Calamity Kim

A Good Idea

Did you ever find your favorite embroidered towel from Anthroplogie on the floor? repeatedly?
 over and over and over again?
Was it enough to drive me to the notions department to find big giant snaps to apply so that it never, ever happens again?
you bet ya.

Are there monkeys living here?
Why does this keep happening?
Is it a ghost?
Carelessness? What?! Who is doing this to my towels???

I put the snaps at an adjusted length so that I could see all the birdies
in their cages.
 
Why didn't I think of this before?
Seems like a simple solution.
Another calamity averted!
No need to thank me just go buy some snaps and save your own towels.
They'll love you for it.
happy sewing ;)
calamity kim

oh yeah- then you can hang it on the back of your chair too

Fresh Modern Quilts Giveaway

Just wanted to share this giveaway info- check out the Flickr Group Fresh Modern Quilts and see how they are celebrating their 1000th member to the Group! With awesome prizes donated by Fabric Worm, Stitch and Dye, oh, Fransson, Cherri House, Lizzy House, Cicada Studios and fabric from Group Admin Rossie.
Check out the discussion section (here) and enjoy the links to some awesome blogs and fabric sites and after you join the Group, leave a comment to be in the drawing. 14 winners will be chosen on July 14th at 5pm est.
I really love checking out the pool of quilt photos and am constantly amazed, delighted and inspired by what I see there.
I am off to the sewing room to either finish something, clean it all up or start something new!
Happy Fresh Modern Quilting!
calamity kim

Iris Growing in an Octopus's Garden By The Sea or Darling Mermaid Darling Swim the Tango

Yesterday I started my quilt for the Mini Quilt Monday Group over at Flickr but didn't finish it until just now.
I took pictures as I put it together so that I could share some sewing fun here with you.

First I chose a botanical illustration from Dover's Flower book that comes with a cd-rom that was 50% off at the Barnes & Noble I recently visited in Pittsburgh.
After printing it (with my HP Photosmart 8250 Inkjet Printer) on to June Taylor Colorfast Fabric (available at Walmart and JoAnn's) sheets I sliced it up with a few swipes of my rotary cutter.
Then I tried it out on gold but decided to go with the Essex Putty instead.

That was an elegant color to bring out the purple and delicate greens of the iris.

After sewing the putty to the print I used the ruler and rotary cutter to even the sides and then added the gold in a log cabin frame around it.

After auditioning a few purples for the next set I picked a batik and sewed that.

Now, this looks ok but it's rather dull and I was thinking about gardens and what might be in them when suddenly a frog lept up on the table and said- "hey! What about me? I want to have some fun!"

I explained to him that he can't be on everything I make and gently grabbed him by one leg and took him back outside where he belonged.

After thinking it over (and making deviled eggs and tuna salad for dinner later) I went back to my bookcase and grabbed the Dover Insects book and printed out a bee and stitched it down after layering the cotton/wool batting and backing fabrics together with the top.

Now all this time the stack of Heather Ross fabric is just sitting there whispering to me and I just couldn't help but grab a small piece of the Mendicino Mermaids in gold and try it out.
Daydreaming about darling mermaid darlings and the honey bees and an octopuses garden by the sea and missing Pushing Daisies and hoping Ned and Chuck are happy and missing Emerson Cod and promising to quit writing run on sentences I decided it would work.

To make a little window I grab a square of fabric measuring 7x7 and trace around a cd then stitch it down on the top of the quilt where I want the window to be.

I have shown this tecnique before but if I don't explain it someoine will ask, so please bear with me if you remember me doing this on other quilts.
Usually I do this before I layer it and quilt it but I can cover the back circle with the label so it's ok.

Grab scissors and cut the inside circle out, trimming it very close to the stitching.

Pull the outer edge of fabric to the inside of the circle and iron on the back pulling it so that seam is in center along the inner edge.
I cut out the mermaids and a circle of cotton/wool batting slightly larger than opening.

I machine stitched it around the edge.

The back gets trimmed and covered with a round label.

I tried out several choices for binding...
Green was ok

I finally went with the Martha Negley fern print because of the sea green and pattern.

The finished size is 19" x 15.5".
It's not as busy as my usual stuff- what do you think? Do you like it?
Is it dull?
Does it need anything else?
hmmm.
I'm going for a bike ride,
let me know what ya think.

