Antique Show and A Winner!

DH and I went to Portland, OR on Saturday and visited Acorns & Threads for the very first time.  Jeanine, the owner, set up a beautiful booth at the EGA seminar in Tacoma last June.

Then we spent the rest of the day at the big antique show at the Portland Expo Center.

 

The samplers were few & expensive, but here is what I found.

 

 

I have been glued to the tv watching the coverage of Hurricane Sandy.  It totally slipped my mind to have the drawing for LHN's Fresh From the Garden!

 

So, better late than never---

 

 

Here is little Amber, 9 months old, and crawling now. 

She is drawing the winner....

 

 

Here is the winner!  After a short visit to Amber's mouth, the winner is ...

 

 

 

Sue!!

 

Congratulations, Sue :)

2 Finishes!

Finish #1-My Crabapple Hill Retreat project

This piece also has shading done with crayons! 

Not sure what I'll do with this yet.  It is on a wonderful piece of linen with a decorative edging to it. (Sorry I didn't get that in the pic.)

Finish #2-my first "real" quilt top from my beginners quilting class

It is an original design from my teacher "incorporating two traditional patchwork patterns, a block sometimes called "Double Four-patch" and a block called "Friendship Star." I can tell already that picking out fabric for future projects will be a challenge for me. It took help from my teacher and the shop owner to get these 3 chosen.

 

Our final class is next week.  We will be pinning the top, batting, and back together.  Then we will be shown some machine quilting and my teacher agreed to get me started on Amber's baby quilt.  :)

Then we will practice attaching and hand-finishing some binding.  I am so happy I took this class!  Now I might actually get started on the two BOM that are already accumulating in my craft room.

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

2 Starts, 3 Finishes, And A RAK

 

New Start #1-SAL with Maryse

 

Finally got this one started even if it is pretty pitiful! It took me some time to come up with some different words to use.  Welcome to the Country just wasn't doing it for me. I decided to put our last name on it and Est. 1979.  Hope that makes sense.

I'm using 35ct natural linen and DMC threads. One thread over 2. I don't think it is too late to join if you're interested.  Click on the name Maryse above.  There is a picture of the almost complete SAL there.

 

 

 

 Start #2 and Finish #1

Little House Needleworks Fresh from the Garden

30 ct. R & R Reproductions Olde Towne Blend scrap

Called for Crescent Colours threads

I'm only interested in the needlebook on this one--won't stitch the sampler.  I did make one substitution.  I didn't have CC English Ivy so I used GAST Chives and loved the way it turned out.

If you're interested in this gently used pattern only, leave me a note in the comments.  If there is more than one interested party,  I'll have a drawing on next Monday and mail it to the winner.

 

Finish #2-LHN  A Stitcher's Heart

 

Just back from the finisher's and I am in love!  It turned out so great! DD #3 said-It even looks like you, Mom  :) 

Finish #3-Blackbird Designs Peacock Pinkeep

Don't remember the fabric

HDF silk threads

 

Also back from the finisher's .  Oh, my, this thing has some heft to it!  I sent Victorian Motto champagne chenille trim with the completed stitching to my finisher and she finished it according to the instructions with rolled-up wool inside.  The lid doesn't open.  Since I am the type to look for a quick and easy finish-finish no doubt I would have put this on a painted box top and called it good. But this is sooo much better!

 

Last, but definitely not least, is the wonderful RAK I received from Rana at Stitch by Stitch!

I have been pretty low in spirits because of my cut fingers, but this perked me right up :)

I recognize this as a BOAF design but have never seen it in person before--it is just adorable!

 

And look what she did to the inside,  lined top and bottom and she included a limited edition GAST thread, scissor fob (with my birthdate on it), tree ornament, and little coffin of candy.  Thanks ever so much again, Rana!

 

Now I am off to sew on more quilt squares from my next beginner's quilt class tomorrow night. I only have 9 more to do.  I'll keep you posted. 

