Too Long Between Posts!

It has been too long since I visited with you and showed you what I have been up to.

Good news!  The weather has been wonderful here!  Sunny, 70's and low 80's everyday.  The only thing is I need to be faithful in watering my garden.

 

I finished my Diane Clements Autumn Jewels class this weekend.  This is what I finished in class-

 

 

It was my first experience with Montenegrin stitch and braid stitch. Thank goodness Diane had them charted out in the instruction booklet!

 

This is Diane's completed model-

 

The inside of Diane's model box with the smalls-

I still have 5 more classes before the end of the year-

1. Terry Dryden's Tropical Jazz in September

2. Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods-Button Lover's Brag Book in November

3. Catherine Theron-Hidden Magnolia (all in September)
4. Catherine Theron-Peaceable Kingdom 
5. Catherine Theron-No Place Like Home book

 

Here is my latest finish-

Blackbird Designs Flowers for Sarah needlecase

(inside the Thank You, Sarah Tobias book)

30 ct belfast linen-cream color

Called for threads

 

I folded up the linen to make the pockets and pinned them so you could get the idea of what it will look like when actually finish-finished.

Remember this one?  It is Birds of a Feather Birth Sampler.  I just got it back from DD#2. It only needs the baby's blanket and the name/date added to the roof to be finished.  DD#3 and her hubby are keeping the baby's name a secret.  So I've been calling her Bubba (hoping to aggravate DD#3 and get her to correct me with the real name, but no luck, she thinks its funny :) Oh, yes, due date is Sept 6.

Here is my progress on Margaret Bendig's All American frameweight.  It was the June program for my local EGA chapter. 

My neighbor had a barn sale. I saw it after dropping off grandson at VBS last week.  Look what I picked up for $1 each!  I thought it was a good haul :)

Another new start-you probably recognize Part One of the LHN mystery.

Two more finishes in the Red Brolly free Le Jardin quilt. One is American daisy and the other is English daisies.The link here is to the latest block in the series.

 

One question-I just found a little stain on the fabric of the Poppy block. If you click on the pic you will be able to see it on the right margin. Do you think I should re-stitch this block? 

Here is something else I have been doing-pickles and green beans.  51 quarts of green beans from my garden (and I gave away 16 half-full grocery bags of beans that we just couldn't eat).  And 4 pints of kosher dill stackers and 5 pints of bread and butter pickles.

Whew!  I'm exhausted!

And the Winner Is........

The lucky winner of my 400 Follower Celebration giveaway is #39

 

Katrina from The Needle's Promise!

 

Congratulations, Katrina!

 

July 4th-A Finishing Weekend

It was a busy weekend here.  I admit that I took a long 4-day weekend and spent it in the garden and at my sewing machine. It was way past time to attack my pile to be finish-finished.  So, in that vein, let me present.....

 

Crabapple Hill's Embroiderer's Blessing finished with Moda Coquette fabric. 

This is a 20" pillow and it took 2 fat quarters for the backing.  I saw a sewing hint on one of Nancy's shows that recommended curving the corners of pillows.   Not sure if I like the results or not.

Sheepish Designs Alpha Trio

Finished as a wallhanging using one piece of bellpull hardware (thought it would be efficient to save the matching bottom piece for another finish someday) Haven't found a place to hang it up yet :(

Stacy Nash Spring Flowers Pinkeep

Made into a pincushion or pin pillow (what is the difference?)

A New Start and Finish!

Anni Downs Hatched and Patched

Home For Christmas Freebie-click on this link to see Anni's example and get the download

 

This is my first attempt at a little hand applique wall hanging. It called for double-sided fusible web and it was my first use of it.  The pattern has to be reversed and then ironed to the wrong side of the fabric.  Well, I managed to put 1/2 of the pieces on the wrong side and the other half on the right side.  :)

 

I am just not good at following directions!  ( a nice way to say lazy, shhhhh) Here's another example-the instructions called to cut the pieced portion to 8 1/2" wide.  Since I used a layer cake from Moda Jovial I used the entire 10" length and added an extra scallop at the bottom.  My favorite Chrismas colors are blue and white. 

