A Tribute

I'm really not sure how to write this post, so here goes.  Last time I posted, CC was sick and had been to 2 vets, but was not feeling any better.  I took her back to the vet the day I posted.  I don't even remember all of the details, but she ended up going yet again the following week, and spent 2 nights at the kitty hospital.  I picked her up the day before Thanksgiving, and she was actually breathing worse than she was when I left her there.  They still didn't know what was wrong with her.  They gave her loads of fluids because she was always dehydrated, she kept losing weight - was down to FIVE pounds.  They gave her tons of antibiotics, steroids, anti-fungal, Lasix - you name it, they gave it to her, but nothing seemed to help.  Finally on Friday the vet told me that she thought CC had cancer because she wasn't responding to anything that they were doing.  I am so sad to say that CC passed away Saturday afternoon.  I miss her terribly, as she was always with me in the sewing room.  You've all seen many pictures of her - on my ironing board, on my quilts, peeking through my sewing machine, etc.  I'm  just so, so sad without her.  

Show time was a fun time!

I have been meaning to post forever, but have been super busy!  I will back up and tell you about the show in Lee's Summit...well let's start the day before.  We were just loading all of the booth stuff into the van when my daughter called and was on her way to the ER.  To make a long story short, she has been having some problems and ended up having emergency surgery that night.  Thankfully all is well, but it was not a fun night!  I left early the next morning for the Lee's Summit show, stopping to see DD at the hospital on the way there. So glad that if that had to happen it happened when I was home!

Now on to the show.  It was a great show - so nice to meet so many new people and we also saw a lot of familiar faces.  The guild ladies were so helpful and nice.  It was just a fun show!  And the quilts were AMAZING!  I didn't have much spare time, but on Saturday before the show, I had a few minutes to run in and look at them.  My initial response was "oh my!" as I stopped in my tracks.  They were displayed really well and the workmanship was overwhelming.  I wish I had pictures to share, but I don't...sorry!  If anyone from the guild is reading this and does have pictures, please e-mail me - I would love to share any pictures here.

After Kim and I set up the booth, we ran to Quilter's Station to deliver a jewelry order.  And of course, you can't go to QS and not do a little shopping!  I love her shop - she has EVERYTHING!  It's probably a good thing that I live so far away - I would spend all of my money there if she were my LQS.

Of course Kim and her hubby took good care of me while I was there.  We had some awesome meals and the best banana cream pie I have ever eaten.  So good!  It's so nice to have help at the show and a nice place to stay - and Kim's DH helped us tear down and load the van at the end of the show on Saturday.  Gotta love that!

Back on the home front...I have a sick kitty and I just don't know what to do with her.  CC has not been feeling well for a couple of weeks.  She has always been thin, but she is sickening skinny (how come I never have that problem...oh...I remember - it's the banana cream pie!) and is breathing really fast and just not acting good.  She has visited two different vets and will probably end up going back today.  She has had 3 injections and is on 2 medications here at home.  For a few days she was acting much better, but her breathing was still bad.  Now this morning she seems to be acting worse again.  Here is a picture of her that I took a few months ago - 

Amazing how much entertainment a piece of tape on a box can provide!  

We are really busy finishing up the 2nd charm for our "Charming" program.  I have had a bunch of people ask about getting into this program.  Regretfully, it is full for this year, but since there has been so much interest, we are going to do it for a second year (it will start next fall).  So, if you think you may be interested in that (I know it's a long time away!) and if you are not on my e-mail list, let me know and I will add you to the e-mail list so you will be aware of the sign up times for next year.

I have a ton of other things to share, but I need to update my website first, and I just haven't had the time to do that yet - so I will save the rest for later.  One thing I will mention - I only have 3 of the Simple Quilts magazines and 2 Lil' Punky kits left.  Once they are gone that is going to be it - so if you want them, they are first come, first served.  I would like to take them off the website to use those spaces for some new jewelry designs that I hope to share with you soon!

Have a great day!

Come See Me!

I will be vending at the Lee's Summit Quilter's Guild show this weekend - if you are in the area, come and see us!  The show is at the Woods Chapel United Methodist Church in Lee's Summit, MO.  Hours are Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Hope to see you there!

We've been working really hard to get lots of jewelry made  - and I have a couple of new designs to share with you.  I will also have a few copies of Simple Quilts magazines and Lil' Punky kits at the show - they are almost gone, so if you are interested you better snatch them up now!

Here's just a few jewelry pieces that we recently finished...

And here is what the booth will look like!

And here is who will be staying home :(

Can't wait to get to Missouri and get set up!  

Have a great day!!