Have a great week!

Life Happens

Not a lot of stitching got done this week.

 

Last week I was slicing raw carrots on my new mandolin to put them in the dehydrator  **Good news- there was many, many carrots from the garden this year** 

 

With only about 1/2 of the carrots done, yes, I sliced two of my fingers!  It isn't a cut like with a knife where there are 2 edges to draw together and put in a stitch.  It is like being skinned!  Therefore, no pictures of the injuries!  The cuts are getting better, slowly but surely.  But it is difficult to stitch or type because the cuts are on the tips of my fingers.  Luckily my beginner's quilting class is on a 2 week break.

 

Here is the little I have worked on-

Sweet Blossoms-class pre-work

Merry Cox

Fabric and threads from kit

The pre-work is finished and I wanted you to see what I decided to do for the flowers.  They are a combination of the called-for buttonhole flowers (for the larger ones) and small dusty pink buttons (for the smaller ones). 

 

I am pleased with the results.  AND pleased that I am ready for all three classes in Nov!

Alpha Designs Series

Sheepish Designs

I decide to work towards the bottom then go back and work to the top of the fabric.  I did make one thread change-orange 722 to orange 921.  It looks so much better!

 

Hopefully my fingers will be feeling better by this weekend and I'll be able to finish the final 13 squares of my first "real" quilt :)

 

Have a great week!

Crabapple Hill Retreat!

It was a wonderful 3 days!  I left home at 5:30 am on Friday. The weather was mild, warm and no rain.  This is what I saw when I pulled up to the Crabapple Hill studio. Meg Hawkey, the owner, holds 4 retreats per year.  One each quarter. As I mentioned before, I was on the waiting list and was able to fill the final spot available.

Inside the studio before everyone descended to get started! As you can see it is a small group only 18 attendees.

The place setting was so beautiful and made me want to dig in and get started!

Here are some examples of Crabapple Hill products and Meg's brand new line of fabric is lined up on the bottom left. 

 

 As usual, seeing things in person is so much better than the photos online or even on the patterns.  There is so much I want to do!!  Guess it's a good thing I'm in a beginning quilt class :)

Here is my work table-my space is the empty chair on the left.   My tablemates were all very friendly to a lady on her own. There were ladies there who drove much further than I did. From California and Oregon.

 

The food was delicious and homemade by Meg. We all ate way too much.  Thanks, Meg!

The pattern on the right I won as a doorprize.  It is one of the new releases for Crabapple Hill.  The pattern on the left was in my basket of goodies.

I made the scissor fob (my first one ever).   The acorn was made by Meg and the scissors were for us also!  (I can't get the photo to flip over)

Here is the needlecase I made-this is the front & back.  My very first yo-yo and also, my first gathered trim.  This trim was fabric but I have seen many ribbons gathered like this for edge finishing on ornaments, etc.  I am my own worse critic when learning something new, but Meg helped immensely and I was happy with the results. Thanks again, Meg.

This is the needlecase inside. The feather stitch down the middle on the outside secured the wool flap inside-pretty ingenious!

We also made brooms! Well, witch's brooms-they are 5-6 feet tall!  Here is our group picture with our brooms. I am third from the left in the front row.

This is the retreat stitching project. I love it!  The autumn theme is one I love much better than a Halloween theme.  It can also be displayed well after Halloween is over.

Here is my progress on the project.

 

We also went on a field trip to a store called Beaver Bark.  Sounds interesting, huh?  It is a nursery with a gift shop.  The gift shop is enormous and, at this time of year, filled with a wide selection of Halloween and autumn decoration.  Really lovely shopping opportunity.

 

Altogether it was a wonderful time.  I would love to go again someday. 

What else have I been doing, you ask?  Well, here are 12 quilt squares that I sewed for my beginning quilt class that meets tonight for the 2nd time.  We are making a small quilt that my teacher designed.  I'll keep you updated with my progress.

