Scrappiness Is Happiness Quilt Finish and A Vintage Iron

Hello Friends!

Another quilt is off the “to be bound” pile.

Scrappiness Is Happiness was another quilt along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop. The blocks are from Lori Holt’s book of the same name.

 

I bound it by machine using the same decorative stitch I did on BloomTopia.

Completely machine binding a quilt is out of my normal routine and comfort zone. I admit, it is much quicker. And I’m all about finishing things right now.

Speaking of Lori Holt…one of the things she collects is vintage irons. She finds them in good condition and then replaces the cords and uses them for pressing seams and such.  Well, I found an old iron on FB Marketplace very cheap! I bought it, thinking if it didn’t work then I wouldn’t be out much more than a Starbucks Chai Latte 

It is a Knapp & Monarch Gad-About travel iron.  Not recommended for use due to the fact it doesn’t meet modern safety standards.  I completely understand that but still plan to try. It gets really hot and I love that the sole plate is solid, without steam holes to catch on seams.

I wouldn’t leave it unattended for one second! 

I have an idea for a pressing station next to my sewing machine. We shall see…

The last couple of weeks I’ve tried linking up to a couple of “Linky” parties but have been unsuccessful. So, I’m giving up on that. Anyway, I always do the right thing and visit everyone who posts – and leave a comment - but rarely get a return visit/comment. So, I’m not linking up any longer. I have found some lovely blogs that I will continue to follow and comment on, but no more linky’s for me!

I hope you are having a great week! Floss Friday is next and I hope to see you then.

 

The Random Saturday Post

Happy November 1^st and All Saints’ Day! 

Did you get a lot of trick or treaters last night?

We ran an errand a couple of towns over yesterday morning. Driving down their main street, we spotted the cutest little monsters and their parents.

The stores had people sitting out front handing out candy. This was before 10:30 am! Oh boy, the sugar those kids must have enjoyed.

Our downtown did the same except it was from 5 pm – 7 pm.  We stayed home and missed it.

Before we leave October behind, I’ll give you my cross-stitch stats.

I stitched 3,960 stitches on three projects.

First, Memorial Day by Hands on Design. No new progress since I last shared it.

Next, Hello Autumn by Primrose Cottage Stitches. This was a start and finish for the month.

Lastly, American Sampler by Crocette a gogo’. This is where I am as of October 30^th. No stitching on October 31^st.

My cross-stitch plans for November include continuing with American Sampler. I didn’t quite complete the October assignment, but there isn’t much left to do.

I find that giving myself “assignments” helps to keep me on track. I mentioned in this post that I had started Wilding Hill Manor with a friend in September.

Well, I’ve given myself some small monthly assignments that should allow me to finish this one before the next Stitching in the Wild retreat in September 2026.

And…I will have a new start today, November 1^st.

A Salute to Abigail. This chart is from the Sweet Land of Liberty book by Blackbird Designs.

This is another stitch along with my friends Andrea, @fancystitcher on IG and Gary of GaRon Stitchery.

I'm stitching mine on 36 count linen in the color Frappuccino by XJudesign and substituting the called-for floss with Valdani cotton threads.

We are including this in our “Year of Patriotic Stitching”, or #YOPS on Instagram.

Fun fact, I’ve stitched and fully finished every chart in this book except Salute to Abigail. I’ll be sure to share more about these projects in a future post.

Well, we are off on a road trip to Nashville for the weekend. I’m a passenger princess this time and hope to get a more than a few stitches in during the ride.

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend.

See you soon,

 

 

 

Floss Friday -- An FFO -- Give Thanks

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween for those who like the ghosties and stuff.

Last Friday I told you I pulled an FO (finished object) from the proverbial “under the bed box” and started the finishing process.  I needed some trim, so Mom and I went to Hobby Lobby on Saturday.

I found a spool of twine that was thicker than what I had. I pulled two kinds of ribbon from my stash, and this is what I came up with.

I’ve placed it in the top of the Hoosier cabinet.

Give Thanks is a chart designed by Annie, The Proper Stitcher. I stitched it on 40 count linen, the color Chocolate Milk from Fabrics by Stephanie. Some of the floss is called for, and some I pulled from stash.

I’m not sure that I am completely satisfied with the result. However, it is no longer tucked away and it is DONE!

