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!

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!

Last Post of 2017 - Not a Wrap Up!

Hard to believe 2017 is ending and 2018 is beginning.  I have a few things finished since my last post to share with you.  I was off the week after Thanksgiving and my goal was to finish 3 cross stitch projects.  The Chessie and Me book finish I forgot to photograph so I'll save that for my next post.  All three finishes were finishing techniques I had never attempted.

First up was a Mounted Tag Finish a la Vonna.  You can find her outstanding YouTube video from Vonna HERE.  Whether or not you have any interest in doing your own finishing, I'd suggest you watch all of Vonna's finishing tutorials on YouTube.  They are that good!  I can't say that it took me 40 minutes like Vonna to finish my tag - more like 4 hours but I'm very pleased with my first attempt!  Thank you Vonna for holding my hand through the process - even though you didn't know it!  :)

Prairie Schooler HoHoHo Santa
Just Cross Stitch Ornament Magazine 2014
Called for DMC
32 Count Summer Khaki

Up next was a Blackbird Designs stocking finish.  This is from Merry December.  I like stitching on higher count and thought I'd stitch future stockings on higher count fabric.  After having to turn this stocking on 32 count, I'm quite happy with 32 count!

BlackBird Designs Deer in the Meadow
Called from overdyed cotton floss
Called for fabric

I also had one of my finishes framed.  This is Scottish Excursion by Amy Mitten.  I substituted another linen (32 count LL Vintage Pearled Barley).  The angle of the photo makes this look odd.  I used museum glass for the very first time and am SO happy with it. Makes a HUGE difference in my opinion.

Close up of the frame.

 

I also surprising dug Ann Dale out and stitched on her for a bit in November (or was it December?).  This photo is terrible but that entire bottom row except for the far left tree is what I stitched this time around along with extending the borders.  I stitched all that in a week or so and just like that, my mojo for Ann went out the window!

  

Murphy turned 1 December 11th.  We celebrated with a cookie from the dog bakery - the cakes were too big for his 20 pound self - and a couple of toys for "aggressive chewers".  He wasn't happy with my taking a photo since I woke him up from a nap to take it just a few minutes ago.

Thank you so much for continuing to visit my blog and leave sweet comments!  They keep me going!  Wishing you all a healthy, happy and safe New Year full of happy stitches!

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Country House Sampler and a Puppy!

I've been away from my blog but never intended it to be this long.  Tonight I decided to just check my camera on my phone and if I had pics, to post based on those pics.  I knew I'd been putting it off because I hadn't taken the time to take pictures of everything I wanted to photograph.  Sound familiar?  So here we go...

I've been working here and there on Country House Sampler by Brenda Keyes/The Sampler Company.  This is the first time I've used this raw Zweigart linen and I have to say I'm enjoying it!  Love, love, love the trees on this one and the red in the border.  It's been a lot of fun!  It's 40 count and I've got about 2 12 inch strands of one of the threads left.  I sent out a 911 via email and I have another skein on the way.  I was very good and didn't order anything else.

 

One of the reasons I've been away was that in May our puppy Murphy, fractured the growth plate in his leg.  We were able to avoid surgery, however, he was casted and needed weekly visits to an orthopedic vet for monitoring, x-rays etc to be sure surgery was avoidable.  

 

6 weeks later, his cast was removed and he was released from the ortho vet. The next day he was neutered and needed two weeks of additional limited activity.  Last Thursday, he got his stitches out and now he's free to be a puppy again.  To celebrate, we purchased a pool for him.   It took him a while but eventually he was splashing around and trying to catch the splashes with his mouth.  He's 7 months old now and has lost his puppy belly and puppy wiggle.

That's a very brief update on things here.  I hope you all are having a great summer.  Wishing you lots of happy stitches!

Longtime Gone Quilt

I've been very slowly working on Jen Kingwell's LongTime Gone BOM quilt. I joined the BOM last year and you know how that goes!  I had the best of intentions!  The BOM included fabric and they are super scrappy.  Very much outside my comfort zone and I can't say I haven't completely given up on trying to make things look planned.  The fabric selection, however, is so scrappy and diverse that I've had to give much of that up.    Here is my progress so far:

 

Murphy has settled in nicely.  He is beyond spoiled but just look at that face!  He loves to ride in the car, bark, lick and play.  He's just turned 5 months old and is doing well with training.  

