Long time no post :(

Hello!  :)

I can't believe that it's been over 3 weeks since my last post! (Non Traveling Stash that is.) I knew it'd been a while but just didn't think it'd been that long. I'm so sorry for my absence! It's been a busy time for me plus it's been HOT!!! It's usually not humid in Southern California and right now it's over 100 every day plus high humidity! Yuck! Heat and I don't get along and humidity and I definitely do not get along. I start sweating instantly and get overwhelmed with heat. It really sucks! For the past few weeks I've basically been sitting around working on various cross stitch projects for Christmas and other holidays. I wanted to post about them as I completed each project but it was too hot to get up and take the pictures. Plus I was lazy too. (I'm always full of excuses!)  ;)

The first project I finished was the last one I told you I was working on.

It's "Christmas Is..." by Lizzie Kate. It's stitched on 28 ct Ultra Very Light Antique Blue evenweave. I basically kept the colors the same. I'm not too sure about the pink string on the mittens. It was supposed to be a light blue but it blended into the fabric too much. What do you think?

The next project I completed will eventually be an ornament.

It's "Snow in Love" by Little House Needleworks. It's the hunky dude and I enjoying the snow!  ;)  This one is stitched on 28 ct Beige evenweave. I really like how this turned out. I kept all the original colors.  :)

After this I wanted a quick project. I was waiting on some over-dyed threads to arrive and needed them for the other projects I wanted to work on. In the meantime I stitched this up . . .

It's "Happy Haunting" by Lizzie Kate. I stitched it on 28 ct Light Tan evenweave. This one will probably become a pillow. I'm not too sure about it but I think I'll like it more once I add the perfect fabrics to it.  :)

After the Halloween project I received some of the threads I was waiting on. I stitched this ornament up.

It's another Little House Needleworks ornament. This one is called "All Dolled Up". It's stitched on a 28 ct Beige evenweave. I changed some of the colors. I will be adding black beads for the Snowman's eyes and buttons. I'm happy with how it came out!  :)

Then I worked on my Garden exchange piece for the "Stitched With Love" exchange. I loved the way it turned out! I wish I could show you but I have to wait until everyone receives their packages . . . sorry.  :(

The next project I did was the one I was waiting on the threads for. The moment I saw this design I just had to get it and stitch it up.

I'm so happy with the way it turned out! I love it!  :)  It's a design by Homespun Elegance called "Delivering Plenty". It turns out there's a whole series of these "delivering..." designs. I'll definitely be doing more of these! I stitched it on a 25ct Gray Green evenweave. I'm not sure of the correct color of the fabric as it was part of a variety of fabric ends that I got from a shop owner. I will be adding some buttons for the cart wheels and a charm or two. There was supposed to be a squirrel on the turkey's back but I didn't like it so I left it off. You'll have to wait and see how I finish this one off.  ;)

Remember the swap project I told you about? Well I liked it so much that I decided to stitch one up for myself. I actually finished stitching the piece today. I still can't show it to you though . . . so sorry!  :(  I can show you what I'm starting on tonight though.

It's the Halloween Mystery Sampler by Lizzie Kate. It took me a little while to decide whether I wanted to do this one or not but of course I decided "Yes!". I have part one & two of the design already. The third (& last) part will be out at the end of the month. I'm hoping to have the first two parts finished by then. I'm stitching it on a 28ct Mushroom evenweave instead of the Tin Roof fabric it called for. I am using all the original threads though. I'm hoping it will turn out nice!  :)

The last few weeks I actually have managed to get some sewing done too. Not a lot because of the heat though. I've discovered that my dining room, which is where I sew, is very hot. It just doesn't cool off in there. By the time I finish sewing I'm soaked with sweat (yuck!) I was wondering why I haven't been sewing much this summer and I now know this is why. I'm dying to work on some projects that have been waiting for me so I hope it cools off soon so I can get back to some sewing. I'll be showing you one of the items I did finish later this week. The other sewing project will have to wait longer as it was for the swap I mailed off.

Well that's it for now. Be sure to come back later in the week to check out my sewing plus some fun stuff I have planned.

Until next time . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you are safe and happily together with those you love! I will be spending the holiday with my hunky dude, my son, my dad, my sister and her husband and kids. I wish my other two kids would be able to spend the holiday with us but they aren't able to this time. I also wish my mother was still here to spend it with us. This is going to be our first Thanksgiving without her. My dad, sister and I are all going to work together to make our Thanksgiving dinner and make mom proud! Dad's even getting out the good dishes.  :)  Here's to you and yours on this day of thanks! Have a good one!  :)

Until next time . . . 

Stitch-N-More :)

Hello!

Guess what I finished this week??? I finished the last stitchery (so far anyway) for my Christmas Stitchery Mini Quilt. Here it is . . . 

