Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Featured Designer

Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Featured Designer: There are times when things happen in your life that makes you so happy and this is one of those times! Island Batik is featuring me as ...

Island Batik Featured Designer


There are times when things happen in your life that makes you so happy and this is one of those times!

Island Batik is featuring me as one of their designers. I have just returned from Quilt Market in Houston  and I was notified of this honor. Woo Hoo! I am so pleased.

I love working with their wonderful fabrics and "Caribbean Splash" was one of my many favorites. Can't get too far away from the beach.

 
Besides their lovely blue & yellow fabircs, the quilts were made using Aurifil threads and Quilter's Dream Batting.


Read all about me in the Island Insider!  Thank you Island Batik!

Just had to share!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Purrfect Spots: We have winners for the Island Batik "Summer in th...

Purrfect Spots: We have winners for the Island Batik "Summer in th...: Congratulations to OhioLori and LauriJo as you are the winners of my Island Batik Sherbet Delight Pattern.  Please email me here so I c...

We have winners for the Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop

Congratulations to OhioLori and LauriJo as you are the winners of my Island Batik Sherbet Delight Pattern. 

Please email me here so I can get your pattern to you. 

Thank you for participating in this Blog Hop!

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Last day of Summer in the Country by Island Batik

Purrfect Spots: Last day of Summer in the Country by Island Batik: Today is the last day of the Island Batik Summer in the Country Blog Hop given by the Island Batik Ambassadors. We hope you all have ...

Last day of Summer in the Country by Island Batik




Today is the last day of the Island Batik Summer in the Country Blog Hop given by the Island Batik Ambassadors. We hope you all have enjoyed this hop with all the lovely patterns using such beautiful fabrics and all the wonderful recipes. 

Join the Happy Cottage Quilter here to see her lovely designs and great recipe. Thank you. It has been fun. 


Friday, September 4, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Summer in the Country Blog Hop - Only two more day...

Purrfect Spots: Summer in the Country Blog Hop - Only two more day...: Christine is our hostess today with the Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop! She is showing us about EPP (English P...

Summer in the Country Blog Hop - Only two more days!


Christine is our hostess today with the Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop!

She is showing us about EPP (English Paper Piecing) plus a delicious recipe and a giveaway of lovely Island Batik Fabrics. Meet Christine here!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Island Batik Summer in the Country Blog Hop continues today!




The Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop continues today with Mary Mack. Lovely quilt tutorial and a yummy recipe. 

Check it out here.


Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Summer in the Country Blog Hop with Maria today!











 The  "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop continues so we can enjoy the last few days of summer with Maria of Maria Michaels Designs. 

You will love her two quilts and the lemon pie looks delicious plus she has a giveaway.

So hop on over to MariaMichaelsDesigns!


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Welcome to my "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop!

Purrfect Spots: Welcome to my "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop!: Welcome  to my blog for the Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop.  As today is September 1, what better way to...

Welcome to my "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop!

Welcome  to my blog for the Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop. 

As today is September 1, what better way to enjoy these last few days of summer than with a picnic.





I got the idea from the lovely fabrics that Island Batik sent me.  They are fall colors and fall is my favorite season, so these colors are just "purrfect" for me! The grouping on the bottom is from the Countryside Collection,  the middle stack is from Jewels and Gems.
The top stack is strips from several collections including Meadow.





 
All these lovely fabrics, now what to do? Well one fabric in particular became my inspiration. It is from the Jewels and Gems collection.


 
What do you think this Florida person with Louisiana connections thought about? 

Any ideas?

Well, just like Louisiana, we have lots of bayous and their inhabitants here, so won't you join me for a picnic after we see the  bayou? 





I have found just the right music to get you in the mood (good toe tapping music)  and you will like the scenery too, but don't rock the boat!

  
Now that your boat ride is over and you are back home safe, let me show you what I did with this wonderful Island Batik fabric. I mean we are having a picnic, so we have to have some proper table toppers! Think placemats - but not ordinary placemats. These are for the Bayou!


Ok, I have a confession to make.

I love small squares and when I saw the strips of fabric that I received, that was it.


I received three sets of strips and I used all three sets to make three different placemats. 

I made them all the same way and here is how I did it.




I took one set and  spread them out and put like colors together. The strips were 10" long.











