Friends

Jon Leonards quote" It takes a long time to grow an old friend" is so very true. Our dear friends came and went. Our visit went by way too fast, we had such a great time!

We managed to do a little bit of everything. We visited The Ems Hotel & Spa in Excelsior Springs Missouri. When healing mineral waters were discovered here during the late 1800's, thousands of people poured in to this town for cures. We had never been before but it was on our list. About an hour out side of Kansas City, this hotel is known for it's history, beautiful grounds and luxurious spas.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch here and then toured this beautiful hotel. I hope hubby will bring me back some day (hint hint) perhaps for a special occasion. That spa looked amazing! 

Some shopping was done at a favorite spot of mine, Cockrell Mercantile Company in Missouri.

I love the Fiesta Cottage and added a few pieces to my collection. What you see here in this picture is  not even 1/10th of all the Fiestaware in stock, it's Fiestaware heaven! 

We worked our way through some of the cuisine Kansas City has to offer, saw a movie "Brooklyn" which I highly recommend. And then we drove to Saint Louis for our final day together. Where we ate our way through this city also lol! We had a wonderful lunch on The Hill at Amighettis and bought Italian bread to take home. Followed by a visit to The Missouri Baking Company for Italian cookies and pastries to also bring home to our cute engaged couple.

We toured the Saint Louis Cathedral Basilica which is so amazing pictures will not do it justice.

Followed by dinner at Charlie Gitto's on The Hill, where we were treated so wonderfully and I had lasagna like a pillow on a cloud. The next morning we each went our separate ways, us home to Kansas City and our dear friends to Buffalo NY. Almost 40 years of friendship, it's a wonderful thing!

Home to my normal routine again. I just released a new design for you.

This little quilt features wool applique on cotton. It is a perfect project to take along on your summer vacation, fast and fun, when done you'll have a gift for Christmas or yourself because you love it so much!

Reindeer Obcession

Cute little reindeer, yes I am obsessed with them! It started when I was a little girl. 

For Christmas I received the Burl Ives record "Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer" with a matching storybook. My Grandfather had made my sister and I a standup cabinet which housed a little record player. It was painted sugar pink and had circular cut outs in the wood with glittery little Christmas card scenes glued inside. A light inside shone through the cutouts casting a magical glow in the room while we played our record over and over. 

And so I fell in love with that cute little Reindeer, cried when he couldn't play in any reindeer games, and rejoiced in his feisty character and determination to beat the odds.

I never outgrew my love of reindeer at Christmas time, I love them stuffed.....

and in in all shapes and forms.

And so, many of my Christmas patterns feature a reindeer somewhere in them. 

And did you know that this year Rudolf is celebrating his 50 year anniversary? 

There are many darling reindeer and Rudolf quilt fabrics available now that would look perfectly sweet to use with my new pattern.

And with that being said, this week I am happy to introduce my latest design:

"Those Silly Reindeer!"

And silly, they are! They make everything fun while helping Santa get ready for the big day!

I hope you will enjoy this fun pattern now available on my web site.

It's only 137 days until Christmas!

EEEEK!.... A new design!

The last week of July, hard to believe summer is flying by! 

I have a new design to introduce to you this week.

I love Halloween and this table runner or topper was really fast and fun to make. 

Fusible applique and simple piecing, it goes together quick. EEEK! I just love that kitty in the middle, just want to pat it on the head! 

My next design is off to Brenda to be quilted. Until I get it back I have some free time to think about something new. I may work with some wool felt, or maybe this pretty bundle of flannel. It looks like wool doesn't it! I found this pretty stack in New York while visiting The Pine Grove Quilt Shop in Kenmore, such a nice shop and nice ladies!

I only have a few days left to dream on it though, probably no sewing for me next week. This Sunday we will be picking up our Oklahoma Grandsons and have them here for the week. So excited! Working on a list of to do things with them. 

Have a happy week!

A Special Little Giveaway

It's here, it's here, and I am so pleased and excited! My quilt "My Cute Kitty" appears in the new special  childrens issue of Quiltmania. 

                               See, here we are on page 64, how cute is this table of contents! Everything is cute and adorable in this issue packed with 19 projects to make for that special little dumpling in your life, or heck, I might even need to make a few for me. 

A little peek at my quilt. My model traveled all the way to France and back for photography, I wish I

was able to go along for the ride! 

Quiltmania is a French produced magazine, they print their magazines in French, Dutch and English as well. I can not say enough about the beautiful quality of this magazine filled with exquisite photography, illustrations, easy to follow diagrams and instructions throughout. 