 

Don't ask how many squares I had to rip out and sew over!!   I am still undecided about my color/fabric selections but will keep going in faith that I will grow to like it better as I progress.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

2 Finishes, 2 Starts and an Update

Finish #1-Crabapple Hill-don't know the title

The July class is finished!  The daisies at the top were just lazy daisy stitches layered over a piece of felt to give dimension. Then the border.  The class sample was finished as a mini-quilt.  I am trying to come up with a different way to finish this.  It measures approx 8" x 6".  Any ideas?

Start #1 and Finish #2-Ewe & Eye & Friends

Liberty House

Mystery linen-found deep in my sewing cabinet

Called for DMC threads

 

Do you see anything that looks funny on this one?  The pattern is nearly a square (54 X 57 stitches) and my ornament is definitely a rectangle!  This linen is so old (maybe 25-30 yrs) I have no idea where I got it or what the original intent was for it.  It it a very large piece and has nice little flecks of brown in it.  When I started stitching the border I noticed the problem and counted BOTH directions of the fabric (instead of just one direction) and I have an unevenweave linen! (It could have come from a flea market or antique store and be older than I think).  Really nice for a reproduction sampler, but probably not for other stitching :) 

 

This still turned out so cute, though. I did substitute the brown thread for the bird as the ecru was not showing on my fabric. 

 

Thank you, Jeanne, for loaning me your pattern!  It will be on its way home tomorrow :)

Start #2-Red Brolly

The Three Bears Toy Bag freebie-click HERE

 

Not sure if I'll end up making this into a bag, but LOVE the design!

Merry Cox

Sweet Little Blossoms

Class Pre-Work

 

The pre-work stitching is finished except for the flowers.  I still am not liking the buttonhole flowers.  My favorite idea so far is to use buttons!  They are not attached, but laid in place so you could get an idea of what I am thinking.   What do you think?

 

I am off very early on Friday morning to the Crabapple Hill retreat! Looking forward to it!  I'll be sure to update you next week.

2 Finishes, A Frame and Good News!

Jardin Prive

Carre d'Abeilles

32ct evenweave

Called for DMC threads

 

Finish #1 Absolutely love the pink/green colors on this mattress pincushion. It's now tucked away in my growing to-be-finished pile :)

Blackbird Designs Autumn booklet

Pumpkin Blossom Pincushion

32 ct LL Sand Dune

Called for CC and GAST threads

 

Finish #2 This one was started at the June retreat I went to.  I love this whole Pumpkin Blossom line of smalls.

 

I picked up a large rectangular frame at last weeks EGA meeting for $5.  It was amongst many donations to the guild from the family of one of our members that passed away.  And in went my Blackbird Designs 2008 mystery sampler!   I am ok with it not being a perfect fit(obviously :)

 

 

 

Now, the good news. 

 

Remember the Crabapple Hill class I went to in July?  Well, Meg Hawkey holds retreats at her home in central, southern WA state 4 times each year.  And I was so very lucky to fill the final spot at her fall retreat in 2 weeks!  Woo Hoo!  I am so excited!  Click HERE to see some photos of past retreats.

 

Then, I have my trip to AZ in Nov for 3 Merry Cox classes with Attic Needlework.  Can't wait to finally see their store!

 

Then, there is another stitching retreat with EGA in November when I get back from AZ. 

 

Then, I need to mail my Advent exchange that I am doing with Lorrie from Iowa. I am getting very close to being ready, Lorrie!

 

Then, in December I will be sworn in as treasurer for my local EGA guild for 2013-2014.  Did I forget to mention that I still work too?  lol

 

The rest of this year is going to go by so fast. 

Stitchy Update

Sarah Salter is framed. I love the simpleness of the frame and the little nicks and scratches on it.  Just like an old frame that an antique sampler might be framed in.  No, not from a thrift store this time.... a garage sale :)  There were actually 2 matching frames and Amber's birth announcement went into the other frame.

