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!

 

Loads Of Finishes To Share!

I spent yesterday afternoon running my sewing machine and finishing up a bunch of my crazy quilt projects.  It always feels so good to complete things, doesn't it?

These are my most recent Crazy Quilt Hanging Pillows:

I used Vintage Handkerchiefs for the focal point on all of these.  With Flea Market season coming, I thought I'd better use some of the things I picked up last year!

And these 2 little Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls are a Custom Order:

I started stitching on a little gift for my aunt for Mother's Day so I'll photos of that soon.

It Was Spring Yesterday

But today, there's a very cold wind blowing.  It's sunny though so that helps!  I want to get back out in the yard and clean up some more but that wind is a bit cold for me.

I took Lucy to the vet this morning and her weight is holding at 7 pounds 2 ounces.  The special kidney diet is working.  She's sleeping now but she's been more talkative these past few weeks.  I ordered a special vitamin supplement for her for kidney health.  Our vet said it can't hurt so I'll start giving her that as soon as it arrives.  My sister has been giving it to her 19 year old cat who also has kidney disease and her numbers are already getting better after only a week or so.  Lucy's numbers are in the normal range now but this should help along with the special diet.

In other news, I finished up my little seascape cellphone pouch:

I made this for a dear friend who's birthday is April 6th.  I'll run to the Post Office tomorrow and mail it to her.

I've also been stitching on this little 6 X 6 inch door pillow block:

When I finish up on the computer I'll start adding my beads and sequins.

I added some more Color Combinations to my Pinterest Color Palette Board including a few of my own.  For Crazy Quilters who struggle with what colors to use, these palettes should help to narrow things down.  Choose a palette that you like, print it up and match your fabric colors to that.  It's a good starting point for anyone who is new to crazy quilting but feels overwhelmed by where to start.

Finally for today, I wanted to mention that I won't be making anymore of my Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls for my Etsy shop.  I'm going to make them just as gifts now.  So if anyone wants one of my little cats, there are still a few left in the shop.  Order while you can!

Student Block Lesson 6

The first student block of Lesson 6 has arrived in my inbox!  And it is a beauty!  This is Karin's Strawberry Fields block:

All elements are included!  Karin's appliqued strawberry is just lovely and it stands out perfectly on the white lace!  There are strawberry flowers here, free hand embroidered vines and check out that gorgeous spider web!!!  Not to mention the incredible spider!  And some lovely beadwork!

I am seeing some amazing results from my students!  The blocks are so well balanced, the techniques are perfectly executed and the creativity is shining through!  I so much look forward to receiving photos from each lesson.  Karin, this is beautiful.  You did good girl!

And speaking of crazy quilting, here are two of my finishes.  A couple of my Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls:

These two cats are gifts but I just sewed up a whole pile of them so there will be more!  And speaking of my cat dolls, it's come to my attention that some stitchers are trying to duplicate my cat doll pattern from my photos.  From now on, I will not post the works in progress of my cat dolls.  Only the finished cats.

I'd like to ask that if anyone becomes aware of someone trying to duplicate my cat dolls, please let me know.  This pattern is my own original and it is NOT for sale and although I've been asked several times, I will not make the pattern available.  These cats are my signature.  I make them for special gifts and they are my signature item in my Etsy shop.  They are exclusively available from me and I really want to keep it that way.  Please read about the history of my Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls here.

And then, speaking of cats, here's a new photo of my little Cotton ball:

Cotton of course was in motion!  But I think he likes Pinterest!  I took him to the vet this morning for a little check up.  He has an eye infection so I have to give him an antibiotic and an eye gel twice a day.  Scott's going to have to help me with that one!  But other than that, he's in good shape!  And I think he's going to my little Mama's boy.  Nightmare was my Mama's boy and I miss that.  Lucy is more bonded with Scott.  I can't quite tell yet who Wrigley is more bonded with.  Probably me because I'm here all the time but it's a little hard to tell at this point.

Handmade Gifts

With Christmas and a few birthday's coming up, I thought I'd start stitching a few gifts.  I've never been one to wait until the last minute.  This is one of my signature Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls:

These little cats make awesome gifts for any cat lover and everyone in my family and Scott's family loves cats!  So I have more of these to do.  I'll be spending the rest of the afternoon stitching once I finish up here.

For now, I hope you're not tired of baby kitty photos!  Here's 3 more pictures of little Wrigley:

Isn't he a cutie?  And what a good little cat he is.  And does he have a long tail!  Scott and I measured his tail over the weekend.  It's 12 1/2 inches long!  Lucy's tail is only about 9 inches long!  Holy cow!

Valentines Day Cat Dolls are Here!

I'm pleased to say that my Valentines Day Cat Dolls are now available!  These are numbered and dated as will be all future Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls.  Be sure read about my numbering system!

To order, visit Kitty & Me Designs!

Pink Valentine Pillow

Well it doesn't look like I've done much stitching on this but it does take time to sew all those beads and sequins on!

When I finish adding beads to the last seam, I'll start adding some larger embellishments.  This definitely needs flowers!

We're going to the Flea Market and Antique Show in Grayslake Illinois today.  Maybe I'll have some goodies to share later!

Back to my cat dolls, Sandie told me that she likes the taller cat doll:

I'm open minded so I'm thinking of doing a series of these in 2012.  What do ya'll think?  Does anyone else like this taller version of my Crazy Quilt cat dolls?  Let me know please!

Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls List Complete

This is the original, the very first, Crazy Quilt Cat Doll that I designed for Pat Winter's Comfort Doll Project:

As you can see, he's a little goofy looking.  Too tall.  So I shortened my pattern to the size that I use today.

