Proof

You can see, by the change of my background, that I didn't fall off the face of the earth.   However, I do worry about the future of my blogging. 

I just spent a few days with some friends I met thru blogging.  Wonderful, of course, but we talked about why most of us have fallen away from our blogs.  We also talked about why blogs we followed, when we first started reading blogs, are fading away.  Is this the life of the average blogger?  Do blogs have a life expectancy?  It does seem rare for a blogger to say 'good bye'.  We just keep hoping they'll start posting again.  

I had a previous life as a blogger.  Different blog, different name, and for lack of a better word... a different voice.  I miss that blog.  Maybe it's time for it to come back to life.  The privacy issue remains but the kids are older and 2 have moved on in life. 

What do you think? 

While the camera is out....

I snapped a couple pictures of my latest quilt-y finish. 

 

I will show this quilt despite not being able to find the magazine with the pattern.  I actually shopped for the fabrics a number of years ago and made it last fall.   I didn't quilt it until a couple weeks ago which is how I've lost track of the magazine.  It was kind of old....maybe a fall edition of Fons & Porter from 2006. 

I just love homespun fabrics.  They can be a challenge to work with but I managed to wrangle them into shape and have a twin size quilt that will be super warm in the winter.

In a few weeks I will be heading off to a fall quilt retreat...the very one where I made this quilt top last year.  I am trying very hard to NOT count the days but fall is just so busy that I'm not going to be able to control the urge much longer. 

In the mean time I will dream about which projects to take.

Happy Stitching.

Chicks Rule update

Just in the nick of time I finished the latest Chick Jubilee block.  I got an email Monday saying the next installment is in the mail. 

The one on the left is last month's which I forgot to photograph.  Hardly a new excuse, I know.  I'm always in a hurry to finish and get to the next thing. 

These bright colors are outside of my usual color scheme so it's a nice break. 

There are just 9 blocks in this block-of-the month so I'm over the hump.  And best of all, keeping up!

Happy Stitching

Fall in the air

Who doesn't love that feeling?  Fall!  Love it.  It is still bright and sunny out but the nights are cool and the school routine has begun. 

I finally felt brave enough to put Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street on the long arm.  Easy Street was the mystery quilt from last Thanksgiving.  This was my first ever Bonnie Hunter quilt.  Anyone familiar with her style knows that the quilts are amazing but involve about a million pieces. 

 

They are scrappy and complicated.  To combat the extremely busy look, I chose 2 consistent fabrics for the background. 

 

I am happy to report that the end result is awesome.  I will get the binding on just in time for this year's mystery quilt fabric requirements to be announced. 

Also, with fall, comes baking.  Recently I was reading blogs and came across this post about a recipe for Peach Beehives that looked tasty and fun to make.  Since peaches are in abundance I thought I'd make them for dessert last night. 

Don't they look delicious?  My peaches were baseball size so I could only wrap four before running out of dough, but that was just right for us. 

The recipe called for a hard sauce poured over the top but it includes too much dairy so I used caramel ice cream topping.  I put the peaches into dishes as soon as they came out of the oven so I could capture any juice that ran out while they cooled and poured the caramel topping on right away.  The hot treats warmed the caramel. They were absolutely delicious but very filling.  The only thing I'd change would be to use smaller peaches. 

 

Anyone else trying new fall recipes?

I need to talk about font size again.  I wonder if people are still having problems reading some blog posts because the font is so small?  I think (but could be wrong) that it's an AOL thing.  I can go to FireFox and read the same blog and the font is OK.  However, I am generally on AOL and have to pass up some blog posts because of the font.  If you haven't checked out your own blog or wonder why fewer people are reading and commenting....maybe it's because the post isn't legible.  I tried to change my font size by going to the dashboard but, strangely enough, despite increasing the default font size of my posts, the only thing that changed was the font size of the letters on the sidebar.  Gotta love it when AOL and Blogger don't play nicely together!  So, in the mean time, I keep clicking 'large' when I'm posting.  It switches back to 'normal' about every 3rd sentence but I'm persisting. 

