Calamity Kim

Trusting a Machine

I decided to machine stitch most of the embellishment on this new bag because it will be utilitarian.
 Usually I add all kinds of surface "frosting" and this can get damaged if the bag is really used.
Thinking about getting some product ready for the Atomic Holiday Bazaar in Dec has made me work faster so there won't be as much handwork added to some things I make from now on.
The gnome village springtime table runner that I started is still under my needle and is indeed a slow cloth (as Jude would say). I am taking it with me to the Surface Design Playday this afternoon so maybe I can get a few more vegetable patches added today.
Forgive me for playing with Picnik and adding some vavavoom to these pictures.
 It is a photo enhancement site that works with Flickr to help you edit your pictures and sometimes I just can't resist ramping up the color.

I was having fun stitching on this yesterday until I got to the red section on the right.
I marked the design using a stencil and a white chalk pencil and as I began to free-motion quilt it made large, awful stitches on the front and loops on the back.
 I have just about had it with this machine!
I pulled out most of the stitches and will get the rest when I calm down.
I then came in here and researched some Singer machines-
Here are the two I am looking at:

The Singer 7469Q Confidence Quilter:

Product Information

• 98 built-in stitches

• Drop & Sew™ bobbin system - exclusive 

• LED display with push-button stitch selection

• Hand-look quilt stitch

• 7 styles of automatic precisely balanced one-step buttonholes

• Programmable needle up/down

• Automatic tension

• Drop-feed

• Twin needle touch selector

• Mirror image touch selector

• StayBright™ long-lasting LED light

The Singer 7470 Confidence machine:

•  173 built-in stitches 
• Drop & Sew™ bobbin system - exclusive
• LCD with push-button stitch selection
• Block-style alphabet & numbers 
• 6 styles of automatic precisely balanced one-step buttonholes - exclusive underplate system
• Hand Look Quilt Stitch 
• Programmable needle up/down
• Automatic tension 
• Drop-feed Twin needle touch selector
• Mirror image touch selector
• StayBright™ long-lasting LED light

 It isn't going to be an easy decision but I am leaning toward the machine with more stitches- it's about 399. and the 7469 is on sale this week for 299.
 I am going to go to a few shops around town and see what the other companies offer before I buy anything.
My first machine was a Singer and it lasted me almost 20 years- since then I have had Brother machines and they just don't work right!
The newest Project Runway model I purchased last year does some nice stitches but it can't do the free motion that I want- the feed dogs do drop but the stitches are a mess and sometimes the thread gets out of place going from the spool to the next spot and that messes it up! I expect it to stay threaded properly and not do that!
Very frustrating!
If I could afford the Bernina with stitch regulator, I'd get it in a heartbeat!
Anyway- let me know, please, what kind of machine you have and why it works for you- I need to get a new one sometime next week, so help a sistah out.
OK, enough whining- I'm going to go hang out with the girls for a while and have some fun!
Have a happy day,
xo,
calamity kim

Are you in a Color Mood?

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see" ~ Degas.

Saturday, May 29th, 2009

The heat shimmers up from the earth.
I can see it.
I could feel it if I dared walk outside.
But, I am held captive by my newest project taking shape on the cutting table.

