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

Sunday, December 27, 2015

My Instagram Best Nine of 2015

So...Instagram is why I haven't been blogging as much lately.  The pix above are the ones that got the most likes from others during the year.  I guess I really am a Crazy Cat Lady!

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 1958.  My brother was 2 and I was 6.  You can see the excitement with Dad in his bathrobe and Mom on the couch taking this picture.  I love that old TV, too.  The tree was a fresh one.  Now we have a little 2 ft high tree so the cats can't climb it.  It's still festive & it looks like Christmas here.

Phil and I now live in this house.  My brother & SIL and her sister will be joining us tomorrow afternoon for a Christmas Day feast of lots of different veggies & dips & cream cheese based spreads. Crab Louie salad on crackers...ham...I can't even remember everything I've made today.  I'd still like to bake cookies...maybe tomorrow morning since the food is done.

It will be a great afternoon & evening of eating & talking & gift giving.

We'll also have a GREEN Christmas!!!  NO SNOW!!!  I'm thrilled that Santa brought me what I wished for.  Hopefully there will be sun.  It will be in the 40s, but I can't have everything.  No snow makes me HAPPY!!!

Oh...and there's Christmas Eve FOOTBALL...Chargers @ Raiders.  The Chargers are MY team and this game is a fierce rivalry.  We've got peel & eat shrimp and Tom's Mom's Norwegian Salad to nosh on tonight.  That's some cream cheese with a bit of Worcestershire sauce mixed in then loaded with thinly sliced radishes & green onions.  It's been a Christmas Eve tradition for us ever since Tom made it for me years ago.  I sure do miss my dear friend, but think of him every time we eat this.

Phil & I will open gifts tonight...and then have some White Castle cheeseburgers...another Christmas Eve tradition from when he & I first dated.  We went to his friend's parents for Christmas Eve & after the gifts were exchanged, the guys went to White Castle for sliders.  Ours are from the freezer case now...but tradition is tradition!  There may be pix on Instagram...I'm @ohkittencreates

I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with lots of good memories & love.  Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Monday, December 21, 2015

It's almost Christmas!

Remember when all the big Department Stores in town had Santa?  This one sure looks like the REAL Santa to me.  I look terrified!  This is my all time favorite Christmas photo from my childhood.  I hope you enjoy it and have a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous & Creative New Year!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know I've posted this before, but no other picture sums up Thanksgiving for me like this one does.  Mom carving the turkey at Grandma & Grandpa's house...probably in the 1960s.  Mom is gone now...but I'll always remember her like this.

Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours!

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Peace for Paris

There truly are no words...sending hope for Peace to Paris. 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Thanks, Sizzix!


It was a very happy mail day yesterday when this arrived via FedEx...

I'm an old school quilter...I'm ok with tracing around templates with a pencil & cutting the pieces with scissors.  I've learned to add templates & rulers to use with my cutting mat & rotary cutter for cutting quilt pieces.  But this fabi die cutting gizmo has intrigued me so when I saw the first giveaway on the Sizzix Blog, I entered.  And, amazingly I WON!!!  

There's a new giveaway each week on the Sizzix Blog.  Here's the giveaway for this week, which is Week #3.  Go enter...NOW!!!  The link opens in a separate window.  I'll wait here for you.


I've unpacked this lovely machine, and cut some flowers with the die enclosed.  Today I cut some half hexagons with the signed die from Jenny at MO Star!  


Now...this prize has me especially thrilled because of those signed dies.  Signed by Jenny Doan herself!  I buy most of my fabric from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I'm usually still awake when I can see their deal of the day at 1am Eastern time.  I often buy their charm packs that way...and these dies are charm pack friendly.  

I'll post again once I have a chance to play with the dies more...so check soon for an update.

THANKS SO MUCH to Sizzix for your wonderful contests and for my prize...I love it!  Oh...and for those of you on Instagram, there's now a Sizzix Quilting account on IG.  It's sizzix_quilting.  Lots of great ideas & the contest announcements are there, too.  Go follow them!

Monday, September 7, 2015

A Labor Day & Beyond Sale in my Etsy Shop!


It's been awhile since I've offered a sale in my Etsy shop...KittenCreates...but this seems like a great time to do one.  From NOW through next Saturday, September 12, 2015...everything in my shop is 20% off before shipping.  All you need is to use coupon code LABORDAY20.  

Etsy is conducting a test right now...so if you don't see a place to enter your coupon code in their checkout, you'll need to go to the payment screen through PayPal and enter your coupon code there.  Sheesh!  I really hate it when they conduct these tests which seem to make things MORE difficult for buyers...but I just tried it and it works.  If you don't like the total, you can simply not place the final order.

