Marie's Gift

Marie made me the most gorgeous pinkeep for a birthday gift. She's so talented. I just can't imagine making things that look so perfect! She stitched a Mary Gary design :D

She also made this cute pin...

And this neat needle/thread holder, how cool is this?

I wish I lived closer Marie, that would be so fun to get together. I love the exchanges, I've met the most amazing people! You made my birthday a special day indeed! :)

In other news, I received the Q-Snap Quilt Frame, it's AWESOME! I wish I would have bought one sooner, it's so easy to use, move around, store. Very handy for someone with a small space :) I started tying a baby quilt on it last night and it really works well for me. Yay for good products!

New Layout

Can everybody read and see this new layout okay? I had SO MUCH FUN making it :D

I have some links below on my sidebar "Blog Graphics" of where and how I did this if anybody wants to make theirs like this as well!

Birthday gift from Stephanie!

I came home to 3 packages on my porch yesterday afternoon. I had one from Stephanie, one from Marie and one from EHandcrafts! I was so happy!

Stephanie had my name for the Birthday exchange board. I wasn't supposed to open it until my official birthday, which is Sunday the 27th... I'll blame it on Jessie, she grabbed the box, ran inside and opened it right up. I couldn't help but open it the rest of the way LOL!

Stephanie put together such a sweet package, I am still grinning from ear to ear. She stitched a finished a Shepherd's Bush Garden needleroll. It's so beautiful!

Also, she gave me two charts from my wishlist, yummy bath bubbles, chocolate, beautiful fabric bundles, and candles even! How fun is she?

Here is Jessie inhaling the soap she sent, it smelled like heaven. Mmmmm

Thank you Stephanie, you are wonderful!

I'll post about Marie's beautiful package tomorrow :D :D

And I had ordered some linens and threads from EHandcrafts, kind of a bonus huh? Gotta love more stash LOL!

Garden Exchange

I was lucky and got Judith's name for the SBEBB Garden Exchange :) I have been reading her blog for over a year and really enjoy the projects she makes, she loves to quilt too! I decided to stitch a Little House Needlework's chart for her called Plant Kindness. I finished it into a wallhanging. (my fave finish) and mailed it to her. I read on the exchange board she recieved it!

I worked on the Bent Creek Snapperville all weekend, I had fun with this one. Saturday and Sunday we stuck close to the house, so I was able to stitch on it for a long time. It was nice to relax for a few days.

LHN Pure in Heart

I finished the Pure in Heart! I think it is very sweet :) I have it in mind for a gift, but I am not telling :D

Little House Needleworks

Saltbox Threadpack: Pure in Heart

28 Count Sand Linen

I've been doing a little bit of stitching on Old McMary's. That barn is pretty dang big! I am stitching the outside, and then going back and filling it in while at work, it makes for easy stitching with no chart to follow :)


We don't have much planned for the upcoming weekend, the weather is supposed to get cold and rainy, opposite of last weekend. My skin is peeling from the sunburn I got. Weird Oregon weather.


Still working away at Star Lights quilt too, one row at a time :)

Meme

I saw this on Sweet Pea’s blog a few days ago...

1. How do you hold your fabric? In my hand, I kind of taught myself and never thought to use a Q-snap, so now that I’m so trained holding it my hand, I can’t use anything else.

2. Floss licker? Yes, it’s easier that way.

3. How do you thread your needle? Trim the end if necessary, lick the floss, and thread it through.

4. What needle do you like best? Don’t have a preference, as long as it’s not too sharp on the end.
5. Are you a needle loser? Not too bad, I usually keep a needle on every project I’ve got going. Otherwise I have a magnetic case for them to store in.

6. What fabric do you prefer to stitch on? 28 Count Linen or Evenweave. I like 32 count, but prefer 28, it’s just easier, I find I can stitch faster on it, and the thread lays better too.

7. Bobbins or floss bags? Bobbins

8. Are you a scissors collector? Not really, I do have several pairs now, my favorite are my Gingher scissors, they are so sharp.

9. Do you do your own framing, and if so, do you lace or pin? Lace it, that’s how I’ve learned to do it recently.

10. Are you a floss floozy? Mmmmm…. Floss. That’d be a yes.

11. Silk? I can’t afford silks much, I do have some, but not many.

12. Railroader? Nope.

13. Are you a pattern or designer snob? No, I do have some favorite designers, but if I like a pattern I’ll stitch it.

14. Do you get antsy when you give someone a stitched gift? No, because everybody likes what I make LOL!

15. Have you reached S.A.B.L.E.? I don’t understand this question.

16. Do you wash your projects? I NEVER have before. I do plan on washing The Four Seasons though. I don’t wash mostly because I use overdyed flosses now, and the fabrics I use are dyed too, so I get scared to dip it in water.

