Best Laid Plans and All

Hello, Friends!

I'm a day late in posting my sewing progress from the weekend and here is why...

I started sewing week two of the Boo To You quilt on Sunday using my main sewing machine which is a Janome 9400 QCP. I was plugging along when all of a sudden the quarter-inch foot fell off and the needle came down on it several times before I could release the foot peddle. I believe I jammed the upper part of the machine that holds the needle because it no longer lines up with the bobbin casing. My favorite repair guy is 4 - 1/2 hours away and this won't be a quick fix. I'll be dropping it off in a couple of weeks for him to, hopefully, work his magic. 

Not giving up, I got out my little Pfaff Passport to finish the job. As before, we got off to a great start. Then it started making a strange noise. I cleaned the bobbin casing and everywhere I could safely reach, rethread the machine and said a silent prayer. It started sewing again but the tension is all off and I cannot fix it. So, I'll be dropping off two machines for repair.

This is as far as I got on Boo To You
                                            

I'm not risking a third machine LOL. Actually, I have plenty of other things to work on so I'll take a break from piecing.

"Hooks and Books" book club is next week so I'm going to cast on another hat. This time for me...but not sure which color I want to work with first.
                                 
I hope your weekend was better than mine and you were creative in some way. I'm off to put in some cross stitches so I'll share an update on those projects Friday.

Have a great week and I'll see you soon.

Floss Friday -- October Stitching Stats and This Week's Progress

Happy Floss Friday, Friends!

October stitching was a bit more productive than August and September...combined!

During the month I completed 4,015 stitches on three projects.

I started and finished the small ornament from my retreat during Apple Fest, appropriately named Apple Festival, from Stitching with the Housewives.
                                          
Apple Festival is stitched on 28 count lugana by Charles Craft in the color white. And I used the called-for Classic Colorworks floss. Started on 10/17/26, finished stitching on 10/18/26.

The next project I worked on during October was Merry Bouquet by Shakespeare's Peddler. Here is where I was last week...
                                           
This is where I am as of yesterday (Thursday)...
                                                
The third project is Pinkie Santa by Stitching with the Housewives. Last week's progress...

                                    
This is where I am as of yesterday (Thursday)...
                                   
That's a wrap-up for October and current progress for this week. A quick one, huh?

The plan for this weekend is to move along the Boo to You quilt and clean house...WOOHOO! I know...don't be jealous LOL.

I hope your plans are more exciting than mine. I'll see you on Monday!!

Boo To You Progress, Mama's Birthday and Pumpkin Bread

Happy Monday, Friends!

We had a beautiful Saturday with plenty of sunshine and cool temperatures. We took my mama to lunch at a local restaurant that we only enjoy during special occasions. 

Then we went to get her birthday gift. She loves to sit on her back deck and enjoy the views so we got her a new rocking chair. The furniture store carries the rocker in different finishes to we had her choose her favorite.
                                            
We spent quite a bit of time with her on Saturday so I started on the Boo To You quilt a bit later than I expected.  I only got Week 1 assignmnet completed.
                                
Sunday was rainy and cold so hubby made a nice chuck roast with carrots, potatoes and onions. He requested pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting for dessert.  So I obliged.
                                            
My recipe is for two loaves of bread. We froze one and I frosted the other.  It was delicious!
                                          
Halloween was quiet here on the ridge. We never get trick or treaters up here. Our Main Street was closed so the merhants could hand out candy. We didn't go but I would love to one day. I imagine the kids are adorable.

I hope you have a great week ahead and I'll see you soon!

Happy Halloween -- A Look Back at Witching Hour

Happy Halloween, Friends!

Wishing you lots of treats and no silly tricks 👻

Witching Hour by Keslyn's
Stitch-Along I hosted with the GaRon Zoom Group
Stitched on 36 count linen, Bewitched from Fabrics by Stephanie

Enjoy your weekend!

Floss Friday -- A Good Report and Some Cross Stitch Progress

Happy Floss Friday, Friends!

Hubby and I took a quick road trip to Florida for his six month dermatologist appointment. Since his last melanoma diagnosis, he has to see the doctor more frequently. I'm happy to report that everything looks great and we won't have to go back until next April!

I was stitching when I wasn't driving and made a good amount of progress on Pinkie Santa designed by Stitching with the Housewives.
                                            
Here is where I was when I last shared the project...
                                
Here is where I left off yesterday. This photo shows the actual color of the fabric.
                                    

Monday evening before we left, I worked on Merry Bouquet designed by Shakespeare's Peddler.

Here is where I was before...
                                            
Here is this week's progress. I added one more flower and little more border.
                                    
I must get this one finished because my stitch-along partner has already finished hers. She made quite a few changes so I'll ask her for a photo to share once I finish mine.

My mom turned 83 last Monday. Hubby made her favorite dish for dinner...meatloaf LOL. Now that we are home we will be taking her to lunch at a nice restaurant and shopping for her gift. We know what we are giving her but we want her to make the final selection. This will take up most of Saturday.

Afterwards, I'll start sewing the Boo To You quilt together. I'll share progress on Monday.

In the meantime, I have to catch up on reading my favorite blogs. I hope you have a great weekend and I'll see you soon.

A Hike, Crochet, Knitting and Cutting, OH MY!

Happy Monday, Friends!

Our weekend weather was spectacular. Hubby and I went for a long hike at the Biltmore estate on Saturday, then enjoyed lunch at one of the restaurants there.

The sunflowers were still showing off.

It was a great day to spend outside.

Sunday was equally as nice weatherwise but I needed to finish a couple of things and never went outside.

The first finish was a knit hat for my husband. I started this for our Hooks and Books book club a couple of weeks ago.

The pattern is Elphaba Hat by Kristel Nieves for Malabrigo. I used Rasta Super Bulky yarn in the color Laguna Negra.

The next finish is something I started a while ago to use up leftover yarns from other projects. I shared my progress a while ago. I finished weaving in the threads Sunday afternoon.

One big granny square...

It will be used in the living room during the cooler months.

The last thing I did on Sunday was cut out the Boo To You quilt. It was a four week quilt-along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop. I do not think I ever shared the kit with you. The QAL was to begin in August. I was too busy with travel and getting ready for a retreat that I never started it.
                                        

Photo from Fat Quarter Shop Website

I cut out the pieces per the pattern's weekly releases. Excuse my messy sticky notes...I wanted to get this part of the process done!
                                                  
Fat Quarter Shop is so generous with their quilt kits; always a lot of leftover fabrics.
                                                
I'm planning to start the quilt on Halloween. Too late for this year but I am determined to sew up the kits I have and not let them linger.

My week will involve a good amount of time in the car and I will be stitching when I'm not driving. I hope to see you Friday with a floss update. In the meantime, have a great week!

See you soon,

Apple Festival and Retreat

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!