Fall Busyness

Finish #1-Ladies Prim Society Blackbird Designs Song of Spring

The R & R prim yellow linen has a tinge of yellow in it and this photo caught the linen color best.

Finish #2-Christmas Tree Table Topper

I left off the red ric rac because the tree trunks were so short.  You can kinda get an idea of the backing fabric I chose on the sides (it is the wrong side of the fabric).  It is a vintage Christmas tree fabric from my stash.  It is already at the long arm quilter's as I couldn't figure out how to quilt this.

 

P>S> I bought 3 quilt tops off of ebay.  All very different designs.  One is black toile and black fabric and I decided to make a shower curtain out of it.  So I took the binding that came with it and sewed 4 strips across the top and folded over the top strip to put buttonholes in (so I can put the shower hooks thru the buttonholes) .  It turned out so cute!  A photo next time.  The other 2 quilts are at the long arm quilter too.

Did I say last time I had 7 classes this year?  OK, it is really 8 classes. I forgot about this one that I attended yesterday.  Debbie Busby from Wooden Spool Designs came to my LQS and we started this design.

Debbie is a most generous teacher and made us all a mug rug, and gave us a free new pattern.  She also included with the pattern for this design a small snowflake charm to use on this wallhanging. You can see it if you look closely at the photo.  This is my start on the first block.

We also had an opportunity for stash enhancement :)  Debbie had made a threesome of stacked pumpkins from this tomato pattern.  Then she put them in a little black cast iron dutch oven.  So, so cute!

Can't believe I forgot to take a photo :( 

Also, she hand-dyes wool and sold us fat quarters of wool at a discounted rate.  You can see I succumbed to temptation with 7 fat quarters.  And I  did not buy the most fat quarters by a long shot!!

Finish #3-A quilt-as-you-go flannel Baby Quilt

Bought this on my Alaskan cruise at a quilt store in Ketchikan, Alaska.

It just needs binding put on and it is ready to give as a gift.

 

No , I don't know what the new grandbaby coming in March will be.  But, if it's a boy, I'm ready!  If not, I'll put this one in the baby shower drawer for the next one I'm invited to a shower for a boy.

Last, but not least is my Mary's sampler.  I was caught up until today's new Week 5 release.

I am using a dove grey 32 ct linen and the called-for overdyed threads.  Couldn't believe I had every thread already in my stash!

 

One thing more-I had some comments last post about my retreats for next year. To clarify, they are all local retreats!  No flying around the country for me next year.  I even decided to pass on the regional EGA seminar in Reno, Nevada next year.   Here are the retreats I have planned for next year-

 

1. Meg Hawkey's Crabapple Hill spring retreat

2. Meg Hawkey's Crabapple Hill summer retreat

(I signed up last year for them and soon I get to go!!)

3. Pacific Beach annual retreat on the Pacific Ocean (again)  This will be year 5 for me.

4. Gold Bar retreat with the Northwest Sampler Guild

5. Gold Bar retreat with the EGA Evergreen Chapter

 

Gold Bar is a tiny town in the western foothills of the Cascade mountains. It is a beautiful, peaceful church camp and right next door to a state park with walking trails. It is a wonderful retreat location.

 

There is actually the possibility of one more retreat in Coeur d'Alene, ID with the Spokane stitcher's guild.  But I'm not sure about that one at this time.

 

Now none of the above retreats are expensive.  All are very reasonable priced between $200-$300.  3 or 4 nights lodging and all meals (except Meg's where lodging is not included)

 

Whew, this turned out to be a longwinded post!  Thanks for sticking with me! 

 

 Hope you all have a very Happy Halloween.  We get no trick or treaters at our house so we will spend it babysitting 2 month old, Brooke, while her sister goes trick or treating.  I'll try to remember to get some photos.

I Got a New Computer and Updates

I've got a new computer.

That's it. 

I know you'll understand now why I've been gone so long.

DH reassures me that I will get "used" to it. Well, I don't like disappearing links and  unannounced restart when I'm in the middle of something :(  And a hundred other things. Talk about cranky!  Am I the only one that doesn't connect "new" to improved?

