checking in...

Hi there...

It's been a bit of time since I updated ... again.  Seems like I have great intentions and then by the time I do the things that have to be done (bills, housework, work, errands) and then time to cruise your blogs and check out the Internet, I run out of time.  Or I have time but don't have any photos snapped and ready to post on the blog.  Oh well, here I am now. 

I was a bit late with my Mom's present for Mother's Day.  I had the top done but wasn't sure what back she would prefer.  I then did the quilting myself - not liking doing that at all.  In this pic the top thread is a bit shiny - it's not like that in person. 

 The fabric Mom picked out for the backing and the tag...

 Have done just a wee bit of shopping.  Picked up a couple things from my LNS's birthday sale and a couple things from a not-so LNS's moving sale. 

 This one had some interesting grapes, some cool flowers - couldn't resist.

 Have done some stitching on Ann Dale (Shakespeare's Peddler).

 Close up too.   This one is beautiful but she is giving me some fits.  The flowers outlined with the darker pink, grey inside...were supposed to be grey only. 

This is how that turned out - not liking!  So had to rechart AND restitch the above after ripping them out.  It's on the called for linen, called for silk. Ugh!

Have alternated that big sampler with another big sampler - A Maryland Inspiration (Heart's Ease Examplar),  This center motif is queen stitch - one of my favorites.

Here is a full pic...ignore the q-snaps.  I did have a bit of a lag in this one - the eight and the yellow flowers along the side were too light and I had to figure out a different color.  Besides that, not much changing things up.  The blue peacock is starting to grow on me.  Jury's still out on whether he will stay.  It's a nice stitch thus far.

While outside snapping the pics tonight, I was surrounded by such a sweet, floral smell - this is what I gaze at from my stitching chair.  So pretty!  

 When I decide to cut some, I don't even have to arrange in a vase - they grow in a bouquet. 

Hope all you Dad's had a great Father's Day.  My husband wished to go out to breakfast and then requested creamed potatoes and hot dogs for dinner - boy did we get off easy. (It's something his Mom made often and I don't make often). Our son joined us for most of the day.  Watched "Identity Thief".  It was fun and lighthearted for a Sunday afternoon.

Not much else going on here...read quite a bit last month too - I read the "Dragon Tattoo" series.  Took me a bit to get into them, but once I did I went from one to another with no hesitation.

Hope you find time to do the things that make you smile and happy!  And as always, thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Hugs,

Sherry :o)

A Little of This...A Little of That

First - Happy Memorial Day to the U.S. blog friends. 

Hey everyone!  How are you doing?  I know, I know - it's been a little bit of time since the last post.  I have been doing a little of this and a little of that.  What is this and that, you may ask; a little bit of quilting, a little bit of stitching, we had Mother's Day dinner with my Mom at my house, I've been reading, we cleaned up the yard and gardens, shopped a bit.  Let's see, oh yeah - I worked too.  A girl's gotta make spending money!

As I said, I have stitched a bit (check the progress since last month's post)!  I have mostly been working on Ann Dale by Shakespeare's Peddler.  I am enjoying this, despite the errors in the pattern ... and the fact that I have had to rip colors when they don't show on the linen.  Some of the called for silks are completely disappearing on the linen (using the called for linen too).  I have had to change a couple fibers for that reason.  The tulips below are case in point - the grey disappeared.  So, I outlined them with one of the pinkish colors.  I have also changed some of the leaf/stem color in the border.  I took out a completely out of place bright red too.  However, I think she certainly is beautiful. 

Some day when this is finished, I think I will look at this as one of my biggest stitching accomplishments!



We finally started having a little nice weather here in Michigan the past couple weeks.  It even jumped to summer-like humidity (which I do not like) but most of our days and nights have been nice and sunny, cool at night. 

My husband loves geraniums.  We went to our local farmer's market last weekend and he picked out this basket for our deck.  I had such good luck with the basil last year and am looking soooo forward to the caprese salad once my tomatoes start producing fruit that I just had to get some more this year.

We tried to gain some control  over the rosebush!  Believe it or not, this is trimmed and tucked into the trellis.  It's still wild.

I picked out this petunia...so pretty - we have another basket on the front porch but I forgot to get a snap.

Tomatoes in a row - picked up the "juliet roma" again - bought the last four they had.

Did a bit of on-line searching for more of the Olde Cedar Chest fabrics I spoke of in my last post.  I was lucky and found more.  Bought all the two sellers had.  This fabric is absolutely delicious and I have a project in mind.  I just have to finish up some of the "almost done" things in the sewing studio.