In the US it can be found at Barnes & Noble, Borders and many quilt shops. You can also subscribe to it here . Thank you Carol and Caroline for choosing my sweet quilt, it was a pleasure meeting you both here in Kansas City at International Quilt Market! 

And guess what, I have an extra copy, yes I do! One for me and one for you! Well, ONE lucky person that is. If you would like to enter my drawing, please leave a comment, it's that simple. 

Hubby will draw a name Wednesday June 26th so check back with us.

My latest pattern released this week. "Fa la la la la"(you will be singing this in a few more months) is fun, fast and easy to make. Simple piecing, fusible appliqué and check out those rick rack legs. How adorable is that! 

90's for Kansas the rest of this week. I'll be staying cool writing instructions for my next pattern, 

this one has a Halloween theme!

Stay cool and be merry!

A little Fun In The Sun

Home again after a little vacation time. Each year Hubby and I make our annual trek to Florida to visit his Dad, I think this makes year #24! We were more than ready to leave behind the chilly weather here in Kansas. And leave it behind we did, our week was glorious and full of sunshine. Afternoons were spent lazily soaking up rays by the pool. We ate out nearly every night and came back to play cards. Grandpa loves cards and he is a master of all games. We so enjoyed our stay with him, and at 91 years old it is a joy to see how blessed he is with good health. 

Next we drove farther south to visit my sister who retired in Sarasota a few years ago. The boys golfed and we sisters enjoyed girl time, something I never seem to get enough of. A little shopping, sight seeing and lunch, perfect! One of our stops was to visit Laura, owner of Cotton Patch Quilt Shop.

The day I visited was Laura's birthday, they had cute cookies for her customers. I was happy to have the chance to see her beautiful shop, and meet her doggies in person! 

At the shop I had the pleasure of meeting Suzi who was working that day. Suzi is an avid stitcher and shared with me one of the blocks she had stitched from my "Annie Loves Christmas" pattern. Well the funny part is she changed the cat in the block to a chihuahua (her pet), we laughed and laughed! Suzi has an Etsy shop called Oh Suzanna. A very pleasant shop visit, stop by if you live in the area!

I have a new pattern release, the "Three Scarecrows" table runner pattern is fast and fun to make with easy piecing and fusible web. It is now available on my website at CleoandMe.com.

I am still catching up from being away, you play you pay they say! Finishing laundry this Memorial Day weekend. Hubby loves to cook out, he made his famous beer can chicken for our picnic of two! 

I sat outside sewing the binding on a wall hanging, another new pattern to write. 

Thankful to those who serve and have served our great country. I hope your weekend was fun!

Gingerbread treats and back to school

A finish this week, my new pattern "Gingerbread Treats" is ready! This runner is fast and fun to make using fusible applique. These no bake cookies will look so cute in your Christmas kitchen.

I used the Christmas Candy line of fabric from Riley Blake, I think it was made just for this runner :)
It's back to school in KC, when I'm out running my errands I see all the school buses rolling by and can't help but think of my little Grandsons.

Twin pumpkins Aiden and Brandon started Kindergarden in Dallas yesterday, wow, what a big day that is!


And last week in OKC William started Kindergarden also and big brother Alex entered 2nd grade.

They all look so happy don't they!

Enjoy your week!

Waaaaaa, she's gone!

Oh dear, she's gone :( I woke up this morning and it felt very strange to not have my sister here.

She flew home yesterday. We had a full and busy week which flew by at lightening speed!

Here we are, Me on the left in purple, Sissy wearing pink. We are at the Kansas City Nelson-Atkins Museum Of Art. From here we went to the Kemper Museum Of Contemporary Art, a huge storm was upon us and we literally blew in through the front doors!

Art viewing was followed by dinner at the Cheesecake Factory on The Plaza... YUMMM!!

Monday and Tuesday we explored the wide variety of shopping available in the area. A stop at Dean & Deluca for afternoon treats and a table outside on a glorious day is heaven! I must say we had our share of dining out this past week. The most interesting was a place my son took us to: "Grinders" located in the heart of KC is a diner which was featured on Food Networks Diners and Dives show. Sis and I felt so hip and cool being there LOL, the food was fun!

Wednesday was Darlenes birthday and we went to the movies and saw "The Help". Cute movie and enjoyed it a lot, pleasantly surprised after reading the book, the casting was excellent.

