Bridging generations

Last summer, my friend Tami surprised me with this gorgeous stack of vintage quilt blocks.  They had been pieced by her Grandma.  Neither Tami or her Mom sews or does any quilting, so she wanted me to have them.

Such pretty blocks in shades of blue with white polka dots and white with a tiny red pin dot.  It didn't take me long to know I wanted to make something special for Tami with some of these special treasures.

I started piecing 4 of the blocks Tami's Grandma made together & added a red with white pin dot border.  That red fabric is also vintage, but only from the 1970s.  I did some hand quilting since I'm sure that's what Tami's Grandma would have done.

Of course, Fluff had to help me...such a good kitty.  Tami loves kitties, so I knew she wouldn't mind.  

Each stitch made me feel connected with a quilter from the past...and honored to be able to use Tami's Grandma's quilt blocks.

I added some white with red pin dot fabric for the back & mailed this pillow off to Tami.  She has received it so I can share it here with you.  I'm so happy I was able to thank Tami for her wonderful gift by making something special for her.  That's what friends are for, right?  Thanks again, Tami!  

My Instagram Best Nine of 2015

So...Instagram is why I haven't been blogging as much lately.  The pix above are the ones that got the most likes from others during the year.  I guess I really am a Crazy Cat Lady!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 1958.  My brother was 2 and I was 6.  You can see the excitement with Dad in his bathrobe and Mom on the couch taking this picture.  I love that old TV, too.  The tree was a fresh one.  Now we have a little 2 ft high tree so the cats can't climb it.  It's still festive & it looks like Christmas here.

Phil and I now live in this house.  My brother & SIL and her sister will be joining us tomorrow afternoon for a Christmas Day feast of lots of different veggies & dips & cream cheese based spreads. Crab Louie salad on crackers...ham...I can't even remember everything I've made today.  I'd still like to bake cookies...maybe tomorrow morning since the food is done.

It will be a great afternoon & evening of eating & talking & gift giving.

We'll also have a GREEN Christmas!!!  NO SNOW!!!  I'm thrilled that Santa brought me what I wished for.  Hopefully there will be sun.  It will be in the 40s, but I can't have everything.  No snow makes me HAPPY!!!

Oh...and there's Christmas Eve FOOTBALL...Chargers @ Raiders.  The Chargers are MY team and this game is a fierce rivalry.  We've got peel & eat shrimp and Tom's Mom's Norwegian Salad to nosh on tonight.  That's some cream cheese with a bit of Worcestershire sauce mixed in then loaded with thinly sliced radishes & green onions.  It's been a Christmas Eve tradition for us ever since Tom made it for me years ago.  I sure do miss my dear friend, but think of him every time we eat this.

Phil & I will open gifts tonight...and then have some White Castle cheeseburgers...another Christmas Eve tradition from when he & I first dated.  We went to his friend's parents for Christmas Eve & after the gifts were exchanged, the guys went to White Castle for sliders.  Ours are from the freezer case now...but tradition is tradition!  There may be pix on Instagram...I'm @ohkittencreates

I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with lots of good memories & love.  Merry Christmas to you and yours!

It's almost Christmas!

Remember when all the big Department Stores in town had Santa?  This one sure looks like the REAL Santa to me.  I look terrified!  This is my all time favorite Christmas photo from my childhood.  I hope you enjoy it and have a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous & Creative New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know I've posted this before, but no other picture sums up Thanksgiving for me like this one does.  Mom carving the turkey at Grandma & Grandpa's house...probably in the 1960s.  Mom is gone now...but I'll always remember her like this.

Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours!

Peace for Paris

There truly are no words...sending hope for Peace to Paris. 

Thanks, Sizzix!

It was a very happy mail day yesterday when this arrived via FedEx...

my prize from the Sizzix National Sewing Month Giveaway!  

I'm an old school quilter...I'm ok with tracing around templates with a pencil & cutting the pieces with scissors.  I've learned to add templates & rulers to use with my cutting mat & rotary cutter for cutting quilt pieces.  But this fabi die cutting gizmo has intrigued me so when I saw the first giveaway on the Sizzix Blog, I entered.  And, amazingly I WON!!!  

There's a new giveaway each week on the Sizzix Blog.  Here's the giveaway for this week, which is Week #3.  Go enter...NOW!!!  The link opens in a separate window.  I'll wait here for you.

I've unpacked this lovely machine, and cut some flowers with the die enclosed.  Today I cut some half hexagons with the signed die from Jenny at MO Star!  

Now...this prize has me especially thrilled because of those signed dies.  Signed by Jenny Doan herself!  I buy most of my fabric from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I'm usually still awake when I can see their deal of the day at 1am Eastern time.  I often buy their charm packs that way...and these dies are charm pack friendly.  

I'll post again once I have a chance to play with the dies more...so check soon for an update.

THANKS SO MUCH to Sizzix for your wonderful contests and for my prize...I love it!  Oh...and for those of you on Instagram, there's now a Sizzix Quilting account on IG.  It's sizzix_quilting.  Lots of great ideas & the contest announcements are there, too.  Go follow them!