Ch-ch-ch-changes, part 2

I usually put up a project on Thursday.  Didn’t do it last week, not doing it this week.  

But I will take a few minutes to explain what is going on just in case you only check out the site on Thursday for the DIY. 

When I first bought my domain, KTGreenDesign.com, the “design” referred to web design. I thought I’d make a little money creating websites.  But I really hated coding in HTML.  

(Incidentally, the K is for Kathy and the T for Terry.  Just in case he ever wanted to jump on the blog wagon.)

Then I thought I’d just blog about a healthy lifestyle–exercising, cooking, diets, places to go and the money from advertising would follow. That’s when Michelle came on board with her recipes. But I discovered that there is no money from advertising and I’m not really all that healthy.

So I started blogging about DIY and our adventures here in Perfect.  Posted lots of photos. Decided I didn’t really care if I made any money on my blog.  It’s just fun!  And that was working out well.  I get a lot of visitors from Pinterest and other DIY websites.

But the blog has gradually taken on more of a local view and now my readers are primarily from the state of Florida. (Or people that want to be in the state of Florida.)   And that’s been really fun because there is so much to do here and places to go and things for me to write about.

I’m still sewing and quilting.  Doing a few mosaics here and there. Decorating my house. Refurbishing furniture. Working in my many gardens.  But it just doesn’t fit here anymore.

So, I’ve decided to move all my DIY to a new website.  When Michelle is ready to start posting again, she’ll be on the new site as well.  

The local stuff will stay right here on Just a Slice of Life in Perfect

I thought I’d have the new site up by today, but that would mean I’d actually have to stay home and work on it.  

Come on, I have parades to attend. Pictures to take. Banjos to play.

My new goal is to get it up by next Thursday.  So be here next week and I’ll give you the new URL,

or a new excuse!

Kathy

Works in Progress, March

Today I planned on showing you the third and final pillow in my series of cool and funky pillows. But……

I wasn’t happy with how it was turning out.

It was okay.  But it wasn’t cool and funky enough.  

So I ordered something to help make it cool and funky.  And hope to get it by next week and I can then finish the pillow.  I think I will LOVE it. (That’s a quote from my granddaughter Piper when she opened a Christmas present from my niece Michelle–clothes with kitties!)

But I got a lot of other projects finished.

I made a 12″ x 16″ pillow case for Colton.  

Pillow Case
The pillow cuff covers the interior pillow.

Pillow Case for Colton

I don’t know him but I met his Grandmother recently and thought he might like it.  I had the fabric left over from a quilt I made for my grand-nephew Tyson.   

A Quilt for Tyson
Tyson’s quilt. I LOVE this fabric!

I made a pillow case for Jack because I had a wee bit of that pirate fabric left.  

Pillow case for Jack

Pillow case for Jack
Another pillow cuff covering the pillow! This is for a full-size pillow case.

I said “do you like it?” and Jack said “Yes, (big hesitation) but can you make me one with Mickey Mouse?”  Oh yes.  I would love to make you one with Mickey Mouse!  And maybe a sleeping bag with Mickey Mouse.  And pjs with Mickey Mouse. That’s how sweet this kid is. 

Got some new fabric that I’ve been obsessing over.  I saw it introduced on the quilting blog nanaCompany back on February 6th and I’ve been trolling all the fabric websites waiting for it to be available.  

Milk sugar and flowers fabric
Love that pink with the kittens and bunnies!

I like looking at it and thinking about the wonderful quilt I will make with it.

And my biggest project!

Riley’s quilt.

The top is done.  

Riley's Quilt
Just a preview–it will look much better after I quilt it.

Now all I have to do is,

baste it,

quilt it,

and bind it.

(Many Many Many Hours)

The goal is to have it finished by April 15th. (It doesn’t have anything to do with income tax!)

That’s when I leave to spend THREE WHOLE WEEKS with my THREE BEAUTIFUL GRANDKIDS in the frozen tundra.  Which is also known as Mandan, North Dakota.   

Another cool and funky pillow DIY!

I fell in love with this zebra fabric many months ago. Maybe more like borderline obsession.

Zebra Fabric
Zebra Fabric from Timeless Treasures at Fabric.com

I could find no reason to buy it because I usually have a project in my head before I order fabric.  I don’t like to keep a huge stash of fabric.  So I usually have to justify–to myself–exactly why I NEED to buy more!

But it went on sale and I had a birthday coupon from Fabric.com for 20% off and that was all the justification I needed!  So I bought it.  Along with several other pieces.  Some already have homes.  Others (like those pink pigs) are still looking for one.  Curses, now I have to get more storage!  Or open up a shop and sell stuff.

fabrics

After I made the very cool leopard pillow with small pom poms, I realized it needed a companion.  A zebra companion.  With huge pom poms on the corners. 

But then I ran across some surplus piping that I made for my piano bench cushion last year. 

Perfect!  Almost better than pom poms!  Stripes!

zebra fabric and piping

So here’s the pillow!

zebra PillowAnd it looks extra funky with the leopard pillow!

zebra pillow
Just like we’re living in a very cool and funky jungle.

Like last week’s sewing project, I’m not going into great detail on how I made the pillow.  This is an envelope style pillow and I have this tutorial to make the pillow cover. 

Just a couple things that are different than last week’s version.  This is quilting fabric so it doesn’t have a lot of “body”.  I lined all three pieces–front and both backs with fleece.  Use a zipper foot to attach the piping.

Here’s the back:

zebra pillow back

Another cool and funky pillow DIY!
Just another view!

And look!  It’s Maggie!

Another cool and funky pillow DIY!
Looks like a good spot for a long winter’s nap!

When I showed it to Terry, he said it was very nice.  And wondered if giraffes would be next. 

No, silly. 

Giraffes are not near as cool as zebras. 

Or leopards.

Next should be panthers!