An Update - Picture Heavy...stitching, quilting, my puppy dog...life!

So I have stash enhanced with a couple things, finished a couple things, made progress...so buckle in - here is what I have been doing.

I took a class with Edyta Sitar this past fall. And fall I did - in love with her batiks. I am kind of a batik-freak anyway...she showed us tons of her quilts - all stunning, I must say. She had this line of fabric called Dreaming in Color and had a pattern that was absolutely something I really, really wanted to make called Dreaming. Unfortunately, it was from a few years ago and very difficult to locate. I searched the Internet and found some of the line and then made up with others that would match. Here are my lights and mediums:
This is the quilt I am going to make with these - these are my darks:

Aren't just to die for? Well if you're still living and breathing after those luscious fabrics, do you like French General? How about this, all kitted up in it's greatness! Lumiere de Noel just waiting for some attention.

And if that wasn't enough - French General - Rouenneries Deux. The pattern is by Its Sew Emma. My friend Peg told me they had released this obsession fabric of mine - already had this in mind, bookmarked and just had to click to order the kit. Wait 'til you see it, Peg - scrumptious!! Now which to start???

Or should I finish what I have started...now what fun would that be - yes, I believe this obsession is a disease!!

Started my house for my moon box Patrick's Woods. Isn't it sweet? I know the smalls are hard to see in the picture, but I will post as I get them done - may just be a bit.

Remember in the last post I mentioned my husband's Aunt; well we went to take her out to dinner yesterday. She is doing well and getting things done. She is such a thoughtful person. Her husband was a staunch - mass every day - Catholic prior to his Alzheimer's. Her boys were raised Catholic (my husband's family are die-hard Lutheran, as was Aunt). Well my husband married a Catholic. I tell you this because since his Aunt's sons are not practicing and my son does (as much as most 18 year old boys do) she wanted him to have the uncle's Rosary. It is so pretty, I just had to give you this picture. The beads are ruby colored and so pretty with the filigree over top each. I love family heirlooms, don't you? My son seemed quite thrilled by the gift.
Okay, after that short break - here is some stitching updates...

Progress being made on BBD Wild Lilies. This is my "go to" piece for easier stitching.

LaDDa's Margaret Cottam progress: Loving this one; the colors, the stitching, the linen. LOVE IT!!

Took the pic of the birthday puppy - he's 8. And boy is he getting grey! We were outside taking snaps of a truck my husband is hoping to sell and he looked like he needed some attention - so, smile pretty Cody!

A Finish!! A Finish!! With Thy Needle's Mystery Sampler - Birds of a Feather. I still can't believe how much I love the flowers in the border. And the sheep, they are so, so cute! I love their little ears. So now on to my next big sampler.
I have Ann Dale (Shakespeare Peddler) all ready to go, silks labeled and bagged, pattern ready but I don't have the line yet - calls for a fat 1/2. Don't have that cut laying around - just a couple 1/2 yards, not fat. Gosh, something skinny!!! But not quite the size I need, no margins. Just waiting!! Checked with my LNS and it's still on back order. Maybe soon??!!

I have another finish - not all my doing...it's the friendship sampler with the 12 friends who stitched - most of the group I mention here frequently - they are my buddies and really the best a gal can wish to have around her. Here are some pics...Mine is the top row with the hearts, just barely visible in this shot.

More - sorry for the shadow. Honest, took this pic with full sun shining in the window today.

Won't this look super awesome in my lilac painted and carpeted sewing studio!! Thanks buddies of mine for all your creativity on this one!And remember the traveling sampler from last post - well here it is, paired up with this super awesomeness...they will love hanging around together on the wall. Now to watch for a framing sale!

Whew - I am tired. And I am so ready to stitch a bit before going to bed. On to another week - starting to catch up on things from 2011. I finally have 2010 archived and put away in storage. I think I am about done with April of 2011. Busy few weeks with lots going on home and work, but that's okay...it keeps me young, right! Starting to fight that cold and cough that seems to be darkening doors around here lately. Hope it goes through me fast! Have a good week all - and stitch lots!

Smiles!

Sherry

Weird, Busy, Restoration, Prayers...

