Happy Birthday Joanne

Joanne is a long time friend of my daughters, who happens to share the same birthday as my son Michael, New Years Day. My son has not turned 40 yet but Joanne will this Friday, 1/1/2010.

In honor of her 40th, I made her this quilt. Joanne and her family are from England and I happen to find this fabric that has London written all over it. I loved the colors.

The pattern is called "Enigma" by Pressed For Time Quiltworks. The main part of the quilt is made mostly out of fat quarters., very fast and easy. I backed the quilt in flannel, which I do with a lot of my quilts.

The label reads:

Joanne,

Happy 40th Birthday!

Made with love just for you by Pamela Osorio

Hope you enjoy the quilt Joanne.

Happy Birthday

In the World of my Sister's Pottery

This last Thanksgiving my husband and I went out to my sister's home in Topanga Canyon, CA. Of course I have been there many many times, but this time I took some pictures so I could share with you the world of a potter.

Life has been very good to her, she lives in a beautiful home in the canyon. This picture is taken on the walkway from the main house down to the studio where she does her work.

These next two pictures show some of the pieces she is working on, displayed so beautiful on wood shelves in the studio. She makes the most amazing dishes, mugs, bowls , vases and whatever else comes into her head. She has a great eye for color, the glazes she uses are brilliant and colors I would love to use in a quilt.

Patti is a wonderful teacher of her craft. Many times when my grand kids comes to visit, she is ready with a project for them to do. The kids absolutely love it...and they get to go home with something they have made. Patti is expecting her first grandson this spring, she will teach him well the craft of pottery.

She a HUGE collector of fine art and pottery. I'll come back later and show you some of her collections, but, this is one of the pieces in her home that I love. I'm not sure who the artist is but they have portrayed my sister so well at her potter's wheel and her wood shelves behind her displaying her work. It's just so her.

I feel Patti is quite modest, at times, when it comes to her work, but no one could be prouder than I am of all that she does. I love and adore everything about her.

I was born lucky, Patti, to have you as my twin sister.

The Wacko Christmas Party

This past Wednesday was the Wacko Christmas Party, one my favorite parties of the season. Good friends, good food and a Christmas exchange of gifts that is just so fun. These gifts are little tokens of our friendship made with love, let me show you:

These are the little ornaments I made for each of the Wackos out of red, white and green wool, added french knots and crystal's.






I put them in a bright bag, with a sewing kit in a jar and decorative matches for the holidays.











In return, I received many hand made items, a door hanger, small wallet, candles, dish towel, pin cushion's a hand made lapel pin and Santa that is just too cute to use as a pot holder. I love them all.




The evening was perfect, full of games, laughter and good conversation. Linda sums it up for all of us in a poem she wrote and gave with her gift .

To My Dear Wackos
The scissors are cutting
The needle is poised
For your next handmade project
For good girls and boys.
You love to create
It's the key to your heart
Sewing a quilt
Is your form of art.
Handmade with love
Is what you do.
And I'm very thankful
For friends like you!

Wishing you and your family a Happy Holiday Season!!!!

Helping Santa

WOW!
I did not realize it has been so long, November 9 was my last posting, that was 5 weeks ago.

Don't give up on me, I'll be back soon. Have been helping Santa.

Merry Christmas to all,
Pam

I had to go shopping.

I realized when I went to get a runner down for that Thanksgiving Holiday, that I didn't have one. When it comes to anything with the Autumn colors, I only have Halloween. I thought that to be a good reason to go shopping for fabric.

This past weekend my husband and I went to Temecula, with friends. Temecula has two great Quilt Shops.

Our first stop was the Temecula Quilt Co., they carry the Reproduction prints. This shop was featured in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Quilt Sampler Magazine with their Back to School Pattern. Not the best picture, the quilt is also on the cover of the magazine. Just had to buy the kit and I would say, Autumn colors.

Second stop, Quilter's Coop in Old Town Temecula. I picked the pattern below and one of the shop keepers help me pull all of these beautiful fabrics, browns, greens, burnt oranges, tans all just wonderful Autumn colors. I'm so excited!

