a busy bee

I felt like a queen bee today tending to my hive. In this case the “hive” stands for all my activities not home. First I went for my routine walk. It was g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! Our high was in the mid-70's - can’t beat that. Afterwards, I went to the FedEx office store (used to be Kinko's) to make copies and print off my Jane Austen sampler for an upcoming project. Here are the ingredients:

Not too long ago, Alma and Barb’s blog had the best tutorial on how to cover a paper mache box, which I’ve done before, but they added one small clever detail to their box that I have not yet tried. They copied a favorite Quaker sampler and inserted it inside the entire box. It is so, so adorable. I just had to make one so I began the process today. The two pieces of reproduction fabric above are of original color. I adopted Blackbird’s way of removing color.

I experimented with removing color from two pieces of fabric with Rit dye color remover as they did. Blackbird was right. You have to remove that fabric quick or else. Thankfully I read their instructions twice over and was ready to take the fabric out as fast as I was at putting them in. I let the pieces air dry in the sun for a couple of hours. Here they are color removed, after drying, and before ironing. I’ve ironed them since and they look so soft and old. I love how they turned out. I’ll work on the sizing and slicing of fabric as soon as possible. I’m in no rush.

Jo March says…

I finished stitching Little Women Saturday night. I started it Friday afternoon so a fairly quick stitch indeed. I picked these two pieces of fabric a year ago for this design and they look better now than they did before. I’m glad I picked them. =)

I’m shocked I had bells in my finishing drawer, but they work, don’t they? They add a nice “ring” to the piece – LOL. Tanya was right. Christmas doesn’t always have to be in red and green. PINK will work just as well. The pink and green stripes remind me of candy canes so it definitely works for this piece. The pink with green stripes is the backing fabric while the just pink stripes are for the bottom panel.

Here it is all made up. It’s done on 28 ct linen that I hand-dyed with a pomegranate and that was a year ago. Surprisingly its managed to keep its color nicely. I used the recommended DMC thread – only three colors. I used a ribbon that had polka dots on it which compliments the berries, wouldn’t you agree? :o) Anyhoo, can’t wait to get this out for Christmas and jingle those bells!

While I was in the spirit of finishing projects and starting others I decided to get threads together for the November flip-it by Lizzie*Kate. This needs to get stitched b/c it is November – can’t waste anymore time. Aren’t the colors pretty with this one? I think so. I love those rich colors. I’m going to turn this one into a little needle cushion.

Last, but never ever, ever least is Cameron being ever so sweet and cute. I cut his hair Saturday night and as mothers we know how much older our toddlers look once we make those snips. I leave you with him playing outside today in the yard and the car.

Enjoy your Monday! We’re spending ours at Nana’s house – Yay!!! Talk soon!

just another hodgepodge

I wish my posts were as interesting as everyone else’s, and I wish I could come up with a better title for this post. I hate when I can’t come up with something well-fitting and catchy. “Just another hodgepodge” will have to do.

Went over to mom’s Monday and it’s always a circus. Meaning I bring the circus where ever I go. Meaning my kids especially Cameron. He is a handful these days. Mom wanted to tease me further and this was on the front door.

Sorry for the glare. It was a beautiful day for Nana’s and apparently for "Edward" to greet us at the door. Ah, mothers can be so cute, can’t they? LOL

Mom bought these Gummy Brains for Jose and of course Cameron wanted some brains too. Good thing Jose was sort of in the sharing spirit. Jose took the rest of them to school yesterday in his lunch. These boys are spoiled rotten by Nana. I’m a pretty spoiled daughter too. Spoiled niece as well!

When we arrived home I was pleasantly surprised by a package from Aunt Pam. When I went to Ohio last I went through my aunt’s reproduction fabrics. I saw this fantastic Moda fabric I just had to have. She couldn’t part with it, and understandably b/c she’s using it for a project, but she did allow me a 6x3 snippet. My thought was to take this to the LQS and buy some. I went to the shop and they didn’t have it and can’t get it. I told my aunt of my defeat and disappointment. I wasn’t going to stop there though. My search will continue. Well, search no more! The pleasant surprise was my aunt mailed me a fat quarter of the Moda fabric!!! I was and still am ecstatic! Am I not the luckiest, most blessed niece in the entire world??? I think I am. I went from a snippet to a fat quarter and all b/c I’m loved. =) Thanks again, Aunt Pam. I love you!

