A Finsh and A Start

I finished the crazy bright orange and hot pink flower combination.  It was fun and quick.  It should have some small (Ken size) buttons but I looked at my button collection and decided that it is fine without buttons.

Then I decided to 'clean up' some old stash items.  I went through all my stash last week.  I pitched several items.  Some things I kept out in the chance that I might get around to them.  This was a kit that I purchased at Stitcher's Hideaway a few years ago.  I thought it was a good patriotic stitch for this particular time of year.

A bit of progress and a new stitching spot.

I am making a bit of progress on this piece.  I have spent more time working on repairing the magnifier and getting things settled than actually stitching.  Maybe tomorrow.

Today I also picked up the new chairs for the deck.  Heavy!!  They did fit in the Highlander.  They were then loaded into the trailer behind the tractor for delivery to the back porch.  I am amazed I was able to do it!  I haven't stitched out there yet but I will.  Today started out very humid and miserable.  Now there is a breeze and the humidity is gone!  Yeah!

Fun Things in the mail and a new start

 Floral Fun #2 by M Designs.  The colors are very bright but this photo doesn't seem to show it very well.  I just had to do something totally different.  I have been feeling a bit strange lately.  I spent two days just digging through old stash.  I came up with a pile of things that I know I will never stitch.  Some times you just have to admit defeat.

Meanwhile - look what showed up today!!  I love it. 

What a day!!!

It was a pretty day.... at the quilt shop.  They were selling models for a song.  I started singing.  Here is the photo!!!

There is a large Christmas quilt that will be wonderful in the Christmas room.  Then the Halloween wall hangers - Oh My Gosh!!  I love the haunted house one.  The fabric and threads alone would cost a small fortune.  Wow - I am so happy with it all.

Yesterday I worked on this needle book part.  It is ready for the hardanger work.  I am not exactly sure why this was what I worked on.  It just happened.  I made great progress.

I stopped at the store to purchase a small basket to hold all the little pillows.  I think it is perfect.  It was a good day.

Ten Small Finishes

Finish finishes!  I spent the morning in the sewing room putting things together.  Then I spent the afternoon stuffing and doing the final seams.  Ahhh - it is good to have so much accomplished.

Here s all the pillows made up and ready for stuffing.  This is Hands On Designs charts.  I am so happy to have the third and final installment in time to get these done.

And here they are.  I plan to give these away for a July Exchange.  I hope they are well liked and appreciated.  They were a lot of fun to stitch.  Nine small projects that grew into this wealth of fun.  I hope to find a basket to put them in.

Then I trimmed and finger pressed the Sweetheart Tree USA Quadrielle. 

When I trim the little V areas between the sides, I place a drop of Fray Check on the spot to help to hold it all together.  I also locate a hanger and a tassel - it is ready to be put together.

There you go!  Another one done.

What a wonderful day! Outside!

Opps - I had quite the spelling error on my last post.  If you missed it, sorry.  I have already made corrections.  It did make me wonder what I was thinking.....

This morning I started off in the craft room to put together the nine pillows.  I tried pairing up the fabrics.  I am guessing I have it right..

Then the warm spring weather started calling my name.  It was a fine, sunny, warm, blue sky, beautiful day.  I haven't had too many so far this year and I didn't want to miss it.  I did some reading and I did some stitching.  You can't see much but there is progress being made.

2 Projects done along with the lawn!

Two more parts of Hands On Design Part III.  All the stitching is done and it is time to make the nine (count them 9!) pillows.  I suppose it is time to return to the big zipper project.

I also rode the tractor and did the lawn.  It is just barely above 70 degrees today. Brr.  There is a rumor that summer is coming but I don't see it.

My Crazy Life

Well, it has been a busy week.  I have a crazy story of five hours and two trips to the hardware store in order to get a new faucet put in.  Exploding light bulbs and lots of brain work were also involved.  The bottom line is that the new faucet is in!!  I can fill a small bucket in the bathroom now!!  Dreams do come true.  Sorry, I didn't take photos.  However I did get some stitching done.  I started and completed "Close" for the Hands On Design project. 

