Author Archives: Phyllis

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Handmade greeting cards using Meow Meow cat fabrics

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Cat Fabric greeting cardsFabrics are not just for sewing!  Use the Meow Meow cat fabrics I designed for Quilting Treasures  for scrapbooking or make some unique, one-of-a-kind greeting cards to show off your purr-fect sense of humor.  I created these two handmade greeting cards, The Cat’s Meow and Kool Cat with the Meow Meow cat fabrics.  They are easy, quick and fun to make plus you can be quite “catty” when making them.  Click to see the card backs and inside of one plus free instructions.

I would love to hear from you so please post a comment.  And I would also love to see any cards or scrapbook projects that you make using Meow Meow cat fabrics as well as any sewing and quilt project.

I’m busy working on another free project for you –  an apron pattern.  I will post it soon, so please check back.

 

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New Designs from Brenda Pinnick – Halloween Die’s for Scrapbooks, Card Making and More

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Its been a few days since I’ve posted, but I’m happy to say that I have been busy working on my next fabric collection for Quilting Treasures.  I can’t go into details at this time, but its a fun collection that I think you will just love!

Time flies quickly and Halloween is only a couple of months away (yes, really, it is – I counted the months using 2 fingers).  My talented friend Brenda Pinnick has a new Halloween die collection with Sizzix and its simply to “die” for. Brenda Pinnick Sizzix Halloween I saw the collection at the recent trade show for the Craft and Hobby Associataion. The are just adorable – the entire collection of spooky Halloween scary stuff!  (I borrowed the photo from Brenda.) They are perfect for the hand made cards, bags and your other Halloween scrapbook projects. Check out Brenda’s blog for additional ideas and because its just a great blog.

In addition to fabric designs, I’m working on some freebies to post here, so check back soon.

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Free instructions and pattern to create a tee shirt dress.

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Tee Shirt Dress

Take a tee shirt out of your closet and turn it into a dress with a few simple sewing instructions.  I designed this child sized “T-Shirt Flounce Dress” for Sewing Savvy magazine.  The pattern and instructions are on their website for free downloading so that you can sew a few before school starts  The dress is embellished with ribbon and has a ribbon flower that you can make.

I chose a yellow and orange color combination, but you can come up with your own color combinations based on the tee shirt colors you choose.  And why not enlarge the pattern and make one for yourself!!  It would make a comfy dress to shop in or even a cute dress for the beach!

Best to you and all that you do!

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Sewing away with new designs

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New sewing projects on the horizon!  I just completed a sewing project that I designed for a publication due out in a few months.  I can’t give any details but thought I would give a sneak peak of the fabrics I used.  I am a fabric junkie and just love bright colored fabrics. Fabrics for projectIts inspirational just looking at my fabric stash because of all the colors.  This is just a small part of my fabric stash.My fabric stash

 

I’m leaving Thursday for the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show in Chicago.  I just read a comparison somewhere that its like the World Fair of craft shows.  I agree and wish I could remember where I saw that, but my brain is in overload right now.  I am displaying in the Designer Showcase at the show and am working on last minute preparations.  The show is so exciting to attend and check out all the new products available to the crafters of the world

Best wishes for a happy day to each of you! 

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Jean Embroidery – “Hot Mama” chili pepper embroidery design in Sewing Savvy

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Hot Mama jean embroidery

Embroidery is a fabulous way to embellish your jeans (or jean jacket).  I just received the July issue of Sewing Savvy that has the “Hot Mama” chili pepper iean embroidery that I designed.

Chili Pepper Embroidered Jeans

Embroidery designs will add some colorful and spicy accents to your jeans, so check out this issue of Sewing Savvy, curently at your news stand, for the instructions and patterns.

Chili Pepper Jean embroidery

To see more jean embroidery designs that I created, click “Denimbroidery” in my category list to the right.  This link will show jean embroidery kits that I designed for Janlynn, Inc.

While you are looking through the July issue of Sewing Savvy, check out the ad for the Meow Meow cat fabrics that I designed for Quilting Treasures (Page 55).

I hope that you will give your jeans a little tweaking with a needle and a few strands of floss.  I would love to see what you stitch.

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4th of July celebrating with friends and home made ice cream

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Home Made Peach Ice CreamHome made ice cream – what can be better?  Hummm, home made peach ice cream.  We decided to pull out the ice cream maker that had been gathering dust and churn it out while celebrating the 4th. My friend Denise Clason had just sent her “Mothers Best Ice Cream” recipe last week, so we decided to give it a try.  Yum – really good.  We had our friends and neighbors, Billy and Shirley, over to help eat it. 

Here is Denise’ recipe – I added 8 peaches cut into small pieces.  Delicious! 

My Mother’s Best Ice Cream recipe

8 C Lt cream

4 eggs

1 pkg powered sugar

2 T vanilla

¼ t. salt

2 C milk or whipping cream, or 1 C milk and 1 C whipping cream

10-12 pounds crushed ice

1 box rock salt

 

1.  Heat 4 C lt. cream until scalded (not burned) in heavy sauce pan.

2.  In medium bowl with wire whisk, mix eggs and powdered sugar until blended.

3.  Gradually stir in 1 C of the hot cream.  Gradually pour egg mixture back into cream.  Heat for approximately 15 minutes or until the liquid becomes slightly thick – it does not need to boil.

4.  Add remaining 4 C lt. cream, 2 C milk or whipping cream, vanilla and salt and mix.

5.  Pour into the freezer container and chill in the refrigerator until cool.

6.  Follow manufacturer’s directions for freezing

 

20 minutes prep time and about 25-30 minutes freezing.