  

My husband and I have been talking about going to local estate sales or auctions for quite some time now.  We haven't ever had the occasion to do so, mostly it didn't work out for one reason or another.  Well a couple weekends ago it worked out and we went to a local auction.  Most of the items were more like items at a garage sale and not what I thought.  I did have a couple things calling out for my bid.  I lost an indigo blue glass bowl...went a bit more than I wanted to part with from my pocket book.  I saw this "Lord's Supper" plate just like the two my mother-in-law (except her's were clear), my sister-in-law kept them when m-i-l passed away.  I don't know if it's old, like my m-i-l,'s were, I don't know if it was in someone's family for years like her's either but I wanted it...bid on it and it was mine.  I was so excited!

I also saw this bowl and liked it.  The price was right...$5.  It came home with me too.

My Mom came for Mother's Day.  My  husband and son cooked dinner.  We had these for dessert - on yet another auction $5 plate.

Picked these up on-line while shopping for the other fabric above...dangerous thing that is, on-line weekend shopping late at night...yikes!

Today we went to visit my husband's aunt and take her for dinner...it was her birthday not too long ago and we try to go take her out and visit with her.  It just happened to be my husband's birthday today so we did a double celebration.  He put on readers this past winter and looked just like his father.  I snapped this pic to send to his sisters to show them how uncanny the look, the wave, the expression, was at this moment. 

Hope this holiday weekend finds all my followers in the U.S. in good weather, doing what they long to do most.  I plan on spending my Memorial Day in the sewing studio after the Memorial Day parade here in town.  It is supposed to be a nice day...I am planning on opening the window and letting the breeze freshen the house and sew away!  My husband has to work tomorrow so it's just me and the dog hanging out at home...after watching my niece march her last parade with the local high school.  In another week - she will graduate. Next week brings two graduation ceremonies (her's and my nephew's about 20 minutes away).  Busy week!!

Be happy stitching and doing what makes you smile!

Sherry :0)

Just....life :0) {picture heavy}

Boy did we have a sunny morning and my sewing room was filled with the rising goodness and warmth.  I was up in that room, not long enough, but for just a bit this morning... puttering around.  I had some fabrics to put away after pulling a bunch last week for the next Jo Morton Club project....

Excuse the shadows.  The pics looked fine on the camera, but not so much on the computer when transferred and guess what, you got it - everything I shot in most of these photos has been put away.  So you see what I shot - and I know you'll get the idea.

But back to the fabric; the delicious, rich fabric.  This line is about two or three years old, Olde Cedar Chest by Faye Burgos.  (Moda, I think).  There is a bit of Jo Morton mixed in this pic.  Of course the wide stripe and the mostly brown background in the middle of the photo is what I love the most.  And of course, since it's a couple years old, do you think I could find any more?  I searched online for a couple hours last weekend.  I want MORE!!!

Can't you just picture borders of the wide stripe - and oh, how pretty that would be as a backing too.  More quilting items in a bit...

I have been stitching some - I finished With Thy Needle & Thread Strawberry Hill - now it's in the finish-finish pile....which is quite large.   Once I buckled down a bit, this went really quick. It was a fun stitch too - on much larger count than I do most of the time, probably part of the reason it went so fast.  I used the called for fabric and fibers.  Box top on bottome left, pin cushion on top left - leaving the huswife on the right.  Kinda became addicted to a new show (more on that at the end of this post) while finishing up this beauty.  Isn't is sweet?

Now remember the fabric search I was talking about a minute ago - do you know what happens when you go looking on line for something and see so many other possibilities?  Well a couple of these below arrived in the mail the other day.  I have another few arriving next week.  The balance of these I bought when I took my mom to her doctor's appointment in Ann Arbor the other day - wouldn't you know, it was just down the street from a quilt shop I don't visit often.  An hour there and I walked out much richer in cotton fabric, less rich in cotton/linen paper bills!

Most are Jo Morton, a few Primitive Gathering, Judie Rothermel...can't wait to figure out what to do with these gorgeous gals.

I did make it to my LNS a couple weeks ago - my husband and I went out for Mexican - and it happens to be in the same parking lot...I also went with my bff the week before.  I didn't do too much damage...one kit each visit and a few fibers.  The other chart in the back is for the sampler guild (the one with the house and cool willow tree)  - it's the challenge project that starts in June.  La-D-Da's Stitchers Roll Kit and JBW French Alphabet. 

