Treating myself.

Yesterday I decided to have a "Treat Yo Self " The Sewing Edition day.

 

Anyway...maybe you don't have this problem, but sometimes I try and wring out every bit of use from something before I just toss it and move on.   You know, way past what normal people do.  Most people would need a new cover, buy it, and put it on.  Which after a month is what I've finally done.  Phew. 

 

These are my favorite pins.  Back when I was working in the shop and people were first using them I just couldn't believe pins could make such a big difference.  Ha.  These pins changed my life.  And today another hundred will join the last 22 I have from the previous batch. That I have been limping along with.  FOR QUITE SOME TIME. Why didn't I just open them up instead of 'saving' them?  

 

I bet if I looked around I could find another blade for my rotary cutter. That could use changing too. 

 

 Lastly I treated myself to some recorded television.  I just discovered Vera on my local PBS station and loved it.  So I had my lunch with Vera and it was great.  All in all a good day.  I even fit in some sewing. It doesn't get any better than that right?

 

Hope you're having a good week!

 

P. S. how in the world is it the end of September?

Quilting in the Garden-2015

Hi there friends!  Hope you weekend was a happy one!  I had a great time  attending Quilting in the Garden with some friends.  I went with my pal's Deb and Debbie, met up with my online pal Mary Ann for the first time! So much fun meeting in real life.   We ran into Keiko there and had a nice visit with her too!  I ran into my friends Carol and Sharon, who I hadn't seen in a long time.  It was a great day!

This year there seemed to be more quilts and more attendees!  I sat with Alex for a while and got a sneak peek at her new book, All Things Quilting. It's pretty fantastic.   I know often I just think of Alex my friend, but she changed the face of quilting with her show Simply Quilts.

Freddy Moran was the guest artist this year and her colorful quilts were on display all though out the nursery.  We're lucky here in the bay area, we are a quilting epicenter with so many legends living here.

Tracy Souza from Plum Cute Designs was vending a the show.  She's got her now super famous block of the month that was in a gang  shoot out!  You can read about it here on Facebook.

Quilting Legends Diana McClun and Laura Nownes were in attendance.  Their book, Quilts Quilt Quilts was considered the Bible  when it came to learning to quilt when I began quilting. 

 

Sally Collins was also a featured artist, and of course quilting legend. .  Her quilts were in a little conservatory building, as they're smaller in scale and need to be appreciated up close. Sally to me is the most famous for her precision quilting and complex designs.

Her work is amazing.  If you ever have a chance to see her quilts, or hear her speak, or even take a class, do it! 

Even more legends, Sandy Klop was in attendance.  Her big booth under the oaks was chock full of patterns and fabric and goodies.  I am so lucky to have been learning to quilt in an area with so many people who have shaped our industry over the years. 

It was a great weekend and I felt refreshed and inspired and ready to start the week at my sewing machine.  How was your weekend?

Splash of Color Blog Hop!

Good morning!  Hope you're having a happy weekend!  It's my day on Jackie's Splash of Color Blog Hop!   Jackie and I have been friends since way back in the beginning of my blogging days, you may remember her Blogger's Block of the Month  and my visit to her podcast back when my first line of fabric came out!  She's always been a great friend and supporter and I'm thrilled to be able to return the favor and talk about her fantastic book Splash of Color!

 

The first thing you notice about Jackie's quilting is that she doesn't shy away from color, nor does she stop when the piecing gets hard.  She's a Certified Judy Niemeyer   instructor and travels around the country teaching these techniques to others.  In her own book, Jackie has a wide variety of quilts with different piecing methods, from straightforward squares and rectangles  to the more complicated curves and paper foundation piecing.   The book includes templates, and also instructions for cutting with Creative Grids specialty rulers when available. 

 

I really like the rainbow effect of this quilt, Hip to Be Square.  Square and rectangles are good friends of mine! 