Progress on the first tree is taking shape. The alphabet hugs the entire length of the tree line and of course more trees will be stitched. Let’s just say that the alphabet serves a root-like purpose. Stitching the animals is turning out fun and looking kind of spiffy - LOL. I’m enjoying it, but I haven’t stitched on Trees in a couple of days. I've been working on smalls and dyeing fabric.

I’ve stitched on this surprise piece the last two days – finished it up Tuesday afternoon. Just a slight peek is permitted at this point. I did use GAST and WDW.

I’m just about complete with re-organizing all the DMC. Boy, it’s a lot of floss!!! I’ll put these containers into a cabinet in my crafting area. Much more efficient and accessible – love, love, love the sound of that!

I can’t knit. I was taught once, but there is no way I’ll be able to knit something like THIS. I’ll procrastinate. Never will get it done let alone start it. Staci is gracious with this pattern of hers and I simply fell in love with it. One of the shop owners of the LNS is a knitter and since we have known each other for about 15 years I felt comfortable to ask for her knitting expertise. I went by the shop and she helped me pick out the right type of yarn. I think the yarn I picked will turn out beautifully for this pattern. I can’t wait to see them turned into mittens. I know Pat will do an excellent job!

I think the Chia Head is on his last grassy knoll. He is looking pretty strung out, isn’t he? His grass hair looks like tangled wires at this point. I still give him water and for the past couple of days we’ve had no sunlight so things are looking mighty grim for Chia – heehee…And Thursday, Friday and Saturday we’re forecast for rain and thunderstorms. Imagine that.

I started a couple of small freebies, but I’ll post on those later. I’m trying to get into the fall-feeling. I love summer so much but I am trying to feel the fall season. I do like the color changes – it is pretty, but I don’t like the chilly air especially cold winters. I haven’t been able to get outside for walks this week. Thank goodness for tread mills and indoor exercising. At least I have that. Cameron has a nasty ear infection so we haven’t walked or been to daycare. One of his ears is leaking fluid and I know he’s uncomfortable. We see the pediatrician this afternoon.

Finally, Halloween is on a Saturday instead of a week night, but neither of my children is going trick-or-treat-ing. That is fine by me though. I really don’t enjoy walking around the neighborhood begging for candy. I know the kids love it, but I can live without it to be honest. I asked Jose about it but his response is “I’m too old to dress up,” so Jose won’t be going out. Since Cameron has an ear infection and we don’t have a costume we’re going to pass this year. Cameron won’t miss it. In fact, I don’t think he’ll care. Besides, there's enough cool stuff on TV that night to keep us busy, and I do have plenty of stitching.

Well, I best get off. Cameron is watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This child is funny. Lately he's been getting into these movies as well as other more mature movies. At this age Jose was watching Barney. Funny. Onto the next...Talk soon!

a productively fun day

Jose and I had a fun lunch with our friends today and afterwards we went to McKay’s - a used book, CD, and more store. We had a delightful time together. We giggled like two little kids (I would say two little school girls, but he might get offended). I had store credit so that made it guilt-free spending, sort of. He got a video game and a couple of books. I found an Elmo movie for Cameron, a movie for myself, a new edition dictionary, and my favorite find, the Anne of Green Gables book on CD. I can’t wait to listen to this. I’m thinking I can sync this to the iPod and listen to literature while I walk.

One can never have too many fat quarters, wouldn’t you agree? I went to the LQS looking for a specific pattern. Reproduction of course. I couldn’t find it. I asked about it and they can’t get it. It’s Moda! Go figure…Anyway, there are other places. However, these fat quarters are exceptionally close to the pattern I want with a mere difference of base color. Six fat quarters for fifteen dollars – not bad in my book. I even had a helper named Jose. :)

I also went by the LNS and picked up some WDW and GAST threads so I can frog the crud out of Crows (that sounds funny – lol), start on another project, and bought a piece of 32 ct. linen so I can hand dye it.



Here is the Dutch beauty. Trees by The Workbasket. I’m stitching it on 32 ct. Exampler Vintage which is probably one of my favorite hand-dyed linens. It’s gorgeous and has plenty of variation. Plus, it’s versatile enough for so many designs. I love the owl, but so many more cute animals to come.

