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Monday, March 18, 2024

A Weekend of Whimsical Finishes

Saturday was International Quilt Day or Worldwide Quilting Day. I’ve seen it advertised both ways. 

I pulled four quilts that need binding and labeled but I didn’t get any further than that.

 

I did a bit of cross stitch finishing and spring decorating instead.

 

There was no stopping once the glue gun came out Friday night…so, I hope you enjoy the results.

 

My husband and I went to a thrift store on one of our camping trips to Clermont, FL a few years ago. I found a sweet handmade basket for less than a dollar.



I hope Peggy likes what I did with it.



The cross stitch on the front of the basket is a modified version of Spring Tulips by Stitching with the Housewives. There were chickens at the very bottom, which I left off.


This basket sits on top of the Hoosier cabinet, next to my childhood Easter baskets.


The next couple of shelves hold some fun Rae Dunn mugs and more Stitching with the Housewives designs.



The bottom shelf is more Stitching with the Housewives designs attached to finish pieces from Hobby Lobby.





This sideboard sits across the kitchen, opposite the Hoosier cabinet.  The first set up...

Where it is now...


I brought out an antique lamp and placed it in the middle of the sideboard with a spring dough bowl in front.



The cross stitch in the dough bowl is a Hands on Design seasonal piece.

I finished a cross stitch piece from It's Sew Emma (Fat Quarter Shop) and placed it on the sideboard in the dining room.




I also finished this piece which is currently hanging downstairs...


I'm not satisfied with it. The whole top and bow thing isn't working for me right now.


Oh the joys of learning to decorate a new house... 

Hubby and I took a lovely ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Saturday. I was enjoying the views and only took a couple of photos.




Spring hasn't quite sprung in the upper elevations just yet. But it will be spectacular when it does.


I sure hope you had a great weekend doing all the things you love. Let me know how you celebrated Worldwide Quilting Day...or spent the last couple of days.






Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Ice Fest and Calendar Crates

Well friends, we are just about caught up on holiday events.  Thank you if you’ve hung in with me since my March 6th post, catching up from last October.

The Downtown Waynesville Commission hosted "Ice Fest" in January.  Stores sponsored ice sculptures which represented the stores theme. Citizens strolled down main street to enjoy these creative pieces of art. I didn’t take photos of ALL the sculptures but I’ll share a few here…














I’ve been decorating the garage entry area with a piece from Hobby Lobby, adorned with a monthly cross stitch series from Stitching with the Housewives.

This is January…

February…

March…

All of these are kits from the Fat Quarter Shop. Chart is called Calendar Crates. Stitched on 14 count Aida in the color blackboard, using the called-for over-dyed floss.

I promise there is quilting in my future…very near future 😊 Hope you will come back to see…

 


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

More Holiday Fun and the Hoop-N-Tray

Before getting into the last two December 2023 events, I want to show you this new gadget I purchased.



It is the Hoop N Tray from Not Forgotten Farm on Etsy.

I saw this on someone’s Flosstube and ordered the one with the 8” hoop. The hoop is made from beech wood and the tray is constructed using poplar.



The tray has a nice magent to hold your scissors or needle.  The top flips up so you can check the back of your work or finish off your thread.

 

I have tried it on my lap as well as on the table top and it works perfectly.  I’ve wanted something to take to retreats but I’m finding it quite useful at home.


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The last two events from December 2023 that I’ll share with you is our train ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railway and our candlelight tour of the Biltmore House.

 

The GSMR train runs by steam engine from Bryson City to Dillsboro.  The car’s host gave a history lesson about the railway and the area during the trip.


At some point during the ride, a storyteller (in costume) joined and gave us a tale about Saint Nicholas.

We had a nice ride, on-board lunch and maybe a bit of Christmas shopping in Dillsboro.


This is a ‘quilted’ fish at the station in Bryson City.


We’ve enjoyed a couple of visits to the Biltmore House during Christmas but this was our first candlelight tour at night.



Mama getting all the info from the guide at the door (she doesn't meet a stranger)


My favorite part of the Biltmore at Christmas is the gingerbread house.



And, of course, the trees on the front lawn.




Back at home in Waynesville, we ate at one of our favorite places and on the way out we met Ruby.



She's a duck...on a leash...wearing slippers and a bowtie scarf.


I hope you all had a nice weekend.  Ours was busy but also enjoyable.

 

I think I have one more "catch up" event to share and then we will be back to regular programming.


I've unpacked a lot of boxes and have thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering my quilting projects.  Oh how the sewing machines are taunting me...


Friday, March 8, 2024

Sunshine and Blooms and More Holiday Events

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Do you have big plans for the weekend?

 

We are supposed to have a rainy weekend so I’m hoping to fully finish some cross stitch projects and bind some quilts.

 

Before continuing my overview of our holiday events, I want to show you a piece I finished stitching.

 

It is called Sunshine and Blooms by Teresa Kogut.  



I changed mine a little by omitting the words at the bottom and moving the flowers up a bit. It is stitched on 36 count linen, Grandma's Slip by XJude Design. I used the called-for flosses.

 

This was an exclusive chart offered at last year’s Stitching in the Wild retreat hosted by GaRon Stitchery. I wrote about the retreat here.

 

I heard Teresa is going to make this chart available to everyone but she is going to put the alphabet at the bottom instead of the words “Sunshine and Blooms.”

 

I want to frame this one at some point.

 

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Now back to the holiday events….I haven’t shared the gazillion photos I took (you're welcome!), but you’ll still get the idea.

 

Our little town makes a BIG deal out of Christmas. It begins with the tree lighting in front of City Hall.


They have a children’s choir. City employees offer cookies and hot cocoa. Sometimes you can even spot Santa wandering around handing out candy canes.


Of course there is a parade…


Mom all bundled up waiting for the start...




The Big Guy ends the long line of amazing floats!

Then mid-December they once again close off Main Street for a Smoky Mountain Christmas. The stores stay open late and offer special holiday treats.

 

There are horse and buggy rides.




Even Grinch made an appearance.


These were all very fun times and to have my mom with us made it so special.

 

Until next week, I hope you have a blessed weekend and do something you enjoy.