Cross Stitch Patterns by designer Pamela Kellogg of Kitty And Me Designs

The Blog Of Cross Stitch Designer Pamela Kellogg
Kitty And Me Designs

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Kitty And Me Designs

Celebrating 35 years of Needlework!!!!

Sunday, November 20, 2005

More "All That Jazz" Blocks completed!

If you'd like to see more completed "All That Jazz" blocks, visit Linda's Chloe's Place and Sharon's In A Minute Ago blogs. These are gorgeous!

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Taking A Break To Amuse My Readers

I'm in the middle of cleaning the carpeting in my living room. Every year I say, this is the last time I'll have to do this but it always seems like I end up doing it the following year. So I won't say it this time.

I really hate carpeting. In fact, "hate" is not a strong enough word for how I feel about carpeting. I'm a hardwood floor girl. I walk around barefoot all the time and I love how the wood floors feel under my feet!

We've put hardwood in everywhere now except for the living room. That room is going to be a big job. All new windows, new flooring, a new interior door and for some unknown reason, there is a drop ceiling in there. Scary. We've yet to figure out why but judging from the rest of some of the things we've found in this house (built in 1937) I'm sure there's some "pain in the butt and very expensive" reason for it! So we plan to replace that with a real drywall ceiling. And we plan to put it where it belongs! Which is not where it is currently!

So, that's what I'm doing. I'm about 3/4 done but needed to rest my back a minute.

The Red Hat block is completely done now except for the sleeve and my quilt label. I have the machine work done on the Christmas block but still have to hand-sew the binding down on the back and then of course the sleeve and label. They're looking great! And I'm thrilled with how they turned out. I will have photos for you soon.

The reason I don't just take photos and post them as I go along is because I'm out of USB thingy's on the back of this computer. And my printer in here is older so it doesn't have the film card thingy's on it. (Don't you love my techie terms?) Now I know I can get a USB thingy that has lots more USB thingy's on it, but it's much easier for me to just pull out the laptop and the printer that goes with it and transfer my pictures to a CD that way. Ok, so it's not easier really, but that's how I do it. It's actually a bit time consuming so I wait until I have a bunch of pictures on the camera. And you'll all sleep better tonight knowing that information! Ha, ha, ha!

Ok, I hope I've amused you with my sillyness. I'm going to finish up this cleaning project and then relax a bit in my bathtub. I think I'll pull out some of my Quilting Arts magazines and drool over the pictures!

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Working On Quilts

I finished the first part of the handsewing on the Christmas Block and the Red Hat Block. What I did was sew sashing around the outside of the block and then I handsewed flat lace around the edge where the CQ meets the sashing. I mitered the corners of the lace. That all has to be done by hand and it's rather time consuming.

The next step is to layer them with quilt batting and a backing. Then the binding can be added. Part of that is done by machine and part is done by hand.

Traditionally, Crazy Quilts didn't have batting inside. But to me, a quilt of any type, is not a quilt without 3 layers. The layers will then be tacked together using buttons on the back. The buttons look nice and give the tacking extra stability.

Once that's done, I can put the sleeve on for hanging and add my quilt label.

If you'd like to see a pretty Autumn quilt, visit Vicki's Turkey Feathers blog.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Handbags

Again, I don't have anything visual to share with you today. But I found a cool online Handbag Exibit through the CQ Crazy blog.

"A Girl Can Never Have Too Many Handbags" is full of handmade handbag eye candy! Many are knitted or crocheted but some are CQ and there are other techniques as well. Be sure to look at all of them. The photos load fast on dial-up!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Nothing New To Share Today

I'm still working on the finishing process of the Red Hat block and the Christmas block. There's alot of handsewing involved.

Since I don't have anything new to show you today, I thought I'd send you over to Allison Aller's Works In Progress blog.

Allison is sharing a "challenge" project that she was involved with called "Quilts Across The Pacific". There are some beautiful fabric art projects here so please take a peek.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Flea Market Find


Trim
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
My husband and I braved the 50 mile per hour winds here today and went to a Flea Market & Antique Show. Thankfully, most of it was indoors!

I didn't find any transfers, but I hit the lace and trim jackpot!

I visited one of my favorite dealers. She usually has some vintage laces and trims, vintage clothing, linens and so on. When she saw me, she asked what I was looking for today so I told her I was mostly looking for lace and trims. She pulled a shopping bag out from under her table and she said I could go through it and pull out whatever I wanted.

It was packed to the top with all sorts of neat lace and trims so I asked her what she wanted for the whole bag.

Are you sitting down? She only wanted $15.00! Naturally, I couldn't pass that by! I gave her the money and went on my merry way.

When I got home, I was blown away by all the wonderful things. Not only was it filled with vintage lace and trims but also, some embroidered tablerunners, some doilies, some placemats and other wonderful vintage things. Not all in perfect condition, but all usable in one way or another.

It's going to take me forever to wash and press everything.

My favorite in the bag is this piece of trim in dusty colors. It looks like a rose to me and there are 3 of them repeated but it doesn't all fit on the scanner.

I will definately be using this on something special!

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Valentine Block


Valentine Block
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
This will be my next block. It will have a Valentine theme to it.

It'll will be a few days before I can start it I think. I'm in the process of finishing the Red Hat block and the Christmas block into 15 inch wall quilts.
The machine work goes fast but there's quite a bit of handwork involved and that takes awhile to do.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Red Hat Block Completed!