The very last stitchery will be available this Friday. I can't wait! Maybe I'll get started on piecing the top before it comes out so I can get ahead of the game. We'll have to see if I can get motivated to do it.  :)

Guess what else I did? The latest Birdie Stitches Block of the Month . . .  

The November block was released on November 1st. I sat down to get it started and couldn't stop until I finished it! I added some extras to it too. :)  I had forgotten how much I love this Sophie fabric and these birdies! I really enjoyed working on it and can't wait until the last block comes out on December 1st. Wonder if there will be a Christmas tree? I bet there will be one!  :)

Today I received a couple of surprises in the mail . . . 

The first was a Thanksgiving quilt block from Toni in Pennsylvania. This is part of a 12-month quilt block swap over at Mary Jane's Farm. Here's the block . . . 

Isn't it wonderful! She did an awesome job appliqueing it! Thanks so much Toni! I love it!  :)  Toni also sent me three other items she made . . . a towel, a washcloth and a card! I'm a lucky girl!  :)

It was like an early Christmas here as I also received this in the mail . . . 

A fall apron made for me by Raine in Wisconsin. Through another swap at Mary Jane's Farm. Isn't it lovely?! She really did a nice job with it! Thanks Raine!  :)  She also sent me some apple fabric and a Thanksgiving towel. How sweet! Love it all!  :)

Be sure to come back here tomorrow. As tomorrow is the day . . . It's the day I reveal my Ghastlie projects! I have given you a couple of hints in the past. Remember this . . . 

and this . . .

What in the world could they be? Can you venture a guess? Well the wait will be over tomorrow! I will be posting them at 12:01am (eastern time) Friday, November 4th! Shhhhhh . . . don't tell anyone . . . but I'll be giving one of my items away! Be sure to come for a visit tomorrow!  :)

Until next time . . .

I Love Swaps! :)

Hello!

This was an awesome week of surprises galore for me! I received three swap items and one giveaway prize that came with another surprise!

The first item I received was a mug rug from a mug rug swap over at Mary Jane's Farm. Angela from Maryland made it for me. Thank you Angela! I love the colors and fabrics! Plus she did an awesome job on the quilting! Here's the front . . .

and the back . . .

Isn't it cool?!!!

The next item I received was a Halloween quilt block from Barbara in Georgia. This is part of a 12-month quilt block swap over at Mary Jane's Farm. Here's the block . . .

Cool huh?!!! She did such a fabulous job on it! Thank you Barbara!  :)

The next item is a Thanksgiving quilt block from Nettie in Pennsylvania. This is also part of the same 12-month quilt block swap over at Mary Jane's Farm. Here's the Thanksgiving block . . .

I love it! The center kind of looks like a marque, doesn't it?!!! Such warm fall colors! Thank you Nettie!  :)

The last item is a tissue cover that I won from Regena over at The Distracted Domestic. She even included the tissues! I love it Regena! Thank you so much! When I opened the tissue cover there was something else included in the package . . . 

It's a vintage crocheted grape hot pad! She blogged about it here. She received it from her MIL but didn't really care for it. I loved it and told her so. It totally reminds me of my great grandmother. I love collecting vintage things. Can you believe she just sent it to me with the tissue cover I won. She didn't even tell me she was sending it. I was so surprised and happy when I saw it! I absolutely love it! It's soda caps crocheted over and together to form the grape cluster. What do you think? Nay or Yeah??? I can't wait to find the perfect spot for it! Thank you so much Regena for your kindness and generosity! You totally made my day!

It was kind of like Christmas this week! I loved it! I still have another Halloween and Thanksgiving quilt blocks that will be coming my way soon! I can't wait to see them!

Thanks for sharing my treasures with me! Have an awesome weekend!

Until next time . . .
Cherise  :)

This . . . That . . . & Everything in Between! :)

Hello!  :)

It's been another busy week! I always have great intentions on posting more often but then I'm tired by the end of the day and put it off. Then in the morning I'm eager to get working again so again I put posting off until later. :)  Can you say procrastination?!!! I'm very good at procrastinating! You may even call me an expert! ;)  So if you haven't guessed by now, this will be another one of those long posts.

Guess I better get started . . .

Guess what I finally did this week??? Haven't figured it out yet? Here's a clue . . .

Yes! I did! I actually finished my Halloween apron before Halloween!!! Do you like it? Is the blue/teal polka dot batik too much? I thought so at first but then I loved how it brought the same blue/teal color out in the main fabric. Here's a close up . . .

What do you think? Does it go together? One minute I love it and the next I'm not sure again . . . lol! The main vintage inspired fabric was made especially for JoAnn's Fabrics.

I also managed to finish my Thanksgiving apron! Can you believe it? Too aprons in one week! I'm on a roll! Here it is . . .