I keep hearing the words from that commercial- "what's in your wallet?" except it's: "what's on your worktable?".
I have mixed emotions when I am picking out fabrics to sew together.
 Do you?
Do you grab and audition or just use your instincts?
Do you over think it?
 How do you choose just the right colors to invoke a certain mood?
Like painting a picture with fabric images and colors as you work out a design that you think might sell.
I am just beginning to buy solid colors and I am never very confident in their use. They seem to stop the movement of my eye and I am not used to that.
 Yesterday, I went to Alma Sue's Quilt Shop to get a replacement thimble (they are translucent rubber and fit wonderfully) and found some Amy Butler solids and had to get the banana.
It's right there on the left side above the skull/knit fabric.
 I have been drawn to wine/garnet and lime/chartreuse lately and I don't know why.
Perhaps my color sense changes with the seasons and I am subconsciously seeking shade in a deep, dark corner of the jungle.
 Maybe I'm growing up? Does your color palette age?
 I wasn't ready for red until I turned 40.
Now at close to 50 the wheel has spun to the next deepest hue. or is it tone ?
Shade?
Color Mood?
Usually it's blue with a touch of melancholy.
The heat ripples like the curls on a slab of lasagna.
Making me reach for green and blue to cool it off.
 Instinct, I guess, drives my choices today.
Setting the fabric stage for a vision of a sorceress about to seek the future in her crystal ball with rich textures of silk and satin. Thank you Mr Waterhouse.
This is when I daydream- then focus sharply on a fabric- it's a little uncomfortable. It doesn't always flow.
I have a vision- will it work?
 Can I make you see what I am feeling?
 It will be a big bag- like a tote bag for carrying large things like picnic quilts and knitting projects.

My eye catches the colors and movement and I imagine the faces in my sewing room watch me puzzle it out.
They whisper to themselves as I hurry, but try to slow down, to enjoy the process of creation.
Always questioning; is this right?
 Will it work?
Do the fabrics dance or are they dead and flat?
Am I seeing it clearly today?
 Are you?
Getting this side of a future bag ready to embellish with embroidery and yoyo's and buttons is just the first step towards making something new.
Will someone fall in love with it?
Will they feel happy to hold it?
 To carry their stuff around in it?
 Will it help define who they are to those around them?
Maybe they just like the colors...
Will I ever find out why the chicken crossed the road?
It was probably to lie in the shade.
 or is that lay?
 have a happy day,
xo,
 ;)
calamity kim

How To Make Fold & Twist Fabric Flowers

Recently I had some emails with questions concerning a tutorial I had done on making fabric flowers that look like roses.
I repeated the steps again this morning and took pictures (that sun is trying to shine!) and here we go:

Directions for Making Fold and Twist Fabric Roses

Step 1: Cut fabric in to 5" squares and then fold 3 pleats towards yourself.
             Iron in place and pin on each side.
This feels kind of awkward at first but keep practicing the fold so that it is even. Each pleat is about 1/2" inch.

Step 2: Stitch with matching thread on each side using a 1/4" seam. I sew them one right after the other, and then cut them apart.
I bought the ergonomic rotary cutter at the last quilt show I went to and really like it.

Step 3: Fold 3 pleats in the other direction and iron and pin.

You must iron each step down to help hold it and make sharp pleats.
Step 4: Sew each side down being careful not to let fold get caught in seam.
Step 5: This is the fun part- while holding the fabric in one hand, use your finger to push up and make a bubble or balloon.
Fold under the squared off points on the bottom.
Place the puff on the palm of one hand and gently pinch the top center and twist in a smooth motion (either direction) until you can't twist any further and push down. Then quickly iron down with a hot iron to hold rose in shape.
I can't take a picture of twisting it and hold the camera at the same time but remember practice makes perfect and you may need to try it a few times before you get it!
When I use these roses I also make leaves and stitch them down in the folds to secure to whatever I am embellishing. Good luck with these fabric flowers and have fun! xo, I'm off to buy a new thimble, calamity kim

edited to add:

I started a Group over at Flickr for any flowers you make- just join the group and add pictures! here is the link

Just a few words before I say Goodnight

Sometimes when I am sewing my mind wanders off to other subjects. That's when I usually stick myself and wake up.
Today I stuck myself more than a few times as I was working on a quilted book cover.
Now, I can't show it to you because I don't want to spoil the surprise.
When the mail delivers it to my friend, then I can show you guys. Suffice it to say that I have been sewing up a storm this week and as the rain has stopped briefly, I might be able to go on a field trip to the new Tampa Ikea! Maybe this weekend- I can't stand the suspense a moment longer ! (It opened May 6th and I have been patiently waiting for it to be "not so crowded!" and no, I have never been to one!)

