Just catching up!

 Well, it's been a while and folks are beginning to notice. No, I'm not dead...well not yet thank goodness. All is actually going okay in my little spot in the world; just super busy.

I'd love to say that the new grand-baby (just starting kindergarden) is keeping me super busy but I honestly don't get to see her as much as I would like. We try to get a visit in every ten days or so...but I do miss when she was right under my roof. These days, my patience is not as good...so maybe that is a blessing in disguise. Ha!

Quilt guild keeps me busy. I've been the VP for the past couple of years and that job was supposed to end last June. But, no other member would take it on...so, I kept it along with my new job as Treasurer. Thankfully, that has now changed as we have a new member that is willing to work...and I am so happy about that. I will keep going with the long-term plans I've made (block of the month, mystery quilt for 2026)...but otherwise will not be dealing with programs anymore (which are really time-consuming to plan, track, execute). So, if you belong to a quilt guild...hug your VP...they work hard!

Thinking about doing a 2026 Block of the Month here...so all can share in completing my new pattern. But, not sure how successful it will be since I don't block every day any more. Maybe it's time to try and get back into the groove?!

Anyhow, just checking in for those that still read their blogs. HUGS!

Recipes You Don't Want to Forget

 My Mom and I love sharing recipes...but, there have been many times when we remember WHAT was cooked/baked...but we can not recall which cookbook it was in. Has that happened to you? We also like to pull pages from magazines and she has several old recipe cards or newspaper clippings stuffed in her cookbooks.

There is also a new issue because as my mother continues to age, she wishes to have some of her favorite recipes "passed down" to her children, grand-children and great-children. So, to try and help with solving this problem...I've created two recipe journals. One is for baking...and it will be the one that is going to be crammed full...for sure! The other is for cooking...which is anything that is not classified as baking. (Can't wait to see Mom's full dressing recipe!)

This is the cover for the baking journal. 

The side has a spot for all of the specifics you will need to re-create a recipe. You could also take a photo of the finished item and print/glue that to the adjacent page. These are standard 8.5x11.0 inch pages...so plenty of writing room. Each journal has 120 pages...so, loads of room. 

This is the cover of the cooking version; the inside pages are slightly different in "titles" but the same format.

I've ordered five proofs so that I can gift some to Mom and still have one for myself. They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow...and I'll post a photo of that on Facebook when they get here.

You can get them directly from Amazon by mid May 2025.

Re-covered and even prettier!

 I just updated a booklet that is being offered on Amazon that I created in 2017. It is a sketchbook/journal for recording crazy quilt seam ideas.

This is the back cover; the front is similar in style...I just forgot to save that jpg and the pdf will not load as a photo.

Of course, a pretty cover is not as important as what is inside. Here is a photo of the book pages. Plenty of room to record your thoughts on fibers, colors, variations, etc...AND diagram your seam idea.

Here's how I'm using mine. I divided it into sections for different Base Seams (herringbone, chevron, etc.)...then I doodle my ideas on to the graph pages.

It is 6 x 9 inches in size, so fits in my tote bag or most of my purses just fine. I like to doodle seams while sitting in waiting rooms or waiting for meetings to begin. 

The updated cover journal will be available on Amazon by next week. To find it, simply search my author name of "kathy seaman shaw" to see all of my available books there. 

Gone Down a Rabbit Hole -- Literally!

 Okay, maybe not a true rabbit...as I'm way too big to fit into one of those burrows. But, I spend several hours this week scrolling through the EXTENSIVE listing of free patterns over on Tilda's website.

Saw this super cute bunny pattern and decided to give it a try...thinking it would be a neat little addition to Easter decorations.

Boy...did I have some fun!

So, if you are looking for a project that can be quick (the non-pieced versions)...and just adorable...go check out their website. Bet you also fall down the rabbit hole of scrolling through their enormous list of free pattern downloads.

Absent Lately, Anyone Care?

Good morning all!

Well I have been super busy this past week/month/year...just not on the blog much. It is strange...but since Google stopped the auto feed for comments...the "inter-action" is just not here anymore. Feels like I'm out here on an island by myself and that just is not any fun.

