Productive Day

Today started out to be a gloomy one and we got some much needed rain. And, the temporary cool spell was very welcomed. So I decided it was a good day to stay home and do some laundry. I also organized my digital scrapbooking file on the computer. Do your files ever get really messy and out of order? I also straightened my sewing room. So with that all done I feel free to do some things that I love - “Quilting”

I have become a stamping fool! What is a stamping fool you ask? I ordered these neat rubber stamps from Cindy Blackberg in Tennessee. So I have been hand piecing a wonderful table topper that she designed for American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. Each of these little stars measure 3-1/2 inches across

As you can see from this back view the lines are easy to read, much quicker than pencils and templates, and you do not stretch your fabric like you can do using templates. Being they are hand pieced you can manipulate the seams like you want to for easier pressing. Needless to say, I am really sold on these stamps and plan to buy some more.

I find the hand piecing very relaxing to do and I can complete the little stars very quickly while watching the news.

I couldn’t wait to see how they were all going to look when they were put together. So here is a sample

By the looks of some of these pictures I better practice my photo editing skills. But I think you can get the picture. This makes a good take-a-long project for when I am waiting for appointments or for get togethers with my sewing group.

Until next time.

Pat

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