The Girls Are Back!

The Polka Dot Girls that is. I'm so happy, I finally got around to machine quilting this quilt. I decided on the cross hatch pattern because if I just go around the stitcheries they would pop from the quilt. This is simple and I don't think it takes away from the embroidery. I used a fine thread in a light colour to not cover up the stitching. I'm still working on the binding and then I'll take a picture of the whole quilt. If you want to see others making this same quilt visit this blog dedicated to PDG's.

More than a week ago I won a giveaway on Carol's blog. She sent me the Crazy Eight charm pack with this sweet cherry card. Thanks so much Carol, you are a sweetie. I'm so excited to win something....woohoo this is awesome. I'll have fun making a little quilt with this bundle.

I just had to post this picture of Lula. She is getting comfortable with us and loves to cuddle.

Swap and Polka Dot Girls Done

It arrived!!! Mary from Quilt Hollow and I talked few months ago about having a "Little Quilt" swap. We gave plenty of time to get a small quilt finished and mailed in Nov. Mary received the little quilt I sent her last week and I got mine from her today, we both kept it a complete surprise what we would make. I'm so delighted with the little 9-patch quilt and I had no idea she was also going to send this gorgeous framed log cabin quilt as well, it's like a early Christmas. Mary Thank you so much for this wonderful gift, you have spoiled me...I love them both. Bloggers really know how to spoil each other well and have fun doing it along the way.

It's been a long 10 months of stitching each block one by one. Here it is finally Polka Dot Girls quit is all pieced. I can see why I like doing small stitching projects, this was a big commitment and I was determined to get this one done....woohoo. Don't forget to check the link in my side bar for other bloggers making PDG's quilt.

A close up of the quilt. Now to decide how this will get quilted. Any advise on quilting with stitchery blocks? Do you quilt right over them or just go around the stitching?

Block 8 Polka Dot Girls

I finished the last block of the Polka Dot Girls a few weeks ago and just getting around to posting the picture now. I'm so happy with these stitcheries and even all the little ones are done as well. I've got half the quilt pieced already so hopefully it won't take me long to get the top finished. Check out this new blog dedicated to anyone working on PDG's, even Bronwyn Hayes the designer has joined the online group....how exciting.

I'm just finishing the binding on a Christmas wallhanging using Mary Engelbreit fabrics. I took this over to a friends on a sewing day yesterday and didn't get to sewing the binding and when I left her house I forgot to take it home.....I guess it will be a little longer before I get the binding sewn. I was also working on some curtains....blah....not my favourite thing but Quilt Hollow gave me an easy pattern and the inspiration to get it done. I'm not happy with the first one so I won't show it, that'll be my practise one and I'll do better next time.

Happy Stitching.

Polka Dot Girls Block 7 and Quilting at the Lake

I'm back....Wow did this week ever fly by, with painting and a few days at the lake it was a busy time and here it is Sept already and the kids are back to school. I hope everyone had a relaxing long weekend, I sure did. I'm not done the painting of the steps yet...too much rain last week and today is more of the same. The days I could have painted we were at the lake on Vancouver Island...it was excellent that we had wonderful weather while we were there. I finished another block of the Polka Dot Girls, I have one more of these larger blocks and 3 of the little ones and then.....I'm done...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Here is a little basket I made last week, I've been using it for my stitchery. You can find the instructions here. Some of us have been extra busy making several of these baskets, check out Darlene's dozen...they are so adorable.
This is our view of the lake from my in-laws house. Would you believe in the winter the lake comes up close to that line where you see the railing. All the grass, brush and trees are under water and sometimes the lake will freeze a bit too. It's just incredible to see how close the water comes to the house. You can't see it from the picture but the house is on the side of a hill, so they've never had a flood.
While the guys were off Kayaking for the weekend, the girls were busy making this Double Irish Chain. My Aunt wanted to make a quilt from her oldest daughter and since my Aunt and MIL are both not experienced quilters, I offered my help. The three of us finished this queen size top in a couple of days. We don't know yet if the quilt will be a wedding gift or not...the engagement hasn't happened yet but my Aunt is keeping her fingers crossed. She wanted to be ready just in case.

Polka Dot Girls Block 6 and Rebecca's Basket

We've been busy doing work in the yard this last couple of weekends. One side of the house has been neglected and become a big weed patch. Hubby cleared out all the weeds and broken beer bottles (little surprises....that's what comes with OLD house) to get ready for paving stones and bark mulch. It's a very shady area so maybe ferns and hostas will grow back there....I hope. It's already looking so much better then the dumping ground it used to be.

I squeezed in some sewing and finished the top of the small quilt I started at Jo's class a few weeks back. I wasn't sure about the stripe in the setting triangles. I think it really shows off the scrappy baskets. I'm still working on the star blocks for the larger fall quilt I started in the class as well. It's coming along, soon I'll have something to show.
Oh man... am I ever slowing down on my Polka Dot Girls, here is block 6 all done. I should be almost finished block 7 by now but with so many other distractions, I haven't even started it yet. Even with the slow progress I'm still really enjoy stitching these girls. They always make me smile.