Red and Purple Block Day6
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
I don't know why the scan looks so dark. It's not. It's really bright and colorful!

Anyway, it's complete now! I covered the last two seams with embroidery and beading, I added my signature at the bottom, a red hat charm with a purple ribbon at the top right and a silver butterfly to the left of the hat. Oh and I beaded the edge of the hat so it looks like a bit of fringe.

This block was so much fun to do! If my day goes according to plan, I will start on the finishing process for this block as well as the Christmas block.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Red Hat Block Day 5


Red and Purple Block Day 5
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
I went and added another daisy to the vine at the bottom and I think that finishes it off nicely.

I then added some cream colored applique daisies (yes, I had some in cream) to the top right, added a vine and beaded that.

I added some glass leaves to the hat along with some tiny purple flowers and then did a border across the bottom of the purple sequined braid and added some bugle beads.

Oh and I added some more beads to the lace above the purple sequin braid too!

If all goes well, I might complete this project tonight, but no promises yet!

Monday, November 07, 2005

Red Hat Block Day 4


Red and Purple Block Day 4
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
After looking at this block alot over the weekend, I decided that the seams need to be covered with cream colored things rather than red or purple. I started by adding daisies with some curly vines and beading them. Looking at it now, I think it needs one more daisy. I'll add that later before moving on to another area.

I put alot of thought into making my blocks look balanced. A good way to do that is to repeat things like the background fabrics, stitches, threads and beads. I will probably repeat the daisies on the other side of the hat but I'm planning to use some of my little daisy appliques. I have to get them out and see if they're white or cream. If they're white, I'll have to handpaint a few of them.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Red Hat Block Day 3


Red and Purple Block Day 3
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
Well, all I managed to do on this yesterday was to finish beading the bottom edge of the lace piece at the top.

By the time I finished my errands and cleaning and visiting with my parents for a little while, I was kind of tired. It was cloudy and windy and raining outside too so I curled up on the sofa and watched TV.

I expect to work on it some more later today.

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Red Hat Block Day 2


Red and Purple Block Day 2
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
Excuse my dangling thread! I started beading the edge of the lace above the hat but then it was time for dinner and I had to put it down and didn't get back to it last night.

Anyway, you can see that I did a feather stitch along the right side and beaded that, then I added some beads and sequins to the lace on the bottom.

I like sequins, but you have to be careful with them. They can make or break a project.

Today I plan to finish beading that top piece of lace and we'll see where it goes after that.

I have to say, I really loved doing the hat! I don't think I'd ever hand applique a big traditional quilt, but a little bit of hand applique is alot of fun and it's a really cool technique for a crazy quilt block!

Friday, November 04, 2005

Ralph

I wanted this share this photo with you that my friend Sylvia sent me yesterday.

RalphFramed

Sylvia is kind enough to allow me to use her beautiful cats as models for my x stitch designs. This is Ralph. I did the design several years back. Sylvia just had her piece framed and I thought it was so beautiful, I asked her if it would be ok if I blog it and she said yes.

I've since retired the design so it's no longer available but I thought you would like to see how Sylvia had it framed. I love how the matting brings out the colors in the morning glory flowers!

Thanks again Sylvia, for allowing me to use your beautiful babies as models for my designs!

Red Hat Block Day 1


Red and Purple Block Day 1
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
Well, for those of you who guessed "Red Hat Society", yes! You are correct!

It's not that I'm into that. I've haven't quite reached the right age yet, but I thought it would be a really fun theme to do and so far it is!

I did the little hat with red velveteen using the freezer paper applique technique. For instructions, click here.

I removed the freezer paper from the back by cutting a small slit in the foundation fabric and the background fabric.

To give the hat a 3D look, I added a bit of poly fiberfill before whip stitching the opening closed.

The hat will be embellished more but I'm holding off for the time being until I decide on what embellishments I'll be using on the rest of the block.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Embroidered Bird


Embroidered Bird
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
Some of you may remember that a few weeks ago, I traced a few of my transfer designs onto some fabric. I stitched up another one and completed it last night.

I had stitched this design earlier this Summer but used different colors this time.

BluebirdPillowcase

When I have time to sit down at my sewing machine, I'll take photos as I go and post directions for finishing a doorknocker. That will be happening soon. I have a bunch of things that need finishing!

For now, my next project is the Red & Purple Crazy Quilt block. Does anyone else want to take a guess at what the theme for that block will be?

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Red and Purple Block


Red and Purple Block
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
Thank you everyone, for your lovely compliments on my Christmas Block. I'll be making that into a wall quilt, just this block alone. It'll be a little while yet though. I don't have alot of sewing time. But when I complete it, I'll post a photo here.

It isn't as dark as it looks in the scan. It's lighter and brighter and I'm sure you'll be able to see that when I get the finishing done and take a photo of it with the camera rather than using the scanner.

In the meantime, this is my next block. Does anyone care to guess what the theme will be for this one?

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Christmas Block Completed!


Christmas Block Day 8
Originally uploaded by Kitty And Me.
I added my signature with some more curly q's and beads. I also figured out how to bead the lace on the left. I added some curly q's to the poinsettia with some seed beads and I added some more beads to the Maidenhair stitch.

My husband doesn't care for crazy quilts, but he did say that this one is very pretty and Victorian looking. Since that's what I was going for, I guess I did good!
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