Along with just about every quilt, there is an alternate version, and I really liked this on point version of the quilt by Sally Murray. These two quilts are the inspiration I used to create my own Hip to Be Square table runner.  I dug through my stash for some black and white prints to go with some of my colorful Pam Kitty fabric  and in no time I had completed project!

Here are some other quilts from the book, I love this Dreaming of Pyramids quilt. 

And this Jumpin Jax quilt. I appreciate the organizational tips included for all the projects.  There is so much to be learned about how to manage your project in this book, which I appreciate.  There's more to making a quilt than just sewing and Jackie helps you have success with her tips and techniques throughout the book.

If you'd like a chance to win an e-book copy of Splash of Color leave a comment  and I'll pick a winner at the end of the hop!  Be sure and visit all stops along the blog hop to see more about Jackie's book.   Check out the  Facebook group to see more quilts and join in on the fun!

Splash of Color Blog Hop List:
Wednesday, September 23

Jackie Kunkel - Canton Village Quilt Works
Kate Colleran - Seams Like a Dream
Pat Sloan - Pat Sloan Blog

Thursday, September 24

Sherri McConnell - A Quilting Life

Shelly Pagliai - Prairie Moon Quilts

Margaret Solomon Gunn - Quilts Of Love

Friday, September 25

Faith Jones - Fresh Lemons Quilts

Jenny Wilding Cardon - Martingale

Saturday, September 26

Vicki Welsh - Field Trips In Fiber

Pam Vieira- McGinnis - Pam Kitty Morning

Sunday, September 27

Pat Wys - Silver Thimble Quilt Co. 

Sharon McConnell - Color Girl Quilts

Monday, September 28

Julie Sefton - Me and My Quilts - Exploring the Possibilities

Victoria Findlay Wolfe - Bumblebeans/Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts

Tuesday, September 29

Caroline Critchfield - Sew Can She

Amy Ellis - Amy’s Creative Side

Monday

Good morning peeps!  How are you?  I hope you had a good weekend!  Frankie came home to sort though some of her stuff, it still looks like a 'stuff bomb' went off around here, but she's making headway. 

 

Didn't spent much time sewing this week, but I managed to get my 100 Blocks Magazine submission for issue 13 on it's way.  I have my finger's crossed it will be accepted. Wanna see a sneak peek?  You can here!

 

I wanted to make something cute for Frankie's desk at work, so I remembered back to this post where I made a little coaster.  It was not the greatest success, but I hoped that I could improve on my original.  I did some quickie applique on it, and after a too small version that looked like a horrible mistake, I finished this one for her. You can see I still  have some work to do where my ends meet on the rick rack, but I think it turned out pretty cute.  Cute enough to collect condensation from a glass at least.  I was inspired by Chickpea Sewing Studio's little tutorial on the Roller Coaster that sadly I can't find anymore.  It was pretty easy though, well, except that rick rack situation. 

 

Hope you all had a good weekend.  Hop your week is happy! xo

Snapshots Quilty Cat Month 9!

HI there everyone!  It's that time of the month again, time for our Snapshots Quilt Along Blocks! This month it's the Quilty Cat.  And if I have a pink dog, I have to have a pink cat too, right? Of course I'm right! 

 

This fast and easy block was made faster and easier with my patchwork fabric.  What's more Pam KITTY than that?  I'm not going to lie, it was the logical lazy girl choice!

 

I simply skipped ahead to page three, and cut my  patchwork to 9 1/2" x  11 1/2", which is what the instructions say for your stitched together patchwork.  I cut mine on the diagonal, so it's got a lot of bias going on, but you could cut yours on the straight if you wanted.  Or you know, follow the instructions and make your own patchwork!

 

I have sure enjoyed seeing all your blocks on Facebook and Instagram.  I love all the different color combinations.  And people were so clever updating last months bicycle block to hook up all the pieces.  Genius really.  Just check the Facebook group to see some of them. 

 

Ok, as you know you can find the video here and the pdf here!  And please consider donating to the St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital, it's such a great cause.  WHAT??? You didn't know about the quilt along?  You can read all about it here at the Jolly Jabber!