The Pattern is called Fall Harvest (18" x 36") which is the bottom picture on the pattern and Pumpkins and Pinwheels ((24" x 24") which is the top picture on the pattern. I have more than enough fabric to complete both.

I would end this by saying, stay tuned in the next week or so, but that so won't happen. I will say, stay turned by next November, I will be ready with my Thanksgiving decor.

Can't wait to get started on these.

Group Quilt by Quilting Wackos

Our Guild, Quilters by the Sea, has their quilt show every two years. This year it was held in April and they had a category for a Group Quilt. The Wackos decided we would enter. The idea was to make a block by decorating a skirt as it fits your personality. This could be pieced or applique.

This is not the best picture of the quilt but there is a poodle skirt, there is a red, white and blue skirt, a Mexican skirt an Asian skirt, all of them are just great. The shoes are to die for and some are holding a purse or walking their dog. After it was put together, Linda did the quilting.

But see the block, center/bottom? There is our slogan:

Wackos's Rule!

OH WAIT....we have no rules

Robin took a picture of herself in jeans and flip-flops and printed it on fabric. No skirt there.

This is my block, me in crop pants which I usually wear. No skirt there. I even went further, if you look real close, you'll see a tattoo on my left ankle. I always said, when I turn that certain age, I was going to get a tattoo. Well that certain age has come and gone and I still don't have a real tattoo. Just showing a rebellious side of my personality. LOL.

This quilt took 1st Place Group Quilt in the 2009, Quilters by the Sea , Quilt Show.

YEAH Wackos!!!

Christmas in July...but it's October??

Remember, Wacko's Rule, OH WAIT....we have no rules.

Back, before summer, the Wacko's decided we would do Christmas in July. Well, July got pushed out to September, and September got pushed to October. Last night, we finally all met at Robin's house to celebrate our Christmas in July, September, October. We all picked names, I picked Sue. The idea was to take the word, CHRISTMAS, and find a little gift for each of the letters.

This is what I came up with for Sue:
C - Candle
H - Herbs
R - Runner (small, I made for her)
I - I Luv Suchi (gift certificate local restaurant)
S - Screen Saver
T - Tote (LLB pattern, I made for her)
M - Magic Rock (paper weight)
A - Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap
S - Stash (she loves orange and lime green)

By chance, Sue picked my name and this is what she came up with:

C - Cupcake pin cushion (she made)
H - Half yard of Lamb Fabric (my quilting mascot)
R - Red Rick Rack
I - Ice Ornament's
S - Starbuck's Gift Card
T - Tree Fat Quarter Pack
M - Mittens
A - Apron - (she made)
S - Snowman Kit (felt balls to glue together, cute)

This was great fun, good friends, good food and the fact we could celebrate Christmas, almost all year, was the best.

Wacko's Rule!

I think I may have written a little about my friendship group, The Wednesday Wacko's. We started about seven years ago taking a class that Robin taught. We liked the class so much, we sighed up for another class, and so the group began. We have a few that have left the group and a few more that have started, but basically we have kept the group around twelve people.

We first started with the classes in a local quilt shop and we were there for quite a while. We now meet in a class room where my husband works at the High School. Every Wednesday may seem like a lot, but it really isn't. We know life gets in the way and if we don't make it one week, we'll be back the next.

I, myself, feel so fortunate to have each and every one of these ladies in my life. There is not one I can't count on at any given moment. We do retreats together, quilt shows, dinner and movies...and it's just so nice to have people that enjoy doing what you do, quilting and all of life's little pleasures.
I love each one of the Wackos's and my wish would be that every women could belong to a friendship group like I have.


Of course, being a group, we have tried to set rules but it never works, there is always someone that will bend the rule slightly.

Thus, we created our slogan:
Wacko's Rule!
OH WAIT...we have no rules


Just wanted to give you some insight of the Wacko's. In my next two blogs, I'll be writing about some of the activities we have done this year.

Stand by.

It's growing....