More blocks

I wanted to do just a quick post (I'm going on a little road trip to one of my very favorite quilt shops today!) to show you my latest Non Farmer's Wife blocks.  As usual, I was caught up for a short time...a very short time!  I finished them Sunday evening and Randy posted 2 more Monday morning!  But that's ok, I'm just happy that I haven't fallen way behind.  Looking at these blocks now, I wish I would have changed a few things.  And, I must not have had enough coffee when I took the pictures because they are all crooked!

 Should have made the centers of the 9 patches red.

 Wish I would have put the medium red where the medium black is, and vice versa.

I think I would prefer red corners.  Geesh!  Maybe I should think a little harder when I am piecing these blocks!  But,  I guarantee they will not be re-done.  I'm doing good to make them once, let alone twice!

And one last thing...my very last (#12) Primitive Gatherings, Summer Block of the Week block...

Sad that it is over!  But...it's really not over because now I'm working on the setting blocks and the border will come next.

And what's a post (yes...I said this was going to be quick...what happened to that?) without a fluffy or two?

You see Miss CC in the chair, but do you notice anyone else?  See those little paws peeking out from behind my flannel wall?  That would be Callie, trying to get CC to play with her!  So entertaining!

Have a great day!

What's happening here...

It seems that most everyone loves the fall season and the beautiful colors of the leaves.  Our trees have been really vibrant this year and I thought I would share what I see all day when I look out the window of my sewing room...

The picture really doesn't do justice to the true colors, but you get the idea.

I finally finished stitching the last block from the summer BOW from Primitive Gatherings and will share a picture of it next time.  I received the finishing kit and it did not disappoint - the wools are wonderful and the flannel for the setting triangles and border are a much deeper, richer red than what the pictures online look like.  I have the six setting squares prepped and ready to stitch.  They are simple hearts with stars, so they shouldn't take long (famous last words, right?).

I've sold a lot of Poor Lil' Punky kits...

 Pumpkin pendants have been flying off the shelf as well.  Now I really need to go shopping for some more orange fabrics!

 I've been really busy with "Charming" - you remember these are the charms from the first month.  I am almost finished piecing the second installment of charms, but the pattern is a secret, so I can't show them here just yet.  We still have to do the glass work on all of them, so we will be busy for awhile!

And, I'm still not caught up with my Non-Farmer's Wife blocks (shocking, I know!).  Only 3 behind at this point - so I can handle that.  That's what I've been up to - are you all keeping busy?

Now it's off to the dreaded treadmill!

More Cuteness

This is my little 4 year old grandson, Kaden - isn't he the cutest thing?  I love this picture of him peeking through my sewing machine.

He came to visit the other night, and he always wants to "make something for Dad". I need to come up with some ideas of things we can make (all ideas are welcome!).  I had some Iowa Hawkeye fabric, so we made little 2" pillows.  Not too exciting - but he had fun and that's the main thing!

Have a great day!

AQS show, some blocks, and of course, a kitty

I managed to piece together two more of my Non-Farmer's Wife blocks...

 I sure wish I could capture the real color of these fabrics - I don't think any of my  pictures are even close and these seem to be extra-bad.  The true background is a nice rich tan and these reds are not as orange as they appear here.  You can ask MTM (that would be Marty, the mail lady!) - she was surprised when she saw them in person - they are much better!

Speaking of MTM - we went to the AQS show in Des Moines together last week.  We had a really great time - saw lots of goodies in all of the vendor booths and so many really beautiful quilts.  We both had amazing restraint and really didn't buy all that much.  I bought some thread, a gift that can't be talked about here, and a little tumbler ruler/template.  That is an all-time record!  I usually go crazy and buy lots.  And it's not that there was nothing tempting...I just really am trying to restrain myself.  My stash closet is stuffed and I haven't finished a single thing that I bought on my trip to Wisconsin this last spring.  Realistically there just isn't a thing that I need.  Marty found a few things - one was a really nice fall wool table topper.  I thought she was turning over a new leaf, and was going to learn how to do wool applique, but she had other things in mind - she is hoping that her mom will make it for her!  She enjoys hand work and I'm sure will do a great job - I can't wait to see it finished.

I always love meeting new people and visiting with old friends at quilt shows.  I delivered a jewelry order to the girls of Yellow Creek Quilt Designs.  They always have an attractive booth.  I absolutely love all of their designs and color choices - SO TEMPTING!  There are a couple of their patterns that I've had my eye on forever, but I restrained!  We also chatted with Rita from Quilter's Station - she, too really tempted me.  Her booth looked amazing and was one of my favorites.  She was the first booth that we visited, and I really intended to stop back by and pick up a few things, but I didn't do it!  The bad thing was, I loved everything in her booth - there were some great kits that were really calling my name, but again...I resisted!  Not sure I will be able to resist going to her shop in a few weeks when I go to Lee's Summit, MO to vend a show.

