Monday, December 8, 2014

Goal setting for December ALYoF...

I've been able to complete my goals so far for all 11 months for ALYoF.
My December goal is to quilt and bind
the cat quilt I'm sending for the 'I Love Embroidery Challenge'
at the Road to California Quilt Show in January 2015.

Embroidery Artists have been challenged by Bird Brain Designs to show off their interpretation of any of Bird Brain Designs Patterns with any color of Thread on Natural/White Fabric. Artists were encouraged to spice up their clever quilt with glitz and glimmer, reduce or enlarge the designs, combine patterns and finish their embroidery in their own special way. Curated by Robin Kingsley

I combined 3 Bird Brain Design patterns
enlarged one of the patterns and
set the hand embroidered blocks for
a wall hanging.


I'm linking up to Fiber of All Sorts and Sew BitterSweet Designs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dhubby is much better...
we are still facing the possibility of brain surgery...
and he can't drive for 6 months.

If you know one thing about me...it is 
I don't like to drive!!
I was 29 years old before I got my license.

We are going to get a second opinion and then make the decision
to remove the cavereous hemangeoma.
He has not had any more seizures with the medication he is on.
A big thank you for all the prayers and well wishes!!

I haven't forgot about the tutorial for the needle keeper.
I'll sweet talk my hubby into taking some photos in the morning.
I'll try for Wednesday...they are quick to make!!

Happy Holidays




Sunday, November 30, 2014

ALYoF...November finish

From this 

to this


It is a finish and I'm hoping to have it quilted for the 
Bird Brain Embroidery Challenge 
for the 2015 Road to California Quilt Show.
I will try my best!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...you never know when your life will change in an instant...

To keep it short...my sweet hubby will likely be facing brain surgery
to remove the 'little bugger' that is not playing nice.

We will know more after we meet with the neurosurgeon on
December 4...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm linking up with Shanna at Fiber of All Sorts and 
Melissa at Sew BitterSweet
Thank you for hosting ALYoF!!


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

T'was the Night Blog Hop...Day 7

It is my day to share my sweet gifts from 
the funny and talented Lynn at Thimblemouse and Spouse
Big thanks to Mdm Samm and to Marlene 
for adding a super fun twist to our holiday blog hop.

Lynn stitched these awesome quick gifts...sEw perfect for me...
How did Lynn know I fell in love with this fabric line as soon as I saw it?? 
The cutest mouse pincushion....so stinkin' cute,
a mug rug made from a block from the Winter Wonderlane panel,
and a quilted sleeve enclosed in a see through mug...
perfect for holding all my tracing pencils.
The fabric line is Winter Wonderland by Anne Sutton...
and it is sEw perfect for this sweet trio.
Love, the fabrics...love the gift Lynn!!
Check out the free patterns at Bunny Hill Designs by Anne Sutton


 The mouse pin cushion is a free pattern at Bustleandsew.
I love the quilted body of the mouse...a change from the original pattern.
It is cute made in wool too!!
I will be making some of these...for sure...just not this year!!
Just the cutest gifts. Thanks again Lynn!!!

I managed to make a few quick gifts...

#1 Needle keepers...watch for a tutorial coming soon...
(not much sewing time at the moment...
caring for my sweet hubby...he is my #1 priority)
#2 collapsible thread catchers...free pattern at redhenfabrics
 #3 embroidered pot holders
... pattern is an iron on by Aunt Martha's #3951
#4 crocheted pot scrubbers...free pattern by Pat Linn
#5 a snowman ornament...wish I could find the pattern...it's hiding
#6 Santa pail...it was fun to make...the pattern is hiding too!!
#7 crocheted scarves...are always great, soooo many colors to choose
you really do need more than one!
#8 a vintage jar filled with some homemade healthy snacks
...soooo good
#9 embroidered tea towel...a free pattern by Michelle Ridgway
She has more free embroidery designs on her sidebar...
her gingerbread design is soooo cute!!
 #10...crayon bags are quick to make when you use pre-quilted fabric
the pattern is by Clothesline Quilts
#12  coasters using 5" squares and some batting...
I chose a different fabric for front and back...
Hope you found a few quick gift ideas...

...now for the gift I sent to Mary...
more of my favorites
I stuffed the box till I couldn't stuff anymore in.
pot holder, soap dish apron and matching tea towel, 
...an embroidered tea towel
...a needle keeper
...a thread catcher
...crocheted pot scrubber
...a vintage jar with some embroidery floss
...a Hugs and Kisses table runner pattern by Helen Stubbings
...a few Christmas ornaments
...the last is a package of needle pullers...
sure to be your best friend when you are making Tammy bags.

