End of the weekend . . . beginning of the week

Only on Monday holidays do you get the end of the weekend and the beginning of the week all in the same day :)

It was a fairly productive day as well.

I finished the pillow I started stitching on Friday. It got stuffed today and I added some vintage lace I found to finish framing the stitchery. 

Very pleased with the end result.

 

I dug out an old "monster" softie pattern. I made this several years ago from a kit. I wanted to make a second one and the pattern included fabric requirements. I had purchased several fat quarters in shades of blue. So I made two today. I modified it a bit. The first one was patchwork, the second not. I eliminated the face and other dimensional details. I also made them flat adding just a piece of batting between all the layers. They are now new dog toys for my pups :)

Rocky knew what to do with it right away :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Relaxing weekend

We are enjoying a three day weekend - at least if you are among the employed. It's Labor Day on Monday and a legal holiday. 

For me, it means that Newton and Honey Do are home an extra day. I'll take it. 

I managed a little time weeding my flower beds which are in desperate need of attention. I was almost finished for the time and came across this beautiful female banded garden spider. We see a lot of spiders this time of year. It's the end of summer and I think they are preparing for winter and egg laying. I didn't find an egg sack, but it may be too soon for that. She is a beauty. AND big. You can see from the first photo of Honey Do holding her to get an idea of her size. Honey Do is not a small man :) 

Saturday evening afforded me some time to draw off a new design. This is a halloween design from Crabapple Hill called Witches Boot. I've had it for several years. I pulled it out because I had gotten an advertisement from a favorite fabric supplier offering halloween prints on special this week and I was trying to decide if I should purchase. I was shocked how much fabric I've already collected for this project. Needless to say, I didn't purchase any new fabric, but since it was out I decided to draw off the design. I'm not going to stitch it right now because I received one of my row-along patterns and really don't want to start another new project. The row will be started on Tuesday, after I have an opportunity to print the pattern.

 

A new design I did start on Friday is almost finished. Nana's Jug from Jenny of Elefantz has been stitched and I've added the borders. What a fun little project this turned out to be. I'm planning on finishing it as a pillow for my bed on Monday. The fabrics for the outer border are 30s reproduction that I found last spring. I absolutely love how this one turned out.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend and finding things to do that bring them joy in their simplicity.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

What a projective week :)

This . . ,

is now this :)

I kept the quilting simple - same thread color and just outside the stitching.

 

A pile of remnants from a favorite shop are now 9 patches ready to sew.

The cute little basket was a consignment shop find earlier in the week :)

My next new project is well under way.

The fabric appliques are 30s reproduction I found on our trip to Kentucky this past May.

Another finish - Vintage Kitchen.

I changed it from the original pattern and am very pleased with the end results.

Some of my favorite blocks from this project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Drop back and punt . . .

My plan for Tuesday was to print off the patterns and start my September row-alongs. Unfortunately, the patterns aren't available just yet.

Wednesday, BF and I were supposed to meet to start working on a new project. Her daughter ended up getting sick on Tuesday and was home on Wednesday as well.

These things happen, so we have to drop back and punt. It's not like I don't have a ton of other things to concentrate on :) I was just anxious to get started on the rows and the new project.

So my back up plans . . . 

Waiting for Newton's bus, I cleaned out my emails. I am so far behind. I don't know when I made time to read all the blogs and emails I used to, but I don't seem to have that kind of time any more. I know I spend a lot more time stitching, sewing, cooking and cleaning - that's my choice. I also know that I wouldn't spend as much time on emails if I kept up on them daily. 

The scales of balance are always precarious, aren't they?

With school back in session, that means Bible study begins also. Tuesday was a training day for those of us helping in childcare. I was recruited at the end of last year. I'm a little overwhelmed with all the things we are expected to share in the two or so hours we have the children. You see this is a very standardized program that Biblically teaches and encourages the children as well as their parents. It's a very structured program with a lot of material to cover. As leaders, we also complete the same study during the week as homework, discussion groups and trainings on Mondays and the childcare on Tuesday. I will have to become even more disciplined with my time, chores and stitching than ever.

With the cancellation of Wednesday's meeting, I decided to take some me time and I checked out a
"new-to-me" quilt shop. I found the name on the list of the Row by Row Experience and was thrilled to find them only about 20 mins from my home.

It has a very sweet name, The Polka Dot Pincushion. Cute, right?
I spent a fair amount of time walking around and checking things out. I purchased a few items.

Some stash building, a new pattern and the Row by Row pattern. 

Looks like a summer quilt, doesn't it?

When I got back home, I went back to work on my September goal.

Yes . . . that's binding you see going on !!!!

I may have to come up with another goal for the month :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

Good beginnings

How do you feel about

 

I think most of us would say we have a love-hate relationship with Monday.

For the most part, I'm on the love side, but there is that ocassional Monday that I really wish for the weekend.

My week is starting out very productive and positive. I spent my day alternating between chores/weekend recovery and stitching.  I even got some gardening time in, as the gardens have pretty much been let go all summer. Other distractions and honestly, a pure lack of motivation on my part. But it's not too late in the season to bring them back to their beauty and enjoy them.

As for stitching, I spent time working on my September goal.

I spent Sunday evening preparing my "palette".

Monday, I managed to get all of the leaves blanket stitched. The fabric and fusible webbing got pretty thick in places and by the end of the day, my hands were pretty sore. But I'm very pleased with my progress.

Tuesday, I will stop at the local craft shop and try to match up brown "tree" and try to stitch it. I have several other errands to run and a training class for Bible study to attend.

I'm using the "fallen" leaf as my quilt label.

New patterns for my row-alongs were sent Tuesday morning, so I'm excited to get those started, as well as the final block of Jenny's Vintage Kitchen. 

I see another finish in the very near future.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with creativity.

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.