A Lovely Year of Finishes - March goal

(image found on Pinterest)

Unfortunately, my goal for March will not be met for ALYOFs.

Originally, I had planned on making my Trip-Around-The-World quilt my goal. But I made a mistake when I posted my goal and it was too late to change it (not that I knew how). So I posted the House quilt and it became my goal. 

Then this happened . . . 

Comliments of Ms. Nina :)

Stitching and repairs made (actually the whole block was remade), sandwiched and ready to be quilted.

I attempted to quilt it on my machine, but it's a small machine and the quilt is rather large, so I gave up that prospect rather quickly. 

I pulled out the quilt rack, set it up and mounted the quilt for hand quilting - which is not my favorite method, but must say that I like the end result much better and it's less frustrating than trying to do it on the machine.

That was Friday and Saturday. As of Monday evening, I have two of the blocks quilted and started on the third.

My plan is to quilt one of the 12 blocks each day and then plan out the borders. 

BFF thinks I'm nuts to set that kind of pace, but I want this quilt done . . . in April !!!

We shall see :)

In the meantime, a new project has come my way . . . 

This one compliments of BFF.

It's based on an embroidery project that has been modified and converted to wool applique. 

My kit was supposed to be done on a cream colored background - this was recommended if you'd never done wool applique before because it would be easier to work.

When I got my kit, it was the black. This is just an image of the sample shown in class - mine's not done yet. I'm hoping my looks similar to this.

I started pulling the components together, drawing off the pattern, chalk drawing the design. 

It's harder to work on dark fabrics because you can't just draw off you design with a light box or window. But I'm figuring it out.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Spring break has begun for Newton. He'll be off nine days including the weekends.

We're I'm trying to find things to do that won't break the bank.

He made a request a few weeks ago to go to the zoo.

On Mondays, county residence a given free admission with proof of residency.

We went to the zoo :)

 

 

 

It's still chilly - high today was mid-upper 40sF. The animals that were outside, were laying in the sun and soaking up whatever warmth they could. It felt good, but the wind coming off the lake was chilly. Still a good day. We enjoyed the outing and the time together.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

VERY productive Friday

Once I finished stitching the December house block, I was able to focus on something else for an evening. I'm all caught up with Vintage Kitchen.

Friday afternoon was spent at church - sandwiching the House quilt.

I'm in love with the sashing and borders. It really helps make the blocks stand out on their own.

Friday night will be spent watching Netflix and finish stitching the label. 

I'm very excited about it too.

The mailman brought good stuff today :)

My apron swap came from Texas...

Isn't it gorgeous?

Mine arrived with a bonus - a matching tea towel. I'm so spoiled :)

Thank you Sheryl :) 

I absolutely love it !!!!!

You can tell it's the end of March in Ohio - we got snow today !!!!

This was taken from my kitchen window and is actually the neighbor's house, but the focus is the snow :(

"This, too, shall pass . . . "

I grew up with a saying:

"In like out a lion, out like a lamb."

and vice versa. 

I thought March came in like a lion, but then it's still a few days until March goes out. This may just be it's last hoorah for the season :)

Still floating

Is it just me or does everyone get excited when they finish - or nearly finish a big project?

I'm still floating above the ground getting this one - the House quilt - to the sandwiching stage. That will happen on Friday and I will spend whatever free time and can over the weekend to do the quilting on the machine.

For now, I'm working on the label. I need to go back and make labels for Tilda and Gnome. And with the design I'm using for this one, I'm going to want to be equally creative with those. I'm still playing with the design, but the label has me as excited as the finish of this quilt top.

Something else that has me excited is a future project.

I found this series of 12 monthly calendar quilt patterns at a new-to-me quilt shop today on my way home from visiting my mom. My plan was to try and find fabrics for my Shoebox Swap at the end of the year, which I did find. One of these adorable quilts greeted you at the front door when you walked in. It was birds, flowers and a birdhouse. It definitely caught my attention. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a series for the year. Not sure when I'll begin working on them since it's a new project and I have more than enough going right now and wanted my focus this year to be on UFOs. But it won't hurt to have the patterns waiting for me when I'm finally ready.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

I'm so excited . . . .

(found on internet)

I have some exciting news . . .

  

My December House block is finished :)

and . . . 

the top is put together . . .

This is the first of two borders. I repeated the sashing as the final border (but forgot to get a picture).

What do you think?

I LOVE it :)

* * * * * 

BFF has been talking to me about a new stitchery she has been getting acquainted with - Mountmellick. I allowed her to talk me into joining her on this journey and ordered beginner guides for both of us.

I've drawn off patterns and have begun stitching.

 

The stitchery is done on white with white perle cotton. I'm using numbers 5 and 8. I checked out 12, but think it's too thin. I may end up purchasing it at a later date if I feel it can be used, but for now, I don't think so.

The guide does not tell you what size to use only offers suggestions for various threads and thicknesses. The interpretations are left up to what you like and how you want your work to look when you complete it.

I can't say I was overly thrilled with the prospect of beginning another project, but I'm quickly warming up to it and its potential. The thicker threads make the process very fast and you see results almost immediately. I'm looking forward to incorporating some of these new stitches into other projects.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

FNSI - the results

I usually have lots planned for FNSI, but this year I wanted to spend more time enjoying the projects and not focus so much on my goal list or how much I can accomplish. I have enjoyed stitching and sewing more this year than I have in a very long time. I'm also enjoying very much the process of completing UFOs.

One of my UFOs is a little house quilt I started a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, we ran into a mishap a couple of weeks ago while I was ill.

I quilt had a run-in with Nina while I was away for the day. I, of course, thought everything was securely put up but was WRONG !!!!

