Happly Halloween!

Pink Parfait

Fall is well underway here. The trees are turning beautiful colors and there is that crispness in the air. Last weekend was the local guild quilt show and it was a huge success. There were so many beautiful quilts this year. Those ladies have been very very busy. The diversity of quilts in the show was amazing. We were there and had a good time and met lots of friends and some new friends. I was afraid the weather would keep people away, as the weatherman said it was going to rain hard. Well it did rain and hard at times but it seems to have put everyone in the quilting mood. We enjoyed seeing everyone and walking the aisles and enjoying the talent and workmanship of the Delta Quilters. The show keeps getting better and better every year. Congratulations Delta Quilters Guild!

Sassy

I introduced some new patterns at the show and they were an overwhelming success. I have finished uploading the pictures and info to my website, so if you can’t find these new patterns in the local shops yet, you can find them on my website. They are just being shipped to distributors this week. I know you will love the new quilts. There is a baby quilt that I would love to have for me and a very girly quilt and a bright bold floral quilt for those that love large scale prints.



Baby Steps

My last post was a sad one for me; I lost my angel kitty of 18 years. I am keeping busy and have been thinking about getting a new baby. Thank you to those that send me comforting comments. I so appreciate all the kind thoughts you sent me. It has been decades since my house was without a “fur baby”. I haven’t decided what kind of “fur baby” to get yet. I think that will depend on what kind if baby most needs some love and a home. Animal Shelters are full of little bundles of love. When I get a new one I will let all of you know.



Meanwhile, I am getting ready for Tricks and Treats. As you all know this is my favorite time of year. And I am back at the sketch pad working on some new designs. Hope you all have a perfectly spooky Halloween! It is now time to finish those Christmas gifts and quilts. Christmas will be here before we know it. It is only 2 months away! I am uploading a free wine bag pattern that will make a perfect wrapping for a hostess gift if you are in charge of bringing the wine or the sparkling cider. Simple and economical to make, you will have it completed in an hour! I will be back soon with pictures of new ideas.

Robin



My Familiar

Webster says a “Familiar is: one that is familiar; especially: an intimate associate: companion

: a spirit often embodied in an animal and held to attend and serve or guard a person

My “familiar” left this plane yesterday. The loss right now is indescribable. Those of you that have a cat know what I mean. After 18 ½ years, I woke up this morning without my “BOO”. My pet name for Harri, my cat. She was born in my closet. Her mother feral adopted me. She was alone and that little girl was homeless and pregnant. She came looking for food and found a safe place to live where she received love and protection also. A few weeks later, Harri was born. She was only the size of a small fuss ball. The kids named her. Her markings were exactly like her mother, with one exception. She had a black stripe down her nose. Her mother had a gold stripe. Mom and daughter was tortoise colored. Deep browns and golds. When she and her sister snuggled to their mother to eat...you couldn’t tell where mommy ended and babies began. Mommy left us some 8 years ago now.

It is a natural cycle of life, but that is little consolation right now. All I know is that there is a hole in my heart. I miss her kisses, her rubbing her face on mine, and her “screaming” at me. She was a talker. If she didn’t get what she wanted, when she wanted it she got louder and louder and louder until you had to perform whatever deed she wanted.

The return for the bowls of food, the endless openings of the door so she could go out and lay in the sun, and cat box changes and scooping was pure love. Unassuming and unconditional. Time will allow this void to be adjusted to level that is tolerable. The short time our pets are with us is precious. Hug your babies today and when they are making you nuts, remember a day will come when you will wish that annoyance back.

It's the Big Day

Morning quilty peeps... I got up very early to make sure there were no 11th hour entries. HAHA.. giveaway ended at 12:01am today. And I am happy to report...WENDY won!

So Wendy..send me an email... robin@seamsdelightfuldesigns.com with your address and if you would like 6 FQs OR The Boo Kitty Handbag fabric kit and BK Handbag pattern. Once I get your mailing address I will ship your prize out right away. I have been doing some temp work this week for a friend of mine who needed some time away from work. It was fun and definitely something different for me. Made me appreciate the time I have to work in the studio. I am getting ready to hammer out the details for a quilting retreat in the mountains for next spring. Great cabin, near a lake, and quilt shop, fresh air and quilting, quilting quilting. Watch the website for details. I can't wait. I am really looking forward to this. Well I know this is short but it's my last day as a "temp" so I need to take care of that so I can get back to designing and making Xmas gifts. I will be back soon.. THANK YOU girls for entering in my giveaway! I will try and have another one soon.