I know I've shared one just like this before that I made for a swap partner. I liked it so much that I had to make one for myself.  :)  I'm even thinking of making one for my sister too. You see my mom passed away earlier this year. She always cooked Thanksgiving dinner. This year my dad's still hosting it and my sister and I are cooking. Wouldn't it be nice if we both wore matching aprons to honor her! That will mean that I'll have to make one more . . . I'll have to think on this one. Not sure if I have the time before Thanksgiving to whip another one out. Yes! I'm a gluten for punishment . . . lol!

Here's a close up of the fabrics . . .

This vintage inspired fabric was also made especially for JoAnn's Fabrics. I just love it!

If you love aprons like I do . . . you might want to sign up for a Christmas apron swap. Sue from Country Pleasures is hosting one and of course I signed up. It just happened to work well with my schedule, believe it or not.  :)  Click on the link above or the photo below for more information. If you decide to sign up let me know.  :)

I participated in her Fall Apron Swap. I not only received an awesome apron but made a great friend as well! (Hi Donna!) I love swaps!  :)

Besides aprons I managed to finish quite a few more Christmas Stitchery's for my two mini quilts. I finished two Stockings . . .

Two Bear's . . .

And two Christmas Tree's . . . 

Yes I finished 6 stitchery panels this week! A new stitchery was released today and I've already got two of them traced and ready to stitch! After that there's just one more and then the quilt process will begin. I'm quite impressed with myself! I'm really enjoying it! I know I've said it before but I really am! :)  It's so relaxing to sit and stitch and watch tv. You should try it. The redwork is pretty quick as you don't have to change colors.  :)

What else did I do this week? Well do you remember the Ghastly blog hop I told you about? If you don't click here to check it out . . . 

One week of the blog hop is already over, but there's still one more week to go. You really should check it out as there are some pretty awesome projects being created and lots of prizes too! (I won the rolling tote bag on day 2! Yea me!) As I told you before, I actually signed up to take part in the blog hop. This was going to be my first. Did you notice I said "was"? Somehow I missed a very important email that was sent to the participants. I think it was eaten by those cyberspace monsters! I didn't realize it until it was too late . . . so I'm not going to be included in the actual blog hop. However the hostess of the blog hop, Madame Samm of Sew I Quilt, said that she would put a link to my projects on her blog on her day of the hop, November 4th. So I will still be participating . . . just in a different way. So even though I've completed another project for the blog hop, all you get to see now is a sneak peek . . . 

What ever could it be? This makes two projects that I've finished. I still have some of the Ghastlie fabric left so I may just squeeze in another project. We'll have to wait and see if I have time.  :)  So do you have any idea what the above Ghastlie project is? I'd love to hear your guesses!  :)

Until next time...
Cherise  :)

WINNERS are the Theme of the Day!!!

Yes today is the day! Who will win the Halloween & Thanksgiving quilt blocks???

 

I used the random number generator to choose the two winners for the two blocks and I have already emailed them.

The first winner is . . .

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:3Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Anonymous said...

Follow your blog!! Super cute blocks. My fingers are crossed!!
aseeley60@yahoo.com

Anonymous I have emailed you. Please contact me with your choice of the Halloween or Thanksgiving block and your address, so I can send your block out to you.


The second winner . . . 

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:8Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Denise said...

I'm a new follower! Just love the blocks.

Denise I have emailed you. You will receive the block that Anonymous doesn't choose. Please send me your address so I can send your block out to you.


Thank you all so much for participating in my first giveaway! It was lots of fun!  :)


Are you wondering why the title of this post is "WINNERS are the Theme of the Day!!!"?

It's because I was a winner too! Remember the Ghastlie Blog Hop I told you about? It started on Monday. I've been checking out all the fabulously Ghastlie projects and entering the daily contest, by commenting on the bloggers posts each day. Well . . . yesterday I commented on Annie's Musings blog, by the way she made some awesome Ghastlie projects, go check them out! Each day the blogger's of the day each choose one winner from their blogs, and send the name on to Madame Samm, the Ghastlie head mistress (hope she doesn't mind me calling her this!) Annie choose my name and forwarded it on. Madame Samm choose my name from the six she received! Can you believe it? I couldn't!!! I've entered many blog giveaways but have never won. This time I did!!! WoooooHoooo!!! What did I win??? The pink wheeled tote below, donated by Blue Fig . . .



Can you believe it??? I couldn't believe it!!! I still can't! And it's pink! My favorite color!!! WoooHooo!!!! Today is an awesome day!!!!

Thank you so much for sharing in my excitement!

Until next time . . .
Cherise  :)

Quilt Block GIVEAWAY Reminder ... only a few hours left!

UPDATE:  This giveaway has ended!  :)


Hello!

