Weekend Fails

 

My weekend didn’t turn out quite like I expected.

 

My flying geese required some unsewing!

 

I became frustrated when I ripped into some fabric and decided to just walk away.

I expected to get back to it Saturday but my best friend came to visit.  We went to JoAnn in search of some items I needed for finishing pillows and then had a nice lunch.

 

Sunday was my last chance to do something productive and I managed to make one pillow.

Chart Name: In Full Glory

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 28 count evenweave, Pardon Me from Fortnight Fabrics

Stitch count: 65 x 81

Finished size: 4.65” x 5.8”

 

It took me all afternoon to stuff this little pillow.  I didn’t want any lumps so the process was slow going for me.

 

This was my last goal for 1^st quarter WIPS-B-GONE challenge.  I made it just under the wire!

 

As a reminder, these were my first quarter goals.

 

Finished all three 😊

These are my 2^nd quarter goals.  

Since the Plaid Farmhouse quilt is quickly becoming a UFO, don’t you think it should be #1 on the list?  I do!

 

I’m not sure when I will get to it. I’ll be driving my mom to Jacksonville, FL on Wednesday.  She has two days worth of medical appointments at the Mayo Clinic.  Then the kids will be home for the weekend to celebrate Mom’s 78^th birthday.

 

My Friday Sew-In plans were a bust…maybe next time.

 

Have a great week, my friends.

Finishing and FNSI

 

Happy Friday, Friends!

 

To start, I’ll warn you my photo quality is off.  The pictures were taken with my iPhone and look a bit grainy ☹  So, I apologize.

 

I finished stitching this…

 

In Full Glory by Blackbird Designs.  I’m hoping to finish it into a pillow soon and will share all of the details then.

 

I had finished this one a while ago…

 

Another Blackbird Design called Sweet Land of Liberty.  This design was meant to be finished round, which is why it looks like there are missing stitches at the bottom right of the house.  I want to turn this into a pillow also.  I plan to fill in the ‘missing’ stitches.

 

Both of these designs came from Blackbird’s book named Sweet Land of Liberty.

 

Another finish from a while ago is Quilting Bird by Heart in Hand.  You guess it…I want another pillow.

 

Before starting the pillow making, I am joining Wendy at Sugarlane Designs for her Friday Night Sew In.  

I’ll continue to work on my Plaid Farmhouse quilt that I started last week.

 

Please tell me what you have planned for the weekend.  Inquiring minds…an all 😊

 

Have great weekend.

Plaid Farmhouse Quilt Progress

Hello friends!  I'm here to show you the progress I made on my weekend projects.

Fortunately, the two quilt backings I needed did not require any piecing.

 

I found a very plain piece of 108” that will work for the block of the month quilt.  No picture this time but I’ll show it once it has been quilted.

 

I had two choices for the Witch’s Night Out back.

I originally purchased the orange fabric which would require piecing since it is the standard 42-44” width.  My procrastination in prepping this one paid off because Fig Tree released the black fabric in 108” which is the color I wanted for the back anyway.  Win – Win!

 

These quilts will go to the long-armer once I finish Plaid Farmhouse.

I didn’t get as far along on this one as I’d hoped.  There are 64 completed flying geese and I turned 96 half-square triangles into pinwheels and pieced those segments together.  

It was great to be at the sewing machine again.  I enjoyed every part of the process, even when the thread started shredding and I had to replace the needle and also when I needed to wind a bobbin. Who knew there would be so much pleasure in winding a bobbin?  I clearly need to sew more often 😏

 

Have you ever used a tailor’s clapper for quilting?  Fat Quarter Shop promoted it on one of their weekly videos so I thought I would give it a try.  You press your seam then immediately place the clapper over it.  Let it sit for a couple of minutes and your seam lays really flat.  It worked!  The clapper absorbs the heat and the pressure sets the seam as the fabric cools.  I used it with and without steam and the results were pretty much the same.

 

That is my update for today.  I hope you had a nice weekend.  Did you sew?

Weekend Plans and A Finish

Happy Friday Friends!

 

I’m always happy to see this day of the week.  Not that I don’t enjoy my job, I do.  I just enjoy my free time a tad bit more. 😊  Especially when it kicks off a weekend where I have nothing to do except what I WANT to do.

 

Before we get to that though, I want to share this week’s cross stitch finish.  Stitching with the Housewives has a monthly release called Calendar Crates.  It’s in Priscilla's usual chalkboard fashion, and features seasonal elements.  The patterns include both large and small charts.

 

I fully finished the release for October this week…

Black Cat Broom Company

 

This was September’s…

Pumpkin Seeds

 

And this was August’s…

Sunflower Seeds

August and September patterns were stitched on the usual 14 count Aida in Chalkboard Black by Witchelt.  For the October charts, I used 14 count Aida but in just plain black from Charles Craft.  It was a nice change, I think.

 

Now, for this weekend’s plans… you won’t believe it…

 

I’m going to SEW! Like actually use my sewing machine. 

 

I used my Accuquilt GO to cut out Plaid Farmhouse Quilt back in the summer.  This pattern is designed by Priscilla and Chelsea of Stitching with the Housewives and published by It’s Sew Emma.  (I promise I stitch and sew other designers!)

It was supposed to be a vacation project but you know how that goes.

 

I even had a nice setup ONE day.

I only got as far as paper piecing some half-square triangles.  So my goal for this weekend is to finish the quilt top and possibly piece the backing.

 

I also want to piece backings for two additional quilts.  I’ve shared these before as they’ve been around a while.

Witch’s Night Out

2019 Block of the Month with my local quilt shop

 

I’ll come back Monday and share an update on my progress…wish me luck 😊

 

So, what are your plans this weekend?  Anything you can tell? 😉

Meeting Goals

 Happy Monday Friends!

 

I’m so happy to share with you two recent cross stitch finishes.  These were on my WIPS-B-GONE challenge list I posted about last week.

 

I stitched this one last year and then put it in a drawer.  I mounted it on a pumpkin from Hobby Lobby.

 

Chart Name: Trick or Treat

Designer: Stitching with the Housewives

Fabric: 14 count Aida, Chalkboard Black by Witchelt

Stitch Count: 111 x 139

Finished Size: 8” x 10”

Floss: Use the called for Classic Colorworks

Start date: 9/27/20  End date: 11/1/20

Current status is FFO (fully finished object)

 

Next finish I mounted on a board that came in a kit from Lela Mae Designs.  They are no longer in business.

 

Chart Name: This Is Halloween (Part of the Back Up The Truck Series)

Designer: Stitching with the Housewives

Fabric: 14 count Aida, Chalkboard Black by Witchelt

Stitch Count: 98 x 109

Finished Size: 7” x 8”

Floss: Use the called for Classic Colorworks

Start date: 9/2/21  End date: 9/27/21

Current status is FFO (fully finished object)

 

I have one more goal for WIPS-B-GONE Challenge Quarter 1.  With two weeks left, I feel fairly confident that I will meet that one as well.

 

Are you working on old WIPS or starting new projects?  I’d love to know.

 

WIPS-B-GONE 2021 Starts Today

 

Happy Fall Friends!

 

It’s been a while since I’ve dusted off the blog but it hasn’t been a while since I’ve created a ton of WIPs (works in progress).  That is why I’ve decided to take part in Devoted Quilter’s WIPS-B-GONE 2021 challenge.

Visit Leanne’s blog here to learn more about the challenge but all the action happens on Instagram.  You can follow Leanne on IG @devotedquilter.  If you have any WIPS (I can’t be the only one), consider joining us.  There are some A list sponsors offering nice prizes.  And I should mention... it starts today!

 

Basically, the last 100 days of the year is focused on finishing projects.  You set your own goals and update your progress.

 

My goals for the first 25 days are cross stitch projects…

  

First is Trick or Treat designed by Stitching with the Housewives.  I stitched this last year so the plan is to fully finish it now.  All of the supplies are here so it should be checked off the list fairly quickly.

Next is another Housewives design called This Is Halloween.  It is the second design in their Back Up The Truck series.  I started this a couple of weeks ago and then just stalled.  I'm afraid if I do not put this on the list then it may quickly become a UFO.

Lastly, I want to complete stitching and fully finish this beauty from Blackbird Designs.  The chart is In Full Glory from their book Sweet Land of Liberty.  I've stitched one other project from the book so maybe the fully finishing task will be on next quarter's WIPS-B-GONE 2021 list. 

 

I look foward to finishing a few projects during this challenge.  Please let me know if you decide to participate.  I'd love to cheer you on!

Stay well...

 

 

Floss Update: Popping in with an FO

This is the small cross stitch project I stitched along with Sam at Self-SufficientSam.  (formerly Farm Girl Sam)

Liberty (the small)

Pattern Name: Liberty

Designer: A collaboration with Priscilla Blain and Hands on Design

Fabric: 14 count Aida, Wichelt chalkboard black

Stitch Count: 65w x 45h

Finished Size: 4.6” x 3.2”

Floss: 2 strands of the called for Classic Colorworks floss over one

Start date: 7/20/20 End date: 7/26/20

Current status is “FO” (Finished Object)

I know that I want to make this into a pillow but I haven’t been in the ‘sewing’ mood lately.  We have been super busy with projects around the house and I just haven’t had much time for cross stitch, sewing nor reading.

We are quickly heading into fall so I hope to start a few pumpkin related projects soon.  I have a cute pattern that I want to stitch with Vicki of Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting.  I wasn’t able to start when she did so – fingers crossed – that I’m not too far behind.

I’m sure this only applies to me, right?

Have a happy Wednesday, y’all.