Pedal to the metal!

 Hi to all of my blogging friends.  It's been a productive month for me, so I thought I would share my finishes.  Margaret and I are taking a little break from the Toy Chest, so I have been furiously working on my pesky WIP's.  This is my Valentine mystery quilt that I did with My Girlfriend's Quilt shoppe.  I changed the borders from purple to red.  The banner will be added after the quilting is done. 

This is Little House Needlework's Hillside Travelers.  Stitched on 36 count with recommended colors, except I changed the red house to Gentle Art's, Mulberry, because it was suppose to be pink, and well...I'm a red girl. I also added my initials and date above the red house.  

This was a fun little stitch from Heartstring Samplery called Joy to the World.   It looks much different from the original.  The creative ladies at Shepherd's Bush changed the fabric color, floss colors, and added the "Joy" on the chart.  Give them a call if you like the changes and would like to get this from them.  I added my initials and my husbands initials over one, along with the date. 

I made some quilting design boards from Lori Holt's website.  This is actually the 4th set I've made.  The others were for gifts.  You use these to keep quilt blocks from getting mixed up while you are in the process of  sewing them.  Six blocks can sit by your sewing table and not be disturbed...unless someone knocks them off!  Easy project to do, you just need a lot of glue sticks. 

As much as I've tried not to start something new right now, I just had to cut out this sweet project.  It's from Need'l Love Strawberry Threads.  I saw this done up in California last year, and fell in love.  However, the book was quite pricey and I was spending a wad already, so I passed on it.  Recently a friend of mine was getting rid of some patterns, and lo and behold this book was in her giveaway bag.  I bought it for a few dollars.  I already had the frame, so it was practically free.  Love those kinds of projects, don't you?  It will look much better when it's stitched and the seed beads are on the strawberries.  I like projects like this for traveling. 

Speaking of traveling, we have been.  We went to Florida in March to visit my brother and his family, and went to DisneyWorld one day.  Here I am with my daughter and her favorite character Jessie. 

We also went to Arizona again over Easter break.  I went to the Attic Needlework store again, but didn't get to spend too much time because the whole clan was outside in the car melting.  I bought a few cuts of linen and silks.  OHHHH, I'm dying to start stitching on them!  But I've got my blinders on, and I'm staying  focused on my stitching goals for this year.  I don't like too many unfinished projects.  

My next victim, is Random Thoughts, by The Drawn Thread.  I really enjoy working on this, and it shouldn't take too long.  I've decided that I will leave the center as it is.  I accidentally stitched the verse in the wrong color.  I would prefer it to be in the dark green, but it's not worth unpicking. 

That's all for me today.  Hope everyone is healthy and happy.  Thanks for your wonderful comments.  They make my day.  Happy Sewing!

Thanks to friends...I have something to show!

Hi to all!  It's so hard for me to get posts done these days!  It' seems I am in a really busy phase in my life.  I can't complain...we all have our health, and life is good...it's just way too busy to do the things I want to do.  Can anyone relate?   I have some wonderful things to share with you.  First off...do you remember my Quaker sampler as one of my goals to finish this year?

Well, I was surprised by dear Edgar, who offered to stitch the final corner for me.  I am thrilled with the  motifs he chose, they fit the sampler perfectly.  This was stitched on Zweigart's Vintage Country Mocha linen, 32 counted with Vicky Clayton's Silk in Kodiak Fry, and Gentle Art's Brethren Blue.  Love it!  It is such a beautiful sampler, and I am grateful to all that stitched on it.  I am taking it to the framers next week!

I also have my progress to share on the Toy Chest Etui.  Thanks to Margaret, I have stayed motivated to stitch this.  I know I would have banished this to the bottom of the sewing drawer, a long time ago, if Margaret wasn't working on it with me.  All of the over one stitching is difficult, and for some reason, I have messed up on colors and counting a lot! 

Despite all the frustrations...it's nice to see all of the toys almost stitched.  It's a darling piece.  Having someone relate to your stresses, makes them a little easier somehow.  Thanks for hanging with me friend!

I managed to get this table runner sewn together, Finally!  I can't wait to put it out in June.  This is from the magazine American Patchwork and Quilting, and it's by Blackbird Designs.

I also finished up Bunny Hill's Vintage Christmas.   I changed some of the colors in the border to make it be more "red" than "pink".    Well...that's all I have time for today.  Thanks for all of your wonderful comments.  I appreciate your friendships, and sweet words of encouragement.  Until next time...Happy Sewing!

progress...

