Working On Some UFO's

This morning I woke up and decided that today was going to be the day where some quilts that have been sitting for far too long were going to get pinned...and it actually happened.  I do not know exactly when they will be quilted, but at least at this point they are closer to being finished than they were yesterday.

Of course two of these quilts look to be more fall in color, but that is okay, if they are finished and ready to use this fall, that will be great.  I would love to be able to use the house quilt soon, so that may have to jump to the top of the quilting list.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

The Hexies Are All Traced

I lost count at 70 hexies that needed to be traced, but they are done and ready to be pressed, stitched, and then basted.  I am probably going to have a lot of time to sit in between basketball games this weekend and in the car, so I figured I should have this project ready to go.  I would love to be able to to put all the hexagons together soon.

Now to figure out where I put all those skeins of embroidery floss...Happy Stitching and Happy Valentine's Day!!  --Kristen

Love Is In The Air

It is almost Valentine's Day and I've had hearts on the mind for the last two weeks.  Valentine's has always been a favorite holiday of mine and to be able to participate in the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop...well, there was just no question about whether or not to join, it was more of what don't I make.

I started with this 14-inch pillow.  I had seen this tutorial, but I decided to use 1-1/2" strips and graph paper to design mine.  I have always wanted to make a pink and yellow quilt and was also able to use some ric rack I had on hand.  I did quilt the squares in the ditch so the top has a little poof to it, and I was really pleased with the way it turned out.

I also stitched this Lizzie Kate "Love Crazy" cross stitch and made it into a pillow.  I added a button to the middle to add a little sparkle.

Now that my holiday cushions are finished I should probably get to work on sending Valentines.  Thank you to Madame Samm and Jane our cheerleader for this blog hop.  You can follow these links to see what everyone else has to share...

Monday February 11th Jane's Fabrics and Quilts Sowing Stitches The Fuzzy Hat Quilter Quilts and Dogs Ninis Patchwork Mrs. Pickles Garden Patchouli Moon Studio Life in the Scrapatch Meadowbrook

The Forty Stars Are Finished

It took me 23 days to make 40 star blocks, my goal was one a day, which means I am 17 days ahead on the Stars and Sprigs project.  I think that is a very good thing because everything left is applique and a lot of applique there is to do.

All of the stars were fun to make, but I am ready to start the applique.  I have a pretty full day ahead of me tomorrow and I am hoping to at least be able to get some of the pieces cut out.  It is looking like it is going to be machine applique which will be a good way for me to practice my skills.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

A Friend Is Home

My sewing machine is home and did I celebrate.  It is all clean and running perfectly which makes sewing all the more fun.  It even has a new needle threader, which I don't think I have ever used but somehow was broken.  To celebrate I pieced some of the many stars I cut out this week.

This last block was the one with the middle fabric I cut in half and was not supposed to.  I am glad I waited for it...and I have extra now.  I think there are four stars left, and I am hoping to get started on the applique blocks this weekend.  I will say that the fabrics used for the stars are making me look at possible fabric purchases differently.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Snow!

We finally have some snow.  Usually by this time of year we have a base of feet not centimeters and this weekend we received about four inches +/- an inch or two and everything is white and clean looking. For a while our grass was starting to look green.

There is nothing like a clean white snowy background for a few blocks.  I took my sewing machine in to be cleaned and had to figure out how to use my old machine again.  It took me a while, but I finally figured it out.

Once again these are all fabrics that I never would have chosen to put together, but they work.  There are not many stars left to do so the decision is going to have to be made soon on what type of applique I am going to use.  I am steering towards machine applique, but I think that may be a bit slow going until I've done a few blocks as I am not fond of unsewing.

Stash Report

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 2.5 yards
Added this Week: 2.25 yards
Added Year to Date: 10 yards
Net Used for 2013: -7.75 yards

I went to this crazy quilt store super bowl sale yesterday.  They had 25% off all yard cuts of fabric and evidently everyone needed yards and yards of fabric because the store was so packed you could hardly get in.  I bought 2-1/4 yards for backing for two quilts.  As I left my sewing machine there for cleaning, I will not be able to do any quilting until I get it back, but the quilts should be pinned and all ready to quilt before then.  I also received good news from the doctor late Friday night that all the skin cancer was removed and the margins are clear, now to just get everything healed.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Where Has This Week Gone...And A Winner!

I had no intention of going this long between postings.  It has been one of those weeks that a person can never plan for, and one I hope I do not have to relive again ever.  I ended up having not one but two biopsies on my arm for skin cancer.  The first one did not have clear margins so back I went and I now have 10 stitches and a 2-inch gash (incision) on my left arm.  Please, please, please wear sunscreen...no tan is worth going through this.  My son also had the stomach flu, so needless to say, it has been less than fun around here.  I did make a few stars though...

I have one more star cut out waiting to be sewn together and another one that is waiting for a new piece of fabric as I cut the center square wrong (actually I cut it in half).  Even though I know I could have used a different one, it was such a pretty fabric, I wanted to use the same one.

And now for the winner...thank you for all the lovely comments and great ideas for its use...the winner is...

 Emily C said...Love your patchwork dresden. Very nice. Can't imagine trying to sew those tiny blocks.

 

January 28, 2013 at 2:36 PM

   

I've sent you an email Emily.  Thanks for entering, and there will be another giveaway soon!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen