I can’t believe that May is just about here.  I’ve had my design hat on the past several months and I think being totally focused on work makes time fly by even faster.  I’ve read that when you are in your “right brain” mode, you are unaware of practical things like time. 

I just received a copy ot the May/June issue of Today’s Creataive Home Arts magazine which contained some of the fruits of my labor.  A collection of kitchen sewing and quilting items are featured in the magazine using the Meow Meow cat fabrics that I designed for Quilting Treasures. 

The projects are an apron, quilted potholder, quilted placemat, quilted chairback and cafe curtains with full instructions for each. Also, a cat carrier is featured as a bonus design that can be downloaded from the Home Arts website - kitty not included.  Ok, I know I have focused on this fabric lately, but I’m going to the dogs shortly with my newest fabric collection. 

I just received a copy of the April issue of Quilter’s World magazine and was delighted to see “A Little Bit Catty”, a quilt I had designed using the Meow Meow fabrics I designed for Quilting Treasures.  I really had fun making this quilt and and hope that some of you cat lovers out there will give it a try as well.

A close up of one corner:

Let me know if you give this quilt or the pattern a try!  But hurry and get a copy while its still on the newstands!

Phyllis

Sandy Laipply, the editor of the Paper Crafts Site of the online magazine Bellaonline used Meow Meow cat fabrics from Quilting Treasures to make 2 adorable greeting cards.  The photo is the inside one of the cards - a birthday card..  Sandy furnishes instructions for making both cards on the website so be sure to check it out.

Bellaonline is an online magazine for women and covers a huge variety of topics.

Some additional information about Sandy - her son, Judson Laipply, is the YouTube mega, mega hit, Evolution of Dance and Evolution of Dance 2.

Thanks a bunch, Sandy, for making such cute cards using Meow Meow!

I always love it when someone tells me about sewing and quilting projects they have made using fabrics that I designed.  That is the ulimate compliment!

Apryl is not just new to quilting, but new to sewing as well.  She had finished her first quilt when she saw the Meow Meow cat fabrics that I designed for Quilting Treasures.  She not only made her 2nd quilt ever using these fabrics, she sewed this adorable apron as well. I think Apryl is off to a good start with a wonderful hobby and know that she will enjoy many hours ahead sewing and quilting.

Thanks Apryl for sharing photo’s of your accomplishments!

For the debut of the Meow Meow cat fabric collection that I designed for Quilting Treasures, I also designed a table runner and a quilt for their booth at the International Quilt Market trade show.  The table runner is shown in the photo with a cat pet carrier.  

The Meow Meow quilt was displayed on the wall in the Quilting Treasures booth.    

Both the Quilt and Table Runner patterns are available on the Quilting Treasures website for downloading.  While looking at these patterns, note the other patterns available.  I designed some of these as well - the Sophia quilt pattern and the Flintstones Nap Mat as well as the art and instructions for the Blanc et Noir quilt by Marie Osmond.  In addition, there is a free quilt pattern for the Sweetheart Ballerina fabric collection that I designed. 

Please enjoy using these free patterns - there are so many great patterns available for you to choose from.

International Quilt Market is always a beautiful trade show, full of eye candy with all the beautiful colors of quilts and fabrics.  It was an exciting event for me as Meow, Meow, my new cat fabric collection debuted with Quilting Treasures. 

I also created several projects for Quilting Treasures’ booth using Meow Meow.  I’m in the center with Donna (left) and Jodi (right) from Quilting Treasures.  The two quilted projects shown in front are a Meow Meow Cat Carrier (with a fluffy white “stuffed” cat), and a Meow Meow Table Runner.  Free instructions for making the table runner as well as a quilt will be on the Quilting Treasures website for downloading soon.  I will post a link when it it up.

Two other quilted projects that I designed with Meow Meow cat fabrics are a Chair Back Cover and a Tote Bag. 

