Shhh...I have a thing for Santa

Who knew?!?

I love Snowman…I really do. But looking around the house, I realized that I also have a super big crush on Santa.

This guy doesn't go anywhere without his reindeer!

I decided to frame the "Winter" stitchery instead of making a small quilt.  I change my mind all the time, do you?  The small ceramic gift box was a gift from my son when he was in elementary school.

He is too adorable with his glasses.

These guys hold stockings...that is another post.

Namaste...my ornament for this year.  He is hanging on by a gold paper clip until I can get proper string.

Merry Christmas!

Slow Sunday Stitching

Is anyone else still suffering from a tryptophan hangover or food coma?  I’m telling you, I have been sluggish the past couple of days. 

In spite of that, we did manage to decorate the inside of the house for Christmas and also the tree.  We made two shopping trips for the tree because “it” had not been unveiled on our first stop.  We settled for one slightly shorter than what we wanted but it really looks nice adorned with white lights and our favorite family ornaments.  I’m going to do a little more decorating then share a few photos with you.  I’ll also have a confession to make!

Today was Slow Sunday Stitching over at Kathy’sQuilts.  Before I share today’s project, I need to show the Manatee Row from this post.

As a reminder, my friend and I collected many kits from Florida’s 2015 Row by Row Experience.  Click here to learn about the Row by Row Experience.

  

This row is from Boutique for Quilters in Melbourne, FL.

Cute little schools of "fish buttons"

And I also completed the “Peace on the Treasure Coast” row from Laura’s Sewing in Port Saint Lucie, FL.

You can’t see them but I promise the bird has legs. 

And today, I finished stitching Primitive Stitches “Winter Sampler.” 

I first learned about these designs from Karen at My Yellow Farmhouse a few years ago.  She once had a quilt shop that sold kits. 

I have all four seasons and will make a small quilt with each.

I am still working on secret projects for Santa but he said I can tell you about them after Christmas.

Have a good week, y’all.  Put your ear plugs in because the screen door is surely about to be slammin’ J

Linking up to Kathy's Quilts, Slow Sunday Stitching

and Sew Many Ways, Sew Darn Crafty

Sam I Am

My friend purchased two aprons for her grandson Samuel. She asked if I would machine embroider his name on them and when I saw the the aprons…well, I had to do it.

I only embroidered his name on these but aren’t they cute?  She is very happy with them. Santa will be delivering these to Samuel on Christmas morning.

To all of my U.S. friends, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Sunday Before Thanksgiving

Can you believe Thanksgiving is this Thursday?  And…it is also my birthday.  They sure seem to come faster these days.

Life has been so busy lately and while I have been doing some sewing, I can’t share yet as the projects are gifts.

I wanted to show you my finished Buttermilk Basin October Banner.  This was a fun and fast little project.

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A dear friend retired last month and she is going to spend more time gardening.  I remembered I have Anita Goodesigns Prayer Garden embroidery and made her this little quilt.  I put a pocket on the back so she can display it on her table top quilt stand.

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Below is a photo of my very first sewing machine.

My daughter bought a new backpack for school and the strap broke.  Of course the period for returns had passed and the store did not have another one like it for an exchange.  Neither my Brother nor the little Pfaff wanted anything to do with the repair so I took out Old Faithful.

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It is an overcast drizzly day in south Florida so we are just relaxing and watching football.  I’ll start the embroidery machine soon to stitch out some samples for a friend who wants to put her grandson’s name on an apron she bought for him.  They own a restaurant and she wants to give him his own apron for Christmas.  Cute idea.

I hope you have a great week ahead. Also hoping to check in with you before Thursday.

It's Fall Y'all

This is how we know it is fall here in SoFlo

I break out the fall projects

I will be hand stitching these creepy creatures during football games today.  It is a Buttermilk Basin design, Basin Banners thru the Year – October.

I first saw these designs at Karen's, Log Cabin Quilter. She has made several of these.  Her applique’ is perfect!

My next project will be to stitch the faces on these sweet manatees.  This is a from Boutique 4 Quilters, a great shop in West Melbourne, FL.  It is their row for the 2015 Florida Row by Row Experience.

Visit Kathy’s Quilts to see what everyone else is doing for Slow Sunday Stitching.

Enjoy your Sunday.

My New Old Cedar Closet and Slow Sunday Stitching

This old cedar closet was in my grandparents house long before I came along.  

My Mom had it in her house until yesterday.

She asked me if I wanted it.  

Of course!  Perfect for storing quilts. I need to research (Pinterest) some cute hangers.

How do you store quilts?

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This is my collection of yarn bowls.  

All made by local artists.  One person made three of them.  I love her work.

This will be my choice today while I take advantage of Slow Sunday Stitching.  Working on another helmet liner for Operation: Warm & Fuzzy and watching football, of course.

Check out Kathy’s place to see what everyone else is doing for SSS.

What are you doing today?

Game Day Bags

Our daughter was home from college this weekend…I was one happy Mama.  What made me even happier was that she requested a cross-body bag to use on game day.  She wanted something she could just drape over her shoulder that would hold her essentials while cheering on her college football team, University of Central Florida Knights.  

Pickle Pie Designs has a few bags that you make almost entirely using the embroidery machine.  Honestly, it takes longer to make the straps than to make the bag.

The bag my daughter wanted was a horizontal design, not vertical like most cross-body bags.  

To meet this request, I combined the bag of one design with the straps of another.

School colors are black and gold.  I wasn't a chevron fan until I found this fabric.

This design included a pocket along the back of the bag as well. Perfect!

Since UCF parent weekend is coming up, I decided I needed a game day bag, too.  I prefer the vertical design.

There are many reasons why I love Pickle Pie...

The design puts the zipper in first, allowing for perfect placement of dimensional  fabric, if you are crazy enough to use it.

Optional ribbon if you want to add a little something to the bag and quilts the fabric and batting perfectly

Cute fonts

The bags are completely lined

NO raw edges inside the bag at all

My game day bag.  Go Knights!! Charge On!!

My favorite supplies for these projects:

• -        Floriani Tear-away stabilizer
• -        Camelot Fabrics - Nightfall (would have been too cute if they named it KNIGHTfall)
• -        Floriani thread - the BEST machine embroidery thread EVER...super strong
• -        Scrap pieces of batting
• -        Organ Needles, size 75/11 (titanium, claims they won’t break but we know better, right? If you don’t remember, click here)

We had a quick but enjoyable Labor Day weekend.  I hope you did too J