What is going on around here?

So many things to do… I am kind of at a stand still, because I have too many things to work on and I am not really sure which one needs my attention first. I wish I was one of those that could start something and not stop until it’s finished. I shouldn’t dwell on that because we all know that I can never be like that :) I’ve seen so many inspiring finishes lately!

Thee Handworks has just finished a beautiful quilt, I love it! AND she takes wonderful photos :)

Michelle at Cozy Egg finished her wedding quilt just in time for her anniversary… love the red and white!

Staci at Snippets and Stash has been stitching the cutest little birds, all free charts by the way. Yes, I saved them because I must stitch these!

Quite Quilted is celebrating her 200th post, and doing a giveaway for the cutest cards! Go check it out :)

I could go on and on really. I love everybody’s blogs. I’ve been bad about leaving comments lately, I feel rushed so much of the time.

I finished Flax Fields into a pinkeep (a big one) and bought a little plate stand for it to display on. I then wrapped it up and mailed it to my Great Aunt Phyllis. She has been through a lot lately with cancer, and is just getting home on her own. She is a light in my life that I love so much. I got off of the phone with her today and she just loved it. I am so happy that she does. I wish I lived closer to her, she’s in Utah. I would be visiting her often if I did. Her birthday is next week, so it was a welcome home gift and a birthday present all rolled into one :)
Here is a photo of us from Thanksgiving 2007. A few weeks before she had her surgery.
Other things I am working on right now… let me see…

I started LHN’s thread pack called “Blessed are the Pure in Heart”, and am close to having that done.
And I’ve been working on my Star Lights quilt. I’ve got 10 more rows to sew then I have to iron and sew the top together. I am loving this one so far! It has all of my favorite colors… red, blue, green… I am so predictable. I need to branch out of these colors a little, but I just can’t help it :)
I went ahead and ordered my QSnap quilt frame from JoAnn’s. I am looking forward to receiving it.

We had a great weekend, the weather was awesome! We went to Indian Beach and had a great time. And here's a photo of the crazy dog Sunny.

Happy Birthday Kids! and a small finish

It is my kid's birthday's. Yesterday Curren turned 7 years old!!!

Here's a then and now picture :D

And today Jessie turned 6 years old!!

And some more pictures.

They are so much fun, I love this age, it has been so fun. And for those of you wondering at the close birthdays... they are one year and one day apart :D

I also finished Flax Fields on Monday night. I love how it turned out. I think I'm going to attempt a pinkeep, the fabric you see by it is what I'll put on the back. I am pretty excited to try it out :)

Flax Fields & Baby Quilt WIP

WOW, thank you everybody for leaving such nice comments on The Four Seasons finish, you are all so great :D I am thrilled to be done with it.

I decided to start a smaller project called Flax Fields by Carriage House Samplings. I used the recommended DMC floss for this. It does call to use silk threads, but I about passed out at how much those cost, and for this small of a project I couldn't justify it LOL! So here is my progress so far...

And I started a baby quilt for my friend Lori. I made so many of these blocks, thinking it would be just enough, well it turned out to be too many, so I am making two of these now :D The blue and white fabric is from stash the yellow and green I bought for it. I'm going to sew a 2" border all of the way around and then tie it to finish it. I like the colors of it, it reminds me of a beach for some reason.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Thanks for taking the time to stop by :D

The Four Seasons is Complete!

So, I was actually shaking when I was putting the final stitches in this tonight. It is officially done! I started this at the end of 2001, and finished it 4/3/08. It took 6 years for me to finally complete it. I worked on this through the pregnancy of Jessie, on many drives to the beach, and in the summer times for those several years. It taught me a lot about stitching too, as this was one of the first projects I started working on when I was learning. I love this piece and can't wait to get it framed to hang in my house :D I began with the bunch of crocuses and ended with gourds :D

Marjolein Bastin

The Four Seasons

18" W x 22" T

stitched on Aida cloth with DMC floss

I also changed the words on this, it had Marjolein Bastin on the chart, but I changed it to say "Four Seasons" I thought it was more fitting for my tastes.

Now I can focus in on some other projects. :D I am so happy!!!!

Thanks for cheering me on.

Here's more photos of it! Lots to look at :)

I’ve been a busy bee working when I can on The Four Seasons. I got more leaves stitched, and the bowl started at the bottom.

Marie, here is the full shot of it that you wanted to see.

