Busy weekend

I finished stitching the label for my Funky Chickens Friday evening. That was after drawing the pattern down and deciding how I wanted it all laid out and finished. It's about 4 inches tall by 2 or 2 1/2 inches wide.  I'm pretty pleased with it.

Saturday, I went on to work on another patriotic paper pieced star. I'm finding these extremely challenging and after completing the third star decided to add a set of four 9-patches to complete the eight block row. Which I did on Sunday, completing the row.

My stars are not perfect in any way, but they are done and for the most part I'm pleased. I also like the completed row.

Leaders and enders were the 9-patches I did with the stars. 

I had them all put together and finished the assembly process with the completion of the patriotic 9s and the last star. . . all 22. 

Next up . . .

I chose my September goal for ALYOFs. This is a pattern I've had for at least a couple of years now. Unfortunately it's no longer available.

I've been collecting batiks. I think this is the perfect project for it and feel like I finally had enough.

As you can see, Rocky was a big help.

This project is well on it's way to becoming a finish this month. I'm hoping you all had productive, happy weekends.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Now, where was I . . .

Oh, yes !!!

It's time to set my goal for September . . .

I have so many UFOs waiting for my time and attention . . . 

September is the start of a very busy year and constraints on my time due to some new commitments and some on-going projects.

So of course, I want to plan with all my responsibilities in consideration and still want to be successful in accomplishing my goal.

I have had this particular project waiting for me for a couple of years. . . my, how time does fly !!!

It's called the Autumn Tree by Jenny of Elefantz.

Unfortunately, it appears that it's been discontinued but I'm providing a link to Jenny anyway. She has lots of great patterns to choose from and many of them are at no cost.

I'm also linking back to Sew Bitter Sweet Designs for my September goal.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

September - ALYOF Goal Setting

It's time to set my goal for September . . .

I have so many UFOs waiting for my time and attention . . . 

September is the start of a very busy year and constraints on my time due to some new commitments and some on-going projects.

So of course, I want to plan with all my responsibilities in consideration and still want to be successful in accomplishing my goal.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program . . .

Sorry folks, but I didn't get to peruse my UFOs on Friday. The rest of Friday turned into a day of running errands . . .

Friday was Honey Do's birthday.

I finished gathering items for his gift . . .

I stopped at Walmart to pick up a package of velcro to finish Rocky's coat . . .

I stopped at church to assemble the bulletins . . .

I stopped at the grocery store to purchase dinner supplies and surprise Honey Do with a small birthday cake (we ate it before I could even think about taking a picture !!).

I ran to Honey Do's office to drop off a celabratory brownie that just ended up coming home with me because he didn't have time to eat it or was he able to bring it home on the motorcycle.

I packaged treat sacks for Sunday School.

I had planned on stopping at the library to print a pattern, but time got away from me.

Dinner . . . dishes . . . dogs . . . etc., etc., etc.

But I did manage to get something done.

I started from scratch - drawing off the design and shrinking it down. Erasing and re-drawing until I got it just the way I wanted.

I stitched the beak and appliqued all around the design. The eyes and lettering are all hand drawn.

The "wings" came from a leftover 9-patch square that I quartered and folded.

I still have to applique the white "label" prior to attaching it to the wall hanging, but you get the idea.

It was a lot of fun coming up with a cute and clever label.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Early morning finish :)

Ta-Da !!!

"Friends"

Designed by Wendy of Sugarlane Designs

I was finally able to use these "vintage" buttons that I purchased back in the 1980's when my sister lived in Columbus. Wish that shop was still there, I'd be on my way :)

 

This was a quick, fun little wall hanging to do. I've linked you above so you can get your own copy. It's is generously shared by Wendy at no cost to us.

Thank you Wendy, I have absolutely loved this project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

A Lovely Year of Finishes

It's that time again :)

Goal status reporting for August and goal setting for September. Linking back to Sew Bittersweet Designs and you are invited along to see what other goals have been met.

It has beeen overall a very successful year on the UFO front.

My goal for August was to complete the assembly of 12 blocks of the month that I had purchased from JoAnn's in 1997 (yes, I admit, I'm more than a bit of a pack rat - not that I'm comfortable admitting it, even to you).

I am very happy and excited to report:  Goal Accomplished !!!!

  

January and February

March

 

April and May

 

June and July

 

August and September

 

October and November

And December.

I can tell you honestly, back in 1997 I was no where near ready to tackle this project. I am in a place now that I have the confidence, ability and desire. You really need all three to tackle any project.

And now I'm off to see what my September goal will be, so check back tomorrow and see what I came up with.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Autumn is in the air

Temperatures are in the mid 60s as a cold front spirals over us from Canada. 

No one I know is complaining. 