I've completed my list of all the cat dolls that I've made over the years and I've dated them so if you have one of my cats, you can now find out when he was made.  Also, if you have one of my cat dolls and you don't see him on the list, please email a photo to me and I will gladly date him and add him to the list.

Starting in 2012, I will be dating and numbering my cat dolls and of course, I will continue to add them to the list.  The newest cats will always be at the top of the page.  Enjoy my Collectible Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls page.

Pink Ribbon Purse

Where did Summer go?  The leaves are turning orange and starting to fall, it's quite cool in the mornings so I've had to turn the furnace on and our Pumpkin Patch is ready for picking!

 I finished stitching up my 5th cat doll for this "litter":

I plan to sew these this little crazy quilt cat dolls up during the week.  It's always fun to see a bunch of them all together!

So what's my next project?  Well, I have to tell you, the word "cancer" is starting to go through me like fingernails on a chalkboard!  Every time I blink an eye, someone I know is coping with this horrible disease.  I know way too many people who are coping with it, have coped with it or have died from it than I can even count!  And I blame much of it on all the crap that's put into our food!  But that's not where I'm going with this.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I thought I would make a purse and donate a portion of my fee to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  This is the sewn block:

The pink ribbon cross stitch design is one that I designed years ago.  My friend and model stitcher Kim, worked up that cross stitch piece for me.  I plan to embellish this with lots of white, feminine lace and I'm thinking it needs some white Mother Of Pearl buttons but I'll worry about that when I get that far!  For now, I thought you would like to see the block before I start stitching on it.

When this purse is ready to list in my Boutiques, I will also make the cross stitch chart available again as a free PDF file download for anyone who would like to help the cause.

For now, I have a student coming this weekend to perfect her crazy quilting techniques!  I'm looking forward to it.  And I know when she leaves, I'll feel sad.  I always have a good time with my students!

Teaching Classes

I'm teaching today so I don't have anything new and exciting to share with you.  This is my 2 day, Crazy Quilting from Start To Finish class.

I still have to finish up my last Crazy Quilt Cat Doll and then I'll be doing a couple of purses.

If you would like to enjoy some eye candy, please hop over to Kitty & Me Designs or Kitty & Me on Etsy. 

A New Litter Of Little Cat Dolls

As ya'll know, my Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls are one of my signature items!  I've literally made dozens of these!  My inventory is running a little low so I thought I'd make a new litter of these little cats.

They don't look like much now, but when I sew them up, they'll look like these:

I have a few more that I want to stitch up and then I'll put them together.

And The Winnter Is.........

My husband just drew the name of the winner for my little Crazy Quilt Cat Doll:

The winner is..........It's My Bag Designs!  Please email me with your address so I can send you your prize!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Drawing! Win A Pam Kellogg Crazy Quilt Cat Doll!

It's time for another drawing here at Kitty & Me Designs!  I thought it would be fun to have a drawing for one of my Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls:

The winner will receive this 6 inch Crazy Quilt Cat handmade by me!

Here's the catch, sorry but there's always a catch!  LOL!!!!

You can get 2 entries in this drawing.  

****To be entered once, post my Boutique Button in the sidebar on your blog.  You can find the code on the top of my sidebar on the right hand side of this post.  Simply add the code to your sidebar and you'll get one entry.

****To be entered a 2nd time, write a blog post about our Handmade Cottage Boutique.  Include the link to our website:  http://www.kittyandmedesigns.com/   Make sure the you put the link on the words "Pam Kelloggs Handmade Cottage Boutique".  Not on Kitty & Me Designs.  Sorry, it's a Google thing.

Then, leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog!

The drawing will take place on Saturday, February 26th.  All entries will be put in a basket and my husband will draw the winner that morning.  I will announce it here on my blog by 12 noon Central Time.

Am I blatantly asking you to promote my Boutique?  Yes!  But you must admit, this a rather creative way of doing it!!  And because you're posting a link to your blog here, we might all end up meeting some great new people and getting some more followers.  And of course, some lucky person will win my Cat Doll!!!!

Good Luck everyone!

Art Quilt Adventure Complete

I promised a photo of my little finished Art Quilt Experiment the other day but never got back online.  At least I don't think I got back online.  Can't remember for sure.  If I did forget, then it's an ADD moment and I have tons of those so forgive me!

Anyway, here is a photo of my finished Art Quilt:

I kept the finishing simple on this one.  I wanted it to be very "woodsy" so a simple little twig from outside is all it needed.

For the back, I cut a piece of pink felt and glued that on with my glue gun:

Despite the fact that my experiment didn't work (and thank you to my readers who emailed me and told me why), I'm very pleased with the results.  I may even work up a tutorial for my technique next time I do one.

In the meantime, I have another finish to share with you.  I had a custom order for one of my little crazy quilt cat dolls:

I just love making these little cat dolls!  But I thought I'd try another little doll shape so I worked up a Teddy Bear pattern and pieced a few of them so I'll share those when I get them stitched up.

In the meantime, if you like to own one of my Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls, you might want to stop by tomorrow as I will be announcing a drawing for one!

A New Litter Of Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls!

I just finished wrapping my gifts and now I'm making soup.  Smells good!

I'll keep this post short today as I know everyone is quite busy.  I just thought you'd like to see my latest Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls.  Perfect for Valentine's Day Gifts!  Yes, I am already thinking Valentine's Day!  I love the pink and the cupids and the hearts!  Anyway, here are the kitties:

These are all available in our Boutique.

I'm off to check on my soup.  Have a great evening everyone!