FRIDAY MARCH 29th
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Stitch Me Up Blog Hop - My Turn!
Today's the day I get to show you the embroidery projects I made for this hop - since embroidery is one of my very favorite things to do I made three things but I'm going to show one or two extras. Just one or two, promise.
I have to say first that I just fell in love with the Wee Tots that Madame Samm designed. Oh my goodness aren't they sweet? I stitched two of those.....one of them is now on a baby burp pad (wouldn't this be a great present with the sweet bunny?) I used Finca thread and the stem stitch on the first three projects.
And the other is on a tea towel for my kitchen.....
And as much as I enjoyed making these two things I think I loved this more....
I first embroidered the cottage in brown and then fused snippets of green for leaves and pink for azalea petals. Then I quilted over the snippets. And finally made it into a pillow with green polka dot ribbon trim. So spring like!
This picture was taken inside but eventually it will reside on this rustic church pew in my front courtyard...
Another embroidery project I've been working on and finished just this week....
I used Valdani threads for this one with wool applique using a blanket stitch. The embroidery stitch on the words and letters is the back stitch. The willow leaves are (I think) the daisy stitch. I'm not sure how I want to finish this - I could frame it or make it into a pillow I guess. Any suggestions?
And you can tell by the picture below that redwork embroidery takes a prominent place in my bedroom! I use Finca thread for all of my redwork.
Here are a couple of closeups -
I have more redwork in this bedroom - several wallhangings - but I think it's time I close this post!
Many thanks to Madame Samm for this hop....clearly embroidery is one of my favorites...and to Jane for coordinating it for us. Please be sure to visit the other hoppers today!
THURSDAY March 21st
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
An Organized Pantry
I'm visiting my sister for a few days during my spring break. Yesterday, National Quilting Day, we got a manicure, visited the local quilt shop (Specialty Quilts), had lunch at Panera Bread, and shopped at Weaver's Market (Amish Store)
and Morgan County Seeds (also Amish).
I bought all kinds of things - herbs, several varieties of beans, seeds, new small yard tools. Oh, and some fabric too. :)
Today we spent some time cleaning and organizing her pantry. It doesn't look exactly like this picture, which I found on Google images, but close!
I'm not sure what we'll do tomorrow but I think a little shopping might be on the agenda again!
and Morgan County Seeds (also Amish).
I bought all kinds of things - herbs, several varieties of beans, seeds, new small yard tools. Oh, and some fabric too. :)
Today we spent some time cleaning and organizing her pantry. It doesn't look exactly like this picture, which I found on Google images, but close!
I'm not sure what we'll do tomorrow but I think a little shopping might be on the agenda again!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Friends
Friends are a great gift from God. I know you know that already but I just wanted to remind you. :) Recently my friend Debby had a birthday. I only met her this year when I went back to work and I immediately loved her and knew that we would always be friends. Oh I know when I quit working in June I won't see her as much but it won't change how I feel. I love it when God sends people into my life that just fit right into my heart. For her birthday I made her this table runner:
I loved the sweet pastels of this charm pack (sorry I don't remember the name of the fabric line) and it just sings spring to me.
Another friend who was gifted to me is Betty. When I moved into this neighborhood I was introduced to Betty by another friend who said, "You have to meet Betty - she's a quilter too." Quilting just binds women together, don't you think? We became very good friends and have not only traveled back and forth to quilt guild meetings together, but have also been roommates a couple of years at the retreats. A couple of years after we met her husband was talking to me about where I grew up and we discovered that when I was 9 years old and they were newlyweds they lived next door to me! Today Betty's beloved husband, Ross, who made that discovery for us, passed away after a brief illness. My heart hurts for my friend.
I still have high school friends who come to my house for a weekend every year - the class of 1964! Oh the laughter we share when we're all here talking about who dated who, what music we played and loved, and the many secrets we share from "back in the day."
I have quilt guild friends who stitch with me and church friends who worship and study with me and blog friends who have stolen my heart and who inspire me to stitch more and to be more creative. I have friends who are the parents of my children's friends and friends I've met in various women's groups and friends who started out as friends of my sister and gradually became my friend too.
Why in the world am I saying all this? I'm not sure except I'm very sure that I'm being led to to do so. Someone out there needs to hear this: right now, right this minute, think about all those women who have touched your heart over the years and how they've changed you and made you a better woman. Call one or two of them this week and tell them how much they mean to you. You'll be glad you did...too often we leave the words unspoken until it is too late.
I loved the sweet pastels of this charm pack (sorry I don't remember the name of the fabric line) and it just sings spring to me.
Another friend who was gifted to me is Betty. When I moved into this neighborhood I was introduced to Betty by another friend who said, "You have to meet Betty - she's a quilter too." Quilting just binds women together, don't you think? We became very good friends and have not only traveled back and forth to quilt guild meetings together, but have also been roommates a couple of years at the retreats. A couple of years after we met her husband was talking to me about where I grew up and we discovered that when I was 9 years old and they were newlyweds they lived next door to me! Today Betty's beloved husband, Ross, who made that discovery for us, passed away after a brief illness. My heart hurts for my friend.
I still have high school friends who come to my house for a weekend every year - the class of 1964! Oh the laughter we share when we're all here talking about who dated who, what music we played and loved, and the many secrets we share from "back in the day."
I have quilt guild friends who stitch with me and church friends who worship and study with me and blog friends who have stolen my heart and who inspire me to stitch more and to be more creative. I have friends who are the parents of my children's friends and friends I've met in various women's groups and friends who started out as friends of my sister and gradually became my friend too.
Why in the world am I saying all this? I'm not sure except I'm very sure that I'm being led to to do so. Someone out there needs to hear this: right now, right this minute, think about all those women who have touched your heart over the years and how they've changed you and made you a better woman. Call one or two of them this week and tell them how much they mean to you. You'll be glad you did...too often we leave the words unspoken until it is too late.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
You Thought I Forgot The Giveaway Again....Didn't You?
But I didn't. :) I went shopping yesterday and this is what I chose:
What gorgeous colors in this Moda jelly roll! It's called Cinnamon Spice by Blackbird Designs. I wanted it. But they only had one so I got it for the winner who is:
Carrie P from A Passion For Applique! She was number 77 - the luckiest of numbers. :) I'll e-mail Carrie to get her address and have this off to her this week.
Thank you to all the participants who made the cutest and funniest "Me" from Amy Bradley's pattern that I ever saw. And thanks to Madame Samm for her dreams and her desire to share the fun stuff with all of us.
What gorgeous colors in this Moda jelly roll! It's called Cinnamon Spice by Blackbird Designs. I wanted it. But they only had one so I got it for the winner who is:
Carrie P from A Passion For Applique! She was number 77 - the luckiest of numbers. :) I'll e-mail Carrie to get her address and have this off to her this week.
Thank you to all the participants who made the cutest and funniest "Me" from Amy Bradley's pattern that I ever saw. And thanks to Madame Samm for her dreams and her desire to share the fun stuff with all of us.