Crazy wool pincushions

Friday night and here I sit composing a blog update, I sure lead an exciting life don't I!

Well to tell you the truth I had a fabulous afternoon and am happy to share it with you. My friend Roberta and I attended a Primitives Of The Midwest workshop this afternoon, an annual event put on by Quilters Station in Lee's Summit MO. Roberta and I had both wanted to take the crazy wool pin cushion class from Lynda Hall- Primitive Pieces By Lynda.

And here she is with samples of her crazy wool pin cushions. Lynda was an excellent teacher, if you have a chance to take one of her classes you will be glad you did. She walked us through every step of construction leaving no stones unturned. I also liked the fact that Lynda encouraged adding our own creative touches to make a unique project. She offered many helpful techniques, a sprinkling of cute stories, this enjoyable class went way too fast!

And here is Roberta showing off her pin cushion progress. All she has to do is stitch that applique down. As for me, well I'm not showing off yet. I didn't get nearly as far, maybe I was talking too much. We sure had a nice group of ladies at our table, some of them drove all the way from Ohio to participate. Wow, now that is dedication!


And thats it for me today folks, going to unwind, cuddle up with Cleo and watch some mindless TV. She likes "Chopped", maybe we'll watch that!

Enjoy your weekend!

Still stitching....

My summer days all seem to be running in to each other. 90's and humid, strong storms every night. And I am still sitting here stitching away... looks like I've been in the same spot since 2 weeks ago doesn't it! Well a few things have changed, as you can see I have been trying an assortment of summer drinks, trying to break out of the Diet Coke rut. You can't go wrong with iced tea, and groovy blue polish for the toes. I have a lovely stack of tea towels in fall shades that I am stitching on. Just one more to finish and then I move inside to the computer and begin writing the pattern.

Our bunnies are bolder than ever this year, they don't seem to be frightened of me and are chowing down practically right in front of my nose.... with a watchful eye.

I bought this darling piece of fabric this week along with yardage of other fabrics I needed for my next sewing project. I can't say that I will ever use it, but the illustration was just too darn cute to pass up. It will end up in my too cute kitten box of fabric, but you never know, maybe someday I'll find the purrfect project for it.

Friday I will be attending a Primitives of the Midwest workshop with my friend Roberta. We are taking the wool crazy pin cushion class given by Lynda Hall. I am so ready for a girls day out and with sewing involved, well it just sounds really good to me!

Pics to follow I am sure... stay cool and happy sewing!

The Birthday girl and a winner!

Yay... Happy Happy Birthday Cleo! What a fun day she has had. New toys and a bag of catnip.

The toys amused her for a very short while, but that catnip, now that is a cats meow!

Next we had cake, well honestly Cleo did not, but the thought was there and Jerry and I did consume that in her honor.

After cake Jerry drew a name from the fish bowl and the winner is..... DARLENE!!!

Oh my gosh Darlene, aka Mrs Quilting Daze, please e mail Cleo your address so I can mail your box off to you! Gosh, we sure wish every one could win and thank you all for your very sweet comments. I'm thinking next month we will have another giveaway. Still lots more goodies from the sewing room that need a new home and some new patterns! SO keep in touch.

And now that Cleo is all tuckered out from such an eventful day, she is 12 after all, we are going to cuddle up and watch a movie. The end to a purrfect day :)

Oh and Pssst... the birthday girl will continue her celebration all week long on our web site with a special offer: Buy 2 patterns and get 1 free. Just click on Cleos picture on the side bar to take you there. YIPPEEE!

XX000 Cleo and Me (Barbie Jo)

Sum sum summertime!

Wow, who turned on the heat! I guess summer has finally arrived and very quickly indeed. Not to complain after the winter that dragged on forever..... but it sure did heat up fast, we are in the high 90's here in Kansas.

I enjoy stitching on my patio during the late morning hours, while there is still a little shade and the temperature is pleasant. As you can see here I am multi-tasking lol! Painting my toenails a nice water melon pink, and while they dry.... sipping some nice sweet tea and stitching away. I have a nice stack of tea towels to stitch some new fall designs on. The birds are chirping away, that silly chipmunk is running back and forth across the patio. Rabbits are nibbling on whatever we recently planted and squirrels are leaping from tree to tree; Cleo is content in her old age to watch us all from patio sliding door.