 

 

#fqsfun

#fqssnapshots

Hit and Miss

Good morning! Hope your three day weekend (if indeed you had one) was a nice one!  I barely remember what we did with our time, with the exception of a traffic filled trip to Santa Cruz.  Seriously, the traffic was unbelievable even for me. We would never have left town on a holiday under normal circumstances, but we're helping Frankie with some apartment hunting over at the coast.  I guess the rule of thumb is, don't get in the way of people who want to get to the beach.

 

But back to a kinder gentler world, I got some sewing in.  I have loved variations of this block for years, first in country sunflower colors, and now in my favorite Pam Kitty colors. It's a great block and there are so many variations.  While on Pinterest I saw a vintage quilt that reminded me of the block and I got out my graph paper and went to town. 

 

This kind of piecing, where all those triangles meet, is my area of weakness.  So it will be fun to get some practice in for better matches.    Camille used to have a great pattern, I believe named Red Velvet, that used a very clever technique for making this block. (scroll a little in that post to see the quilt) I don't believe she offers that pattern anymore.  Anyway, it was fun, and hopefully I can get some more blocks made in between a lot of activity we have going on around here. There's been a lot of good sewing tv lately, and that's been fun.

 

Ok, short week!  Hope it's a good one for us all! xo

How now...

How did the week go?  Mine went fast, whoosh and then FRIDAY! I hardly remember the days.  What about for you?

 

Midweek I was so excited, after writing about my desire for a cow like Lori's I had found one on ebay,   bought it, and finally it arrived.  My treasure was wrapped up tight, and I carefully cut the tape and peeled off the bubble wrap.  I  could hardly wait to get a photo, so excited to share my cow. But first.. I thought I need to plan on which fabric I'll use for the pincushion.

 

That's when I realized it.  I'm not always good with details.  Oh well, she's cute, right?

 

Happy weekend friends! Be safe! xo

Classic and Vintage-Log Cabin

Good morning!  It's Fat Quarter Shop's Classic and Vintage day here at PamKittyVille, and its featuring one of my favorite classic blocks, the log cabin!  There's so much history with a log cabin block, and so many styles, even logs, uneven logs, light and dark sides, scrappy, thin logs, fat logs.. and lets don't even try and get into the log cabin variations. 

 

For a long time it's been one of my favorites, and I've made quite a few log cabin quilts.  You can see the one that I made with 1 1/4 inch logs for Alex's book here.. and one I did for a blog hop here,  and one I made for a swap here.

 

There area lot of different techniques for stitching up a log cabin block.  I like to cut each log the correct size, buy you can also use strips and cut as you go. And now you can use  a hybrid method that uses oversized logs and the Creative Grids Log Cabin Trim tool.   Be sure and catch Kimberly's video over at the Fat Quarter Shop YouTube Channel where she shows you how to  use it! I think it looks like the perfect marriage of methods!

I turned my log cabin block into a little mat/potholder.  Ha, like I'd ever use it on a goopy pot!

 

I know you want to get sewing so you can download the block  pattern pdf here.  Fat Quarter Shop also has a pattern for the Hope Blooms Quilt, and you can by that pattern over here, it's a bargain!

 

Ok, hope you all have a fantastic week! xo

 

Monday

Good morning! How was your weekend?  Usual fare here- doing this and that and the other thing. Getting a coffee, going for a ride.  The weather was nice and we had the windows open most of the weekend!  I believe school starts around here today, so we'll see a pick up in the traffic  on our street, and there will be a lot more kids walking  past the house. The neighborhood will seem lively again!

 

 

I managed to get cutting.. this is part of a little project I have going, not to be revealed till sometime in September.  I but some old and new Pam Kitty fabrics, they're a cheerful lot.

 

 

One thing I really love  about blogs and instagram is all the wonderful photos of fabric and stuff and colors... I know I don't do a lot of that.  So when I looked up and saw that little tea bag holder I said what the heck.  So there you go.  I've upped my game. For one day.  Maybe I'll remember I have a lot of really cute things here and there, and I'll stop thinking about that cow Lori has. Because that cow haunts me.