Just wanted to remind you about my giveaway that ends tonight at midnight!

Would you like to win one of these 12-1/2" quilt blocks?

Halloween block~



Thanksgiving block~



There will be two winners! The first winner will get to choose which block they want and the second winner will get the other one.

Two chances to win . . .

First chance . . . Follow my blog and leave me a comment here telling me you are!  :)
Second chance . . . Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with the link to your post about this giveaway!  :)

The giveaway is open until midnight (pacific time) tonight, Tuesday, October 25th. I will choose a winner on Wednesday, October 26th with help of the random number generator, and will post it on my blog. If you are a no-reply blogger please post your email in your comment or you will be disqualified.

Good luck! Thanks for sharing in my sewing adventures and for following me!  :)

Until next time . . .
Cherise  :)

Friday Night Sew-In #3

Hello! Well . . . I didn't get too much done last night. You know those times when your sewing machine just isn't cooperating with you, and just keeps failing over and over again. I had one of those nights. That plus I kept messing up the project I was working on. Not a good night for me and the machine. I did manage to finish one of my Ghastlie projects though. I can only show you a little bit of that project as the blog hop starts on Monday. Here's a clip of the project I finished . . .

I wonder what it is? Well . . . I know but what do you think it is? I also managed to get this binding ready for my other Ghastlie project . . .

I will get this finished up tonight and tomorrow, if need be. Since the machine wasn't cooperating I decided to work on my next stitchery for the Christmas Stitchery Mini Quilt. Here it is . . .

One down, one more (of this one) to go. I had a rough night but still made good progress, even though my Halloween and Thanksgiving aprons still sit waiting for me . . .

I will get to them eventually.  :)

I hope you had a great FNSI!

Have a great weekend!  :)

Until next time . . .
Cherise  :)

A Busy Week PLUS A Giveaway! :)

Hello! How are you doing today? I'm doing pretty good. I'm a little tired though as I've been busy this week. Lots of things going on around here. I love it though. I love staying busy. I also love to relax but there's a time for everything and now is the time to be busy.  :)

Tonight I will be taking part in the . . .

Will you be joining me? If you want to check it out click here. I always enjoy it and love all the talented people who take part. It's fun seeing what everyone is up to!  :)  Do you remember what I worked on during the Friday Night Sew-In last month? I cut out my Halloween and Thanksgiving aprons. Have I sewn them yet? Of course not! That's what I'll be working on tonight. I can't wait to see how they turn out!  :)

Do you remember the Ghastlies Blog Hop I'm participating in? It starts Monday, October 24th and will end Friday, November 4th. There will be lots of fun projects made with this wonderful fabric plus giveaways. Don't miss out! I will post more details in a future post.

Tonight I will be finishing up my blog hop projects. Here's the fabric I'm using...

This week I started working on a new stitching project. It's suppose to be a Christmas Banner but I'm going to be making a couple of wall quilts. There are seven stitcheries all together and I'm making two of each. Here are two Santa's already stitched up...

These are the fun fabrics I'll be using for the wall hangings. I can't wait to see how they will turn out! (Especially because I haven't figured out the design yet . . .)    :)

The second block in the Fat Quarter Stars Quilt-A-Long was released last Tuesday and I finally got around to making mine. We were able to finish up the block any way we wanted. I love the pinwheel effect that I choose for mine. I really love the way it turned out . . .

I finished up my Halloween Blocks for a Block-of-the-Month swap over at Mary Janes Farm. I made four versions of the block . . . one for me! two for my two swap partners plus an extra one! Here's the one I made for me . . .

The next two are for my swap partners . . .

This was the first time I attempted log cabin blocks. These 12-1/2" blocks are definitely not perfect but I do like the way they turned out. It was definitely a learning process for me. :)

I also finished the Thanksgiving blocks which are the next block in the same series. I also made four of these blocks. The first one is for me! . . . 

And the next two are for my two swap partners . . .

Do you want to see the two extra blocks I made? 

Here's the extra Halloween block . . . 

And the extra Thanksgiving block . . . 

UPDATE:  This giveaway has ended!  :)

Would you like one of these extra blocks for yourself? I am giving them away to two lucky winners! The first winner will get to choose which one they want and the second winner will get the other one. What do you need to do to win one of these blocks?

First chance to win . . . Follow my blog and leave me a comment telling me you are!  :)

Second chance to win . . . Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with the link to your post about this giveaway.  :)

The giveaway is open until midnight Tuesday, October 25th. I will choose a winner on Wednesday, October 26th with help of the random number generator, and will post it on my blog. If you are a no-reply blogger please post your email in your comment or you will be disqualified. 

Good Luck! Thanks for sharing in my sewing adventures and for following me!  :)

Until next time...
Cherise  :)