The fibers I picked up - they were for this.  I planted my feet recently - or I guess, my hiney was planted - and really put a start on Ann Dale by Shakespeare's Peddler.  I didn't like the charted color for the stems or berries.  The stems are a bit lighter green - not much different.  The berries will be this color with a bit lighter tip.   Once I got to it, this has been going quick.

Here is a snap of my progress thus far.  There are many, many mistakes in the chart from what I have read  and gathered from many sources.  One is the wave of the border - I am doing it as charted.  I have corrections in hand from S.P. and some others from the blogs.  I did center the motif - hence the reason I am starting in the middle of this row.  Normally I would have worked left to right...but off center would bug me and this one is too big to not enjoy once I finish.  It's charted just a few threads off. 

 Sweet, aren't they?  I am not quite done with these birdies...they need eyes and there's some more color around the flowers and in the bottom.

 Now that I have counted and measured this out, I can put in the many rows of base...then complete the row and the border.  Yep, you guessed it, I am not a "do the border first" kinda gal. 

Grateful Hearts by Shepherd's Bush.  Another of those finished with ribbons and beads.  You know, like the three other ones (I think.  Maybe even four) in the finish-finish pile.  Something do work on when I don't mind switching threads a bunch.

I haven't done much on Maryland Inspiration.  In fact, since last you saw, the motif in the cartouche to the right is almost done.  I think maybe a cherry or two on the inside border.  That's it...not much on this one, I fear.  I still have to pick out a different fiber than the 8 - almost invisible.  I forgot to take this with me on the recent trip to my LNS.  Next time!  It's not like I don't have other things occupying my time - that's for sure.

I have read a couple books - nothing earth-shatteringly good.  I am trying to get into Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I started it a bit ago, wasn't in the right frame of mind for a book where I had to really pay attention.  Trying again...if I get to 75/100 pages and still can't wait to pick it up all day/night, I will move on.  Too many books to read something I have to force myself to read. 

I have been stitching and quilting in any free time I can squeak out.  Unfortunately work, laundry and other chores keep getting in the way.  I have a day to spend with my close friends this next Tuesday.  I will stitch that day - or maybe sew the binding on a batik quilt I picked up today - all quilted up nice and pretty by the long-arm quilter.  Then in a couple weeks, I go on an all sew at Memories Manor (where I was for the weekend retreat this past winter).  Not sure what will be under the needle that day.

I did finish the two quilts for Jo Morton Club 12 - I decided to do one red, the other green - no mixing.  I have one ready to try my hand at quilting on my own as I screwed it up already in the squares/piecing.  May as well try to learn on a messed up quilt...The other I dropped off to be quilted today when picking up the batik.  Once they are all bound (sewing binding is not my fav things) I will post pics.

Spent a bunch of time this past month catching up on all three seasons of Downton Abbey only to learn season four wasn't ready to air.  How addicting is that show?!  I also am glad Deadliest Catch is back, although I still miss Captain Phil.  My husband watched starting with season one and I got to "know" all the guys and love to watch...And a gal has to watch something while stitching/sewing...or listen to something at least. 

Well it's off to toss more clothes in the dryer, hang up some wet items and toss more in the washer.  Dang dirty clothes!  Then to check out the Better Homes and Gardens "Quilt Sampler" spring edition.  I love looking at the stores they feature and the quilts - to die for....oh boy, I can hear the niggling voice in my head reminding the swooning voice that we have tons of items to do in the sewing room - don't need more!  LOL

Take care - thanks for reading and hanging with me in long posts, infrequent posts!  I have been keeping up on everyone and comment when I get the chance - I love visiting each of you and hope you enjoy visiting with me, so to speak!

Stitch happy :0) do things that make you smile. 

Sherry :0)

Well, well, well - two posts in March!!

Can you believe it?  Another post in March - and after I claimed to be a "once a month kinda gal".  But I have things to post and would love your thoughts on two quilts! 

First - update on Strawberry Hill Sampler by With Thy Needle & Thread.  I stitched with  my friends on Tuesday - and what a great, relaxing day that was.  Pam hosted, her granddaughter was there giving some love.  She's just starting to walk and so much fun to watch; such a happy girl. Lunch was awesome veggie lasagna and salad with luscious cupcakes for dessert.  Good to catch up on what everyone was stitching/quilting and what they've been doing lately.  I worked on this:

This above the huswife.  My box top is stitched.  I made quite a bit of progress over the last week.