Last night I went to my LNS, Acorns and Threads for a “Stitch In”. I’ve never been to one, you just come with a project to work on from 5-8 pm. You can do some shopping while you are there too, so I did get a few things :) I had fun seeing what other people were working on, and they helped me by motivating me even further to get The Four Seasons done. One lady said she’d been working on a project for over 10 years, so my 7 year project didn’t seem too bad :)

March Review, April Goals

March review:
Put final border on pumpkin quilt, piece backing and mail to quilter *YES*
Mail Grandma’s Log Cabin to quilter *YES*
Work on Star Lights Quilt *YES*
Add border to Bent Creek Snappers *NO*
Stitch an ornament *NO*
Old McMary’s SAL *YES*
Snapperville SAL *YES*
Work on Garden Exchange *YES, Done*
Stitch Margaret’s NRR and mail to Von *YES*

April Goals:
Work on Star Lights Quilt
Work on two Carpenter Star Quilts
Add border to Bent Creek Snappers
Make a baby quilt for friend Lori
Old McMarys SAL
Snapperville SAL
Work on The Four Seasons, and try to finish it!

This month is busy, my kids' birthdays are next week, and mine is at the end of the month! :D

It's baaaack :)

I have pulled it out again! My last WIP photo of this was dated August of 2007... seriously how on earth did that much time go by since I've pulled this out???

It is my life long project, The Four Seasons (by Marjolein Bastin) it's very pretty and realistic, and that means it has lots of color changes :) We went on a weekend trip to Sunriver, Oregon. Which is about 4 hours from Portland. We had a wonderful weekend! We got to play in the snow, and in their indoor pool area. The kids sure loved it, and I liked getting out of the house for a few days. It was refreshing. Other than some awful white out conditions going over the pass, we had a great time :)

Back to The Four Seasons... I have very little left to do on it considering how huge this thing is. I stitched the little hedghog, the rectangle with the nuts in it, and the mushroom over the weekend. Still to stitch is a bowl of gourds and some leaves at the bottom of the mushroom and then... it'll be done :O I plan on working on it until it's done... so let's hope I can keep up my mojo and go for it!

Like the little train... I think I can, I think I can!!!

I’ve been so happy with a “prize” I won! I left a comment on Kendra’s blog (The Stitching Hour) for her blogaversary prize, I was a very lucky girl and won! She made me a pincushion with a log cabin design on it. It’s so ME, and it’s perfect. Thank you Kendra!

I finished stitching and finishing the upcoming exchange I am in last night. It is for the SBEBB Garden Exchange. I am really happy with how it came out, I wish I could mail it now, but will wait for a few weeks, we have until May 1st to mail it out. I like getting exchanges done early, because stitching is so time consuming, it stresses me out to wait until the deadline!

I’ve been working away at Old McMary’s when I get time. I have been bringing it to work with me, and filling in all of that red. I got the main body of the barn done, but still a lot more red to do :) It calls for Kreinik Green metallic thread for the interior of the windows. I just can’t bring myself to use metallic thread on this primitive design. So, I think I’ll use a dark green WDW floss to fill them in.

I kind of got off of my rotation on Bent Creek Snapperville because I was focused on that exchange piece. I was able to work on it for about an hour the other night though. Here is my progress on that.

I went and bought some three ring binders and page protectors. I am going to organize all of the ornaments and freebies charts that I have floating around all over my house, in the many “piles” of papers. I got several done last night, and I think it’ll help to have a central location for them :) I do scan most onto my computer and save them there, it’s so much easier for me to keep track of them that way. Plus, it lessens the paper problems I seem to have.

Another House built

I was able to finish Margaret’s NRR this week. I really like how it turned out, her neighborhood is so pretty. There are a lot of big houses on it :) Mine looks like the gazebo and garden to them LOL! I used the G is for Garden chart from Prairie Schooler. I had to laugh because Margaret just stitched this on Rowyn’s NRR this go round :D At least I know she likes the chart for sure :) I get Dani’s Fantasy NRR next, and I already have big plans for it, I am excited!

I’ve been working off and on stitching Old McMary’s still. Also I’ve been working on my Star Lights quilt. Last night I went to the church and we started our Carpenter Star Quilts. I was able to get a little bit done on one of them. It was fun seeing the fabrics everybody got to make their quilts, so many good ideas!

I really want to get a Q-Snap quilt frame. I am hoping to get one for my birthday next month. I have so many quilts I need to tie, and it’s a shame they sit unfinished in a box. This quilt frame appeals to me because it’s pretty small when it’s set up, and can be taken apart to store in a closet. I have 3 that need to be tied! My blue and yellow log cabin, my Holly Jolly Christmas quilt, and my Block of the Month quilt.