I met Dawn from Sew Cherished last spring when I was in Kansas City for market.  Then we chatted again at the show in Blue Springs, MO where we were both vending.  She had a wonderful booth in Des Moines and of course we had to stop and visit (this is where Marty bought her wool kit).  I once again resisted all of the temptations (I honestly don't know how I did it!).  Dawn purchased some jewelry from me and will be offering it for sale at some of her upcoming shows, so if you see her at shows, make sure to check it out.  And look at all of her goodies - she has a wonderful wool pumpkin pillow with a bunch of her crazy stitches on it.  I always threaten to take it home with me!  I have come so close to buying the kit for it - have had it in my hand several times, but always restrain myself!  (you know, one of these days I'm just going to go crazy and buy all of this stuff!).  I also met a few of my customers and blog followers who I had never met in person before, so that was really fun.

We also got to chat a bit with Lyn from More Sew For You in Omaha, NE.  Lyn has been a customer of mine for awhile now, but this is the first time that we have met in person.  It was great to chat with her and her booth was also wonderful.  She had some nice things that you don't see all the time - some great Sue Daley quilts, among other things.

Of course, you can't go to a big quilt show without spending time in the Primitive Gatherings booth!  It was awesome, as always!  But, again...I showed great restraint!  I did buy the little tumbler template there, but that was it. And that is a first, let me tell you!

There were lots of other great booths and so much eye candy everywhere.  I think sometimes at these shows I just kind of go on overload and don't take in as much as I should.  There are several things that I wish I would have looked at closer, now that I'm home.  But, it's just as well...did I mention that my stash runneth over??

After the show we were starving (because we hadn't eaten since early that morning when we stopped at the bakery in Pella - YUM!), and decided to head to The Cheesecake Factory.  There are so many choices - it was hard to decide what to order.  Finally we each ordered a pasta dish and split them so we could try both.  The food was good, the service...not so much!  We decided that our waiter must have some other talents and maybe took that job because that is all he could find.  He was really bad!  But, we had a great time just chatting and enjoying our pasta. The more time we spend together, the more amazed we are at how much we have in common!  There are very few things that we talked about that we disagree on - we have very similar tastes in just about everything.  We have discovered that our opinions differ on politics, but I don't care much to discuss that anyway!

Back on the homefront...I still have not finished my last block from the Primitive Gatherings Summer Block of the Week!  I think I just don't want it to end.  It is about 2/3 of the way finished, and won't take long at all to complete.  The finishing kit showed up on my doorstep (thanks to MTM - haha!) a couple of weeks ago. The kit is just gorgeous - the wools are so rich and deep and the red flannel for the setting squares is much darker and richer in person than what you see on the website.  It is just such a great quilt.  I really need to get to working on it!

I have been doing a bit of hand quilting once in awhile in the evenings.  This quilt has been a WIP for a looooong time and at this rate it may stay that way for even longer....Miss CC has made it her napping place!

Look at her, hiding her little face.  I just don't have the heart to bother her!  So, that is my excuse for that WIP staying a WIP for now.

I better get in gear - I'm making lots of jewelry - getting ready for the show in Lee's Summit and just filling orders.  I've been making loads of these...

And I've also had to make up another batch of kits of Poor Lil' Punky...

So I think everyone must be in the mood for Fall - I know I sure am!

Have a great day!

The Ultimate in Cuteness

I'm sure I have probably shown you this picture before too, but I came across it, and I just can't help myself but to post it.  This is Callie when she was very little.  I think she had been tearing around the house like a wild little maniac, and finally wore herself out.  Is she not the cutest little thing that you've ever seen?

It just doesn't get any cuter than this!

I'm off to the AQS show in Des Moines bright and early tomorrow morning.  Can't wait!

Have a great day!

**I'm linking up with Sarah's Feline Friday blog - make sure to go visit her!

Wall o' quilts

Lately I've seen a lot of blogs showing pictures of how they decorate with quilts, often small quilts.  It seems that so many people are making small quilts these days, and I love seeing each and every one of them!  One of my very first blog posts showed my Wall of Small Quilts, and I thought I would share it again today.  I have a bunch more of these, but I like the ones that are up, so I have just left them.  I hung them with the tiny applique pins with a silver head, so I could easily take them down and change things around.  Maybe some day!




What do you do with your small quilts?

Hope you have a great day!

One more block and a silly cat

I haven't been working on much except for jewelry, but I did piece one more of my NFW blocks...

I think the moment that I finished this one, Randy sent out instructions for one more, and a note saying that there will be three more this Wednesday!  How can it be time for more already?!  So I guess I better get busy and make the next two - one is cut out and ready to sew, so that shouldn't take too long.

While I was busy with the above block, Callie was being her silly self...Hiding behind my design wall...

Still hiding, but wanting to play...

I don't know what it is, but she loves to be behind doors!  She usually wants you to play through the crack, but then she gets lazy and lays down and wants you to play under the door.  What a goof!

Have a great Sunday!!