The ribbon I have in my shop right now is probably the last ribbon I'll have, so when it's gone it's gone.  I also have lots of gently used and new rubber stamps and vintage treasures...lots & lots of stuff for sale.  This would be a great time to do some early Christmas or Hanukkah shopping...or treat yourself!!!

Thanks for looking & I'll do my best to get back here with some more quilty pix soon.  I've been posting a lot to Instagram, so you can check me out there, too.  I'm @ohkittencreates.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all!!!  I love this photo from our family archives...that's my Grandma in a dress AND hat with her 3 kids on the beach!!!  I'm guessing this photo is from the mid to late 1920s as the first boy on the left is my Dad & he was born in 1920.  I'm not even sure what beach it is...but it's definitely along Lake Erie as they never lived anywhere except in the Cleveland, OH area.

At least the kids got to go into the water to play.  That's my Uncle Ray, then my Aunt Arline, & my Dad.  Summer fun for all!!! 
 
I hope your 4th is happy & fun & safe...we're enjoying a laid back just the 2 of us day with some hot dogs on the grill later & hopefully we'll see some fireworks from our backyard.  No fighting the crowds anymore...and we like it that way.
 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Catching up on A Swap for All Seasons

Well...I've certainly fallen behind on blogging...I'm blaming it on making quilt tops & also on Instagram.  Early in March we finally got smart phones & the first thing I did was sign up on Instagram.  Good grief...I can spend hours in there.  If you want to check me out, I'm ohkittencreates.
 
Anyway...the first thing I'm going to catch up on here is the samplers I've sent & received in A Swap for All Seasons.  The one above is what I created & sent to Jan of Jan's Arty Junk.  Way back in March.  I told you I was behind here.  Jan lives in the UK & it was lots of fun to get to know her a bit through this swap. 
 
This lovely sampler is the one I received in March from Marti of Artful Curiosities. Marti lives in my very favorite place on earth...San Diego!  The sampler she created for me is lovely...so many different vintage laces & a sweet romantic photo.  I love it.  Thanks, Marti!
 
In April I made a sampler for Marti...and from reading her blog I found out she loves Paris.  So...I pulled out an image of the Eiffel Tower & used some Paris map fabric I found at Fat Quarter Shop.  Marti said she loves what I created for her...and it was fun to make. 
 
My April mailbox held this wonderful sampler from Jan.  I love the blue & yellow color combination & that kitty cat is so ME.  All the little vintage laces & buttons & those sweet yellow crocheted flowers are awesome.  This sampler makes me very happy.  Thanks, Jan!
 
In May I created this little green 1930s print sampler for my friend Bev of Country Frog Creations
Bev & I have been swapping for years & have become friends...even though she lives in Pittsburgh & insists on rooting for the Steelers.  I'll forgive her for that!  Bev loves green so I hand pieced & quilted this little quilt for her.  I'm loving these little quilts...might have to make myself a bunch of them one of these days.
 
In May I received this bright & beautiful sampler from Pam of Treasures-n-Textures.  I've swapped with Pam in the past, too...and asked her for some bright colors & she sure delivered.  The batik fabric background is beautiful & the vintage flowers in the bouquet are so special.  Love that crocheted lace at the bottom, too.  I love it all...thanks Pam!
 
Whew!!!  Thanks if you've stayed with me to the end...I feel better now that I've posted the little works of art from A Swap for All Seasons.  I've just mailed off my June sampler to Texas...so once my partner has received it & I've received my June swap, I'll update them here.  AND I'll try to keep up with each month as it goes along. 
 
Oh...one more distraction from my new phone...I get alerts from the Los Angeles TV stations when there's a police pursuit in progress...
This one was along the 15 going north from near where we lived in Corona to Ontario & beyond.  I guess it's a Southern CA thing...but you've gotta love a good police pursuit!!!  I can't resist watching.
 
So...that's what I've been up to...I'll have some quilt top in progress pix to share soon...and our little garden is growing nicely...you can see them all on Instagram...look for ohkittencreates.
 
Happy SUMMER!!!
 
 

Monday, May 25, 2015

Always Remember

Always remember why we celebrate Memorial Day.  Always.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Why my kids are furry & purr


This is me with a cousin's baby...back in 1983. 
As you can see...no one is happy in this photo! 
 
And that's why all my kids are furry & purr.
 
Happy Mother's Day!!!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Finally Finished!!!

