Another Block

This is another block that I don't think I ever posted.  I'm pretty sure I did it last Summer when my dad was sick:

The beaded piece in the center is a Mill Hill beaded pin that I made years ago.  I used to love making them when they were more beads than stitches.  The little pink rhinestone piece in the bottom left corner came from mom.  I think she got it at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  She never went anywhere with buying me something.

I still have a few Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls in my Etsy shop:

 

I've pre-packaged them for gift giving.  Not sure if I'll do any more anytime soon.  

I need to sew up some more 6 inch blocks, I have my McHenry Landmark Quilt to finish, I'm working on a cross stitch project for Thanksgiving and I have a ton of things that need to be sewn together.  Not to mention that I haven't used my Kitchenaid in like, forever!!  And I've been wanting to make some cookies!  But I'm still burned out and have to pace myself.  Not at all like me but it is what it is.

Winter Block

Thank you for your kind comments everyone.  Yes, it's been a long, hard road for quite a few years.  So still in the "one day at a time" thing.

I don't think I ever posted this block.  I think I did it when my dad was in the hospital.  I found the little reindeer ornament at an estate sale quite a few years back.  The purple snowflakes were in my mom's stash.  I still have more.  The little trees and polar bears are buttons from my stash.

Some Stitching To Share

After losing my parents and packing up the house and then losing one of my little cats, I've taken some time to get my own house back in order.  I still have a few loose ends to tie up and a few things to organize and put away but I'm doing it a little bit at a time.

I have been stitching and have a few things to share.

First, I started this piece last Summer when my dad was sick.  I just finished it about a month ago:

The pattern is by Kiralyn's Needlearts and she's on Etsy.  She has some of the sweetest patterns!  I'm sure I'll purchase a few more of her patterns once I stitch up some of the things in my stash.

I also stitched up one of the new Mill Hill Magnet kits:

 

I used to really enjoy making the little beaded kits but lately, I'm finding them really tedious and they're just not using as many beads as they used to.  I don't buy as many as I once did but I thought this one was really cute.

Over the weekend, I stitched up a crazy quilt block:

The pumpkins are a pin and earrings from Avon.  The spider web is worked with a metallic, variegated sewing thread.  It's similar in weight to Kreinik's Blending Filament.   It was in with my mom's sewing things.

So basically, after being a caretaker for so long and getting things settled from my parents house, I'm taking a little time to "get my brains back in my head", to quote my mother.  She used to say that all the time.  I'll get back to designing but I need some time to wind down from the stress.  

I also have my parents dog.  When my dad's hip broke, I had to bring him to my house so he's been with me almost 2 years now.  My mom was legally blind and he was her 3rd seeing eye dog:

His name is Ozzie and he's a beautiful yellow lab.  Good as gold and sweet as can be.  But he's scared to death of the kitties!  Ozzie came from Leader Dog For The Blind in Rochester Hills Michigan.  He'll be 8 years old around Thanksgiving.

Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls

It's been awhile since I made any of these.  I actually made them back at Christmas when it was terribly cold outside but I never got around to listing them.  My little Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls are now available in my Etsy shop.

 

I only have 4 for right now so if you want one, don't wait!!  Shipping is free!

 

Bleu

 Bleu - 2014 - 2025

Colorful Cats Surprise

If you missed out on the Colorful Cats Surprise when she was a birthday gift, she is now available at Kitty And Me on Etsy.

 Use Coupon Code:  STITCH1

Dad

Shortly after my mom past away in April of 2023, my dad got sick.  I took care of him for a year and he passed away on November 4 2024.

I spent months and months packing up the house and finished up just a few weeks back.

So that's why I've been MIA for so long.  I try to stitch when I can but I'm burned out now and will get back to it when I can.

I'm just now starting to think about designing again.  It'll probably be a little slow going and I don't plan to go back to full time work, just part time.  

One of my little cats is sick with Irritable Bowel Disorder.  No rest for the weary right!  Giving him meds is a nightmare.  This isn't my first rodeo with cats and meds but I've never had one fight me like Bleubird does.  Thankfully, the meds aren't forever and hopefully he'll start responding to the treatment soon.  He's only 11 years old and has only been getting meds since Thursday.

A couple weeks ago, I was at the McHenry County Historical Museum.  They have several beautiful Crazy Quilts and some antique samplers on display among other cool textile things.  I'll share photos next time. 

Another Peacock

I finished up another peacock block:

 

This peacock was a pendant that I bought at a flea market. I think I only paid a dollar for it.

The branch is some fancy yarn that I couched on.  The gold trim is vintage as is the little tatted flower.

There's a lot of sparkle on this one but it's hard to see.  The camera just doesn't pick it up. 