Raquel, my daughter-in-law, was over working on finishing up the costumes for the kids. She walked into my sewing closet and said, "I think this closet is growing." That only tells me, I have a lot to do.I'm only giving you a glimpse, but will tell you this walk in closet is filled top to bottom and side to side. See those things hanging on the side, those are charity quilts that are pinned and ready to quilt and have to be ready by December. There are little project boxes filled with unfinished projects and larger boxes filled with more kits and FABRIC of course.

Now I have been reading other blogs and can see I'm not so bad, however, I do know I have enough to keep me busy for years. I plan to take a few days off this week, from my regular full time job, to get some sewing done. I'll let you know how much I get accomplished


As much as I love my fabric, this is my favorite piece inside my closet. This is an antique thread case that one used to see on a counter of a General Store. My parents were collectors of antiques and gave me this a long time ago. I keep my thread and buttons in it.


Anyway, will be back soon.

Sunday Sewing with Mema

I had my three older granddaughter's, Meggan, Olivia and Madison over yesterday to sew. We had three hours planned out which was just enough time for them to make their Halloween Trick or Treat Bags. This was the first time sewing for Olivia. Meggan has sewn a little and Madison has had a few classes with hand sewing.

Prior to them coming, I had them pick out their own fabric, one for the outside of the bag and one for the inside. I put together a sewing box for each of them filled with notions, scissors, threads, ruler, note pad and pencils, etc. they were so excited.

They did all the sewing as directed, I was lucky to have my daughter-in-law, Erin, who stayed and helped with some of the cutting and ironing. They had a fun time for sure and their bags turned out great.












They all wanted me to send them home with Homework. So I put together a little project making easy blocks so they could get some practice on their machines and sewing the 1/4 inch seams.

Later in the evening, I went to stay with Meggan and Olivia as my daughter and her husband were going out. Olivia had already started her Homework and was doing a fine job on her own.

It was a little later when we all settle down and were sitting on the sofa watching the baseball game, Angels vs Yankee's, Olivia looked up at me and asked, "Mema, is sewing just your most favorite thing to do?". I looked over at her smiled and said, "no Olivia, my most favorite thing to do is spend time with my grand kids".
..... And she just smiled back.

It was a fun day girls.
I love you!

Mema

Memories with my Grandma

I guess it was the lesson I had last week with Natalia that made me think about the times I spent with my own Grandmother. She was a very quiet person, tiny and petite. Out of the six kids my parents had, I was the most quiet so I was the lucky one that got to stay with her most of the time. She only lived next door, but my parents felt someone should be in the house with her.

At a very young age I remember, sitting on her left side, with my head resting on her arm, watching her right hand going up and down as she made the most beautiful embroidery stitches. This would go on for hours at a time with the Lawrence Welk or Jack Benny Show playing on the TV in the background.

I think I was about eight when she finally said, "I think you can do this", and she put a needle in my hand and showed me how to do a printed cross stitch. It took off from there, I did pillow cases and table runners. My first craft!

A few years back, Leora Raikin was at our Guild with her African Folklore Embroidery Kits. I bought four of the small kits and made this small wall hanging using basically the chain stitch. It's done on a black background with bright colors. After completed and quilted, I added crystals to pop out the colors even more and beading on the out side edges which made a great finish. This piece took 2nd Place Winner in my Guilds Quilt Show 2007.

I have heard, everyone has five most influential people in their lives....my Grandma is right at the top of my five for sure.

Beauty is______.

My six year old granddaughter was given a school project this month. Beauty is_____.

She first needed to fill in the blank and then decide what she could do to express her words. She said it would be "Beauty is Love" and she wanted Mema (that's me) to help her make a small quilt. She wanted this to be done in pinks and reds and lots of hearts.

The first thing we did was to go to the fabric store so she could pick out her fabric. We found pinks and reds but not too many hearts in October. That's when Mema's stash came in handy.


Natalia started out strong by putting great attention to detail. She drew a picture on her Etch-a-Sketch of exactly how she wanted her project to turn out and then off to the cutting board we went.

Without going into the step-by-step process we took, I will tell you she did all of her own cutting using scissors (no rotary cutter). She used Heat and Bond to cut out hearts and she cut strips in different widths.




