Sum Sum Summertime!

Wow, it has been a busy summer! We spent the 4th of July week with my sis in law and brother in law in Pittsburgh PA. They are such a fun couple to be with and we always have a great visit with them. It is our tradition to go out and have a big breakfast to start off our 4th of July morning.

We always go to a little spot in the country on a par 3 course called Chubs Place. 

How yummy does this look? That Pittsburgh Italian bread... OMG I can't get enough of it when I'm there!

We also spent time with our niece and her darling little family.

 It was a good week flooded with many fond memories of growing up in Pittsburgh. 

But all good things must come to an end and before you know it we were on the road heading home to our Daisy. Our cooler was packed with some of our favorite Pittsburgh foods. We stopped for lunch at a rest area along the road and had chipped ham sandwiches, Wise potato chips and cupcakes to celebrate our 45th anniversary!

Lots of wedding events happening as the big day draws closer and closer for our cute couple.

Here is our sons beautiful bride to be at the lovely Bridal shower her sister gave her. They are going to need a bigger kitchen lol. 

Once home it was time to pack my totes full of quilts models and goodies to take to Hutchinson Kansas. I spy a protester on my tote here! 

It was such a pleasure to present trunk shows to both the Heart of Kansas guild and Evening Star guilds in Hutchinson. Two wonderful guilds that share their love of sewing and also support their community with various projects. 

Before leaving Hutchinson Hubby and I took a unusual tour we had read about. The Hutchinson Salt Mine has a museum "Stataca" which allows you to go 650 feet below ground on an excellent guided tour. I was a little nervous at 1st, but my fears were quickly laid to rest and this was a unique and really cool experience for all age groups. 

Hubby collecting a salt rock sample.

Upon returning home again to a happy Daisy, I released my latest pattern"Harvest Moon"

This runner is just so pretty for Fall, made from wool it measures 12" x 34". You can find it now on my website at www.cleoandme.com and my Etsy store: Cleo and Me Patterns.

And now it's time to get running. Next week we'll have our Oklahoma Grandsons for a visit!

It looks like August will be another busy and full month.

Happy summer!

Happy October!

Happy October! Temperatures are up and down here in Kansas, the heat went on this week and I put an extra blanket on the bed. I have a new design for you, "Fall Blooms Basket" was stitched in wool and looks perfect on my sideboard this time of year. You may find it on my website:http://www.cleoandme.com and also as a instant download in my Etsy shop under pdf patterns at:http://www.etsy.com/shop/cleoandmepatterns?ref=hdr_shop_menu

I will be spending the better part of this week in my sewing room. We are having some remodeling done on our kitchen and it's pretty crazy in there. Poor Daisy is confined to the laundry room and not so happy about that. Well maybe she can do a few loads of laundry for me lol! 

Enjoy your week!

Barbie Jo and Daisy

80 degrees with a chance of snow tomorrow lol!

We've kept busy here this funny month of March, with the weather reaching almost 80 degrees one day and snow flurries the next! Hubby and I put the wintry days to good use updating the guest room. New paint, new bed and fixings to make our guests more comfy. This room of course comes complete with your very own kitty if you wish!

During the sunny days Hubby was in his glory golfing and I hit the back patio with my book to soak up some nice vitamin D and catch up on my reading.

March is also Hubbys birthday month, I made all of his favorites for his celebration dinner, plus Texas sheet cake.. not shown. We ate mashed potato casserole leftovers for a week... but it is so yummy!

Finished this new cute snowman pattern. I know many of you are tired of snow now, but this guy is so darn cute you will want him hanging around all winter long! You'll find him on my website under "new Product" at www.cleoandme.com.

I love snowmen! Sadly I didn't get my snowman fix this year because we had so little snow. 

My printer has been whirring away as bunny patterns have been multiplying and hopping out the door. I have a new runner back home after being beautifully quilted by Brenda and so another pattern to write. Lots going on here... keeps us young right? 
Have a happy week.... 
Barbie Jo and Daisy

Happy Birthday Daisy!

An exciting weekend in our house, today is Daisies 1st Birthday! It is so hard to believe a year has gone by already. And so today is all about Daisy. She got a new toy and is dining on tuna (the canned variety) tonight! Daisy has added a lot of fun and laughter to our lives, as you know... we are just gaga about her. I made a short slide show of her 1st year for you to view if you wish!

Personalize your own slideshow design

Next up is Valentines Day tomorrow!
I hope you have some sweet plans. Hubby is taking me out to lunch and I am really looking forward to a little adventure! 

Last but not least, I have a new embroidery design for you, just in time for Easter!

"Clover and Sam", two cute bunny designs to stitch up quick. Pattern includes pillow finishing instructions. Now available on my web site if you want a peek.

And thats it for me tonight dear people. I am going to finish making my pizza for dinner. I love to make pizza, and of course I love pizza too! After dinner I'll play with Daisy, she loves to play! 

Hope your weekend is fun and full of treats!

Start your leaf blowers..

Fall is here again, the leaves are showing off for us. We turn our heads every which way when leaving the neighborhood, one tree prettier than another, Mother nature sure does produce one glorious show!

Doing a little Fall decorating, my new pumpkin head dollie arrived from Valerie Weberpal at Harvest Moon designs. I just love her work, isn't she fun!