Great Grandma's Buttons

I made some time to sew up a few blocks and stitched on one last week:

The 2 buttons on this block are from my Great Grandmother's button jar.  I gave them a good washing with water and little dish soap.  I used a small brush to get any dirt off but I didn't want to remove the patina so I was careful.  When they were dry, I just went over them lightly with a polishing cloth to brighten up the raised area.  There's a lot more in the jar!

One thing with old buttons....and no one knew this back in the day....never store metal buttons with glass buttons, plastic buttons, MOP buttons and so on.  The metal buttons tarnish when mixed with the others.  In this case, it's okay because I love old stuff and the old look but for anyone who collects them, it's best to store them separately.

I've been studying Jennifer Clouston's gorgeous embroidered vines.  And I've been experimenting!!  I ordered her books the other day and I'm expecting my Amazon delivery anytime now!  I also ordered a few other CQ books that I've been wanting so I'll talk about them when they arrive.

I'm going back and forth between CQ and cross stitch.  I have a pretty little pattern that I'm almost done with.  I'll post that too when it's completed.  

ATTN:  Lesa from CQforNewbies:  Please email me!! 

 

Avon Owl

This my latest stitched piece:

 

It's more orange than pink.  The photo looks a little washed out.  The owl is a necklace that came from Avon back in the 70's.  My mom was an Avon Lady for over 30 years.  I actually have 2 of these.  This one is mine and I have my grandmother's as well.  I'm thinking of using Grandma's on a Winter themed block.

The gold trim at the bottom is vintage, probably from the 30's or 40's.  I picked it up at a flea market years ago.  I still have quite a bit left so I'll be using more on future blocks.

I've been quite taken with the beautiful floral vines that Jennifer Clouston does.  I'm going to order a couple of her books .  You can see her inspiration in the vine on the top starting in the middle of the block.

In other news, I worked on updating my blog some more last week.  It needed some de-cluttering.  I still have a few more things to do which I'll get to later this week.  I also changed the banner in my Etsy shop to the plain black/white Kitty & Me Logo.  I'll change the banners on my future publications too.

I'll need to sew up some more blocks soon.  This was my last pre-sewn piece.   

1920's Buttons

 I completed another block with a few special items.

The blue butterfly was from Mom.  She never went anywhere without buying me something.  I'm sure this came from Hobby Lobby or Michaels.  It was probably in the bead section for jewelry making.  The only hole in it is where the gold bead is on the wing.  I had to glue two small pre-threaded buttons to the back to anchor it to the block.  I used E-6000 jewelry glue.

The 3 dark blue buttons are from the 1920's.  After mom passed away, Dad gave me his grandmother's button collection so that's where they came from.  They are glass and the silver at the top of each is slightly worn so I'm assuming they were on a dress or something that my great grandmother wore.

Her button collection is really cool with lots of metal picture buttons so you'll see some of those on upcoming blocks.

This spider is done with crystal beads so it's very sparkly.

I'm almost done with another block and will share when it's complete.  I also pulled out a cross stitch project that I started last Summer and have been working on that as well.  I was making counting errors so I had to put it down but so far so good.  I'll need to sew up some more CQ blocks soon.  Until I can get those done, I'll work on my cross stitch project. 

Crazy Quilt Birds

Things here are finally winding down.  I still have some loose ends to tie up but I've had a little more stitching time.  I've been stitching on 6 inch crazy quilt blocks and I'm probably up to around 70 by now.  There's no set number of blocks.  When I get tired of doing them, I'll sew it into a quilt.

For now, I've done one of my favorite themes, a peacock:

The peacock is embroidered with 3 strands of DMC rayon thread.  The tail is fancy fuzzy yarn.  The do-dad at the top of the tail is an earring from the 40's or 50's.  I bought a pair of them at flea market that my husband and I went to years ago.  It was probably a dollar for both of them.

Click here for the Embroidered Peacock Tutorial. 

This block features a lace applique hummingbird that my friend Lula sent me years ago.  She's since passed away and I've been thinking it's time to use some of the nice things that she sent me.

I hand painted it and then added the sequins.  I love anything sparkly!  I did some silk ribbon work on this block and you can see some of my vintage tatting behind the bird.

Speaking of hummingbirds, I can barely keep my feeder full now!  I seem to have a lot more this Summer than past years!  It's okay with me.  I love them! 

Pink Block Completed

 Just a quick update.  The pink block is done:

 

I work my little spider webs with Kreinik Blending Filament.  Just one strand.  I like the sparkle.  It can be a challenge to work with but like with anything, patience pays off.

I haven't started another block yet even though I have a few sewn up.  I might pull out my cross stitch project that I started last year and see if I can put a few stitches in without miscounting!

I will get back to some cross stitch designing but I'm taking a break for now.

Have a great weekend!

