Cannon Beach and Old McMary's

Well, I have been making good progress on the Cannon Beach piece. I really like stitching this one so far, it's fun! I have changed the color of the kid's hair, to blonde! Like my kids :D Other than that I have kept it all the same.

Then, I started Old McMary's by The Workbasket. There are several things about this chart I don't like. They call for 3 kinds of Kreinik metallic thread, on a sampler like this??? I just don't see that looking right at all. So, when I get to those colors I'll find some hand dyed threads to use instead of the metallic. Here is my progress from last night on it. :D So far so good!

I hope all is well for everyone! Thanks for your comments on my Be Happy finish! You are so sweet.

Stash... mmmmm....

Today I was able to get to my LNS. I bought some threads for the Little House Needlework chart, Forest Snowfall. I also bought a few charts. I got the new chart from Hillside Samplings called Bittersweet Farm. I thought it was so cute. I love the fall charts with pumpkins and orange warm colors. I also got the JBW Charts of the Rooster and Pumpkin. The apple was so fun to stitch, I thought these others would be nice to do.

I then headed to JoAnn's and got a styrofoam cube, and made this! I love the way it turned out. I'll make more of these for sure. It was really easy :D

I found this for $10 as well, it's a Dimension's Gold Kit called Cozy Cove. I really like this one a lot, and have never seen it before. I'm going to stitch this some day. Not sure when... but someday! :D LOL!!

Carol, you don't have to be in any hurry for the PIF! :D You are so cute. I still have 3 more to make, I am behind if anyone is :D :D Thanks for all of your comments everyone, you are SO encouraging. And your posts really keep me motivated.

Yes another PIF! From Cindy

3 awesome PIF's this week, wow. Cindy outdid herself on this adorable fob! She said it's a house from the Drawn Thread Game Board in honor of our neighborhood RR we'll be starting soon. So sweet! Thank you Cindy I love it :D



I finally can show you something I am making, seriously everything I am doing right now is a secret! So, this is the Cannon Beach chart, I got most of the border done and started the clouds. It's not very big, so I don't think it'll take me too long. I really like it so far! The pattern is on the bottom right of the picture there... just in case you wanted to know what it'll look like!

Another PIF Recieved from Cathy

I am such a lucky girl, really I am. I signed up with Cathy for a PIF, and wow. She did an amazing hardanger piece for me. It's really a nice color of peach. I don't know if you can tell from the pic, it looks pink in the pic to me. I am just in love with it. I have no clue how to do hardanger, I mean look at it, it looks so hard! :O Cathy, thank you so much! Also, she sent me the LHN Cherries thread pack, I almost bought it the other day, she must have been reading my mind :D



I had just started my blog when the PIF was circulating in the fall. I have met so many nice people through this, I just love the concept of PIF. I have 3 more to do before the year ends. I have been thinking about all of them, now that I know everyone better. I can't wait to get going on them.

Tomorrow night is the quilting class at my church, it should be fun. I like getting together with everyone to talk about our projects.

On the March BC snapper, you are right! He's standing on the other foot! I have seen weather-vanes where they have one foot in front and one in back, like they are running. So, I thought my chicken needed a leg in front. Obviously not, unless he's a mutant chicken with 3 legs :P

Two Finishes :)

Well, I got two of my goals finished today. I finished March for the Bent Creek snappers: I think the chicken needs a foot in front of it too, not just the one in the back. I might add that. What do you think??

On our way to the beach yesterday I started this ornament, and finished the stitching on it today. These are so fast to stitch, I like that they're a set. I didn't buy the horn charm for this one, I stitched him one, like I did on the one from last month. Can't stand to spend $12 on them! I can buy more stash for sure!

Now I have to start planning my kid's birthdays, they are April 8th and 9th! Only a year and a day apart. They'll be 5 & 6. They are growing up too fast. :D Here's a pic of them yesterday at the beach. Little bugs... We got Curren a new wetsuit (early) for his birthday present yesterday, he was excited. Jessie fits in the one he currently had. The ocean here is cold year round, so a full body wetsuit and booties is a must for them. We are at the beach all of the time, so we all need to be suited up!

Amazing PIF

Hi there! I am so happy :D I just received a beautiful PIF gift from Katrina today. It is amazing. It's a really pretty FOB stitched all over one, WOW. Here it is:

the front

the back

the whole package. She sent some pretty fat quarter, scissors to go with the fob, and some mints.
Today we went to Cannon Beach and played, it was so fun. I even got brave and went boogie boarding. I was so glad I did, I am tired now! I am 1/2 way done with my March BC snapper, and my Shepherd's Bush ornament. So, pics will be coming in the next few days of those. I just had to show you this wonderful gift.