I was good this week, I finished the backing for my pumpkin quilt, and added on one more border to it. I got the pumpkin quilt and my grandma’s log cabin quilt off to the quilter’s house this week! I’ve been wanting to do this for a few MONTHS now, so it’s about time. Getting the NRR done was a big deal for me too. I’ve felt so swamped with things, it was a weight off of my chest to have these accomplished. :)

I am going to finish up my SBEBB Garden Exchange now, I only have a border stitched on it, so gotta get cracking! :) I am having a hard time staying on task. I think I need to make a list :D

Finish Garden Exchange by end of April
Work on Old McMary’s at least once a week
Work on Snapperville at least once a week
Work on The Four Seasons
Make baby quilt for friend Lori
Make baby quilt for friend Jennifer
Finish sewing squares on Star Lights Quilt

Why do my lists keep on getting longer???? Auggghhhhh!

The Four Seasons has been on my mind a lot lately, I think that means I need to stitch on it. I really don’t have much left on it… there are other commitments I have to make first though :)

Mark and I get to go on a date tonight! I am looking forward to it. We’ve both been so exhausted at night we just do our “chores” like feeding kids, cleaning house, chasing the dog, doing homework, laundry, running errands etc etc etc… and I feel like we haven’t even been able to talk much, so it will be a good night. I wish you all a Happy Easter this coming Sunday.

Be Mine Valentine

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone! You are all wearing green right?

I’ve been having trouble sitting down to write a post! I was able to have a small finish last week. I stitched Be Mine Valentine by Lizzie Kate. I loved this chart! I bought the flosses recommended for it too. The pink heart is my favorite part :) I stitched it on 25 count linen, and it’s a very pale pink color. I never know what to stitch on this pink fabric I have, so this was perfect for it. And I know it’s past Valentine’s Day, but hey, that is alright! :D I think I’ll finish this into a pinkeep.

I’ve been busy getting ready for the upcoming quilt class for church this Thursday. We are making Carpenter Star Quilts (pattern by Calico Carriage). Here are two I’ve made already.

I have two more kitted up (have had them kitted up for a long time now)! I ironed, and cut the two out in preparation for the class. Colleen and I are teaching it. I should say mostly Colleen teaches and I assist :) I am excited to see how many different quilts will be made from this pattern. For those of you just learning to quilt, I highly recommend this pattern, it is very simple, and nice looking! Quite a few people signed up to make this quilt so we should have a big group.

I spent a lot of Saturday finishing a few things up. I had made a pillow and needed to make one more in order to mail it to my parents, and I got that all done, then I finished making a dowel rod for my mother in law’s (very belated) birthday gift. I also did some cleaning and organizing of my fabric. It seems I am always doing that, but it feels good to get some things cleaned up. I don’t feel so cluttered that way.

Also, I’ve been busy stitching on Margaret’s NRR. It is turning out really nice. I am stitching “G is for Garden” by Prairie Schooler on it. I will post photos when I’m done because I am getting close now. I am listening to the book The Streets of Laredo as I stitch this, it’s really good. Sometimes I feel like I am wandering in the plains of Texas instead of stitching LOL!

I hope you all had a nice weekend, it’s a dreary Monday, but I am not complaining. Have a great week.

Two finishes

Oh this weekend has been fun :) Well, as fun as it can get with a lot of laundry and cleaning to do! So, last Sunday I started making a baby quilt for a friend of mine who's having a baby girl. I had received the invite to her baby shower last Sunday, and thought, I must make her a quilt! Well, I used the Strip Twist pattern from Quiltville. I've been wanting to use one of Bonnie's patterns for a long time. I just love her website :D

So, I got the top blocks pieced last Sunday, and then got up early this Saturday to finish the quilt because the shower was that afternoon. I finished it 30 minutes before the shower. I then called the host of the shower to get directions and found out that, the shower is NEXT Saturday. Boy did I feel silly! At least I got her present done in time right? *wink*

The quilt is made completely from my stash! :D




Then I started and finished this little ornament in two days. I have loved this pattern since I saw it in the JCS 2007 Ornament magazine. It is called "fill with love" as you can tell :) I like how realistic it looks. I am not sure how I'll finish it yet.





I've been craving lasagna, and last summer I made the best lasagna EVER, and I'm making it again tonight! We invited friends over to help us eat it all :) If you love lasagna you must try this recipe out. It is from The Pioneer Woman, and she gives great instructions for the cooking challenged (ME). I've tried several of her recipes and they've all been good :D