I normally wouldn't bash JCS and I'll try not to, but I am extremely disappointed with the latest issue. I think I managed to get through it in 0.8 seconds it was that terrible. I didn't enjoy it at all. There are two things of slight interest. One is an ad I saw - I'm going to visit the website at least. And two, was a dainty little design that says Happy Holidays (I think). Not sure that I'll make it into a mitten, but I do like the "primitive" feel and the Charlie Brown tree. Other than that this issue is blah.

On a more positive note, I'm adopting a system from Aunt Pam to implement a new way of organizing my DMC threads. I still use the Lorann cards and the bobbins and the floss bags and ALL this for storage. I don't like it. My aunt has a fabulous system set up for her DMC and I think it'll work beautifully for me as well. So far I have the 3x5 index cards and zip lock bags. Next I need storage containers so I think this calls for a trip to Dollar General or the like. Tomorrow might be a good day for that since it's a "me" day. Friday is movie day for me and my biggest baby. :) Talk soon!

supplies and fabric and progress, oh my!

Today Cameron went to daycare and Jose was home from school. Fall break began today and will continue through next week. I went walking this morning. It was pretty chilly out but nothing a good hard walk couldn’t do to help heat things up. It was perfect! I spent a lot of time in the parking lot afterwards to cool down and do some thinking as if I don’t do enough of that already. Oh well. Afterwards, I headed home to freshen up and check on Jose. I drove to the LQS after lunch. Here are the goodies I picked up…

[Sorry the photos are blurry. I’m still using Jose’s camera. I can’t afford a new one for myself at this point.] I found tons of rick rack (baby rick rack too) which really pleased my heart - made me think of grandma. I had some vintage lace cut and that was satisfying to find that on huge spools for next trip out. I love variety and abundance. I also bought other odds and ends. I basically just stocked up on accessories for when I sew and embellish needlework. I had more purpose to be at the LQS than just for accessories though. I went for fabric. Not a lot, but enough for specific small projects I would really like finished by year's end. For instance,

this is Petite Rouge Lettres that Blackbird Designs gave as a freebie earlier this year. I finished this some time ago, but never finish-finished it. I’m finishing it into a pillow. I picked reddish/white reproduction fabric to compliment the color palette of the piece. I may add some vintage lace but haven’t decided just yet. And,

this is 2007 Christmas Special Edition by Lizzie*Kate. I started stitching this when I was recovering from my cesarean after having Cameron. However, I didn’t complete it until 2008. Here we are in 2009 and I just now decided on its finish. A wall hanging for the Christmas/Winter season. The green and red fabrics are both reproduction and I haven’t decided on the backing fabric, but I can decide on that later. I just want to piece the front together. “Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps into the elevator…” Lastly,

there’s progress on Crows – a fine day by Bent Creek. While I was shopping around I decided to pick up fabric for this one too (why not get a head start, right?). The mottled star pattern was with the Halloween fabs. There are some really sweet Halloween prints, I must admit! This fabric will work nicely with Crows, and it plays off the star perfectly, imho.

I’ve just been informed that the final Stacy Nash kit for 2009 will be coming my way very soon. I cannot wait! I’ve stitched and finished all the ones I’ve received so far this year (there have been 3). Each one has been unique and fun. Quick too.

First thing Saturday morning, and I mean first thing, I’ll be taking one of my long, hard walks. The weather calls for rain and 49 degrees as the high, which the temp may be even lower that early in the morning but I do not care. Well, I do, just not enough to stop me from my daily routine. Besides, living in Tennessee means the weather forecast is usually wrong; dead wrong. All the time. Anyway, I need this time to walk. It does a body gooooooood! I’m off to sit n’ stitch, and I should probably get crackin' on some of these projects too. Oh wait...I still have that table runner to start cutting and piecing ~ duh ~ LOL. Talk soon!

show and tell

First things first! Check out Tanya’s new “do.” The Sampler Girl has a brand new website and she did it ALL by herself. Go check it out.

I have been slacking, majorly! I don’t know what has gotten into me. I have been up to a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but as my “how I’m feeling” face displays, I am beside myself – don’t know what’s wrong. I hope after this post I’ll get back on track. Maybe I have spring fever or something. It is warm right now.

Several little goodies have come in the mail lately and that has cheered me up. I bought one of Tanya’s motif magnets from her Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago and it came last week, along with this cute little tote bag. I love it on my fridge.