Weird weather - Michigan usually is pretty cold, we rarely have no snow before and during the holidays; it's usually frosty, white, cold. It was in the 50's some days...we had rain, we had people running around in shorts, we had a weird December. January started the same way...then we got the bitter cold I like, not the damp high 20's, low 30's. I was in Heaven, I loved this past Thursday when it was sunny, really bright. I walked out of work and the cold took my breath away. We got about 1.5 inches of snow Thursday. Friday it snowed more, glazed over roads (that part I don't like). It was cold yesterday. The really weird - it was in the mid-20's today but the weather people are saying may be 50* tomorrow. Weird, just plain weird.

Busy...the next word. I have worked a couple of busy weeks. This time of year is always busy for me; wrapping up the year, printing W-2's, shuffling files from years past to make room for the new year. Busy at home - putting away the Christmas decorations and holiday festivity "left arounds", getting our household tax info ready for our appointment. Busy organizing all the piles that end up in the sewing studio during Christmas.

Restoration...I have stitched a bit though, had my "fix" to restore my sanity. Relaxed to restore my ability to shut down the mind at night and sleep...restore my peace and balancing my soul. I have realized through the past year that we all have something, something that restores us to what we need to be, how we need to be. We all need some thing. Isn't it amazing how things as simple as thread, a needle and some linen can bring that peace of mind, peace of heart? Books do the same thing for me, on a different level. Lately I have turned to the fibers instead of the books...have to find one in my pile that captures my attention.

So what have I been stitching to restore peace and balance? It's the Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler from With Thy Needle & Thread. I am doing it in silks and love the process - I haven't done tons with silks in the past. The border is done. The letters are supposed to be in the color of the two border rows and I really think it may be too light for my taste, especially when it hangs on the wall. I am trying Belle Soie "Angel Blush" and have the "Y" in...I will put in a couple more letters tonight and decide. It's almost done.

Sorry for that shadow in the right c0rner.

This awesome flower is why I just had, HAD to do this sampler.

Isn't it beautiful? I saw a version substituting the blue bird with a cardinal (somewhere on blogs this summer - sorry, I can't remember where and the note is upstairs in the sewing studio). I have thought of putting in cardinals but am not sure - perhaps I need this touch of blue. Maybe once the letters are in, I will make up my mind. I also have to get another skein of the green for the leaves - only a dozen left and I am out. I am hoping if the dye lot is different, it won't be too different and as they are not right next to one another, it should be fine.

Been working on BBD Wild Lilies when I need something with a little "easier" stitch to see...this is on 32 count versus the 40 0n the couple samplers I have going. Aren't these colors just absolutely stunning?! Didn't change a thing and am doing it just as it is on the pattern.

And finally, I loved the "Merry Be" pin cushion and finishing style so much that I had to have "Creepy Pin Cushion" by Shepherd's Bush. This was one of my finishes late in 2011...now to finish-finish.

A completely finished project will have to wait just a bit more time...back to that "busy" word. Busy, sometimes a bad, four letter word in this house.

I also have to ask for thoughts and prayers for my husband's Aunt. In May, she has lost her sister (my mil). This was while I was in the hospital for over five weeks and Aunt M had surgery for her second bought with breast cancer. Then two weeks ago, her brother's wife (another Aunt - her sister-in-law). This last week, her own husband passed away; he's been sick with Alzheimer's for years but even that doesn't make it any easier. It's been a tough year. She's a strong woman, but that is really quite a bit. Keep her (and us) in your prayers please. I have always had faith, but this past year has taught me that prayers can be a powerful source of peace, for the prayer and prayee...yes, I can make up words - it comes from work - employer/employee...

Have a great week...thanks for stopping by my bit of the blog. Hi to the new readers, hi to the return readers. I appreciate all your comments and appreciate you checking in with what is happening in my world. Funny, it's such a fun world even though we have not yet met all those followers.

Hugs and stitches,

Sherry :o)

First Finish, Traveling Pattern (2nd finish) and the Holidays!