Hi to all my friends.  Thanks for all your kind comments about my chair!  Let me know if you want a quick tutorial on how to do it.  It was easy!  A quick update on my progress since my goals were posted last month.  This is the Toy Chest Etui that I am stitching with Margaret.  We are trying to stitch a page a week, and so far we are only a week behind.  LOL.  This is the needle book, and it was a really easy stitch.  I added my initials and date to the design. 

And I finished up part two.  Silly me, I thought this would be a good project for an airplane ride down to Phoenix last weekend.  Every time we hit a bump, I think I missed a stitch!  I know I'm off on the satin stitch on the girl, and I may re-stitch some of it, but for right now, I'm calling this one done.  The reason the boy is standing so far above the girl, is after stitching her, I decided I didn't need to be so frugal with the fabric, and I gave him a little more room. 

I finished up the borders on this mystery quilt, and I started the Valentine Mystery.  It's almost finished, but I need to get the borders on it, before I show you.  I like this quilt, but it's really "bright" for my home.  Hopefully I can find a place for it next year.  It has a lot of cute embellishments that I will add after it's quilted.

I had to sit through one of my daughter's ballet classes a few weeks ago, and I decided to stitch up this candle mat by Bare Roots.  I made one of these for my friend Jolene at Christmas time too.  I like projects like this for passing away "waiting" time.

I had the pleasure of attending my niece's baptism in Arizona last weekend, and my mom and I went to THE Attic Needlework store.  If this store doesn't make you want to plunk down some serious cash for stash, then I don't know what will!  It's amazing!  Katrina and Paulette, recently shared some of the eye candy there.   Among my stash purchases I bought Scarlett Houses,  Hannah Tingey and decided on getting fabric as well.   Her sampler was done on 45 count, which made it so dainty and delicate.  I loved it, but honestly didn't know if I could stitch on 45 count.  I went with the 40 count.  Hopefully I can see that!  My mom and I bought the fabric and silk for Blackbird's, Christmas Garden.  We also enabled my SIL, and bought some for her too.  The Attic ladies have changed the colors, and it was stunning.  I have the pattern on order, and I'm excited to put a few stitches in this when it comes.  I also bought Historic Stitches John Foster 1885.  They had this stitched on 29 count linen over one,   I couldn't resist the beehive.  

Here are my two growing kids in front of my Aunt and Uncle's house.  We stayed here, because of all the company at my brother's house.  They live just around the corner from each other, so the cousins kept in touch by riding their bikes back and forth.  I could have stayed here another week!  The weather was just about perfect.  I don't know why I live in a place that is dark and cold half of the year.   I love and need the sun!

This is my brother and his cute family.  Doesn't my little niece in front look like an angel?  She was just baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I usually don't share too many personal things on my "Sewing" blog, but I just have to say that these family events are things I cherish.  I believe families are forever, and happiness in life is built around forming strong bonds between family members, and following the commandments.   Thanks for letting me share that.

Well, that's it for now.  Thanks for sharing your comments with me.  I just figured out how to get my comments to go to my e-mail, so I can respond back!  Yea!  I  apologize for not commenting back to you if you have left me a comment in the past.  I will be able to respond now.  Have a wonderful day and happy sewing! 

Feeling blessed, and getting organized!

Hello my dear blogging friends.  I have been surprised by a couple of wonderful stitching friends this week, and I have to share.  These random acts of kindness have touched my heart, and made me reflect on my responsibility to do more for others.

First off, I won Jennifer's blog giveaway a few months ago.  Woohoo fabulous Gingher scissors!  I was the last person to comment on her post, and  you can imagine my surprise when my name was picked by the random generator.  Jennifer was going through some very difficult stuff in her personal life, so through an e-mail I told her not to worry about sending anything, which I really meant!  I was the last person I wanted her to worry about.  How sweet of her to still send the scissors to me.  She even threw in my favorite kind of candy bars!  Beautiful scissors and fabric Jennifer?  You totally went beyond anything I expected, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Do you remember this sampler from my 2012 goals to finish this year?  This was a Round Robin that I did in 2007 with my local stitch group.   I had decided to just stitch the last section so I could get it up on the wall.  Well last week, I received an e-mail from Edgar, who volunteered to stitch the last section for me.  I was completely surprised by his offer.  I really could not believe that someone would volunteer to do that!   I am honored by his request, and thank him so much for being willing to share his stitching with me.  It will mean so much to me to know that the whole sampler was stitched by people I admire and consider great friends. 