Hugs to all, CONGRATS WENDY!

Robin

2 more days until I draw a winner from the random number generator for the giveaway. 2 more days to get your entry in. You can win either the 6 FQs or the fabric kit and pattern for the Boo Kitty Handbag. Your choice. It is also 2 more days until the start of the Halloween season. (At least it is the start for us Halloween aficionados. You know who you are...you crazy people who decorate to the max, have more Halloween stuff than Christmas, dress up to hand out candy to the kids ( which is the highlight of my holiday) and give Halloween gifts to my friends. I usually have a Halloween party every year for my quilty girls. It is a small affair 6 or so. We don't dress in costume but we wear hats! I make "witches brew" and bottle it in appropriate bottles complete with spooky labels, we have frightful treats and eats, have ghoulish presents and generally have a wonderful time just having fun.
I did get my latest Halloween quilt done finally and it is itching to make it on my bed. Temperatures are still in the triple digits so actually using the quilt won't be necessary, but having it on my bed will make me smile. My husband is very tolerant of this quirky obsession of mine. He's very tolerant of the webs that cover things, crows that inhabit our house and the animated dolls and musical decorations that find their way out of the storage bin. He now enjoys Halloween like he never use to. Some years back he thought the whole thing was silly and for children. Now I have to fight him to hand out candy on Halloween.
Now for you Mom's that make your little darlings costumes, have you tried a ruffler foot? What a fun foot. If you love the look of ruffles on your little ones clothes- you can create that in a SNAP! Spruce up an off the rack outfit with a little bit of ruffle. How about putting a ruffle on the edge of your quilt instead of binding it? The simplest and most inexpensive way to liven up a room is to replace the throw pillows. Add a ruffle to a lamp shade in your bedroom for that romantic look. Make gifts for the holidays by embellishing tea towels with ruffles. Add a couple of napkins and you have a great hostess gift. You can also make pleats with the ruffler. It takes no time to learn how to use it and seriously you can make ruffles for the hem of a pair of jeans in less than 2 minutes! I am working on a tutorial on using the ruffler. So stay tuned. If you don't have one, check out your local machine dealer and get one for your machine. Well I am off to start the day and get as much done as I can. Remember 48 hours left for the giveaway!

Hugs to all
Robin

Piles of Leaves

It’s the last day of summer.  I have always thought that the air smells different and the sky changes color. The whole world gets a bit more golden. There is a faint smell of musty leaves that are starting dying. I have many great memories of fall as a child. It is my favorite time of year. The leaves on the trees turn so many shades of gold and red. Raking leaves was one of my favorite shores. Of course after they were raked into a pile we had to jump in the pile, laughing and giggling only to hear my Mother yelling for us to stop “horsing around” and get those leaves raked. It was an annual tradition that repeated itself without fail. Sometimes you could catch Mom smiling as she yelled at us, trying to act annoyed. We all knew she was acting but we played our part. After leaves

were raked into those piles..and believe me with an acre of land there were plenty of piles, Mom and Grandma would come down and burn them. The smell of burning leaves still takes me back to those golden days of my childhood autumn. Of course it is also the greatest holiday…. Halloween! Black cats, bats, full moons, witches on brooms and candy corn! There is still time to get in on the Halloween purse kit giveaway (or 6 fat quarters, whichever one you choose). Write a comment and be sure to tell your friends. That is all you have to do.

I just spent a week in the mountains, and fall is showing her beauty. There are crisp and chilly mornings followed by warm days. We fished and caught some, kept a few and threw most back to grow for another year. Chipmunks were very busy, collecting food for the winter. Some even ventured into my lap for a peanut. One fat little chipmunk had a peanut in each cheek and was still trying to get that third one shoved in his mouth also. They know winter is not far behind. Time to get your sewing room organized for some great sewing this season. Happy Fall everyone, let the quilting begin.

Robin

P.S.  Giveaway ends Thursday Sept 30th. A sneek peek at a new quilt coming very soon.

Halloween is coming!