I  chose seven  2 1/2"  strips that complimented each other, but gave contrast as well. I sewed six of these together in pairs of two.










Then I cut the strips into  2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles and the lone strip into 2 1/2" squares. I was now ready to play. 












My design wall which is  the flannel side of a table cloth and covered with hundreds of threads was ready for me to go to work. 

I tried different combinations with the rectangle pieces to see which looked the best. I would tuck the 2 1/2" squares here and there.








Once the pieces were in place, I then used some of the leftover strips to fill in the holes to make my placemat 12" x 18". 

I moved them around several times, before I came up with a design I liked. 






 I stitched it all together. What do you think?











I cut out my backing 12" x 18" along with the batting. I placed my backing and placemat top right sides together. 

I then placed the batting on top of the placemat top matching raw edges. After pinning it all together, I stitched around the edges leaving an 8" opening on one end to turn. 

After trimming the corners, I turned it inside out and whipstitched the opening. 

 
 It was now ready to add the finishing touch, so I appliqued some "black bears" which are native to Florida. (There is an issue with our bears right now - but I won't go into that.)







We also have the Florida panther and they are very elusive. I love the way the panthers kind of blend into the fabrics because that is what they do in the wild - just blend in. There are very few left. 







Ok - now I have saved the best for last! 

My Florida "Gators" that inspired this blog are on the new collection  Meadow

Aren't the colors wonderful and don't my gators fit "purrfectly"?

Well now that we have seen the sights of the Bayou from the safety of our homes, what better way to end our tour than with "Bayou Brownies". This recipe is from my dear friend, Virginia.

Bayou Brownies

1 cup chopped pecans
1 egg
1/2 cup melted butter
1 box (8.25 oz.) yellow cake mix

Combine and blend well. Press in bottom lightly greased 9" x 12" pan.

2 eggs
1 8oz. cream cheese softened
1 16 oz. box powdered sugar.

Beat until smooth. Pour over cake layer.

Bake 320 degrees for 40 minutes.

Now you can use your lovely placemats to serve you brownies and of course have some Iced Tea! ( I prefer mine unsweetened, but the south has long been famous for Sweet Tea.)


I have really enjoyed making these fun placemats with the gorgeous Island Batik fabrics. But I have a confession to make. Instead of using these for placemats, I will be using these for Kennel Quilts. They will be sent to a shelter that has been affected by a disaster and needs help in taking care of the animals. You can read all about the Kennel Quilt  program here.

I hope you have enjoyed your trip to the Bayou. I want to thank you for stopping by so I am giving you a chance to win one of my newest patterns that was presented at Spring Market by Island Batik. It is called "Sherbet Delight".


Just leave a comment telling me your favorite place for a picnic. I will use Ramdon.org to choose some lucky winners when the hop is over.

Thank you again and tomorrow, check out Maria Michaels Designs as we continue the "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop!



Here is the list for all the "Summer in the Country" Island Batik Ambassadors. Please check it out in case you have missed one. (Gorgeous fabric and designs plus recipes on each one.)

8/17 – Island Batik
8/18 – KISSed Quilts – Part 1
8/19 – Kauffman Designs
8/20 – Adele Mogavero
8/21 – MooseStash Quilting
8/22 – Pamela Quilts
8/23 – Freemotion by the River
8/24 – The Patchwork Pearl
8/25 – Fun Threads Designs
8/26 – For Quilts Sake
8/27 – Lemon Tree Snippets
8/28 – Bejeweled Quilts
8/29 – Tamarinis
8/30 – KISSed Quilts – Part 2
8/31 – Beaquilter
9/1 – Purrfect Spots Designs
9/2 – Maria Michaels Designs
9/3 – Mary Mack Made Mine
9/4 – Made In Scraps
9/5 – Happy Cottage Quilter



Also head on over to Island Batik for a chance to win some of their beautiful fabric!

Bye ya'll and good luck!

Monday, August 31, 2015

A great way to start the week with Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop!


 

Check out this lovely quilt at the Island Batik Summer in the Country Blog Hop today! Head on over and meet Bea


Thank you Bea for sharing!   


Sunday, August 30, 2015

Spend your Sunday with a Summer in the Country Blog Hop










Spend your Sunday in the Country enjoying these last few days of Summer down on the farm with hay bales!
Kissed Quilts shows us how!

