Drawing winner!

Summertime..... family time, vacation and travel time. I really noticed the absence of people this week while running around doing my daily errands. Stores are quiet, traffic is down, temperatures are soaring and it looks like summer is here full blast!. Are you dreaming of a little get away, to the ocean, lake or a cool mountain retreat? I know I am! 

So before I get carried away with summer plans, I wanted to make sure we had our drawing for the Quiltmania Special Childrens issue. I wish there was one for each of you, but c'est la vie, there could be only one. Jerry drew names tonight and the winner is "D" from Cowtown Quilts!

So if you will email me your info D, I will get your copy on it's way to you!

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!

Sum Sum Summertime!

Wow, who turned on the heat, summer time has arrived! 

Being as today was to be the coolest day of the week, a mere 87 degrees, Hubby and I decided this should be our outdoor adventure day, a picnic at the park. I made yummy egg salad sandwiches, I just love egg salad don't you? All packed up in my cute little basket with some sketch pads off we went. The quilt under my basket which you can hardly see is the 1st quilt I ever made 41 years ago! There was no pattern involved, or fabric purchasing. I used scraps of our 1st daughters outgrown clothing and sewed squares together with some applique tulips in the center of every other square, it was just a home sewing scrap project for her bed. It is now pretty tattered and has become the picnic quilt. What a nice memory of a cute little girl and all those sweet little sundresses I had made for her. 

And look what I found, a very old picture of our Melissa on her quilt with just a few of her stuffed animals lol. The photo quality is poor, what a long way cameras have come since then, but you get the idea! What a cutie :)

Well to tell you the truth Hubby and I just had to laugh. Our picnic lunch was great but sitting for a long spell on the ground was not as easy as it used to be so out came the soft fold up chairs. 

I brought an Annie to stitch, as you can see she is nearly finished. Fish were jumping from the lake and birds were chattering, it was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. 

I have several projects in the works right now. This little reindeer wall hanging will soon be a new pattern, just as soon as I get a cover for it off to the printer it will go.

My next design arrived in todays mail, home from Brenda's expert quilting. I have to sew the binding on and start writing the pattern, I better quit goofing off now and get busy! 

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!

A Happy Mothers Day

Mothers Day... come and nearly gone now. This morning my son arrived with a basket full of laundry lol... AND and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He had also stopped at Dean & Delucca on the way and brought me chocolate and 3 special dessert confections. How absolutely sweet is that, I'll tell you, I must of raised this boy right! 

He and Hubby then prepared a fabulous brunch. The sun was out and shining, we sat out on the patio for the 1st time this year soaking up the warmth.

Both of my daughters called, you know how those phone calls just make your day so extra special. 

After brunch we went to see "The Great Gatsby". Loved the movie, elaborate backdrop of mansions rich with opulence, beautiful costumes and characters depicting the fabulous lifestyle of a great novel come to life. 

Last but not least Hubby had a special gift for me, charms for my bracelet. Two girls and 1 boy charm, 1 kitty charm for my sweet Cleo who I still miss so very much. 

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family. I hope your Mothers Day was filled with love and extra special too! 

Over The Rainbow

My sweet Cleo went to kitty heaven this morning, my heart is still heavy accepting her loss. A recent checkup found she had stomach cancer and she was barely eating. Although we could hardly bare the thought of letting her go, we had to keep her best interests in mind. With great love, Jerry and I by her side, she went peacefully.
Many thanks to my family, friends and FaceBook friends, for their compassion and kind comments while I faced this difficult decision. 
Cleo was my constant sewing buddy these past 13 years, she loved to hang out with me while I worked. She had many friends in the quilting community who sent her notes and pictures of kitty friends, we read and enjoyed them all!
In her honor I put together a slide show of some of my Cleo inspired patterns, as you can see she left some very big paw prints on my heart! 

Free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox

Is it Spring Yet?

Is it Spring yet?? Well I don't know about you but I sure am ready! We have had a bit of everything this month, from our largest snowfall in years to thunderstorms. Temperature swings from teens to 60's in all in a matter of days, those poor little daffodils are too frightened to stick their heads up just yet. 

I have been doing a little Spring decorating, changing out the winter candles, floral arrangements and nick knacks to pastel colors and bunnies. Speaking of bunnies, you know I love my bunnies... I released a new penny rug design this month titled "Easter Egg Hunt". Love these wool felt colors, and the bunnies are just way too cute :)

My currant design I'm working on skips back to a winter theme. I know I know... I said I was waiting for Spring and here I am back to snow and such in my head. 

I did however find the perfect hanger for it. 

So while I'm not sewing I am planning my St Patricks Day feast! Silly me, I'm not even Irish, but on St Pats Day everyone is are they not? Even Cleo! 

The truth is I never even had a corned beef dinner until after Hubby and I were married. And to please  

my 1/2 Irish Hubby this German girl learned how to make his corned beef with all the fixings many years ago. Not all my attempts were too spectacular, sometimes the green beer was probably the best part lol! But I am proud to now say I have this meal down pat and make the BEST EVER CORNED BEEF! Yes I do  Bobby Flay! Our son and his girl friend will be joining us, I look forward to their company and cooking for them!

This St Patricks Day may joy and peace surround you,

contentment latch your door;

and happiness be with you now, 

and bless you ever more!