Thank you everyone for your kind comments on the Spring Cottage I did, you are so great!

Jayne's Attic RR

Hi there, I have not fallen off of the face of the earth, I promise :D Life got quite busy, and I have been lacking in the blogging department!

Last Thursday was another big church meeting/dinner/program I had to put on. About 50 people showed up, and it turned out so nice! I am relieved it’s over, but had a wonderful time putting it together. Now, the next one isn’t until July, so I can relax for a few months.

About 90% of the stitching I am doing is for exchanges/gifts etc. So I can’t hardly show anything of what I am working on :( That is another reason for lack of blogging. But, I do have a few things I can show now.

I finished my first part of the Jayne’s Attic RR. This is the Spring Snapperville. She has it divided up into 5 parts, I like her idea a lot. I stitched the Spring Cottage for this RR. She had all hand dyed threads for it, and it looks so nice. My stitching is not a good as hers is, I can’t believe how perfect hers looks! :O I have a lot to learn still I see. But, I think it turned out nice. I really enjoyed stitching this one. I’ll be mailing this off to Iceland this week.

I worked on my Mermaids for a bit, and did some beading, so here’s the progress on them. I am slogging through it, I won’t give up! :D

I have lots to do, I still have to stitch an ornament, and the March monthly snapper. I have started the Cannon Beach chart as well. Not much on it yet though. I had bought some blue/sky looking fabric from Carol a few months back that goes perfectly with it. I can’t wait to get more done on it.

Spring has arrived! Here are some pictures of the kids and I last night :D

February Review, March Goals

My February Goals

To do for February:
1. Finish the top of Jessie’s Horse Quilt (just need to add a border) *done 2-5-07*
2. Begin the Trip Around the World Quilt for my cousin *bought materials, and mapped out the pattern, but haven’t started it yet*
3. Finish Bent Creek: February Snapper *done one 2-15-07*
4. Jayne’s Attic RR: Finish my 1st part, and mail it to Iceland by the 19th, begin on the one coming in :) –*finished stitching mine on 2/8, waiting to receive the next one still*
5. Work on the Mermaids of the Deep Blue, so I can keep up with Cindy :) *worked on them for a few hours, but totally didn’t keep up with Cindy*
6. Find design for USEBB Quaker Exchange and get materials for it. *found design and bought materials! 2/3/07, it is now finished too!!!!*
7. Find a ornament and finish it for the ornament SAL. *stitched Shepherd’s Bush, 2000 Years Ago*
8. Make 3 blocks for Birthday block exchange *all done!*

Things I did outside of my goals:*started and finished Trip Around the World wall hanging 2-10 to 2-14*
*finished the Shepherd’s Bush: Beehive needleroll*
*finished The Knotted Tree: Little Acorn*
*started the Blue/Yellow Log Cabin Quilt*
*started a gift for a friend*
*finished the USEBB Spring Quaker Exchange*

I was surprised at how well setting these goals kept me on track. Also, I did get several other things done. Another productive month, go me! The only thing I did lousy on was I let Cindy pass me up, she finished her Mermaids, which is so awesome! :) I am getting close, I can feel it! You know, if I hadn’t done a million other things those mermaids could be done, but I just wasn’t feeling it.

Now, my March goals:

Begin working on my cousin’s quilt, get all of the squares cut out at least.
Make one Birthday Block this month
Stitch one of the Shepherd’s Bush ornaments for the SAL
Finish the Jayne’s Attic RR and mail it by the 19th of this month.
Finish Jessie’s Horse Quilt completely, piece backing and quilt it!
Work on Mermaids at least once a week.
Work on Gift for my friend
Start an exchange (I have everything, just need to start it!)
Stitch Bent Creek : March Snapper

Watermelons

I have been out of touch the past few days, I need to play catch up on reading all of your blogs! My husband was out of town, and finally came home (for work), so I’ve been spending lots of time with him in the evenings, instead of ignoring cross stitching all night! LOL :D He calls it ignoring, if I do it too often.

I have a small finish, it seems that everybody is making these Little House Needlework charts. I just love them, and you get all of that great floss with them. So here is mine: Watermelon. I scanned it crooked, oh well :P You get the idea. I was thinking of making several of them and doing some sort of wall hanging with them, I think that’d be cute. We shall see what others they come out with this year.

