Fall Decor 2013 On Etsy

I know it seems early, but I try to stay on top of things so I've started listing our Fall Decor for 2013 on Etsy.  These are mom's newest creations:

I have lots more coming and will add things as I can.

Crazy Quilt Gatherings Magazine

I was thrilled when Pat asked me to do the cover design for the Summer issue of her Crazy Quilt Gatherings Magazine!  I wanted to do something really cool and different so I decided on a cat!  After all, what says Kitty & Me more than cat!

Going back to my background in cross stitch design, I charted a pretty little kitty face and worked my crazy quilt project around that.  The pattern for the cat face is available in this issue.

And here is a photo of the quilt:

And a closeup of the kitty face:

If you would like to order a copy of Pat's beautiful Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine, you can find it at Magcloud.

Lesson 5 Karin's Block

Just received this beautiful photo from Karin.  Her Lesson 5 block is complete and she did a wonderful job with it!

Karin did an awesome job with Lesson 5!  Notice her button spray to the right.  So much movement!  Every element is here with much creativity on Karin's part.

I am so impressed with how much improvement I'm seeing in only 5 lessons!  Imagine what everyone will be doing by the end of this class!

Another Student Block

I've been down the past few days with a nasty stomach bug.  I never get anything!  But this one was bad.  Thankfully, it's done now but I don't really have any stitching to share with you.  What I do have is another student block from Lesson 5.  This block was worked by Joyce:

How creative!  All the elements are here but Joyce added an extra element.  Check out the moon!  This almost makes me think "of a night-bird singing come away, come away!"  Okay, I got a little Stevie Nicks here but the first thing I thought of was that line from the Edge Of Seventeen.

Did you notice how well Joyce repeated the "circle" symbol?  This block is wonderful, imaginative and it feels very symbolic and magical.  So pretty!  And great job done!

In other news, I have Nightmare's ashes now, which always makes it feel so final.  Of course, they're never totally gone from us are they?  They simply become part of who we are.  I very much miss his beautiful little face.  I've always adored black cats.

Wrigley keeps me on my toes.  I bought him a collar with a bell on it but he doesn't leave it on.  He's really good at getting it off but for the most part, he's a good little kitten.  He plays a lot!  He carries his little toys around and he can be quite talkative!  I'll get some more pictures of him.  He's grown some.  He's gotten longer.  He's a real pretty boy!

Student Blocks - Lesson 5

I have a couple of completed student blocks to share with you today.  These are from Lesson 5.  First is Maria's block:

This block is titled "The Bluebird Of Happiness".  I included a charted bluebird with this lesson.  Maria didn't have any waste canvas so she improvised and did her own beautiful bluebird!  Gorgeous!  All the elements are here including lovely mother of pearl buttons.  And look closely at Maria's lady bug!  From an issue of Pat Winter's Gathering magazine.

Next is the block that Cris did:

Absolutely stunning work!  You can see the charted bluebird that Cris used in the white patch.  Also, I see mother of pearl buttons and the beaded leaves as well as the detached chain flower.  All necessary elements are beautifully included in this beautiful block!

I'll post more photos as they come in.  In the meantime, I've started on Lesson 6 and expect to have everything ready to send to Jason by the end of the weekend.  As soon as it's ready, we'll get it uploaded.  I apologize for the delay but I'm still a bit out of sorts due to losing my Nightmare 2 weeks ago.  Has it been that long already?

I ran to Petsmart this morning to get Wrigley a little kitten collar.  I was so afraid of stepping on him since he's so little and usually under my feet.  Anyway, they had 3 black cats there up for adoption.  I told myself I wasn't going to look.  I was only going in for a collar.  But, the collar where by the kitty's.  One of those beauty's looked very much like Nightmare and I couldn't help myself.  I started crying.  Then I couldn't stop crying.  I gained enough composure to pay for my little collar and then sat in my car and cried for 10 minutes.

Anyway, Wrigley has a pretty little yellow collar now.  He hates it!  And the breakaway part works just fine.  He's pulled it off about 20 times now.

I took this photo of him the other day:

He blends right in with the Beanies, doesn't he?

PS - If you've never had a cat, we use Break away collars on them.  Since cats can jump and get into everything, if the collar gets caught on something, it pulls apart so they don't get hurt.