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Friday, August 28, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Summer in the Country Blog Hop by Island Batik wit...

Purrfect Spots: Summer in the Country Blog Hop by Island Batik wit...: Barb Gaddy is today's host and she has some lovely things to share! She also has a great giveaway, so please hop on over to Bejewel...

Summer in the Country Blog Hop by Island Batik with more goodies!



Barb Gaddy is today's host and she has some lovely things to share! She also has a great giveaway, so please hop on over to Bejeweled Quilts!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Purrfect Spots: "Summer in the Country" Island Batik Blog Hop just...

Purrfect Spots: "Summer in the Country" Island Batik Blog Hop just...: Patricia Bochey is our hostess today with the Island Batik Summer in the Country Blog Hop.  She has a great pattern plus a great recip...

"Summer in the Country" Island Batik Blog Hop just keeps getting better!



Patricia Bochey is our hostess today with the Island Batik Summer in the Country Blog Hop. 

She has a great pattern plus a great recipe. Be sure and visit Lemon Tree Snippets here!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Purrfect Spots: More Summer in the Country from Island Batik Ambas...

Purrfect Spots: More Summer in the Country from Island Batik Ambas...: The "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop continues with hostess - Pam Geisel. She has a recipe for chocolate and peanut butter co...

More Summer in the Country from Island Batik Ambassadors




The "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop continues with hostess - Pam Geisel. She has a recipe for chocolate and peanut butter cookies! They sound good plus she shares her lovely Island Batik fabrics. So hop on over to Pam's For Quilts Sake!


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Island Batik Summer in the Country Blog Hop continues


The hostess today is Carol Steely and she has an adorable pattern for you. 

Hop on over to her site!

Monday, August 24, 2015

Start your Monday with a Summer in the Country Blog Hop!


 What a great way to start a Monday with a "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop.

Today's hostess is Linda Pearl.

You can find her here!
















http://www.funthreads.blogspot.com/

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambas...

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambas...: Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer i... : Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Co...

"Summer in the Country" Bog Hop continues with Island Batik Ambassadors!








Connie is our hostess today for "Summer in the Country" featuring the
 lovely fabrics of Island Batik. 
 
She has a great give away so be sure and visit her here!

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer i...

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer i...: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Country" B... : Wow - we are really hopping and there are "two" ...

Summer in the Country Blog Hop is still hopping!

Pamela Boatright is our hostess today for Island Batik " Summer in the Country" Blog Hop! She has used her Island Batik fabrics in a really neat way to accommodate her lifestyle as necessity is the mother of invention! She has shared a wonderful recipe for potato salad! So hop on over!

Friday, August 21, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Country" B...

Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Country" B...: Wow - we are really hopping and there are "two" delicious recipes today from our guest hostess - Moosestash Quilting. Plus she ...

Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop

Wow - we are really hopping and there are "two" delicious recipes today from our guest hostess - Moosestash Quilting.
Plus she shows some "yummy" Island Batik fabrics (no calories at all). So hop on over to make your Friday a delightful day!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambas...

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambas...: Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer ... : Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer in the Country B.....

Welcome to Day 4 of Summer in the Country Blog Hop by Island Batik Ambassadors!





The Island Batik Ambassadors invite you to join us on Day 4 with Adele Mogavero as she shares a great recipe with us. 

Hope you are enjoying your hop!

 

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer ...

Purrfect Spots: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer ...: Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer in the Country B... :  The Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Country" Blog...

Meet Island Batik Ambassador - Connie Kauffman with "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop












The Island Batik "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop continues today with our hostess - Connie Kauffman.
You can check out her blog here!

Don't forget to keep hopping as there are some wonderful prizes to be given! Please join us!


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer in the Country B...

Purrfect Spots: Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer in the Country B...:  The Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop continues.  Today we are hopping with "Kissed Quilt...

Island Batik Ambassadors - Summer in the Country Blog Hop - Day 2








 The Island Batik Ambassadors "Summer in the Country" Blog Hop continues. 

Today we are hopping with "Kissed Quilts"! 

Marlene Baerg Oddie is the hostess so hop on over to her blog!