I hope all your stitches are happy ones!

Happy Mothers Day!

April is Almost Over!

Time is flying this year!  Hard to believe the long hot days of summer are on the horizon.  Our winter has been mild and it's been dry.  Our state is already experiencing a lot of fires.

I have been so busy and I want to show that to you today.  I finished all of Hands on Designs Chalk Ornaments Part 1. The hardest part with working with the dark linen was simply getting started.  Once I had a couple of foundation rows completed, the rest went very smoothly.  Finishing by Vonna Pfeiffer/The Twisted Stitcher who is a great communicator in addition to being a fantastic finisher.

 

Chalk Ornaments Part 1, Hands on Design

35 Count GunMetal, Weeks Dye Works

Called for Threads

My EGA Guild has a SAL each year.  This year it's Brenda Keyes for the linen SAL.  I chose Country House Sampler to stitch. I saw this stitched at Stitch and Frame Shop on a Natural Linen from Zweigart and loved it so I decided to give it a try.   I typically stitch on Lakeside Linen but I am really enjoying this fabric.  Here is a pic of my very small start.

 

Country House Sampler, Brenda Keyes

40 Count Natural Linen from Zweigart

NPI Threads

Our guild educational opportunity in March was to make a small woven basket for our stitching supplies.  Here is my finished basket that I have not yet lined nor have I made the pincushion.  I'm thinking of staining it a darker color.  Making the basket was a ton of fun and almost everyone left with a finished basket.  The dowel in the basket handle can hold a spool of thread.

 

Many of you know that we lost our beloved Cody and Kenzie over the last 2 years.  We've been extra busy lately because we decided to add a fur baby to our family again.  Murphy came to live with us in early March.  He's such a good (mostly) pup and we are totally in love with him!  He's a cairn terrier, the same breed as Cody and Kenzie, chosen because for some reason cairn terrier dander doesn't bother my allergies (I'm highly allergic to dogs).    

I have been doing some sewing too and I have a knitting project to show you that needs blocking.  I'll be back soon sharing more about that.  In the meantime, may all your stitches be happy ones!

Random

1.  Thank you all for your support and kindness regarding Kenzie (see this post).   It meant a lot to both Greg and I.

2.  I've sewn up a block for Aneela Hoey who has been recently diagnosed with breast cancer.   Chelsea over at Pins and Bobbins is organizing everything.  You can read more about it here should you be so inclined to participate.  It feels good to support someone in this small way.

3.   Almost four weeks ago, my brother fell off a roof.  Of a two story house.  We're all so fortunate that he's going to be ok.  He broke some bones in his forehead, his nose, both wrists, and a small bone in his arm near his wrist popped through the skin.  He had surgery almost immediately and is doing so very well.  The neurologist said he's lucky he landed face down.  It was hard to be so far away - he lives in Texas.  His wife and step son were so good about keeping me up to date and sending me photos, though the pictures were comforting (he's alive!) and hard to look at all at the same time.

4.  My parents sold their little cabin in the mountains in April.  I can understand why but I already miss it like crazy.  I called it My Happy Place.  I've been going up there for 25ish years and there are lots of good memories there with my kids and my husband.   We found a place to rent when we go up there and our vacation in May, while far more luxurious, was bittersweet.  

5.  I am still working on the red and white quilt that was a BOM.  I think this is month 10.  These 12.5" blocks are actually part of one of the borders.  I've got month 11 cut out.  Getting close!

6.  I'm so thankful for those of you who are still here.  I know I've been quiet.  I think sometimes we all need to take a step back and get centered again.   I think I'm there or almost there!

Kenzie

Our Kenzie

March 26, 2001 - June 2, 2014

To say she will be missed is an understatement.

I Have to WORK at This!

I have mentioned before that sewing and quilting isn't intuitive for me. I *really* have to work at it. Proof is in the photo below. I'm sewing my rows together and think "I need to make sure those points match up when I sew the rows together. That's honestly all I thought about and I was quite pleased at how well they lined up. The points from the flower, while they don't match up ARE supposed to align. Too bad I didn't notice until I sewed several rows together. They were all out of alignment.

Sooo....here's where it ended up!

It seems like many quilters have that natural 1/4" seam and blocks just line up for them like they should. I'm not that girl!

