Stitch Me Up Blog Hop

Hello!  :)

Welcome to sewingly along! Today is my day to participate in the Stitch Me Up embroidery blog hop.

I would like to thank Madame Samm for hosting this blog hop and Jane from Jane's Fabric and Quilts for being our cheerleader!  :)  I would also like to thank Colonial Needle, our sponsor for this hop!  :)  One more big Thank You goes out to our pattern designers, Debbie, Cyndi and Madame Samm herself!  :)

I knew from the moment I heard about this blog hop that I just had to join in! I love to embroider! It's one of those things that really relax me. I also knew from the beginning which design I would stitch. I fell in love with the design the minute I saw it on the blog hop button. Yes it's the little girl designed by Madame Samm herself. Do you see her there? She's so cute! Don't you think so?

I embroidered her on a white polka dot fabric in red Presencia Finca Perle Cotton #12, using a simple back-stitch. Here she is . . .

She's soooo cute!!! As you can see I also dressed her in a red polka dot pinafore and head bow, which I appliqued on and button stitched around the edges. She reminds me of this picture of my mom as a little girl (she's the little one on the right).

Do you see the resemblance?  ;)

I haven't gotten any farther than this with my cute little girl. I just can't decide what to put her on. My first thought was an apron. Then I was thinking a bag . . . then a mini quilt. Oh boy! Someday I'll decide and find her a permanent home.  ;)  I'm curious . . . what would you do with her?

Thanks for visiting me! It's been nice having you here!  :)

Don't forget to stop by and visit the other gals who are hopping along with me today . . .

Judy @ That Other Blog

laurauvsloons and Quilting too

Sew Sharyn

Sewingly Along

Anita's quilts en handwerken

Quilt Doodle Doodles

Val's Simple Passions

Luv2Sew

Busy As Can Be

Paws for Stitching

Quilting & Other Craft Therapy

pieceful life

Live Love Labs

Felt pa Asly

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle

Until next time . . .

I'm still here

Hello!  :)

I know I've been gone from here (except for the Traveling Stash updates) for a couple weeks now. Well remember how I told you hunky dude's dad passed away? Well a few days after his funeral my grandmother passed away. She was 85. She fell down the stairs and had a major brain injury which she didn't survive. Over the past few years she also had lots of episodes of dementia. She is now resting in peace and my grandfather is very sad and lonely. We had her funeral this week. I miss her terribly. So that's why I haven't been posting here. I've just been very busy physically and mentally. There is definitely too much death going on around here. I hope this is the last of it.

I've still been doing some stitching while away from my blog. It keeps my mind and hands busy when I'm relaxing. I started a new project a couple of weeks ago. It's Lizzie Kate's 6 Fat Men.

This photo is not my piece but the designers piece. I had gotten the patterns last year and finally picked some fabric from my stash to get started on the project. I'm stitching it on a piece of blue with white 28ct luguna. I completed the first block early last week. Here's "Snowed in". . . 

After that I decided to go ahead and stitch the other five block outlines so I have a road map to follow.

As you can see in the photo above, the next part I worked on was the "Snow House" block. I really meant to take a picture before I worked on that block but alas I didn't. I finished "Snow House" this week on Tuesday night.

I really like how this is coming together. I'm not sure whether I'll continue with this project next or work on a smaller, quicker project first. Sometimes it's good to do a couple small projects in the middle of a large one so you don't get bored or overwhelmed. I guess we'll both have to wait and see what I work on next.  ;)

I'll be participating in the "Stitch me up" embroidery blog hop that started a couple of days ago next week.

My day is Wednesday, March 27th. I know exactly what I'll be making but of course I haven't started it yet. I'll be working on it this weekend so it will be ready to share with you next Wednesday. For now be sure to check out all the lovely embroideries that have been shown already. You can go here, to Jane's Fabric & Quilts, our lovely host, to view the blog hop schedule.

Until next time . . .

I've been Gardening!

Hello!  :)

Well sort of!  ;)  I finally got around to working on my Garden Steps quilt again. When I sat down to catch up on my blocks I only had block 3 and 4 to do.

Here's block 3 . . .

And a closer look . . .

Here's block 4 . . .

So simple yet beautiful . . .