 

I spent last Saturday and Sunday at a 2 day stitch-in with my sampler guild. It was held in the meeting room at a local police department.  We didn't see any dangerous criminals, but the price was right (free) and the family-owned pizza shop across the street turned out delicious product!

 

Here is what I worked on-

Crabapple Hill's project from my July class.  I made a lot of progress.  Taught myself how to do the cast-on stitch and put the centers in the pansys and the petals on 3 of the forget-me-nots.  Next is a couple of large daisies up next to the "Sweet" sign marked by the 2 X's. Then the borders and some beads.

 

Sisters freebie from Bronwyn at Red Brolly

This went really quick! I can tell I need some practice at tracing patterns.  There are several lines that I couldn't cover up with thread :(  Maybe a pillow or a flat-fold finish.

Carre d'Abeilles

Jardin Prive

32 ct evenweave

Called for DMC threads

 

This was one of the projects I started at the retreat in June.  I still have the bottom and the last 2 sides to finish, but the hardest part is done.

My work so far on the third class with Merry Cox in AZ in November-Sweet Little Blossoms.  This is the outline for the prework only.  Funny, I finished all the stitching pieces on the first project. The second project I was getting a little burned-out and only stitched the required class pre-work.  Now I am feeling a lot burned-out and struggling to get this one done.

 

I am not too enthused with the buttonhole wheel flowers on this project (and there are a lot of them!).  Am thinking I might substitute spider web roses (not sure if that is the right name, email if you know the right name) or maybe more of those cast-on forget me nots from the Crabapple Hill project?  Any ideas?

 

I signed up for a beginning quilt class. It meets 4 of the Tuesdays in Oct. I loved the idea of not having it drag on thru the winter. 

 

Some wonderful teachers are heading to the Pacific NW next year.  Amy Mitten, Debbie Stiehler, Diane Clements, Sherri Patrick, Terry Dryden and more!  More reason to say goodbye to the Crazy January Challenge next year :)

Two Labor Day Finishes!

Sarah Salter

Sheepish Designs

32 ct Lambswool linen

Called for DMC/Soie d'Alger threads

Bucilla Sophie Birth Record kit

Aida and threads in kit

 

Our family Round Robin on Amber's birth announcement is finished!  It is just as sweet as Amber is :)

Two Executive Decisions

Many of my followers will remember last year when I confessed that my 2011 Crazy January Challenge had to be "amended."  At the beginning I had been unable to pick just 15 items for the challenge and ended up with 16 items.  As 2011 progressed my executive decision was to finally edit out the "extra" project.  (It was Brightneedle's Pretty in Pink)

 

Now as part of my 2012 Crazy January Challenge I  counted all 3 Sheepish Designs Alpha Series as 1 project.  When I pulled it out last night I thought "What was I thinking?!" So another executive decision had to be made. 

 

Now I am counting each pattern as a separate piece of the 2012 Crazy January Challenge :)  You saw that coming, I'll bet.  There are 11 finished projects for this year's challenge so far.  These will be numbers 12-14.  The last project needing to be completed is Brightneedle's Pretty in Pink :)  It deserves to be finished this year, I think.

 

So, what got eliminated?  LHN's He is Risen and L'Atelier Perdu's My Christmas Stocking 2012.  I still love them both and kept them in my staging box. 

 

As you can see below there is a lot of work to do and I already had to spend time frogging part of my beginning!

 

 

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Sheepish Designs

Alpha Bird, Alpha Menagerie & Alpha Sheep

32 ct LL Sand Dune

Called for DMC threads

 

I can't leave without an update on little Amber.  She is 7 months old now and just a delight! Strangers stop me at the store to tell me how cute she is :)  Can you see her two little bottom teeth?

Have a great Labor Day weekend!  I hope you get lots of stitching done!