Happy Friday, Friends!

Last weekend's Apple Festival was a big success in spite of the rain and chilly temps.
                                            

Lots of vendors selling their wares.

Our local apple orchard was there offering bags of apples, tarts, doughnuts, turnovers, cider and more.

The Apple Festival Cross Stitch Retreat hosted by Anabella's was also a success.  There were approximately 60 attendees.  Unfortunately, the guest designer could not make it. Priscilla from Stitching with the Housewives got a terrible stomach flu the day she was to fly from Chicago and had to cancel.

She still provided us with two exclusive designs, as well as the fabric and floss to complete them.

I started and finished the smaller design over the weekend.

I secured Table # 6 and invited these four ladies to join me.

We played a game called Left Right Center with DMC floss. I've played this game many times but have never won. That is....until now.

I also won TWO raffle prizes...

A wool candle mat from Penny Lane Primitives

Lori Holt's new cross stitch book, some of her chunky thread and her crochet hooks

Before I started the smaller design from Priscilla, I started Pinkie Santa.
                                            
This is where I stopped before picking up the new design.

Since the weekend, I've been catching up on exercise (if there is such a thing) and getting my steps in at the lake. Just wanted to share a photo and let my long-time friends know that the ghosts are back...

And they've added some pumpkins to the waterfall...

Sadly, the waterfall will be turned off soon. We are already getting into the 20s and 30s F in the mornings. Although, the afternoon temps are hitting the 70s and sometimes 80s still.

My cousins from Florida are in town visiting. Even though some of them are staying in a hotel, and some with my mom, I'm not sure how my weekend is going to go. I'm hoping to finally start the Boo to You quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. We shall see...

My friend Diann at Little Penguin Quilts mentioned her son just made a sourdough pumpkin bread. I'm looking all over the county for a bakery that has one. It sounds so good.

What are your plans for the weekend? Tell me all the things...and I'll see you soon!

Pulling a Little Switch - A - Roo

Happy Friday, Friends!

No Floss Friday this week. I'm switching things up a bit.

This weekend is Anabella's Autumn Apple Fest Cross Stitch Retreat here, in our small town. The Apple Festival is Saturday and takes up the entire Main Street. So, since I'll have cross-stitch to share on Monday's post, I thought I would share a quilty update today.

Sewcialites 3 is a flimsy!
                                
The fabric is a Bunnie Hill Designs collection called Lyda Rose. I love the subtle spring colors and think this little quilt will make a nice wall hanging or...
                                             
...a sweet little throw for my downstairs deck rocker.

The binding strips are cut. I just need to make the backing.

I think I will try quilting this on the embroidery machine. It will only measure 42-1/2 by 42-1/2 when finished.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have wonderful weekend and I'll see you soon!

On Monday I'll be linking up with Melva Love Scraps Sew & Tell...it is an inspiring party!

Sewcialites 3 -- Almost a Flimsy!

Happy Monday, Friends!

This is a quick post to share my progress on Sewcialites 3. After helping my Mom this weekend, I did indeed get to sit and sew for a while. I completed the last block for Sewcialits 3.
                                        
Sparks Block by Jessica Dayon.
                                        
I had to scroll back through the Fat Quarter Shop's YouTube videos to find Kimberly's episode about this block. She said blocks 24 here, and 25 were saved until the end because they were the most difficult. I didn't think Jessica's block was difficult. It was just time consuming.

Had to sit back and admire the pile of blocks.
                                         
I jumped right into making the 24 setting blocks and laid everything out on the guest bed.
                                         
I stacked the rows and labeled them.
                                         
I've sewn the rows and will begin putting them together this week. Another plan for this week is to cast on a knitting project...a hat most likely. I've joined a new book club called Hooks and Books. It is hosted by the owners of a yarn store in town. They alternate meeting locations between their shop and one of the used book stores.  This Thursday evening the meeting will be held at the book store.  We are reading to Practical Magic this month. 
                                          

                                           
I bought a hard copy of the book but I'm listening on Audible. I can do that while sewing, cross-stitching or walking at the lake.

We got a lot of rain Saturday from Hurricane Isaias but nothing damaging, thank goodness. I hope if any of you were in the storm's path that you were safe and did not suffer any damage to your property. Gene, I'm especially concerned about you in Alabama! Let us know how you are doing.

That is my weekend in a nutshell. I'll be back on Friday with a cross-stitch update. In the meantime, have a great week.

Linking up with Melva Loves Scraps Sew & Tell.

See you soon,

Floss Friday -- Cross Stitch Progress, More Fall and A Little Halloween

Happy Friday!

How has everyone's week been? Were you creative in any way? I'd love to know.

I did a little cross stitching on Merry Bouquet. Here is where I am as of Thursday evening.

This is a fun little stitch and I hope to have a finish soon.

I did a little more fall decorating.

The tiered shelf...
                                            
Harvest Small is from Hands on Design and Priscilla Blain.
                                            
September Calendar Crates is from Stitching with the Housewives. 
                                            
I will switch out the Calendar Crates for Halloween soon. 

Melisa at Pinker n Punkin' Quilting and Stitching inspired me to get out a few Halloween pieces.

Boo Jar is from Hands on Design and Priscilla Blain.
                                            
Trick or Treat is from Stitching with the Housewives.
                                            
Witch's Night Out is a pattern from It's Sew Emma using Fig Tree & Co. fabric.
                                            
I have it draped over the back of one of the family room sofas.
                                
This Is Halloween Back Up the Truck from Stitching with the Housewives.
                                          
Costume Party from Hands on Design.
                                           
Halloween Alphabet is from Primrose Cottage Stitches.
                                          
The Boo Strawberry is from Eric Michaels and the three cat pillows are from Stitching with the Housewives.
                                            
This Is Halloween from Primrose Cottage.
                                            
I've offered to help Mom with a few things this weekend but I'm still hopeful there will be some sewing for ME sometime in there.

I hope you enjoy the weekend and I'll see you soon!

Did I Sew? And A Fair...

Hello, Dear Friends!

I mentioned on Friday that I would be attached to my sewing machine during the weekend. And I was...just not working on the things I thought I would be. I may have mentioned before that my Mom purchased a townhouse recently. She wants to use draperies she already has for the new place. They needed some hemming so that is what we did. I will share photos once they are laundered and hung.

It is fair season in the mountains. Last year, I got up enough courage to enter a cross stitch piece in the crafts exhibit and earned a third place ribbon.
                                        

Red Bird Sampler by With Thy Needle and Thread

This year, my family encouraged me to enter a quilt. My daughter selected the one she thought I should enter. It was Flea Market Flowers by Lori Holt.

Hubby and I went to the fair's exhibit hall where we found my quilt hanging SIDEWAYS! Apparently, men on a scissor lift were hanging the quilts and no one was providing guidance. They were draping the quilts over a cable and attaching them with clothes pins. You can see in the photo below that the clothes pins are on the left side...I rotated the phot0 so it would show properly.

We found the first place quilt...

Not my quilt.  Exhibitor AB.

I missed getting a photo of the third place quilt. It was cute, made up of bird blocks. And we couldn't find the second place quilt for the longest time. 

Finally, my husband stood at just the right angle to find the red ribbon attached to mine.

I was  excited to earn a ribbon at the county fair. But I think I'll try entering one of the regional fairs next year where they publish the judging criteria.

I hope you had a nice weekend and wishing you the best for the week ahead.

I'm linking up to Melva's Sew & Tell

See you soon,