After I finished the two blocks I felt really good. Then that night the next block came out. Well it's good and bad. Bad because I thought I was caught up. Good because it's always nice to see the next block. Now I have one more to do to be caught up. Wonder if I'll get to it before the next block comes out? I've been working on some cross stitch projects so I won't be picking this one up again for a little while. I also noticed as I was editing the photos that I forgot to put that cute little ladybug I added to the other blocks on these ones. My plan was to add one on each block. Kind of my signature. I guess I'll be doing that when I work on this again.

Until next time . . .

Quilt Blocks & Cross Stitch to Share

Hello!  :)

Do you remember when I made this block . . .

It was for the month of March of the monthly quilt block swap I participate in at Mary Jane's Farm. I just realized that I never shared the blocks I received from my swap partners.

The first one was from Lorrie . . .

Isn't it gorgeous! I absolutely love it! She did a great job! Thanks Lorrie!  :)

The second block for March was from Barbara . . .

Kind of reminds me of mine.  ;)  Thanks Barbara! You did a wonderful job!  :)

Here's the block I made for my two partners for April . . .

A stair step block with an embroidery in the center. It's a free embroidery pattern I found online from Red Brolly. Here's a closer view of it . . . 

I fell in love with it the moment I first saw it! Isn't it adorable?!!!  :)

Here is the first block I received from Joan . . .

I've seen this Easter fabric before! It's sooooo cute! I love all the bright colors! It totally reminds me of Spring! Great job Joan! Thanks so much!  :)

The second block was made by Rebecca . . .

I love the bunny fabric! I've never seen it before. It's adorable! I also love the bright springy colors in this one as well! Thanks so much Rebecca! You did a wonderful job as usual!  :)

I'm hoping to sit down this weekend and work on my two blocks for May. The theme is flowers. I already know what I want to do for this one.  :)

Moving on to another subject . . . One of my favorite bloggers, Karen from Sew Much 2 Luv has been doing a lot of cross stitch lately. You can view some of her recent finishes here and here. They're fabulous!  :)

I've always loved cross stitch! There's nothing I like better than sitting down with an embroidery or cross stitch project and watching tv or a movie. It's so relaxing and rewarding!  :)  I haven't done any cross stitch for quite a while but always missed it. When I saw Karen working on all her projects she really got me wanting to get back into it too! (Bad, bad girl!)  ;)  Then she mentioned that she joined a cross stitch exchange over at Stitched With Love Exchanges. I had to check it out. Of course I loved the idea and signed up too! Now I've got my partner and I'm stitching her gift and gathering goodies to go with it. I won't be able to share any of it with you until after the exchange is completed sometime in June. For now I'll show you some of my favorite finishes from the past. The first three are Christmas ornaments . . .

I've always loved how they turned out!  :)  The next one is a sampler I did for my parents on their wedding anniversary . . .

I included the original date they got married and the date they reaffirmed their vows. I've always loved this piece! Of course it has a lot of pink and aqua so that doesn't hurt.  ;)

The last piece I'll share with you is a Paula Vaughan bouquet. I love her designs!  :)

This piece is unfinished. I just can't decide what I want to do with it. Any ideas?

The past couple of weeks I've been doing some cyber shopping for cross stitch patterns. I guess you can say it's something I've been doing for myself as part of the May for Me Celebration going on at Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting blog.

I definitely deserve them, right???  ;)   They've been arriving this past week. I can't wait to get started on them and share them with you. Don't worry I'll still be quilting as well. I have too many WIP projects and new ones I want to start . . . lol!  ;)

By the way . . . I've decided to hold off on my combo 100th post and 400th follower giveaway until May 21st. I will include it as part of the Giveaway Day blog hop hosted by Sew Mama Sew.

Will you be joining me? I hope so!  :)

Until next time . . .

My 100th POST!!! . . . Final Blocks of My Favorite Things

Hello!  :)

Welcome to my 100th post!!! I can't believe I'm here already. I thought for sure I had more time before reaching this milestone. I started blogging back on August 18, 2011. It seems like forever ago. Time sure flies doesn't it?!!! Now 8-1/2 months later I've written 100 posts and have 395 followers! Wow! Thank you all so much for coming back here time and time again to see what I'm up to! I really appreciate it and you!  :)  Later this week I'll have a giveaway to celebrate this milestone along with reaching 400 followers (hopefully I'll actually get 5 more followers before then)! Stay tuned!  ;)

Now back to the regularly scheduled program . . .

