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)

I've been up to...

Well, the quilting retreat was phenomenal, to say the least.  Unfortunately, I don't have progress pics to post since I haven't done much with what I worked on, not even unpacking!  Hopefully by next post, I will be better prepared.

I have also been working on a Christmas present for my exchange so I can't show that...

But I have made progress on both Marigold Lane (Pineberry Lane) and A Maryland Inspiration (Heart's Ease)...see!

A little progress...

 Love the marigolds!

A bit of progress on this one:

 These motifs were a bitch to do - hope the language doesn't offend.  But it's more than true.  There's only three more on the other side - yeah!

 Over one flower.  So sweet. 

 And as I mentioned in my last post, not so sure about the colors - check out the peacock...he's a bit bright.  I may have to tone him down with a different set of blues.  I will put in more around him and then decide.

I have done a bit of sewing too.  Remember I mentioned I joined the Jo Morton Club - #12.  Here is my attempt at the first project. 

We meet again in a couple weeks and  I wanted to have something done.  I have the 30 squares together, have to square them up - they are piled here under two to show you.  I hope to have more done next weekend too.

Kindred Spirits meets in two weeks too.  It's our annual fund raiser auction.   These project bags are in progress for part of my donation to be auctioned off.  Have to stitch the binding.

Been busy playing too.  I finally caved and am not a Kindle owner.  I read one of the free books (you can borrow one book a month for free) in just a couple days.  The Bearded Lady by Mara Altman.  It was pretty funny! 

So off to stitch and finish up folding the laundry.  Thanks to all who have stopped by - I love the comments and try to answer all, but I think I have missed a couple lately.  Have a great week...stitch lots! 

Sherry :0)



Quick update - can you believe it - QUICK, I say!

I'll try...quick!  I am a wordy (aka chatty) person, to say the least.  Those of you who know me, quit laughing!!

Pineberry Lane Autumn on Marigold Lane.  I posted it a bit ago, just the house I think, maybe the flower bloom...worked on it off and on at a couple meetings recently.  It's a little larger count than I normally do and pretty easy to work on when around others, or  when I am tired!

Last posting I showed you the start I made on this...I love the strawberries!  Heart's Ease Examplar Workes A Maryland Inspiration is one of the biggies I am working on.  I wondered about some of the colors when looking at them prior to starting.  I am still wondering about some of them, but they are growing on me.  It's hard to see the "8" in the below picture.  I may still have to get a darker color to sub out.  The cartouch items are over one.  Sweet!   

I have not put one single stitch in Ann Dale since I have been working on Maryland most evenings.

The last couple weekends, I have spent most of my free time in the sewing room.  I am getting ready for a quilt retreat; my first sleepover quilt retreat - four days/three nights.  I will show progress next post.  It's coming soon and I can't wait! 

I joined the Jo Morton "Little Woman" club.  This past Saturday I went to the open house at the quilt shop hosting the club.  Picked up these to get my Jo Morton collection started.  We'll see how those miniatures go for me - sounds like another addiction!

It's time for me to head to bed.  I am pretty sleepy and it was a stressful day at work, starting with the drive.  We had wintry mix - rain, snow, ice, sleet - here in the mitten last night.

Take care - stitch lots,

Sherry :o)

Happy New Year!!

Happy 2013!  I hope all my blog buddies rang in the New Year as you wished...us, quiet - just like we like it.  I had to work New Year's Eve day but we were excused early - hubby and I went to lunch at Chilli's - had a drink (a rare occurrence for me) but it was a tough day with over three hours of phone hell help with my payroll software from Microsoft, only to fail in getting pr done for the normal day.  My son was home for awhile...we watched "Ted" with him - kind of a raunchy movie...My husband and I watched "Despicable Me" after - cute with a capital C!  I was asleep as 2013 crept in - but the fireworks in my neighborhood woke me up - wished the sleeping husband a HNY and back to sleep!  I spend New Year's Day reading - the second book in Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy.  I think I blogged about A Discovery of Witches a bit back...well once I got a few chapters in, Shadow of Night did not disappoint.  I usually wait until all books are published when a series, but that this was a trilogy caught me by surprise....write fast, Ms. Harkness!

Okay - so I put in my last post that I had intended on giving a post around Christmas, in which I was going to post quite a few pics...so warning - picture heavy.  I will put in the stitchy pics first, that way you can jump ship before the other blathering if you wish.

