Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Facebook

One of the things that has had me distracted lately is Facebook. I've been chatting with a lot of friends from elementary school, high school and college that I haven't heard from in years, and I also have found my host families from when I was an exchange student back in high school. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

I've been wondering if any of my fellow quilting bloggers are on Facebook? If you are, I'd love to add you to my friends list. Come check me out on my facebook page if you are there!

Monday, December 08, 2008

Merry Christmas Project from Gail


Last week, Gail Pan posted an adorable Christmas Stitchery pattern on her blog. I decided to immediately set my other projects aside and start working on her little project. It stitched up very quickly over the weekend while I sat watching Christmas movies with the kids. I didn't notice until I was binding it today that I forgot the little running stitches around the edge. Oh well. Maybe I'll make another one and do the running stitches. Even if you aren't big into stitchery, you should definitely check out this pattern...it is quick and easy and would be a good project to try a new technique.

This little quilt will go to my Mom. Yesterday was her birthday and I didn't finish the project I've been working on for her (probably because I keep getting sidetracked by other things, like this!)

Thursday, December 04, 2008

More WIP

Today I got some fun mail...the newest issue of Australian Homespun Magazine. Hmm... notice that this is "The Stash-busting Issue". Are they trying to tell me something? I can't wait to finish all my errands and chores for today so I can sit down with a cup of coffee and read this new magazine.


One of the projects that I have been working on recently is some embroidered Christmas Ornaments. Years ago I got a cute redwork kitty ornament in a swap and I've wanted to make some similar ones ever since. Last year when I was in Minnesota I found a cute embroidered ornament pattern and bought it with those kitty ornaments in mind. This pattern had the embroideries in a square with log cabin-ish borders on them and I wasn't thrilled with them, but I decided to just cut out around the ornament shape and sew the backing on and stuff like my kitty ornament was made. So far I have three completed ornaments, and I've embroidered 9 more already. I've still go about 5 more traced and waiting to be stitched. I wonder how many I'll actually finish before Christmas??? LOL. My goal is 18, but we'll see. I need to pop a few in the mail in the next few days, so I better get to work!


At least all my Christmas shopping is done (except for the stockign stuffers) and it is all wrapped. The Christmas tree is up and we have simplified our holiday schedules as much as possible so that I won't get stressed too much in the next few weeks. Hopefully I'll have more time to post and SEW.

More stuff

I have been doing some stitching and sewing lately. I mailed my SCSS gift last week, but I can't post that yet (but I really want to share!). I made an armchair pincushion caddy for my aunt Mia for her birthday (I will try to get a picture of that when I see her, I forgot to take one before I wrapped it). I'm working on a tote bag for my Mom's birthday (next week, I better hurry up).

Thing One and I have been working on challenge quilts for one of the quilting groups. Mom is also working on it. None of us have finised, but we made progress. This is the Quilters Cruise Challenge that came from Fons & Porter magazine a while back. We were to buy 5 half yards of fabric. Cut each into 4 4 1/2" stirps. Put one strip of each fabrc aside for later. Cut one strip of each fabric into 4 1/2" squares, one strip of each into Easy Angle Tringles, One strip of each into Companion angle triangles, then design your own quilt with those pieces. Use the extra strips as you wish/need to.

Here is how far we've gotten as of now. This one is Thing Ones project:



And this one is mine:


Mom didn't get very far with hers because the night we were working on them, she had a little bit too much help from my 5 year old, my 6 year old neice and my three cats.


I've also been working on my quilt for Tanya's Home, House and Pantry Quilt along. This is wonky and design as you go. So far I'm very pleased with it, but I need to add a little more somethign to it because it is too square right now. Of course if I PLANNED it to be square that would never happen. LOL.


Updates

Why aren't there more hours in the day? I really need about 3 or 4 more hours each day to get stuff done.

Does anyone else use Google Chrome as browser now? I switched a little while ago and it is pretty good (less crashes than IE!) but it just doesn't seem to play nicely with Blogger. I'm fine until I try to upload pictures to Blogger, then I have all kinds of problems. Is it just me?

Okay, so I sent my Stitchers Angels goodies to Sabine. She emailed me and told me that she started a blog called Stitching Sewing and More. Click on over there to see what she is doing. You can also see the picture of the goodies I sent to her by looking at this post on her blog. Somehow, I never took a picture of the things in her package.

The Stitchers Angel package that I received came from Susana in Spain. You can visit
her here to see what is going on in Spain.

All my goodies (great colors of ric rac!) They are all wonderful!


The Little Blue Wren bag from Natalie at Cinderberry Stitches:


Helen's Armchair Caddy:

Leanne's Scissors case:

MayBritt's Bag:

A carrycase for a small notebook and pen (so handy, and it has an adorable bead on the end!)

A Thimbleholder that you squeeze to open, and there is a thimble inside:

Thank you so much, Susan!