Monday, August 17, 2015

Island Batik Ambassadors Summer in the Country Blog Hop



Welcome to the Island Batik Ambassadors Summer in the Country Blog Hop!

This is day one and Island Batik is starting things off with a lovely quilt and a great recipe!
You will be able to get the pattern for this quilt when the hop is over!

Did I mention that there will be some great giveaways from all of the Island Batik Ambassadors as well as some of our favorite summer recipes? Please don't miss out.

Join us to celebrate the last days of summer. The entire schedule of can be found here!

 So what are you waiting for? Let's all hop!






Island Batik

Island Batik

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - the Final Day




Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Last Day!


Carol Steely is today's host and you can find her blog here:

Funthread Designs, LLC

This is the last day of the blog hop. We hope you have enjoyed it as the Island Batik Ambassadors have enjoyed sharing their "Favorite Things"! If you missed a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule!

Thank you for stopping by.



Tuesday, July 28, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Day 16





Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Continues!


Patti Bochey is today's host and you can find her blog here:

 
Lemon Tree Snippets


This blog hop runs through July 29th and each day you will find more "Favorite Things"! If you miss a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule! Enjoy!

Please come join us!




Monday, July 27, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Day 15



Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Continues!


Connie Kauffmann is today's host and you can find her blog here:

 

Kauffmann Designs


This blog hop runs through July 29th and each day you will find more "Favorite Things"! If you miss a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule! Enjoy!

Please come join us!





Sunday, July 26, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Day 14





Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Continues!


Pam Boatright is today's host and you can find her blog here:

 

Pamela Quilts  


This blog hop runs through July 29th and each day you will find more "Favorite Things"! If you miss a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule! Enjoy!

Please come join us!







Saturday, July 25, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Day 13




 

Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Continues!


Connie Campbell is today's host and you can find her blog here:

Freemotion by the River 
 

This blog hop runs through July 29th and each day you will find more "Favorite Things"! If you miss a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule! Enjoy!

Please come join us!






Friday, July 24, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Day 12


 

Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Continues!


Bea Lee is today's host and you can find her blog here:

Beaquilter

This blog hop runs through July 29th and each day you will find more "Favorite Things"! If you miss a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule! Enjoy!

Please come join us!




Thursday, July 23, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Day 11



 Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Continues!

 Pam Geisel is today's host and you can find her blog here:


For Quilts Sake

This blog hop runs through July 29th and each day you will find more "Favorite Things"! If you miss a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule! Enjoy!

Please come join us!







Wednesday, July 22, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Day 10




Island Batik "Favorite Things" Blog Hop Continues!


Adele Mogavero is today's host and you can find her blog here:


Adelemogavero.com   


This blog hop runs through July 29th and each day you will find more "Favorite Things"! If you miss a day, just click here and it will give you the full schedule! Enjoy!

Please come join us!






Monday, July 20, 2015

My Favorite Things Blog Hop - Nan Baker, PURRFECT SPOTS

When I was a little girl, I went with my mom to pick up draperies that she had ordered from a lady in our town. The lady had a separate building from her house filled with fabric, sewing machines and all sorts of neat stuff. I wished that someday I would have something like that. I also wished that  I would be a "little ole lady who lived by the sea with lots of cats!"

Be careful what you wish for!!!


When we moved to Florida many years ago, the house we bought had a separate building with a two car garage as the previous owner restored old cars. My husband was going to use it as his office and did for awhile until the cats arrived. Mama "Bobbie" brought her  5 kittens and asked for a place to live. You guessed it. The office became theirs. My husband finally gave up and moved his office inside as the kittens kept turning off the FAX machine.



 
 
Time marched on and soon the cats got their  own room aka Kitty City, screen porch and Kitty Courtyard - but that's another story.

My sister who is an artist needed a studio so we took out the garage doors, painted the inside and it became The C.A.T. House (Creative Arts & Textiles).

It was great for us as we were painting needlepoint canvases at that time and with the concrete floors, it was "purrfect"!  But she took another path and I started quilting so it soon became filled with lots of sewing stuff!

 This is The C.A.T. House today (22 years later). So take a short walk with me to the door and come on in.








 


Welcome to my World - this little inflatable globe came from Vacation Bible School at my church.  Being in the travel industry for 22 years before changing careers, this is just "purrfect" for The C.A.T. House plus it brings back some good memories.

