A new Christmas design for you!

Another weekend come and gone! Sunday Hubby decided we should head on down to The Plaza in Kansas City for a little early Birthday girl shopping and linner (Lunch & Dinner). Have not been down there in a while and it is always a pleasant way to spend an afternoon or evening. I have been turning in to such a houseplant anyway, it did not take much persuasion on his part to push me out the door. After our shopping, (I got 2 cute tops for Fall weather), we went to the Cheesecake Factory. So many wonderful restaurants on the Plaza, yet I love to sit outside here near the fountain and watch all the shoppers go by. I always feel like I could be on a plaza in Spain or just about anywhere here! 

We had the Lunch size portions, can you believe it? And boring me, even with a huge item menu I still always get the same thing... the crusted Romano chicken... and a frosty frozen Peach Bellini.. YUM, YUM! By the time we were finished we were ready to head home. It was 96 degrees and although sitting outside was pleasant at 1st, we were ready to crank up some AC.

I have a new pattern finish this week, hot off the press! Adorable Elves doing what they do best,

this runner is fast and fun to make for your Holiday decor. 

You can find it now on my web site by clicking on Cleo's cute little picture on my side bar.

Enjoy your week!

A new Annie and tools of the trade

Another wet week here in Kansas and I seem to get lots accomplished when I can't go outside and play. I finished the "June" Annie stitchery block, isn't she sweet! Annie has been berry picking, her apron is full of strawberries and she is excited to maybe make strawberry jam, or a pie :) I have decided to have a little drawing, next Sunday Cleo will draw three names, winners will each receive my new Annie June stitchery pattern card. So if you love to stitch leave a comment below. Boy is this going to be a darling quilt when all 12 designs are finished.

More sewing room spring cleaning this week. My keep pile is much larger than the pitch pile :( I have a box filled with sewing gadgets and tools alone. We all have a favorite tool, one we use all the time, and I'm not talking just rotary cutters but I do wonder how in the world did we ever live with out those! One of my most used tools are templates in all shapes and sizes, especially a circle template. I can not live without it. They make tracing those circles for penny rugs a snap, or critter eyes and berries, I use it a lot!

My second most used template is the oval one, I used it to trace all the eggs in my "Hiding The Eggs" penny rug. When I needed a really large oval shape I've used picture mats, they come in several sizes.

And these here are just not a stack of plates, oh no they're not, it's a stack of large circle templates LOL! My kitchen is full of templates, glasses, bowls, lids and plates in a variety of sizes, they have all been used.

I started sewing together rows of charm squares for my next quilt. What do you think of charm squares? I have a lot of applique work to do next on this project, now that is the fun part to me!

Oh boy, it is getting late, Cleo is sleeping at my feet. It's Monday already, have a happy day!

A perfect weekend

Another weekend gone by, and April is nearly over as well. My weekend was perfect, I was able to spend my time doing just what I wanted to do, a little drawing, sewing and shopping. Even the weather co-operated, dreary and raining off and on, a good weekend to feel content working indoors. My "July" Annie stitchery block is complete and ready to join "May" Annie on my web site, just as soon as Mr Webmaster can take his mind off golf and work his web magic.

"July" Annie wears her paper hat and waves her flag while she and dolly watch the big 4th of July parade. Wish I had a big glass of ice cold fresh squeezed lemonade to share with Annie, July is always so hot here in the Midwest.

I finished the eighth block out of nine for my next quilt. Don't you just love this purple and lime green. I am using the Asian prints from a few posts back and just loving the color combinations.

Sunday we did a little shopping for hubby. Strolling through the store to check out, out of the corner of my eye I saw this........ I would recognize that cute face a mile away.... Oh, Oh, Oh, my heart fluttered, whatever could be inside that cute box.

OMG..... it's a Hello Kitty bling, bling, bling watch! Just my lucky day to be shopping with hubby, it was meant to be. Pam Kitty Morning eat your heart out, she's mine, all mine! Happy Mothers Day to me :)

Hoping your weekend was perfect too!

May is for Annie

Tada.... a new stitchery, isn't she cute! This is the 1st block in my new month-by-month Annie redwork series. "May" Annie taking her dolly for a stroll, flowers are blooming and soon it will be Mothers Day. Each block comes with a note card, envelope and stitchery pattern tucked inside.
A cute pattern card to mail to someone who loves to stitch.
And this is all I have been doing lately, drawing, drawing, drawing.... I love to draw :) And that's a good thing as I have 11 more Annies to go.


I found these sitting on the kitchen windowsill last night. Hubby must have picked them as the lilac bush out back is full of blooms. He must have figured they would catch my eye there,
above the sink full of dishes, do you think that was a gentle hint LOL? I love lilacs and purple is my favorite color, they made me smile before I went to bed... after I did the dishes :)


Back to the drawing board people!

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

A Felting Fool

I don't know about your end of the country, but here in Kansas we had bone chilling cold weather, below zero weather most of last week. The snow from Christmas which I loved at that moment, because who doesn't love a white Christmas, is still piled up on the ground....only now it's a yucky color and a nuisance. Other than running out for necessities such as chocolate, Cleo and I have been content to stay home and felt lots of wool felt for new projects. We were felting fools, we felted over 27 colors!

The crock pot was put to good use making lots of comfort food. Chili in sourdough bread bowls topped with cheese and a big dollop of sour cream, YUM! I love winter food don't you?

I finished my pattern for "Down The Bunny Trail", isn't it adorable? Jerry will be adding it to the web site tomorrow.

