Fabulous Fabric Friday ~ Five Hearts

 I have new fabric! 

It is fabulous.

I just love it. 

I am giving this fabric five hearts:

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

I have not bought any new fabric in months 

so this really brightens my gray and stormy day.

This fabric was inspected by master Quilt Kitty Katniss ... 

... and given the paw of approval.

This fabric is 

Bird Song By Pat Sloan for Benartex Fabrics

There is a free pattern for this fabric release 

Nature Walk Quilt Pattern ~ Free PDF Here

I did find the panels, which seem to be going out of stock in some places.

The large focus prints are also going out of stock quickly.

I bought a fat quarter bundle and some yardage of the smaller prints.

I am not sure if I will make the free pattern.

I will let the fabric speak to my quilty muse. 

For now, Katniss and I are just going to enjoy petting.

"Fabric and petting? Count me in!"   says Nutmeg.

Katniss says, "These little sister kitties can be very needy."

Plenty of fabric and petting for all, my kitties!

May you have a Fabulous Fabric Friday, too!

I Like Thursday # 148 ~ Summer Screening

 

Welcome to I Like Thursday # 148 ~ 

Summer Sun Screening Style

The prompt for this week was to share some of what we do to 

provide protection from the hot summer sun's burning rays.

First of all:  I find the shady places.

This is the new cement landing step in mid afternoon.

This spot is at the bottom of our new back steps in progress. 

I always wear a hat with a wide brim to protect my head and screen my eyes, which are very light sensitive.  This is my favorite summer hat.  It light and white and has a zip-out top so I can also wear it as a visor.  It also has and opening in the back with a bow for my pony tail hair. I have no idea where or when I bought this hat as I have had it for years. 

I just bought my hubby and new work cap for summer.  This one is new tech and has web sides and a sun reflective fabric on the top and brim. He really likes this hat.  It also has cooling fabric inside that you can dampen with cold water that will supposedly help keep you cooler but he has not tried that feature, yet.

I bought this Arctic Hat on Amazon

I am not affiliated in any way with Amazon and the links in this post are for information only.  I receive no commission if you choose to buy.

Staying hydrated is a constant effort in summer.

I am always carrying around a bottle or insulated cup of ice water. 

I also always wear SPF 60 sunscreen on my face, neck and arms

 and anywhere my skin is not covered.

I have sensitive skin issues to many oil based cosmetic ingredients.

I have found Aveeno products usually work best for me.

This one helps keep my skin moist but is not greasy.

You may find Aveeno Sunscreen on Amazon or in your local stores. 

Fortunately we have a lot of big trees around our back yard

 so it is usually much cooler than the front of the house

and is comfortably cool enough to sit outside

when the temperatures are soaring like they have been this week.

Here is one of the places this week that needed sun screen, a hat

 and plenty of sun protection and hydration:  

Last weekend marked the return of our local

Lowell Folk Festival 

which was last held in 2019 in pre-covid days.

The above photo is from their site.  I did not take it. 

I may have been far back in the outskirts of the crowd, though.

This photo was taken at the stage in our Civic Center Plaza

 with Lowell City Hall in the background. 

I am one of the ones wearing a mask, because although I am fully vaccinated and boosted, I am very cautious and feel unsure in large gatherings so we avoided the biggest crowds and did not stay long.  I do love the music and the food and the festive atmosphere.  It was good to see and hear this happening again. 

For more summer fun and sun protection ideas,

visit my all blogging friends for

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

May you have a Happy Thursday! 

Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 31

 

Welcome to Stitch Sew & Show ~ 2022 ~ Week 31

Here is my progress on the Perfectly Purple Shawl 

that I am making for my purple loving friend's birthday this month.

I have been working on this shawl

Inside, Outside and All Around the House

with the help of my kitty cats. 

Maestro has been particularly helpful with this project.

A tutorial for this pattern may be found here:

Tunisian Block Stitch @ YL Yarn Crafts

I was working on a different stitch for this project when I saw this

Mesa Hat Pattern from YL Yarn Crafts

and it was just what I had envisioned for my purple yarns.

I am adapting this stitch for my own shawl design.

I am really enjoying working on this project.

When last I posted this linky party in July

I was working on my Pretty Pink Radius Shawl ~ Started Here

I did finish this Pretty Pink Shawl in time to gift it to ...

... my friend, Elaine, at her birthday luncheon. 

It fit her perfectly and is the same color pink as the shirt she is wearing. I picked this color yarn because I have seen her wear this shade of pink many times. 

I added a border and a button closure to the original 

 Radius Shawl Pattern by Light & Joy Design

As you can see, my friend was very happy with the results. 

I am hoping to be back to posting weekly on my blog.

What have you been working on this summer, my friends? 

Please share! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Back To Quilting ~ Quilty Kitty Approved!

 Hello, Nutmeg here! 

Mommy says she wants to get "back to blogging" and I want to help.

I am so purrrrfectly photogenic and I love Mommy's fabric and yarn. 

So I have taken over Mommy's blog today. 

This fabric is called 

Lady Bird by Crystal Manning for Moda Fabrics

 I love to watch the birds so I like this fabric. 

Mommy has had this fabric for awhile waiting for "the right project" she says. 

Mommy found this quit along on one of her favorite quilt blogs. 

Click on the link below for the pattern and stuff:

The Voice of Quilting ~ Pat Sloan

Mommy has made the pattern before and knows it is fun and easy and a good project for "getting back to quilting." 

Mommy is talking about doing lots of "getting back" stuff 

but as long as that includes more pets for the kitties, it is all good by me. 

To download the free version of this pattern, 

or purchase the multiple size pattern

 and for videos on how to make it,

click on the link below:

Oh My Stars Quilt Pattern & How-To Here

Clicking on links means pouncing on the mouse,

so I am a natural at that!

I have inspected the pattern  ...

... and tested the fabric with my superior cat senses ...

... and this project has the Quilty Kitty Paw of Approval! 

Mommy says she needs to decide on what color 

to make the stars so they pop.

I think white like my beautiful fur would be purrrfect!

Do you think so too? 

Mommy says she is making this as a new bed quilt and

 I can't wait to take a nap on our new quilt!

Start cutting and sewing tomorrow, Mommy!

Purrrrrrrr! 

Hello, August ~ Back to Blogging

 

Happy August! 

I have been sitting and stitching and enjoying summer.

Mr. Scrapatch has been working all week and catching up on all the projects that need doing around the Scrapatch on the weekends. Here he is yesterday using his portable electric cement mixer to replace cement landing for the back steps.  

The steps and stringers also need replacing,

 so there is a gaping hole off the back porch ...

... and a pile of wood and bags of cement on the deck under the gazebo.

I am very blessed that he can do the work and I can sit and stitch.

Today it is steamy and I am sitting inside working on the crochet shawl for another friend in my monthly lunch group.  When I asked her what color she said any shade of purple.  I was surprised to hear she is a purple person as she does not wear purple or have it in her home decor.  When I thought about it, though, I should not have been surprised as she is a healer by nature and was a nurse for 40 years in a local emergency room. 

Maestro is my crochet helper of the day.

Very helpful.

After I gently removed the WIP from her razor sharp teeth, 

I put it in one of the clear plastic tote bags that I use as project bags for my yarn.

So Maestro expressed herself by chewing on the strap.

I am really happy with this new to me Tunisian Crochet stitch.

More later. 

I plan to be back to blogging on a regular basis now.

Hope you and yours are having a good summer!