It's kinda hard to see, but this Zombies quilt has been my unable-to-show-you project since the end of October 2014.  It was finally completed & bound & shipped off to Phil's niece, Libby...as her birthday/Hanukkah gift!  On time for her birthday...quite late for Hanukkah.  The good news is that she LOVES it!!!  I love it, too...and actually have the fabric to make us a similar one later in the year.
 
This is the back of the quilt.  The fabric for this quilt is the Zombie Apocalypse line by Emily Taylor Design for Riley Blake Fabrics.  Whew!  This collection is sold out, but you can still find some of the prints in Etsy or eBay shops.  Since I wasn't sure how much I'd need for this quilt, I bought extra because I was sure we'd want a Zombies quilt, too.
 
You can see some of the hand quilting detail here.  I used Aurifil 12wt. thread to hand quilt it with an irregular big stitch & I love the look, especially after it's washed & dried.  The fabric gets so soft & the quilt is all puckery & "quilty".  You just want to cuddle up in it.  I forgot to measure the quilt before I sent it off...but it's probably about 60"x 72" or so...a nice big throw size. 
 
The hand quilting is really awesome in the center panel.  I just quilted around the big illustrations & the Zombies & not-yet-Zombies...and around the words printed on the fabric.  There are sayings like "Zombies can't climb trees" & Zombies can't read"...fun stuff like that.  The orange on the front & the blue & grey on the back are prints with Zombie eyeballs...each one has 2 pupils instead of one. 
 
 
 
Now I'm working on a quilt for Phil...it's all menswear prints from a collection called Woodlands by Jo Morton.  It was also supposed to be for Christmas/Hanukkah 2014...but the top should be finished by the end of this week & then I can piece the back & layer it to start quilting.  I'm going to hand quilt this one, too...with it getting warm, he won't need it until this fall...and I love the look of the long stitch hand quilting. 
 
So...I still have other projects to share with you.  I'm finding when I get into the sewing/quilting thing...I don't want to stop to blog.  I'll try to get better at that...but can't promise anything. 
 
Keep calm & quilt on!
 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

February 2015 Banner Swap, Part 2

I was definitely thinking SPRING when I made my banner for Joy who lives just south of me here in OH.  She's had a very rough winter, too...so I put the ugly images of the dead, snowy Ohio landscape out of my mind & thought of better days ahead.  BTW...that UGLY snow is still out there, but melting...just like the Wicked Witch.

I loved how the blue fabric has little birds printed on it...very subtle, but there.  Those are from the Zoey Christine Charm pack by Eleanor Burns for Benartex.  It's quite different from the fabric I usually buy, but I'm glad I have it as it was perfect for this sampler.  The green at the bottom in the first pic is from another Eleanor Burns charm pack called Ellie Ann's Treasures.  The two charm packs coordinate wonderfully with many of the same prints in different color ways.
 
Joy said she likes bling, too...so I took some vintage flowers apart & sewed them on with a sparkly little crystal bead in the center.  MY collection of beads is a great resource for these little banners.  I love the green leaf trim, too...that's from my days doing ATCs & tags.  Just add some vintage lace & trim & everything comes together.  I did this one entirely by hand again...being just 4"x6" it's an easy hand sewing & quilting project.  Hand sewing really relaxes me.
 
I had this cute little bit of 1930s fabric with green flowers...I thought it worked for the back of the little quilt.  Those 1930s prints always make me smile.
 
So here's the little banner with some walnut dyed clothespins that I've added little wooden hearts to...I think they're the perfect touch if Joy wants to use them to hang her spring banner as part of a garland. 
 
I sent a few little goodies in Joy's package, too...but I didn't take pix of them.  We're not really supposed to add goodies, but I have so much to share that I couldn't resist.  It's always fun to get some goodies in the mail, no?
 
Now on to the March Swap at A Swap for All Seasons.  I mail to Jan in the UK this month...and I've already pulled out a bunch of fabric & lace & trims to inspire me.  This has to be one of my all time favorite swaps ever!  Go check out the swap blog for some great eye candy & inspiration from Linda, our swap hostess.  There's also a monthly giveaway that you can enter.  You don't have to be part of the swap to win, so check it out!
 
So here's my latest challenge.  We finally broke down & got smartphones this weekend.  So far I'm loving it but I still have a lot to learn.  This old dog is really working on learning these new tricks.
 
Have a wonderfully creative...and hopefully warmer week!
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

February 2015 Banner Swap

I'm sorry this post is so late...I've been down & out with some crud that Phil brought home from work earlier in the month.  The weeks after Valentine's Day were mostly spent trying to breathe & feel somewhat near human.  I'll do my best to catch up on the little bit of creativity from February now. 

The package above arrived early in the month from May in the UK.  I just LOVE the stamped images on the envie...so different from the ones I have.  I'm loving the Swap for All Seasons this year.