Quilt Market was held in Portland, OR in mid-May, during an unexpected heatwave with temperatures in the 90’s.  Since I live in the South with high temperatures, I was looking forward to the cooler days in Portland.  Oh well, at least it didn’t rain.

Portland was really beautiful with all the flowers blooming.  Even though Portland is known for roses, I think it should be noted for rhododendrons as they were huge and blooming everywhere.  They were gorgeous and gave additional eye candy for Quilt Market.

After Quilt Market as I took a vacation to Seattle and an Alaskan cruise.  Please check back for lots more from Quilt Market as well as some photos of unbelievable scenic views from Alaska and Mt Ranier.

I’ve worked up a couple of projects with my new “Meow Meow” cat fabric that I designed for for Quilting Treasures. I will carry these with me to Quilt Market to use during the show to show how the fabrics work up in sewing and quilting projects. 

The badge holder and tote bag will also be quite useful as well to keep up with my ”stuff” during the show. 

I will be in Quiiting Treasures’ booth Saturday afternoon 2-4 pm to meet attendees.  There will also be other quilt and sewing models in their booth featuring “Meow Meow”.  So for those of you attending Quilt Market (open to the trade only), please stop in.  I would love to meet you.

I have received some advance pieces of my new Meow Meow fabric collection.  They are piled here on my cutting table so that I can start sewing with them.

I am so excited about  this fabric collection - cats, cats and more cats, all completely inspired by my Kitty Kat’s attitudes.  Meow, Meow will debut from Quilting Treasures at the International Quilt Market in a couple of weeks. The collection turned out just as I envisioned it when I first started designing it - I could not be more pleased!

I think you will be enchanted by designs and colors of these whimsical cats and find a favorite cat “tude”.

Check back as I will show more of these fabrics very soon and some of the projects I’m creating with them.

I’ve been tagged by my friend Sue Zipkin.  She is an artist with a wonderful delightful style of art and color.  Her art appears on many products.  I actually bought several items with her images on them long before I met her.  Read about her tag facts on her blog.

Tagging is a different and fun way to read little know things about your favorite bloggers.  The tag rules are:

1. Link to the tagger.

2. Share 7 random or weird facts about yourself.

3. Tag 7 people, post their names and links to their blogs on your blog.

4. Tell the 7 people you tagged by posting “Tag you’re it” on their blogs in their comments box and explain the rules to them. Nobody is obligated! Just have fun.

My random facts:

1. I was not given a middle name when I was born, just the initial of my father’s given name. It was the same with my brothers. My father was Greek and we were told it was a Greek tradition. Later, I realized that my father had a middle name.

2. My secret dream is to write a novel. It will be a thriller - bodies and twists and turns, just no blood.

3. I’m a travel junkie. I try to learn as much history about the places I visit. And I love see as much as I can and will take off exploring, following streets on a whelm (as long as the area is safe).

4. I brought a little black kitten home 3 years ago against the wishes of my husband. The kitten was rescued by my sister-in-law and won my heart immediately. We’ve always had dogs and Danny didn’t like cats. Now, he just loves and adores our Kitty Kat as much as I do and is a converted cat lover. 

5. I collect quotes. Since I’ve had Kitty Kat, my favorite quote has become ”You can’t outstubborn a cat” (Robert A. Heinlein).

6. I love nature, especially flowers and trees. Although its hazardous, while driving I look at trees and their shapes as well as watch for wildflowers.

7. I love color and buy things simply because of the color (usually small ticket items).  I love office products in exciting colors. I also buy fabric because of the gorgeous colors and as a result, I have a really huge stash of fabrics.

The friends that I am tagging are Brenda Pinnick, Anna Maria Horner, Gina Halladay (Quilters Buzz), Claudine Hellmuth, Audrey Jeanne Roberts, and Joan Elliott. You can check on their links at the right in my blogroll to read their fabulous blogs and their “tag” facts.

And here are a couple of pictures of Kitty Kat - he likes flowers as much as I do. Its amazing how a ball of fluff can warm your heart, whether it is a cat, dog or any other animal.