Me and my mom stumbled onto these sweet little necklace charms. She got one and I got two. They are so very sweet. We found them here. One has a youthful woman sewing. Her verse reads “I feed my soul with the stitches I sew” and we both have that one. It also has a catching verse from Nathanial Hawthorne on the back. I just loved the little girl sewing next to her needfuls and had to have it. Behind the charm it reads "Take your needle child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that - one stitch at a time taken patiently and the pattern come out all right like the embroidery." Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Last Saturday me and my mom went to the fabric store and had a very confusing, yet fun and exhausting time trying to sort through the thousands of bolts of fabric just trying effortlessly to search for complimentary colors and prints. I am merely a blooming quilter and mom isn’t one. We wished my Aunt Pam was there because we would have had everything we needed in no time. My aunt has such a keen high for this stuff.

Anyway, I receive the Fons & Porter Love of Quilting Magazine (thanks to Aunt Pam!) and I saw a pattern for a table runner in the January/February issue I want to tackle. We thought this process was going to be easy, but boy were we wrong. I can admit failure, but I cannot accept defeat. I picked a print fabric for my focus but me and mom could not for the life of us find matching or bouncing fabrics. After over an hour of searching for what seemed like an eternity, not to mention I think we were searching for a needle, we gave up on that color palette and quoting words from an anonymous woman, “I started from scratch.” Back to the ole’ drawing board we went.

The left side is the pattern done in Valentine theme from my magazine. On the right, I chose colors to match my decor and interest. I think we did pretty well considering what we picked out in the beginning. Gorgeous but trivial.

Finally, we picked our jump-off fabric and all of a sudden as if the heavens opened and angels sang we had our matching fabrics. Everything just came together and we were more than thrilled, excited, happy we were about to get the h*** out of there. We love the fabric store, but we were in there too long. My dad took Jose to the movie and they made it back to our house before me and my mom, and they dropped her off with me prior to their movie. Now that is just way too long people…admit it! LOL

Not only did I purchase fabric for my new project, I also picked out an extra Civil War Reproduction piece (1/2 yard) and two full yards of each of the 1930’s reproduction fabric. I plan on making a reversible sewing machine cover that ties on the sides with these 2 pieces. I can’t wait! The cover that comes with the Viking is a hard plastic and it takes over the room (too BIG) so I need something more me and more attractive. :D

A not too far distant past I said I had ripped my craft area apart in order to get it organized and get my things within hands’ reach. I’m almost there and I will post photos, but not now ~ sorry! However, my fabric stash is organized and here’s what that looks like.

I think for having this stash of fabrics for about 5 years and not being a queen quilter, I think this is a nice little beginner stash, don’t you think? I do more crafting and stitching and I love using fabrics to “finish” pieces up. It fascinates me and it’s personal. I also have some of my grandma’s fabrics from years ago. I’ve labeled those Grandma’s Textiles. I know…I’m a complete dork. ;o) I also have her laces, crochet accessories, and lots of little of this and that going on. I’m honored to have it and will find some use.

I started early on a Christmas ornament this year bc I started way too late last year. I haven’t done a lot of stitching lately bc of all my other things, but this is the progress on SamSarah's Winter Love from the JCS 2007 issue. I enjoy stitching with Belle Soie and I love the over-dyed fabric. I should have my floss tag done, but I don’t. As soon as I get one of these little stitchings complete I’ll start on my table runner or sewing machine cover. There is just so much to do and not enough seconds, minutes, hours, in a day or rather my lifetime to get all that I want done.

My Just Cross Stitch magazine came today and I am not too thrilled with it. Nothing appeals to me this issue. The blackwork bookmarks design is the model my mother stitched so I’m proud to say that, but other than this nothing yells at me. Maybe better luck next time.

Me and the boys went to mom’s today and Cameron got a haircut. He looks like such a big boy, but still so sweet. His hair was getting really long and needed a good trim. While at mom’s a book and DVD came for me. My mom is so wonderful! She does a lot for me and I hope she realizes how appreciative I am towards her affection, love, attention and generosity (I hope you do mom.). I know it’s because she loves me so so much. I recently told her that I had an idea of stitching a selection of Ohio reproduction samplers and giving them a home on their own wall of sampler fame. She is the best mom ever! She bought me a book called Ohio Is My Dwelling Place. I can't begin to explain the price, but she got a fantastic deal with her wise shopping ways. Now, I haven’t gone through the whole thing because I plan on reading it thoroughly, but it has the entire history of Ohio samplers and the regions and counties. I am in awe over this gift. The photos that I have seen are stunning! I’ll post more about it later.