I still haven’t received my RR from Jayne’s attic. It got mailed a bit late I think, but I wish I had it, so I can start stitching on it, since it has to be mailed again on March 19th. Hopefully it’ll be in my mailbox when I get home.

I’ve been reading quite a bit, last month I read How to Make an American Quilt, and then I read The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (the 1st of a series called the Wheel of Time) I’ve read this huge series once, and I just LOVE it, so it was fun reading the beginning again. I have now picked up The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. It’s a fantastic book so far. I plan on reading The Count of Monte Cristo after I am done with Musketeers. Can’t wait!

The weather here has been so weird, it’s cold, raining, snowing, sunny, windy… all in one day. I am glad I have a desk job, with a little heater at my feet. Makes life easier I think!

February Ornament :D

I finished my ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL this morning. I started it last night. I just love Shepherd's Bush (as if you couldn't tell) there are 6 in this series, and I just have to have them all. The SAL gives me a good push to do that! So, here is Shepherd's Bush: 2000 Year Ago. They have silver charms to go with these, but at $12 a piece I am not even going to buy them. This one had a shepherd's staff, so a brown stitched one he gets :D

I took more fancy pictures! It's nice on the weekends, I am home during the day when the sun is out, I can take pretty pics!

I have been working on my Mermaids, the weekends is when I do. So, I actually have some progress on them, woo! No pictures yet, but I will next week :D

Needleroll and quilt

What a lazy Saturday, it's great! It is 11:20 and I'm still in my pajamas. I have the right to do this on occassion :D So, last night I stayed up until 1:00 am and worked on some exchanges and gifts, I wish I could show you, but it'll have to wait.

This morning I rolled out of bed and started working on my blue and yellow log cabin quilt. I thought I'd have enough yellow, but I won't. So, I'll have to go get a few more fat quarters to finish off the yellow, only two more strips per block, but they are the long strips and there are 90 blocks :D

I officially finished my first needleroll, it was fun! I want to make more. I need to get a small basket to put all of these little things in. Didn't it turn out cute? I even tried some fancy camera work... let me know if you approve!

I ordered some fabric from Silkweaver, my stash was dwindling, I like having it on hand for when I have the need to start a new project right at that very moment, here is what I got. I love it. I like the sand linen I got, I am thinking I'll use that for the Neighborhood RR coming up this summer. I hear my Jayne's Attic RR arrived in Iceland safe and sound, I am now waiting to receive the one I am supposed to stitch on, I am excited!

I've been sewing at the kitchen table, and I keep smelling this lovely hyacinth. Mark's aunt gave it to us, it's in a little glass vase, it reminds me of spring! All of my daffodils and bulb flowers are shooting up, the daffodils will bloom in the next week or two. They are a bit early this year! Almost a whole month early.

Have a lovely Saturday everyone! And thank you so much for your kind comments you have left, and welcome to all of you who are new, don't be shy! :D

A few things to share

Well, I've done it again, started yet another quilt... this one is a log cabin quilt. I am making 90 blue and yellow blocks. I am 1/2 way done with them. I have two more rows to sew around the blocks to finish them off. I love this color combination. I had a ton of yellow/blue scraps so those are getting used up.

Then, I finished the stitching for the Shepherd's Bush needleroll. I just need to finish it into a needleroll now. I like it a lot, the pattern was very cute. And the specialty stitches were fun to learn.

Then, I finished this little one. It's called Little Acorn by The Knotted Tree. This was the kit they handed out at the Acorns and Threads night. I like it okay, it was fun to stitch though :D Also, I received my first pair of Gingher scissors :D They are the Alyssa model. I love them. So pretty.

And I leave you with a drawing my son did of himself. I think it's adorable. The house by him "has Christmas lights on it, and he's happy to see the sun." as described by Curren.

The letter Y

A fun alphabet game, I was given the letter Y by Barbara :D
The Letter Y

Yardwork: I just worked in my yard for a few hours on Saturday and really enjoyed it. I love to garden, it’s so rewarding.

Yellow: Such a cheery color! I am making a yellow and blue quilt right now actually :D

Young: I am still young, but feel old… but I have little young ones at home, and they are what life is all about, being young and happy.

Yelling: There is a time and place for it, like a sports game… not like when your daughter spills a full glass of chocolate milk on the carpet.

Yikes: As in Britney Spears… LOL!

Year: So much can happen, and summing up into a year is so hard. And what happened to the year of 2006? I am still trying to figure that one out.

Yawn: What I can’t seem to stop doing today.

