this and that

It's been an odd week especially weather . . .

While the east coast has been buried in snow, we are seeing sunshine and warmer temperatures after being really cold.

I discovered daffodils poking through on Monday.

Tuesday we were extremely overcast with rain forecast. This was about 8 a.m.

My Farm Girl Vintage blocks are all caught up. Aren't these the cutest?

 

I was home on Wednesday - not even out running errands !!!

I'm planning a trip to Mom's on Thursday, so I wanted to get this blanket and these fabric letters done for two of my great nephews (aged 2 and 9). The little great had a birthday at the beginning of the month. So we're a little late on the gifts. Mom said she would deliver them for me.

This will get a few more things checked on my January goals.

Thanks for stopping by.

getting motivated

When my days don't start as planned I have a really hard time getting motivated :(

My morning started . . .

Honey Do has a slow leak in one of his tires, so I got volunteered to sit while the tire rims were cleaned and resealed. This wasn't exactly how I wanted to spend my morning, but breakfast was on him, I got some quiet time to plan my menu and read my book and walked across the street to the library to pick up my next novel :)

After breakfast and cleaning up the kitchen I spent some time on the internet.

Honey Do asked me if I wanted to go :)

I've planned it in years passed and always talk myself out of it.

He said he would go with me :)

So I checked out classes and we made plans to attend.

Is it coming to your area?

Are you going?

I'm excited and looking forward to it. It's been too many years since I've been.

On to today's projects :)

Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt.

One of my favorite shops sells these blocks as kits. You need the book for cutting and assembly instructions. I found mine on Amazon.

I started a third block by cut one of the fabrics short and decided that was a good time to quit before I messed something else up. I'll run by the shop for replacement fabric on Monday.

All in all, not a bad day.

Thanks for stopping by.

It's Friday Night !!!!

Hostess:  Wendy.

Thank you Wendy. A lovely time as usul :)

So what did I accomplish?

Well, I started a new project. This one was scheduled for this month and I didn't want to start it until I finished my Spring Row which I did Friday morning.

The picture isn't great. I took it from Crabapple Hills website. It's called Lace Cabins.

One of the best parts of preparing for a new project is shopping, of course.

I didn't have some of the fabrics.

Some I did, like all the white on white. It's really hard to see the prints but they are swiss dot, snow flakes and swirls. Things that look like snow :)

The blues and greys are representative of our winter skies and the browns will be the cabins.

Another fun thing I got to do was collect and sort through vintage laces.

Some have been shared and some I had or found on my own. Not sure what out of this collection I'll use, but I know with each of the six blocks they will speak to me and let me know which belong.

So I'm preparing my fabric and drawing off the pattern and watching Bones.

(Image from internet)

Progress is slow . . . 

But oh, is it worth the time and effort.

I don't claim to be an artist, but every once in a while I get it right. I'm thrilled with the results.

This project is calling for Cosmo thread, which thrills me too because I don't usually get to use anything beside DMC - not that I don't like DMC.

These colors are gorgeous !!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Yeah - it's his turn :)

Friday Night Sew-In

It's time for Friday Night Sew-In. We have the hostess with the mostess in Wendy.

My Friday Night Sew-In began very early Friday morning.

You see I was very excited to finish my spring row.

I had all the birds and houses put together Thursday evening before I went to bed.

I got up Friday morning with Honey Do and started sewing when he left.

By 9 a.m., the row has been completed. This is one of my UFO/WIP goals for January.

I'm linking back to DOD Mystery.

On to the next project.  This one is a new one for January.

First of all, let me apologize for the photo. It's the best I could get from the internet.

The pattern is called Lace Cabins by Crabapple Hill Designs.

It's a block of the month, but we've received all the patterns. BF and I are doing this one together. I've heard about this one for a really long time, but I believe it hasn't been available for all that long. So the rest of Friday will be spent preparing this for stitching this evening and weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

Friday Night Sew In

  

Getting ready for Friday. Thanks for hosting Wendy :)

I spent my afternoon working on the spring row for DOD Mystery Quilt-Along.

These are two of the three birds that I need for this row.

Up next . . . their houses :)

Thanks for stopping by.

January goals

This was my January goal list.

1. At least one Christmas/birthday gift per month - list is already made.  DONE

Birthday blanket for my 2 year old great nephew.

 

Blanket for 9 year old great nephew and fabric alphabet letters.

I'm working on gathering the flannels for pajamas. DONE

The ornament gift tags are made. DONE

2.  UFOs/WIP DONE

Patriotic Mystery row quilt.

3.  Wool BOM DONE

4.  UFOs/WIP DONE

Yo-Yo chicks pillow

5.  BOM (new) DONE

Lace Cabins by Crabapple Hill.

6. UFOs/WIP - DONE

Spring Row-Along

7.  BOM (new) DONE

Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt

8. UFOs/WIP - DONE

Scrap Vortex Blocks - Quilt As You Go 

9. (new) - DONE/Started

Mini Counted Crosstitch

10. UFOs/WIP

?? - nope, not even touched. Unless it counts that I have all the supplies together and in a box :)

12 Days of Christmas 

Staying busy . . .

I haven't been blogging much recently, but I have been staying busy . . .

Flannel scraps from Christmas 2015 have now become 5.5 and  inch squares, and 2 x 7 inch strips for scrap quilts.

Some of the larger scrap pieces have been fused and cut out to make the alphabet.

And a birthday blanket for my 2 year old great's birthday has been knotted and bound and will be in the mail this week.

I also received some squishy mail from Susan.

Five lovely 9-patches for my stash :)

Thank you, Susan :)

Well, I'm off to review  my Farm Girl Vintage BOM and work on a UFO.

Thanks for stopping by.

It's been a good week

BF and I met for our annual gift exchange. We try to get together for Christmas, but with kids and family obligations there never seems to be a good time. So the last few years we've just decided our reward for getting through Christmas break was to get together in January - weather permitting.

As usualy, BF spoiled me. I am so blessed.

 

This redwork Santa was stitched and assembled. The backing fabric was found in her mother's fabric stash. I was overwhelmed to have a piece of "Mom" among my gifts.

 

This was the first gift I was asked to open. BF misplaced it and when she found it she wrapped and brought it to me. I love "antique" bowls. I put apples in it as soon as I got home :)

How cute are these salt and pepper shakers?

She knows me well and always gets me something that's penguins.

We always find a "project" for us to work on after the holidays. She was nicer to me than I was to her - I gifted BF with several DIY projects. She won't be bored anytime soon :)

She got me this kit to make flowers. I've never seen this before.

  

This was one of my absolute favorite gifts ever.

An over-sized tea cup. Isn't it gorgeous ???

As soon as I was done unpacking everything and taking the photos, I made a cup of tea :)

The goodies didn't stop here . . .

 

I received my swap package. My partner was very generous with fabric and extras.

Needless to say, I'll be plenty busy with all these goodies.

Thanks for stopping by.