In all the years that I have been writing this Blog, I rarely post without a photo.
This is one of those times.
Unless maybe I show you the chicken I drew and scanned and printed on fabric to add to the quilted book cover- huh? wanna see?
OK
here it is:

She's kinda cute- right?
Can you help me name her?

It's late and I'm getting ready to shut this down for the night but I just wanted to say thanks, to all of you who stop by to see if I have anything new.
It's nice to know that you are out there and that you care about what I might be making or want to make!
Thank you very much.

I have slowed down a bit lately with writing here, mostly because I have been trying to really "work" and get some things made to sell, and give and use my time more efficiently.

There is nothing fast about hand sewing or embroidery but as I sat and put stitches in the cloth, I admired the texture that each new stitch added and it gave me comfort.
Maybe that's weird, I don't know, but I am so grateful for this time in my life, to be able to sit and sew.
It's lonely without children in the house and the cartoons or music makes noise so it's not so bad. But it's nice to also work without interruptions. I can concentrate and focus.

Learning to crochet flowers gives me the same feeling- satisfaction in making something with my own two hands ( and exercising my brain by forcing in new knowledge). Now I am going to be spinning wool into yarn and that will be a challenge and an adventure.
I have begun searching for websites with funky art yarns and am really having fun making lists of things to spin with- glow in the dark bugs and stars with glow in the dark embroidery threads and yarns- felted flowers and leaves and butterflies.
I only wish that it were cooler here so that I could knit and wear some articles like gloves and scarves. Recently at the knitting retreat the chicks were knitting flip flops to felt- now that's knitting in Florida!

Anyway, it's time to get some rest and tomorrow is another day.

I will take some pictures  as long as the sun is shining and maybe update you on the progress of a few of my almost finished projects- we'll see what Friday brings.

dream a little dream,
xo,
calamity kim

The Joy of Designing Fabric with Spoonflower

Alice
I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!
from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

If you were to ask me 10 years ago if I would ever be doing this I would have laughed.
It is amazing how greatly (quickly?) your life can change, isn't it?
In a heartbeat of finding out about a web business called Spoonflower, I was ready to dive in and design some fabric.
Huh?
 Me?
 Yes, anyone, even little calamity kim can now be a fabric designer and have yards of cotton fabric printed to create with.

At first you sign up to be invited to Spoonflower and then once you get there you can view all the other fabrics created by other people or start downloading photos to play with yourself.
 I have to admit I was intimidated and frightened.
I clicked off and didn't go back until one day about 2 weeks ago when I was strolling through some Flickr Groups and found myself in the Spoonflower Group. It made me want to try- what could it hurt?
It was 18 dollars a yard and I just spent at least 16 dollars a yard on some Heather Ross fabric. (that's how I justify stuff- its like losing a 20 dollar bill in the laundry- or maybe it just flew out the car window- I'm not saying I am like the great Heather Ross at all- no that's not what I meant).
So I put a few different photos in the Spoonflower thing and started trying out designs- it mirrors, flips, and even hooks up to picnik (over at flickr) to help you edit your pictures or designs.
 I used a photo I had taken of some paper roses that I made with Alice in Wonderland and that white rabbit paper dolls in the center of the flowers.
 I enhanced it- juiced up the color a little with the edit feature and then added some dark edges and then mirrored it- it came out pretty cool.
I didn't know really what I was going to do with it, but when the fabric arrived in the mail today,  I knew I wanted to make a journal cover.
At least I did after I stopped spinning around the room dancing with it waving in front of me like a sail on an enchanted ship or maybe a wonder woman cape.
This is the back of the quilted cover-some Jane Sassman fabric- I love her aesthetic and there were caterpillars so it needed to be used.
This is the inner back page. The quilted journal covers that I make are removable and hand washable. I just need to add the sewn in bookmarks and this will be ready to go into the etsy shop.
I am really not good at setting goals-
 I make what I want,
when I feel like it-
dahling, if you could imagine me in my smock, with a long cigarette holder and an even longer cigarette, as I adjust my french beret and sigh weary sighs of exasperation at the kind people who beg me to fill my etsy shop with more than dust bunnies and cobwebs- oh, that's supposed to be funny-
would that I were a comic or could draw one so you'd see my joke.
I don't smoke.
I don't wear a watch.
I am not a "great artist".
I can't afford someone to motivate me or coach my life and help me stay the course- get on track- fill the shop- make some sales-
I want to give it to someone else to sell for me!
 I just want to make and do.
stitch and sew.
create and enjoy the process.
do you get that?
This is my job- this is what I do.
 I make stuff all the time.
all I am saying is that I WILL TRY to get some stuff on here to sell.
I have a few things at Picasso Moon but really am thinking ahead to Atomic Holiday Bazaar this Dec and what I want to have available there.
Dec will be here before I can come up out of my artistic castle in the clouds...
I want to paint some designs to get printed with Spoonflower and maybe make some dolls to sell as kits- we'll see.
For now, I'm going to go make another cup of earl gray and enjoy this fine day.
xo,
have you seen my thimble, lately?
I seem to have misplaced it...
love & happy stitching,
calamity kim
still smiling that big happy proud of myself smile
thanks for stopping by and come back soon