You can enjoy this sung so sweetly by Olive Snook until I get back:

happy heatwave,

Oh, but there is a breeze!

calamity kim

Place Mat Quilt Swap

I have to admit that Flickr has enhanced my life and I have made so many friends there that after 3 years of sharing in that community I couldn't imagine my life without it.
I have fun.
Really, I do and it's so addictive- checking Groups for pictures..checking emails...anxiously waiting to hear if someone has gotten something yet, it's like Christmas Morning.
I recently signed up to be a part of Krommama's Place mat Quilt Swap and had an idea within a few days of what to make. I drew it on a small piece of notepaper one night when we were at dinner and Fred smiled when I showed him and said that it would be cool.
So I got it all put together before my trip and sewed it all except for the binding and name tag.
My swap partner Toni and I mailed them last Wed and we both received them today.
Whew. The suspense was almost killing me.
The fish is from a Ralph Lauren screen printed cotton shower curtain that I found at a thrift store years ago. There were trout, salmon, and mackerel that I had cut out to use someday. I remembered where they were (oh so important when working on a project) in my stash and then I found the newsprint fabric and the perfect green for the plate (Amy Butler) and I was off to the computer to find a perfect bun and lemon slices and parsley.
I printed them on to June Taylor Colorfast InkJet fabric sheets and was thrilled with their realistic appearance.

I quilted the place mat first with random horizontal lines and then sitched the plate down using a butter yellow thread and left part of the napkin folds loose so that they looked 3-D. Once I got the bun and fish down it really started to look real.
I don't know why I am drawn to this type of thing but I love it. I was worried that she wouldn't like it, or that it wouldn't match her decor but she confirmed that she liked it and would use it so I am content.
I love the one Toni (here's her etsy shop)made for me- it has all my kitchen colors- granny cupboard green, gnome hat red and soft melted butter yellow.

I immediately started taking pictures and thought my little gnomes looked happy as June Bugs at a porch light sale!
I love it that she used some cute little elf fabric and the red cap mushroom and sun were great,  happy touches.
We had agreed not to send any candy or extras- the place mat was enough but she did send me some squares of the little elves. I am not sure what I'll use them for- maybe a coaster to match the place mat?
This coffee cup is a giant planter and I couldn't resist doing some optical illusion fun- I found it at Walmart.
 Actually,  I saw it months ago and never bought one and then when I was there recently searching for another Johnny Depp tote bag I said "what the helicopter" (thanks Ruby) and bought one.
Life is too short to miss out on giant coffee cups- besides it matches my giant scissors!
Besides that, the larger my accessories, the smaller I look! :) ha!
I even used the new place mat for lunch!
 I warmed up some sliders from last night.
 Huh? What is a slider?
A slider is like a Krystal or White Castle burger.
They are pretty far away (like almost Ga) so I started making my own.
Here's how:

 I use ground sirloin, add one egg, salt and pepper, 1 grated Vidalia Onion and some minced garlic.
 You smoosh it all together and then pat it out on a foil lined cookie sheet (with 1/2" sides).
Bake for about 15 minutes at 350 and then drain off fat and liquid.
Top with white or yellow American cheese and put back in oven till cheese has melted.
 I use small potato rolls (or Hawaiian rolls) and put mustard, ketchup and a sprinkle of more chopped vidalia onions.
 Some people add dill pickle slices.
Cut hamburgers into small squares to fit rolls and then eat!
They call them sliders cause that's what they do- they slide down your throat right to your happy belly!
***
I was trying to finish my Monday Mini Quilt but I am just worn out, people! I will have to recharge my battery and give it another try tomorrow.
I am exhausted!
I am putting on my gown, brushing my teeth and heading for bed with my book.
I'll show you some quiltie stuff tomorrow.

Love and Lightning Bugs,
calamity kim

Happy Bench Monday

Happy Bench Monday, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

This is a delightful town to find artistically evolved benches.
This one was painted by Joseph Melancon. It's located by Word of Mouth Restaurant on the corner of Osprey and Brother Geenan St.
I brought Henrietta the chicken bag with me cause she doesn't get out much.
Happy Bench Monday.
I'll get back to work on my Mini Quilt Monday Project...
see ya later,
ck

Quilter See, Quilter Do

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Charles Caleb Colton

We've all heard the quote and now I know it's true because I saw a quilted table cloth by Elizabeth of  Oh Fransson that I simply can not get out of my mind.
She used Heather Ross fabrics and a putty colored sashing and binding of green to create a lovely table cloth quilt that is so beautiful I am not sure I can rest easy until I have one of my own. (She made it for her sister- how loving is that?)
So I gathered up all my Heather Ross fabrics and then went on a search for more.

Her newest line for Free Spirit is Mendocino Mermaids which I have used before to line a purse.
Heather also did a line called Far and Away for Kokka which features the Princess and the pea, unicorns, frog princes waiting to be kissed, snails, flowers and it comes in several color ways.
You can read about Heather's fabric collection here at True Up and at Heather's Blog. Apparently she signed a contract with the company that bought her  Munki Munki line of sleepwear, that would not allow her to design  fabric for any other apparel manufacturer for the duration of her contract. This makes me sad but I also feel that when that contract is up she will put on her wings and fly with new and brilliant designs. I know I will be first in line when that day finally comes.