Once all the cutting was done, I put her on my small machine to practice sewing lines on lined paper. After she practiced that for a while I gave her fabric. She just loved it!!!

I had her do a Quilt As You Go, sewing the red strips one by one. After all the strips were sewn we cut the piece into a large heart.

She then made the banner to go across the middle using Fabric Ink to write Beauty is ____. At the end of the banner she put a pocket, inside the pocket is a button that says Love.

So you read Beauty is, reach in the pocket and pull out Love. Just so Cute!!! She then appliqued the hearts to the background. All the ironing had to be done by me.

She had so much fun making this project. I was amazed how fast she learned. Natalia is very proud of her First Quilt.

For her: Beauty is Love

For me: Beauty is teaching my granddaughter to sew.

I love you Natalia,

Mema

BOO!!

YEAH!!!! It's October.
This starts my favorite time of the year, October through December are the best months for me.

At the end of last year I took a class at my Guild using QuiltSmart. This is the Fan Pattern. I used Halloween prints to make the fans. After most of the quilting was finished I did some decorative stitches along the fans to make them stand out a bit. There is a black inner border and the binding is scrappy using the same fabric as in the fans.

This was so quick and easy....but it's all in the fabric that makes it so cute. I was excited to put it on my coffee table this year.

Hope you like it too.

Holiday Pillow Cases

This is a quick and easy little project I'm working on this week.

I usually give these out early to kick off the holiday season. My family and friends love getting their new Christmas Pillow Cases the first part of December.

This does take a lot of fabric when you're making so many but I was able to find this fabric on sale. I stayed away from the reds and greens this year and went with a more winter look...maybe they will use them long after the holidays are over.

These make great gifts if you need a hostess gift, a gift for co-workers, or that unexpected guest that may surprise you during the holidays.

I have 8 more sets to go, back to sewing!!!

Cute little tote!!!

Love this little tote.

This is a new pattern by Robin Gallagher of Two Wacky Women. Two Wacky Women called "LLB".

The small one measures approx. 8'x8'x2'. I adjusted the pattern just a bit to make the medium one that measures 10'x10'x2'.

There is a pocket on the the inside, just the right size for a cell phone. The out side pocket adds style and will keep things handy. There is a long strap that can be adjusted a couple of ways for comfort.

The first one took me much longer to make but found the second went together with ease.

Won't these make cute little gifts!!

I actually got my fabric from Two Wacky Women as well but this pattern is Fat Quarter Friendly. There is also a pattern for a larger tote.

Just another favorite of mine.

This is just another one of my favorite patterns by Robin Gallagher of Two Wacky Women called "Wacky Nine Patch".
Reference: Two Wacky Women

The main blocks are made oversize and after cut down to the correct size using the stack and slash method. The quilt does go together pretty quickly and with very little difficulty.

I have now used this pattern twice. My daughter got the first one made out of flannels and I made this one out of batiks.

Click on comments below, I would love to know what you think.

Kwitchyerbellyakin

I can only imagine what it was like for my parents to raise six kids. Yes, I have two older brothers, than came my twin sister and I, and four years later another set of twins, my brother and sister. Thank goodness they had my grandmother, who lived next door, to help them out.

Of course I remember a lot of fun and great times, but there were those times when my parents had a lot of whining kids on their hands. What I remember about those moments was my Dad's favorite saying "Quit your belly aching."

When I was around sixteen I found the saying written, kwitchyerbellyakin and decided to make it for my Dad in a wall hanging. I'm not sure if this was a printed cross stitch or if I did a counted cross stitch. He loved it!! It hung in their kitchen and would create some interesting conversation to say the least. Most could not make out the word, but when they did, would just laugh.

I have made several of these little wall hangings now and sent them to my brothers and sisters and my own kids have them hanging in their homes. Just thought I would share with you.

This is the one that hangs in my kitchen. The word kwitchyerbellyakin was done on my embroidery machine and piece with batiks.

This was the original one I made for my Dad. Remember our parents were into avocado green and gold.