So I re-drew and re-assembled the block and began stitching again.

I am making progress and the plan is to have to block stitched and re-inserted into the top by Monday.

.

I know that the end of the month is quickly approaching, but my ALYOFs goal for March was to finish this quilt and I'm still aiming to that end. I'm starting to hold my breath :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Slow going . . .

It's really slow going here lately. I'm working diligently on my December House block in an effort to make some progress on this UFO. I'm hoping to finish the "house" on Wednesday evening and all I will have left is that fir border under the house and around the sides. After that it's embellishing and adding the block to the quilt top.

Stitching is not a quick process if you are concerned with size and neatness of stitches. I stitched the original block about two years ago and am amazed at how far my stitching has come.  It's good to know that I am improving and growing in this art.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

It's coming . . .

Something wicked fun this way comes . . .

I was afraid I'd missed it !!! 

I'm so glad I haven't. I'll be working on my House quilt. It's my ALYOFs goal for March and I'm still going to try even after this mishap.

Head over to Wendy's for sign-ups.

I spent Monday helping Honey Do out with a project at work that was begun last week. It's done now and I can get back into my normal routine. 

Monday evening will be spent replacing some of the buttons that Nina ate in the above mentioned "mishap". 

She's been mostly forgiven and doesn't like being crated when I have to leave, but I don't have many quilts for her to naw on, so we do what we must to keep everyone safe - especially her.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Sunday Finish

I never planned to sew or stitch on Sunday. My mornings are spent at church and when I come home, I clean up breakfast dishes and start preparing meals. If I plan well, lunch is leftovers of some kind and dinner is in the crock pot or take out :)

This particular Sunday, I did go to church, stopped for some lunch supplies, and when I got home cleaned up breakfast and started prepping. I already had brisket in the crock pot. I made sloppy joes for lunch and prepped Monday lunch for Honey Do and vegetables for the brisket. I made corned beef and cabbage for dinner - Honey Do was very happy.

In between all the kitchen time, I spent time working on my Quilter's Garden block that I started on Saturday.

I appliqued around the tree top and trunk, tacked on the "quilt".

 

My other embellishments included the little butterfly on the quilt and a birdie in the birdhouse :)

Too cute !!

I'm moving on to play with another mystery quilt that I started. I haven't talked much about it because it's really challenging me and I'm cheating a bit by watching to see what is published after the steps are published. I'm not doing that with every step, just the ones that are really stumping me :) But I'm also enjoying the challenge and getting outside my comfort zone. It's helping me to try to create something without a pre-set idea or design. Something very new for me.

(image from internet)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Happy Saturday

It has been a VERY productive Saturday. . . and that makes me very

 

Ran a couple of errands with Honey Do and worked on the garage to help with some of the flooding and drainage issues we're having from all the snow. 

Once that was done, the day was mine :)

I finished my second apron for the Apron Swap at the end of the month. Trying to stay on top of my commitments. VERY HAPPY with the end results. All I have left to do is get my recipe together. BFF joined me in this swap and are keeping each other in check because there are rules and we want to make sure that we abide by the parrameters that have been set. But it's so hard not to want to add something else to the package :)

Once the apron was finished, I drew off a couple of new designs for the Mountmellick embroidery that I am joining BFF in doing. I have to decide if I'll be able to go to the class with her or just do it on my own at home. It would be 100 miles round trip and I just don't know if I can manage that, even if it's only once a month.

On to my next commitment . . .

The Quilter's Garden. 

We are in the home stretch. This is the final block and next month we work on the finishing.

This isn't completely finished, but I was so excited to get this far I just had to share. The tree needs to be appliqued and the quilt needs to be tacked down. Those are 1/2 inch blocks on that quilt !!! I love it. It's not perfect, but it's mine :) 

Speaking of perfect, I was reading a blog earlier today that beautifully put perfect into perspective. You can find it here. Susan is a very good friend and I always appreciate her view on various topics and I make sure I read her blog on a regular basis. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a creative day.

Good Day, Friday

It's been a good day, this Friday :)

(image found on internet)

I finally got to spend a morning with BFF. Seems like it's been a really long time since we've had any face-time, although we talk on the phone several times a day. There's always lots of catching up, sharing of projects and goodies.

Our latest exchange included a new book.

Have you ever heard of Mountmellick Embroidery. I had not. So we ordered and received books. It's white on white embroidery with some GORGEOUS stitching, as the cover alludes to. BFF thinks we need to challenge ourselves to learn new things for our craft every year. I've contributed to the challenge in various ways and we are both sharing and learning a lot. Both of us need to step out of our comfort zones and expand our horizon and we are.

After our visit, I stopped at the library to make copies of the patterns I will need to stitch, especially if I join her in the class next week. I'm still debating about the class because it's a good distance away, but I would like to go and be able to spend the time together doing something we both enjoy. 

Once I got home, I started working on what I felt needed to be accomplished today.

I re-drew and re-assembled my December house quilt block. I will work on getting it stitched in the next week so I can continue on with my goal of getting it quilted. It will not get done in March as I would have liked, but those things happen. At least there isn't still a big, gaping hole in it.

I also worked on my swap apron. I finished one and decided I wasn't 100% pleased witih the outcome, so I started another one. It's about half done and will be fnished on Saturday.

I received some very pleasant surprises in today's mail. 

My buddy, Susan, blessed me with these 9-patches. They are gorgeous and I wasn't expecting them. So goody for me. She apparently knows me pretty well because the majority are in my favorite color - blue. The red/green/white block is the Christmas 9-patch and love it too.

The second surprise, was my Quilter's Garden swap block. Absolutely love it. It's from Linda in West Virginia. I love her color choices and it will fit into my quilt beautifully.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.