What else have I been doing this week?  Well, Deb and I had been e-mailing back and forth about getting organized and getting our sewing mojo back.  One thing that I know I have been needing to do for a long time, is improve my sewing space.  (Thanks Deb for the gentle push in the right direction!)   My husband was on vacation last week, so I was showing him my completely overstuffed closet, and asking his advice on how to get things under control.  The next thing I know, the whole loft looks like a bomb went off!  It's hard to believe that all of this...

and this...

and this...fit into my tiny closet!  What an embarrassment!  I ended up taking all of my fabric out of my drawers (below), and if it had 2 or more yards, I wrapped it on bolts.  I now have about 3 times this amount, and my daughter keeps calling it her quilting store.  LOL!

Now with the fabric out of here, I organized all of my quilt kits into the drawers.  I also organized a drawer for wool.  My DMC floss is now in it's case, and there is nothing in front of it, so I can open it easily. (big sigh of relief!)  The blue shoe boxes still need labels, but they are holding my bindings for quilts that are at the quilters, and fabric that I have cut into various squares and rectangles.  I also have one with card making supplies.   

DH built in an extra shelf, and reinforced the ones I had.  Fabric is very heavy, and it was making the shelves bow.  I was worried that if we had an earthquake, there would be some serious damage done to my stash.  I organized all of my fabrics that are less than 2 yards into these drawers, and you can't really see it, but I also have shoe boxes stacked on the left side.  There are 12 boxes for fat quarters, and every color has it's own box.  I also added another filing cabinet below these bins, and all of my cross-stitch kits and patterns are stored there.   

This is one of my favorite things we did.  I don't have a lot of pre-made frames, but I thought this was a good way to store little frames that I have purchased for certain projects.  This is inside the closet above the door.  My husband reinforced it with an extra piece of wood as most of the nails would not have been in the studs.  Now they are not getting scratched and taking up a lot of valuable shelf space.

The other thing I have been meaning to do for a long time is to recover my sewing chair.  This is a chair I have had for 11 years, and I love stitching in it, however the cream color was starting to look really dingy.  Yuck it was time to replace it, but new cushions would have cost $279.00.  I was really intimidated to tackle this project, and even though I have had the fabric for over a year, I have had to sit and think about how to do it for a long time.  Finally I decided that I needed to get it done, or get a new chair, so I went at it, starting with the foot stool.  I was able to get it done in ONE day, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  It only cost me $24.00 for the fabric, kaching!  I am really pleased with the results. 

I still want to stain my little drawer unit to match my chair, and I want to cover my computer chair with the same fabric as my accent pillow, but WOW what a difference it makes.  It really has motivated me to get projects done, and I'll show you more pictures when I'm done organizing everything.  Right now I am working on putting the past 9 years of pictures into albums and getting that out of the way.  It feels good to get things under control.  Hope you all have a little time to organize your sewing space, and to do something nice for someone else.  Thanks for stopping by, and for leaving me your wonderful comments.  They make my day!  Until next time...Happy sewing!

2012 Goals

Hi to all my blog friends.  It's hard to believe that it has been so long since my last post!  A lot has happened in my life the past 6 months.  My daughter's ballet and school schedule have been responsible for most of my absence, but I also have been put in charge of the 14-15 year old girls at my church.  Teaching on Sunday and having an activity every Wednesday for10 girls, has been really fun and exhausting at the same time.  I have not done a lot of stitching in the past 6 months, which makes for one cranky mom!  The reason I started this blog in the first place, was to be able to post some stitching and sewing goals.  It was a great bonus to meet some wonderful friends and be able to be inspired by your work.  I found myself buying 2 projects to every one I finished. I even found my stitching style changing as I looked at everything out there.  I definitely started to do harder projects, and found myself buying 40 count linen!  Yikes, my eyes are regretting that!  Well, I have a closet that is pretty much out of control, and a stitching drawer that cannot handle one more project!  It's time to make some goals to finish what I have, and hopefully I can be happy with my stash and not be tempted to add to it every week!   
I have been noticing a lot of challenges going on for finishing WIP's, and am going to add my list here. If anyone is working on the same projects and wants to do a SAL, please let me know.  It's always more fun to work on something with someone else.Sorry I didn't bother to iron all my linen before pictures.  You get to see my goals, wrinkles and all.

I really, really want to get this one done soon.  I love this project, but it doesn't love me!  I have had to unpick a great deal on this, for some reason.  Despite that, it's still one of my favorite samplers, and I want to see it hanging in my living room real soon.  This is a sampler called Mary Allen.  I am doing a SAL with Deb.  What do you say Deb, are you ready for more? 