I swear I've actually been working on things the past couple of weeks. I've just been working slower than I was. Plus I've got a few new things going on. Some you already know about like the Traveling Stash boxes. They are some boxes that travel from person to person in the US where you get to take whatever quilting supplies you want and then replace them with the same amount you took. I was following the travels of these boxes then I actually won one. After that I ended up volunteering to keep track of them. Hence the Traveling Stash Updates. I've also been doing more thrifting, which I love!  :)  I've picked up more treasures this weekend which I'll share with you later. Stay tuned!  ;)

For now I want to share my final blocks for the My Favorite Things quilt I'm working on. I still haven't gotten the blocks and strips cut . . . I know! Someday I'll actually get them cut so I can begin putting this thing together. For now here's a picture of the blocks for the final row . . .

Here's a close up of the butterfly block . . .

Isn't it pretty?! I love this pink fabric! And check out the birdie . . .

Of course it's blue! Did you see his wing?  :)

How about some sunshine to brighten your day?

I love sunshine, although I do not like the heat. I really cannot tolerate anything over about 75 degrees. Yes I'm a wimp!

The next block is an old wooden chair . . .

Of course it had to be red! Doesn't it just look adorable with all those lovely flowers?

Then there's the heart. I love hearts! Of course it's pink! It represents family and love of course!

And last, but not least, presents to share . . .

Who doesn't love presents?!!! I do much prefer to give then to receive . . . and I'm not just saying it! I really mean it! I get so much joy watching someone open a gift I picked out or made especially for them.  :)

You can find out more about this quilt I'm making as part of a Stitch and Quilt Along here. You can follow my progression with this quilt here, here, here, here and here.

As a last note . . . be sure to smile and always spread love and cheer wherever you go! I'll be back with more to share with you soon!

Until next time . . .

Another Week... More Blocks!

Hello!  :)

Well . . . I still haven't cut the fabric for the strips and blocks yet.  :(  Maybe this weekend???

I have got the next row of blocks done.  :)  Now I'm ahead of schedule . . . with the blocks anyway.

Here's a close up of the sewing block . . . 

I really LOVE this one!!! Wonder why?  ;)  This block will also have three mini pieced quilts added but of course I haven't cut them yet.

Here's the best friends block . . .

I'm not sure about this one. I pretty much like the fabrics I choose. The faces and hair are bothering me. What do you think?

Here's a close-up of the gorgeous shoe block . . .

Aren't they cool?!!!  :)  And how about that pink cat?

He's soooo cute!!!  Yes it's a boy cat in pink!  ;)  His name is Bob. I had to give him up when I moved a couple of years ago. :(  I really miss him and love him. I'm sure he wouldn't have approved of me making him pink. He was a kitty with lots of personality and attitude.  ;)

These are the next blocks I'm working on and the last ones for the quilt.

I guess I'd better get my be-hind moving on the strips and blocks and start piecing this thing together. Now I'm ahead of schedule on the blocks but behind on the piecing.

If you'd like you can find out more about this Stitch & Quilt Along here. You can also read about my progression with the quilt here, here, here and here.

Until next time . . .

My Favorite Things are Moving Right Along

Hello!  :)

I'm really moving along trying to catch up on My Favorite Things quilt. It's the only project I've been working on the last couple of weeks and yes I'm still having fun with it!  :)

I still haven't gotten the fabric for the border strips and blocks cut yet.  :(  I want to be able to sit down and do it all at once. I'm hoping to get the chance to do it this weekend.  :)

In the meantime here's my progress on the 3rd row which are the blocks for March and April.

Here's the close up of  the house. It reminds me of Dr. Seuss.  :)

A closer look at the gardening block . . . pretty flowers all in a row.  :)

And a closer look at the tree block. I originally had the tree in green with lots of flowers like the pattern called for but I just didn't like it. Then I tried the blue alone. It still wasn't right. Then I added back a few of the flowers from the original one and I liked it. By the way... wouldn't it be cool if cats really were pink?  ;)

And the last one for this row . . . the rainbow block. Such happiness!  :)

Here are the next blocks I'll be working on . . .

These should be fun too! Did you notice there's another pink cat? I love pink and I love cats!  :)  Getting these next blocks done will mean I'm ahead of schedule.  :)

Hopefully I'll get that chance to cut the strip and blocks out this weekend and begin sewing the blocks together and forming the quilt top. If you just found me go here, here and here to see more about this quilt. Thanks so much for visiting!  :)

Until next time . . .