Where did it go?

Here it is labor day 2012 and I am thinking about how fast the summer has gone.  Although, thinking about this summer, it reminds me of many many summers ago when I was still in the school.  I remember very clearly that on labor day, among other Holidays was a great excuse to get together with all the family and have a picnic.  Each time everyone would bring their specialties.......jello mold, tuna noodle salad, fruit salad, ambrosia salad, cheeseburgers made on the grill by my Uncle- (who everyone knew his hamburgers were the best!!) hot-dogs, chips, sodas, ice-tea, lemonade along with desert of course.  Grandmas famous cheesecake, and ice cream for the kids.  This labor day picnic marked the end of the summer; and now as an adult, knowing that it was the best way to end the summer and the worst was yet to come.  School starting the next day :(.   As fun as it was to run around the yard with all your cousins, and eat the best things ever-- when 8pm rolled around, we had to pack it up and head home.
The only thing that got me fired up about starting school was the brand new supplies that had been purchased at K-Mart in the weeks before.  New notebooks, binders, pencils, pens, new lunch box and a new back-pack.  I have a weakness for office supplies and I could hardly stand the wait.  Looking at the pile across the bedroom- taken out almost daily to take thorough look at it.  Something about the newness of the notebooks, pencils, 3 ring binder and fine ruled loose leaf paper.  What is it????!!!!!!
But these days are over, and now I can go to the office supply store any time I want, and wander and purchase one of these things if I like, and use it the SAME day :)  Tomorrow is not something to fear, school days are long over.  Tomorrow can be a play day or a work day.
These last few weeks of pretty much doing a bit of everything, has given new hope for many things to come in the future.  New things tried out, and some tossed away.  I attended a star box class this summer at the LNS and completed the class.  I am not sure why, but glue is still fun, along with fun Christmas wax paper, and plain old cutting paper into shapes :)  Along with having the best teacher, the class was made up of amazing stitchers who all had a blast making this star project.  Adjustments had to be made (duh) and fabrics changed, but over all, the end was a crafty success :)

As you may also remember, I began a quilt this summer and a decision was made as to the placement of the blocks.

As of today, the quilt top has been made, along with the back, most of the ties done.  All that is left is the binding, and I am hoping to finish that this week.  I hear for most, that is the least favorite part.  I am guessing that it is going to be mine as well, seeing as I am not really a blind-hand stitcher :(.  But, it wont kill me!

I added a splitch of the larger floral pattern just as an accent to the edging, along with pink and the outer edge the grey.  I LOVE it.
We got an email from my sister a few weeks back letting us know there was a new addition to her family.  Well, I should say 2 new additions to the family :)

Meet Simon and Garfunkel.  They were adopted at the Duchess County NY SPCA.  On the journey for 1, 2 brothers were found and of course 1 could not be adopted with out the other.   Even I know this-- they are like a set :)  Arent they most precious??? At 4 1/2 months old, they are a welcomed addition. I cant believe how beautiful they are.

This is Simon, he is a bit smaller than Garfunkel, but it is made up for in his personality!!!  My sister says watching them is so much fun-- so many new smells, and environments to explore.  I think there will be more pics to come!  I can hardly stand it. 
I am so happy for my sister and her husband!!  I am looking forward to meeting them in person in a few weeks.  I bet they have grown quite a bit already :) 
So many new things alright!  I started another new quilt this week.  I was able to check out 4 new quilt shops this past week and trouble was had of course.  But I have already made good use out of one of the purchases.

I bought this jelly roll to make a railroad quilt.  The gal said it could be done in 1 day.  Ok!  Lets give it a try.  However, I am only working on it a little bit at a time.  I am on the 3rd day. 

With 90 blocks completed last night and pressed, I am ready to square up my blocks and get ready to place them.  I am soooo excited!!!!!!! It is going to be fabulous.
One more piece of excitement is Sarah Brown from Miladys Needle.
Each night after sewing some, I have been stitching.  No, I cant sit still!  I am constantly moving and doing.  Even up until bed time.  Back at it the next day.