Yards: As in yards of fabric, I love fabric *sigh* (yards and yardwork are not the same!)

Yak: This was my first word, or so says my mom. :D

Yoga: A type of exercise… which isn’t in my vocabulary… and is really difficult (for the clumsy me)

If you want a letter just let me know :D

A post is coming tonight, new projects and a finish woohoo!

February Snapper done :)

Hi there :D I saw about 3 other people had just completed their February snapper as well! Here is mine:

Also, today there was a sale at Sharon's Attic, a local quilt shop, 25 fat quarters for $25.00! Woohooo! So here is what I bought:

The green and pink fabrics on the bottom left will be for my cousin, she just had a baby girl this week, so of course she earns a quilt. :)

My neighbor is going out of town, so she couldn't go, so she gave me $25 to go and get her some too :D Stash shopping for my neighbor too? Cool!

I've been working on my Mermaid's just a little bit. I have decided I just don't like beading. It's tedious for me. So, I keep putting them off. I have decided I'll work on them at least once a week no matter what, and I will get them done! Cindy just finished hers and they are GORGEOUS!

So, no pictures today. I have been steadily working on a few things, but none of it is picture worthy yet :)

I am ½ way done with my February block for the Bent Creek Snappers. It is looking cute. And I have been working on my little wall hanging. I came home last night, and found a package, it was the walking foot I ordered for my sewing machine! I got it installed and made sure it worked. I get to try it out tonight. Cool :D

I don’t have the gusto to work late into the night like I did back in January. I think I wore myself out :) I do have a lot of projects that need some attention. I am going to not start any quilts until I get some things finished up. (I hope anyway) I am so impulsive, it’s hard to say that and stick to it!

Can you believe the month is already ½ way over? What the heck, time just slips through my fingers. I can’t keep up.

Happy Valentine's Day :)

I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you can spend time with your loved ones today!

(this was brought home from my son, one of his classmates made it, I think it’s awesome!)

5 Questions

I am feeling brave and following in Jenna’s footsteps with this one.

Anyone may ask me five questions. They can touch on any subject and while I might have to think about them for a bit, I will try to answer every question that is asked of me. Just leave a comment to this post with your 5 questions.

This should be an interesting exercise. You’ll learn more about me and I will learn a little about you, based on the questions that you ask me.

Fire away!

Using Fusible Gridding

Here is how I would define fusible gridding (for those of you who aren’t sure?) I wasn’t a few months ago!

It’s fusible interfacing, the interfacing has a grid, which you can buy in sizes I think up to 3” x 3”. This gives you a template to lay out your quilt squares on. I used 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” gridding for mine. So I cut out my 1-1/2” squares and layed them out how I wanted them (in the trip around the world pattern) and then ironed them to the gridding, so they were stuck on there completely. Then I folded my fabric top to top, and sewed down ¼” seams one direction on each of the lines. When I completed all of one direction, I snipped the corners ¼” all of the way down each line, and then folded it top to top going the other direction. (the cutting of the corners makes it so your fabric will fold the other direction) Then I was done! You leave the fusible interfacing on the fabric, it does not come off. So, the quilt is a little bulky, but I am told over time, with washing it’ll loosen up and not be so stiff and heavy. Does this make sense? The best part of it is, it goes very fast. And your corners are perfect! Woohoo!

I was glad I did a test run with this interfacing before tackling the queen size quilt I plan to use it with. I got used to it, and decided to cut it into sections to make it easier to handle. The only hard part of it was transferring it from the kitchen table where I had it layed out, to the ironing board. I didn’t want to mess up my little squares.

I found out about this at a quilt shop where a lady makes watercolor quilts, and they were so stunning. I asked her how she did it, and did it take forever? She was so happy to tell me about the gridding, very good tip :) I hope some of you try it out, I’d love to see what you make!

Added the border

I added the border to the wall hanging quilt. I've really enjoyed this. I think I'll have to make some more wall hangings in the near future. It was fun! Thanks for your comments on it, you guys are all so nice :D

New quilt to hang :)

I tried something new today, fusible gridding, and it was quite nice! I wanted to do a "test" run on something small. My trip around the world quilt I am planning will be used with the fusible gridding, but it'll be a queen size, this is a wall hanging I came up with today with batik fabric from my stash. I love it yay!

The squares are 1" x 1" so it's small. I have a model for you below showing it off :D

I'll get a border on it in the next few days or so and finish it off, and hang it above my bed. Woohoo for small projects :) Hope you are having a great weekend!