Friday, April 29, 2016

Strip Smart Mini

Hi there, happy Friday.  How did your week go?  I feel like I got a lot of stuff done.  I've sewn all my rows together for the Easy Addition quilt and it's now a quilt top waiting to be quilted.  I added my borders to the Pie Cherries quilt and I'm pretty excited about how it turned out.  I also stitched the  side borders onto my Scrapbasket quilt.. but I'm on the fence about my choices so I'm setting that aside. I've checked it off the list but I might have to uncheck it and try something else. Hopefully this weekend I can find some sun and get a few photos of all these projects to show you. 
 
No surprise I got sick of my list though. I have one more quilt that needs borders and I just didn't have it in me to do it.  So I took a bit of a sewing holiday and pulled out my Strip Smart Mini that my friend Kathy sent me.   Kathy designed this template for Creative Grids.  I'm telling you it's genius, just like Kathy. You might remember she's written two Strip Smart books, Strips Smart Quilts and Strip Smart Quilts 2... you can make mini version of all those quilts with this template. She's also designed new patterns to go with this template, you can take a peek at those here.  And there's a video and instruction page that includes more blocks and ideas here.

Strip Smart Mini
 
I cut myself two  2 inch strips and stitched them together.  Kathy recommends starch, as there will be bias edges.  Then it's just a matter of cutting you pieces. One strip set yields 10 pieces if you cut them as I've shown here.  If you watch the video you'll see there are other ways to cut the strip up. I'ts pretty amazing. 

Strip Smart Mini
 
I love this block, is it the double hourglass block?  I don't remember the official name.  So fast and simple. I pressed all the seams open. 

Strip Smart Mini
 
I also made a block stitching the to long edges together to yield a square.  I hope you go watch Kathy's video, or if you have the Strip Smart books, pull them out for ideas.  I loved the double hour glass quilt in the strip smart book, called Penny Candy.  You can catch a picture of it on my blog post here.  My books have a new life with this template.

Strip Smart Mini
 
One thing I really like about the Creative Grids rulers is the little booklet that comes with them.  I usually store my ruler with the booklet just in case I need help remembering how to use it. 
 
So that was my fun activity yesterday afternoon. But then I'm back at my list.  What did you do this week?   Have a good weekend! Can you believe it's the end of the month already??

Monday, April 25, 2016

Monday

Good morning! Did you have a nice weekend? It was Splendid Sampler time again, and finally we're back to one of the blocks that I've made, Sweet Candy.  I'm sticking with what's comfortable for me, and that's the great thing about this, you get to do as many or as few blocks as you'd like. 


Splendid Sampler
 
This block is Sweet Candy by Kris Thurgood. Kris owns My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe and it's a charming store in Logan Utah.  I had the chance to visit there last year when I was visiting Nanette. Its a cheerful store and I recommend going it you have the chance.
 
I had a productive weekend.  I've organized more things so I'm ready with a list of what projects need to be completed.  Lots of things need borders.  Obviously something that's not my favorite.  I determined what to use on those quilts and have those ready.  I stitched all my Easy Addition blocks into rows, so that's another project that is so close to being done. All I need is some good TV and I'm set there. There are some projects I'd like to start soon, but I'm trying to clear up a few things first.  My sewing table isn't totally cleaned off because well, we're talking about me. But it's so much better.  I am trying to set reasonable goals that I can actually accomplish.
 
Hope you have a good week ahead of you!  See you later aligators! xo 
 
 

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Cuppa with the Queen

Today's the Queen of England's birthday so I'm having a cup of tea in my fancy  mug.  I'm not going to lie, I totally got a jump start on  the whole cool mug thing this time, luckily I saw Sarah with her Queen's birthday mug over on Instagram and wasn't going to be caught without a full choice of mugs. Do I have a problem?  YES I DO.  But sometimes doesn't IG make you want to buy stuff?  Most of the time I'm able to quash it but I knew the mug was going to get to me.  I remember hunting down that Cath Kidston Jubliee mug like it was big game!

Queen
 
Phew.  I have a cool mug.  It was a tough choice, just look here at all these options! My mug is by Dunoon but there are plenty of fantastic mugs out there.  I'll be chugging some coffee out of this one later. I mean tea. Come on. 

scrapbasket Sanpler
 
More sewing done this week, pretty excited to have all the applique done on my Scrapbasket Sampler.   I thought about doing the majority of the applique without sewing the border onto the body of the quilt, but in the end I attached it so that I could make sure I was happy with the layout.  Some of the pieces overlap into the first row of blocks.

scrapbasket Sampler
 
It does make blanket stitching more challenging but not impossible.  For a few minutes I thought I was done but then remembered there were side borders. So close.
 
Wednesday I went over to  my mother-in-law's with my Easy Addition blocks.  Doris  has a big floor space and plenty of patience to make sure that all the blocks are laid out without two matching pluses ending up next to each other.  So those are all in a pile and I'll start sewing rows together.  Hopefully it will go together easily. 
 
Hope your week finishes out great!  We've had some nice sun and we're expecting rain tomorrow, or maybe Saturday depending on where you look.  I'm happy for the rain, it will extend the wonderful green season here longer. Have fun !xo
 
 

Monday, April 18, 2016

Sunny Monday


Hi there! How was your weekend?  I got some sewing done, I was going to say a lot, but there are people who really do get a lot done, so I'll just say some and be satisfied with that.   I laid out my Scrapbasket Sampler blocks from Cheri's Facebook Group/Sewing Bee.   It took me a while to decide what to use for alternate blocks.  I ended up going with the same backgrounds, keeping it predominately pink and aqua.  I had waited till Cheri released the applique portions to decide what to do.  I know this is just a snippet of the quilt, it's long and narrow, but you can see the addition of the bottom applique.
 
Scrapbasket Sampler

I was able to do all the blanket stitching and then attach the piece to the bottom, I think it's kind of fun and makes the little green bits in the body of the quilt pop a bit. The applique is quite a bit darker than the quilt.. so I'm not sure if it will be successful in the end.  Maybe all you're going to notice is OMG LOOK AT THAT APPLIQUE.

Scrapbasket Sampler
 
 There's a lot more pieces in the top applique, lots of flowers and more stars.  I'd worry about it, but you know what, it's just fabric and so there's no risk in using it and making a mistake right? I used to be a lot more carefree with my projects, less worry about how it will all look, so I'd like to capture some of that again. 


Now for some coffee break reading.. Sunday's reading was Kerri's cute Lovely Little Patchwork book.  Chock filled with adorable projects. I'm sure you already know how adorable everything she makes is.
 
 
Lovely Little Patchwork
 
I am very excited to see some Pam Kitty Fabric featured in this cute table runner.  Very cute book, congratulations to Kerri. You can follow her on Instagram here, and check out all the cute stuff people are making using the hashtag #lovelylittlepatchwork here.

Lovely Little Patchwork

Ok, lets keep this week on the straight and narrow.

Friday, April 15, 2016

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. 


Splendid Sampler
 
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, April 11, 2016

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. 


Splendid Sampler
 
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! 

Sizzix block
 
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. 


Sizzix block
 
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
 
 

Friday, April 08, 2016

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.


Splendid Sampler
 
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.


Modern Vintage Gifts
 
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.


Modern Vintage Gifts
 
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
 
 

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

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!

Phoebe Phone Case
 
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. 

Pheobe Phone Case
 
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)


Pheobe Phone Case
 
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, April 04, 2016

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.

Scrapbasket Samper
 
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. 


Scrapbasket Samper
 
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

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.

My favorite quilt
 
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, April 01, 2016

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. 

Scrapbasket Sampler
 
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


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