Sometimes I Actually Finish Something!

Here's my finished project from my weekend class! It's small but it's DONE! I think I'm going to use it for my double pointed knitting needles. It would also be a good makeup case, notions bag, etc. It's very versatile. Make it a bit longer and you could store a curling iron in it. I find classes very rewarding and will continue to take them.

Here is a close up of the button I sewed on in seconds with my machine.

Progress on Little House Neighborhood has been slow. I did decide to stitch the fence in the window color but I'm still figuring out a darker color for the chimney. I really didn't want to show my progress as my linen is so wrinkled. I've not stitched on a frame yet. Pictures I've seen of projects on frames always show a crisp unwrinkled linen. The wrinkles make this look messy. If you stitch, do you use a frame? Do you find them easy to use? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

G & I will be taking a few days away for ourselves. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to it. Work has been ramped up busy the past couple of months and we've both been busy. My knitting and stitching are ready to go as are several books (including trail books) and my hiking shoes. It's going to be a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of our daily life! Can't wait!

A Bunch of Firsts

Saturday I had a "Quick Start" class at my Bernina dealer. The class is designed to show us some of the feet that come with the Bernina and what they do. Here's the class from my viewpoint. It was a 5.5 hour class and I did a lot of things for the very first time.

I used my walking foot with the guide for the first time.

I put in a zipper for the first time that didn't look like crap. It actually works too. Bonus!!!

I used a decorative stitch on my new machine for the first time.

Top stitching! Easier than it looks!

Buttonholes! This was in practice fabric. Pretty painless and I can get the same size over and over again without stress. My machine will actually sew on buttons too! In seconds!

Ok...buttonholes aren't my favorite. But I'll do them again and I'll use the skills I learned in this class over and over again. The best part of the class is that I actually ended up with a finished project. Yes, I finished something!!! Pictures coming later in the week when I have pics!

Picking Out Stitches

I unsew in quilting, tink back in knitting and now I'm picking out stitches in stitching. Why should I be surprised? :) When I stitched the fence, I realized there just was not enough contrast between the color of the house and the fence. The photo below shows the fence before I picked it out. I'm going to look for something darker or just use the whitish color that was used in windows. I'm really enjoying this project and stitch a bit every day. Like my other fiber interests, I find it very soothing - which is exactly what I need after a hectic day at work.

I saw a piece I fell in love with on a blog. Within 1 minute found an online shop that has the chart, fabric and thread pack that was dyed for the project. Email sent - took about 30 seconds. Plus a pin keep, base and the associated fabric and thread (of course). The retailer emailed me back and they have it all except the base which is on order from market. I thought "this is so easy". This is very unlike me! Someone. Stop. Me.

I need to go check my lottery tickets!

Ideas Needed!

I have my table runner pieced together with my Gobble Gobble charm pack. The pattern took 16 light fabrics and that is exactly what was in the charm pack. It looks a little wonky on the edges but that it because the grass is a bit uneven where it's laying. Does anyone have any ideas on how I should quilt this? Suggestions are needed! Thank you!

I seriously love this fabric! I have no idea why, but I do!

Saturday Stitches

Yesterday, I was invited to lunch and to stitch with the Sampler Guild. There were 5 of us who met at the Olde Green Cupboard and stitched the afternoon away....well at least when we weren't chatting, sharing, or shopping! Everyone is so talented and nice! I, however, somehow managed to not take any pictures of the lovely projects everyone was working on. I worked on my Little House Neighborhood that I just barely started. Melody gave me the pattern and Teresa helped me cut the fabric last weekend. I don't have the silks yet for the border so I started on the house on the top row. There are some wobbly stitches here and there. I'm a beginner and will improve and that's part of the fun! I'm not sure of the color of the chimneys, I might change them later.

I just burst with excitement when Henri gave me the chart for a project that I've just been drooling over. It's out of print and I could not find it anywhere. It's one she has stitched already and hers is just stunning. She gave me a really good tip, which I'll share with you after I get started. I'm going to gather the fabric and thread for it soon. After all, I have to have multiple projects going on at the same same time to be a good stitcher, don't I?

Last week was this months Moda Maniacs gathering at Calico Station. Pam shared some of her market stories and let us know what was coming. Good Stuff. At each Moda Maniacs meeting there are giveaways. This week I won one of them! I won the Moda bag they got at market. This thing is HUGE. It doesn't look like it here in the picture, but a 2 year old could sit in it. Easily. I think this is a sign that I need more fabric!

We're having one of those rare mornings in Florida when you can turn the air conditioner off. It's also very sunny. For me, this is perfect weather! I'm not sure if we'll be able to keep the air conditioner off all day, but for now I'm enjoying every single minute of it. I hope your day is wonderful as well! Happy Stitches!