2 Finishes, a WIP, a New Start & Coming Attractions!

Finish #1  Stacy Nash's

Country Sampler "Snowed In" Ornament

It came as a kit from Country Sampler's Stacy Nash club.  There is also a pinkeep included that I haven't stitched yet.  See below-

 

 

 

Finsh #2-Little House Needleworks

Melicent Turner

30 ct R & R Olde Towne Blende

Called for Crescent Colours floss

OK-I admit it-I mixed the colors up in the top half a little differently than charted.  It was just too neutral and hard to read for my liking.  I also added another color.  The birds at the bottom were charted to be white and I just couldn't do it.  Using WDW Twilight I made "blue"birds. Then I added a little more blue in the top portion to tie the sampler together.

 

My wool applique classes have begun!

WIP-Wooden Spool Designs

Gingerbread & Gumdrops--kitted by my LQS

It is all cut out, placed and stapled on the block.  Yes, I said stapled. This is a technique my LQS uses and recommends. So I'll give it a try.  Only a small amount of blanket stitching is done. This will be finish-finished as a pillow.

 

A New Start-Wooden Spool Designs

A Wooly Good Year Quilt-January block

 

Now that I see a picture I can see the long arm needs to be on the other side :)

The pattern is below-

Coming Attractions-

Debbie Stiehler

American Patchwork

Stunning, huh?  (Borrowed the photo from Debbie's website) This is a fairly large shaker box-so it is a good sized project. It's been in my stash for a few years now and it was time to get going on it. The Spokane Needlework Guild is hosting Debbie and I am going to this class in June.

 

Have a great holiday weekend!

Lots to Catch Up On

So much has been happening and I want to update you.

First, I finished the quilt top! 

Yes, I thought it would never happen, but it only took a very short 25 years :)

 

Feel free to click on the pic for a closeup. The top is laying on my king-sized bed, so it is big!

Does it look a little pink to you?  Yes, it does to me and I love it!  So I am using pink for the backing fabric too-he, he! As soon as I get the backing sewn together, it will be off to the machine quilters. 

Seriously it was ALMOST my oldest WIP....

yes, I do have something older, but that is for another day.

Here is my May square for the 2013 SAL de Maryse.  I am still loving this project and so happy that I am keeping up!

 

The LQS was having a Mother's Day special last weekend-25% off all fabric.  So I went over to pickup some fabric and came away having signed up for 5 new classes!  And not a single piece of fabric!  Go figure.

Below is Class #1.  I have had this pattern for a while but knew I needed some incentive to get going on it.  Well, now I have it. It is wool applique which I love to do but have never tried anything this big before.  Only pincushions, needlebooks, etc.

Did I say I have never done anything large in wool applique?  Well, look below for another- -Class #2 :)  I think I will be very experienced in wool applique by the end of this year.

 Class #3-I am also doing a beginner's machine applique class (only meets twice, no pic of the project). 

Class #4-a 1 day retreat with a surprise project-looking forward to that. 

 

Class #5-is called Wednesdays with Wendy.  I can bring any project to work on and will have help to answer questions, etc.  No problems finding something for that one.

 

Guess what came in the mail yesterday?  Remember all the finish-finishing that I needed to do?  I sent some of it to Faye at Carolina Stitcher.

Here is what she sent back to me--

Good Huswife

June Morning

Made into a lovely little pillow with green, shiny ric-rac trim

Crabapple Hill

Class project

Made into another little pillow with pink ric-rac and purple backing fabric

Love it!

L'Atelier Perdu

Smell the Flowers

Needle/Thread Book

 

It is tiny!

Here is the inside.  I sent along the flower thread holders and pink polka dotted fabric.  But Faye provided the buttons and threads.

So, so cute!

Here is Blackbird Designs Summer Jubilee

Finished in 2009-yes, that says 2009

I was entirely finish-blocked about this piece.  And look at what Faye did-a table runner with just the right touch of patriotic fabrics.  Another homerun, Faye!

                                                              

Praiseworthy Stitches
Tiny Pumpkin Etui

Pincushion, needle book and scissor fob

Above is the picture from somewhere I got years ago (maybe the PS website??)

Below is my set-I love it even better.  As you can see I left off the black background on the pumpkin side of the needlebook.  And yes, I still have the orange plastic pumpkin, too.

Faye's finishing extends to beading too!  Isn't that scissor fob just wonderful??! Love this set!

 

Tree of Life Samplings

Penny America

Another smaller, tablerunner with a wonderful, spot-on selection of fabrics.

I struggle with fabric selection and would never have chosen a red stripe.  But I love it!

Thank you again, dear Faye!

 

It is shaping up to be a busy summer!

Stitching Retreat!

Just returned from a wonderful long weekend at the Pacific Ocean!

It was sunny and warm the whole time---that is a miracle!

Every year at this retreat it is usually cold, windy and raining sideways!

This year was the opposite.  I was able to walk along the ocean and admire the natural efficiency of seagulls in eating the stranded crabs and clams when the tide goes out.

Sand dollars galore and I haven't even talked about the stitching :)

 

There were 8 of us sharing this modest house (5 bedrooms).  This was taken in the early morning hours (6:30 am).  You can see a peek of the ocean behind.

Here is the view from our patio doors leading to the back yard.  The sound of the waves coming in was surprisingly loud. There were wild strawberries growing in the grass.

Here is a look at our stitching room. Unfortunately no windows looking out to the ocean so I took regular breaks to enjoy the unusually fine weather.

We were joined by 2 sisters from California and one really long distance stitcher from South Carolina.

I am proud of myself for adding very little to my stash.  Above is my little tray commemorating this weekend.  And below are the only other purchases I made.

Finish #1 for the weekend.  It is a quilt block for the Crabapple Hill Gardener's Alphabet quilt.

Finish #2.  It is the first free quilt block from the 2013 Girls Own Stitching Club by Australian designer Red Brolly.

Finish #3 is the Hornbook Needlebook by Her Own Work

Start #1- Snowed In ornament by Stacy Nash

WIP Blackbird Designs Flowers for Sarah Needlecase

 

We held an auction for a local hospice charity.  We had a sales table.  And, most importantly, we had show and tell!

For your viewing pleasure, here are some of the items shared--

What a talented bunch of stitchers.

But I am so glad to be home!

(I already paid my deposit for next years retreat :)