Other classes and work in progress

I have found a great place locally to take a couple of fun classes.  Harvest House Quilting, in Plainfield,  has offered  two classes recently that I thought would be fun to take.
Sometimes you see something that just looks like a fun idea.  This prairie point Christmas tree was one of them.
I have made or decorated a couple of trees for my Christmas display.  Small works very nicely in my house.
This tree has now been added.
Colleen classes are only a couple of hours long and because there is room for only a small number, you get great one on one help.
Colleen can provide the "kit" or you can bring your own supplies.  She even had the kit made up in two color ways, Christmas green and red, or blue and white to make a winter tree.
There is a Styrofoam base.  She walks you through the whole process, then makes suggestions for adding embellishments.
Our two hours were a lot of fun and productive.
I love going home with a finished project.

Here we are with our trees.  Each is the same, but different.

Here is Charlie, helping me hold my pattern down while I pin and cut for a new nightgown.
He loves to help out. 

Fall was very pretty in our own backyard.
Don't you just love all that red.  

While the weather was good, I thought it would be a neat time to showcase a couple of the things I have or am working on,. Told you about making those fabric baskets while at quilt retreats, so felt it was time to make another, bigger one.
This one was in time for Halloween.
It was a perfect container to hold our treats. I tried using an even bigger square.
Oh the ideas I have for these cuties.

This is what I started out with for the making of my clock which I showcased in my last post.
You know me.  I do enjoy handwork!

I did finish up one more Halloween cross stitch envelope.
Now starting to work on a couple of Christmas gifts and maybe an envelope or two.

Here is another class from Harvest House Quilting.
I have had the pattern, and this fabric to make The "Diva Frame Wallet" by Sew Many Creations.
I have had the pattern and fame for a couple years, and obviously had not made it.
When Colleen offered a class in using this pattern, I was all in.

It looked complicated, but again when you are in a small class, with one on one teaching, it does not sound so bad.
I do have a hard time reading patterns and trying to figure out what they mean.
I had this all done within the two hour class. This was the first time I have put a set in zipper.
I think I did not do too bad.  Had to purchase another frame to make another one!

I keep telling you that I have cross stitched a lot, but just have not make them all up yet.
Yep! I have.   I enjoy the process.  So many patterns, not enough time!
This has become so addicting.

I, also, have told you about the quilt I am making using a color range by Kona Cottons.
This is what I have so far.  The blocks are finishing at 8 inches.  One I got the hang of using the special ruler that
Gyleen X. Fitzgerald designed, for her "Trash to Treasure Pineapple Quilts".
I decided to make it a bit bigger.  Another row longer and wider. before I work on the borers.
My son is loving how this quilt is turning out.
I am too!

Just a touch of Fall.
American Gold Finch.

The squirrels are hard at working, burying nuts for the winter.
If you  ever get the chance to watch them, do so. They are so interesting.
How do they remember where they buried them!

That it for today.
Thursday Sew Days, I am busy working on more Row by Row patterns.
The other day I did sort them out to see what seasons I had kits and patterns for.
Looks like there is going to be a quilt for Fall. It has been so much fun working on this past years rows.  Again, I enjoy the process. More on this later.

Have a great week.
Enjoy your sewing.
Mary

Cross stitch envelope exchange

While I was on vacation I received my envelope from Rita Goboly of Sweden.
Look at all the fun and pretty sewing things she sent to me.
The lovely card, which she wrote a lovely greeting on
The buttons are wooden and have a tree on them.
I can always use more embroidery floss.
The sweet embroidery kit will get me ready for the Christmas holidays.
She cross stitched my whole name and address on the front.
That is sew neat.

On the back of the envelope she cross stitched her name and address.
Don't you love the pok-a-dot fabric she did the cross stitching on?
I am sew pleased with
Thank you Rita.

I have signed up to do another cross stitch envelope exchange, this time it is for Halloween.
I have been checking out some small designs that I can use.
Looks like a lot of fun again.
Hope you are having a great week.

