2x2x2

Two must be my lucky number this week, but then I’m lucky to have finished anything at all. I managed to finish stitching 2 designs, both by The Sampler Girl.

My Everything by The Sampler Girl

I changed it up so it’ll suit my suitor. I took antique white linen and dyed it with taupe Rit dye. I used WDW Blue Topaz for the lettering and Perle Cotton for the heart. The turquoise batik fabric is being used for the back. My hope is for a hanging pillow. I have a leather-y type cord so it’s pretty masculine, I think. It’ll do.

Movie Night by The Sampler Girl

I started this in 2009 and got most of it stitched then. I used what I had on-hand so some threads were changed and I used a different linen color, but stayed with the same count. The popcorn buttons are adorable. They are by Just Another Button Company – had them forever too. It’s a wonder I was able to keep up with them for so long.

I recently decided that, although a stitching addict and it’s a sickness to start one project without finishing another (admit it, you are all guilty of this too), I’m going to attempt (ahem) to finish my past WIPS. But still continue with new projects. I mean, I have too much stash as it is and it’s only going to get worse grow so I might as well grab thy needle and start stitching. Sooooo, Movie Night was one of them and it's done! One down and onto the next “X.”

In the mail this week, came two new charts I ordered from none other than The Sampler Girl (maybe I have a thing for Tanya…hhhmmm).

The Beggar’s Purse Sampler, where I adore the brown color arrangement and the special stitches Tanya implements in this one. Plus, who doesn't like a sampler, right? Her newly released French Folio immediately caught my eye, with all the delicate pinks, whites and blues – very fresh and 'Gai Paris'. I can’t wait to stitch these up and decorate a spot in my home.

Also in the mail, came two of my quilting magazines that my Aunt Pam gifts to me with regular subscriptions.

Better Homes and Garden’s American Patchwork and Quilting and McCalls Quilting. Aunt Pam also provides me with Fons and Porter, but that one hasn’t arrived yet, and thankfully not, because it wouldn’t mesh well with this post, now would it?! I’m not the advanced quilter like my aunt. I’m more of a beginner and an itchy-wannabe quilter, even though I do know how to quilt, I still love my magazines. They are so inspiring if nothing else.

I may even come up with another finish this week. Don't hold your breath, but definitely keep your fingers crossed :D --- Here’s to hundreds more of two of everything…Talk soon!

*mail-call*

Yay!!! I had my haircut today and it looks great ~ fresh and soft! But that’s not what I’m “Yay-ing” about. When I got home I was pleasantly surprised at what was in the mail waiting my arrival. :o)

Country Sampler Velvet Sampler Bag
by Stacy Nash Primitives

This is the kit I received because I’m a member of Stacy’s girl club through the Country Sampler - a fabulous shop in Wisconsin. (I’ve never been there, but the website is great and I receive the newsletter.) This kit has some really gorgeous fabrics. I love, love, love the blue-flowered print fabric, the soft wheat-colored velvet, and the blue (DMC 930) peacock motif that compliments the whole design. I can’t wait to get started and have it assembled. It’s going to be a great addition to the everyday stitching basket.

On top of this amazing kit, and to end this happy trip to the mailbox, I also received my Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine. I L*O*V*E the quilt on the cover and I will have to seek out ways to incorporate this into my quilting to-dos. That Civil War fabric gets me every time! I'm such a sucker. I NEED my Aunt Pam here though to help me pick the fabrics out.

I started reading The Host this afternoon and already I can see the difference in Stephanie Meyer's writing from the Twilight series. I have to put my current rotation aside and get busy stitching on a project that I cannot divulge at this time, so I won't have any progress photos until I get this done, but I'll check in of course. I’m off to stitch a bit and then to bed. I'm glad tomorrow is Friday - Whew!

Talk soon!

show and tell

First things first! Check out Tanya’s new “do.” The Sampler Girl has a brand new website and she did it ALL by herself. Go check it out.

I have been slacking, majorly! I don’t know what has gotten into me. I have been up to a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but as my “how I’m feeling” face displays, I am beside myself – don’t know what’s wrong. I hope after this post I’ll get back on track. Maybe I have spring fever or something. It is warm right now.

Several little goodies have come in the mail lately and that has cheered me up. I bought one of Tanya’s motif magnets from her Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago and it came last week, along with this cute little tote bag. I love it on my fridge.