 

Ok, lets go forth and conquer the week! Have a good one! xo

Mail Call

Hi there and Happy Thursday!  How is the week going ?  We are in the middle of a cooling trend, which to me is anything under 90 degrees...and I'm loving it. That 10 to 15 degree drop makes all the difference in the world. And like anyone who qualifies for a senior citizens discount, I want to talk about the weather. In the summer it's all about whether or not the fog came in through the (Golden) gate, is it a spare the air day and how hot will it be tomorrow?

 

But TODAY I can talk about some other things!   I received a surprise package from Elaine.  Back in June, Elaine won a give-away I had for the Pat Sloan Applique book.  I was happy that she was excited about it, and I shipped it off to her.  This week, I received this delightful package from Elaine as a thank you.  OHMYGOSH CAN YOU STAND IT?  Totally thoughtful, she remembered that I said my mother used a coin purse.. I don't even remember where I mentioned it, and she made a little coin purse for her.  Inside are two 100Grand candy bars which I think is the cutest thing ever to put  inside a purse.  My mom has a secret sweet tooth.. so she'll love them, and of course she's going to flip over the little purse. 

 

The sewing kit is wonderful. I have seen people making these on Instagram, and always coveted them.. and now I have one, make from my own Pam Kitty Garden fabrics.  It was such and out of the blue surprise, and so very thoughtful.  So again, Elaine, thank you so very very much.

 

Also in the mail another sweet surprise!  I saw Debbie work on this runner on Instagram and over on Facebook and loved it.  It's so cheerful and I love pears, the fruit to eat and the fruit in fabric form.  When I received a package from Debbie I was thinking hmm, what's this?  Feels squishy! 

 

Holy cow, I open it up and here's the pear runner! Debbie made it for me!!!! She used a lot of my favorite Pam Kitty prints and I'm thrilled with it.  So so cute and unexpected. Debbie is on a sewing and cross-stitching frenzy now that she's retired...when she isn't busy babysitting the darling Greyson!

 

I'm overwhelmed at my good fortune.  Seriously, I love love love my runner and my sewing kit! Debbie and Elaine you've spoiled me!  Again, I cannot even believe how kind people are to me.

Ok, hope you guys have  a super weekend!  xoxo

 

 

 

 

Note: according to Debbie's post on Instagram, the pattern for the runner is "Pears & Pinwheels" by Blueberry Hill Quilt Designs

Sewing kit information here!

Monday Monday

Greetings.. did you survive the weekend?  It was a scorcher here, Bret's car told him it was 109 on the way home from some errands yesterday. Rude.

 

Livermore is quite the wine lover's paradise, and there are large and small vineyards everywhere, this one in front of my (not-so) secret Starbucks parking lot.  I have been watching these grapes mature and actually stepped out and grabbed one to taste.  Sooo sweet.  The grapes love the sun.

 

So what all did you do this past weekend?  Just a lot of organizing around here.  I'm trying to get a bit of control on my sewing table.  I have a lot of in progress things with little cut pieces just waiting to get mixed up with other things.  In the meantime I have a lot of fun ideas of new things to make.  So I need to get a move on. 

 

Any big plans this week?  I hope to keep cool, get things put away, and then concentrated on putting my Snapshots rows together.  I notice Sherri was smart and already has her rows together. I know I'll feel more in control of things if I can do this too.  Unless I get sidetracked, which always happens.  Who knows.  Whatever I do it will be inside.. till the end of the week when it cools down a bit.

 

Ok, that's my update! Happy week, keep cool! xo

Snapshots Saturday: Month 8

Happy weekend peeps!  It's a Snapshots day here in PamKittyVille, and I'm ready here with my "Like Riding a Bike" block.  How cute right? I made this block while I was on my happy-go-lucky Utah vacation with Nanette, so it will always remind me off sitting in her sewing room chatting and sewing and having fun!  Just like bike riding, it's good for you to sew with your pals when you can!