Please be sure to visit all the talented ladies posting today

Wednesday, Nov. 19
Quilt N Queen


Pinterest T'was the night

Happy Holidays

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Welcome to T'was the Night blog hop...Day 1

I'll be playing some Christmas tunes with my morning coffee...let the blog hop begin...it is sure to be fun!!  I know you will find many wonderful make-in-a-day gift ideas.   There is sure to be tutorials and giveaways and I'm positive we will all find something that we will just have to make...something for that special someone and even something for yourself...I know I will be looking for quick gift ideas for Christmas and for 'just-because' gifts!!

Here is the full schedule of all the talented ladies sharing new and old quick gift giving ideas.  Cheer them all...make their heart sing with your sweet comments.

Tuesday, Nov. 11
Creativity Amongst Chaos
Why Knot Kwilt

Wednesday, Nov. 12 
Bumbleberry Cottage

Thursday, Nov. 13

Friday, Nov. 14

Monday, Nov. 17


Tuesday, Nov. 18
How Art You?

Wednesday, Nov. 19
Quilt N Queen

Thursday, Nov. 20
Pickles Quilting

Friday, Nov. 21
Quilting Queen Online
Sew We Quilt


Happy Holidays





Thursday, November 6, 2014

A bowl full of gold and November's goal for ALYoF...

...yes this is a bowl full of gold!!
I was on the look out for some vintage feed sacks...
while vacationing in French Lick Indiana...
some I got a deal on and a few must be stitched with a thread or two of gold.
One of the feed sacks was still stitched as a sack.  
They are getting harder to find...and the price reflects that.

Now for my November goal for ALYoF
hosted by Melissa and Shanna
I have many projects I would love to finish...
some more pressing than others...so...
I've decided to complete the quilt top for my 
entry into the 2015 Road to California Quilt Show's 
I Love to Embroider exhibit.
I've gathered some fabrics from my stash
 and the nine embroidered blocks are stitched and squared.
 Next step is to decide on a design.  
I hope some inspiration comes to me soon!  
The cat print will likely be my outer border, if there is a border 
or it will be the backing.
It has different shades of browns, golds, greys and creams
 and there is black!!
There is a FQ of green in there...not sure about that one.
Maybe when I decide on the design it will 'come to me'...
it may need a spash of red!

I've joined the goal setting party at Shanna's Fiber of All Sorts blog
and at Melissa's BitterSweet Designs blog.

Happy stitching

Saturday, November 1, 2014

October's goal for ALYoF is a finish...

I bound the quilt while vacationing in French Link Indiana.
(just got home a few hours ago)
We snapped a few pictures while touring
the area.
 This picture was taken in front of an antique shop
in Worthington Indiana.
Unfortunately it was closed, one of many shops that were closed.
This picture was taken at the train station in
Jasper Indiana. 

I'm linking up to October's ALYoF party with Melissa and Shanna
and to
finish it up Friday with crazy mom quilts




Thursday, October 16, 2014

FALL FABRIC SALE...it's huge!!

You won't want to miss this sale...Corinna at
is having a huge fabric sale!!

Select Charm Packs $5.99
Select Mini Charm Packs $3.00
Select Layer Cakes $22.99
Select Jelly Rolls $22.98
Select Dessert Rolls $22.98
Select Quilt Kits 30% off
Select Fat Quarter Bundles 30% off
Select Fat Eighth Bundles 30% off

** Please note: Batiks, flannel and brushed cotton will be priced a bit higher.

Moda precuts and some Riley Blake precuts.
Shop early for best selection...

CLICK HERE to view all the Fall Sale fabrics.
Sale ends October 23, 2014

Happy shopping...


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

October's goal for ALYoF, a blue beauty...

...last year's blue beautyGAAQG 2013 volunteer quilt...

My goal for October's ALYoF is to help 
Christa finish the 2014 GAAQG volunteer quilt.
Once we have it all pieced
I volunteered to quilt and bind the quilt.
Still lot's to do before the end of October.

We are using the same pattern as we used last year
Zuckerwatte (Cotton Candy) by Bonnie Hunter
from her String Fling book.
We decided to make the quilt this year without the scalloped border.
This quilt has a lot of paper pieced blocks...
I have the paper removed from rows 6 through 10, my half of the quilt
...messy and not fun!!!
The outer border is pieced, the binding is made.
We will be stitching together sometime this week.
Hopefully we will have a finished quilt top by the end of the week.
(sorry about the shadows...picture was taken in my basement)

I love this quilt and would be 'over the moon' excited if my name is drawn...

I'm linking up with Melissa and Shanna.