Here is what I've been doing. I finished BBD Wild Garden. Very fun stitch and stress-free. Linen and threads provided in the kit.

Here are the first two blocks to the Natalie Bird Red Home quilt.  I am the only one in my class to do raw-edge applique with Lite Steam a Seam II and whip stitches.  Everyone else is doing needleturn applique. Do you think I'll regret my decision?

And a new start from the Ladies Prim Society-Blackbird Designs Song of Spring. Linen and thread also provided. Another relaxing stitch.  Other than the 4 sided stitch for the alphabet, there aren't any specialty stitches.  

Here is the latest on my Prairie Schooler Alphabet.  I'm still hoping to get it finished this year.

I have decided to call 2013 the Year of Classes.  I have one more class to go-Patricks Woods Button Lovers Brag Book in November.  That makes a total of 7 class projects I will have to work on next year from 2013. (Not counting any other WIP's)

So I'm calling 2014 the Year of Retreats. Yes, so far I have 5 retreats scheduled next year

and no doubt, I'll need all of them!

Five Classes and Seven New Starts :)

I have been away from my blog for a while.  Well, I have got several good reasons!

 

Two days after I got back from my Alaskan cruise, I packed up and left for Salt Lake City and 3 classes with Catherine Theron and the Swan Sampler Guild!

It was a lovely time.

Here is what I started-

 

The Hidden Magnolia Sampler

 

My Peacable Kingdom

and No Place Like Home Stitchery Book

Here is Catherine with Peaceable Kingdom.

Here is our class busy at work in the most beautiful clubhouse I have ever seen. (And I have seen quite a few since I am a realtor :)  See the open door in the back left of the pic.  That leads to a home theater with cushy, leather recliners set in a sloping floor just like a commercial movie theater.  Wow! Yes, there was a swimming pool too.

The Swan Sampler Guild ladies are a very talented bunch of stitchers and I wanted you to see some of their show and tell.  The above sampler is one of Catherine's designs called Morning Has Broken. Stitched by Lynn.

A band sampler also designed by Catherine and stitched by Lynn.

Another band sampler designed by Catherine and stitched by Jean.

Gay Ann Rogers Elizabeth stitched by Lynn

Not sure whose design this one is or who the stitcher was, but isn't it adorable?

 

 

Another wonderful WIP-looks like maybe a HAED design?

While I was in SLC, I was notified that I was a winner at a giveaway on Kathy Schmitz' blog-woo hoo!  Here is my prize-a fat eighths bundle of Kathy's new fabric line called Piecemakers.  Thanks, Kathy!

I got home again last weekend just in time to start a new quilt at my LQS. It is called Red Home Applique Quilt by Natalie Bird. From the Red Home book.  Natalie is a designer from Australia. This is the class quilt.

 

 I got to take Tropical Jazz from Terry Dryden this past weekend.  Isn't her purse lovely?  Not sure how I will finish mine yet. 

It was a small class and Terry is a delightful teacher. Nine students and 5 ghost students.

 

Are you tired yet?  I am.

 I also started Wild Garden by Blackbird Designs

Last but certainly not least is Christmas in My Heart by All Through the Night Bonnie Sullivan.  I had to trace the entire design onto a huge piece of freezer paper then trace again onto the base fabric.  The wool pieces are also all cut out.  It is time to start stitching!

 

 

North to Alaska!

Do you remember that old song by Johnny Horton?

I keep singing it in my head.

Yes, I am back from Alaska and it was a wonderful time!

 

Here is what I was stitching on before I left on the cruise-Prairie Schooler Alphabet on ecru congress cloth using overdyes. 

 

There is now enough stitched to move the whole project over on the stretcher bars and continue on with the last 9 blocks. See below-

 

Gosh, I hope it is finished this year!!

 

Here is the ship I cruised on-the Norwegian Jewel.  It was my first-ever cruise!

 

Here is who I cruised with-yes, Sponge Bob!  My grandson was not happy that he wasn't invited :)

And Diego and Dora

 

We got to see a lumberjack contest in Ketchikan, Alaska. 

