Plumcute Designs

Liberty

As a child in public school I remember learning about the traditions and customs that surrounded many holidays but none left an impression on me in quite the same way as the Fourth of July.  I love Americana, patriotism, and my childhood idyllic ideas of what they mean.  I love the great displays of fireworks and their symbolic reminder of "the rockets red glare".    I love my memories of one summer coming early in the morning into Colorado to see "purple mountains majesty" and later as we drove across the vast open spaces of Kansas and Oklahoma  witnessing  "amber waves of grain".  I love the gathering of community together to fellowship and celebrate liberty.  We live in a great country and a great time with great freedoms but for me there is none so great as the liberty that was purchased with three nails and a cross.  So I hope that wherever you are today that as you gather with friends and those you love that you will celebrate not only the great freedom we have here in America along with those who have devoted their lives, both past and present, to its protection, but also to the eternal freedom that is offerred and the price that was paid for its establishment.  God bless you and God bless America.  May His good be crowned with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.  Happy Fourth of July!

Until Next Time,

Tracy

A Progress Report And Self-Promotion

Been stitchin' and I thought I'd put another peek up.  So here is that Christmas project...

I have worked some on the friend of the Pumpkin Lady too but there isn't enough progress to photograph so for now, she will have to wait.

In general, that's what I have been doing.  That and a whole lot of laundry.  And packing to go over ther river and through the woods on a little holiday trip.  Off to grandma's we go!  Hope to post from there.

Oh, one more thing...Monday July 6th (yes, that is this coming Monday) I will be teaching at Thimble Creek.  This lovely little piece...

 

 

There is still room in the class if you want to join us for a great time and a super easy/cute project.  Get a head start on the Christmas stitching!

Blessings...

long weekends and family to enjoy

Cosmo threads...I'm just gonna keep plugging them until you all have tried them...they're wonderful!!!

teaching at Thimble Creek...it's good to get out into the real world once in awhile (hope to see you there)

Until Next Time,

Tracy

It's REALLY Hot ( Whining To Commence Shortly) & More New Project Starts

I am going to spend this first paragraph simply lamenting the heat so, if you are not inclined to read my whining and complaining then skip to the next paragraph.  I know that for some of you in other places you're thinking that we Californian's don't know what real heat is (and you're right).  However, we have been spoilt in June with mild, cooler, wonderful weather so now that summer has truly arrived it seems miserable.  I mean it's just HOT!!!  We are talkin' yucky hot like the fifth ring of Dante's inferno or something and it just sucks the life right outta me.  I went to the park with the little-uns yesterday at 10:30 in the morning and they just wanted to sit on the bench and whine "it's too hot to play" they looked like one of those paintings by Dali...my hands were too sweaty to stitch (gross).    The technical temp taking gadget thingy on the back of my house (which is not in direct sunlight) read 103 at 6:30 yesterday evening...ugh.  I think I am melting, seriously.  The only thing good about the heat (if there is anything good at all about 103 that late in the day) is that it subdues my appetite...I could possibly use it to shed the small cushion around my mid-section that prevents me from wearing a handful of my favorites hanging in the closet.  I say "could" use it but I am sure an entire diet centered around frozen treats like slushies, ice cream, and popsicles  isn't going to achieve what I am looking for.  And the long and short of all this: it's hot, I'm cranky, I could whine for another paragraph but out of respect to you all and in an effort to maintain any remaining dignity I have left I am going to move on, shake it off, get a grip instead of a gripe.

So, I have finished none of the little snippets I showed you all...including the framing of that sampler.  Instead I thought it a better idea to start some more.  And for the sake of having pictures to accompany this post I am going to tease you with more photo snippets.

First do you remember this project?

I have started one of her friends & here's a little peek...

And then second, since Christmas is just around the corner (how sad is that?) I have a few more new pieces drawn up to celebrate the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and this is a teaser for one of them...

I will be stitching a little of this onto what you see above...

 

So that is what I have been holed up and working on in an effort to keep my hands busy while I stay inside where it is cool.

Blessings

the heat? if only because of the appreciation it generates for cooler, milder weather?  (this is a stretch but I am working on the glass half-full rather than half-empty)

new projects

air conditioning

Until Next Time, hopefully with less whining about the weather...

Tracy

Summer Fave's

Over at Camille's blog you can read about some of her summer favorites & see some really outstanding photography (jealous), quilts, etc...So, I got to thinking about what I love about Summer.  Here is the short list:

ice cold lemonade fresh squeezed with the wedges of lemon just dropped into the glass

homemade blackberry ice cream...I haven't had it since the Summer before my 6th grade year in school but it made an impression for sure!

Sonic cherry limeade (especially during happy hour)

skirts and tennis shoes

picnic lunches with the kids at the park before the heat of the day truly sets in

sunday after church naps with the air conditioning on full blast...so cold I have to snuggle up under a quilt to be comfy

swimming (and when I lived in Guam it was scuba diving)

the idea of a porch swing, a summer evening breeze , and the heavens full of stars proclaiming God's glory

fireworks and Americana

So there you have it.  What about you?  What do you love about Summer?

Until Next Time,

Tracy

Multi-Tasking...which is just a nice way of saying I am all over the place...

As promised I am showing you pictures of what I have been up to lately (other than Star Wars birthdays & consuming sith lord cakes...see last post).  First off, I finished the sampler I have been working on & it should be a ready for the public pattern in the next week here.  I know this is rotten but here is just a little snippet of it...

Now the next few pictures are of all the new things I am currently working on and able to photograph...there are a few additional projects that cannot be pictured just yet!  First an update shot of the pumpkins coming your way this fall or a little sooner...