Thursday was a push day to work on our crazy wool pin cushions. I had ordered these cute kitty scissors for our sewing pleasure, kitty shaped scissors make sewing so much better :)

We worked like demons for a finish and here they are! I went with a Fall theme and Darlene put her kitty "Moses" in a basket of yarn. Darlene loves to knit and her kitty Moses loves to help.


Friday was a bit of everything day, our final day :( We had such a wonderful week and all I can say is if you have a Sister close by you are truly blessed, I will miss her laughter and companionship terribly!

Now moving on to some sewing treats. Last week a shop owner in WA called to order patterns. During our conversation she mentioned a quilt one of her customers had made from my "Annie Loves Christmas" red work pattern. Instead of red work she had adapted the pattern to applique. I was dying to see it and Dorine sent these lovely pictures. The quilt was made by Vera Ohlemacher of WA for Wumpkins Quilt Shop. Thank you for sharing Vera's quilt Dorine!

How absolutely adorable, her work just makes my heart smile :)

All the little details, it looks like she used yarn for her hair, so very very CUTE!!

Reading through my friends posts I see Darlene has finished all the red work blocks for my Annie BOM series. Go check out her quilt progress, so darling Darlene! I am also embarrassed to say I believe she is going to finish before me as I have yet to finish setting my blocks!

This week I received my quilted runner back from Brenda. I am always so excited to see the beautiful quilting she has done, it is the icing on the cake. Today I am sewing the binding on my runner, I'll be writing the pattern this week. YAY, it's a cutie, coming your way soon!

Enjoy your week, happy sewing!

Knit one, Purl one

My goodness, these days are blowing by as fast as the leaves are falling! Can you believe it's November, yikes, and that means December is soon to follow. I've been working hard to release this new pattern- "Reindeer Helpers". You sure can tell Santa is in the panic mode because he recruited those silly reindeer to work in the gift wrap department. This cute pattern is now available on my web site and you can find all the details there.
The weather has been gorgeous here in Kansas. We're getting a wee bit spoiled with bright sunny skies and 70s and oh how I wish it could stay this way all year long. Sunday we drove down to Lawrence/KU to take our son the birthday boy out to lunch. You surely must know by now I never get tired of a trip to KU. Not only do I get to see my boy, they have an amazing choice of great eateries and lots of fun shopping. Love it, love it, love it! Sadly I did not get to visit my fave fabric store this trip, I was hoping to stop in and pick up a selection of reds, pinks, dots and hearts, for a Valentines Day project I have in mind. But by the time Jon finished his BIG lunch we were running short on time. Awwww, but look how happy he is :)

This weekend I spied my knitting tote hanging from a peg in the laundry room. In it is a UFO that I have been knitting for 2 years, the second stocking for my twin Grandsons who are now 4! Well, they do have stockings, just not one of these gigantic stockings I have made for each of us since we were 1st married. So much to Cleos delight, the yarn ball is out once again and I am bound and determined to finish up this week, see I'm already down to the toe part!

Knit one, purl one, back to it, enjoy your week!

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate :)

Did you know that besides sewing I have a passion for chocolate? I sure do! Each year I special order my Easter goodies from Sarris chocolate shop in my native state of Pennsylvania. So many darling novelties to choose from; yummy, yummy melt in your mouth chocolate, oh my. And today the bunny.... I mean UPS man left this box of goodness on my porch. Sorry to carry on so, but I thought I died and went to heaven! Now I have to find a good hiding spot, I didn't order any for me, what in the world was I thinking! Well, obviously I was not :(


Ok, I admit to being a bad blogger lately. I just don't know where the time has gone since we returned from our little trip. One day runs in to another and before you know it another week has passed by, you know how that goes. Jerry and I have been busy with a little bedroom redo- painting. And I started going through all my drawers and shelves etc during the process... holy cow, that was a big nightmare! We are making good progress though and I need to get all the work out of Hubby while I can before golf season gets into full swing :)
In my spare time I was working on writing up the instructions for my new pattern. "Bunny Tails" has three cute little pillows to stitch and and ornament for your Easter tree. They are quick to stitch and lots of fun, I love bunnies don't you?