The other item that came from mom was a DVD called Judith Baker Montano Teaches You Crazy Quilting, which I’ve been interested in exploring for a year or so. I watched a little bit of it this afternoon while I put Cameron down for a nap. Let’s just say, I got far enough into the lessons to realize what we did wrong with color in the fabric store on Saturday. LOL

You live and learn…and laughing along the way always helps. :o) Talk soon because I still have more show and tell to offer.

heart attack...four times over

After picking Jose up from school, me and the two boys went to Kroger to get a few items and a bag of dog food. When we got home I asked Jose to feed the dogs, but he needed to open the new bag bc we were out. Look at what I caught him using in order to get the bag of dog food open. I had a heart attack! Seriously!!! I couldn't believe this child. I nearly died! I ripped those suckers out of his hands (not really but I felt like it) and told him to get the kitchen scissors, not my embroidery scissors...EVER!!!! Ahhhhhhhh...

Today me and Cameron were at mom's house. We haven't been there in nearly 3 weeks so it was time for a day-long visit. I mentioned awhile back that me and mom are participating in a mother-daughter round robin. This is my first one. We decided to share-stitch Shores from Carriage House Samplings.

We are using 40 ct and I'm really excited! I haven't stitched on that high of count before; mom has though. We're using Needlepoint Silks and I've not used those before either; mom has though. Mom's done everything I think. She's such a precise stitcher. Her work is beautiful! If it weren't, she wouldn't be fortunate enough to work for Hoffman. I learned everything about stitching from her. I get to take my stab at this piece and I'm anxiously waiting until I put my needle to fabric on this one. Since I haven't added it to my current rotation I will add this as a "daily stick." I will stitch on this piece at least 1 hour per day. I have the next block to the right.

My mom recently stitched a birth sampler for Cameron's room. The design is from Sisters and Best Friends. It's so precious! I love it! I love how the frame hugs the piece, and I love, love, love that sweet little verse.

While at mom's I went through her quilting fabric stash and she allowed me to borrow some rather large pieces to cut my own from. She's so nice!

Here's where I had heart attack #2. These are full yards of fabric. The red fab belonged to my grandmother so there is no telling how old it is. My Aunt Pam might know the answer-Pam? The sampler fabric feels so soft ~ almost a sheen cotton or flannel; not sure. They are both so pretty. I can't wait to use a piece. :D

These are fat quarters she had. I was really looking for something similar to the red plaid, but came out with so much more. LOL The printed fab is so unique. I might make a pincushion out of this. The style is sewing so how fitting, ugh?!

And heart attack #3...

These 3 containers of "stuff" belonged to my grandmother. My grandma was quite the creative gal. She did everything besides quilt, but she had a ton of fabric. There is a lot of crochet supplies and a nice little collection of needles. I don't crochet, but I think I'll learn. The far right container is bunches of lace, ribbon and whatever else you can think of. This isn't all my mom has either. My mom will never get rid of this stuff, but my mom won't use it either. However, I will find some use and I too will NEVER give this away or get rid of it. It means too much to us. Anyway, the reason for the 3rd heart attack is that my mom let me have ALL this. I'm touched that she was able to part with it. She is so sentimental and it's difficult for her to part with anything that belonged to those that have passed. I am warmed that I get it!

The 4th and final heart attack (well, the first of four) was yesterday morning. We actually got snow! What the ____?!?!?! (pardon me) I was absolutely floored when we woke to this. We never get snow in March ~ not in Nashville, Tennessee. Anyhoo, it didn't last long enough for anyone to enjoy it though. The snow only stuck around for 2 hours and then puff, it was gone. This is about as much enjoyment as we got. Jose got creative for Cameron's sake.

Just a dusting really.

It's been freezing lately. Tonight's overnight low is 18 F and our high was only 35 F. Stay warm where ever you are and stitch til your heart's content. The kiddos are warmly tucked in and I think I'll head to bed and stitch on Monday's piece and maybe squeeze a little Shores in there too. :D

Gnight!