The New Year's weekend brought a finish. I had started this and finished it in about six weeks. It's finish-finished as it came with the tuck away pillow. You know, I am not sure who did the design either...sorry as I should have written it down! It's one that came from my friend Mary - she wasn't going to finish it and I knew I would. I have a bench I change up seasonal pillows frequently throughout the year - it's going to be a cute, small addition next autumn. Thanks Mary, for not wishing to do this one!Hung out at my Mom's on Christmas Eve with my sisters, their families. It was loud, fun and festive. Afterward, my son and I went to midnight mass which is always very, very moving for me.

Christmas day at my house is extremely laid back. With a teenager in the house, we are not up at the crack of way-early! We just kind of hang out after opening gifts, eat some yummy breakfast, a really yummy dinner and then just lay around some more for the evening. Even Cody just lays around!

Santa brought tshirts for both of the guys in the house...John loves this show - I think it's called Benny Spies - it's a hunting show. He was pretty surprised.

And the son loves this one!
Remember this:

It's the traveling pattern arranged through Jennifer of Confessions of a Serial Starter to many of us all over the place, connected by blogworld. I was after Nataly and have the pleasure of sending it to Edgar tomorrow. Click all three of their names to see their blog - Jennifer's shows where the pattern has been, how we all interpret the pattern with colors and such.

Here are a couple shots of the whole thing. It's A B C D by La-D-Da.

This is up close of the border and the variegation of the fiber I used. It's done on 36 count LSL Vintage Tarnished Silver linen with faded memories fiber by The Thread Gatherer.

I did a double row of upright cross stitches instead of the called for cross stitch. I wanted to do a herringbone stitch but decided I didn't really like the way the vertical row looked.

Sorry for the shadow. We finally had a couple days of sun here in Michigan and I tried to capture, but it was spotty at best. My second finish of 2012...now time to put in framing pile.

So as far as other things - work is work, family is getting back to routines after holidays and vacations. Time for me to stitch a bit tonight so I will wrap it up.

May your 2012 be full of good health, lots of stitching time and much happiness!

Stitch happy :0)

Sherry

Good Friends...presents, ornaments, merry - merry!

As promised, this post has updates, pics of gifts now delivered and some new things...so grab your bootstraps - this is picture heavy and probably a bit word heavy too. Anyone who knows me personally would tell you that's not unusual at all - the word heavy part. :-)

So there is this group of phenomenal women I hang with. We all stitch, most quilt...some quilt more than stitch. Some of us belong to a sampler guild and see each other at that monthly meeting; a couple times a month one of the group hosts whomever can come for the day to stitch and eat lunch; and we end up getting together for retreats (sponsored by an shop, organization, etc.) once or twice a year. They are the best friends ever, we support each other with not only our obsession with fabric and fibers, but with our families - illnesses, joys and troubles, jobs and all of what life has to give us.

Last Sunday we gathered at one member's house to stitch and eat - and boy did we eat like queens!! I fixed up this plate of shortbread - plain with milk chocolate and orange-zested with dark chocolate. It was a wonderful afternoon - so relaxing and just what I needed to start the week - oh, was it a busy one.

Monday night there is a group, kind of within that group, that exchange Christmas gifts. Wow - the gift gods were with me last year when Robin drew my name...Here is what I received:
All stitchers and quilters, alike, know you can never, ever have enough tote bags. Robin made this! Now, I can sew a block...but a bag....challenged a bit there - not Robin. She is one talented seamstress! This "folder" was inside. It's a project folder with several bags inside - with the snappy closures. This is a shot of all that was stuffed into my new bag! Don't you just love the blues and greens!

These were nested together - like those Russian nesting dolls (I think they are called Matryoshka dolls)...so cute - and so clever!!

This shot shows just how many pockets are ready for my gadgets, bottle of water and other necessities. There is even a cool "Robin" personalization. It will hold lots and lots...my lap stand, my light, and at least a project or two. And Robin made it all!!

I drew Heather's name last year. I stitched up a couple things for her box of goodies. This pin cushion is by Pineberry Lane Treasured Blossoms which has a cool scissor pocket in the back. I did up a scissor fob for the scissors. It's an Olde Colonial Design (kit) and I changed the colors to match Blossoms.
The front of this pin cushion has the letters f-r-i-e-n-d-s above each flower.
I also stitched and finished this pin cushion May Flowers by Cottage Island Needlearts. This one was hard to finish - circles are harder than a square or rectangle - go figure!