I showed incredible restraint at the Shepherd's Bush sale last Saturday, and this was the extent of my purchases.  The frames were only $7.00 for both!  Can you believe that?  I could not pass them up.  Jolene gave me the little kit in the stocking for one of my fabulous Christmas presents, and I bought the other one at the sale.  One of my goals this year is to start a collection of small pincushions to rest in a bowl.  So many of you have these, and I just love them!

I want to finish Shores this year if it kills me!  Why I put it down in the first place, I will never know, but picking it back up again has been so hard.  My goal is to get one block a month done until it is finished.  My Mom and SIL are going to start a SAL with Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow, so I hope to finish this before starting that OWB  (overwhelming Beast!)

I started this on a plane ride to Philadelphia a year and a half ago.  I'd love to have it framed and displayed by July. 

This is Drawn Threads, Random Thoughts.   I realized that I stitched the center words in the wrong colors, and I haven't been real happy with it since. I don't think it would take long to finish, so it's on the list.  I'll have to get the whole thing done before I decide if I need to frog  the center. 

I started this on Thanksgiving, thinking I could get it done by Christmas (yea, right!)  It's such a cute design.  It's called Joy to the World by Heartstring Sampling, and those cleaver ladies at the  Shepherd's Bush changed the linen and thread colors.  It's wonderful in person.  I want this hanging up for Christmas next year.

I took this class from the Swan Sampler Guild several years ago.  I love this design from Ellen Chester, and I have no idea why I put this away.  I have all of the things in it to make it into a huswife, but it would be lovely framed as well.  I will have to finish the stitching and decide what to do with it. 

This is Little House Needlework's, Hillside Traveler.  This is the one that has been getting most of my attention this week.  I love working on it.  My husband took the kids out for a couple of hours on Monday, and the house was quiet for the first time in months!  I filled in most of the green hill and stitched the little people, and watched  "The African Queen" with Kathryn Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.  It recharged my stitching batteries.  I forgot how much stitching can calm the nerves!

This is a Round Robin that my local stitching group did in 2007.  I have been waiting to have one more friend stitch on it, but I think I will complete the last section so I can get it up on the wall.  This was really fun to do, and each motif was stitched by a dear friend which makes it special.

I think this is my oldest WIP.  I don't know what possessed me to buy this other than I was dazzled by the pretty colors.  This is stitching for the crazy person!  Better get it done before my eyes are completely shot.  I love this design, but it is very tedious to work on.  The Heart's Content, English Carpet.

I had the pleasure of attending the Swan's Sampler Guild retreat this summer.  I intended to post about it, but never got around to it.  It was a wonderful event, and I met new stitching friends, and got acquainted with old friends as well.  Betsy Morgan was a fabulous teacher.  I would love to finish this before next Christmas so I can display it with my antique toys. 

This is another class that I took at a retreat in Park City several years ago.  It's a lovely needle case, and a girl can't have too many of those, right?

I bought this from The Silver Needle, the minute it came out.  I love Halloween, and this Etui by Just Nan was so clever.  I stitched the first section on the way to Quilt market in Houston, and then got sidetracked by quilts, and didn't get back to it.  I want this done by Halloween this year!

I have been doing some mystery quilts with a darling, new shop near my home called"My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe".  The designer is the twin sister of the owner.  So far I have completed the Halloween, and Christmas quilts.  This is the January quilt that should be on my wall right now, but I didn't get it to the quilter's in time.  I start the Valentine one this week.  So I need to get this one completed first.

I worked on this over Christmas.  This is from American Patchwork and Quilting August 2004.   It's a beautiful table runner, and I just need to sew on the tabs and the back.  It's a Blackbird Design.

Bunny Hill's, Vintage Christmas.  I worked on this at the last quilting retreat that I attended.  I am so close to finishing it, just need to do the embroidery, and put it together for the quilter.  If I get it in soon, she should be able to get it back to me before next Christmas. 

Well, I have several other quilts and small projects that need attention, but I think this is enough for the goals this year.  A goal unwritten is just a wish, so hopefully this will propel me to complete these things this year.  If you are still with me, I thank you so much for your comments and support!  I miss all my blog friends, and hope you have a wonderful and great stitching year!  Until next time.

Summertime catch up!