I hit save and then immediately thought I should add that with my luck I will probably get hit with a meteorite or part of a rusty satellite, or fall in a black hole (like on bugs bunny) or a pack of gum and an ink pen will be left in the washer or SOMETHING awful is sure to happen to balance this good stuff out... say a prayer that no new calamity befalls me to break my happy heart... thanks, i'll need it!

Mini Quilt Monday, week 3

week one week two week three See what happens when I join a group like Mini Quilt Monday?
I force myself to create something and get it done.Yesterday I got off to a rough start, due to spending time making a frog for the little neighbor girl.
She drew the face and body (with heart) and I drew the legs and did the rest. It took me an hour.
 It was fun but I really wanted to make a mini quilt and use a pattern from the Moda Bakeshop. I have a small round table in the living room that we use as a coffee table and have been wanting to make (a sort of) place mat for it.
After printing the pattern on to some Carol Doak paper piecing paper I began making the dresden quarters using my scraps.
That was fun and I really enjoy the precision of paper piecing. I use this little  add a quarter seam ruler to trim and that really helps make it easy.
The quilt recipe calls for appliqueing the center- well, actually, I didn't use the pattern for what it was supposed to be at all (theirs looks like a piece of candy when 4 are put together) because I only wanted a round circle to fit the table and this worked perfectly.
For the center I put a cream colored fabric over the hole and sewed around with a 1'4" seam, cut out the center opening and flipped it around so that I had a clean edged opening and then pinned the owl fabric to the bottom and stitched around it. I have shown this technique here several times and I like it instead of applique sometimes.
 Its like creating a window in the center.
The most difficult decision for me, is always how to quilt it.
Should I do it by machine?
 By hand?
What design?
What color thread- or perle cotton?
After a brief discussion with my "go to guy" he said- quilt it by hand with vines.
I said: "dude! excellent!" and was off like a surf rat after a radical big one- the adrenalin flowing with the juice of creation, and a smile on my face, I watched some on demand (CSI, NCIS and Medium) while the needle added green perle cotton to the round quilt until it said it was done. Then I added rick rack around the edge before I sewed on some vintage aqua bias.
As I placed it on the small table and carried it in to show  "Mr Go To Guy" I said now, don't spill your coffee on this!
 To which he replied: " me? , you mean you- don't cha?"
yep, that would be me, calamity kim, spilling the coffee all over this adorable round mini quilt...he never spills anything- it's always me!
I'll be more careful now, I think.
Maybe I should make a plastic cover for it?
 Maybe I should just hang it on the wall and use a paper towel like I was before?
Oh, the joy of being a klutz!
One more thing to worry about.
I have to learn to let it go- I haven't even spilled the coffee yet! Maybe I should make a place mat that has coffee stains as the design and that would be funny and functional. Too droll?
OK, enjoy the quilt, even if it's a day late and will some day be stained with calamity coffee.
love & stitches,
kim

ps,

check this out

seeking balance through color

On Tuesday I went to the local fresh vegetable market (out on Fruitville Rd) and found some beautiful purple bell peppers. I also selected some chartreuse green bells because I had never seen that color before.

