X-Stitching for Sandy Hook Update

Hello!  :)

I've been meaning to post updates of my stitching progress for a few days now but just didn't get to it. I'm here now though!  ;)

Here's where I last left off with my X-Stitching for Sandy Hook piece for Daniel (go here for the original post) . . .

I managed to finish the piece a couple of days later.

Isn't he cute?!!! I'm really happy with how this "Special Delivery" bunny came out. The next piece I'm already working on came from this "The World of Cross Stitching" uk magazine . . .

I'm stitching the "Artist Cat" in memory of Emilie who loved art. Here's a closer version of the piece from the magazine.

I'm only going to stitch the cat and and easel. Here's my progress after a couple days work.

This one is stitched on a light pink 14ct aida. Since I didn't get back here and post when I wanted to . . . here is more progress after another couple days work.

The pattern is on two pages so I basically finished the first page and started on the second last night. I'm hoping to get a lot more done tonight. It's really coming along nicely. These items are being stitched as part of a Facebook group in memory of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings.

Before I leave today, I'd like to share this picture of my puppy Doobie.

He hasn't been feeling well the last couple of days. I'll be keeping him close and stitching away tonight. Thanks for visiting!  :)

Until next time . . .

A Full February 1st for Me!

Hello!  :)

I didn't get any sewing done over the weekend like I had planned. The hunky dude, the boy and I did go bowling though. I hadn't been bowling in over 20 years. I was pretty darn rusty . . . skills and body . . . lol! I've been paying for it ever since. We did have fun though!  :)

I had joined a Valentine's apron swap over at Country Pleasures. I thought the due date was February 15th for some reason, which is pretty odd since Valentine's Day is the 14th. Anyway the mailing due date was actually February 1st. So I got busy picking out the pattern and getting the fabric. Then I managed to get the apron plus an extra one for me sewed up pretty quick. Of course I can't show them to you yet but I will soon. I mailed it out today so my partner, Gail of Faithfulness Farm, should receive it soon and then I'll share both of them with you!  :)

I had a pretty productive day today. I finally got the two Snowman Blocks I made for a January Block of the Month Swap mailed out to my two partners.

I also got the charm packs mailed out to the giveaway winners from Monday. So Jennifer and Gail they are on the way to you! Enjoy them!  :)

While I was at it, I got the I-SPY charms mailed out for the charm swap. I'm ahead on this one as they're not due until February 15th. I know I'm shocked too! I'm never early!  Lol!  ;)

That was the end of the mailings today. Whew! It was nice to get those items off on their way!  :) I did manage to make two mini blankets for Doobie today but forgot to take pictures of them. :(  I did take a picture of him earlier today all swaddled up in my blanket though (he was cold).  :)

He's so cute and sweet! Isn't he?!!! He looks like a puppy here but he's not. Do you see his new license? I finally went and got it so he's legal now!  :)

I was even able to make some more progress with the Birdies today!  :)  I managed to get all the sashings on. I decided to go ahead and add some cornerstones where the inner blocks meet using the border fabric. What do you think? How's it looking so far?

I'm loving how it's looking but it's a little too small for me. I know it's supposed to be a lap quilt but I think I want it a little bigger. So far there's only one border to add. Tomorrow I think I'll play around a little bit and maybe add two borders instead of just one. Next time you see it the top should be finished. I hope so! It's not that I'm trying to rush. It's just that I've been dying to see how this one turns out. It's for me! I'm so excited! :)

And if that isn't enough . . . Today the mailman brought some goodies to me!  :)

It's one of my Snowman Blocks for the swap! Isn't it cute?!!! My partner Toni also sent me 4 fat quarters of snowman fabric, some sewing machine needles and thread! I'm a lucky girl!  :)

Here's a close up of the block. She designed it herself! I love it!  :)  Thanks Toni! You did a great job!  :)

Until next time . . .

MIA

Hello!  :)

Yes that's me! MIA . . . missing in action . . . lol!  ;)  So sorry that I've been gone so long. I got consumed with the holidays and then my daughters and my birthday were after that. So much was going on and there was so much to do. I felt overwhelmed and was just trying to survive. I did make it through the holidays and the birthdays and am now trying to get back to a sense of normal (if it even exists).

When I last left you I had finished Jay's Hawaiian Getaway quilt and was about to give it to him for Christmas. Before I show you the finished quilt I need to show you the newest edition to my family.

Meet Doobie! He's a 3 year old Miniature Pinscher we rescued from our local shelter on December 30th. He's such a cutie!  :)

He's the mellowest dog I've ever seen! He loves to sleep. He was already house trained when we got him. He does like to run away when he gets loose though so we have to be careful when opening doors and keep him on a leash. We think he was abused by a man before as he's real cautious around men and a little timid. He's fitting in nicely though and we're all adjusting well. I love him to death! He loves to sleep on his back . . .

Isn't he a cutie?!!! Here's a funny picture I took when my daughter was here for the birthdays. He was wedged between her and the couch trying to sleep on his back. Kind of looks like he's smiling huh?

That's for letting me share my joy with you!  :)  On to the Hawaiian Getaway Quilt finish. Here it is . . .

I hand quilted it in navy on the squares and blue in the border. It's kind of hard to see.

Here's the full back . . .

and a better close-up of the quilting . . .

I really love how it turned out and he did too! I took some pictures of Jay with the quilt but my hunky dude hasn't given them to me yet (they're on his camera).

Jessica was bummed that her Peace and Love quilt wasn't finished before Christmas but understood. She asked if I could finish it by her birthday, January 6th and I said of course. With trying to get things back in order after Christmas I barely made the deadline, but I did make it. Her quilt had much more quilting on it than Jay's did. Here's a picture of her finished quilt (with Jay's cat testing it out).

I hand quilted it with green, pink, yellow, blue and purple on all the solid squares, around the flowers and in the borders.

Here's a picture of the back (sorry it's not a good pic).

I added one appliqued flower to the back of the quilt. Here's a close-up of it and the quilting.

I joined an I-Spy Charm Swap the other day. Lorelei from Midnight Maker is hosting it. She had lots of interest and opened a second group. Of course I'm doing both!  ;)  If you're interested in joining you can check it out by clicking here . . .

I ordered my two fabrics for the swap from Fabric.com. Here they are . . .

Can't wait to see all the fabrics!  :)

I'm hoping to clean up my neglected sewing space tomorrow and get some projects lined up to work on. I have a few that were started before Christmas and others that I want to get started on.

Hope your 2012 is going great for you! So far mine is!  :)

Until next time . . .