We have road construction which is supposed to last well into October that has closed the main road from my house to town.  Totally sucks and gives new meaning to the phrase 'stuck at home'.  I feel for everyone having to drive more than 5 miles out of the way just to get anywhere but that's how it goes sometimes.  I hope to cram as many tasks into every trip out I make or have my husband stop at the store on his way home.  On the upside....I should have some more finishes to post....in theory anyway.  Seems like the more I can't go somewhere, the more I want to go.  

As my kids would say...such first world problems!  I know.  In the mean time....

Happy Stitching

The Christmas

version of Meadow.....

It's the flowers done in red and yellow that feel Christmassy to me.  Like Poinsettias. 

I will be keeping my eye out for patters in the same size range...approximately 60 by 60 so I can make a fall and a spring table cloth.  They've proven to be a nice addition to the kitchen decor.

Thanks for stopping by. 

I made this

wall hanging size quilt this summer.  It's from a pattern called Meadow by Jililly Studio.

 

It's the perfect size for my kitchen table.  So far the kids have been good about moving it out of the way if they sit there to eat. 

 



I like that it used both piecing and applique.  I made a second one using Christmas colors but it's not ready to be photographed yet. 

The cross stitch bug has bitten and I'm itching to work on Halloween and fall pieces.  I am holding out until after Labor Day to change my background to fall.  I might have to sneak a few fall decorations up around the house, though.  I LOVE fall. 

Happy stitching.

Oh!

I was preparing a post...finally...then saw the pictures.  I wasn't going to post until I retook the pictures but decided that I'd simply never post if I didn't just do it. 

Last week I took pictures of a couple of finishes then lost my camera.  Yesterday I tore my sewing room apart until I found it then looked at the pictures.  It's really not so bad...in fact it's possible nobody would notice.  So then I thought maybe I'd challenge you to see what I saw.  Then I decided I really wasn't up to that sort of critique.  What if you saw something I'd missed?! 

First, here is a little piece I stitched up in the spirit of fall...

 

This patriotic piece is July by Country Cottage Needleworks but I left the word 'July' off since I didn't want to be limited to just one month when displaying it.  I added some more fireworks instead. 

The little cake stand quilt blocks are on the picture to show what else I've been working on.  Unfinished they are 2 1/2 inches.  Tiny!  However it wasn't until I looked at the picture that I noticed how crooked the left hand stand was.  Oops.  I'll be taking that bottom piece off and fixing that!  Boy.  How did I miss that? 

 

Making these was part of a project posted here.  (I couldn't make the August 4th post open in its own window so you have to scroll down to August 4th to see the finished products.)  The idea was to make one block a day in July then in August lay out ideas would be revealed.  It was a fun and cute little project. 

 

My lay out plan is still a work in progress.  And, obviously, my blocks are still a work in progress! 

 

Last night this was the view out my front door.  It was even prettier 5 minutes before the pictures. 

Such a pretty end to a day. 

 



This has been a super busy, extra long week.  I am so glad today is Friday.  The weekend will be busy but I am keeping my eye on the prize....school starts soon and the summer people will go home and my work load will lighten and my sewing room will be a hive of activity. 

 

Happy Stitching. 

 





So true.

This about sums it up. 

I packed all the sewing I could dream of doing in 2 weeks and went away....by myself!  Such dreams.  Such aspirations.  So few hours in a day!  Even all alone I didn't finish half of what I'd hoped.  (Plus, I wasn't alone-alone for all that time.  My husband was around sometimes and occassionally my sister.)

I came home to a back log of responsibilities.  Even today, on a Sunday, I am going to work.  I need a few hours at my desk without anyone else around to re-introduce myself to my job.  Drat. 

On the upside....I came home to the oldest child/new college graduate and HER NEW JOB!  We're so excited for her.  A real live school teacher!  Now the apartment hunt is on.  She'll be about 1 1/2 hours away in a small town outside a small city.  We couldn't hope for anything more. 

I hope to have my sewing room unpacked in the next day or so then I can take a pictures.

Happy Stitching. 

I can finally show

everyone two projects I've worked on over the last few months. 