Enjoy your week!!
...it's always fun to stitch with friends...



Tuesday, September 30, 2014

September's ALYoF, and my heart is singing...

Well... let me say I've waited to the last hour again....

My September goal for ALYoF was to
embroider 3 of the smaller blocks of  Vintage Tin by Crabapple Hill.

Since September is National Sewing month
I have been stitching and sewing a LOT!!
I started the motocycle block and
I'm sure, I know...it will be the last block I finish!!
Here are the blocks I've finished so far...
I wanted to finish 3 but finished 5 blocks...it was a good month.




I'm linking up to ALYoF September finishing party
with Melissa and Shanna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I received an email for Anne Marie a few weeks ago,
she blogs from Norway and she made my heart sing!!

She made my quilt recipe Honeysweet Pinwheels that was featured on the
 Moda Bake Shop last year.
I love it!!!  Luv Minick and Simpson fabrics!!!
Please stop by Anne Marie's blog for a visit
and see her beautiful quilts, pillows and more.
I love her Swoon quilt!!

Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful Wednesday!!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Blog hopping catch up day and a vintage find...

I am finally caught up reading and commenting
on the "See you in September Blog Hop".

I feel like I cheated when I visited Mme Samm's pinterest page...
before I read all the blogs.
Wow...there is some awesome RBD gingham goodies
included in all the summer sewing projects!!
For sure I knew I had to go and read all the postings!!
I'm happy to say...I did it
and after leaving everyone comments, I am blurry eyed but
so inspired!!

On one of our visits to Canada this past summer we took the
scenic route home and stopped at a few antique shops.
This is one find that I couldn't pass up...
a child's ironing board.
It is very sturdy and folds flat.
 Here it is again
...the cover is a wee bit grungy...
maybe a lot grungy, definitely needs refreshing!!
I am going to make it 'happy' with some RBD gingham.
I want to be able to use the ironing board 
beside my sewing machine.  It is the perfect height.
I vision a cheery, bright gingham one...
probably with a bit of embroidery...something like this.
What do you think?  
I have some medium red and some large yellow gingham, 
but I'm thinking I NEED some small aqua gingham...
before it is retired.

Thanks for stopping for a visit!!


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

See you in September Blog Hop...

It is day 6 and my turn to share my summer projects
in the "See You in September" blog hop.
A huge thank you to
Mme Samm at Sew We Quilt our Head Coach,
Shari at Living with Purpose our Head Cheer leader.

and to Riley Blake Designs for printing gingham fabrics...
I love the small, medium and large ginghams...love them all!!

Finish #1 in my parade of summer sewing...

I stitched a pin cushion to match the first Tammy bag I made...
I filled it with ground walnut shells.
It fits perfectly inside the Tammy bag.
(it's the only project in this posting that was not made with Riley Blake gingham)

Finish #2...a few years ago I found a portable ironing board
at a thrift shop...the frame looked brand new but it's 
blue gingham cover really had to be replaced...
it had been loved (used).
Yes...it had a light blue gingham cover.
This blog hop was the perfect opportunity to make things for
my sewing room and my laundry room.
I used the large yellow Riley Blake gingham
and it is just the 'happiest' ironing cover I've made so far.
(3 more to make and all will be made with gingham) 
The embroidery design is an iron on pattern from Colonial Stitching
...an Aunt Martha pattern #3960...Mama's Little Helper


Finish #3...I now have a cover for my iron 
that I can take to classes along with my 'happy' ironing board.


Finish #4 is a clothes pin bag...I love it!!
The embroidery design was a free pattern online. 
My hubby found it online at Tipnut.com
The binding on both the iron cozy and the clothes pin bag
are cut on the bias...perfect for projects with curves, 
and a little different took to the gingham.

Finish #5 is a quilted liner for my wash basket.
I have wanted a quilted liner for my wash basket for a long time
and now I finally have one.

Finish #6 is a Tammy Bag made with RBD aqua gingham and a RBD print...
I added a touch of lace and it is a keeper. I love it!!
I am working on some accessories to match...
a thread catcher and a needle keeper.  
I will share pictures and have a giveaway as soon as I have them stitched.

...and last but not least finish #7...a tea towel.
Sweet as can be and too cute to use!!
The design is from the same pattern from Colonial Stitching
as I used above..Mama's Little Helper.


Be sure to visit all the talented ladies posting today
...and be prepared to be inspired!!

Secretly Stitching
Buzzing and Bumbling
Quilt n Queen
Quilted Delights

Grandmama's Stories


Visit Mme Samm's Pinterest page and see all the 
gingham goodies in the blog hop.

Thanks for sharing your day with me...I am so glad you stopped by.