I have had good luck finding some of her fabrics on eBay and Etsy and just bought some more in brown and plum to help fill out my required gradation of color scheme.
 Thank goodness I bought up some gnome yardage a few years ago because it's going for 40 dollars a yard now. Isn't that how you create a demand for something? Put a little bit out there and then make it hard to find and people go into a tizzy trying to get some!
I love her designs so much and wish she would do some prints for framing and dishes- can you imagine having your cake and eating it too, from a plate designed by Heather Ross?
I could.
A nice gnome plate would be wonderful on my mushroom house gnome village table runner.
<smiling ear to ear at the thought>

 I have her book, Weekend Sewing, but haven't made anything from it yet, although I will someday, as it does have some delightful projects.
Someday I will learn how to manage on less sleep and I will get all these things made- teehee, one can only hope.
So, I will keep you posted on my Heather Ross Coin quilt  quest and as the hunt for fabric continues, I would appreciate any tips or sightings you may have as to where to find her fabrics. I need some yellow, purple, green...oh, I need them all!
A Rainbow of Ross!
Wishing you love, peace and the freedom to pursue fabric!
Happy 4th by the way,
calamity kim

Orange Cheesecake Pie

Orange Cheesecake Pie, originally uploaded by Pillsbury.com.

INGREDIENTS

1 Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crust (from 15-oz box), softened as directed on box
1 teaspoon sugar
12 oz (from two 8-oz packages) cream cheese with 1/3 less fat (Neufchâtel), softened
2 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free mandarin orange yogurt
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 can (6 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 box (4-serving size) cheesecake-flavor instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 container (8 oz) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 450°F. Remove 1 pie crust from pouch; unroll crust on work surface. Sprinkle with sugar. With rolling pin, roll sugar into crust. Place crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Fold edges under; flute. Prick bottom and sides generously with fork.

2. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.

3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese, yogurt and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add orange juice concentrate; beat until well blended. Sprinkle pie filling mix over top; mix well.

4. Reserve 1 cup of the whipped topping for garnish. Fold remaining whipped topping into cream cheese mixture until well blended.

5. Spread orange filling in cooled baked shell. Refrigerate at least 1 hour until filling is set. Garnish with reserved whipped topping and, if desired, orange peel.

Pillsbury.com added this to my Pie Maker Group at Flickr and it looked so light and refreshing I just had to share! Let me know if you make it and if it's as delicious as it looks!
Happy July 3rd!

There's No Place Like Home

Yesterday's plane ride was a lesson in self control.
I maintained a calm and serene composure while wringing the life from the book in my hands as the plane forced its way through the overcast skies.
Being above the clouds, especially gray, storm clouds makes for nerve wracking, eye twitching, foot jiggling, deep breathing, despair. Especially when you know you have absolutely no control over anything that may happen while you are aboard the plane hurtling through the sky.
You just close your eyes, say a prayer and endure it.
You can't stop the babies from crying, the nervous hens from clucking endlessly inane conversations surrounding you or the too tall sullen teenager from pushing his knees into the back of your seat.
It used to be so classy and elegant to fly- the stewardesses wore snappy outfits while serving complimentary cocktails to passengers excited by traveling to a new city.
Now it's like the war torn, weary frequent fliers and folks on vacation dressed in their most casual (one girl was in her bikini top and micro mini jean skirt- ready for the beach) feeling relieved to have made it through the security checkpoints without any physical scrutiny of their personal space and happy to be glued to their i phones or paperbacks.
Planes have gotten smaller too, with everyone turning sideways to walk down the isle for fear of tearing someones arm off and sitting for 2 hours with your elbows tucked in to your sides or crossed over yourself isn't comfortable or luxurious.
Unfortunately, we didn't have our fabulously funny steward named Bob to entertain us or keep us calm as we pitched and rocked in the air.
As we neared Tampa you could feel the humidity increasing and see the ground below, so green and tropical as the clouds parted momentarily before the rain made visibility impossible.
Finally we landed and everyone sighed as they began to unlock their seat belts and reach for luggage and bags stored above.
We don't have wings and as unnatural and as exhilarating as it can be to fly it still feels wrong somehow. It has been so long since I've flown, it may be a long time again, but then again, you never know what opportunity you may have.
I'd like to celebrate my return to sunny (not today- thunder and lightning and rain all day) Sarasota with a charming cupcake recipe from Martha Stewart

I wish you all a lovely day...
I'll be on the couch, resting and regrouping - I'm exhausted!
That's what vacations do- they make you travel far away and wear you out until you crawl home and wish you could sleep for a 100 years!
Love and happy Naptime,
calamity kim