You can check out the video for this block over at the Fat Quarter Shop you tube channel  and then download the pdf pattern here. 

 

Then pedal into your sewing room and get busy!  This block has a lot of pieces, so get out those Alphabitties to help you out.

 

And while you're at it, it would be great if you considered donating to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital..it's a great cause !

 

Ok, everyone!!! We're closing in on it! Have a happy weekend! xo

 

#fqsfun #fqssnapshots

TGIFGF!

Good morning! It's my Farm Girl Friday today!!! Thanks Lori, for inviting me along on your Farm Girl Sew Along.  When I paged through my Vintage Farm Girl book I fell head over heels for this cute Pie Cherry Quilt.  I just kept wishing I could see a picture of the whole quilt. I looked around online and then lo and behold when I was visiting Nanette I saw the REAL PIE CHERRY QUILT at Thimbles and Threads in Draper.    Don't you love Lori's version? 

 

I kept to her color recipe, using aqua and white backgrounds and aqua sashings.. and I think I have a nice mix of pink and red cherries. While I was making it I thought it would be fun to have red and yellow and pink cherries, Ranier cherries are so pretty too.  My favorites are the dark Bing cherries that are grown in our area here.  On my Utah vacation I collected up a bunch of aquas to use, and some white with aqua background prints, and then of course went to my stash of Pam Kitty Fabrics for the pinks, reds and greens. 

 

I also picked up  a couple of soft browns that wouldn't be too bold for the stems.  I like how they turned out. Just the right intensity I think.

 

All my sewing without lights resulted in some mismatchiness, but you know, honestly, I don't care.  I'm in love with how it turned out.  I was planning on using Lori's patchy borders, but now I think I'll use my aqua swirl print.. I'm just not quite sure yet.  So don't worry, this won't stay a UFO for long. 

 

Ok, did you make some Pie Cherries?  I can't wait to see all your blocks on Instagram!  The tags for this block is #piecherryblock #piecherryquilt #farmgirlfriday.  

 

Thanks for following along on my farm girl adventures! Come back tomorrow.. it's time for the Snapshots block for August!!! BICYCLE TIME! xo

Bird Brain

Happy Monday my fine feathered friends!  I hope you had a lovely weekend. I have birds on my mind, Friday afternoon we had a fun visitor to the backyard. Of course I didn't see from the backyard, but from the front pulling up after dinner out.  I was happy to see this little silhouette on the (unsightly) palm tree, a woodpecker or flicker.  Probably a juvenile Downey Woodpecker.. we've had those before.  Of course I whipped out my camera just to see if I could zoom in an really identify him, but I was way too far away, and by the time I went through the house he was gone.  I had another bird surprise last week.  One afternoon I was sewing and I could hear a huge racket by the local crows.  I mean I heard it inside over the a/c, my tv, my fan  and the sewing machine.  I went out back and saw probably 25 crows circling my neighbors oak tree, totally cheesed off at some kind of owl sitting there minding his own business.  By the time I reached for my binoculars he was gone..so no idea exactly what he was.  I recognized him by his silhouette.  He was probably a medium sized owl, brown.  Super fun.  It's been a long time since I've seen an owl in the neighborhood. Back in the day we had a pair barn owls living in our palm tree, and Frankie and I would lay in the hammock at night and watch for them to fly out of the tree like ghosts.  It really was breath taking. 

 

Also, aside from all the birds, I did some sewing.  Of course you'll have to wait and see if I did get those pie cherries sewn.. but not for long, August 14 is fast upon us.  So while we wait, I'll show you some of the fussy cutting that I did recently for Holly's project.  Yummy right? The colors make me think of sorbet or cupcakes or something delicious ... macarons.. I'm not sure what exactly but something refreshing and tasty.

 

I guess I have dessert on my mind.  Hope you have a great week friends!  I can't believe we're already in the second week of August.  Time just flies by sometimes.  We should make sure we enjoy it! xo