Cleo is getting excited about her approaching birthday this Sunday! If you have not signed up for her give away there is still time.... you can read about it on my previous post.

Wishing you a pleasant summer,

Barbie Jo and Cleo

Happy Memorial Day and a Giveaway!

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you have all enjoyed this weekend with family or friends or just hanging out enjoying the extra day off.

We just finished our picnic style dinner, only the three of us but by gosh it was yummy and leftovers are always a good thing around here. Hubby spent the entire day smoking the meat, pulled pork and it was excellent!

I devoted much of the weekend to cleaning my out-of-control sewing room. Really I should not say cleaning, rather I am going through every bin and box of fabric, reducing some stash.

Out of my spring cleaning comes our 1st summer give away. I am offering to one of my readers the chance to win the contents of box #1. Approximately 14 yards of fabric are in this box, 12 lovely pieces, 100% cotton, discontinued designer fabric, never used. 10 pieces are 1 to 2 yards each, the remaining 2 are 1/2 yard cuts. Cleo is also adding our "Be Merry" and new "Bow Tie Bunnies" table runner patterns.

The rules are pretty simple and please note, I am going to limit this drawing to United States

followers only. Awwww.... I know, but this box is very heavy and shipping out of the USA would be pretty expensive. So that being said, to enter:

1st: Be or become a follower of my blog.

2nd: Leave a comment wishing Cleo a Happy Birthday :) That's it!! Cleo will draw the name of one winner on June 11th.

Yes, Cleo turns 11 in June, can you believe it!

My goodness it has been awhile, seems like I've had my head buried in the sand over here.

To tell you the truth, the past month has just slid right on by me. Hubby and I made a much needed quick trip to OKC to get my Nana fix. Our daughter drove up from Dallas with the twins also and we were able to see all 4 boys at once. Four little boys age 5 to 7, phew, that is a lot of

energy in once space LOL! So fun to see them all together and enjoying some Cousin moments.

The drive in between Oklahoma City and Kansas City is one long 5 hour stretch of highway with little of interest to look at. The picture below is the highlight of our drive. Now don't laugh, but really, this is a beautiful area called the Flint Hills and is just north of Wichita. Miles and miles and grassy gently rolling plains, mesmerizingly beautiful, a picture can not take in the scope of its beauty.

Most of the ride I chat to Hubby while I sit and stitch. This is the 1st block in my new series "Stitchin' Kittens".


Then home again all to fast, back to our routines. I spent the rest of the week at the kitchen table doing this...

And preparing for Easter. Next moving on to putting my house in order for my Father In Laws arrival from Florida!

9 days later and all is quiet once again. Hubby is back to work, my Father In Law is back in Florida.

Winter has finally let go of us and the sun is out, the AC is on. I am enjoying stitching on my back porch to the tunes of a very happy bird population and block #2 is stitched, coming soon, just for you!

Now that tranquility has been restored.... the house painters have arrived :) We are having the outside of our house repainted, something you do about every 7 years here in Kansas. Keeping my fingers crossed our color choices look good!

Have a pleasant week and happy stitching!

A little closer to a finish

Slowly but surely, stitching my Annies together, the 1st 3 rows are done! She is looking darn cute! Darlene at Quilting Daze posted a picture of her Annies she has been working on. All in Red Work, how sweet is that, I love watching her progress :)

My thoughts have turned to Spring this past week. When not working on my quilt I have been pulling fabrics from my overflowing stash to work on a Spring runner design. I have 3 groups of fabric I love, but they all seem to lack the one or two pieces that pull my thoughts together and I am torn. Back and forth, back and forth, you should see my cutting table.... well no, you shouldn't, it's not pretty LOL!

Mother Nature sure has been playing games with us here in Kansas. Last week we enjoyed a few days in the 70's. People were running around in their shorts and flip flops, windows flew open to air out Winter. Trees beginning to blossom and plenty of yard work going on, lovely to embrace the sun. And today.... well it's snowing and the furnace is back to roaring. Maybe next week it will be Spring for sure!

And speaking of Spring, look what the UPS man left on my porch yesterday. Yummy chocolate Easter basket novelties from Sarris Candy in PA. I have them shipped every year because we don't have anything like this in my neck of the woods.

Happy sewing and enjoy your weekend!