Here is Wooden Spool Designs Gingerbread House finished.  I had some wonderful chenille rick rack in my stash.  It looks great on this 18" pillow.

Backing fabric from my stash.

I finished another baby quilt this weekend and forgot to take a photo before I sent it over to be machine quilted.  I'll put a photo up when I get it back.  Meanwhile, I didn't forget about big- sister-to-be Amber.  I made this little pillow and the book below for her as her gift when the new baby arrives. It won't be long now, DD#3 is due Sept 6.

Do you think my pile needing finish-finishing is gone?  He, he, he.... no way.

 

DD #1 has been busy too.  Here is her finish of Lizzie Kate's snowmen.  This was my Christmas present to her.  So, so cute!

 

2013 Sal de Maryse

I'm caught up again!

 

A New Beginning- 

Autumn Jewels by Diane Clements

Her class is at the end of this month and I started the pre-work.

 

One last photo-DD#2 gave me back these pillowcases that my Grandma made.  I'm glad she did that rather than throw them away and never tell me.  Grandma passed away in 2000 at 89 years old. 

 

That's it for now.  I'm heading back out to the garden where I'm beginning to be overrun with green beans.  Something tells me I'll be canning beans tomorrow.  BTW, I have tomatoes ripening on the plants already.  That is VERY unusual around here so early in the summer.  It usually happens around Labor Day. 

Stitchy Update

It has been a crazy, busy two weeks since I posted last.  One whole week was spent photographing and listing items on ebay for a large consignment I received.  Then another week invoicing, packaging, relisting unsold items, and multiple trips to the post office. At one point I had 237 active auctions.  That is a personal best for me.

 

I also finished my first machine applique class.  It was two sessions one week apart. 

One of my quilting classes was cancelled due to low enrollment.  That leaves me 3 more to finish this summer. One is a weekend in August.  The other two meet monthly and I am enjoying them both immensely.

 

Thanks to Giovanna for pointing out to me that I forgot to put in the window panes on Christmas at Hollyberry Farm. I had put them off until the very end. Then, at the end, I forgot them! Now they are in and I like the results much better. The windows don't look like black holes :)

 

I finished stitching the first block in A Wooly Good Year.  My confidence in working with wool is building!  The pic I showed you before (in a previous post) was just pinned in place. The pattern is below-

I also finished The Gingerbread House from Gingerbread & Gumdrops by Wooden Spool Designs. The pic I showed you before was also just pinned. See the pattern below-

 

 

And I finished Embroidery Envelope by Crabapple Hill.  This was a WIP from 2 years ago. I am so pleased with the way it turned out!  Every bit is handstitched. The inside is below-

Stacy Nash Spring Flowers Pinkeep

Recently released in that cute, little box shown. This one was started at retreat.  The backing fabric included in the kit is behind the stitching. Please excuse the hoop mark.

Blackbird Designs Pumpkin Blossom Needlecase

All three parts

28 ct evenweave

Called for GAST threads

Now this needlecase will join the other two pieces I already finished in 2012. The Pumpkin Blossom pincushion and sewing boxtop.  Pics below-

 

 

 

I hope you have made it with me to this point in a long, picture-heavy post.  Because today is a celebration of reaching 400 followers!  That is remarkable to me.  I am thankful for each and every one of you. And grateful for the time you spend in my little corner of the world.  Your comments and caring words brighten my days.

 

 And I have a small giveaway to offer, but want this to be for my faithful readers/commenters/followers.  That's why I didn't mention it on the post title. And no need to post this on your blog.

 

Included in this giveaway-

Little House Needleworks The Sampler Lady with 28 ct linen fabric and all of the DMC threads to finish it.  Also included is a sweet strawberry pincushion with 2 pins-a strawberry and a yellow daisy. 

If you are interested in being entered in this giveaway, requirements are very simple-

1. Leave a comment on this post only.

2. Giveaway closes on July 12, 2013.

 

That's it.  If you are not a follower, or don't have an email linked to your blog, be sure to leave me your email in your comment.

 

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th of July.  It will be a quiet, stay-at-home night for us. 

P>S> I changed the photo in my header so you can see I really do live At Willow Tree Pond.  There is an egret in the picture, too. :)