The best part was what was inside that lovely package.  This is the little banner I received from May...I absolutely LOVE it!!!  Since I love to sew, the dress form is so perfect for me...and the vintage style & trims & lace are fabulous.  It's up on my quilting inspiration board right now, so I see it every time I'm in my studio.  Thanks, May!
 
Even the back of this piece is adorable...look at that tiny pink safety pin holding on her name so I always remember who created this wonderful piece just for me.  I wouldn't be able to forget anyway!
 
Gracie had to inspect it as soon as I opened it...of course.  May, you'll be happy to know that Gracie approves of your wonderful artwork.  It's kitty approved.
 
This is what everything looked like wrapped up...what a fabulous idea to use doilies to wrap the little banner.  In addition to the goodies above, May included lots of UK postage stamps for me to use in my journals & other artwork.  Yummy tea for these cold winter days & nights, too.  Awesome.
 
These are the doilies that were wrapped around my banner.  I need to do something special with them for sure. 
 
Look at the color & detail on this one.  I think it's calling out to be a pillow top.
 
Finally, this is the piece of fabric May sent my way.  It's beautiful...I still haven't decided what to do with it...maybe it will be the cover for a fantasy travel journal.  I'd love to get to the UK one day...and at least I can go there in my dreams. 
 
Well...this post is long enough.  In a few days I'll be back to share the little banner I made for Joy, my swap partner for February.  Luckily I had her banner done before the crud hit me. 
 
Take care & be creative...March has come in like a lion here...I'm hoping it will become a lamb really soon...this snow & cold stuff was old months ago.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Sunday, February 8, 2015

A Little Too Big

Along with the 1930s fabric pieces that I ordered from MaryB'sRepros&More  I ordered some of her precut 1.5" squares in 1930s prints.  Since my partner for the February Banner Swap loves pastels & blues, I thought I'd make her a little 4"x6" patchwork quilt.  Well, the squares DO measure 1.5"x1.5" but apparently my hand sewn seams were not quite 1/4" because this little beauty measures almost 5"x7"...so it's way too big for this swap.  I'll just keep this one & I'm already well on my way to another banner for this month.
 
The back of this little quilt is one of the 1930s prints from my last post.  It's one I got last year from Joyofquilting1.  Then I just folded over the edges on the front & did a little self binding to finish it off.  It was lots of fun to do...and I guess if I do this again, I'll do one that is 3x5 squares then add borders to make it a good 4"x6".  I still like this little quilt...even f it is too big.
 
I'm linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching...be sure to visit there for lots of eye candy & inspiration.  There's always something wonderful to discover there.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Still Loving Those 1930s Fabrics

I know it's been ages since I wrote about my Grandmother's Flower Garden or Tumbler quilts.  I put them away for a bit to work on some gifts...but soon it will be time to pull them out again.  That hasn't stopped me from adding to my collection of 30s prints, however.  The ones above were bought sometime last year from Joyofquilting1 on eBay.  I now have almost all the sets she has offered...if you're in the market for 1930s reproduction fabric, you should check her out. 

I also found another resource for lovely 1930s fabric on Etsy.  The shop is MaryB'sRepros&More and that's where I found more of the duckies print that I love so much.  I'm so excited to be able to add this one into my Tumbler quilt...the flowers for my Flower Garden are pretty much done & all I have to do there is join them together to make the quilt top.  I may end up making half flowers so the quilt will have even edges, so I may need some duckies to do that.
 
I've also added these pretty prints on a couple visits to Mary's shop.  I just can't have enough of these 1930s prints.  Soon I'll get back to my 30s projects...I have so much planned for 2015...it's going to be a good year...or so I hope.  Now if it would only stop SNOWING & warm up!
 
Be safe & keep warm...and to my CA friends...you know to send those warm ocean breezes my way.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

January? Done!

You'll remember my dear friend Bev challenged me to do a Quilt Block of the Month for 2015...you can see the original post here. 

My January block is done...so now on to February...looks like an interesting block.
You can see Bev's blog here...with the quilt she will be making as the year goes on.  This will be lots of fun...and a bit of competition will keep things interesting, I'm sure.

On another note...I found one more fabric to add into the yardage to use with my Somerset Jelly Roll...this is the newest addition.
You can see how it goes with the other 2 fabrics here...I really like these together.  They're quite different for me...so this will be lots of fun & maybe I'll make the Somerset quilt first...then the Rambling Rose one...just to shake things up a bit.
 
 
Now...on to February...starting with the Super Bowl on Sunday...
GO SEAHAWKS!!!