The red ones were cubanelle which were very mild.
I checked out this site and got some info- it just said that bell peppers can be found in all sorts of colors including brown, pink, white, orange and purple.
I used them in a beef and pepper dish that is delicious with fresh ginger, garlic,  mushrooms and served with black and white rice.

I found the recipe on cooks.com here.
 It was really good!
 The black (purple really) rice is called Forbidden Rice. Once only allowed to be served to the Emperor. The white rice is Jasmine rice and made a nice yin yang symbol.
The peppers are so pretty it was a shame to have to cook them- and that did fade the purple out to a pale green, but they tasted fine- a bit milder than a regular green pepper. Peppers belong to the Solanaceae or nightshade family and that appeals to my Tim Burton side quite a bit! I would love to have a table decorated with pumpkins in white and orange and black and purple peppers.
But it's only May and here I am talking about Halloween!

I'll leave you with a bouquet of my crocheted flowers and thoughts of Summer!
 It has been raining here everyday and I can't complain because we really have been so dry all year, but it's too dark to try to take pictures.
Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow...
 have a nice night...
 don't let the bedbugs bite!
I know- all those peppers made me corny!
xo, kim
calamity kim
- weird food expert.

How To Make Chiffon Flowers by Calamity Kim

OK, so I made you a little worksheet on the chiffon flowers.
 You may click on it and it will take you to Flickr where you may chose all sizes and then get the largest size to right click and save.
 I am also giving you a PDF here:  Download Howtomakeflowers(Portable Document Format) so that you can just print it out from there.

I use between 8 and 15 layers of chiffon, silk, tulle, organza or any other fabric to create full and fluffy blossoms.
 I like to scrunch and wad them up in my sweaty little hands to create wrinkles and texture before I burn the edges with a candle or long lighter.
 Please be advised that this is stinky and should be done in a well ventilated area.
 It also can be dangerous and should be supervised by adults or firemen due to sudden bursts of flaming tulle melting the skin from your hands or singing the drapes!
 I am not liable or responsible for any damages to you or your home or trailer park!
 Please create these flowers at your own risk!
There, now, You have been warned!


I myself am a pyromaniac and I admit it freely.
I love to watch the edges curl and puff and melt and the more distressed the better!
The key is to not have perfect circles to begin with- cut them in degrees of sizes and make the edges irregular.
I also use a dog brush to fray the edges of silk and cotton because they don't melt- they only burn. You want some edges to fray and some to be curled up.
These blossoms are older and are in their last heyday before the petals have fallen to the ground.
It's very simple to put together once you have your circles finished- just stack them in a layer of large to small and sew together with some stitches all the way through
using green perle cotton or embroidery thread.
Then make a small fuzzy yarn center and stitch it on. I wrap a 12" length of yarn around the two fingers of my left hand and then go back through the center (like making a pompom) and tie it in the middle.
Sew that to the center and then add some beads.
The back stitches are covered by the pin back and a circle of green felt to cover it. I just trim it to fit the width of the pin bar and stitch it on with a nice blanket stitch.
Tadah!
You have done it!
Easy Peasey! a lovely fabric flower to wear or adorn your favorite bag or bear!
TomorrowMake that, when the sun comes out again, so I can take some pictures... I will do the other fabric roses for you and then you are on your own to create a garden of flowers that will last forever with no water or weeding necessary!
Happy creating!
Love & Stitches!
Calamity Kim

The Rose Queen makes an appearance on Mini Quilt Monday

The Rose Queen, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

It almost slipped my mind that it was Mini Quilt Monday but I remembered in time to get started and finished with a little beauty featuring a vintage illustration of a Anthropomorphic Rose Queen printed on cotton and then patchworked and hand and machine stitched with batting and bound in my raw edge style.

can you say run on sentence?