Boxed it all up with lots of other little goodies:

Shut the lid and headed off to dinner that evening. What awesome gifts were exchanged - along with what I have shown you here: a couple holiday quilts/wall hangings, stitched boxes - even one in the shape of a beehive (Pam and her husband, Bill strike again) - I received a chest from her two years ago - in my archives December 2009. (Well - I thought it was there...I will take a pic and post - wasn't blogging December 2009). Isn't the box for Heather festive and beautiful!

Peg made each of us an "ort port". Mine matches my pin cushions from my Christmas present last year (December 2010 post in archives). It now graces the table by the aforementioned cabinet with it's pin cushion friends!!
Now to think of something way cool for 2012 - who do I have? Can't say here at all...won't show any projects either as some of that group are some of my followers!!

Here is progress on the piece I posted about earlier this week. I did get my laundry done (that night anyway, as more waits for me now). It's La-D-Da's ABCD pattern that Jennifer started a "traveling pattern" group...it is my turn and it's a fun, quick stitch. I did that the other night and finished the 'd' during lunch Friday. I am putting the border on last as I may do the herringbone stitch (one of my favorites) or some other fancy stitch. Don't worry Edgar, I will get this done as quickly as I can and forwarded on to you!

This is my progress on La-D-Da's Margaret Cottam. Part one is almost done. I have part two waiting in the wings - love the colors. I am doing it on the called for linen and with the called for fibers. It's been cloudy and gloomy for two days so the picture does not do it justice whatsoever.

Remember just before I went back to work I took a paper-piecing quilting class? Here it is, finished in all Santa's (all three of them) glory. I still need some practice in binding the corners. I love this piece and look forward to having the witchy/candy corn pattern the teacher sent after the class.

For those nights I only have a small bit of time or don't have the energy, I am relearning to knit. I haven't knitted for about 40 years. I learned to crochet about then and didn't knit anymore. I inherited all my grandma's needles, yarn, etc. several years back and simply put them away...thought about it once in awhile. Then a friend of mine, Mary, was cleaning out her yarn-stash and I couldn't help myself...took some off her hands. What's another project or two, right? This is my start - since taking the photo, I took it out and made it a bit more narrow and much more even. I am making a scarf. Probably be winter of 2012 before it's done but I am happy with my progress. My teacher, Pam (yes, both gals are part of our "group") says I am doing okay.

It now looks like Christmas around our house, as much as it's going to! This ornament I think I showed earlier this year when it was finished - just wanted to show it while on the tree. Merry Be by Shepherd's bush. I love the ways these finish up with the ribbon hiding any errors. That is one of my mom's hand painted ornaments in the background. John and I have dozens (some are from before I met him) and Jordan's has one for every Christmas.

I bought this one - not handmade as most of the ornaments on my tree each year...but it is SO cute. I bought a couple to give away this year - love the tiny knitted sweater with sparkly, beaded hanger.

With that, I leave you with a picture of our Christmas tree this year. I have it in the family room instead of the smaller, pre-lit tree in the living room - didn't do both again. I love having it where I stitch and catch a t.v. show or two most nights. Plus we will have the fireplace going on Christmas day...

Merry Christmas to all my blog-buddies. I probably won't "see" you until after the first of 2012! Stitch lots, do some things that make you happy and enjoy the season! Oh yea, and pray Michigan has a white Christmas - my nephew and son are plotting using pam cooking spray on their sled bottoms to make it possible to sled on dead grass (or using the slip-n-slide) if we have no snow Christmas Eve - that could be so hilarious or disastrous - not sure which as Mom's hill is quite steep!

It's Here - It's Here

The traveling pattern made it to me...I am thrilled and can't wait to start! I follow Nataly. This has been organized by Jennifer - check here to read all about it. Pictures soon...dare I say I will start tonight - it's already 8 p.m. and that's perfect stitching time but I am also doing laundry so gonna try. I've had my fabric and fiber picked out and in a drawer by my next for a couple months now...so gotta run - needle is calling me!

STAY TUNED FOR PICS OF THIS AND OTHERS - HAD CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE WITH BESTEST, MOST TALENTED FRIENDS THIS WEEK AND HAVE PICS...JUST WANT TO STITCH TONIGHT!!