First...the shower gift.  From the gift registry I purchased a martini shaker, glasses and olive picks.  I added a couple other little things like a drink recipe book and some funny coasters.  But, the real fun part was the bag.  I modified a pattern called Screen Play to show more fabric.   

 

Then there is the wedding sampler.  Loved this pattern and the fabric.  It is 'He Loves Me' by Amy Bruecken Designs.  I am really bad about fabric names and I bought the cut at the shop and never wrote down the specifics.  It was a wonderfully soft and lush piece of even weave.  The pattern wasn't designed as a wedding sampler, I just added the names and dates to the bottom. 

 

 

(I know...the signature is intrusive but it blocks out their names. Plus, you'll notice I worked out how to add a signature to pictures.)

 

The bridal shower was yesterday and the bride-to-be has received both so it's safe for me to show them. 

 

Has anyone else noticed the font on Blogger lately?  'Normal' is very tiny.  Sometimes when I read a blog I can barely see the words.  When I started typing my own I found it to be the same way.  So, I've moved up to 'large' and hope that improves things. 

 

Happy Stitching.

My hat, I should eat...maybe.

So, remember all the way back to my Bloglovin' post?  The one where I wasn't excited about figuring out how it all works?  Thanks to Catherine at Bramblewood Stitches  I muddled thru and claimed my name.  But, the real kicker was when Barb told me there was an ipad app.  When I travel I just take my ipad.  I will be gone for almost 3 weeks this summer and blog reading using the ipad isn't always easy.  So, I downloaded the *free* Bloglovin app and have been thrilled ever since.  I've slowly been adding all my favorite blogs and even a couple new ones.  You can select a category and search thru the list of blogs for blogs that look interesting.  I spent a couple hours doing that last night.  Low and behold, I found a few of you on there and could add you to my list without using the search option I have since used to add blogs from my favorites list. 

Here's a bit of news for you all....every one of you have Bloglovin followers already!!  Isn't that cool?  So, really, you should log on, create an account, claim your blog and have fun.  (You can still have fun if you don't have a blog or even if you don't claim your name.) 

Now, on to another bit of administrative business.  I'm figuring out how to add a signature to my pictures.  It's a real kick in the pants when you see one of your pictures on Pinterest without any credit what-so-ever!  I know I've put a few things on Pinterest without giving credit because I just wanted to keep them in mind.  Now I'm a wiser picture borrower and will try not to do that.

So, here are a couple pictures from my garden.  The first one cracked me up.  I saw this from in the house and wondered what the heck the birds were doing....putting a grass roof on, I guess. 

 

My absolute favorite flower is in bloom. 

 

 

I think the signature part needs work.  I will have to have my son help.  I'd like the background to be transparent but I can't figure out how to apply that effect. 

 

In the mean time....Have a great 4th of July all you Americans. 

Out of season.

In early February I was on a kick to make some Valentine's Day projects. 

First, I dug this project out of my stash.  Bali Love Songs...a free pattern by Hoffman Fabrics using a Bali Pop strip set called Cherry.  Although, you could use any strip set I used the called for fabrics...both the strip set and the yardage.  I only just finished sewing the binding on last week. 

 

 

I found it hard to get a good picture that showed the richness of the batiks.  

 

I also finally quilted and bound this little cutie.  I bought the pattern and fabric in February...during the same urge to work on Valentine's Day projects.  It has been folded in half and...oops...the crease shows.  It would be nice to have enough wall space to hang everything but then again...who is cleaning a house that size?

 

The soft pinks were pretty and outside my usual color palette.  

 

The pattern is a This & That called Candy Hearts.  Originally I thought I'd add words to the hearts but then decided I liked how they looked. 

 

At this rate, maybe I'll have something patriotic to show around Halloween.

 

Happy Stitching.

Finished!!

Happy dances all around. 

I finished all of the Sam Sarah Advent pieces...early, no less.  Woot. 