I used up some leftovers from other quilts and enjoyed the slap dash excitement of instant grat-if-i-quilt-ation!
It has been overcast and gloomy and I enjoyed the almost forgotten rain and growl of thunder as I sewed this up (in about 4 hours).
After this past weekend which was filled to the brim with spinning, beading, knitting and crocheting- and lots of great food & conversation, I am just about ready to call it a day!

wheni'mtiredeverythingjustrunstogether.....
Worn out is what I am....but I'll be rested up ( soon) and ready to get with the flower power this week!

happy mini quilt monday!
xo,
calamity kim

sneaking off to the beach

love the beach, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

I have been so busy trying to get ready for a little knitting retreat this weekend and I haven't been able to sit down and take pictures for the flower tutorial- please accept my apologies and be patient a wee bit longer- I'll be back next week and we'll have some fabric flower fun!
I'll take some pictures and tell ya all about it when I get back!
till then,
happy stitching!
calamity kim

how does your garden grow? with flowers made from fabric, of course!

It seems highly ironic to me that the more time I spend inside the sewing room, creating fake flowers, the less time I spend outdoors growing real flowers!
I have lots of books about gardens, flowers and their meaning, creating sanctuaries and wildflowers of the world. Mostly I just look at the pictures and sigh*, not wanting to get my hands dirty, because that might get on my latest quilt or sewing project.

How awful, for a country girl like me, who grew up with a hoe in one hand and a fistful of Queen Anne's Lace in the other, to abandon her love of the soil to only sew gardens and create flowers from fabric!
It can't be helped, this obsessive love of fiber and textiles.
It's deep in my bones now and I will never shed the temptation to reach out and touch a new brocade or vintage embroidered linen. To see textures juxtaposed together in a patchwork of color makes me feel as happy as any view of a flower garden ever has.
Of course, nothing could compare to my Grandmother's Iris.
 Row after row, between gladiolas and pinks, the Iris held me captive as I gently touched the petals to peek inside. Holding my breath while hoping to spot a tiny faerie or ladybug inside having tea.
I am glad I have those memories as I cut and stitch and bead
and create flowers that will never fade or die.
My Grandmother would be proud.

***

I have had several readers ask me about the other fabric flowers that I make and I promise I will sit still long enough to do another tutorial on it tomorrow.
 Today is Knit & Itch at Picasso's Moon Yarn Shop and I need to get going if I'm going to get there anytime soon.
Please be patient just one more day and I will happily take you through making folded fabric flowers one step at a time.
Until tomorrow,

with clean hands and weeds in my flower beds,

I bid thee farewell,

little crafters everywhere...

Keep an eye on the candles,
A lid on your drink,
Wipe up those spills,
Before you slip and crack your skull on the sink!

Measure twice before you cut,
And read that pattern through,
Watch out for that needle- it's quite sharp!
Enjoy your make & do!

I wish you luck on your projects and no calamities today-
Here's a 4 leaf clover and a rabbit's foot,
Now, be on your way!
Be careful now, you've been warned- there's magic in the air!

May is the month when Fae folk abound-
They just awoke from their homes underground.
The elves and gnomes will be running about,
Painting flowers and rocks and building anew.

Watch where you step and watch what you do.
I'll be here waiting when you come back,
With plenty of glitter and the hot glue!

Love & stitches,
calamity kim

framed with cardboard and paper scraps

framed with cardboard and paper scraps, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

Our Surface Design Guild had a challenge for us to create something using these elements in a design:
Metal
Cardboard
Blue
and 5
It could be any metal, any type of 5- five things or the word five, whatever.
I decided to use one of the Arizona tea cans I have been cutting up and stashing away ( to make tin roofs for 3-D houses someday!) to make a new roof for the painted house quilt.
I ran it through the cuttlebug which embossed it with a swirl.

cool way to recycle and it adds some color and shine.
Then I stitched pieces of folded paper bags, kleenex box, K & Co packaging around the sides to make a binding or frame. Some of the yellow packaging is from an Italian Ice box that we had eaten that day that we sat outside and painted fabric- I stamped it with some ferns so it wasn't so harsh.
Finally I added a silver grommet for hanging.