If your looking for this pattern you'll find it here. Search for Red Brolly Polka Dot Girls. I've also provided links in my side bar to the other finished blocks.

Happy Stitching.

Polka Dot Girls Block 5

Just a quick post to show block 5 of Polka Dot Girls. I enjoy doing each stitchery and I look forward to the next one. I love the funny looking bees. If you are interested in getting the book go here to order. The designer is Red Brolly (Bronwyn Hayes).
Little bird house, so sweet. I hope your not tired of these stitcheries yet because I have 3 more to go....yippee not long before I'm done. Happy Stitching!

Polka Dot Girls Block 4

A quick post to show some progress on the Polka Dot Girls, this is block #4. I still need to finish the piecing for this block. Each block has a larger stitchery and a smaller stitchery, I've finished the piecing for Blocks 1 to 3 see here, here and here. Darlene is doing her blocks all in redwork, hers looks fantastic, I love them ALL. This lady is ready for a busy day in the garden. We've had a little sun on and off, mostly off. My camellia, tulips and the bleeding hearts are all starting to bloom. The snow turned some of the flower petals brown before they could fully bloom but I'm still enjoying the colour coming out in the garden, we sure need it after such a looog winter. I can't complain too much as Karen is still having huge snow falls, don't worry sister it will be melted in no time....LOL

I hope you are having a good week so far. Keep Stitching!

Polka Dot Girls Block 3

The PDG's now have a sewing chair to sit and stitch. Doesn't it look inviting to sit and have a cup of tea and stitch on a warm afternoon.

This weekend was hubs birthday and so we went to see this concert. I haven't been to a concert in a long time and it sure wiped me out for the next day. I was so tired and the time change didn't help either. I don't know about you guys but it takes me a good week to get over not feeling tired in the morning. I also made bagels from this recipe. I must have been way out of it because after I kneaded the dough for the entire 15 minutes I realized I could have made the dough in the bread machine....duh. I did let them raise for double the time suggested and oh boy they were the most delicious bagels I've ever had. Sorry no pictures but you can see them here. I was inspired by this talented quilter. Speaking of talented, have you seen Happy Zombie has a quilt published in the newest issue of Quilts and More. Check out page 76.
Block 3 has the sweetest little basket stitchery as well. Five more blocks to go.

I've loved seeing all the pincushions this week. Hopefully I can get a few minutes to get a picture of mine to show you. Have a good week.

Polka Dot Girls Block 2

Holy Moly....number 2 is one BIG block, you can see block 1 here. I'm so happy this block is done as it's the biggest in the quilt. The piecing is simple which makes it go fast when putting together, I'm using a jelly roll for the blocks which means I've had to make adjustments to the pattern but it's turned out easier that I first thought. I'm having fun stitching these ladies, I've said it before they certainly make me smile with every stitch I take.
Hubby bought me this miniature red roses (red is my favourite colour) in a sweet red cup with a heart on the front. The roses should continue to bloom and grow throughout the summer. It's nice to see flowers this time of year when the garden hasn't started to come alive yet.
On my next post I'll show the progress I've made on this little sewing case. It's sooooo adorable....I can't wait to start using it.

Happy Stitching to everyone.

Polka Dot Girls

I've been fighting a cold for the last few days, lots of napping going on for me. Hubby bought me a heated blanket for Christmas, it's been put to good use with all my naps. It's nice to get in bed with the sheets all warm and cozy. I did manage to squeeze in a few things between naps. I pieced the first block of the PDG's. I was struggling with my fabric choices, the fogging head and sniffles didn't help with deciding. Oh look....I forgot to applique the heart on the bottom block....see what happens when a cold takes over. I think using the Folklorique by Fig Tree was a good choice. I did some picking apart seams before finely deciding upon what you see in the picture. The colours seem to go better with the embroidery threads used in the pattern, sand, scarlet, terra cotta, butter scotch and indigo are part of the fabric line and seem to match the stitchiers. You'll be seeing lot of these girls this year as I have 7 more of these blocks to go. If you remember a few posts back when I showed the first stitchery done I had plans to use the Sea Side Rose fabrics, well I have a new plan for those fabrics. I won't give you any hints now, I'll wait until I'm closer to starting that project....Oh no my list for 2008 is already growing out of control. . Have you seen Linda's list? I was exhausted just reading it.

New Year's was a quite day relaxing, with a chick flick mixed in somewhere. We tried a few days ago to see the movie but the line up was so far out the door we decided to pick up a bottle of sherry and head home. So we finely got into see "PS I love You" yesterday, it's a really good chick flick, don't forget to bring lots of tissue girls.