 

Now, they are going to 'rest' for a month.  I have several projects that need to take top billing this month so I will put these aside for now.  I also need to figure out how I want to finish them and how I want to display them.  I have a couple ideas but need to think about it more.  It's possible I'll need to stitch a number in each box that will be on the back of each piece to help count down until Christmas.  Like I said...I need to think about it for a while. 

Happy Stitching.

As promised...a little something to post about.

I actually have a few things up my sleeve. 

Today I can show you a cute little finish.  I made it for a friend who lost a lot of her stitching in a house fire.  Since it's been received I can show everyone.

Smell My Feet by La D Da.  It's in Just Cross Stitch's Halloween Collection from the Fall of 2011.

 

I let the cording unravel a little.  I thought it looked like spider legs.  Nice and creepy for Halloween.
I wrapped it in the cute Halloween tissue paper you see in the background. 

Too bad I didn't stitch two at the same time so I could have one! 

Hope everyone is enjoying some summer sunshine.  It's mostly rainy in my neck of the woods.  I like rainy, but enough already.  I'm craving some sunshine.

I've got that Lovin' Feeling

So, here it is..... 

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3780377/?claim=hjp9vyuk4y8">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I've claimed my blog.  Now, if you're switching to Bloglovin you can follow me too.

Happy Stitching...and I swear on my first born's head...I will post some finishes asap.

Could the blog train

be leaving without me?  Maybe.  The real questions is....if I don't use Google Reader, do I still have to 'claim' my blog name for other people to follow me using the new Bloglovin' reader?  I've half heartily looked around online but mostly only come up with things about how great Bloglovin' is supposed to be.  Since I've only ever used Blogger,  I will stick with it.  I really don't follow many blogs that actually post anymore so I'm not sure it matters to me.   

My kids are all off doing their summer jobs so maybe I'll get to spend more time creating wonderful things I can post about.  I've been in a real slump.  I'm sure everyone can relate. 

So, anyhow, about claiming my name.....anyone know?

My bad....

even I was surprised that I hadn't posted the first block that I finished on my Chick's Jubilee block of the month project.  Bet I put it away because some other project was screaming at me to move along.

Here are the first 2 blocks.  Pastels aren't my usual color pallet so it's fun working with them.   

 

I had a little oops with block 2.  I forgot that these patterns have to be reversed.  I do so many applique projects you'd think I'd know to check but I guess most of my patterns don't need to be reversed. 

 

 I must have done a better job of reading the instructions the first month because I got this one right.

Isn't she sweet?

My pattern notebook is now sporting this ugly and glaring note. 

You can see block 2 done in the current direction on the pattern picture.  Luckily it won't really effect the over all outcome but I don't want to continue making the same mistake. 

Happy stitching.

It's a time warp...

or something.  Yesterday, May 24th, in western NY temperatures barely got out of the 40's.  There was snow over at the ski resort across the lake.  Today it's just about the same temperature but the sky is bright blue.  Too windy and cold to be outside, though. 

My flowers don't seem to mind.

 

The cold weather matched my project.  I made this little wall hanging in the spring but quilted it Friday.

 

I quilted it using a pattern that looks like chicken wire. 

 

I'm sure the heat of summer will be here soon enough.  I'm just glad we didn't have any outdoor plans.

 

No matter the season, I'm always happy to be sewing. 

 

Happy Stitching. 

I really wasn't abducted....

maybe hijacked...but not abducted.  We have been so busy these last few weeks.  I don't think I've ever had such a busy spring.  Day after day and evening after evening.  Today I think the roller coaster is slowing. 

We had a college graduation (summa cum laude...not to brag or anything but I'm sure thrilled), a board of education election (me...yup...took the plunge), and the middle child got a fabulous summer internship that takes him back to his college campus for the summer.  I miss that kid every day.  We are so proud of his accomplishments that I wouldn't dream of holding him back. 

My girls will be working away from home for the summer.  My plan is to sew, sew, sew.  I should be cranking out finishes at an alarming rate.  (Cross my fingers and knock on wood that something else doesn't dominate my days.)

In the mean time...I finished all 4 Silhouette pieces according to plan.  Sort of.  I stitched all 4 at the rate of one a month like I'd hoped but didn't finish-finish the last two until this month.  It's all good, though.  Nobody is keeping track...right? 

