Wednesday Already?

Last week Jean was here for a visit........  How wonderful it is to have someone to talk quilting with.......

We sat and talked and worked on needlepoint and ate and shopped......

When she left the studio had collected quite a bit of  "I will put this away later" items.....

The temps are in the mid nineties this week so it is a good week to stay in..........  We took Marilyn to PT on Monday......  Her broken leg is healing well...........so it was yesterday before I got into the studio.

As you can see it is full to overflowing with projects........  Everytime I go upstairs I see One More Thing that I simply must do NOW..........



The idea now is to finish what is in the studio at this moment before I start anything else......  Yes, I am laughing while I make that statement.......

If you wonder why there is an empty bird seed bag in the studio it is because I found out on Pinterest that you can make nifty shopping bags from them.......  I have one in my closet now that I drop items in to give away to Goodwill..........

Kim asked Sunday if I would have her pillow shams finished soon.......... 

Yesterday I  layered Rebekah's patriotic wall hanging and got it ready to quilt.... I also brought downstairs the flag placemats I stitched in 2011.....  They need to be quilted........

I did get the cutting table cleared so the games can begin..............

Design Wall Tuesday

Yes, I know we are supposed to do this on Monday but well Monday got away from me........

Last week, anticipating a guest for the coming week I procrastinated the house blessing till Saturday.  (She was to arrive on Sunday).......Then Saturday I decided to assemble the Memorial Day hanging I found at The Olde World Quilt Shop..........  You can find the instructions HERE........See blogging can get you in trouble..........  Well, as usual I need to make two.....  One for me and one for Rebekah...........  Hers is partially assembled and mine is all cut out.......  Could I finish them for July fourth?  Maybe 2015?

Easy to put together and well written instructions............

For more things to get you off the well worn path go to Patchwork Times and see the fruit of the labors of other.....HERE

On the Needles Friday

As usual I am running a bit behind...............

Week before last we went for a visit to Happy's and bought a couple of lightweight burnout fabrics for church........  I have a top to go under one of them but needed something blue for the second one.....

 A bit of looking around online and I found  a great pattern and this silk and bamboo on sale at Joann Fabrics........  It came in Tuesday and I got started right away........  No seams... seemed easy......  I did not count on the increasing on the yoke and every row has to be counted.........  I finally got to a place where I could just knit 4 rows..........  Now I have a stitch to many so I must tink till I find the error......  Normally I would put this aside and move on but I am going to finish this top if at all possible.....

I have also knit 3 more scarves for Beverly......  Now I have all six of hers done and last night I started on another one for Kate...........

Other knitters eye candy can be seen at Patchwork Times HERE

Design Wall Monday

I realize that this is not a quilt but it is the project that has my attention right now..........

I started this years ago and this year I want to finish it..........  I have a place in the living room to hang it....

This is the picture on May 5th.........  One angel was finished except for the backstitch........

This is what I have accomplished in the month of May............  Still a long way to go.........

For more eye candy go to Patchwork Times and see what others are doing.......HERE

This Past Week

We started the week by picking up my Wedding Sampler from the framers.....

It looks so much better in real life.........  I am so delighted with it and it is hanging in the dining room....

I got a bit of knitting done in odd moments......  Not sure what I am going to do with these caps....  Anyone out there know who I can give them to?

On Wednesday when Lem and I went to Greenville for physical therapy we stopped to get the column I wanted from A C Moore........... 

I think I will look into some of the granite paint for it..........  It fits and fills that spot perfectly.....

I have also been working in the attic for a couple of hours each morning......... I hope to have it organized on day this year............

I am also working on the Nativity each day............

A little here, a little there and soon you are done..........

Design Wall Monday

I am trying to clear out some almost finished things in the studio.......  I came across this dress that just needed the hand work so Saturday I finished it up..........Complete with a covered hanger and a stuffed kitty...

I just found out that a friend has a granddaughter and this is the perfect gift for her.

I saw something on Pinterest about making bags our of feed bags and such........  Lem emptied this bird seed bag on Saturday and this morning I made a tote from it.........  Only took about 30 minutes.....  I plan to put it in our closet and use it to hold things I am going to give away..............  When it is full I can drop bag and all off at Salvation Army............

Now head over to Patchwork times to see what else is happening............HERE

On the Needles Friday

Now that Jean's sweater is finished I began to finish up a few more things.......  Three scarves for Kate, two hats for Jean and seven hats for the preemie unit at the hospital. I need to pick up some ribbon today for the baby hats and then I can pass them along on Tuesday..........

To see what others are working on go to Patchwork Times..... HERE..............

Nativity Progress

One angel done but no backstitching done yet..........  I want to finish the other angel and then backstitch them at the same time............

All set up for tomorrow's stitching.........  I try to work on this for at least one hour each morning......

I already have the frame set for this piece and I have selected where I want to hang it.........Just need to stay with it till it is done........

Design Wall Monday

 This week I have a "Design Table"...............

I found these fabrics in the attic and wanted some spring placemats......I even made hemstitched napkins to match...............  I have one more set cut out and ready to stitch but after that I plan to alter the placemats to fit my round table.................

Take a look at Patchwork Times for more inspiration from all over..........HERE

On the Needles Friday

On Friday Judy at Patchwork times hosts On the Needles.......... HERE A great place to see what others are doing and get even more ideas for things to knit.............