I have a new pattern design for you! "Oh Holy Night"...the stars are softly shining.

My wool wall hanging features a shepherd tending his flock on this most special night. You can find it now on my web site at www.cleoandme.com.

A lambie close up... they are just the sweetest!

And speaking of sweet.. my Daisy is growing up, she doesn't fit in her favorite cozy dish anymore, but she still tries LOL! She has her winter coat right now, she's super fluffy!

Glad you stopped by to check in on us, we hope your week is super great!

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!

4th of July Fun!

We're back from a little getaway. Hubby and I drove home to Pittsburgh for the 4th of July week. That's a little haul from Kansas, the roads were super busy, everyone was on the go!

!st time we left our little Daisy and as you can see she was not too happy for us to leave!

My beautiful home town! My heart always pitter patters when we burst through a tunnel and see this beautiful city on the rivers! 

A lot was going on during the 4th of July weekend, the Boat Regatta,

and Furries were everywhere downtown for the Furry convention.

We stayed with my brother and sister in law, they spoil us rotten and make sure we get all our favorite Pittsburgh foods and activities crammed into 1 short week! While the boys golfed, Julie and I went to visit the Sarris Candy store and factory in Cannonsburg Pa. I order this chocolate on line for holidays and have it shipped, so I was in chocolate heaven! This carousel is made out of chocolate, it is so large I could not get an entire picture of it.

A close up of it's chocolate cuteness!

After leaving Sarris we drove around Cannonsburg looking for a lunch spot. I had to take a picture of this house all decked to for the 4th. Streets were lined with chairs for the parade 2 days early. Cannonsburg has the 2nd largest parade in Pennsylvania.

We drove around downtown Pittsburgh doing some sightseeing and shopping. One of our stops was the fish market Wholey's in the strip district. Clams and other goodies were purchased for the big picnic. Lots and lots of eye candy in this store, so fun!

We ran in to Mancini's Bakery next door. Now... I just freak out over a real bakery!! We don't have that here, and Pittsburgh Italian bread is to die for! I had several loaves wrapped to bring home with me, they were so nice in there.

Our trip was made extra special getting to spend time with our nieces and nephew, babies and their dogs lol! 

I also spent an afternoon with my Daddy who turns 97 in 2 weeks! He had us so busy running all over   town I did not get a picture this trip. He took us to his favorite restaurant for dinner to end our day.

Hubby and I went kayaking with our brother in law and niece at North Park lake. Neither Hubby or I had kayaked before, it was so fun!! I think we may have found a new interest. The hardest part though is getting in and out of the kayak, believe me, that was not a pretty picture on my part lol!

And now after this wonderful trip full of family and fun we are home again. Daisy was so very excited to see us, she still is a baby after all. 

I introduced a new pattern this week: "An Apple A Day" If you love apples this runner is fast and fun to make!

Still catching up on laundry and all that comes with being away. 

Also writing instructions for the next pattern which should be ready soon, best hurry, Santa will be here before you know it!

Kittens and chocolate!

On chocolate overload after a sweet Valentine weekend. Hubby and I always celebrate Valentines Day at home, cooking a special dinner. We long ago decided in some ways this was more relaxing than going out. The dining room is all decked out. And you may wonder why there are baby kittens hanging from my chandelier. Well... I have been waiting for a litter of kittens to be born. You can view them here at www.houseofstewardragdolls.com. They were born on the 13th and I am on the waiting list to adopt one. I am beyond excited and I will keep you updated as the process moves along!

Back to Valentines Day, I slaved away in the kitchen all afternoon. Making a yummy dessert and......

our favorite dinner! Who doesn't love steak, green beans, potatoes grand mere and a glass of wine by candle light. It was YUMMY!!

With a side of chocolate. I got Hubby the giant size box this year, he said oh my goodness this is way to much chocolate... ha ha... I'm sure someone will help him out with that. 

And now it is time to move right in to spring! My latest design can be found on my website at www.cleoandme.com. This bunny is cute as can be! Dressed in his overalls he carries a sack of colored eggs and a bouquet of flowers. Colorful "penny eggs" accent the bottom edge. My model was worked all in yummy shades of wool. 

And now it is time to start our Sunday dinner. Hubby likes spaghetti on Sundays so that is what he shall have. I better hop to it! Thanks for stopping by!

Share The Love

A look out my kitchen window this morning... an all too familiar one for many of us I'm sure. We had a foot of snow fall yesterday, our 1st big one this year. The sun is shining today although the temperature is only warming up to 12 degrees and dropping to -5 tonight. My furnace is roaring I'll tell you! 

Valentines Day is fast approaching, next weekend! Such a fun little holiday to chase away the winter doldrums. I don''t decorate much for Valentines Day, but I do love to celebrate by sending cards and treats to those I love. I think it is just as exciting to get a Valentine now as when you were a little kid.

Love makes the world go round right?

This week I finished a little pdf pattern, my 1st in that format. Trying to keep up with technology here. It is available in my Etsy shop now and will make it to my web site soon. Cleo's Treat Mat- fast and fun to whip up fast. My model uses some of that cute Valentine fabric by Deb Strain I showed you several posts ago. This will also be purrfectly cute stitched up in any non seasonable fabric. Awww Cleo... you are forever in my heart. 

Thanks for stopping by, share the love this week! XXX0000

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!