And we got within 1/2 mile of the Sawyer Glacier! Yes, it was actually blue snow.

When we got to Juneau we had to wait to dock.  So the ship used engined lifeboats to "tender" us to shore.  This photo is from above when we had taken the Mt Roberts Tramway up the mountain.

Never doubt that I had some stitching with me and this is what I finished onboard the ship. It is a freebie by Red Brolly.  But for the life of me, I can't find the link :(

 

Have a great week!

Labor Day Weekend labors & More Good News!

I set a goal for the long Labor Day weekend.  Finish stitching 3 items. Then that set me off onto a search for 3 things that were not too far from being finished  :)

I worked all day on Saturday. But finished this February block of A Wooly Good Year.

After church on Sunday, I finished Patrick's Woods Spotted Hare Needle Purse.

And 2013 SAL de Maryse was finished on Monday!

Really love the chocolate cherry mystery fabric I used with the Gloriana Fresh Snow silk.

 

No new starts though and I'm dying to start something new :)

Couldn't remember if I shared with you this Laura Perin Christmas ornament all finish-finished?

And did you see LHN Mellicent Turner all framed?

We bought a youth bed this weekend and assembled it for Amber.  She is just too big for the pack n play.  This was her first time using it for a nap.  Yes, she figured out that she could get out of it but she stayed in the second time.

 

Oh, yes, I also canned 14 pints of salsa and 17 pints of kosher dill stackers this weekend. And hosted a family BBQ on Monday. 

 

Now for the more good news  :)

DD#2 missed all the excitement of baby Brooke arriving because she was on a cruise.  Well, she came back from the cruise and informed the family that she is expecting!! Woo Hoo!  3 grandkids in 3 years!   She is due in March. 

 

Have a great week everyone!  Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog.

Welcome Baby Brooke!

 

 

A hearty welcome to Baby Brooke Sapphire!

She was born two weeks early on Wednesday, August 21st after only 4 hours of all natural labor  ( I'm so proud of DD#3) Here is DD#3 with 19 month old Amber and very new Brooke.

(Don't know why I didn't get a picture with son-in-law in it too-he was there and very happy)

 

Here is DD#1 holding her new niece.  And Grandson is closeby keeping a careful watch on both of his cousins :)

DD#2 was on an Alaskan cruise and missed all the excitement.

 

Here are the happy grandparents!

 

 Brooke's quilt is finished and barely in time. The baby shower is this Thursday and Brooke will get to attend in person :)

And the Birds of a Feather birth sampler is now completely finished and framed with name and vital statistics. It will also make its appearance at the baby shower.

 

 

We were able to follow thru with plans to visit Mountain Springs Lodge just outside of Leavenworth, WA on Friday with DD#1's family.  We were treated to a wagon ride pulled by 2 Belgian draft horses-they weigh 2,000 lbs each!

 

Here is our wagon, driver and team.

 

Here is grandson getting to hold the reins and drive the team.  Not bad for 8 years old.

After the scenic ride, we got a down-home BBQ meal including chicken, ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, cornbread, iced tea or lemonade and chocolate fudge pie dessert (can't remember the exact name. Suffice it to say it was delicious and rich!) OMG! I didn't eat for 24 hours after this meal.

More news-

I won a giveaway on Nicola's Scarlet Letter blog. The email notification arrived on Brooke's birth day.  (I thought I should buy a lottery ticket as it was my lucky day)  

It arrived promptly and I just love it!  It is  c. 1800 gift pincushion kit (small, fast to stitch and with all the linen and threads already here)

 It says "The gift is small but love is all". Wonderful sentiments. Thank you Cheri!

 One more finish-the wool applique project from my LQS weekend retreat.

I added the buttons and stripes on the flag (the original showed embroidered stripes on the flag).  I love the way it turned out.

 

I know many of you are waiting for my update about the Debbie Macomber yarn shop and tea shop field trip. Which happened the day after Brooke's arrival.  Well, I was busy with grandma duties and had to miss it. Oh, don't worry. I plan to go in the not too distant future and will give you an update and pics then.