 Remember this (above)?  I received this from Mary at Christmas...



 I bought this pincushion at the Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild auction last week to go with it.  Isn't she sweet!  I thought it was a good fit and the auction is a fund raiser for the guild.

I also won the bid on this wreath.  The bird is felted, the fabric from Blackbird Designs.  It's appearance is so soft and the colors are really well put together.  Not sure where it will hang, but I like it and won that bid too.

Okay, now for your thoughts...

This is my Jo Morton "Little Women's Club 12" called Four Corners (I think - it's upstairs and I am not)...I , once again, cut double of the tiny squares shown in my previous posts.  So I had enough to make two.  I thought red and green so I can use them at Christmas...the first picture (above) is laid out without mixing the red and green.

Here is a close-up of the green:

 Close-up of the red:

Then I mixed them up - red and green in each quilt.  Quilt one close-up:

 Another view of the mixed up, quilt two close-up:

 Here's both of the mixed up:

I plan on doing a border on each - red on one, green on the other.  What do you think - all red/green or mixed up a bit?

Besides that, I spent most of this week going to bed kinda early.  Wednesday I started feeling like crap - the cold that is going around struck.  Today I spent the day with a very red, sore nose and a watering eye - yes, only one.  I did quilt some today...the rest of the day spent doing laundry and a being bit lazy. 

Our grocery had rump roasts on sale.  We don't have beef that often, living with a deer hunter, so I picked up a nice size one Friday night.  Threw it in the oven today with some carrots and onions, mashed up some potatoes and cracked open a jar of gravy (I hate making it).  Dinner was delicious.  I don't eat cooked carrots, so I had salad. 

Plan on stitching a bit tonight if I can keep the weepy eye dry and have another pretty lazy day on tap for tomorrow - only making up a pan of chicken enchiladas for Monday's dinner. 

If I don't get back here by next week (after all, that would be three posts in a month - yikes), hope your Easter or Passover is celebrated with those you care for and love...do things that make you happy!!

Hugs,

Sherry :o)

I've become a one month type of gal...

Okay, so I guess posting once a month is better than none.  I have a couple progress pics.  I do have some others that I need to post, but I haven't snapped them as of yet.

Here's what I've been up to lately...  remember these:

This is my progress.  I took those, added some 2.5 green pieces (still need to be squared up).  Next step is to add some cheddar squares and then put my rows together.  Maybe today I will make more progress.

 Funny thing - I only needed 30 of the square with four fabrics.  Once again (second time I've done it - last time was a black and white I'll show at a later date) I made double.  So today I may make 15 more of the above, with red larger squares...going for a Christmas theme.


My project bags were sold at the auction for the Sampler Guild fundraiser.  A friend of mine bought them...they made a bit of $$ for the guild.  The auction was fun - I picked up a stitched pear and a wreath of BlackBird fabric.  I will show those next time as I don't have their pictures on the computer or my phone and they are all-the-way-upstairs.  

Why do I say it like that  Yesterday was our big trade show at work - I missed the last two years due to my surgery and my mom's illness.  It's a long day but fun to see customers I normally don't interact with, employees from our branches I work with daily - a couple new ones so it was nice to put faces to the voices.  We put through a couple thousand people, close to 200 vendors.  It's a ton of work for our warehouse personnel last week and next and every hand was on deck yesterday, many for 12+ hour days.  So I am whipped and don't feel like hauling my fanny upstairs to get the items photographed.   Next time...gives you something to look forward to seeing, I guess - hopefully quicker than a month from now.

I have been stitching quite a bit, but not much progress to post - one is a Christmas present and I have gone "gang busters" on it - almost finished.  I have a tiny bit done on my sampler posted last time, but not enough to show at this point.  Maybe after this week I will have more progress I can post - I am stitching with my friends Tuesday and can't wait...I need my friend fix! 

I read another book on my Kindle (and played some games, addicting).  The book, Don't Let Me Go, by Catherine Ryan Hyde, was pretty good.  It was sad and happy, a very quick read I enjoyed.  What to read next...hmmm.

Today my mom is making a St. Patty's Day dinner - corned beef, cabbage, etc.   It's always yummy and nice I don't have to do anything other than laundry today.  My son and I will head on over there late this afternoon...my sisters and their families will be there too and we haven't hung out together since the birthday celebrations for niece/mom in January.  It will be great to see them!

Happy St. Patrick's day, all.  Hope you can spend time doing something that makes you happy.

Hugs,
Sherry :o)