Where in the world did August go? Just a few minutes ago it was August 5th! Onward! I love September! It's the unofficial start of Fall. While the temperatures are still in the 90's here it sure doesn't feel like fall. But everywhere I see Halloween stuff. Now I have to admit it is my favorite holiday. Always has been. I think Halloween should last for 2 months at least. If my DH would not put up a fuss, I would start decorating for Halloween now. Crazy you say? Nope, and come on admit it there are a lot of you out there that feel the same way. What is there not to like about Halloween? So... since I am doing a give away...and I told you that if you comment on my blog you would be entered to win fat quarters from my stash, I thought why not make it Halloween fabric? Then I got the idea...why not make the fat quarters so that you could actually have a project to make it out of? How about a Halloween purse? I have fabric left over from my Boo Kitty Handbag. The named changed to BK Handbag after Halloween was over that year but the pattern is the same, just the fabrics were different. So how many of your Halloween fanatics would love a kit of fabric and the pattern? So.. the giveaway will end the end of September. That's enough time for you shy sewers to comment isn't it? Some already have...and you are STILL in the running. I am posting pictures of the Boo Kitty Handbag.. so you can see what you can make. The handles and trims aren't included but I am sure you can find them in your area. Tell me how you decorate, how you celebrate and what makes Halloween so special. Now is the time to work on those Fall and Halloween projects. My house looks like a shrine to that spirited holiday. All things Halloween are revered and carefully displayed for their individual spookiness, cuteness, and eeriness, (not so sure those are even real words but hey they are now). And all of  you Quilters, if you have never made a Sun Bonnet Sue Witch, what Are you waiting for? I made this cutie several years ago from a pattern in a magazine. I have quite a collection of witches and she fit right in. So come on, leave me a comment!

Back to work on new patterns. Happy sewing and may your bobbins always be full.

Robin

A Vintage Tale

I posted 2 pictures last time...and you all are saying"What the heck are those?" Well that was the sneak peek... It is a peek at a new quilt that is coming soon. My inspiration is a vintage quilt. I love all aspects of quilting but I am truly a traditional quilter. Tradition makes me happy. It is a connection to the past. It is a glimpse into what was and how simple life was before HD Tvs and Cell phones and Netflix. Now don't get me wrong...I love those things too but I do love to take a trip down memory lane and revisit places and people from my childhood. So if you too love the traditional then this one is for you. I can't wait to show it to you but for now you will have to be satisfied with the sneak peeks. Oh and this post I am including a picture of Hari. Laura posted a wonderful story, how about you? I know you have one to share. Let's hear from you!

Bobbins full speed ahead!!

Robin

Kitten Tales and Sneak Peeks

Trying to get back on here and write an update. The past 2 weeks have been BUSY as I am trying to finish 3 quilts. Okay so I do have 2 1/2 done. But that means now I need to write the patterns and that is actually the hardest part. I have to do it when there isn't anyone around. Complete silence and no interruptions are the only way I can get them written. I am giving you a sneak peek at one of them. Now I am still running the giveaway....so PLEASE leave a comment. Hey it's for fabric! I don't write about my kitty very often. She is a love...a real love and I have been close to losing her so many times in the past year I have lost count. She is still hanging in there and she still acts so happy. She is 18 years old and was born in my closet. Her story is that her Mother was feral and just showed up at my house one day, PG and homeless and hungry. It took a while before she would let me within 10 feet of her. She finally did and finally let me bring her into the house. Well it was kitten time and I was in the kitchen cooking when my girls heard little cries. We searched the house and found the Mommy cat with her new batch of kittens in the bottom of my closet. We also had a dog..my Corkey. He was the love of my life..a Golden Retriever. The Mommy cat loved that dog! So Hari was born in that closet. The girls called her Hairy as she was so so fuzzy! The name stuck. I changed the spelling of her name. She is the last one now and everyday is a treasure. Mommy cat made it to 19 years old; Corkey lived 17 years, which is darn near unheard of for a Golden. So Hari is my last baby. I take more time with her and spend more time with her than I probably should. I don't get as much accomplished as I should as spending time with her is precious. I once heard...Tomorrow is promised to no one. There is my baby cat story... how about sharing your story with me.   Let me hear from you. Happy Sewing... Robin

Reuse, rethink and redo

New things that have come this summer are a third in the Seasons line: Summer…..At the Beach table runner. It is full of cool blues to remind you of the ocean blue and seashells and last but not least, a sand pail and shovel, one of my favorite toys as child. Whether you lived near a beach or maybe traveled to one for family vacations, this runner will bring a touch of nostalgia and a splash of cool for your summer table.

Reuse, redo, reorganize, and rethink. That has been my mantra this year. I reorganized my sewing space. A new sewing cabinet found home in my sewing room and that started a whole chain of events. I am not finished yet but I am well on my way. I made curtains and purged all the notions and items that we as quilters and sewers collect. I am currently looking for an old child’s dresser. I want a wooden one, tall enough I can use the top as space to use and store my light box. The 3-4 drawers will hold all the smaller items that need a place to live but I don’t want to see on a daily basis. I have been keeping my eye out of inspirational things for some small spaces on the walls.

