Freshly Picked Table Runner, Upcoming Plans and A Bear

Hello, friends!

It has been just over two weeks since my last post. We returned from a fabulous time in Philadelphia and I just got busy with work and real life.  There hasn't been any cross-stitching to share and the sewing projects I have are retreat gifts. Those things have taken up much of my time. I'll share them in a future post when I recap the retreat.

Speaking of the retreat, I mentioned in a previous post that I am donating a table runner for the charity raffle.  I finished the runner last week.
                                            
Freshly Picked is a project from a Fat Quarter Shop Sew Sampler Box. I was a subscriber many years ago. Most of the Sew Sampler projects that I knew I would never make were sold on a destash FB page a long time ago. I saved a few favorites for myself and charitable donations.
                                            

                                            
The focus fabrics were from Good Life by Bonnie & Camille for Moda. I did the quilting on my embroidery machine using a design from Designs by JuJu called Vines and Flowers. The overall measurement is 19.5" x 57". All fabrics were from my stash.

I'm also donating a lap-sized quilt but do not have any good photos of it yet. I may try to get a photo with the raffle winner at the retreat.

We've been in our NC mountain home for 3 years and 4 months. We frequently have deer and turkeys on the property. Last week we had our first bear visit.  We've had them on the road but never in our yard...much less our garage. Hubby was cleaning the upper patio deck furniture. He left the back garage door open as he went in and out. A bear came from somewhere, entered the garage, drug out a bag of birdseed, made a mess and then left. It was so cute how he walked down the paver steps to our lower lawn.  I'll try to attach a video at the end of this post but if it doesn't work, you can find it on my Instagram.

My goal for this week is to finish all of the things I have to do for the retreat which begins on September 10th. I'll be driving to Montgomery, AL on the 9th. Also, my Mom bought a condo so we will be helping her pack and prepare to move. The timing on that is dependent on when the flooring people finish. She's had a lot of renovation going on since she purchased the property. While I am thrilled for her, the timing is awful. I'm committed to the retreat but also want to be here for her.

During my two week break, I've missed visiting my favorite blogs. Hoping to do some catch up reading over the next few days.

Enjoy your week ahead and I'll see you soon.

Floss Friday - Cross Stitch Update, Turkeys, Basil, Peaches and A Fail

Hello, dear friends!

Here we are at the end of another week. This one was quick. I didn't cross stitch at all this week...which is unusual. The little bit of stitching I have to share is from last Thursday.  After we arrived in Ft. Walton Beach for my aunt's funeral, I needed to relax. I put 130 stitches in Wilding Hill Manor after checking in the hotel.

I finished one of the trees and started on the cat's tail.
                                            
We've had visitors almost every day.
                                              
The turkeys enjoy eating underneath the bird feeders.
                                                

                                                
I've encountered the swans a few times while on my walk around the lake as well. It is rare for me to see them out of the water. They stay to themselves.
                                                
I also had to harvest the basil as it was getting so big, even though we've been using it a few times a week.  I froze two ice trays worth.
                                              

                                              

                                                        
And still have this much left. There is already new growth forming.
                                                        
We are still able to get fresh South Carolina peaches so hubby made ice cream. I need to get a photo. And there is still enough for me to make a cobbler. 

We will be away again this weekend so I hope to get more peaches next week to freeze.

Some of you may remember Miss Lou's Pound Cake. Well, I attempted one this week and was shocked when it failed.
                                            
I've made this cake many times and this was the first time it came out like this. I know it was level in the oven. Hubby is going to check the calibration of the oven to see if the temperature is off. The only other thing I did different was I used a different brand flour. By the way, it still tastes delicious.

That has been my week. We are off to Philadelphia for a few days. It's been a few years since we've been and I want to see all those special places like Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, etc. during our country's 250th birthday. And since it's baseball season, we can't go to Philly without attending at least one game.

Before that though, I will be sewing the last block of the Sewcialites 3 quilt-along. From what I can tell, it is going to be another time consuming one.

Not sure when my next quilty update will post. It could be Saturday or next Wednesday. Either way, I hope to see you then.

Playing Catch Up

Hello, dear friends!

Since returning from Ft. Walton Beach, I've been playing catch up on housework and sewing.  The housework part is boring so we'll skip right to the very little bit of sewing I've done.

Sewcialites 3, block 24 was released last Friday. Star Light Block by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings.
                                
This was not an enjoyable block to piece and it took me for - ever!

The last block will be released this Friday and then the finishing instructions next week. I'm looking forward to bringing this QAL to an end.
                                        
I still need to find two border fabrics for Fat Quarters by the Dozen. Then both 2026 QALs will be finished.

Sewing plans for the remainder of the week are to work on gifts for an upcoming cross-stitch retreat. I'll have a cross-stitch update on Friday.

I hope your week is off to a great start. I'll see you soon.

