New Beginnings and Old Habits

Happy New Year everyone. Hope your holidays were as hoped for.  Here all the decorations are down and the house is looking a little empty right now, but that to will change. As will our weather the last couple days have been very cold for Texas but next week it will warm up and I will go to a quilting retreat with good friends.

My plans for this year is to empty those project boxes.  Is it just me or do you find that if you abandoned a project it is had to get back to working on it?

I started this project more years ago than I will admit at a retreat/workshop with Jo Morton.  I love it and do plan on finishing it but it has been slow going.  (Note to self - take it with you to retreat). 

This is my design wall today and there is another project on it that I cannot share at this time ☹️

 

I have started to add another round on the hexagon project.  And will take the other, which is a Frivol by Primitive Gatherings, to an upcoming retreat with me.

My last finish for 2016 was a swap that I did with some friends.  I did not want another large quilt so I  only used about half the blocks.  I have plans to use the other half in a quilt for my kitchen table.

 

I have also been doing some cross stitch while binge watching Netflix shows.

Here is the lastest that I picked up from the framer.

 

And this is in the works.

 

That about sums up what is new with me.  My goal is to plug along on those unfinished..... and try not to start too many new ones.  In two weeks I will have Rotator Cuff surgery so hopefully that will not through my goals of kilter too much and I am  thinking positively.

Till next time.

Pat

Handwork

When I am not making quilts I love to do needlework.   So today I am showing you some of my projects that I have made or finished lately.
First is a English Paper Pieced Sewing Box designed by Sue Daley.  The box was made as a gift for one of my retreat sisters.

This was also part of the gift – it was finished as a tree ornament but I forgot to take a photo after it was finished.  It had a dark green twisted cord around it with a red fabric back.  This was designed by Little House Needleworks.

I  also finished stitching this reproduction sampler.  I love the wayward “f” in the middle of the lower case alphabet.  The original is part of the Chester County Collection in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I also think that the verse is good advice that we could all follow.








Lastly are some items that I just got back from the finisher.  The Pilgrim Couple is part of a set that I will stitch in the new year. The Snowman is a Christmas Ornament and will hang on my tree this year with the other handmade ornaments that I have made over the years.

 The pilgrims are designed/handpainted by Sandy Jenkins. The Snowman is likewise designed/handpainted by Rebecca Wood.


Thanks for stopping by.
Until next time.
Pat

Something Old Something New

I will start with the Something New.  I made this little log cabin quilt for my sister.  I think it turned out real cute it is from the book "Twenty Little Log Cabins" by Gwen Marston.  If you like small quilts like I do it is a good book to have in your collection.  Amazon has copies for sale.

Since it is so beastly hot here in Texas I have spent a lot of time in the house.  I finished up one quilt top and have it ready to go to the longarm quilter.  I also made this small quilt - it is machine pieced and machine quilted.  It was fun to make.  I think it will look great this fall with a pitcher of fall leaves or flowers sitting on it.  It was designed by Jo Morton.

Now for the Something Old.  Dawn always shares her wonderful collections of old sewing items.  So today I thought I would also show you some of the things that my deal friend Janet (no blog) gave to me.

First are a couple of looms for weaving - do any of you remember have anything like this when you were small?   Perhaps you wove a blanket for your doll.

The price for the littlest loom when it was new was .50 cents. 

 

 

Here is an assortment of  items.  I am not sure how  the bone needles were used - I am thinking perhaps for weaving, maybe even darning.  Do any of you know.  Also the needles in the lower right corner look more like stakes LOL they have a flat very sharp point on them.  One has a small knob on the end and I am thinking it is a tapestry needle which have blunt ends on them.  The blue glass darning egg is one I favor.  The little shoe hook is about 2 inches long so I am thinking it might have been used for a childs shoe.

I also have this collection of mother of pearl belt buckles and buttons which I would like to display some way .  The emery stawberries are silk and well worn.  The item below the emery is a ivory book mark.  And below the bookmark is a little Brown Jug - anyone remember hearing that song? Sorry it tipped over.  In the center is a little silk purse the size of a quarter.  I have to wonder what was carried in it.  Maybe a sixpence for good luck on someone's wedding day??  The small bar of Ivory Soap at one time had a eyelet on the top and was used as a shoe fob.  It was a giveaway from Proctor and Gamble with so many Ivory Soap Wrappers sometime in the late 1800's.

I hope you have enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.  Thanks for stopping buy.

Until next time.

Pat

Just 15 Minutes a Day

A very nice lady, on one of the yahoo groups that I subscribe too, challenged us to sew 15 minutes a day.  For me this was a no brainer since I sew every day with a rare exception.  So I decided that I would do a 15 minute a day project.  I have this quilt that I wanted to hand quilt so I thought what a great opportunity.

 I had already started, but it was put aside for another project.  So this way I will have it done in time for fall decorating.  Why don’t you challenge yourself to 15 minutes a day on a project.  And be sure that you let me know of your progress.

As you know from my last post I also enjoy stitchery so I wanted to show you a new project that I received in the mail a few days ago.

This is a Shepherds Bush Design and I ordered it directly from them.  The box is sold separately.   The box is hinged and lined.  I thought it would make a great gift  - maybe for some lucky Mother on her special day, or to keep for yourself.

Mr. Quilts just stuck his head in the door and said “mail’s here – nothing much except a Primitive magazine” little does he know I have been watching the mail every day for this.  LOL

I don’t know about you but I am so bored with the quilting magazines on the newsstands today.  With the exception of Quiltmania.  But I think I am going to really enjoy this one.  There is very little advertising and the projects look to be very nice.  So if you like the looks of primitive quilts and darker fabrics you might want to check it out.  I subscribed here.

I almost forgot to show you my newest finish.  It is called Baby Rose and was a project from Jo Morton’s Little Women Club.  I am pleased with the way it turned out and am anxious to display it.

Don’t forget about your 15 minutes a day!

Until next time….

Pat

Making Headway

A couple days ago I decided that it was time I took the bull by the horns and organize my sewing room closet. At least I got the floor cleared. That stack of blue bags contain kits, 2 to 3 in each bag. I went through and pulled out 3 bags of fabric that I will donate to Project Linus.


Then I got busy and worked on my quilt. I now have the center and inner border sewn together. Now I have to concentrate on the outer borders.























I have also been working on my applique project and the needlework projects that I have in progress.






I really need to get some of these things completed. Do you ever feel that you are overwhelmed with works in progress?






More later!