I named it #5 Oceanview Circle.
It was fun and I met two challenges- the Guild one and the Mini Monday one!
I think I can go for a walk on the beach now as a treat for getting off to a great start this week!
Love and stitches,
calamity kim

Mini Quilt Monday- look who's early for once!

Last Friday a couple of my friends came over and we sat out back by the lake and painted fabric.
I had set up some tables and covered them with plastic and we didn't have to worry about any spills or paint drips getting on the grass.
 It was a beautiful day and we had a nice breeze coming in from across the lake. Today I played around with one of the pieces of fabric I had painted.
First I sanded it lightly with super fine sandpaper until it was smooth and looked like leather.
 Then I covered it with a plain piece of scrap muslin and ironed it on both sides. Then after layering it with batting and a backing fabric I began to machine quilt it.
The wind was still blowing as I tried to take pictures.
I enjoyed the experimental aspect of this- I have never painted a quilt before- only dolls and I do love the way the acrylic paint behaves after it's sanded- it sews so easily and the pressure foot just glides over it!
I wanted to be ready for Mini Quilt Monday- a new Flickr Group I just joined that is hostessed by the very talented Malka Dubrawsky of A Stitch In Dye Blog, so I spent a few hours before we went to see Star Trek (which was awesome!) and am ready to consider how to bind this up and be done with it!
That's the back which I think is as interesting as the front.
 I like the simplicity.
It measures 20 1/2 x 15".
Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful Mom's Day- tomorrow it's back to doing the dishes and laundry and grocery shopping and all the drudgery....
and a little bit of time for sewing, crocheting or playing if we're lucky- right?
xo,
love and stitches,
calamity kim

happy mothers day

happy mothers day, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

have a happy day...
it's one thing we all have in common-
we all have mom's-
and no matter what your relationship, you can't help but think of them on this day.
so, whether you are one or ya know one,
be nice to a mom today...
i am making pancakes and then we're going to see star trek...
that's nice enough...

Lace covered tree

Lace covered tree, originally uploaded by woolly fabulous.

Woolly Fabulous at Flickr gave me permission to share her lovely crocheted tree- or tree with crochet and I just can't stop looking at all the pictures!
I think its fabulous!
Just like Woolly to playfully enhance one of Mother Nature's beautiful trees with bits of crochet- I love it! She stitched them on and in places used small bits of hot glue to help it stick.
I bet Earl the squirrel would love to have his tree all fancy like this! It would be lovely in a backyard tea party setting or at a wedding wouldn't it?!!!

Lace covered tree

Lace covered tree, originally uploaded by woolly fabulous.

this looks so great - the pattern on the dark bark is nice and such a visually wonderful way to display crochet! At least until the elements take their toll- I would love to see it in Fall and winter too!

So much fun!!

So much fun!!, originally uploaded by woolly fabulous.

I bet the squirrels were surprised!

Awesome doilies!!

Awesome doilies!!, originally uploaded by woolly fabulous.

isn't this just awesome?!

alice in woodland wonderland

alice in woodland wonderland, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

I was in the sewing room most of the day...

another project that has been floating around in my mind for a while...

love to see it being born.

Love to work out the design details...

Used a little bit of Jay McCarroll's line for Free Spirit... Woodland Wonderland...

just had to share it...

what did you do today?

anything fun? new? exciting? same old same old? share it if you wannna...