Just a great little conversation piece!!

Pumpkin Cookies

Don't you just love when you go to pull an old cookbook down, that belonged to your Mom or Grandma, and the pages are all torn and yellowed. You just know a those books hold some of the best recipes and there were a lot of great family dinners where people just sat around taking about how great the food was.

The thing is, you just never think it's going to be your cookbooks that will yellow and look old. Well it looks like it has happened to one of mine. The kids and grand kids reminded me over the weekend that October is fast approaching and they want their Pumpkin Cookies, something I make for them every October. I went to get the book down that holds that famous recipe and it's starting to look a bit tattered and yellowed. Now I know I bought that book brand new and it seems like only yesterday. I just smiled and had warm and cozy feeling come over me as I know these cookies will always be one of the kids favorites.

I would like to share the recipe with you and yes, I did make the Pumpkin Banner but have to admit it's one of those "cheater panels", just put it together and quilt it. Think I was too busy making cookies that day.

Pumpkin Cookies
1 Cup Shortening
1 Cup White Sugar
1 Egg
1 Cup Pumpkin (I use the can pumpkin)
2 Tsp. Vanilla
2 Cups Flour
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Soda
2 Tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Cup Nuts (I use walnuts)

Frosting:
1 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Tbs. Margarine
4 Tbs. Milk
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tsp. Vanilla

Cookies: Combine and mix first ten ingredients. Add Nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Frosting: Stir and boil first 3 ingredients for 2 minutes. Cool. Add last two ingredients. Frost cookies. My family usually does not wait for the frosting...they like them plain.

Enjoy!

The Button Box

Look how cute this is.
My sister, Patti, made me this out of porcelain, remember she is the potter in the family. Not only did she make me the button box, she also made a lot of the buttons inside. Love love love it!

The trivet is something I made by taking cotton rope and wrapping it in fabric and zig zagging it together.

Just another way of crafts coming together in one family.

Meet Marcus

Marcus, our youngest, and his family.

Turn on the music and watch him go, Sebastian loves to dance and has better rhythm and moves of any dancer I know and he is only 4. He also loves soccer.
Natalia loves to play board games, help her mom, and loves to play dress-up and make-up with her friends. She is such a little princess, tiny and petite.
Our daughter-in-law, Raquel, is our little Spanish girl, she came to the US in 1995. We get so many complements on her, she is sweet and full of natural beauty. I can count on her for anything. We just adore her.
When he walks in a room you know he's there, Marcus is a loud and crazy guy and will get the party started...even if it's not his party. His brother and sister will just shake their head and laugh...and may say he's a little spoiled. Well he is the baby after all, cute and very smart.

Together they love to travel, explore, try new adventures and enjoy the simply pleasures of life. All four speak Spanish and English.

Meet Michael

Michael, our middle son, and his family.

Madison is the one you would love to have a Tea Party with. She is so beautiful and very sweet. She loves to swim and spend time with her friends and family.
Evan is all around boy. Loves sports, especially swimming. His passion is planes, there is not one plane that can fly overhead that he won't know the make, model and and when it was made. Amazing! He loves spending time with is Dad.
Erin is one if you need something done, give her a call. She can organize some of the best parties and you will find her on the dance floor at all of them. She's a great Mom, a great daughter to her own Mom, and I love that she is our daughter-in-law.
Michael is the rock of the family. He sets his goals and achieves them. He holds a Masters Degree, participates in triathlons, loves to sail, bike, and is the one the family turns to most for advice. He has a great sense of humor and is loved and adored by all.
A very busy family!

Meet Alicia

This is Alicia, our oldest, and her family.

Meggan is known as the family "sweetie". She started high school this year and is off to a good start. She loves to swim and play soccer...and of course, use her text message service.

Olivia will make you laugh and bring a smile to you when ever you look at her. She may be the family's next quilter, she is very crafty. Yeah Livy!

Jimmy would like me to introduce him as my one and only, crazy, fun loving son-in-law. He really is a great guy and fun to be with.

