Some Finished Items

I feel like I have been spinning my wheels for over a month. Just can’t settle down to do any one thing. Maybe it is the heat! LOL Seriously it has been blistering hot here in Texas and I think we are in for a very long HOT summer. OK I will stop complaining and show you what I have been doing.

I finished up a project that I have worked on for the past year. It is the Beatrix Potter Sampler, which is a reproduction from the Ackworth School in the United Kingdom. Being a reproduction you will see what you might believe to be errors, but it was charted from the original. You can find out more about Ackworth School Samplers at http://needleprint.blogspot.com/

This was stitched on 36 count linen over two threads with DMC floss.

I wish I knew more about the history of this particular sampler. I also have started the Mary Wigham Sampler

I have doing some needlepoint as well I have stitched this Nativity backdrop for my Granddaughter. I have all of the little people and animals to go along with this. I will get started on them as soon as I can purchase the stretcher bars. This will be finished as a free standing piece.

So I haven’t been sitting idly just flitting from one project to another. I love doing handwork when I watch television – or should I say listen to television!

Now, I think, a quilt is calling my name.

Until later….

Pat

Busy Week – Proud Nana

This has been a busy week, but oh so fun! I started the week with the usual household chores, but then Tuesday arrived.

I was invited to have tea with my 5 year old Granddaughter Gracey. The tea was to celebrate her last week home with her Mother before she started Kindergarten in the fall. As you can see she was a very busy girl getting ready.

Here she is busy making fruit kabobs. She already made the cookies. Her recipes were from her My First Cookbook by Paula Deen.

Then she had to put the sugar, her favorite, in the sugar bowl and get those napkins in the rings>

Now off to get ready before her company arrives.

Ta-Da – you know a lady must have her gloves on.

She was a very elegant hostess. After the party she had to get into some more comfortable clothes – you know how it is ladies!

She is showing off the rosebud Nana brought her.

Then on Wednesday it was Grandson John’s, age seven, to shine. It was award day at school.

John is in the second grade and the whole family is very proud of him. He was awarded with 4 reading awards (including a gold medal)(3rd year in a row), he got Outstanding PE award, he got the Citizenship award for his class (3rd year in a row), Straight A's award (3rd year in a row) and voted "Most likely to become a scientist" award (voted by his classmates)!

Here he is with his award file

Today was a little slower. I attended my Jo’s Little Women Club at the local quilt shop. Betsy author of "Gone to Texas" is the leader and does a great job. Tomorrow looks like it will slow down a little.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day. And let’s not forget the reason we are celebrating.

Until later.

Pat

Catching Up

It has been awhile since I have written anything here so I thought I should get with it.

This week I attended a retreat/workshop with Jo Morton at Our House in Milford, Texas.  This was not a project oriented retreat, but rather a study of Half Square Triangles.  Jo showed pictures of antique quilts for inspiration along with some of  her very cute small quilts, and we created our own projects.  It was very interesting to see what each lady came up with.  The projects were all very pretty.  I will show a few of the works in progress.  I did not get to take pictures of all of them and my pictures are not very good.  But I did get permission from the owners of these projects to show them.

To start this is my project.  It measures about 19 x 26 inches and I will add  a top and bottom border, when my fabric order arrives.  This quilt was inspired by the book “Piecing the Past” by Lynne Hagmeier.

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The retreat was very relaxing and a lot of  fun.  The people at Our House really go the extra mile to make you feel at home. 

In 10 days I will attend another retreat and will work on my Philadelphia Pavement quilt.  Life is good.

Until next time.

Pat

Along with Spring Comes……..

Spring has arrived along with the yucky yellow pollen and strings from the trees that has everyone complaining.  Also the damp weather makes for a visit from arthritis.   But all in all it is a beautiful time of the year.  On to more pleasant things.

Recently I have finished up a project that has been hanging around for a long time.  It is a small Courthouse Steps.  I think I will hand quilt this one.

I have also finished this quilt top.  It was done as a “Mystery Quilt” at a local quilt shop.  I have had the top done for quite awhile, but the borders created some problems for me.  But now I can check it off the “works in progress” list. Yeah!

After finishing up those two I looked in my collection of projects to be started and decided that I would start working on this Philadelphia Pavement. The original quilt was made in 1895 by a Mother for her daughter in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. When finished it will have 2401  1-1/5 inch squares.   This picture represents half of a quarter.  Assembly  is like putting a puzzle together, but it has been  fun to see it all unfold!

Mr. Quilt and I planned a get-a-way to Fayetteville, Arkansas, but the weather forecast was not promising so it has been put off until May.  I have two quilting retreats coming up, later this month and early next month, which I am looking forward to.

While working on projects I listen to audio books and right now I am listening to “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett.  It is a very good and thought provoking.   I would highly recommend it.

Guess that is about all that is new here in Texas.

Until later.

Pat