Last Saturday a lovely lady and her friend came into the local quilt shop where I work 1 day a week. She was looking for fabric that had a vintage flavor. She brought with her a “book”. After a closer look, that book was actually a tablet of 12 X 12 scrapbooking papers. OMG what gorgeous images were in this book! One of the images and one she was pulling colors and “feeling” from was of a Robin sitting on a branch and looking over at her nest with 3 beautiful blue eggs in it. I gasped. It was so beautiful. It looked like a watercolor painting. I asked where she had found the book and she told me at “Michaels”. In our area that is a large chain craft store. I thanked her and told her I would be going out and finding myself one as I had to have that print. After all it is of a Robin. She cheerfully tore that page out of me, explaining there were 2 more copies still in the book. What a generous thing to do. After we had found her fabric and I had cut all the beautiful yardage she had chosen she happily went to go and start her vintage quilt. Quilters are the most generous people. We happily give scraps of fabric, whole yardage, time, opinions, and whatever else we can give to others who share and know firsthand our passion, QUILTING. I am including a picture of that print that stole my heart and will get it framed this week. I have just the place on my wall where it will give me inspiration and provide a nostalgic tug at my heart each time I look at it. Tell me what inspires you? What makes your hear leap at the sight or sound of? When the world is wobbling for you, what brings you back from the brink and renews your spirit? Leave me a post and let’s see how many wonderful things we can share here. I will be doing a giveaway of 6 Fat Quarters from my stash. If you post a comment, you get one entry, if you blog about this post and giveaway you will get 2 more entries. It has been a dry spell here for blogging but I promise to be better and blog more. Happy sewing and may your bobbins always be full

Robin

Lights... Camera... Action!

Lights…..Camera….Action!

I want to announce to you all, that I just finished taping the first of 3 new shows for the Harwood Podcast Network. This will be my second time on Let’s Quilt and I am so excited to do this show. Helene Woods is just a wonderful lady and as I have said before a very talented quilter among other things. We will be doing a darling project that you see here to the right. The Let’s Quilt podcasts are FREE! How cool is that? So if you want to take a class and join us. Check back and I will let you all know when the episodes start airing. Meanwhile go check out the other fabulous shows they have. There is literally something for everyone. Cindy (Helene’s daughter) is one terrific cook and I can personally attest to the fabulous recipes she cooks on her shows. So when you have a few minutes today go check out Harwood Podcasts it will be well worth your time.

Meanwhile I am off this morning to a photo shoot so I can post some new patterns on my website. Make your day a great one with whatever you decide to do.

Happy sewing!

Robin

Welcome Spring!

Big things are happening here at Seams Delightful. 3 new patterns are getting ready to make their debut! This calls for something special. This weekend Spring officially starts and I have had the spring cleaning bug. Been working hard at home doing all that hard, heavy and oh so necessary cleaning that needs to be done at least twice a year. Yes I am paying for it with my back but a few days of resting it should get me back on the good foot. We are also sprucing up the website to make it fresher and cleaner. Keep tuned and see what we come up with.

For those of you that have been waiting for the Flirty Girl Bath pattern. It’s coming soon. If you would like to pre-order your pattern you may. Just place Flirty Girl Bath in your cart and as soon as it arrives here, we will send it out to you with free shipping. For the limited time, 03/19/10 through 03/26/10, there will be free shipping on all orders so here is your chance to indulge in a bit of economic stimulus for yourself!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend. Sew Happy!

Robin

Interview with a Quilter

My friend Helene Wood, a very talented quilter,  has added a new talent to add to her resume, Show Host. Helene is the host of "Let's Quilt". Let's Quilt is one of the newest podcast programs from http://www.harwoodpodcast.com/. 2009 was an especially busy year for Helene, her daughter Cindy and grandson, Cameron. This talented family has taken the internet world by storm. Helene came to me just before the holidays and asked if I would come on her show and talk about my quilts and my designs. "Would I come on your show?" Oh my God yes I would come. What an honor for me. I was thrilled. Helene told me she wanted to talk about my newest quilt design, Carolina Rose. So in January 2010, we taped the show. It is up now and available for viewing. I hope you will take a few minutes and click on the link above, then click on "Let's Quilt" and sit down with a cup of tea and visit with Helen and myself. While you are there, browse through the numerous episodes listed for quilting. Cindy and Cameron also host cooking shows and techology shows. What a talented family and oh so generous in their knowledge. I wish them every sucess. Oh and they have asked me back! I can't wait to do another episode.