Sewcialites 3, Block 23 and Table Runner for Charity

Hello, dear friends. I hope you had a nice weekend. It was rainy on and off here but we still made it out to get fresh veges from a local farm stand.

The Ten Acre Garden is a family owned and operated flower and vegetable garden. It is a U-Pick business but they also have packaged products available so you don't have to go into the gardens yourself.

They have a sunflower maze you can walk through.  They will have a corn maze in the fall. It is a great place for family's to visit.

The dahlias were stunning.

A couple of stations for doing different crafts

A tic-tac-toe board played with painted rocks

In the sewing room I finished Sewcialites 3, block 23.
                                          
With Love Block was designed by Jackie MacDonald of Sweetfire Road.
                                            
I also assembled the first table runner for the charity raffle I told you about in a previous post.
                                                    
Freshy Picked is a flimsy. I'll share more details once it is quilted and bound.

That will not happen until possibly next weekend. As I mentioned in Friday's post, we were expecting to make a trip to Ft. Walton Beach for a funeral. My aunt passed away Sunday morning and we are waiting to hear about the arrangements. My mom is doing very well...considering.

I want to thank all of you who sent well wishes.

I will try to post a cross-stitch update on Friday. It will depend on whether we are home or not.

Enjoy the week ahead and I'll see you soon.

Floss Friday - Cross Stitch Progress and July Stats

Happy Floss Friday, Friends!

Here we are at the end of July. I'm typing this on Thursday evening, July 30th. I'm quite certain I will not be cross stitching on Friday so I am sharing my cross stitch stats for the month now.

I completed 4,783 stitches on four projects.

American Sampler by Crocette a Gogo', a WIP. Nothing new here this week.
                               
Peace on Earth by Shepherd's Bush, a new start. I finished the flowers in the top left corner this week.
                                
Meek & Humble by Teresa Kogut, a start and finish. This is one at the framers.
                                
Wilding Hill Manor by Little Robin Designs.
                                                

                                        
This one got the most love this week. That moon is huge, and it was making me a littly batty (sorry!).

All in all, it was a good month for cross-stitch.

Our local nursery finally got in some decent basil plants. We've been without them all summer. It's nice to have them growing just off the kitchen.
                                                
First up was hubby's homemade pasta sauce. I didn't think to take a photo.

I will need to take a little blogging break soon. My Mom's older sister has been placed in hospice care. We are anticipating a road trip to Ft. Walton Beach any day now.

Until then, I'm getting things ready to be away from home. I'm also working on the table runners I mentioned in Monday's post. If all goes well, there will be a post on Monday, August 3rd with a quilty update.

Thank you to my friends who return each time I post and leave the nicest comments. You all make my day!

Enjoy your weekend and I'll see you soon.

Quilt Progress -- Sewcialites 3, Fat Quarters by the Dozen and New Plans

Hello, dear friends.

My last post didn't show up on reading lists for a couple of days. So, if you missed last Friday's cross-stitch update, you can find it here.

The planned sewing weekend was a success. First up is Fat Quarter Shop's Sewcialites 3, block 22.
                                 
Down to Earth Block was created by Wendy Sheppard.
                                 
Next was Fat Quarters by the Dozen. This is another quilt along from the Fat Quarter Shop. I have assembled the quilt center and added the first border.            
                                  
I do not have fabrics for the two remaining borders so this one will sit for a bit. I used my Lori Holt stash for this so it shouldn't be too difficult to find fabrics that will work. All of Lori's fabric lines are similar in color and work well together.

Lastly, I volunteered to make a couple of quilted table runners for a charity raffle that will be held at a retreat I am attending in September. I decided on patterns and pulled fabrics from stash.

Freshly Picked...

                                            
Life's a Picnic...

My next post will be on Friday, July 31st with a cross stitch update.

See you soon,

Floss Friday -- Cross Stitch Finish, Progress and A Cookie Recipe

Happy Floss Friday, Friends.

Before getting to cross-stitch progress, I will link the recipe for the sour cream cookie I shared in  Monday's post. I've been making this cookie for a few years, when we lived in Florida, and now that we live in North Carolina. I will say that the difference in elevation has changed the cookie a bit. It is still delicious though.

Visit Preppy Kitchen here for the recipe.

The new start I posted last Friday is now a finish. Meek & Humble by Teresa Kogut.
                                                    

                                          

I have an appointment to take this and one other piece to the framers this afternoon. It will be a gift for someone.

After finishing Meek & Humble, I put a few more stitches in Peace on Earth.
                                               

This will certainly be a long-term project, much like American Sampler. I still haven't gotten back to that one since you saw it last.
                               
Tonight is the beginning of a sewing weekend. Sewcialites 3, block 22 and assembling the center of Fat Quarters by the Dozen is on the agenda.

What are your plans for the next few days? Whatever it is, I hope it is enjoyable.

See you soon,