 At last I have finished the sweater for my dear sister..........  She and her husband came for a few days and we had a wonderful time..........  We even shopped for buttons for this sweater................

I got them sewn on and it was all ready to wear...........  I think I want one too...... We shall see.......   I have about 2 dozen more ruffle scarves to make and some yarn to use up making hats for adults and babies.....

Maybe I will even have more knitting done by next Friday.......

On The Needles Friday

Judy at Patchwork Times HERE hosts On The Needles Friday each week.  Be aware that you will see just one more thing that you really want to do..........

I am showing progress on Jean's sweater........... All that is left is the neck ribbing, the button band, and sewing the side and sleeve seams.............  I can see this ready to give to her when they come to visit....

Blocking Jean's Sweater

All the parts have been completed and the sweater is drying in the sun...............

Then I can sew the parts together and add the finishing touches..........  It will be so good to finish this for a very special sister......

Last night I finished the last of the scarves Cassie brought me yarn to make and began working on the six scarves I am making for Kate.......

Many years ago I started the Mar Bek Nativity...........  It is such a large piece and often got pushed to the side for other things more urgent........  Then I started quilting and it really got put behind...........

I decided last week that I would work on it for an hour each morning..........  

I have all the things I need even the frame that was designed for it.............

As you can see the star is coming along and one angel is begun..................

Lets see what I can do in a week.............

Oh Happy Day...................

Lem and I are celebrating our "50"th anniversary today............

We are celebrating by staying at home and enjoying each others company......

Now for an update on last week.................

I have had this pattern for some time...  You can enlarge the picture and see where it came from.

I have been wanting to make these bunnies and have a basket full of them one year.....  This is the year.....

I went through my fat quarters, selected my fabric and made a template of the rabbit.....  Cut them out and sewed them together.........

This little bunny sat and waited while I found eyes for everyone........

I will confess that one of the most fun parts was searching through the buttons for just the right ones......



 

I should have them arranged soon............

Design Wall Monday

Another top done.....  I have been sewing during the odd moments I could find and I have finally finished another top...........  This is for the Guild Challenge.......  Now my challenge is to get this top and the one I finished last quilted........  I am going to attempt to use my sewing machine for these projects.....

I will be basting them using the Sharon Schamber method using two boards....  You can find a video of that method HERE...........

If you have not looked at that video you will find it shows you how to baste any size quilt alone.........  I have used it on several quilts and I am quite pleased with the results..........

Jason has gotten the boards for me and I have cleared a table upstairs........  Now all I need is the time to get this done..........

Several things on the agenda keep me from working in the studio very much but maybe next week.......

Lots of other ideas and eye candy are at Patchwork Times HERE

A Few Weeks Ago

Well, really over a month ago I had my sisters-in-law over for lunch one Saturday............

That same evening a group of neighbors came over for refreshments that afternoon......  Two events in one day means less time for me to stress about how the house looks..........

For luncheon we had a Greek Salad followed by Zuppa Toscana..........Hot Rolls and lots of talk......

That evening we had fruit and cheese and crackers and I made two pecan chocolate pretzel pies that were on the cover of Woman's Day several months ago................

I am trying to do better at posting but when I turn on the computer I find that time goes much faster and before I realize it an hour or two has passed.......... 

Right now I had better get back to sewing...............

Design Wall Monday

Each year my Guild has a challenge for everyone.........  This is the challenge for 2014.........  Those that participate will have their quilt ready to show at the Christmas Party...........

This is the book the challenge is taken from............  I am so glad to have this book because it has so many quick but attractive quilts to make........

Garden Magic is the one we are asked to make..........

A trip upstairs and I found fabric that I felt was just the right thing........  Now I will have something else on the design wall next week..............Go to Patchwork Times........HERE.........  for more eye candy...

The first sleeve is moving along..........  It appears that I might actually get this sweater finished this year..........

Next week I will need to stop to get ready to demonstrate a placemat pattern for the Guild........

Busy days ahead...............Other people have been plying their needle..........  Go to Patchwork Times HERE to see what they have done.........

What Grandfathers Are For............

 Jason stopped by Saturday to help me with a few things............... Andrew was with him......  Andrew was his helper that day.....  They took a break and played for awhile............

How grand it is to watch the together...............

Valentine...........

Yes, it is a little late for this post...........  Since all of the decorations have been put away and Easter is out I thought I would post it now...........

No, the table runner has not been layered and quilted........  Rome wasn't built in a day........  and I surely never get much done in a day............

The small quilt is from Temecula Quilt Company...........  They have a monthly small quilt plan and I got this one put together in time for Valentines........  The same Roman rule applies to this one......  Maybe they will both be finished next year.....  One can only hope...................

A touch of red and white on the table ..............

The Red Teddy Bear from Marilyn..............

The doll holding a small stuffed heart................

Valentines in the plants.............

And a wreath on the cabinet door....................

Just a few things that take no time to put out but add the right touch.........  And if fulfills the need I have to rearrange without moving the furniture................

Design Wall Monday

I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get this quilt top finished...............

At last it is done.........  Now to go upstairs for the backing and get that prepared for the next step of layering.  I am going to try to quilt this one myself using my new table...............

I also found a kit for a doll blanket that I had purchased over a decade ago..........  It is now a top and will await the next step toward finishing.............

Many more exciting things are being shared at Patchwork Times go HERE...................

I am behind in my emails and I hope to be able to answer them some time this week.............Thanks for your understanding.