I should go make dinner...maybe just a salad, it was so hot today!
here comes summer!
xo,
calamity kim

singing the sunbeam mixer blues

first time making snickerdoodles- yum!, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

yeah, I'll admit it. I'm 48 years old and have never owned a stand-up mixer. I always went for the cheapie hand held jobs and when I burnt the motors out by mixing carrot cake or bread dough I'd just pitch them out and get another cheapo to replace it.
I had seen a red retro "Heritage" model by Sunbeam at Christmas in 2007 and after coming home and talking it over with the Mr, was disappointed when I returned to the store and they had sold out.
Not one to give up the hunt easily, I have kept an eye out ever since, hoping and praying with fingers crossed, that one day I would find it again.
So imagine my delight when there it was last week!
Like an old sweet heart waiting patiently for my return!
I came home again and after discussing "how it would enhance my life" I went back and made the purchase.
I used some of the money made from selling a few things at a recent Art Show and that made it feel really good!
I figure if I'm in the middle of my life span then I might need a red retro mixer to help me get through the next half.
At least the things I can mix up and bake with it sure will help!
Like the perfect timing on these snickerdoodles.
What better way to great the mr after a long day in the hot sun than with a cookie and a smile.
Mine never look like Martha's however, with them running together and becoming square, not cute and round.
So we are calling them snicker square doodle pants.
Not only because of their shape, but if you eat too many, everyone will snicker at your big chunky but!
sorry bout that, the sugar must be making me silly!
I better go walk it off.
xo,
calamity kim
if you can't see the new banner then hit refresh and let me know what you think. like the yellow?

a wonderful start

a wonderful start, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

with a little help from a friend, (thank you Cheryl), I made two flowers today, using Nicky Epstein's book on crocheted flowers. I am happy. Now to make about 20 of them so I remember the pattern!
scheesch! I love watching all my friends knit and crochet and just hope that some day I can learn.
Hope you all are having a wonderful and relaxing day.
xo,
calamity

down in the garden where the jasmine blooms

The air smells wonderful.
I love the way they look like small stars, dazzling white and fresh.
In the shade of the jasmine filled trellis a gnome appears on his
morning walkabout.
 Looking up he sees a coat that must surely be for an elf
 Too large for a gnome, too small for a spryte!
Oh, no!
 Elves are tricky and mischievous like pixies!
He'd better be on his way, before one of those devils turns up and tries to steal his basket full of berries.
Gnomes freeze and become very still when humans are about, so let's just go back in the house and get a cup of tea and leave this fellow to his business.
Of course, there's no tea party like my Nana's tea party...
 happy Friday!
happy May Day!
shall we dance about the may pole?
get the ribbons, y'all!
 xo,
hi ho!
calamity kim

explored calamity

explored calamity, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

Today is the first of May and this year seems to be on roller skates; whizzing by at the speed of a 6 year old, high on twinkies!
Personally I like my years to be at a pace of grannies on walkers....slow and careful- not fast and reckless!
Scheesch! It doesn't matter what I want or am comfortable with, it is the way it is and the world spins the same as it always has- it's just my perception of how fast (or slow) it's turning.
I was at the eye Dr a few weeks ago and requested regular glasses- not bi-focals because I never could quite see clearly through them. Well, now I have great driving glasses but had to continue wearing my old glasses for typing on the computer or cooking or anything requiring close vision- if I wash the dishes in the new pair, my plates look like ovals and while I enjoy the occasional optical illusion, all day, it's pretty tiring.
So, yesterday I spent the day organizing and cleaning up my "paper" room. Today I am happy to just sit and quilt, but it's really too early to tell, what the day might bring.
I want to finish the table runner, the tea cozy and maybe even a mixer cover. The toaster doesn't do much work around here so it only makes an appearance when it's needed!
I just wanted to share some of my photographs that have been featured on Flickr's Explore.
Lynn made a poster like this last week and I finally got around to it myself.
Please click on the picture and then click the links below the picture to see the small thumbnails in a larger size. If ya wanna.
I am planning on posting about the nuno felting workshop and what I did with one of my samples soon.
Happy Uno de Mayo!!!
xo,
ck