Hi to all my blog friends!  I have to share an update on what's going on in my life.  As I was taking pictures, it became apparent to me why I am so busy!  I've been making up for lost time this year, and really cranking through the projects.   First up,my favorite obsession at the moment!  This is the beautiful Mary Allen Sampler that I am stitching with my dear friend, Deb.  We e-mail back and forth and she has become my kindred spirit.  We met through blogging, and going to the Shepherd's Bush retreat.  When Deb told me she wanted to start working on this, I jumped at the chance to do a SAL with her.  My other SB, blogging friend, Terri ,gifted the pattern to me and I have been dreaming about it ever since! (Thanks sweet Terri!)   I just finished my first page today.  (I know I like to push deadlines).  We are stitching a page a month, and I am happy that I can start stitching page two tomorrow.  I am stitching on 35 count French Vanilla by R&R Reproductions, with one strand of NPI silks.  I debated on doing 2 strands, but with 35 count, I opted to do one.  Also, knowing me, I'll have to unpick a lot, so I don't want to worry about buying more silk.  :)

Just in time for the 4th of July, this is a quilt guild block exchange that we did last year.  I decided to make it my picnic blanket, so I added one more row to make it bigger.  It's an expensive little picnic blanket.  When it comes back from the quilters, I may change my mind about putting it on the ground!

So sorry for the blurry photo.  I took this picture a while ago, and the quilt is now at the quilters, so I couldn't shoot it again.  This is another block exchange we did in my quilt guild.  This one was a couple of years ago, and it's called, Cracker Crumb.  When we were exchanging blocks, I thought it was going to be a homely looking quilt, but I really like it now that it's put together.  I appliqued big stars on the corners.  This quilt is for my son's room. 

I was so happy to finally get this finished.  I put it away for a few months, because I wasn't happy with the orange colors I had going on.  I bought some different fabrics for the filler blocks, and I am really happy with the way it turned out.  This is Fig Tree's Garden Fence.  This one was tricky with the checker board border.  I spent several hours getting that to fit just right.  I think it was worth the effort.  Love this quilt!

This one was simple, just add the boarder.  What I didn't show you, is the bag of clothes that go on the dolls!  I loved the idea of a quilt you could actually play with.  I think my daughter and I will have fun dressing the paper dolls up during the Christmas holidays.

Since I finished my big Alphabet Village, I decide to start about 5 new projects.   Seriously, isn't that the way it goes?  I have so many things I want to do.  This is Weeping Tree by the City Stitcher.  I started this in May and haven't looked at it since.  I do hope to get back to it soon, as I loved working on it!

My SIL Melanie and I are doing a SAL with Random Thoughts by The Drawn Thread.  A nice easy piece to work on when I'm tired.   

Sweet Jolene was my partner in crime at Shop Hop.  She surprised me with this paper doll quilt!  How I love it!!!  I dream about working on it.  She is such a wonderful enabler!

Another Start, LHN Hillside Traveler.  This is a SAL with my Mom and SIL, Melanie.  We are doing so much together this year, and it's really fun.  I have until July 26th to stitch the brown house and the 2 trees.  I better get crossing my x's!

If stitching wasn't enough, My mom and SIL and I are also working on Farm Fresh by Buggy Barn.    My mom has spent hours on end cutting kits for us, and I have spend hours on end tracing and ironing.  Can you see my enormous pile that I have to prep?  I like to use the spray starch method for my appliques.  It goes fairly quick, if my kids help me paint the spray starch on.  This will be on the agenda after sewing for my DD's birthday is done.  Yikes!  I have a lot to do, it's only 2 weeks away. 

I got the urge to cut out this project a few weeks ago.  It's from the book "Simple Graces" by Kim Diehl.  I thought I would make this a "car project" this summer.  My last car project got left in there for 4 years.  I guess that means that I drive most of the time.   I don't plan on waiting that long for this one to be finished.  At least I hope not!

Another project from the Simple Graces book.   This is a yo yo quilt.  I have been cutting little circles to do this one day. After seeing Deb's last post about her wonderful Go machine, I think I may get one, just to cut my circles!  This quilt is a lot smaller in person than it looks in the book, and it was the first yo yo quilt project that inspired me to make one.  It was stunning in person!

Last but not least, I have to share my sweet little daughter's photo from her ballet recital.  It was a play based on the story of Madeline, and she played a "Petit Sailor" in the park.  She was so cute!  It was a wonderful performance.  Since then DD has tried out for the ballet company which is a small group of 30 girls, out of 150 that will perform more during the year.   We were so proud of her that she made it, and now our lives are going to be centered on ballet, because she starts taking lessons 3 times a week in August.  I may need more car projects!  

   

Thank you for stopping by to see me!  I appreciate every single comment. They make my day.  Have a wonderful 4h of July holiday.  Until next time, Happy Sewing.