I had a absolutely awesome evening with my stitching group of friends.  Boy, I tell you, these ladies are the best friends anyone could ask for and I am so thankful to have them in my life.  We draw names (among the local gals) for a Christmas exchange.  This year I drew Tina's name.  I did the below for her - the scissor fob I made up based on the outside design of the needle/thread book. 

It was designed by The Purple Thread - Close to My Heart - I adapted it to a needle book/floss holder.  The large strawberry is also by TPT.  I had intended it to be the scissor fob but it was larger than I imagined.  I changed up the colors to match each other.  My finishing skills were once again tested big time!

I made a project bag too.  It is BBD Blueberry Crumble fabric - and I thought it was perfect for Tina.  I also included a pin cushion I bought from Blue Ribbon Designs - same fabric.  Add that to a dish I picked up from a local antique store with candlewick edging - Tina collects; you can imagine I was more than thrilled to hear she didn't have this particular dish in her collection.

A close up of the pin cushion with fancy pins and the project bag - lining and outside.  I love this fabric.I made a practice one for myself out of the brown shades of this fabric,

Mary drew my name.  This box is what greeted me upon my turn to open.  I love these types of boxes, don't you?

Inside was this gorgeous Mondo Bag she made from some luscious batiks.  It is a nice size bag, pockets inside.  YUM! 

Some other goodies in my box, a stack of purplish fabrics, the sampler version of micro cloths that clean your glasses/screens, a tiny rabbit floss holder, a notebook.  The square charm in the middle is from Paulette.  The stitched item at the top (attached to the fabric under my goodies) is the inside of...

 THIS!

Recognize this gorgeous piece of stitching?  It's the pattern I acquired and posted a month or two ago - I don't have to stitch or finish it now!  How stunning is this?  I have it in my bag holding all the misc. items in one of the samplers I just started (more on that in a bit).

I've mentioned Pam's husband, Bill, before.   Well they outdid themselves again and gave us each these:

Aren't they sweet?  They are already in use with one of my new starts.  Thanks Bill & Pam - so cool! 

You still there?  I have some more stitchy related items...I picked up a couple items at my LNS when she was having some sales in December.  HAD to make a visit when my linen for one of my samplers came in, so I picked up my items they had stashed for me.

SB Grateful Hearts - started before Christmas and not much progress to post - but...ta-dah!

The Purple Thread - another strawberry like I did for Tina - finished this over the Christmas holiday...not finish/finished yet.  My final 2012 stitch finish.

What have I been working on since - not much since I was reading.  But I did start Maryland Inspiration by Heart's Ease Examplar Workes.  This sampler is beautiful (the linen I picked up near Christmas).  Don't have much to show - but don't you love this border?

How about those knot balls too - aren't they attractive!

And last night, first I have picked up a needle since the new year appeared, I started Ann Dale by Shakespeare's Peddler.  Again, not much to show, but I love how quickly this portion went so far.  Colors are delicious!

Yes, I think I am a little nuts starting two big BIG samplers at one time, but I just couldn't resist.  And after all, life is too short.

Okay, stitchy stuff done.  Christmas Eve at my Mom's we finally had a bit of snow.  So pretty!

I received a present from my niece.  She gave my mom and sister (her other aunt) a picture - both nicely done!  I, however, received a piece of clay work.  We are always teasing each other and she wanted me to have her teasing me always.  I was honored she chose to give me this! 

I can't remember if I mentioned and I am too set on getting this posted to go back and check, but my son moved back home a week before Christmas - the best Christmas present I could wish for. I sure missed him. And I know, he's not around much, but I love to have him at home periodically. I am not the only one who is thrilled he's home either - the dog won't leave him alone.


Christmas morning was nice...presents abound.  Santa had made an appearance.

The dog was very interested in the stocking stuffers and wanted in the action.  Perhaps he knew Santa left him a goodie or two.  

 Tshirt that was on the wish list of the child's!

I leave you with my reindeer table (all joke gifts from my Mom over the years)....thankfully as I type this morning, all undecorating is done, boxes have been hauled downstairs and just need to be put on the shelf.  Dusting, vacuuming done - working on laundry this morning and getting ready to put needle to thread. 

Again - Happy New Year...hi to the new followers, hi to those who have been around for awhile.  I am so thankful for the friends I have made through this blog - it is so fun to see what you are working on, what you covet and collect and to hear about your adventures near and far. 

Smiles,
Sherry :o)