I’m still working on October’s assignment for American Sampler by Crocette a gogo’. Check back tomorrow when I’ll share my progress on that, as well as Octobers stats, November plans and….another new start.

Enjoy your day and I hope – if you want them – you get lots of Trick-or-Treaters!

See you soon,

Six down and Three To Go – BloomTopia is Finished

BloomTopia was a fundraising quilt along hosted by Fat Quarter Shop in 2020. Proceeds from the sale of the quilt kits and donations benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation of West Texas.

I stitched along and finished the piecing… a while ago, got it quilted…a while ago, but I finished the binding over the weekend. The fabric collection is Summer Sweet by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda Fabrics.

Quilted with flowers

I did something new and attached the binding to the back first and used a decorative stitch to attach it to the front.

We’ve had nothing but cloudy, rainy and cooler days since I finished the binding. I apologize for the poor quality photos. I promise to take better ones when the sun finally comes out.

We also celebrated my Mom’s 82^nd birthday this past weekend. Her request was a steak dinner, prepared by my hubby, and her favorite coconut cream pie, prepared by me.

She wasn't completely happy with me taking this photo

since she wasn't "Flossied Up" I think she is beautiful

without her makeup and jewels!

I also did some cross-stitch finishing, and I’ll share that with you on Friday.  Enjoy the remainder of your week.

See you soon,

 

Floss Friday – Vacation and Cross Stitch Progress

Hello and Happy Friday!!

It is good to be home. We took a 10-day cruise through New England and Canada. It was absolutely beautiful, we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

The ship departed Baltimore, cruised down the Chesapeake to the Atlantic. 

                                            

The Star Spangled Banner Flag House

Where Mary Young Pickergills sewed the Star

Spangled Banner in 1813, which flew over

Fort McHenry

We made stops in Boston, Massachusetts…

We toured Fenway Park, which included

Visitors Dugout, Press Box, and a rooftop garden

St. John and St. Martins, New Brunswick…

A Farmer's Market in St. John

You can get all of your shopping done in this one building.

This lady was making mittens out of recycled sweaters

St. Martins provided our first of many lobster rolls

And delicious seafood chowder

                                            

We walked along the beach to get a look at caves

that have been naturally formed from the Bay of Fundy tides

I'll have to share more about Bay of Fundy in a future post

Sydney, Nova Scotia…

World's largest violin to signify Sydney's

Scottish heritage

Halifax and Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

We visited the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

They had an amazing Titanic exhibit...not enough space here

to share all of the photos I took.

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

The best lobster roll of the trip!!

BeaverTails! A soft pastry filled with anything

your heart desires. We kept it simple with chocolate.

We wouldn’t mind returning to Nova Scotia for a longer visit.

I started a new cross-stitch project on the drive to Baltimore and finished it on the drive home.

Hello Autumn is a free chart from Primrose Cottage Stitches. Well, it’s free if you subscribe to their newsletter. I fully finished it this week by simply placing it in a frame.

This is stitched on 28-count linen in the color Parchment by Zweigart. I used most of the called-for colors but replaced Caterpillar with Blackbird. Both flosses are Classic Colorworks.

While I was in the finishing mood, I took “Give Thanks” out of the under-the-bed-box and mounted it on sticky board. I then pulled a scrap piece of Lori Holt fabric to make a background. I want to layer the pieces on a wooden pumpkin and top it off with a bow and covered button. I’ve decided it needs some trim and I currently do not have anything that will work.  Mom and I are planning to trip to Hobby Lobby this weekend, so I hope to find something there.

Give Thanks is designed by Annie, The Proper Stitcher. I used 40-count linen in the color Chocolate Milk from Fabrics by Stephanie. I completed the stitching on October 18, 2024.

Since being home, I caught up on American Sampler by Crocette a gogo’. I’m working on October’s assignment now.

The weather is nice and cool here. We had our first pot of chili and buttermilk cornbread of the season for dinner last night.

I’m looking forward to walking around the lake and seeing the pretty fall colors in the trees. I’m also curious to see if these guys are there again this year…

My plan for this evening is to start the binding process on BloomTopia.

What are your plans for the coming days? I hope it is something you enjoy.

I TRIED...Linking up with Alycia for Finished (or Not!) Friday For some reason it wouldn't work for me :(

See you soon,