Calamity Kim

chaos is a friend of mine

Most of the time I hang out with my friends "Creativity" and "Inspiration".
 They are so much more fun to be around than "Prudence" and "Patience". Those girls do not know how to have a good time.
Remember when your folks would say "birds of a feather.." well it might just be true because ever since I became "Calamity" and I started spending lots of time with "Chaos" my sewing room has gotten messier and messier and finally something had to be done.

It's like an endless cycle of sew, toss fabric everywhere, forget where anything is, then spend days cleaning and organizing until the next time it happens again.
This time I managed to purge all the paper stuff and so the sewing room is finally, truly all about sewing. It's the most functional that it has ever been. I know where the patterns are and the scrap baskets are emptied again.
This new redo with the shelves all began because of the desk from Ikea. I was content to make do with some folding plastic tables until we went to Ikea and I got this desk. It looks modern and cool and clean and hip. Now everything needed to be white. Aqua and white- how refreshing.
 Somehow the old wooden bookcases with country hearts cut out in the sides didn't fit the room. They are sturdier for books anyway and will be nice in the guest room (stamp/paper room) where I moved them.
This bookcase holds the linen, velvet, muslin,flour sack and feed cloth fabric and the chiffon which keeps sliding around.
I bought the red trimmed enamel table at Picasso Moon and it has leaves that extend on each side should I need more room for the embellishing machine that is sitting beneath it. This is going to be my needle felting station. I also pulled the interfacing, sulky solvy and plastics out from a drawer. If I can see them then I can find them and use them!
Yesterday I spent all day driving from store to store, with sweat dripping from the back of my knees, down to my ankles and finally found the cutting table I wanted in Bradenton at the JO Ann Fabrics. I had searched Michaels, Hancocks, Walmart and the Sarasota Jo Ann's.
It was on sale for 89.99- regular price is 169.00. It has adjustable legs.
My old table was standing on coffee cans that sometimes fell over. More fun for chaos and calamity I know, but really, very  Beverly Hillbilly and it was time for a real table. Fred trimmed the cutting mat and it fits perfectly.
The section on the right is removable but handy for storing scissors, rotary cutters and stuff. It also has a plug in thing for several plugs.
So am I happy with my cleaned up room? You betcha!
 But, now I am just too worn out to sew.
 I think I need a nap. All that organizing has worn me out!
Fred has been playing music and it's so beautiful and soothing all I want to do is go lay down and shut my eyes and drift off with it in the background.
 The stamp/paper doll room is now in need of a bit of help since that's where some of the shelves got moved to.
You don't want to see it, trust me not until it's all put back together. Neither do I as a matter of fact and it may take a few more days till I get to it.
***
I am working on a new pattern that will be for sale in the shop and of course there is still a pile of things to get finished that will probably get me through the rest of the month. I will be sewing at full speed tomorrow!
But first, a nap.
stay cool, my little calamities,
 xo,
 kim

Get the kitten to wash the dishes

Free To Use, originally uploaded by Suzee Que.

They do such a good job and they will work for tuna!
I have been working on getting organized in the sewing room and yesterday I bought a new cutting table- pictures and story later.
hope all is well and you are all having a great day!
xo,
calamity kim

as good as its gonna get

as good as its gonna get, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

Going to go take a break and see the new Transformer movie. _{We saw The Proposal instead and it was really sweet. It was a nice diversion and we both enjoyed it.}

It's not possible that I just spent 2 days folding fabric.

Is it?

yes, but so worth it!

getting organized

getting organized, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

How do you organize your fabrics?
By color?
By Designer?
By type?
Does the black and white polka dots go with the dots or the black & white pile?
Please give me some help on what works best for you and why.
Thanks!

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