And here's a sneakie peakie at my next design, all done and ready for me to write the pattern this week.
And speaking of kitties, well not that we were, but many of you have asked about my little fur baby Cleo. She is doing very well, adjusting to running to the vets every week for tests. For some reason kitties just don't like to go for a ride in the car. She cries and cries all the way there. Allowing me to give her 2 shots every day and being such a good girl about it. She is even on a prescription cat food, her Dr calls it the Catkins Diet, ha, ha, get it! Our vet thinks it's pretty funny, however Cleo does not feel quite the same about it LOL!
Oh gosh, hubby is pulling in the drive way and I guess that means I'll be hearing "whats for dinner" next! What is for dinner anyways LOL!
Have a lovely weekend all!
XXXOOOO

Snowmen In April!

Yipee, my quilt top is back lickety split! These snowmen are absolutely happy and adorable I must say. Well I know snow is something many of us are pretty tired of by now. However Christmas and Fall projects are exploding in my sewing room. This is the time of year to design and stitch up new projects for the up and coming Christmas season. By the time Fall rolls around I will be working on Spring and Summer!
I send all of my quilt tops to my friend Brenda in Oklahoma to be quilted. I met Brenda when she owned My Sisters Quilt Shop in Edmond. As you know quilting is the icing on the cake and
I am always excited to see how she quilted my top. Brenda is one very talented lady and a new author as well.

This is her new book "Fabulous Fractures". Her quilts are truly amazing, so look for her book in your local quilt shop and check them out.

Anyway, back to the snowmen, here's a little grouping of three. I just love this color palette. I used up my stash of Deb Strains "It's Snowing" fabric by Moda. Her colors are always so bright and fun, I look forward to her next line of Christmas fabric.

One cute little snowman! I have yet to bind my quilt. The strips are all cut and ready to sew in place. I've spent most of the week working on the pattern instructions, so were moving right along.

On to knitting! In my spare time (?) I am working on Christmas stockings for the twins. Isn't this pattern adorable? I have to tell you though, this is one humongous stocking, a good 30"s long! I started making these for my family many years ago, now I make them for each new family member so they all will have matching stockings to hang on their mantle. I usually do this on road trips, a nice little way to make the hours fly by. Also much easier for me to knit in the car than at home with Cleo who so loves to "help". LOL and that is not a pretty picture!
Speaking of the twins, only 4 more days until I head to Dallas for a visit. I just can't wait to see my munchkins!
I guess many of you are getting ready for Easter. We have no plans this year, just Jerry and I, possibly Jon, our plans are up in the air.
Wiahing you all a great weekend and a Happy Easter if I don't get to another post before!

Just a little painting break

Boy oh boy, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted! I have been really neglectful at blogging while Jerry and I have been busy with some spare room re-dos. First we decided to tackle the guest room, it was red when we moved in 5 years ago. 3 coats of paint later it is now a pretty cream shade. What a difference new paint can make! The room appears to be much larger and brighter now.
After the hard work comes the fun part, a little decorating. My sewing angel found a spot right away, close to the window for nice bright light and a chair nearby to sit in and stitch awhile if you please.
Jerry's Dad is our 1st guest this year, he arrives from Florida in 8 days. Eeeeeks! I doubt he'll feel like sitting and stitching in here LOL, I'll have to find a stack of crossword puzzles.

Of course I had to buy new bedding. I liked the colors and design in this set.

Next I dug out my penny rug model "Midnight Garden" from the "Quick & Easy Pennyrugs" book. I am going to frame it as I thought the colors would go perfect with the bedding and wool just adds such a nice cozy touch.

While in the groove I decided to tackle Jonathan's room. I had not even ventured in his room since he moved out in January. Woaaaaa! SCARY!!!! Just kidding, actually it wasn't that bad. A little cleaning up then back out with the paint cans for a fresh coat of paint. I chose a nice safe shade of beige. I have a heavy denim comforter I am going to use which looks nice on his antique iron bed frame. I hung this quilt I made quite a few years ago.

Here is a close up of the blocks, I just love the way it is starting to pull together in here with the tans, navy and reds. Now I am on a fabric hunt for curtains. pillow shams and dust ruffle.

Next up on the list is a little spring decorating. I am so done with winter aren't you?!
It won't be long before this little bunny comes hopping on by and isn't he the cutest! One of Hallmarks Easter promotions, he is musical, his ears spin around and move up and down, the kids just love him! I had to get one for each set of Grandsons.

In between sniffing too many paint fumes I continue to work on several sewing projects. My latest quilt is finished and on its way to Oklahoma to be quilted by my quilting friend Brenda Esslinger. Brenda has a new book out called "Fractured Flowers" in conjunction with Darcy Ashton. The quilts in it are fabulous so check it out if you come across it in your local quilt shop.