***Add these ingredients to get a flavor like Cold Stone:  1 C raspberry jam, 1 C cut up blackberries, ¼ C raspberry syrup, ½ C baby chocolate chips.  Stir together and freeze longer.

 

Denise is a fellow designer and is author of Quilted Bags and Totes.   if any of you are quilters, join Denise’s Yahoo Quilting group.

We started the 4th off with breakfast at Billy and Shirley’s house, with breakfast cooked outside on a huge grill. 

Billy, Shirley and hubby Danny (white shirt) chat after breakfast. July 4 breakfast

 

Then there’s me relaxing in the hammock.  Actually Danny didn’t think I could get in it without flipping.  Piece of cake!Phyllis in Hammock

I hope each of you enjoyed the 4th in your own special way.  

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My friend, Audrey Jeanne Roberts, moved – her blog, that is!

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Scrapbook by Audrey Jeanne RobertsI went to visit Audrey Jeanne Roberts blog today and it was gone!  She is a very talented friend who does wonderful scrapbook kits.  (This is her latest kit – beautiful isn’t it!). Needless to say, I immediately contacted her to find out where her blog moved to.  Not only does she have a new blog address, she has a new blog store as well as a new website!  Boy, has she been busy, but that’s nothing new as she is very productive.  I’ve often wondered when she sleeps.

I had hoped to see her this summer either in Atlanta or at the summer CHA show in Chicago, but she will be taking a fun trip with her husband.  That had to be an easy choice to make!

So if any of you have not been able to find AJ’s blog, check it out with the links above and in my blogroll.

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My paperweight purchase at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio

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While enjoying all the beautiful glass art pieces in the shop at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio, I had a very hard time deciding which piece to purchase (no one was twising my arm, but I just had to buy something).  The decision on which piece to get was helped by airline regulations, you know, weight and number of checked pieces.  After a lengthy bit of time with a paperweight in each hand, trying to decide between the two, I saw this one, picked it up and walked to the register.Glass paperweight in green and blue I have a small collection of paper weights as they are easy-to-tuck-in-the-suitcase items so this one feels right at home.

I did a lot of walking on vacation and just have to show you my very you my very comfy red walking shoes.  Red Walking ShoesBrenda Pinnick – eat your heart out!!!!  (My very talented, fun friend who just happens to love red shoes!).

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Visit to Seattle and to the Seattle Glassblowing Studio

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I just love glass and and all the fantastic shapes and colors.  Seattle is noted for producing beautiful glass art.  Since I had some time to myself in Seattle before my husband, brother and sister-in-law flew in to join me on vacation I didn’t waste any time and headed immediately to the Seattle Glassblowing Studio.

Seattle Glassblowing Studio shopWow!!! Not only do they have a shop filled with beautiful glass, but thrill of it all, you can stand in the back and watch the artisans at work.

I found it fascinating to watch and could have stood there for hours.  Although I may have the technical terms wrong, I will do my best to describe the process.

Furnaces at the Seattle Glassblowing StudioThe studio has furnaces on one side where they insert their glass that is attached to a long rod.

Rolling Glass to create formThe artisan sits between two bars and roll the rods with the glass to create the uniform design.  He adds foil, shapes the end with additional heat and other techniques to form the piece.

Glass blowing at Seattle Glassblowing StudioWhile the artisan is rolling the glass and creating the shape, another artisan blows the glass.

Seatle Glassblowing Studio shopMore of the shop – it was all eye candy, better than real candy since there are no calories.  Of course, I had to buy something and with all the choices, it took me a while to decide. (I will take a picture of it and post tomorrow.)

The Seattle Glassblowing Studio has classes and I would absolutely love to take them.  Unfortunately, they are located completely catercorner across the US from where I live.  If you are in Seattle, stop by, watch and shop.  They are easy to locate and not far from the Space Needle.

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After Quilt Market – a wonderful vacation beginning with a trip to Seattle on Amtrak

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After a wonderful trip to International Quilt Market in Portland OR, I took an absolutely fabulous 2 week vacation to Seattle and Alaska.  It was eye-popping every step of the way, including the unique trip to Seattle from Portland.

After arranging for a rental car to drive to Seattle and having increased fees added to my reservation on an almost daily basis, I decided to chunk the rental car reservation and take the Amtrak.  Let me tell you, it was a great idea – not only did it cost much, much less, it was a pleasant, scenic ride without the stress of driving and none of the hassle of going through an airport.  There was so much room, as you can see in the picture I took, plus dining and lounge cars.

Riding Amtrak

Actually, this is business class.  It only cost $13 more to upgrade and since I was already saving a bundle of money, I splurged!  I really hope Congress passes bills to increase Amtrak’s funding so that we can have high speed trains like those in Europe.  I love traveling by train and want to be able to travel this way in the U.S.

Just imagine – getting to the train station 45 minutes before departure, checking oodles of luggage with no extra fees and boarding with no hassles.  And once on the train, you will have plenty of seat and leg room plus you can walk around and go to the dining and lounge cars to sit, talk, eat, read or have a drink. Oh, did I mention that there are bathrooms in each car – such convenience!

Once I returned home, I checked on the Amtrak schedules in this part of the country and they are very inconvenient for any trips I will be taking.  So I will have to continue to use my car for short trips and fly on the longer ones.   I look forward to the day when I can just hop on a train to go somewhere.