After a summer of 90s, this respite is a welcome change.

My day started with some errands and tasks that needed taking care of. First off, I had an appointment for an open house to collect my binder for Bible study. I've been offered and accepted and qualified for a children's leader. Materials were distributed today.

On the way to the open house, I passed this barn. I did not know about it until today. During Ohio's Bi-centennial, everyone did something special to celebrate and commemorate the event. This was one of those things. And because it's been so many years (2003), this owner has maintained the commemoration. More of the history can be found here, if you are interested.

I did a little shop hopping with the rest of my morning.

Pins and Needles is a local shop that is MASSIVE !!! They have a classroom that is the size of the store !!!!

They are very excited to host Eleanor Burns next month. She will be in town for three days to host lectures, luncheons and classes. 

I stopped by to acquire another Row by Row Experience kit.

I've managed to collect five or six.

I got on the phone on the way home and ordered another kit that I had to have from a shop in Sandusky. It was a big deal to me because it has laser cut silhouettes of Cedar Point :) I saw it completed in my local shop, and knew I had to have it. They were very kind and helpful and will mail it out to me on November first, after the final winner of the "Experience" has been announced.

I will begin working on my quilts after the new year. I have too much going on right now, but I would like to have it finished before the beginning of the next "Experience", which should be next June.

Once I got home, I started sewing :)

With the cooler temperatures, it was time to start thinking about a coat for Rocky :)

This is not the best picture of him modeling it because he kept moving around and was trying to get it off. A little velcro and it will be finished and ready to wear :)

I also managed to get a few 9-patches started.

All around, a good day :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Pick-A-Pile

My approach at de-cluttering and reorganizing my space and supplies.

I'm really, in my heart of hearts, not a messy or dirty person. However I wouldn't be able to prove that if you saw my "sewing" space. In fact, it's so bad I'm not even going to take a picture to show you. Maybe later, after my goal is accomplished.

In order to achieve my goal, I am "picking a pile" everyday to be dealt with. It has to be used, put away properly or goes away. I am only allowing myself to touch it once and make a decision.

So my first "pile" are these 5" squares and strips that I acquired from a swap partner. Originally I wanted to keep them whole, but since it's been almost a year I thought it was time to deal with this "pile".

Seeing as they are 5" square and I need 2 1/2" squares for my nine patches it was the perfect solution to eliminate a "pile".

I set about cutting them apart. There were also strips of fabric and after straightening them I cut them down into the largest pieces I could and they will become blocks for scrap quilts that will either be gifted or donated. They are also the perfect leaders and enders to be done in between other projects taking the monotony out of assembly. 

I sorted the sizes and marked the bags.

I confiscated this box from the new shoes Newton got from school to keep the bags in and readily available near my sewing machine.

Neat, organized and one pile done :)

I have the first border on the first block of the Friends BOF stitched. I LOVE the border. It just adds a very nice finish to the block and I'm not sorry I'm taking the extra step and time to do this. My goal for this project is to have it finished by the end of the month before the next row patterns and Vintage Kitchen are published. The beginning of the month is going to be extremely busy and September will also include the addition of Bible study.

August has been very busy and productive and I have felt better about life than I have most of the summer. School started Monday and BF and I met for some glorious friendship time. We are celebrating the end of summer, beginning of school and just being friends.

We shared our accomplishments over the last few weeks and decided on our next project.

Aren't the ants adorable?

As you can see, I was missed, but isn't it a good feeling to be loved?

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Sunday Sewing

It took all day . . .

After church, a trip to the grocery store, a second trip to the grocery store, cleaning up the kitchen, prepping dinner . . .

But I finally got to sew !!!!

I spent Friday and Saturday evenings finishing stitching the blocks for Wendy's BOF. I spent Sunday afternoon and evening making the sashing and putting it all together. I still have some stitching left to do on it that I am adding, but haven't decided on the stitches yet and since they are so close to the edges, I decided to go ahead and sew it all together and then go back to do the stitching. Then I can quilt it, bind it and hang it up :)

I also have a nice little pile that are going to grow up to be 9-patches for my swap partners.

Saturday morning, Rocky and I spent at the vet getting his final round of puppy shots.

This is what Saturday afternoon and early evening looked like. He definitely had a rough time of it. He even had an alergic reaction to something and the Benedryl wasn't working quite fast enough - so another (!!!!) shot to help with that. He was so sad :(

It's amazing what 24 hours can do . . . 

 

We are 100% back to normal :)

And just a little perspective on how small this guy is, 

he now weighs a whopping 2.8 lbs. !!!!

LOL

He gained almost a half pound in six weeks !!! I think I can stop worrying that he's not eating enough :)

He's so stinking cute !!!

(he's saying, "Yum, chicken salad" !!!!)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.