Me and my mom stumbled onto these sweet little necklace charms. She got one and I got two. They are so very sweet. We found them here. One has a youthful woman sewing. Her verse reads “I feed my soul with the stitches I sew” and we both have that one. It also has a catching verse from Nathanial Hawthorne on the back. I just loved the little girl sewing next to her needfuls and had to have it. Behind the charm it reads "Take your needle child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that - one stitch at a time taken patiently and the pattern come out all right like the embroidery." Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Last Saturday me and my mom went to the fabric store and had a very confusing, yet fun and exhausting time trying to sort through the thousands of bolts of fabric just trying effortlessly to search for complimentary colors and prints. I am merely a blooming quilter and mom isn’t one. We wished my Aunt Pam was there because we would have had everything we needed in no time. My aunt has such a keen high for this stuff.

Anyway, I receive the Fons & Porter Love of Quilting Magazine (thanks to Aunt Pam!) and I saw a pattern for a table runner in the January/February issue I want to tackle. We thought this process was going to be easy, but boy were we wrong. I can admit failure, but I cannot accept defeat. I picked a print fabric for my focus but me and mom could not for the life of us find matching or bouncing fabrics. After over an hour of searching for what seemed like an eternity, not to mention I think we were searching for a needle, we gave up on that color palette and quoting words from an anonymous woman, “I started from scratch.” Back to the ole’ drawing board we went.

The left side is the pattern done in Valentine theme from my magazine. On the right, I chose colors to match my decor and interest. I think we did pretty well considering what we picked out in the beginning. Gorgeous but trivial.

Finally, we picked our jump-off fabric and all of a sudden as if the heavens opened and angels sang we had our matching fabrics. Everything just came together and we were more than thrilled, excited, happy we were about to get the h*** out of there. We love the fabric store, but we were in there too long. My dad took Jose to the movie and they made it back to our house before me and my mom, and they dropped her off with me prior to their movie. Now that is just way too long people…admit it! LOL

Not only did I purchase fabric for my new project, I also picked out an extra Civil War Reproduction piece (1/2 yard) and two full yards of each of the 1930’s reproduction fabric. I plan on making a reversible sewing machine cover that ties on the sides with these 2 pieces. I can’t wait! The cover that comes with the Viking is a hard plastic and it takes over the room (too BIG) so I need something more me and more attractive. :D

A not too far distant past I said I had ripped my craft area apart in order to get it organized and get my things within hands’ reach. I’m almost there and I will post photos, but not now ~ sorry! However, my fabric stash is organized and here’s what that looks like.

I think for having this stash of fabrics for about 5 years and not being a queen quilter, I think this is a nice little beginner stash, don’t you think? I do more crafting and stitching and I love using fabrics to “finish” pieces up. It fascinates me and it’s personal. I also have some of my grandma’s fabrics from years ago. I’ve labeled those Grandma’s Textiles. I know…I’m a complete dork. ;o) I also have her laces, crochet accessories, and lots of little of this and that going on. I’m honored to have it and will find some use.

I started early on a Christmas ornament this year bc I started way too late last year. I haven’t done a lot of stitching lately bc of all my other things, but this is the progress on SamSarah's Winter Love from the JCS 2007 issue. I enjoy stitching with Belle Soie and I love the over-dyed fabric. I should have my floss tag done, but I don’t. As soon as I get one of these little stitchings complete I’ll start on my table runner or sewing machine cover. There is just so much to do and not enough seconds, minutes, hours, in a day or rather my lifetime to get all that I want done.

My Just Cross Stitch magazine came today and I am not too thrilled with it. Nothing appeals to me this issue. The blackwork bookmarks design is the model my mother stitched so I’m proud to say that, but other than this nothing yells at me. Maybe better luck next time.

Me and the boys went to mom’s today and Cameron got a haircut. He looks like such a big boy, but still so sweet. His hair was getting really long and needed a good trim. While at mom’s a book and DVD came for me. My mom is so wonderful! She does a lot for me and I hope she realizes how appreciative I am towards her affection, love, attention and generosity (I hope you do mom.). I know it’s because she loves me so so much. I recently told her that I had an idea of stitching a selection of Ohio reproduction samplers and giving them a home on their own wall of sampler fame. She is the best mom ever! She bought me a book called Ohio Is My Dwelling Place. I can't begin to explain the price, but she got a fantastic deal with her wise shopping ways. Now, I haven’t gone through the whole thing because I plan on reading it thoroughly, but it has the entire history of Ohio samplers and the regions and counties. I am in awe over this gift. The photos that I have seen are stunning! I’ll post more about it later.

The other item that came from mom was a DVD called Judith Baker Montano Teaches You Crazy Quilting, which I’ve been interested in exploring for a year or so. I watched a little bit of it this afternoon while I put Cameron down for a nap. Let’s just say, I got far enough into the lessons to realize what we did wrong with color in the fabric store on Saturday. LOL

You live and learn…and laughing along the way always helps. :o) Talk soon because I still have more show and tell to offer.

goodness gracious!!!

I am stunned! Look at what I just received in the mail from my dear Aunt Pam.

