Saturday, August 29, 2015

Friday Quilting

I'm so excited to finish this quilt.  After hemming and hawing for days I finally just bit the bullet and starting quilting.  It isn't perfect, but it is so much more than I expected I could actually do on my sewing machine!


I have a few grids to complete, and I need to figure out what I am doing in the borders.  I honestly believe that just doing is the best way to learn.


Is there anything more fun that learning something new?  No matter how old I get I am always learning, and doesn't that make life fun?!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Vacation and More Finishing

I missed a few Fridays, mostly because they were spent doing prep work.  I've learned that doing prep work, while being mostly mundane and boring, if done correctly can make a job easier and look better when it is completed.  However, that does not mean I always enjoy it!


This weekend I spent many hours basting these quilts (and a few more) so that I can start quilting them.  I have spent months researching machine quilting watching videos, taking online classes, and reading books by different authors on their way of machine quilting with a domestic machine. Although I've quilted many, I'm ready to start trying new designs (i.e., lose the stipple).  My biggest fear has always been what if I mess it up, or what if it isn't all I want it to be when I'm finished.  Well, all of these quilts have sat for a long time waiting to be finished, and none of them are going to be entered in a quilt show, so I'm ready to start trying new techniques.  They are all ready to go, now I just need to start.  I'm hoping I will have something exciting to share soon...and I will share even if it isn't exciting.  ;)


One week of my vacation was spent working on this ornament.  I had gone to a needlework shop a while ago and had all kinds of neat stitches drawn out for me to use on this, and for some reason they were not in my "to go" bag.  So, when away from home with limited to no options for purchasing supplies or finding help, I did what anyone else in that situation would do, I bought a downloadable stitch book from Amazon and did my own thing.  He is tiny, and it really actually took me most of the week to finish him, but he will have a special spot on my Christmas tree this year.  I will always remember my week sitting in perfect weather outdoors stitching away the days. 



 I also finished this embroidery and made it into a pillow.  The pattern is from Nydiakehnle.com and it was a dream to work on.  The pattern is printed on the material, you just choose your threads and stitch away.  It was such a fun sampler to do with many different stitches, some of which I had never done before.  The best part, it is finished!  YAY!

The summer days are quickly fading away and the cool fall air is here.  My son starts high school in a couple of weeks and is finishing driver's training.  It is such a fun time, and it makes me realize that these kids grow up quickly, like a flash, and all a once they are the young adults we once were.  Happy Stitching!! --Kristen

Monday, August 3, 2015

Some English Paper Piecing

Good Morning!!!  It always amazes me how a long weekend away can invigorate and inspire a person.  Now believe me, this was no amazing trip somewhere fantastic, and as a matter of fact we spent most of it in a gym watching my son play basketball, but we needed it.  Sometimes I forget that while I work from home, and I love my home, I need to leave it and get away.  Not only for new scenery, but just to realize there are lots of fun things to do and see.  It was my son's 15th birthday this weekend, and we spent it doing things he loves to do.  It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time passes, and the memories are precious.


I brought along my Floating Colours pieces...this looked like a huge number of pieces that were going to make a lot of blocks when I left with my bag of basted X's.  It doesn't look like so many now.  :)  It is a good start, but I have a ways to go needing another 92.  It was mindless stitching that I could do while still watching my son and talking to my husband.  So not only did I not miss out on anything, I have some blocks done to remember my weekend by.  I can't wait to get started on the second blocks, but I have a LOT of basting to do before then, and other projects to work on too.  I'm thinking this is one of those hopefully not too long term ones that never ends.  Guess I need to get my papers and glue out again and keep working!


The morning sun is beautiful and there is a cool breeze perfect for taking photos.  It is one of those August days we live for and long for all summer.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen