A Finish and Some Frogging

Hello, Friends.

I’m excited to tell you that I kept up with the stitch-along for “A Patriotic Christmas Eve” by Twin Peak Primitives. My friend and I started on the same day last January and we finished on the same day this month.

I stitched mine on 25 count evenweave, Prim by Lori Holt. It measures approximately 16.64” x 10.88” which is HUGE! I have an idea of how I want to fully finish it but need to do some calculating, or as my Papa used to say, some cipherin' 😊

 

I used a mix of floss brands and colors, sort of just picked what I wanted and went with it. 

I also added beads for the Christmas tree ornaments.

I added French knots to Santa’s beard.

I tried adding French knots to Mrs. Claus’s hair, but they do not show very well.

 

I was so happy to have a big finish that I decided to pick up my next big project.  Red Bird Sampler by With Thy Needle and Thread.

I finished the whole right side and started on the grass, only to realize…

I am one row off, but where? I searched and found this…

Everything in this circle is one row too high. (I thought some pretty bad words!)

 

So now I’m frogging (rip it, rip it)!

 

This one is close to being finished, so I will work it in somehow.

Check back tomorrow if you are interested in seeing a little fall decorating. (and I mean a very little amount)

 

Otherwise, I hope you have a great weekend!

A Trip to the Apple Orchard

Happy Hump Day, Friends!

We just returned from Florida where my husband had his pre-op appointments. We are still waiting for the final “OK” before heading back down this weekend. If all goes well, he’ll have his total knee replacement on Monday, October 2^nd.

 

We brought my Mom back to North Carolina to spend the week with us and enjoy some much cooler temps. We attended a craft show and visited the local apple orchard.

 

I hope you enjoy a few photos from the Orchard…

Barber's has been in operation for a long time

The trees were still full of apples

Silly me didn't get photos of the produce side which was full of vegetables, as well as apples.

Attached to the produce stand is a bakery. Everything there is baked in a huge kitchen on the premises.

There was a long line of patrons patiently waiting

In addition to pies, doughnuts, muffins, etc., they offer apple butter

Sauces, dressings, canned vegetables

Of course there is apple cider

And even coffee

So, what did I get?

Honeycrisp Apples

What did I do with them?

Apple Galette

This apple galette is delish. You can find the recipe on Carole's blog which is My Carolina Home. I skip the allspice and it still tastes great and it is so easy to make.

Some people in the house enjoyed theirs with a little ice cream

I hope you visit my blog this Friday as I have a big finish to share.

In the meantime, enjoy your week and maybe an apple or two.

A Finish… or Not

Happy Friday, Friends!

Last month I finished stitching this little piece

The Stitching Bee by Little House Needleworks

 

Then I found a box at the dollar store that reminded me of a honeycomb. And ‘thought’ it would be perfect to use for fully finishing the bee stitch.

As it turns out, the cross stitch is too small for box.

It needs something but I don’t know what.

 

Should I paint the box? I thought leaving it natural sort of worked with the cross stitch fabric?

Add more things around the stitching? Buttons? Pins?

For now, it is going to be parked on a shelf.

Since my last post I finished the secret sewing project (can’t wait to tell you about it…next month) and I finished the August ‘assignment’ on A Patriotic Christmas Eve.

As a reminder, this is a stitch-along with a friend. We divided the chart into sections and stitch one section per month. We should finish this during September.

 

My husband is going to have full knee replacement surgery in early October. We were in Florida last week for the diagnosis. Our preferred surgeon is in Coral Springs. There will be a lot of back and forth between North Carolina and Florida over the next couple of months. I think there will be more cross stitching than sewing happening then.

 

Here are a few charts I have in mind to work on.

Nice to have options, huh?

 

I’m kicking off this Labor Day weekend by virtually sewing with friends tonight. 

I’m joining Cheryll and the gang for Friday Night with Friends.

 

I hope you have a most enjoyable weekend and get into something creative and fun!

A Quick Update

Hello, dear friends. I want to give you a quick recap of this past week.

I’m happy to report that I finished all my chores last weekend and was able to stitch with friends Sunday afternoon.

 

It has been a while since I shared my progress on A Patriotic Christmas Eve designed by Twin Peak Primitives.

 

This is where I was when I last showed it to you.

This is where I stopped last Sunday.

 

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I also made a chocolate pie for dessert.

Not the best photo. As you can see, we got into it before I remembered to take the picture.

 

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There is a small area of our town called Frog Level. I couldn’t resist getting this photo since I seem to do a good bit of ‘frogging’ whether I’m cross stitching or sewing.

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I participated in our local library’s adult reading challenge this summer. We were given a bingo card filled with various prompts like, read classic, watch a movie, read a book recommended by a friend, etc. You received one raffle ticket for every bingo on your card. I started late and was only able to get three, but it was enough to win the top prize.

Several local businesses donated items for the raffle. My basket contained a book by a North Carolina author, a bookmark, reading light, handmade pottery dish, candle, soap, and a handcrafted blueberry basil soda. There were also a few coupons from downtown stores.

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I made a quick trip to Asheville to pick up some fabrics.

I’ll be working on this secret project over the weekend. And I’ll also get back to the Christmas cross stitch Sunday afternoon.

 

Hope you have a great weekend and find some time to be creative!

 

Things are Buzzing

Hello and Happy Friday!

 

While taking inventory of quilts that need to be finished, I realized that I never shared the last of the Sewcialites 2 blocks. This quilt-along was hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop earlier this year.

 

#23 is “Changeling Star Block” designed by Andy Knowlton of A Bright Corner

Block 24 is “Engergize Block” designed by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings

The blocks are all done except for ‘finishing blocks’ that require additional yardage I do not have, and is no longer available. So…I’m thinking since I have plenty of the background fabric, I will just do sashings and cornerstones. It will still make a nice size lap quilt.  But then there is the issue of borders...ugh! Guess I need to think about this a bit more.

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I couldn’t get enough of bee stitching so I made one more…

Stitching Bee by Little House Needleworks, stitched on the same 40 count as the other small pieces I showed here.

 

I haven’t fully finished it yet because I need some trim.

 

Speaking of the other stitches, here is the Hoosier cabinet decorated for August.

I put battery operated candles in two pots.

One for the cabinet...

Another for one of the niches in the hallway.

They come on in the evening and turn off after 6 hours.

 

See the little pineapple flag? 

This was made and gifted to me by Mary at NeedledMom a few years ago.

See the little fussy cut bee? So cute.

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The hummingbirds have arrived in the mountains. I caught one at the feeder just outside of hubby's home office.  Not the best of photos but  proof they are here 😊

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This weekend’s agenda is filled with household chores so there won't be much time for sewing. We do have plans to go out to dinner with friends on Saturday night. And I hope to be caught up enough with chores to join friends for Zoom stitching on Sunday afternoon.

 

Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend? Maybe I can live vicariously through you!

 

See you soon 😊