The blue fabric really doesn't show up very good here.  I also started the red cherry (?) chart for this same project.

 The large zipper/Bent Creek project has been humming along.  I actually spent most of yesterday working on this one.  The Hands On project had to be moved up because it has a deadline. 

I had to get a few photos of my garden.  Remember that I have black thumbs!  The peonies is beautiful and very impressive.  Also the clematis is beautiful and growing into it's trellis. Purple of course.  That was a gift from my son.  I smile when I see it.

Love Grows 5

Leaves have been added.  I have been making some progress.  I haven't had a lot of time to work on it but today is a good stitching day with rain.  Unfortunately I have meetings to attend.  Hopefully I can stitch some this evening. 

Love Grows 4

I know that I have been 'away'.  I haven't had a lot of time to stitch.  It was a busy working weekend at my house.  I big brother arrived and we worked for two days.  I do appreciate all his help.  We did get a lot done.  (Love you Butch! (Yes, he reads my blog)).  Trees were felled, dead wood was removed, new feet on deck chairs (to avoid the shocking results of before), cleaned gutters and covered them, new closet light, craft room ruler fixed, new Adirondack chair for the deck (he worked on it!), and general clean up and getting stuff done.  Whew!  I am tired.  All through that time, nary a needle was touched.  Now I am resting up and trying to get back to my main project.  So here it is.  I had to move the Qsnaps this morning so I was able to get a good picture. 

Compared to the last photo, I have made amazing progress.  I miss my cross stitch.  I crave being able to sit and stitch.  I hope to spend some time getting back into the mode of stitching.  There are XS projects and quilts all calling my name.

Big Zipper: Love Grows 3

Progress has been made.  I started on the fence today.  Much more of the tree trunk was done.  Also I have colorful leaves in the grass.  I am not sure I will get much done in the next few days as I am going to have a busy weekend of home improvement and family. 

To answer a question in the comments concerning the quadrielle.  I hope to do the finishing soon and I want to take some photos as I go so I can post the photos and some tips here.  Stay tuned.

Big Zipper: Love Grows 2

I have been spending some time on my project.  Summer is arriving so life gets busier and it is great to see family and friends.  Today I had to leave the brown border and do a bit of other colors and things.  I did the grass and started the tree trunk.  I don't find it boring to do the border.  It is a bit repetitive. Counting is necessary with no way to double check placement of stitches.  I hope I don't find any frogs later on as I work on this project. 

It Is A Big One!

I am not quite sure what called me to this project.  Perhaps it is because the supplies took a large section on my stash storage.  Perhaps it was because someone else posted a photo of a big zipper design that caused me to go looking to see if I had the design.  Perhaps it is most convenient that this design might fit in just right in the opening of my head board.  It would frame it perfectly?  I am not sure but it looks like it might.  Who knows why we pick a new project.  We just do.  Now I am busy with finding floss to do the kit with.  The kit appears to have a few mistakes and is lacking some floss.  I have written the designer and I am waiting for an answer.  Meanwhile I am making due.

This is called The Big Zipper, perhaps because it originally came in a large zippered mesh bag?  The designer is Bent Creek.  The sub title is Love Grows.  On 18 count linen the design is to be 21" x 21".  I am using some DMC cotton floss where I use all six strands at one time.  Or I am using the floss supplied which is a perle cotton floss, single strand. 

Let me know what you think...  This first section is mostly border work. 

USA Quadirelle

It is done!!  I finished it up this morning by adding the buttons and beads.  Next up will be the finishing.  I believe I have some red, white and blue ribbon to make a hanger out of and I will make a tassel for the bottom.  All I have to do is find the time.  LOL.  I also started my next big project.  I will post photos soon.