Today was a much needed get out of the house day. Too much hanging out here talking to Cleo can not be a good thing. Hubby and I skedaddled on over to Independence Missouri with friends to see an exhibit at the Harry S Truman Presidential Library & Museum. Now I know driving to another state sounds desperate for a get-a-way, but you have to remember we are just about on the state line, so going to MO can be minutes away. OK, back to the museum, it really is a lovely building which my picture does not do justice to as it shows only a small portion of the building.
I did not however want to walk backwards a mile in the freezing cold and slush to capture a better picture for you. The special exhibits change from time to time, the exhibit we were interested in seeing today were the Pulitzer Prize Photos from the year 1942 to present.

One of the permanent rooms is a replicate of Truman's Oval Office in the White House.

All that looking at photographs works up an appetite, we were starving and ready for some Italian cooking at V's. Now don't let that sign scare you away lol! The food is wonderful and the atmosphere is fun.

When I got home I had a box waiting for me, actually I have been impatiently waiting to get my hands on these luscious shades of #8 Perle Cottons.


I am itching to get stitching this week!
Have a wonderful Sunday.... XO Barbie Jo and Cleo

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year to all! I know, it has been awhile since my last post, seems I had a blogging meltdown before Christmas, so we have a little catching up to do. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. Ours was quiet but lovely and we had a white Christmas, lots of white, a foot of snow! And I have to show you a darling gift my mailman brought, a completely unexpected gift from my bloggy friend Sharon.

Some of you may know Sharon by reading her fun posts on Red Geranium Cottage and she was a very busy girl this year stitching up lots of cute gifts. She sent me one of her famous zippered pouches, the cutest little embroidered stocking and even a little ornament for Cleo! So sweet!

Along with a fresh snowfall come a batch of snowmen. No I did not make this little girl, she sits in a yard few houses away from me. I love watching all the little ones enjoy the snow. And I also am thankful I don't have to deal with the mounds of soggy mittens, clothes and boots anymore LOL.
Along with that snow the temps have been in the single digits, a nice time to stay inside as much as possible and stitch. Cleo and I felted this nice stack of wool felt last week.


Then we cut it up and began working on a new design. And just look at my helper, laying on top of my penny rug, pins and all, doesn't matter, just gotta lay claim to my work in progress. Um, could you move over Cleo so I can sew this tail bunny on?


Well I did manage to get it done, here's a little peek at "Hoppin' Down The Bunny Trail".
Writing instructions this week and hope to have it on my web site soon.

Have a great week everybunny, and stay warm!
X0 Cleo

Just buzzin' by.........

Hi there! Wow, can you believe it is the 1st day of August! Everywhere out there in bloggy land I am reading about Moms shopping for all those back to school needs already. I guess it will be here before you know it. Am I hearing a big sigh of relief out there? Lucky me, I don't have that chore to do any more. Jon is heading back to KU in 3 weeks though. As a matter of fact today he is moving stuff in to his apartment. All he wants from me is a stocked refrigerator LOL!

As for me I have been stitching away. So much so the dust bunnies are growing around my feet!
I love bunnies, just not the dust variety and they just don't seem to be going anywhere all by themselves. Don't you wish you could just wave your magic wand and poof...... house would be all sparkling! Well I guess the magic fairy is just isn't gonna appear so I am going to have to knuckle down and get after it this week. Gonna shut my sewing room door. And just do it!
I'll let you know next post how that goes LOL!

I finished pattern instructions for this pretty wool felt runner which is now on my web site. The colors are really beautiful and I included directions to make a smaller version as well.

And what blog post would be complete with out a mouthwatering picture of a scrump delicious
luncheon entree! Yum, I'm hungry all over again. Friday was girls day out with 2 of my Bunco girlie friends. We worked up an appetite browsing through some lovely shops in an area I've never been to; before getting to the really good stuff.... great food and fun conversation!
The sun is trying to stay out and it's not too hot today. Jerry and I are getting ready to go to Shawnee Park for a stroll and a bite to eat after, sounds good to me!
Hope your weekend is the best!

Catch up time!

Or in Pittsburghese that would be ketchup time!
I know, I know, I am bad...... at blogging lately. This summer is just zipping by. I am having a nice quiet morning here, Hubby is golfing and Jonathan went to The Lake Of The Ozarks for the weekend. Just Cleo and me trying to share the computer chair and I thought this would be a good time to gather my thoughts.
I snagged this picture from my daughters blog. My little munchkins, I just love it! So special because all 4 cousins were able to get together for the 4th of July weekend. Not always easy to do living in neighboring states, looks like the boys had a fun filled time together. Making memories.

I've been to Pittsburgh and back, it was a quick trip really, just 4 days. And they were wonderful,
laid back and very relaxing! I stayed with my sister, she always spoils me.
We spent 2 of our days here: at Mineral Beach.

I just love it here, so perfect on a hot summer day. We used to bring the girls here when they were small. Hard to get a good picture, but this is a very unusual pool. First of all it is smack dab out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by rolling hills, trees and fields. The pool is very old, built in the 1920s. It is unusual in that it has no defined sides, mostly shallow you can just walk in like a beach! You can also bring in all your floaty toys so children just love it. Spread your blankets out on the grass and have a picnic lunch, love it, love it, love it, and I also got a good tan!

I enjoyed lots of good Pittsburgh food and to tell you the truth isn't it always a joy to be away from cooking! I spent 3 nights with my Dad!

Now can you tell what these are? They are turkeys! We were on our way to the airport and I spotted these in their neighborhood, made my brother in law come to a screeching halt so I could take a picture! I know they think I'm crazy, but I've never had turkeys in my yard. Gobble, Gobble!

So here I am settled back in, home to the normal routine. I spent a better part of the week sewing and finishing pattern instructions for this sweatshirt, it will be on my web site tomorrow.
Enjoying the string of beautiful weather we are having, high 70s and windows open at night. Savoring summers fresh market produce, sweet corn on the cob is out, life is good.
Well I'm off to make my appetizer for tonight- couples Bunco- whoo hoo!