I couldn't be more surprised by this very very special gift. I had absolutely no idea she had a surprise up her sleeve. Aunt Pam never let on that she was making something for me, and boy am I ever so shocked. I nearly cried when I opened up this little red package. Take a gander at the goods!

The backing

Look at all the beautiful 1800's reproduction fabrics!!!

Close up.

My Aunt is so sweet. She writes: "From My Heart to Yours" - For my precious niece

Do you know how lucky I am??? I am in awe, really, I am. My aunt is the best ever! I couldn't be more happier, more pleased and more loved than I am right now. Aunt Pam has made my day, my week, my month, and my year. I love you, Aunt Pam!!!

blog browsing

Last night I was browsing blogs with no specific destination other than to browse and enjoy the quietness of nighttime Interneting (no such word until now :o). I came across a really cool quilting, stitchery blog that had a neat idea for a quilt. I'm not an experienced quilter, but the idea around this quilt sparked my imagination and thought "I don't have to make a quilt necessarily. I can use these embroidery designs for something else, right?" It's a freebie called Noah's Ark Free Stitchery BOM by Lynette Anderson. I downloaded the animals I wanted so I can embroider them and do what I want with them. They are really really cute! I was considering doing a little Noah's Ark patchwork quilt for Cameron using these embroidery designs or maybe even some wall hangings for his room. Either way, and no matter what I decide, they sure are cute and look fun and easy.

christmas table runner ~ quilt chat

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...or at least feel that way around here. The high today was 38 degrees. That is just way too cold for me. I finally have my first Christmas decoration out for the season. It is a Christmas gift from my Aunt Pam. She decided to give me the table runner before Christmas so I could enjoy it during the season. She does impeccable work. Everything she does is absolutely done with perfection. My mom was recently in Ohio for a stitching class and she visited my Aunt (her sister) while there. My Aunt made this gorgeous Christmas table runner and I couldn't be more stunned by its beauty. I've posted some pictures of it, but I really wish that everyone could see it up close. It's gorgeous!

This table runner is one of the most beautifully put together pieces I've ever seen. My Aunt's eye for color scheme and connection is exquisite ~ she has such good taste. Trust me...I always ask her advice when it comes to this type of craft. She ALWAYS has the answer I'm needing.

Now, I have tried to take a good photo. In order to really appreciate this quilt top you have to notice the gold tones throughout. The gold tracing is what really sets this piece off. It really makes the primitive reds and greens "pop," but in a relaxed and soothing way. The cream colored fabric with the gold twirly-vines is just gorgeous. I think it's one of my favorite parts of this top. The cream colored fabric looks as if it's been hand-dyed so it has this calming affect against the gold. I just love it!

As you can see the three stars is what makes this one for Christmas. It reminds me of snowflakes and December which is my birthday month. The holly printed fabric for binding really hugs the "snowflakes" so the center is your focus. It's difficult to just pick one thing about this quilt top...it's all so beautiful.

Here's a photo of the backing fabric. The poinsettias are larger than life, but not overbearing. And of course, it wouldn't be my Aunt to not coordinate it perfectly with the quilt top. I am repeating myself, I know, but it's just gorgeous. I've had my table runner displayed on my dining room table ever since I received it and I find myself looking at it every time I pass by. I am still examining it in fine detail.

My table runner wouldn't be complete without a personal message from my dear Aunt Pam, with an inscription on the back in its own little patchwork square. She's the only aunt I have left. She is dear to me and I appreciate and love her work more than words can describe. I simply adore this quilt-top table runner. It's one of my favorite keepsakes.

quilt talk

I learned how to machine quilt 4-5 years ago from my Aunt Pam. Unfortunately, I haven't made too many quilts since then. Funnily enough, by learning to quilt I also learned new and different ways to "finish" projects ~ not just on quilts. For instance, the one quilt I did complete was for my late mother-in-law, Barbara, or Barb as I called her. I made it for her for Christmas one year. I hand sewed the binding and by learning that step I have been able to use that same technique and complete scissor fobs, needlebooks and many other smalls.

The quilt I made is called Friendship Star ~ my very first completed quilt ever. The colors are some of her favorites ~ she loved fall time. After her death, my FIL gave the quilt back to its creator which I'm glad he did. After many MIL/DIL debates we actually became friends and not just a "married to the family" kind of relationship. I felt it appropriate to make a quilt that represented her colors, her favorite season and our blossoming friendship. I miss her so much!

I have other finished and unfinished quilts to share, which I'll share at another time, but I needed to get Barb's quilt out there. There are other WIPS that will require the quilting techniques I learned from my very talented Aunt to which I owe a great amount of gratitude. Without these lessons and many, many long distance quilt chats, I would only have half the knowledge I possess about quilts...and finishing.