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

Happy Friday!

So the week has flown by hasn't it? We've been awfully lackadaisical I'm afraid, not getting much done at all. My blocks are still up on the wall where I left them, and maybe next week I'll make an alternate for #4, or at the very least replace those large triangles with a print. Thanks for all your comments and helpful suggestions.



One thing in my stocking this year was a picture of a digital SLR camera. Santa wanted me to pick my own, so after a lot of research, yesterday we went out and picked up this camera. Still in the box let me add, I'm a little afraid of it. I really know my little Canon Powershot Digital Elph, so hopefully I'll be able to learn this camera too. Soon you'll be subject to better quality bad photos!

Happy Weekending people!!! xop

Bloggers Block-December

So peeps, are you keeping up with the Blogger's Block of the Month? We're just on block 4, so if you haven't started there's still time to catch up. I'm making myself make the block as soon as possible after it's posted, and Pat posted her block yesterday, so I got busy. Click over to her post for instructions.

One thing that I forgot about till I started looking at my block, Jackie had requested that we use one piece for sure in each block. I think that makes for a unifying set of blocks. Of course we're 4 months in and I notice that I haven't done that. I haven't even used one color in all the blocks. Of course not too late to remake some blocks. I need to think about this a bit.

So people, are you making one or two blocks of each month? I notice some people are making two. Not to beat a dead horse (sorry, poor choice of words Rocky) but should I be making 2 each month? PEOPLE TELL ME WHAT TO DO. Suddenly I hate my blocks. No I don't. AHHH. I don't like that this month I didn't use a third fabric for my triangles. Geez, sometimes I can't make up my mind.

Now don't get me started on the wonkiness. And the little ripple up at the top. Worst enemy=me.

Ok, seriously, I'm almost over it.

Have a good day! xo

Post Holiday Post

So how did it go peeps? We had a really great day, followed by a day of relaxation. Bret has the week off so we're totally taking it easy and squandering the free time on tv and lounging about.



So tell me, how did it go for you?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas my wonderful friends!!!

Stitchy!

Good morning!!! I hope you're all right on track with your holiday preparations! Today I am happy to announce that I'm a member of the Auriful Designer of the Month team for 2012!

We're featuring handwork this year using the Auriful 12wt thread. Look for me at the halfway point! I'm featured in June! I hope you'll follow along with our block of the month project.

Ok, time to get to work! Have a great day !!!

Wednesday

What's up today? For me it's my last trip to the market I hope. Need to make my list and get everything so I don't have to go back, you know it will be a madhouse! Yesterday I had a wonderful day over at Holly's.

We had a quick hike before a delicious leisurely lunch.

California is treating us to some spectacular weather lately, frosty mornings, sunny days and then cold nights. I'm soaking up the sunshine when I can, you know it's going to be gloomy soon enough.

Fun to see the 'kids', good excuse to get outside, right?


I was lucky on the ride home, very little traffic even though it was about 4:30pm. Kind of a charmed day. Hope it's not all scurrying and panic for you! xo

Super Saturday

Did you survive the weekend? I didn't realize this Saturday had a special name too, it was Super Saturday. What about you? Did you have to brave the crowds?

I did sew again and it turns out I can't stop making these tea towels. I like a project that's all neat and tidy, and is done in a short period of time. I also finished a top secret Christmas gift. Well almost finished, the tedious finishing details still need to be done but the big part of the project is done. Phew. I was cutting it awfully close. More on that later.

Hope you had a good weekend. Tell me all about it!

Hello Friday

Another week flew out the window right? They seem to jet by at the end of the year don't they? Are you making progress?

I had one last project this week,this little towel. This time I cut out a cat from the panel with a smidge of white around the edge, and blanket stitched it to a tea towel with monofilament thread. I think it's pretty cute. Same old tea towel ruffle but I added some pom pom trim that I had forgotten I had! Now I have a cute little hostess gift. (Or I could laminate it so it couldn't be sullied and hang it in my own kitchen, either one! )

So what's on the weekend agenda? Enjoying yourself or are you in a panic? I hope enjoying is on the agenda.

I made stuff and didn't tell you.

I started this quilt a long time ago and you probably forgot about it. I finished it and I forgot about it. Well finish is a word I use lightly, the top is done, clearly it still needs quilting. It's a smaller version of Criss Cross and I think it turned out pretty cute. It certainly was fast and easy.

This quilt also has been 'done' a while, and just waiting for a photograph. Last weekend Bret and I went out looking for a fence to throw some quilts on.

Do you ever see a quilt somewhere and just want to recreate it? Well this quilt is a recreation of a quilt I saw a long time ago at Susan Branch's store, Heart of the Home. It was being used as a table cloth at the time I believe, and I fell in love. I saw it other times on my visits to her shop. I even saw it in a magazine article or maybe it was on her website,I'm not sure where I got this photo, but it's been in my little treasures folder for a long time.

Once I saw just a snippet on her blog and after commenting on how much I loved it, Susan sent me a close up photo. How can you not love Susan? I always think of her as Sweet Sue, and she surely is.

Its not an exact copy, I used a shoo fly block instead of a churn dash, which I regret a little, but still, it's pretty close. Everytime I see it I think of my friend, Sweet Sue.

So what are you doing? Tell me everything!

PamKitty Book Bag

Good morning! What's new in the outside world? Not much is new here in PKMville, just working on projects and enjoying some crime fighting tv! And coffee.. lots of delicious coffee to go with it. I've also been procrastinating, which you know, I excel at.

Way back when, I made a little PamKitty book bag. It's really just a generic tote bag, but I could imagine taking it to the library and filling it up with books like we did when we were kids. I was supposed to write some pattern instructions to go with it. Well we all know that I'm not a genius at that, so I put it off. And put it off some more. So today I'm finally getting it together and posting what has to be the lamest set of photos ever to go with the instructions.

First off you make the bag front. So far so good right? Then you cut a piece of backing the same size. Maybe you fuse some interfacing on both pieces, maybe you don't.

Then you sew around the sides and the bottom, leaving an opening to turn your bag. My scissors and seam ripper show the open seam. So far, really easy right?

Make the handles by folding your handle strip in half and pressing, then open and fold each long edge to the center, fold in half, then press. Top stitch each side then cut into two 20 inch handles.

Then pin them to the bag front, 3 inches from each side. But don't do as I do here in the photo, because wow, how did I miss that? SEAM RIPPER TIME!

Stuff your bag into your lining right sides together and match the side seams and handles placement and stitch all the way around the top.

Then pull it out through the open lining seam, press it, stitch the seam closed and you have yourself a PamKitty Book Bag.

But all that seems a little vague right? Just click on the bag icon and you can download a pdf with all the details. Now make some bags people!!

Some things I forgot!

I don't know how I could have forgotten to mention this here! But hey! Did you know that in the alphabet print, which is named Pam Kitty Loves You, actually has "Pam Kitty Loves You" hidden in the tossed letters? It's like my secret agent message to you guys.

That's not the only secret, tucked away in the corner of each PKM Kitty block is a little PKM logo. It's white on white though, so you can't really see it, unless you're looking. Which you totally should!

I'm sure you remember my darling pin cushion from Melissa, right? It uses the really cute little stripe on the edge of the panel. I thought it was so clever, as that stripe is the cutest.

Melissa has written a tutorial for the pin cushion, and you should head over to her blog and check it out. You should totally check her blog out anyway, she's very clever and gets a lot done.Wouldn't that pin cushion be a darling gift for a quilting friend. Or for yourself?

Ok, phew. Have a good day peeps!