October's Doings

October has turned out to be a busy month.  Shocking how fast the year has flown by.  At the beginning of the month,  my EGA guild had a fabulous lecture from Cissy Bailey Smith of Gentle Pursuit Designs on Scottish samplers.  The entire crowd was captivated and I learned a lot!

I've also been sewing a little bit.  I have started a mini spider web quilt.  It was a kit I purchased from Westwood Acres Fabric and the fabric is from Cotton and Steel.   This block is WAY outside my comfort zones with all the bias edges.  I'm pushing through but at this point, I can't say that I love it.

 In the sewing room, I'm trying a wool pressing mat.  My old pressing station by my sewing machine that I use for individual blocks, etc was in bad shape so I figured why not try something new?

I've also finished piecing my Yankee Doodle Dandy quilt.  It needs to be ironed and quilted.  In the photo below you can get a general idea how it will look.  The blue star section is over the back of the chair.

And just because, here is a photo of Murphy who is learning to be in the sewing room with me and not be a handful.  I'm not sure how successful we are so far but we have made progress!

I doubt I'll be back before month end.  Have a happy Halloween and I hope all your stitches are happy ones!

Off With Her Head!

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my last post.  Thank you also to the two readers who contacted me to let me know Maria Phinney wasn't really fully completed.  That is, unless I intended to leave off her head!!!  Thankfully, this project was at home and not at the framers.  She is still unfinished but I will get to it.  I jumped around a lot on this project and was running very very very short of the thread color that is used on Eve (Flax from Weeks and I used most of a second skein to finish this).  Since this wasn't at the framers, I am able to find some humor in this!  

 I also wanted to share a updated photo of And They Sinned.  This is how it sits today.  I'm enjoying every stitch but other things have been capturing my interest lately.

I finished the stitching on this Erica Michaels berry called Sampler Berry.  I ended up stitching half of this twice due to a counting mistake and it still stitched up pretty quickly.  Our guild was to have a berry finishing class which has been delayed but I will get it FFO'd at some point.

Sewing wise, I've joined the BOM program through The Quilted Moose for the Fairhaven quilt.  I was going to do the appliqué by hand but I have to admit, I'm having second thoughts on that.  I'm doing the dark background as shown below in this photo from the quilt shop.

I've been working on my Yankee Doodle Dandy quilt too but the updated photo really doesn't show much progress.  I'll save the next update on this project to hopefully be a finish.

Hard to believe it is October and the busy holiday season is starting!  I hope your week is enjoyable and all your stitches are happy ones!

Progress is Being Made!

Hello friends!  I hope fall has arrived in your part of the world.  It hasn't here in Florida but we have had a break in the heat after record breaking high temps.  It's been nice even though it is still close to 90!

I have a finish to share with you today!  Maria Phinney which is a club piece from Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI. This is out of my normal color palette as it's a lot of brown but I enjoyed almost every stitch!  The ones I didn't enjoy were the ones I had to rip out because I clearly can't count.  If you have this project and haven't started it yet, I definitely needed two skeins of the Fawn thread color.  Many other stitchers did on Instagram as well.  I used the second skein for the house so it really didn't matter if the color was matched 100%.  It was a very close match though.  I substituted the linen for the Weeks Zweigart.  It came with the original base.  The colors between the 2 bases were very consistent and I've enjoyed the Zweigart base whereas I haven't really cared for the original base.  I love their colors though so I'm happy to see this new option with Weeks Linen.

Maria Phinney - Club Sampler from Country Sampler in Spring Green

Shakespeare's Peddler

40 Count Weeks on Zweigart Straw

Called for overdyed cotton thread

I've also been doing a bit of quilting.  I'm working on Yankee Doodle Dandy from Maker Valley.  This is what the quilt will look like when it is done.  I figure as I'm trying to get my sew-jo back I should be sewing something very uncomplicated.

I've gotten the first 6 rows pieced and they are pinned to my design wall (which needs to be cleared out).  I'm hoping to get some more sewing done today.  I'm not pushing it or trying big sessions in the sewing room as the goal is to simply get back into the habit.

I'm also trying to not let tasks or to-dos at home slide.  When was the AC filter changed?  Work is easily organized, home not so much.  I decided to get a planner and I chose Plum Paper.  I chose them because of the ability to customize and the variety of layouts.  It was easy to find one that I believe is working well for me.  I chose vertical priorities.   The text on the headings can be modified and you can pick what months are included in your planner.   I'm getting so much more done and I'm not forgetting to do things.   If you're interested, let me know and I can see you a referral code for 10% as long as you have not created a profile with Plum Paper.

