Cowboy Kitty Rides Again!

I've kept busy in the Nest making those uber-cool kitchen tea towels I referred to earlier. I really love the vintage patterns on these. They are call "Cowboy Kitty" and are from the 1940's. The patterns themselves are stitched in redwork, but I then colored them in using fabric paint markers to ensure the colors didn't run when washed. I have more from the same retro pattern set in the works and hope to share them soon.

Look at Cowboy Kitty's sly sideways glance! It looks like trouble just rode in on his stick-horse...

Cowboy Kitty is totally sweet on Cowgirl Kitty! Look out!

I'm keeping a set of these to dress up my kitchen for sure. But if you want a set too, you can get them at http://www.theartnest.etsy.com/. I'll post more from this vintage pattern set in future blogs.

Playing Possum.....

Yes, I'm still here! Spring is such a busy time of the year. It's like the whole world wakes up and everything begins to move at an accelerated pace. Plants nurtured from years past emerge and begin their yearly show, the birds return in mass, and critter babies are everywhere.

Here at the nest I have been getting the gardens in order and enjoying the wonderful warmth. Being quite the goal directed individual, I have a hard time slowing down long enough to enjoy it all. Time always seems to be in short supply... So, if only for a moment, I've decided to stop moving forward, play possum, and just enjoy. Then, I'll finish cleaning the pond, plant the rest of the vegetable garden, finish the softy I'm working on, start a few more softies, and in my spare time I'll whip out a few more of the tea towels I have planned... I did say I would slow down for a moment, didn't I?

Kaeleb's discovery! Aren't the the cutest?

She's Back.....

Ms. Emma is back! That's right Ms. Emma my sewing/embroidery machine is finally back. She seems to be rested and in good shape after taking her mental health holiday. So I am currently working on kitchen towels. I have plans of making softies in the near future as well, so check back to see what kind of cuteness is hatching out of the Nest....



Aren't these cute? I made a set of the blue ones for a friend of mine who has recently moved into a new home. The tea towel embroidered in red will be added to my Etsy store.

Days Like This...

I've heard that boats who go unnamed are plagued with problems and bad luck. I wonder if the same is true of sewing machines? I'm beginning to think it is... I have really had just the worst luck recently with my new embroidery/sewing machine. She is shredding thread (giving me the worst fits) and the repair shop can't seem to nail down the exact problem. I'm totally frustrated because I have so many sewing projects in the works.

So I've decided to name my machine Ms. Emma. Ms. Emma is a powerful, mature sewing machine with much potential and many years of good stitches in her. Unfortunately she is prone to accidents and must be monitored vigilantly. While she is on vacation (due to her emotional breakdown of course) I have moved on to card making and crochet. Hopefully that will keep both my hands and my mind busy so I don't wind up on a mini-vacation like Ms. Emma!

These are little thank you notes I made to leave with service tips. I love the googly eyes on the owls!