Alicia works hard at what she does in life, team mom, room mom, but most of all a wonderful Mom to Meggan and Olivia, she can do all this and still work a full time job. Her greatest joy in life is being with her family, camping, biking and swimming. A beautiful person inside and out.

A very busy family!!!

Alicia never has picked up sewing. I often say the one common factor we have together is we love each other very much.

Meet Carlos

The kids call him Pops, the grand kids call him Granpie, his students call him "Mr. O", and me, well he's just my Carlos.

He actually could start a blog of his own as he has a story to tell. Born in Peru, came to the United States in the 60's and we married shorty there after.

Carlos works at an all girls school close to our home where he has taught for many years. He does not teach anymore but still works at the school as their sub-teacher, is in charge of the AV Room, and started the school's very first, all girls, Mariachi Band. He is just so proud of them and will talk about them for as long as you will listen.

Carlos is the biggest fan of my quilting. Good, bad or ugly he loves it all. When I go on my quilting retreats there is always a surprise waiting for me when I get home. Usually this is new flowers in the garden, one time a water fall in the garden....but this last retreat he told me over the phone I was coming home to three green accent walls in three of our rooms. EEEEEEEEEEEEK. I have to tell you I was a bit worried, but I loved them. All is good.

He is a very caring and loving person. He treats everyone with equal respect and he is loved by everyone.

I think our biggest and greatest accomplishment together would be our children, Alicia, Michael and Marcus. Let me show you why, next blog.

Pamela O.

One of my favorites

I would love to say my quilts are so famous that you can find them around the world, but that is so not true. The truth is, I have given my quilts to family and friends around the world. You can find some of my quilts in Canada, Spain, France, Peru and of course the USA. My friend Terri will often tease me and say, "every time someone comes to visit, you send them home with a quilt".

I love to give my quilts in hopes they will be used over and over again. However, this happens to be one I did save for myself.

The pattern is called, "Magical Slice and Dice" by Robin Gallagher. Robin is a friend of mine who is also one of the Wednesday Wackos. It's so amazing, after making a four-patch kaleidoscope out of just one fabric, add some sashing and assemble the blocks straight, you make to two strategic cuts, sew it back together..and magic it's set on point.

Both Robin and Marilyn (also a Wacko) have formed their own business called Two Wacky Women. Visit their website http://twowackywomen.com/ where you will find this pattern and others that Robin has designed.

Pamela O.

My first quilt

So this is it, my very first quilt. I went on a quilting retreat with a friend back in 1996. It was at Eagle Crest Quilters Retreat in Big Bear, CA. Not sure why I didn't stop quilting at that moment, this was a very difficult pattern and I'm thinking not for a beginner for sure. It took me a long time to actually finish and get it quilted.
I named the quilt Welcome to the USA and gave it to my husband, Carlos. He is from Peru, came to the US in the 60's and became a US Citizen in the 80's.
In 2007 my guild, QBS, had an entry for "First Quilt" at their quilt show. I entered and took first place.
Yeah for me!!!!

My Twin

I must not forget to tell you about my twin sister Patti. She is not a quilter but a beautiful potter. As we get further into this blog I will show pictures of her pottery and the wonderful work she has done.

We are very different the two of us, but very close.

More to follow on her for sure.

Getting started:

I am a wife, a Mom, a Mema to six grandchildren, a friend to all
and I love to quilt.

Well that's it in a nut shell. I have been a wife for forty years, I'm a Mom to three great people, and have six beautiful grandchildren that call me Mema. I am a friend to all and have many that I hold very very close to my heart.

I started to sew when I was around eight years old, taught by my grandmother mostly. Started with hand work, went on to make clothes and I'm now into quilting.

I belong to two quilt groups, Quilters by the Sea (QBS) in Long Beach and Wednesday Wacko's

You will see me write a lot about the Wednesday Wacko's. There are twelve of us now, a friendship group that was started a few years back. I always say, I'm a Charter Member as I was in the first class where we met and started the group. We meet every Wednesday, we are all at different quilting levels and I love learning from each and every one of them.

Blogging is new to me for sure, not sure how far this will go.

Tune in for the next posting (maybe it's click in).