Floss Friday – American Sampler Progress

Hello, Friends!

Here we are at the Friday before Thanksgiving in the United States of America. I managed to get my weekly food shopping done on Tuesday, and I got everything we need for Thanksgiving dinner except a couple of last-minute items.

My stitching time this week was dedicated to American Sampler by Crocette a gogo’.

The house is taking a lot of time, but I am enjoying the project.

Fingers crossed I can finish November’s assignment soon.

I am itching to stitch some Christmas…just need more time in the day. Our sweet friend, Melisa, at Punker N Punkin Quilting blog has created some adorable embroidered Christmas designs. I would love to make some…again, need more time in the day!

In addition to finishing November’s assignment on American Sampler, I need to complete the self-imposed assignment on another cross-stitch project. Next Friday will tell how successful (or not!) I am.

Stitching will be set aside today because I want to bind another quilt. This will be #8 of 9.  I noticed that I still need fabric for #9…ugh!

I’ve started thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2026. Again…need more time in the day!

I hope you have a great weekend. What are your plans? Anything more fun than cleaning and organizing a garage???

See you soon,

 

The Florida Trip and A Weekend at Home

Florida was our last trip for 2025. Hubby got a good report from his dermatologist, and he doesn’t have to go back until next April. I worked from my daughter’s house during the week and then my best friend joined us on the ride back to North Carolina. 

I only have a few photos because we were enjoying our time together. It was a quick trip for her; she just spent the weekend.

We did some shopping and ate at a couple of our favorite restaurants. Most of our time was spent working on Christmas projects.

My friend used the main machine to make paper pieced snowflakes for a runner.

She will finish the runner at home.

I broke out my little Pfaff to make small primitive trees using wovens.

These will go in a dough bowl, along with one more that I have yet to make.

Today is food shopping day. I hope to get everything I need for this week, as well as for Thanksgiving. This year seems to be passing so quickly. Do you feel the same?

Hope you have a great day. I’ll see you soon!

 

Floss Friday -- WIP Update and Previous Finishes

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!

In today’s Floss Friday update, I have some WIP progress and older finishes to share.

First, this is my progress on November’s assignment for American Sampler by Crocette a gogo’…

I need to finish the flags and start on that monster of a house.

I completed November’s assignment on Salute to Abigail by Blackbird Designs.  This is a quick and fun stitch. 

I mentioned in my last post that I have stitched everything from the Sweet Land of Liberty book except Salute to Abigail. That is not correct. There is one chart, Liberty Rose, that I have not and will not stitch. It is in two parts, stitched on two different fabrics which need to be sewn together.

Here are the other projects from the book that I have fully finished…

In Full Glory, finished into a pillow.

American Eagle

Sweet Land of Liberty, also finished into a pillow.

There won’t be a quilt update next week because, you won’t believe it, but we are going on another road trip tomorrow….to Florida. Hubby has a follow up with the dermatologist and we are going to spend some time with the kids.  We are bringing my best friend back to NC when we return home. She’ll spend a few days with us before flying back to Florida.
The weather calls for snow next week, so I guess it is a good time to head south for a few days.

Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you soon!

 

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,