jane, another Splendid Sampler block is available! Melissa Corey is the designer of the third block, Lots of Love.  Check it out!

 

Alrighty, time to move it along! That coffee won't drink itself! xo

Thursday

Goood morning!  How is your week going?  Things are hopping around here.  Work on the kitchen is moving along. It's exciting.  I have been spending my days in the sewing room, not that I'm really all that focused to be honest.  These Splendid Sampler Blocks are just the right size bite of sewing to work on.  Not that I have gotten much done.  Too much chaos.

 

Its Quiltcon West weekend, so Instagram and Facebook will be filled with pictures from the show, can't wait to see them.  So much quilt energy in one place should be a blast. 

 

Tell me what you're up to. Any big plans this weekend?  Can't wait to hear about it.  xo

 

 

Monday

Morning! So do you have a day off?   Bret is home and he's helping me get the last of the preparations done for  tomorrows Kitchen Kickoff.    It seems weird that by the end of the day the very last of that avocado green should be gone from this house.  When Bret first bought it there were green heavy drapes, green sculptured carpeting, green appliances, green cabinets, green countertops, green everywhere.. it was nuts.  Bit by bit we eradicated it and after all these years, it will be gone. In today's demo-it-days it seems crazy that we still had any green at all, based on the ease of remodel on TV and people's dissatisfaction over anything dated.  

 

Yesterday was the Splendid Sampler kick off and by 9 am when I first looked the Facebook group was filled with completed blocks.  So many clever fussy cut hearts!  Very cute.  The block is simple and sweet.  I like fusible applique, so mine is machine blanket stitched.  Don't you love the patchy background? 

 

 

This little candy message cracked me up.  Pat often  includes a 'wink' in her writings, and when I saw it I totally laughed out loud, it's Pat's block and there's her 'wink'. 

 

Looking forward to Thursday and the next block, by Jane.  I haven't made it yet, but I know it's pretty!  Hope you're stitching along with us!  xo

Happy Valentine Day

Good morning!  Happy Sunday! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

I hope you have a nice day planned, whether it's full of romance or full of doing whatever the heck you want.. both seem just fine, right?  Add in a cup of coffee and it sounds perfect! 

 

Exciting and on today's agenda, the first  official block reveal of the Splendid Sampler!  I hope you'll head over and check out the cute block that's first on the list.  And if you get there too early, be patient, you can read all about The Splendid Way to do Things.  Remember, it's for fun and not for stressing over! Make what you want, try what you want, be happy, be nice!   It's pretty simple. 

 

Ok, I'll show you my block Monday or Tuesday.  It's pretty cute.  I can't wait to see yours! xo

Friday

So another week comes to a close.  How was it? I didn't make one move forward with those bunnies but I got a couple more Splendid Sampler blocks done.  The very first block reveal is Valentine's Day, can't wait! 

 

 

I think my favorite part will be seeing everyone blocks unfold.. so many pretty combinations.  So far I'm totally crushing on Charise's blocks, but I have been a fan for a long time.  Check out her blog, so many wonderful projects.  I love her color sense,  fabric selections, photo styling. Well you should go and see for yourself. 

 

Ok, time to get busy.  Kitchen work starts next week, so I need to finish getting ready.   My sewing room closet is the access point to the crawl space and attic so that hot mess needs addressing.  Its this kind of situation that really makes me miss Frankie even more. She is a good helper and would have that done in no time.  Me, I like to complain and put stuff off.  But I guess after this many years you guys already know this! 

 

Happy weekending everyone!  Tell me all about your plans! xo 

Monday

Hi there everyone! How was your weekend? Filled with festivities of the Super Bowl??   Did you join the rest of the sports-free by heading out to anyplace normally crowded?  That's what we did! 

 

Also on the agenda this weekend, was the last of those rabbits!  I still need to cut sashing and borders but right now I'm just glad they're done.  I had slowed myself down  by cutting each rabbit out separately, sewing it, then cutting another.  There was a large piece of the background fabric left over from backing another project, so I was using the oddball piece to cut .. also time consuming.  When that piece was gone I made the calculations and cut the last 6 out and phew, that made the process about a thousand times faster.   I know my down fall is trying to make the most economical cuts instead of following the pattern.  I'm my own worst enemy in that respect. 

I know some of you are thinking Pam, your background/ear selection just doesn't make any sense.  Where's the contrast?  If you look at Elizabeth's pattern, you can see she uses a dark background and white ear.  I decided I wanted a field of bunnies hiding in the flower patch, and I didn't care that some ears had more contrast than others.  I like how it turned out, but if you're going to go this way on your own bunny quilt you might want to choose medium fabrics for ears if the lack of contrast bothers you.  A nice  solid light pink could have worked, and I think the the ears with more contrast probably make more sense for the traditionally minded. Next up is cutting the sashing, hopefully this week.

 

What's this you say?  This is a bonus  block for the Splendid Sampler.  It's something you can make to test out your fabric selections or just have fun while you wait.  The 'official' blocks begin on Valentine's Day February 14... and I can't wait. You can make a block and share it on the Facebook Page, and see what everyone else is up to. Did you join up?  The last I peeked the membership was at 10,644 and climbing!  Can you believe it?    I'm very excited to be part of this fun project.  I hope you'll join in. 

 

Ok, that's a lot of reading for a Monday Morning!  Have a happy week! xo

Friday

Hi there Happy Friday, gateway to the weekend!  Did you have a good week?  Seems like I did so much this week but I only have two little rabbits to show for it. 

 

Fortunately, I have the rest cut out and ready to sew on my table this morning, so maybe, just maybe by next week I'll be AT LEAST showing you the rest of the rabbits.  But don't count on it. The days just seem to come and go and while I feel like I am hustling through them, I have very little to show for it. 

 

Big doings this weekend anyone?  With the Super Bowl in our area there's lot of additional festivities.  Super Bowl City is right near  Bret's office  so he got a first hand glimpse of it this week.   I'm sure that there will be plenty of Law and Order somewhere to pass the time with, for those of us who aren't fans, right? 

 

Ok everyone, have a happy weekend!

 

 

Monday

Good morning!  Happy Monday everyone!  Did you have a nice weekend?  I managed to get some sewing in, made two more bunnies and I think they're pretty cute.  They're fun to sew.  Today I'll cut out another one.

 

The weekend was fun as Frankie was home.  We're having some work done in the kitchen soon and she came and packed up everything in the cabinets for me.  There was still plenty of time for visiting and that's a treat.

 

What were you up to?  Hope it was fun! xo