Personally, life is marching on. Grand daughters are growing taller each day and that is so much fun to watch!

Serving as Vice President of my quilt guild...which keeps me VERY busy for sure creating new ideas for them each month.

Doing free local classes in quilting techniques (did Basic level in 2024, now doing Intermediate techniques this year).

Just started a monthly free embroidery class...so, more handouts etc. to prepare.

Still working on projects for myself and sharing that progress on Patreon. Still designing new seam ideas and sharing them also on Patreon. (Site is titled Kathy's Stitching Adventure).

If you are still reading this blog...shoot me a comment. If the interest is still here...I'll try to do a better job of sharing my life/projects with you all. Sending hugs regardless! 

2025 Classes Information

 Good Morning!

If you don't already know...there will be new classes offered in 2025 through my Patron site: Kathy's Stitching Adventure in 2025.

We will be creating 3 different crazy quilt inspired projects:

Fancy Bell Pull - size: ~6" x 18"

Wool/Felt Blocks - size: 12" to 16" (your choice)...as many as you want to make so the final project could be large or small. Embellished with loads of fibers and a few bits of bling if you like.

Bed Cover Whole Cloth - size: ~3ft x 5ft. Could make smaller or larger if you prefer. Embellished with anything goes.

Each of these projects are presented via a private blog accessed through my Patreon Tier III or IV ($7-$15 monthly) levels.

So, if you are ready to try some different aspects of crazy quilting next year...these three classes will give you ALL of the options needed to complete any other CQ endeavor you might want to tackle...while supporting your efforts through solid skills taught in detail as we progress through all three of these projects next year. 

Hope to see you over on Patreon!

Quick and Easy Gifts

 Here is a fast and easy project...seriously! If you just remembered that your needed a gift for a lady...give these a try. A set of four takes only 1-2 hours.

Some might call them "hot pads" but, I like to use them to hold a plate of food right out of the microwave. They are thinner than standard kitchen hot pads...so, if you wanted to use them that way...just double up.

Supplies: One 10" square of cotton batting, Five 10" squares of fabric.

Step One: Fold four of the fabric on the diagonal and press.

Step Two: Layer the remaining non-folded square on top of the batting square.

Step Three: Place one folded fabric piece on top of this unit, matching the corners.

Step Four: Rotate the unit counter-clockwise and lay the next folded fabric piece on top, matching corners.

Step Five: Repeat Step Four to layer the third corner.

Step Six: Lift the first folded square and place the last (4th) corner into place.

Step Seven: Lay the lifted corner back into place. This is how the assembled project should look.

Step Eight: Pin all the corners into place. Sew around all four sides (seam allowance is 3/8" or 1/2")

Step Nine: Trim off corners.

Step Ten: Trim excess batting within the seam allowance. Hint: Duckbill Scissors are great for this task!

Step Eleven: Turn right-side-out by pushing out each corner and hand pressing flat. You should now have the folds on the opposite side of the solid fabric piece, with the batting in the middle.

Last Step: Press nicely, wrap and present as a gift!

Bell Pull Fabrics

 Decided that today was a great day to go hunting for those velvets and silks I had put away. Now, that might not sound like a hard job...but they could have been under the bed, in one of three closets, or in a number of bins. Found them in about 5 minutes...tucked nicely in a medium clear tote on a shelf. Made me feel "almost" organized. Ha!

Here's the full picture. These should amke a really colorful bell pull!

These are a mix of velvet brocades, silk and cotton with a lovely chocolate brown acetate suit lining.

These silks are varied weights and all need a good press. The baby pink (top of photo) is pretty light....so we shall see if it makes the cut when the piecing begins.

The colors are kinda weird in this photo. But these velvets really are (left to right) Dark Green, Burgendy, Brown and Cherry Red. There i also a piece of black that didn't not make this photo.

Hope you will join me over on Patreon "Kathy's Stitching Adventure" for the trio of great Crazy Quilt Projects (classes) that kick off in January. Here's the link: www.patreon.com/kathyseamanshaw