Finished Just in Time!

Hello!  :)

Happy Easter! I hope the Easter bunny brings you lots of chocolate!  ;)

This past week I finished a couple of small cross stitch pieces before I worked on my 6 Fat Men again. The first piece I did was Lizzie Kate's Limited Edition "Chicks". It's stitched on the linen that came with the kit. I used all the threads called for and substituted a couple I didn't have on hand. Here it is . . .

Today I actually had time to sit down and make the piece into a pillow.

Of course I used lots of pink!  ;)  I also added some buttons, charms, lace and rick rack. I think it turned out really nice. I actually have a finished, finished piece before Easter! Okay it's only a day before Easter but it still counts!  ;)

Last week I also finished another Lizzie Kate Limited Edition design, "A Bee C".

I stitched this on the linen that came with the kit. I used the threads called for and again substituted a couple I didn't have on hand.

I don't know if you remember or not but I'm taking part in the Stitch-Along over at www.stitch-a-long.blogspot.com. We're doing a small project every month instead of a quilt this year. This month's project is a pincushion from the Some Kind of Wonderful book by Anni Downs. Here it is . . .

The pattern on the sides are embroidered with pink perle cotton. The top is made with 1-1/2" squares of Pam Kitty Morning that I had leftover from my "My Favorite Things" quilt. It went together pretty quick. Good thing too since it has to be done by tomorrow. Nothing like the last minute!  ;)

I stuffed it with crushed walnuts. The pins are two that my friend Donna gave me last year. I thought they looked nice in it.  :)

Next month we will be making a wallhanging from the book "Tis the Season" by Natalie Bird. I got a head start today. (Okay so I'm only a day earlier, but I'm usually a last minute kind of gal). I traced the embroidery patterns on some muslin and backed them in fusible batting so they're ready to stitch.

Last by not least . . . my 6 Fat Men . . . I worked a couple of nights this week on the next section, "Snow Friends".

It's coming along nicely. Thanks for visiting!  :)

Until next time . . .

My 1st Friday Night Sew-In of 2013

Hello!  :)

Tonight was the 1st Friday Night Sew-In of the new year. I'm happy that I got the chance to participate.  :)  Before I show you what I made, I'd like to tell you about a Stitch-A-Long I joined this year.

It's the same group I made my "My Favorite Things" quilt with last year.

This year we're using these three books to complete different, smaller projects each month.

"Some Kind of Wonderful" by Annie Downs (the book "My Favorite Things" quilt was from), "Tis the Season" by Natalie Bird and "Red Home" by Natalie Bird. These are all awesome books by Australian designers. For January the project comes from the "Red Home" book.

We are making the "Thread Catcher Fabric Basket".

We actually had the choice to make the Fabric Basket or a Shoe Bag from the "Some Kind of Wonderful" book. I made the "Thread Catcher Fabric Basket".

Here's a closer look at my "Thread Catcher Fabric Basket" . . .

I used some fun sewing themed fabric on the outside and pink polka dot on the inside. I also used a decorative stitch at the top in brown thread. As you can tell it got a messed up in the center. Oh well.  ;) Here's the other side . . .

Next month we'll be making this "True Friends Tote Bag" from the same book.

I can't wait to sit down and choose the fabrics I'll be using for this. I'm also eager to start on the stitching. Thanks for stopping by and checking out what I did for my Friday Night Sew-In.  :)

Until next time . . .

It's done!

Hello!  :)

I did it! I finished "My Favorite Things" quilt top! Yea!  :)  The pictures suck though . . . sorry! I have a real small area to take them in. I tried really hard to get some good ones with no success. Maybe when I complete the quilt I can talk the hunky dude and the boy into holding it for me. Here's a blurry hanging picture . . .

What do you think? Do you like the borders? I love the color it gives to the quilt. I second guessed myself many times as to whether I should change them or not. The original quilt from the book ("Some Kind of Wonderful" by Anni Downs) looked like this . . .

I decided to bring all the beautiful Pam Kitty Morning prints and colors to the outside of the quilt as well. I just had to. I absolutely LOVE this fabric!!! I already have planned another quilt with the leftovers. I may even get some more as well (I can't help myself!). Here's another picture with it laid out on the floor.

Here's the top half . . .

And the bottom half . . .

Now I need to sandwich, pin, quilt and add the binding. I plan on hand quilting it with the same perle cotton threads I used with the appliques and stitching. I wonder how long that will take? Hummmmm . . . The deadline to complete it is the end of this month. I'm sure I'll make it. I'll be using a red gingham recycled sheet as the backing that goes perfectly, and the Pam Kitty Morning blue polka dot print for the binding. Hopefully I can get this done soon as I want to start on the next quilt and I told myself I can't until I finish this one first. Wish me luck!  ;)

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 . . .

My Favorite Things Progress!

Hello!  :)

I've been working on the "My Favorite Things" quilt off and on since I last posted about it here. I managed to get all the applique/stitchery blocks for the first row done.

Here's a closer look at the first block . . . "patty cakes" . . .

The second block . . . "singing in the rain" . . . 

The third block . . . "cup of tea" . . .

The fourth block . . . "old blue jeans" . . .

And the fifth and final block for this row . . . "holidays" . . .

These blocks have been very fun to work on.  :)  I'm really excited about this project. I actually have a lot more done but I'll wait to show you later.

Until next time . . .

My Favorite Things!

Hello!  :)

I want to share some fabrics I treated myself to a little while ago from The Quilting Bug.

The Pam Kitty Morning Collection by Lakehouse. (At least some of it that is.) I love this collection! It's so bright, soft, inspiring, etc., etc., etc. I purchased it with a specific project in mind but also had to get the kitty panel.

I love kitties! The panel won't work for my project but I'm hoping to have some fabric leftover and will make something with it at that time. And who knows . . . if I don't have enough left I can always get more.  :)

The project I will be using this for is from Hatched and Patched's "Some Kind of Wonderful" book by Anni Downs . . .

"My Favorite Things" is the quilt I'll be making from the book.

I'm doing this through part of a stitch-a-long at www.stitch-a-long.blogspot.com. I discovered it months ago and am now officially part of the stitch-a-long. I'm already behind as it started in December. It took me a while to decide on which fabrics to use. Then I found Pam Kitty Morning and knew I just had to use it.

Here's a closer look at the fabrics I'll be using . . .

and more . . .

and more . . .

and even more . . .

Aren't they awesome! Believe it or not there are actually more prints in this collection. I wish I could have gotten all of them but I had to leave some out. :(  I got so many because I wanted to make sure I had a really good variety from which to choose for this quilt.  :)

For the center applique/stitchery blocks I'm using Kona white. I always use a light fusible batting on the back of these blocks to provide stability for the stitching and to hide the ends, etc. Here they are all cut, marked and ready to go . . . 

So far I've got the appliques done on the first row of blocks. Here they are . . . 

The pattern called for needle-turn applique but I'm going to do a blanket-stitch applique instead. I love the look of it. I'm using DMC perle cotton for the stitching. Here are the threads I choose to use . . . 

I'm hoping to begin stitching these blocks tomorrow. This weekend I'm hoping to get the rest of the applique/stitching blocks ready and then I'll cut all the blocks and strips for the rest of the quilt. I wanted to wait and cut the rest until I see what fabric I'll use on the applique/stitching blocks to make sure the colors blend well and there's a cohesiveness to the quilt. Does that make sense? I hope so!   :)

Until next time . . .