Having a Talk with Myself and Meeting a Blog Friend!

I joined the Free Motion Quilting Challenge hosted by SewCalGal. I've always wanted to learn free motion quilting and to be able to execute it well. I'm here to tell you - I'm a long way from any type of proficiency! After seeing the photos on the FMQC Facebook page, I was almost too embarrassed to post my own photos here on this blog. Everyone seems to be already so good. But then I had a talk with myself. I'll never get better without practice and comparing my skills to someone else's isn't really the right thing to do. Even at just turned 50, I still have a need for this type of conversation with myself! Ugh!

Each month a tutorial is shared on SewCalGals blog and we practice and post our photos. This months tutorial was brought to us by Frances Moore. The photos below show my efforts:

Some of it looks better than other pieces of it.

I hope to keep up with this Challenge all year long. My skill set has no where to go but up!

Last Monday I had the pleasure of meeting Terri from Dixie Samplar. What a sweetie she is! She was visiting her precious grandmother and sent me an email asking if I'd like to meet her on her way home. We had a great time in Trenton exploring the shops. Here is a pic of Terri and I at Sally's shop, Suwannee Valley Cross Stitch. Sally was very gracious and we spent a fair amount of time chatting with her and a few of her regulars. We had a nice lunch at the Rose Cafe. I could have sat there for hours talking to Terri, she is so warm, friendly and easy to talk to. And of course we had to visit the quilt shop too. If you don't know Terri, please visit her blog. One of my MOST favorite posts of hers is this one about her stitching studio reveal.

Me on the left, Terri on the right

Don't you love that brick wall?

I put all my goodies away before getting a picture because my sewing/stitching room was so seriously messy and I needed to get in there. I do have a picture of something I purchased to put on my shelves. Three vintage spools. Two have lace (vintage?) that Sally bought on a trip to Germany. I wound some hand dyed rick rack (purchased from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler) on the other.

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the blogging world. Happy Stitches!

Dipping a Toe In

I've never participated in a swap of any kind. I have been interested in the online quilting bees but just haven't felt like an established bee was a good place to start. And frankly, it's kind of scary. I stumbled on a bee that was just forming and was intended for quilters new to Bees. Perfect! It's called We Bee Learning Beginner Bee. Here is my block for the first month. Hayley chose the quilt block but allowed us to pick whatever fabric we wished. I'll send this off as soon as I get the signature block made. My month is August and I'm already thinking of it.

My design wall was empty so I put my bee block up along with the Cotton Club Blocks I sewed this weekend and my Farmers Wife blocks. I'm hoping that it will be a reminder to get back to making my FW blocks. Does that ever work for anyone? :)

I'm always amazed at how different a block can look when set on point. Here is an example from this months Cotton Club blocks:

It looks totally different and much more pleasing on point:

It's so hard for me to sew during the week. I was able to do some stitching early last week after work but as the work week progressed my energy in the evening seemed to diminish too. Sometimes it seems that I'm wishing the week away for Friday night and that's really not how I want to things to be. I need to use my time during the week more thoughtfully and efficiently. Tonights plan? I'll be multitasking. Stitching Ann Dale and watching the Downtown Abbey Season 2 Premier! Hope your stitches are happy and plentiful!

Keeping It Simple

Last year, I set goals for specific things I wanted to accomplish. In my year end recap, I found that for me, I did pretty good. I hesitate to say, however, that having a goal list was the driver of what I accomplished in 2011. So for 2012, I'm keeping it simple:

Use My Stash

Don't misunderstand - this is not a "no buy" goal. For some of you, that may be realistic - for me it is not at all. But I do have some wonderful fibers for stitching, knitting, and quilting in my stash that I'd like to use.

In that vein, today I'm starting the wonderful Ann Dale sampler. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it on Theresa's blog when she received the original sampler she had purchased. I think there are 8 of us in our Sampler Guild stitching this one. I wouldn't call it a stitch along, more like a start a long!

And funny enough, she is coming out of my stash! Since the kit arrived two days ago (way back in 2011) it's officially stash. :)

40 Count Lakeside Linen Vintage Pear (a muddy green)

Assorted Silks

This is also my Themalicious Project for January along with AotH.

I Did It!

I can't believe it - I actually created a mosaic! I'm totally thrilled. It took about 10 minutes - I am NOT kidding 10 minutes - using this tutorial from Diary of a Flutter.Kat. It's not perfect because my hornbook in block 10 is cut off but not bad!