They are so cute but not so cute that I actually want to stitch any more.  The spring/Easter patterns are really cute but I passed on adding them to my stash.  At some point I have to decide I have enough of something.  Lord knows, I have enough* stash! 

 

*I know...'enough' is relative.  I have 'enough' for now. 

 

Can't wait to see what everyone else is stitching and sewing this summer. 

An inspired post.

I am killing time this morning until it's time to leave for some errands.  So, instead of making good use of my time, I am blog hopping.  (I visit my favorite blogs and check out the blogs they list as their favorites.)  I came across this post that inspired me to head to the basement and find my camera and take a few pictures of this book......

My well worn copy of Betty Crocker's Cookbook. 

 

Kelli writes about finding an old edition of this cookbook.  Somehow, from the picture, I doubt it's as well loved as mine.  She remembers her mother using this book and comments about what a good cook her mother is. 

 

Look at the binding of mine! 

 

The pages with the most spots and bends are a hint as to which pages I use the most.  This page has the recipe for apple crisp. 

 

I got my edition as a wedding present along with a cute apron.  Inside the front cover it says that it's the 3rd printing and published in 1987.  Not exactly a vintage book, but boy is it useful. 

Unlike Kelli, my mother was not a good cook.  I didn't learn much of anything about cooking while growing up so I needed a book with the basics.  Despite my love of cookbooks and the small collection I've managed to build over the years, Betty Crocker still comes out every Thanksgiving for tips on cooking a turkey. It has my favorite mac and cheese recipe and all the basic pie recipes you'll ever need. 

I'd say my second favorite cookbook is anything by Gooseberry Patch.  There are some great recipes in those books.  Hint...the little mini versions are often free or only $.99 on Amazon for download onto your Kindle or ipad with Kindle app. 

I'd love to hear about your 'go to' cookbook.  What do you like about it and what are your favorite recipes? 

Happy stitching (and cooking)! 

Chicks rule.

 

My newest  block of the month is Chick Jubilee.  I've ordered it from Shabby Fabrics.  It should be a fun one.  I got my first kit the other day but I didn't open it so I don't know which block it is.  They're all cute so it doesn't matter. 

Happy Stitching.

Progress.

I continue to make progress on my Sam/Sarah Advent pieces. 

 

I even stitched one extra this month.  I lost count of what's been stitched and they're so quick and easy to pick up that I just started another without counting. 

The exciting project is this quilt......The Great Pumpkin.  I mentioned this one last fall as trying to kill me.  No exaggeration, either.  That top band....huge.  The pattern was a nightmare, too.  I finally just tackled it step by step.  There is also a block in there that I had to create myself.  I don't know what ever happened to my July monthly block.  I either never got it or lost it.  It's hard to believe I lost it because I'm pretty darn organized.  It happened when I got home from Costa Rica and things were chaotic.  However I didn't discover there was a missing block until I was sewing the top together.  I simply let too much time go by to figure out what might have happened.  The store denied not sending one and I wasn't going to pay for another. 

 

 Anyhow, the quilting is amazing. 

 

Look at the echo around those stars. 

Enough time has gone by since I dropped the dreaded thing off at my quilters to make me happy about it.  Absense makes the heart grow fonder and all that. 

I am anxiously watching my mailbox for the newest block of the month I signed up for.  Suspense.....I'll track down a photo of the project for my next post.

Happy Stitching. 

As March winds down

with fresh snow on the ground I'm heading for points south today...woot.  Before going I finished my last* 2 Advent pieces....

 

Sorry about the shadow but I guess that's the way it goes some days.  No time to redo it, either.   I love that snowman.  He's not your average stationary snowman.  He looks like he's ready to come celebrate Advent with us. 

 

I have packed a long-neglected embroidery project.  Although, it's hard to say if I'll really have much stitching time. 

 

Happy stitching and happy spring...

 

*By 'last' I mean the two I needed to finish to satisfy this month's allotment of four. I still have 12 to go.