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 😊

A Few Finishes and Lake Photos

The patriotic décor will soon come down and be replaced with sunflowers and bees.

I fully finished the three small pieces I shared in my last post here.

 

The first one is just the bee skep and a couple of bees from Pinker N’ Punkin Quilting’s Mini Bee Sampler.

 

I got a few of these small 3 x 3 picture frames from Michael’s last month and knew I wanted to stitch something tiny for the Hoosier cabinet.

The next finish is another Pinker N’ Punkin design, Mini Sunflower Sampler. I made this one into a small pillow using some Lori Holt fabric and twine.

I used a small piece of wool felt to cover the opening on the back.

Both of the PNP pieces were stitched on 40 count Mallow Raw by Zweigart. I selected floss from my stash.

 

Thank you, Melisa, for your kindness and generosity in sharing your sweet designs.

 

The last finish is Harvest, a collaboration between Hands on Design  and Priscilla Blain of Stitching withthe Housewives. The stitching is on 14 count aida in chalkboard black by Wichelt, and I used the called for floss. The fabric is a  piece of Fig Tree leftover from the Sewcialites 2 quilt along.

Covering the opening in the back is a piece of felt adorned with a small pin and Lori Holt buttons.

I still need (or rather, want) more sunflowers and bees but it is doubtful I’ll get around to stitching more.

 

A friend, you know who you are 😊, pointed out that while I shared photos of the geese last time, I never showed the lake. So, I’m including a few photos now.

There is a sidewalk around the lake and a foot bridge that crosses in the center.

There are ducks, geese and swans. I'll have to photograph the swans next time. There are also bald eagles and owls but I haven't had any luck getting their picture.

One of the neighbors of the lake has trimmed his shrubs into a dog.

Lake Junaluska is a beautiful place to walk which makes it easy to get out and do it!

I hope you all are having a lovely week!

 

 

Prepping for the Weekend

Good Day and Happy Friday!

 

Hubby and I are headed down and over to Salisbury, NC today. Our friends from Florida will be there because their daughter’s Little League All-Star softball team won State and they are playing in the regional tournament this weekend. It has been a long time since our daughter played travel ball so we are missing the clay just a wee bit.

 

I pulled a chart that I’ve had for a while and did a little outlining. I figure I can work on filling it in when our favorite player isn’t on the field or batting.

HOME is an older Stitch Quarterly club kit from the Fat Quarter Shop. Each quarter members get a pattern, fabric, floss, needle and some sort of notion in a project bag. I’m still trying to complete more sunflower and bee charts to decorate with during  August and September.

 

In that effort, I finished two sweet charts from Melisa at Pinker N’ Punkin Quilting. Clink on bold text for a link to her current blog post.

 

Melisa generously offers her charts for free. But the most enjoyable part of her blog is all that she shares about her life on a farm, her decor, quilting and recipes.

 

The stitch on the left is her Mini Sunflower Sampler, you can find the link to this free pattern here.

The stitch on the right are motifs from her Mini Bee Sampler. You can find the link to that free pattern here. I wanted something really small to fit a certain finishing piece so I only stitched the bee skep and a couple of her adorable little bees.

 

The last piece I have ready for finishing is Harvest by Stitching with the Housewives.

I’ll share additional details about each piece when I fully finish them which is on the agenda for this weekend.

 

We are only going to attend the tournament on Friday, so I’ll have all day Saturday to do some finishing and maybe some other sewing. I have a couple more quilt blocks ready to show next time as well.

 

I can’t leave without sharing a couple of photos from this week’s walk around Lake Junaluska.

These geese have it good.

 

What are your plans for the next couple of days? Sewing, stitching…do share!

 

 

 

 

Friday Finish and Hydrangeas

Happy Friday My Friends!

I was able to squeeze in one more patriotic finish before the ‘season’ ends.

This is Freedom by Cricklewood Crossing. It is part of their Hometown USA series.

I stitched it on Zweigart’s 40 count Mallow in Raw. I changed most of the DMC colors.

The stitch count is 111 x 71 and because it is full coverage, that means I made 7,881 Xs. Being on 40 count means it made a super tiny, but oh so adorable little pillow.

 

There are actually two charts in this pattern but the next will have to wait until next year. I want to move onto sunflowers and bees. I need things to fill the new Hoosier cabinet.

 

I want to show you the three baby hydrangeas in our yard. 

I couldn’t be happier with their growth. 

I need to learn how to care for them going forward so we are going to a local nursery this weekend.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

Back at the Sewing Machine and FNwF

When I realized that tonight was the first Friday evening of the month, I knew I had to join Cheryl at Gone Stitchin’ for her Friday Night with Friends event. 

Check out her linky party to see what everyone got up to tonight.

 

This party was just the inspiration I needed to set aside unpacking boxes and do some sewing. Between prepping for the move - then the move - followed by my travels, I had fallen behind on two quilt-alongs. I got out the boxes and realized I only have three more blocks to sew for the Sewcialites 2 quilt.

 

Changed the rotary blade and sewing machine needle then went to work on block #22.

 

This is Ohio Twist Block designed by Jessica Dayon.

As a reminder, I am sewing Sewcialites 2 using Fig Tree’s Cinnamon and Cream fabrics.

 

Earlier this week my sweet husband bought me a Hoosier cabinet. I’ve wanted one for quite a while.

I’m having a bit of a challenge in decorating it as all of my summer décor is ‘beachy’ or more fit for Florida. I do have some things I can use when we get closer to fall.

My best friend from Florida visited a couple of weeks ago and gifted us a little sign. My husband said that was his contribution to the new cabinet and placed it on the top shelf.

Hope everyone is off to a great weekend. I’m going to be plugging along on the last two blocks for the Sewcialites quilt.