"Hey, if I had somewhere to go, I certainly wouldn't be in Cleve-Land." -Howard the Duck

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

UFO Discovery

Last week I rediscovered a quilt that I had started YEARS ago...this UFO...an unfinished object!

I've mentioned this before, but I go in spurts of what I'm interested in doing.  These days it's quilting, so while I was looking through a box of fabric I found a bunch of squares...and a bunch of strips all cut out...and strips sewn together to cut into squares.  My Mom picked out the fabric for this quilt & I had started to make it for her.  These aren't my favorite colors & I prefer scrap quilts myself...but she loved these fabrics so I bought them for her & started the quilt.  The colors are a terra cotta, ivory & dark peach combo...with a touch of a sort of sage green.  This one is machine pieced...since it was going to be a king size quilt...then she got a smaller bed, so I was going to make a full or queen size instead. 

This is what a single square looks like...and when they're sewn together...they look like this...
 
There's a strong zigzag that runs down the length of the quilt which is echoed in the lightest fabric as it zigzags along.  Mom is gone now & I have no desire to finish this myself, although I may take some of the squares & make a wall quilt to honor & remember her & her favorite colors. 
 
I haven't quite decided what to do with the rest of it since the fabric is already cut into strips.  I'm thinking I'll probably figure out a price & put it up for sale in my Etsy shop.  I'll have some more sewing patterns & vintage needlework kits in there soon...so this might need to find a new home. 
 
Email me if you might be interested in it & we can work something out. 
 
 

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Always Remember...

This card is one I made years ago...the soldier is my Uncle Ed...he was home during World War II.  He's sitting on the steps with my Grandma & my Mom...his Mom & sister.  I love that photo.

Be sure to take time out from your Memorial Day festivities to REMEMBER those who fought and are still fighting so we would be able to enjoy our freedom. 

Always Remember...

Thursday, May 22, 2014

A Slight Distraction...

 
 I'm lucky enough to have this vintage yo-yo pillow.  It was my Mom's and she got it from one of my Dad's aunts...so my Great Aunt created it.  I can't remember which Great Aunt...and Mom is gone now so I can't ask her, either.  Anyway...this pillow is so special to me & sits on a bench by our back bedroom window.  It needs a few stitches to repair it, but I kind of like it worn & weathered...like me!
 
I'm amazed by how nice & even the gathering is at the centers of these yo-yos.  From what I've read, the smaller the stitching around the outside of the circle, the tighter the gathers & that's how to get that "O" shaped opening at each center, too. 
 
 So for years I'd see these little yo-yo makers for sale & thought they weren't necessary...I knew how to make yo-yos by cutting circles & sewing along the folded edge & gathering them.  Just like my Great Aunt & my Grandma & all the other Great Aunts & Grandmas through the ages made them.  Easy, right?  But did I actually MAKE any yo-yos that way?  NOPE!  I don't have the patience to do that folding over of the slightest edge & the tiny stitching...and I'm already cutting hexagons, so cutting circles wasn't exciting me, either. 
 
Enter my new little toy...the Clover Quick Yo-Yo Maker!  Yep...I gave in & ordered one.  The Large one is shown here...it makes yo-yos almost the size of the ones on my little pillow...about 1.75" across.  Since you take longer stitches around the edge, my centers aren't as nice as the ones my Great Aunt made...but I like them stitched tightly shut, too.  And I'm making yo-yos! 

I love how you just snap in a piece of fabric & cut around the edge of the yo-yo maker...no tracing & cutting of circles.  The stitching is quick & easy...as long as you pay enough attention & don't stitch the fabric to the tool.  You can see lots of videos on how to use these little gems on YouTube...just search yo-yo maker.

This is the Small size...it makes yo-yos that are around an inch in diameter.  The first fabric scrap I saw laying around was Christmas fabric...so now I'm busy sewing tiny little yo-yos to make some ornaments or even a garland of yo-yos for the tree.  That is if we ever get to have a Christmas tree again...with these kittens that like to climb.  Good thing they're so cute!!!
 