 

Working On Heart Block

I've been stitching on this little crazy quilt heart block:

 

I have a few more do-dads to add.  It'll get a little spider and web as well as a little bird and a few more beads.

I hand painted that little piece of vintage lace at the bottom along with a few other pieces for upcoming blocks.  I had wanted to do some silk ribbon embroidery on this one but I'm running really low on most colors.  I'm going to have to order some soon.

It's been so long since I really was able to focus on any stitching.  Yes, I've done some but it was more robotic than actually thinking about what I wanted to use so I've forgotten some of what I have.

Now, I have my craft supplies as well as mom's and I really could use a larger closet!  Mom was the queen of craft supplies!  I have her fabrics, lace and trim, yarn, beads, sequins and other do-dads.  And I have her beloved sewing machine along with my grandma's machine which is the one I use all the time and my antique treadle machine that I want to get back to using. 

My cousin Kim has her mother's machine, a treadle machine like mine and my mom's back up machine. 

Mom's prize possessions were her sewing machines.

When I get to finishing my McHenry Landmark Quilt, I will probably use mom's machine for that since that one is mobile and I can put it on the dining room table so I have more room to work.  The McHenry quilt is quilt large and very heavy! 

As you can see, the blocks are sewn together and I've hand-sewed trim between the blocks.  Next, I need to go to Hobby Lobby and get some border fabric for it.  Once I do the borders, more of that trim will get added.  For now, I'll just work on the little 6 inch blocks.

More Crazy Quilting

I think my blog needs some cleaning up.  It seems too cluttered now.  It's been a long time since I've even thought about it.  I've made a few changes but there will be more.  I haven't had time to do much blog hopping so I don't know what's in and what's out anymore.  What are your thoughts?

I have another crazy quilt block to share today.  

I finished this one yesterday.  The heart was a cross stitch ornament that I made my beloved mother quite a few years ago.  There were two of them.  I took them apart and using fusible web, I applied it to the block.

Here's the one I'm going to start on this afternoon:

I have some other cross stitch ornaments that I made for mom and I'll do the same thing.  These small blocks are a nice way to display memories.  Quite honestly, I'm lost without my mother.  She's been gone 2 years now and I still can't wrap my mind around it.  I can't change it but I can do this.  Many of my upcoming blocks will display things in memory of mom.

If you click on the photos, you can see them up close.  Sorry if the photos aren't perfect.  My digital camera went out a few years ago and I never got around to getting a new one.  Replacing it is on my list.

A Little Crazy Quilt Eye Candy

I've mentioned in my last couple of blog posts that I had a lot on my plate.  My plate is finally just about cleared off.  I need some time to let the dust settle and get my brains back in my head like my mom used to say, but hopefully, I'll begin to get my routine back.

When I'm completely done, I'll share what's been going on but in the meantime, I've done a little bit of stitching.  I can't focus on cross stitch for right now.  I keep making mistakes for which I have to rip and that's not fun so I've done some 6 inch crazy quilt blocks.

I started doing 6 inch blocks a few years back with small things that I've collected or saved over the years.  I thought that it would be a nice way to display them.  I probably have over 60 blocks now with a lot more do-dads to use.

So this one is a 4th Of July block.  The Uncle Sam and the little beaded heart at the top left were Mill Hill pin kits that I made years ago.  I've used a lot of Mill Hill pins on these blocks.

This one is another Fish Under The Sea block.  I used some Shibori ribbon for waves.  The Swordfish is a pin that my husband bought me at a flea market years ago.  The little Treasure Chest was an Avon necklace.  My mom sold Avon for many years and I've been using the pretty jewelry pieces on these blocks.

Fancy yarns and fibers are couched on, beads and sequins add sparkle....I love my sparkles!!  I added a few crystals near the treasure chest and the tiny seashells are glued on using E6000.

Yesterday, I pulled out my McHenry Landmark Quilt.  It's been on hold for a long time.  I need to get some border fabric for it.  I'll talk more about that when I can.  For now, I thought I'd share some eye candy!

 

Cats And Mandalas PDF Entire Collection

Hello everyone!!  Still have a lot on my plate right now but I was asked if I could put the Cats And Mandalas series together as a PDF file set and offer them at a special price.  So I did.  You can find them in my Etsy shop for $95.00 US.

I will send you a link via an Etsy message, where you can download all 12 patterns.  I usually respond right away but please allow 24 hours for my reply.
 

2025 Colorful Birthday Cat

I apologize for being MIA lately.  It's been a rough few years.  I have a lot on my plate right now.

The 2025 Colorful Cat Birthday gift is now available.  Being that it's a Jubilee year, I named her Jubilee:

To receive her on your birthday, join Fans Of Kitty And Me Designs Facebook Group.   The "sign up" information is listed at the top of the page under "Featured".

If you signed up for previous years, you WILL have to sign up again for this year's cat.