1. Jo Morton LW Club: Log Cabin Tabletopper, 2. Prairie Basket, 3. Lizzy's Little Quilt, 4. Amy's Choice, 5. 2010 $5 Quilt Finish, 6. DSC03611, 7. First Ornament Finish!, 8. Linen Schoolgirl Sewing Book, 9. Jenny Bean Halloween, 10. Primer Hornbook, 11. DSC03812, 12. Scarf for Chris, 13. The Age of Brass and Steam, 14. First Leaf Shawl, 15. Raindrops on Roses by IrishGirlieKnits

Lesson Learned: Sometimes things are not as hard as you think they might be!

These are my 2011 finishes. I'm counting the flimsy in block 5 as a finish. My most recent knitting finish isn't featured here because it's not been blocked or photographed. I'm still calling that one done because it's a HUGE project and it's on my goal list for the year. It's off the needles and that's a finish in my book.

Speaking of my 2011 Goals - here is my list as I wrote on Dec 31, 2010 in the black font and progress notes in red font were added today:

1. Grid and Grommet Bag - currently about half done Goal: finish it or ditch it

I went to throw this in the trash yesterday and just couldn't do it. I was very surprised by that.

2. $5 Quilt - currently 50% complete. Lots of applique left. Goal: progress

Finished the flimsy - see block #5 in my Flickr Mosaic above

3. Stitchers Garden Quilt - currently 75% complete Goal: finish the top

Progress made but no finish. I actually thought my goal for this one was progress.

4. Quakers and Quilts - currently 80% complete Goal: progress

I don't think I've touched this all year! I don't feel bad about it either!

5. Jenny Bean Halloween - currently 50% complete Goal: progress

Finished and framed. Block #9 above

6. Knit to Fit Sweater - currently 70% complete Goal: progress

Another one I haven't touched and feeling guilt free about it.

7. Per Terras (a/k/a the Albatross) - currently 80% complete Goal: finish it

Done - this is the one that needs to be blocked! Maybe then I'll quit calling it the Albatross.

8. Scarf for Chris - currently 60% complete Goal: finish it in February

Done. Flickr block #12. I blogged about it in January so I met the timeline.

9. Jo Morton's Prairie Basket - currently 50% complete Goal: finish

Done - Flickr block #2. This is the first/only experience with hand applique.

10. Jo Morton's Log Cabin Table Topper - currently 90% complete Goal: finish this week?

Done - Flickr block #1. Blogged about January 2 so I met the timeline.

11. Stacy Nash Peacock Pinkeep Drum and Linen School Girl Sewing Book - neither currently started as I'm waiting on my pre-stitching kit. Since I'm taking a class on this my hope is to finish these both in class with Stacy this month. Not sure that is realistic.

Both are finished! Flickr block #6 and #8

12. Scarf for Mom - not started but have yarn and pattern Goal: Progress

Done BUT I keep forgetting to give it to her. Flickr block #13 or #14 - her choice!

13. Try to do the finishing on an ornament. Goal: Learn a new skill

Done - Flickr block #7

I've surprised that I finished so much - much more than I did in 2010. I've always poopoo'd goal lists. Let's face it, I have more than enough deadlines at work. Perchance said goal list kept me a bit more focused normal? Hmmmm

I'd like to take a moment to thank Teresa who blogs at GirlWithNeedles for walking me through finishing my stitching projects. New things don't come easily to me and she held my hand though it all. It would be very remiss of me to not thank all of YOU for reading my little blog, for your comments, for your support and most of all for your friendship and inspiration! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

A Thank You and a Block Finish

Last week, I received a wonderful package in the mail from Becky. If you've never visited her blog, please do so. She is an amazing stitcher who finishes all her own projects. She has finished 500 smalls! Not only is she very talented with the needle but she's also very generous. Recently she decided to stitch and gift some of her favorite projects. I was fortunate to receive The Gathering Basket in the mail this past week. It's bigger than I thought it would be but I love that about it. I generally use my pincushions for pins and needles so the larger size really works. It makes me smile every time I look at it. Thank you Becky!

Yesterday, I finished up Block 5 of AotH - with the exception of the personalization which is why the roof isn't completely stitched. When I started this block, I didn't think I'd like the colors together. Was I wrong! The coloring isn't quite right here but I really like the Avocado color that looked so garish on it's own. I'm really enjoying this project!

The next block is on hold because I'm missing the thread for the borders. I don't think that much any stitching, knitting or quilting will be completed in the next week as I still have holiday prep to do. Wrapping, cooking, and maybe even a wee bit of shopping yet to do. Let's not forget work and possibly a business dinner next week. Wishing you and yours a happy and safe holiday season!