And a quilty thing I am cooking up...

And some baskets being stitched...

There is also a re-invent on an applique project in the works but I cannot show it yet.  So, I am off to stitch and hopefully wrap up another project.  I am also going to get that sampler properly framed so that I can show you a full shot instead of just the teaser.

Blessings

many projects to keep me going

"multi-tasking"

finished sampler

Until Next Time,

Tracy

A Sith Lord On My Kitchen Counter

Mr. 5 wanted a theme party for his big day...Star Wars.  We bought plates, napkins, and favors all in said theme.  I found a Darth Vader candle for the cake.  And that is where it all came to a grinding halt...No local bakery had Star Wars cakes and do you have any idea what a used Wilton pan is going for on ebay (try 40-90 bucks).  So not wanting to disappoint our budding Jedi, Mr Plumcute and I put our creative heads together and added his super-awesome cake-making powers (yes, you read that correctly HIS super-awesome cake making abilities...not mine cuz I don't have 'em)...this is what we got...

We hand made the pan from scratch using my son's Darth Vader mask as a mold & a foil turkey pan shaped around it...mask was removed before batter & baking.  The cake itself was a boxed mix (there's only so much from scratch we can handle in this family).  And, the second time around we got the cake right...the first time we turned it right side up too soon and it caved in the face...oopsie!  All in all, the cake rocked and there were no tears of disappointment.  Our party guests looked fabulous with their black tongues & teeth and a great time was had by everyone (I think).  Except maybe for Lord Vader who now sits carved up and half-eaten on my kitchen counter which is kinda grotesque/morbid.  Oh well, I will just have to eat some more of it ;)

Blessings

creativity

HIS super-awesome cake making abilities

party success without a $40-$90 cake pan

Until Next Time,

Tracy

PS next time I hope to have my sampler to show off (it's almost done) and some other new projects that I have in the works!  And maybe even some of the four patch blocks for my "just-for-me" quilt.

Goodbye 4...Hello 5

Little Mr Plumcute turned 5 yesterday.  It was a fun-packed day of family time, swimming, and an airplane ride with Daddy.  We closed out the day with dinner at Jacks Urban Eats & dessert at Big Spoon Yogurt.  One of our family birthday traditions is the birthday person picks what's for dinner.  Timothy wanted salad...he wanted the same thing for his birthday dinner last year.  What kid makes that request when the whole gammet of food options is opened up to them (we even, I cringe to type this, offerred up the mousey pizza joint with terrible pizza & lots of cash consuming games)?  But salad it was, two years running now. 

Amidst all the hoopla & celebrations I'm having those sad mommy feelings...the one's that come along when the baby stops being a baby and starts being their own little person.  And while my guy has been more of his own little person than a baby for quite sometime now, 5 seems to be one of those landmark birthdays with kindergarten on the horizon and more independence in the personality.  I hope he doesn't totally outgrow snuggling...that is unacceptable.

So here he is in his "monkey suit" preflight. (that is our affectionate name for Daddy's flight suit & what we got Timothy for his birthday)  He had a blast and I am sure we made memories to last his lifetime...Maverick's got nothin' on this little dude!

And here's take-off..

Today is back to reality: Daddy's at work, there are dishes to be done, and a whole house to clean for a Sunday afternoon party (part birthday for Timothy with family & friends and part Fathers Day)...if I am lucky I might get some stitching done on that sampler since my completion deadline (self-imposed) is tommorrow!

Blessings

growing up (I am trying to have a glass half-full perspective here)

the fun of first flights ever and flying with Daddy

family time

Until Next Time,

Tracy

For Me: Stash Bustin'

I have this idea in my head to make something for myself.  Not a pattern, not a gift, just for me.  We shall see if that is possible since in the entire ten years that I have been Plumcute I can count on one hand with fingers left over the number of times I have made something just for me.  Most "for me" projects that I start seem to turn into a pattern for my line.  Will this one be any different?  Only time will tell.  But this is what I am starting with... 

A sweet stack of 5-inch squares cut from some of my very favorite-ist fabrics outta the stash.  The stack itself is like a little slice of happiness.  I might even be content to just look at it for a day but then I am gonna have to start assembling what is floating around in my head before it floats right out my left ear and into the never-land of ideas lost.  Maybe I will even hand quilt this as an extra treat to me because I love to handquilt.  IF, (and that's a BIG IF) time will allow for handquilting.

Blessings

stacks of sweet fabrics

stash bustin

just for me

Until Next Time,

Tracy

Introducing Numbers 40 & 41 (not counting flip-flops)

40...

41...

My new Sister-In-Law & I wear the same size shoe.  She has G-R-E-A-T taste & judgement...I get her cast-offs.  Oh and here's a fun fact for you: once upon a time 41 went to meet Sarah Jessica Parker.  (Not on my foot though)  So there you have it them, the newest residents of my closet.  Just curious, not counting flip-flops, how many pairs of shoes do you guys admit to?

Blessings

red shoes

famous shoes

generous Sister-In-Law (I have been blessed with several)

Until Next Time,

Tracy

A Finish To Share

I have been loll-y-gagging on this finish, until today.  I hand quilted a running stitch around six of the pennies and framed her this afternoon.  So, here she is in all her glory...I'd like you to meet Simply Sweet Reds.

copyright 2009 Plumcute Designs

Blessings

finishes

new projects to follow

free shoes from the Sister-In-Law (will show them soon as they are too stinkin cute & one is even a red pair)

Until Next Time,

Tracy