I have an addition to my sewing room to show you. I finally framed the print that I purchased from Heather Ross from one of her online studio sales. She autographed it for me which I wasn't expecting. You can see the reflection of a valentine mini quilt in the glass of the print.

We've had a lot of sunny days this winter and I've been able to get a couple of pics of the pups to show you. Kenzie is hard to photograph because she generally shows up as a dark blob. She's tiny - about 10 pounds. She looks like she needed a good brushing too.

And poor Cody, he's afraid of the red light on the camera so getting a good picture of him is rare. He loves the sun though!

For those of you who watch Downton Abbey - Did Lord Grantham do what I think he did?

Hope your stitches this week are happy ones!

Snails Trails and a Good Report

Today I worked on my $5 quilt block for next weekend. As you may remember, I've had some trouble with my blocks turning out too small. This one was too big. I'll make it work because I'm certainly not doing this one again. It took a long time. Overall, it's not my favorite block.

Cody and Kenzie had their spa day this week. You can now see their faces.

Kenzie was playing in the wet grass. I had to post this picture though as generally her face comes out black due to her coloring.

They get a report card when they get groomed. Cody was a "Little Angel". Not sure I believe that because he just tolerates these visits. Kenzie, however, got a blue ribbon and a note that she was a sweetheart. She IS a sweetheart but under all that don't kid yourself - she is Alpha dog. All 10 pounds of her! She is small for her breed but she thinks she is a German Shepherd.

Greg and I were off all week and stayed at home. Had a really nice relaxing week together. I did a lot of reading which is my ultimate activity for chilling. Today Greg had his first 100 mile bike ride (bike as in bicycle). He did really well though his back is a bit sore. My exercise efforts have been respectable for me though I've been sidelined for the past 2 days. Hopefully I can get back to it tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Monday so it's back to work for me. I hope you all had a great weekend. I appreciate your visits to my blog and your comments. It's also wonderful getting to know each of you. Have a great week. Happy Stitches!

Out of Jail!

In late May while we were on vacation, Cody tore his ACL so we turned around and came home so he could have surgery. Since then he's been on a leash or in his crate. He's managed that much better than Greg and I have. It wasn't until we saw how much it hurt him to even be on the leash that we realized we needed to comply 100% with the vets instructions and give him a lot of crate time. In the last 2 weeks, he was deemed fit enough to be off leash. He has now resumed his rightful place on my new couch!

Kenzie maintains her rightful place on Greg's back. He's napping and so is she!

Both dogs have gotten so shaggy and are hopefully being groomed this week. I just didn't feel comfortable taking Cody to the groomers while he was on restricted activity. Since he has a little anxiety when he's separated from Kenzie, she didn't go either.

Cody and Kenzie are truly part of our family and we're all glad to have his surgery and recovery behind us. We've noticed he's not quite as active and I'm hoping that he'll get stronger over time. Hopefully our next vacation will go as planned!

Best Laid Plans

Three weeks ago I decided to take a couple of weeks break from blogging and get some things done. You know what they say about the best laid plans....something will always happen to mess them up! Here's how it went down for me:

Week 1: I got sick. I can't sew, knit or stitch while I'm sick. I don't want to get the ick all over my projects.

Week 2: On Vacation. Still sick. Our dog, Cody, blew out his knee while we were gone so we came home several days early. Dad got notification he had doctors appts at Mayo scheduled for the following week. We spent a few days getting ready for my parents visit - we had to move some things out of my sewing room so we could set up a bed for my parents in the room.

Week 3: Parents here. Dad's Mayo visits and exploratory procedure. The good news is that during the exploratory procedure they were able to remove the area in question. The doctors in Orlando weren't able to do it. Great news as we all thought he was heading towards a very complicated surgery.

Fun, huh?

Here's Cody. He has to be on a leash or crated for 3 months during his recovery. Poor Pup. And somehow we're supposed to teach him how to quit jumping on the couch and bed. Not sure how that is going to happen. Here's a cheerful statistic the vet gave us - 50% of the dogs blow out their other knee within 12 months of injuring the first one.

His bandage has been removed. The staples come out next weekend.

I did manage to start stitching the latest LHN ornament.

I have not been reading blogs while I was on break. I will be reading and commenting this week. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've been up to!