This version has a weekly habit tracker.  I've gotten so much better at taking my vitamins daily and tracking food because of wanting to check off that little box!  I've also participated in one of my hobbies every  day for 7 weeks too!  

 

That is it for now!  I hope all your stitches are happy ones!

Summer!

Hoping you are having a fun summer!  It's blazing hot here in Florida and feels like a sauna.  We've been busy with a variety of activities.  I've been stitching almost every day which is unusual for me.  I've slightly changed my work schedule and that seems to give me more time and more energy for stitching.  

If I missed replying to your comment on my last post, I had a Blogger issue where I wasn't getting notified of comments.  That issue has been corrected now.  I SO appreciate your visits and comments as well as your friendship.  Thank you!

I've started and made great progress on Maria Phinney 1832 by Shakespeare's Peddler.  This is the first project in the 2019 in Country Sampler's ABC Schoolgirl Needlework Club.  The colors in this are very muted and browny but I am enjoying it immensely.  This came with 36 count Weeks linen in Straw and I substituted this for the same count/color etc for the new Weeks on Zweigart which I purchased from Sassy Jacks Stitchery.  I needed a little less wiggly fabric.  If you're stitching this, you're going to need an extra skein of the Fawn color.

Maria Phinney 1832

Shakespeare's Peddler

Called for Threads

36 Count Weeks Straw on Zweigart Base

July included a visit from our niece and nephew from Arizona.  The photo below shows my husband with Jack in the middle and Sophie in the lower left all wearing their hats we bought to shade their face and neck from the sun.  We had a great visit.  The kids are super polite and well behaved.

One. of the activities we had planned was surf fishing.  My oldest son was in charge of that activity.  Jack caught a small fish and they cut it up for bait.  He told Jack that they could catch a shark with it and within minutes Jack had caught a baby hammerhead.  Cool, but kinda scary if you think about it for a minute or two!

Then last week, my favorite guy in the whole world turned 50.  We had dinner out and he ate every bit of this ice cream cake himself.  Since it was a big birthday, I surprised him with an Apple Watch which he is enjoying. 

It is morning here and Murphy and I are just up today.  Greg is still sleeping.  Here is Murphy not understanding why he has to go outside to do his business before he gets to eat.  It's been 45 minutes since we've been up!  I'm off to convince this guy to go outside.  He's as stubborn as can be!

Hoping all your stitches are happy ones!

Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

Hello there!  Who can believe it is almost July?  I have no idea where the year has gone but it sure is hot here.  Christmas will be here before we know it.  I guess these comments are a sure sign I'm getting old!  Ha!

I have a ornament finish that I've never shown.  One of the BBD Christmas stockings.  They stitch up pretty quickly and finish fairly easily.   They do look so pretty on the tree too!

I don't know what has gotten into me but I've started several projects over the past couple of months. This is the third one and it's a big one - And They Sinned by Examplar Dames.  The chart is OOP but you may find a copy here and there.  I'm stitching with the called for threads on 36 count Picture This Plus Legacy.  I'm really enjoying this and can't wait to get further down into the stitching.  There is a really pretty tree with Adam and Even in the next section below where I am now.  I didn't mind stitching the big cloud (even though my two thread colors were probably too close).  I did not want stripes so I stitched in a circular fashion.   It used more thread but I do like the results.

I've also managed to block my Pradera Wrap (free pattern).  I used the call for yarn and it was wonderful  to knit with.  The yarn was soft and squishy before blocking and is still that way after blocking.  I can't wait to wear it this winter!  Here is Florida, I don't ever wear a jacket.  A hand knit around my neck is usually just enough to keep me warm from car to building. 

Pradera Wrap

Yarn:  Manos del Uruguay

Colorways:  Miel, Azafran, Hortensia, and Granada

Needle:  US Size 10 

Here is a photo of Murphy in my sewing room trying to Jedi Mind trick (by sitting) me into giving him a treat!  Of course, that worked but I made him lay down first.  Don't kind yourself, he is fully in charge!  Ha!

I hope your week has started out well and that all the stitches you take are happy ones!

Summer is Here!

Happy June!  Where has the year gone?!  The past couple of months, I've been busy but still have had time to do some of the things I love.

I pull out Ann Dale from deep hibernation and have stitched this bottom row on it.  I've also done a lot of border work (and re-work) which isn't shown here.  Ann is a lovely sampler - a BIG girl but so worth the time!

I also immediately ordered Elizabeth Atkinson from Sassy Jacks Stitchery as they had kits at a very affordable price with silks.  I chose the 46 count linen (SilkWeaver Golden Oats) option with the 100/3 you see on the spools below.  LOVE the colors in this one!

I started it too!  At first the 46 count was slow going but it has gotten much better!  I'm using a 28 needle and it feels a little big so I might need to go to something else(any suggestions?).  The colors in Elizabeth are fantastic.  The 100/3 is used as it comes off the spool and I'm enjoying not having to strand or put the remaining strands back away.  The little things!  I think this one is going to go fast because I'm so in love with it!  

I've also felt the desire to sew a little bit.  All of my WIPs are on the more complicated/fiddly side so in an effort to flame that desire, I'm sewing charm squares together.  So far, it's been soothing and mindless and all the things you need when you haven't sewn in ages.

In personal news, my youngest son moved to Tallahassee 2 years ago and he moved back to Jacksonville Memorial Day weekend.  He's so happy to be back and we're happy that he's back in town too!  He lives about 15 minutes away and that makes this momma's heart happy!

I'm already ready for summer to be over.  Here in NE Florida we've already had record setting heat, 100 degree days, and one large fire that closed I-95 both ways.  The humidity is off the chart and I'm in full on hibernation mode!   

I'll be back soon with more to share.  In the meantime, I hope all your stitches are happy ones!

Other Things

Here are a couple of other things I've been working on while I was away.  I started When Thou Art Rich by Hands Across the Sea Smplers.  I had the good fortune of seeing the antique while I was at Sassy Jacks in January 2018.  Such a beautiful sampler.  I've LOVED stitching what I have stitched so far.  The next row, however, is a row of queen stitches and I'm honestly not sure how I'm going to get through that.  The queen stitches are over 4 on 40 count and are the light yellow so not a good thread color to really see what you are doing.  I know I'll get through it at some point and hopefully I'll grow as a queen stitcher because there are other rows of queen stitches in this sampler!  

I found a very bad photo of the antique.  It was sitting in a window where the light was coming from the rear.

I've also been working on Curly Witch from a class with our EGA chapter in 2018.  I've really enjoyed this so far.  It's the first time I've stitched a plaid and I'm happy with how it came out.  I've got a fair amount of work left to do but I'm sure I'll get it finished at some point.

Things with my stash got to the point where I couldn't find anything.  I had kits bagged up but they weren't labeled so what good did that do?    Also my charts were in a drawer which meant it was a pain to find anything.  So I pulled much of it out of the closet and got to work.  The charts are now alphabetized in magazine holders (you can see them in the background) and my kits are in more similar sized bags and are labeled.

Here are the labels I'm using.  I can reuse them easily.  I also bought the binder rings from Amazon very inexpensively.  I feel better about being able to find things now.  Still lots of work to do in there but being able to find most of what I need is a real improvement!  It seems like any stash needs constant maintenance!

Remember my dilemma on my last post with the Shutter Green dye lot?  A reader sent me her older dye lot of Shutter Green along with a Victorian Motto Sampler thread that she felt was a good match. Here are my two Shutter Greens along with the ones she sent.  Can you tell which is which?  I don't have her permission to say who it was but THANK YOU!!!

I hope all your stitches are happy ones!

Happy New Year?

Hello!  I certainly didn't mean to be away so long.  No excuses!  I have been stitching though.  I'll share with you what I stitched on Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow today.  I'm using the called for linen in 40 count and DMC (because there are 60ish colors in this one).  

This is block 5.  Probably my least favorite block though I could not tell you why.   I apologize for the wrinkles.

More recently I've finished block 6.  This one went really fast for me.  I just love the spiders in this piece.  They really seem to add interest and capture my eye.  This block has one spider.  I stitched him very last.

Here is a picture of where Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow is to date.  I've taken to stitching the outline of the next block before I put this project away.  That's what you see happening in block 7.  I haven't started stitching the interior of the block and for now, I'm putting this one away.  I'll be happy I stitched the border already when I take it back out to work on.

I'm working on gathering my supplies for And They Sinned.  While I had almost everything threadwise in stash, I didn't have 3 skeins of Shutter Green, I had two.  So I ordered 3 more because I wanted to dye lot to be the same as this color is used in a very large area (the grass at the bottom).  I didn't expect such a significant difference in the colors.  They don't even look anywhere near the same color!  Better safe than sorry.  If anyone runs out of an older dye lot of Shutter Green, let me know!

I hoping to get back to posting on somewhat of a monthly schedule.  I enjoy the interactions and sometimes I just need to say more than Instagram allows.  Thank you for sticking with me during my silent periods.   You inspire me so much and I love visiting your blogs too if you have them!

Happy Spring!  May all your stitches be happy ones!