I have so many scraps of fabric...and fabric I've purchased as part of a charm pack that I don't like enough to put into my quilt...bit it seems all fabric looks great when made into yo-yos.
 
I'm still piecing my flowers for my quilt...but this is a fun little diversion.  I'm easily bored...so it's good to have a couple things going at any one time.  These days if it involves fabric...I'm all in.
 
I'll keep y'all posted on the progress of both projects...I have more fat eighths on the way...so more fun fabric to share soon.  Have a wonderfully creative & relaxing Memorial Day weekend...and remember those who served & still serve to protect our freedom.
 
 

Monday, May 12, 2014

A Treasure Trove of Fabric!

These are a few more flower centers that I haven't shown before.  I don't have many more new ones as I've been doing a lot of cutting of the hexagons.  I'm finding that I want to have lots of centers done & then have lots of the second round of 12 hexies cut so I can see which combos I like best together.  I haven't stopped to count again, either...I still have a long way to go.
 
Over the past couple weeks I was lucky enough to win more 1930s reproductions on eBay...yea!  Here is a link to the eBay shop where I got these...it's called joyofquilting1.  Joy is a dear person & if you're looking for some lovely 1930s reproduction fabric...she's got it.  I'll just hope you aren't bidding on the same auction as me!!!
 
You can't have lots of different color/pattern combos without a good assortment of fabric, now can you?  That's my story & I'm sticking to it!
 
Here's a close-up of some of those wonderful prints above...I especially love those dogs on yellow, the yellow with dots next to the dogs...and the little chicks on blue to the far left.  Fabulous!
 
Here's the other end of those fabrics...gotta love the bunny with the drum front & center...and all the lovely colors.  All of these are fat eighths...which is the perfect size for my quilt.  It allows me to get a nice assortment of prints & I'm able to cut 18 hexies...enough for one center & one outside round & still have a bit of the fabric left over.  Fat quarters are good, too...but I really love the smaller pieces as then I can afford more of an assortment. 
 
After a lovely weekend with near perfect weather, I'm not feeling my best today.  Might be the rain earlier...might be I did a bit too much over the weekend & my body is telling me to slow down again.  So...that's what I'm doing today...I just wish I could sleep...I'm running on just a few hours of that precious stuff & that doesn't help.  Oh well...fabric is calling!
 
Have a great week...oh & I did get some new rubber stamps & other stuff listed to my Etsy shop last week...it's KittenCreates if you care to take a look.  I've gotta get more into my shop this week...I have a wicked fabric habit to support! 
 
 
 

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day !


My Mom loved lilacs...but for some reason she never planted any in our yard.  We finally planted 2 small bushes last year.  They were only a couple feet high...but we decided we wanted to try.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they survived that harsh winter we endured...and they are actually blooming! 

 
This is the second lilac bush...it has more leaves at the top & the lilacs are sort of hidden below.  No matter...I'm hoping both of these lilac bushes thrive & grow taller this year.  Mom & Grandma would be happy to see them.
 
Happy Mother's Day to my Mom & Grandmas...they're no longer with us.  And Happy Mother's Day to all Mom's out there.  My kids all have fur & purr...and I wouldn't have it any other way!
 

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

It seems like only yesterday...

 
...that I was chatting with my dear friend Kimber almost every day through email.  It's so hard to believe that it's now been a year since she died very suddenly.  The postcard above is one of her creations...Kimber loved sending art postcards.  The honu was one of her favorites...the image on this postcard is one she carved.  When I got out over the weekend, we were in a store & I saw quite a few things with sea turtles on them...I take it as a sign that she's around in spirit...and sending me a message.

Today would have been her birthday.  It seemed strange not to send her a fun package of goodies that I had created or gathered for her. 

Here's to you, Kimber...I know you're still painting & art journaling somewhere in the great beyond.  I miss you.