The colors are a different from her sister Margaret, but still on the same Vintage Pear 45ct and my conversion of silks.  She is going to be lovely next to Margaret.  Only a few more days- then she will be done too :)

My husband and I watched our great nephew on Saturday and he too, loves green smoothies!!!!  You can never start too young eating healthy :)  Spinach, spiralina, kale, coconut water.  Just amazing how they cant get enough of these things.   And he is stinkin cute too :)

So, since this post is enough to keep all of you for quite some time now, I will close.  Thanks for all your patience in between posts.  Blogging is a great thing- however it takes so much time.  I think about putting a post on almost daily, but then get caught up in so many other things!  LOL.

Until next time ladies and gentleman, I hope you are all enjoying your labor day!!!

It was a challenge

With the closing ceremonies over almost a week ago already, it is high time that my Olympic project came to a close as well :)

This project was a great fun change for me and my usual classic pieces.  Every once in a while you have to test your perimeters and see what you really can do--- and this result proves it for me.  I dont know if I will stitch another item this off my comfort zone-- maybe and maybe not.  I am looking forward to going back to Sarah Brown and Dutch Beauty.  I think I hear DB cry at night I have almost abandoned her!!!  LOL. 

I am sure that you remember last week I started quilting, and having lessons by a fantastic woman who has been most patient and kind to show me the ropes of this new exciting hobby.  Of course, she is so creative and her quilts are exquisite :)   I believe she is enjoying this as much as I have been.  Over all, I am pleased with my result thus far. 

Above is the first option on how can put the blocks together, and below is the 2nd option.

What do you think? A or B?? Which version is most appealing?  Both are fantastic and I cant go wrong either way.  I am going to tie this quilt and have already chosen my threads for it. 
Next week I hope to finish it-- I am also amazed at how fast this has come together.  I have only worked on it 2 days (while I also know that the more difficult the pattern, the longer it will take- but still!) -- I suppose you can do most anything with the proper tools, lighting and patience right? 
Have a great rest of the week, stay cool and have FUN!!!!!

Olympics 2012

Everyone having a blast watching the Olympics and rooting for their favorite sport?  I must confess that I dont care much for the Olympics-- I can take it or leave it, so I have not watched a bit.
I did however start an Olympic project--- because like a fellow blogger said-- we need another excuse to start a project :)
For the 2 week challenge, I have stepped SO FAR out of my usual choice of patterns and I couldnt be more pleased.

I started on opening night-- while watching American Pickers my Olympic project-- Lizzie Kate Green.  This cute little set consists of 6 smalls and words on the bottom.  I have seen this last year or the year before at my LNS on 30ct WDW and I thought instantly that I wanted to stitch it on 45ct vintage pear.  Yes, it is on the same piece of linen as Margaret Brown, and no, Margaret is still sitting above the Green project.

I also adjusted the colors of course and I couldn't be more pleased with this cute piece.

I have also taken it upon myself to change the 2nd pattern from Eat Locally, to Eat Organic.  You gotta do what works for you right?!

It is so stinkin cute that my project is just slightly larger than the picture on the pattern.  Can you even?!!!!!!!!!!!  Each one of these rectangles is 2 1/2" tall and the finished size will be 10" x 3".

I have 2 more to go along with the saying, I am hoping that I can get it finished by the end of this week.  I think I have only 1 free night this week.  All-nighter here we come!!!!  Maybe I will have to watch some videos on the you-tube to keep me going :) 
Switching gears tomorrow:

After purchasing the above fabric along with a plethora more, I am going to learn to quilt tomorrow.  I couldn't be more excited to start.  My good friends mother is going to teach me and I imagine more adventure that you know.  I will take pics and post them later to see some fun and progress.  I have chosen a pattern-- to heck with what it is called, but by tomorrow afternoon I should be able to tell you!!  LOL.  I am in for it :)
Funny how already I have favorite designers that I am on the hunt for-- and it is great that they all really blend together-- 3 Sisters, French General, Barbara Brackman!!!!!

Stay tuned!

Margaret Brown

I had a thought yesterday would be the perfect day to post a finish-- and all good intentions were set.  7 am soon turned into 4pm and I soon realized that there was not going to be an update.  As fast as the day went, many many things were indeed accomplished, which will help the next day off that I have.  I was looking at the calender and I dont really see another day that I will be able to be home for weeks it seems!!!!  So squeezing in a post here or there is just going to have to be a bigger priority :)

So my finish happened mostly over this past weekend.  All of which I was out of town having a blast with some friends and stitching.  Here is where I started the weekend off with Margaret Brown from Miladys Needle:

Progress was made nicely throughout having fun and we even made Margaret do a photoshoot with the Cuban.  (No, I dont smoke and it yes, it is real:))

LOL, we had a great time obviously.  Progress was even made there!!!

Realizing when I had finished the stems, that I was actually missing one color!!!  The horrors.  I thought for sure that it was sitting on the side of my chair but come to see that the color was not anywhere to be found!!!  Fortunately the LNS had one in stock :)  Phew!!

I finished up Margaret on Monday night and even started her sister Sarah Brown a few inches over on my 45ct vintage pear linen.  Even over one was done smoothly-- not so bad!!!

So both Margaret and Sarah will be the same size when finished.  I think she is stinkin cute the small size that is-- 6" x 6" with a silk conversion.  Stay tuned for posts on Sarah progress-- I will try to be better LOL!!!!!!!!!

I know, I know

It has been over a month now since I have posted about stitching and I feel it is high time to get going!!  The month of June was a super, super busy with 3 weeks solid for me working, then 1 week helping out a Friend with another project-- there wasnt really much time for stitching!  Lots and lots of fun was had though!!!!!!  Among tons of fun, I was able to go to the West Chester County Sampler Exhibit-- which was incredible.  I had heard about it, wanted to go but didn't know if the schedule would allow.  There were so many gorgeous samplers and about a dozen globes.  Those I think were my favorite.  Well, that and the mourning samplers :)  Each and every sampler had such incredible detail.  It was truly worth the out of the way effort to see all of these girls on display.

I have been back at stitching the last week or so. Getting re-settled into my normal routine helps alot.  No real tremendous progress, but some is better than none!!!

 

 I did take a small break from DB to start Margaret Brown. PS-- I am stitching Margaret on Lakeside Vintage Pear-- which as you can see by the picture, doesn't look like it at all :( It is one of Milady's Needles reproductions, and Margaret also has a sister Sarah.  I was supposed to have this done already (stitching it with my friend, she is done though!!  YGG), but we already know how that goes.  I have been pleased with the turn out, but realized when rounding the final side that I was 1 thread off, so instead of having 2 threads to go over to finish my final border stitch, I had 3.............  I HATE THAT.  I looked for a bit to see where I had made this error, couldn't find it and threw put her on the chair beside me.

Picked up DB and continued on the flower stem.

 

 Each and every time I look at this piece, I get more excited to have it complete.  I have already chosen the frame......so when I wrap this baby up (when?????)

Back to Margaret, I found the mistake and ripped out the top border along with half of the right side to fix the error, I thought was too bad to leave.  I can now continue to stitch on her.  I think I am going to stitch Sarah Brown for my Olympic project.  We shall see when we come to that bridge however!!!

  I had some framing done and I am looking forward to seeing the final result today, and I will post some pics of those soon!!

Hope everyone is staying cool, enjoying there summer and stitching the days away :)

Happy Birthday America!!

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.

As we celebrate our Independence Day here in America, we stand proud of our country. 

The United States of America is 236 years old today!!!


I hope all of you celebrating this great day are having a wonderful relaxing day :)  Enjoying friends and family.   For those serving and fighting for this great land, we think of you and THANK YOU for your service to America, fighting for our freedoms which we so love here in this great country.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!