And essentially that is what The C.A.T. House is filled with - good memories and favorite things!


So let's take a tour. I will warn you, it is not fancy, but it is comfortable and there is almost no place I would rather be. 


 
As you enter the door, looking across the room, you can see my "Rogue's Gallery" otherwise known as my family potraits. Underneath is my ironing board which stays up all the time. Next to it is one of my Bernina sewing machines that I absolutely adore. It is on an old table that I picked up in an antique shop years ago for $15.00. Quite a bargain. I loved the table as it had little marks on it made by the little wheels that seamstresses use for putting darts on patterns. I haven't sewn clothes in so long I don't know if they still make those, do they? But evidently the table was used by someone who sewed, so it was very fitting.

You will also see that I have lots of thread on various thread holders on the wall plus some wall lamps for better light over the ironing board and sewing machine. Yes that is a walrus and a turtle mobile hanging from one lamp and Christmas wreaths on the other. One wreath goes outside during the holidays. 


Here is an old entertainment cabinet holding some of my fabric. Can we ever have too much fabric?
Here are some favorite things on top of the shelves. My grandmother's old coffee tin that holds cording and her old cooking kettle that holds buttons, plus a coffee pot and an old cold cream jar. A very appropriate place to put my freezer paper.
And I am sure that you notice the dalmatian dogs all around.





Moving around the room, here are two of my favorite animals. One is a stuffed cat that I made many years ago and the other is a china lamb that I found in an antique shop. They watch me while I work from a counter by the window that looks into the Kitty Courtyard.







Here is the other end of the counter where I keep my quilt books, CD's and tapes for my old Boom Box plus artifacts and souvenirs from travel plus pictures of my husband. 
When I listen to music which is not all the time, I listen to Christmas music. I love it - all types. It just makes me happy.
Moving around the room, you can see the Boom Box on top of an old cabinet that my father built. It is filled with ribbons that a shop owner gave me when she closed her shop. I will never run out and if you ever need any, just let me know.
Next is my design wall. It is just the back of an old vinyl table cloth. It is covered with threads, but it still works. This is a hand quilt top that I have just finished to go in my guest room. I love the blues and yellows. All I need are the side borders and the backing and it will be good to go. I am not hand quilting however, not enough time. Will post a picture on a future blog when it is finished.
Right next to the design wall, is a special unit built for storage of all sorts of things. I still have some needlepoint canvases in the middle top bin. You can also see I have lots of bins with fabric - all color coded, but not nice and straight. I had them all organized once, but it didn't last long. My young quilting friend who is like a granddaughter loves going through my fabrics and I would never discourage that as she loves to quilt as well! We do enjoy  fabric time!
 
Next to the wall unit is more storage for paints, fabric, thread, plus bulletin boards with lots of notes and favorite pictures.
Here is my cutting table. I love having the file cabinets underneath for extra storage. The fabrics on the cutting table are all by Island Batik .

I am working on a project for their Summer Country Blog Hop next month. There will be prizes so you won't want to miss that. There are also some fabrics for some quilts that will be introduced at Fall Market in Houston. You will just have to wait to see. 

So there you have a tour of The C.A.T. House. Just a few of my favorite things there are:
a needlepoint pillow from my aunt who did beautiful work.







   One of my other aunts did beautiful embroidery. She made the most beautiful French knots. Mine never looked that good.














 


And of course what would I do without my wind chimes hanging from my ceiling fan. I LOVE WIND CHIMES!








So that is the tour of The C.A.T. House, but I have do have place where I sew inside. It is a wonderful little sewing nook in the laundry room plus there is a huge closet to keep more fabric. (And yes all the markings on the wallpaper are impressionistic black, red and gray cats!)
Remember it is "PURRFECT SPOTS".






 
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed your tour.

Please add a comment about your favorite things and don't forget to check the schedule of all the Island Batik Ambassadors Favorite Things here .





This blog hop is presented by the Island Batik Ambassadors and we have had such a good time sharing with you. As I mentioned earlier, we are going to have another Blog Hop in August with all the Island Batik Ambassadors and there are some great giveaways. I will be posting on FB and blogging about it, so keep checking back. We will have a great time at the Island Batik Summer Country Blog Hop Tour. See you then!