I have been gone for 2 weeks on vacation.
More exciting pictures to come.
Mary

Quilts, stitching and orchids

Another Bonnie Hunter quilt top is done. This is the mystery quilt from 2013, Celtic Solstice.
I did uses her colorway, green, blue, orange yellow and neutral. It is a scrap quilt and all from my stash.
Why does it seem that the stash never goes down? When Bonnie created this mystery she gave us directions for two sizes.  This is the small size.  It still has over 50 blocks in it.
Now off to my quilter. 

Last Thursday at the weekly sew, I started to put this quilt together.I had two kits, that I found in my "things to do". Does that happen to you? It is right in there with buying two patterns, because you really like it.  These kits came from "Little Quilts" in Atlanta, Ga.  Not sure how long I have had them, but a few weeks ago started making the butterfly blocks. I have two more rows to attach, then borders.  It has been a great project to work on, on Thursdays. 

In the evening I am enjoying working on cross stitching.  I like to do small patterns. I finished this one last night.
Still not sure what I will do with them.  I have ideas for covers of journals, small purses, draw string bags.  I have made several zipper purses with some I have stitched.  I have plenty of ideas.

This one is for an exchange that I am involved in.  It has been fun to add this to my things to do.
I have liked it so much that I have purchased a couple new books.
They are all in french!  I can't read a word in them, but do recognize some of the names of flowers and objects.
I can read the number of  the colors used. I have a chart that converts the numbers for DMC to Presencia threads.

Some of you know I have a few orchids on my windowsills. I wanted to share the current ones in bloom.
I have no idea what their names are, but think they are so pretty.

Check out this one.  Love the veins.  So pretty and bigger then the other two.
From the looks of the others on the sill, at least two more have developed stems for flowers.

This is some of what I have been up to.
Hope you have a great week.
Mary

Latest Stitching

Emma,  was created by Brooke Nolan for one of the hops we did with Madame Samm, of Sew We Quilt, last year.
As you can see, I have finally gotten her stitched.  I love the way she turned out.

This is the Petite Sewing Kit, by Hatched and Patched, finished.  I had shown this last month, when it was not finished.  I am so enjoying doing needlework again.
I usually have some sort of handwork for the evenings to do,  and now I have added cross stitching and embroidery.

This is from Brooks Books Publishing. When we had the Tammy Bag Hop in January, Brooke Nolan created this chart to make a miniature cross stitch, Tammy Bag.  I worked mine on 14 count Aida cloth.   The gingham fabric I used is from Riley Blake.  These Tammy Bags are so much fun to make.  They come in handy as gifts, but more importantly as wonderful bags to keep your needlework supplies in.

Here is the reverse side.  There are pockets inside and out to keep your supplies handy.

Spring is on it's way.  There are a few places where the early flowers of Spring, crocus and  blue scila  are the first bloomers.

Today is Meet and Greet Stitchers Around the World

I think one of the first things we learned as a child was to cross stitch or embroider.

I know I did. I can remember working on the preprinted samplers that came as kits, with the thread and even a needle.  You usually had a wooden hot to stretch the project in so you could get good even stitches.  I eventually learned how to do counted cross stitching.

I still love to do it.  

I started this piece last week while waiting at the airport for my flight to Atlanta.  It goes quickly.
This piece is going to be the front panel on another Tammy Bag.  As you can see I already have the red and white gingham to make it with.  The last couple of evenings I did a lot more or it.  A couple more and I will have it done.

I worked on this cross stitch while I was on vacation in January.  I had decided to finish this one in honor of my Aunt Mary, who passed away last year.  One of the times I was working at her house in New Jersey, I found the velveteen and brocade, black fabrics.  I think she would have liked that.

I still enjoy embroidery as well.  I used a transfer  to get this design on a dish towel.
You can use any color for this type of stitchery.  It doesn't come with color instructions like some patterns do.

This stitchery came with instructions of what colors to use. Now I need to make the bag and needle book to finish up this project.

The recent blog hop I did this stitchery.  It is a relaxing way to spend some time.
Also, it's big selling point, is I can pick it up and take it with me.
I sew enjoy keeping my hands busy.

When we had the hop using this pattern, I found I could applique by hand quicker and easier by hand.
I do not mind doing needle turn applique at all.

I have recently gotten back into doing cross stitching and embroidery and found I had missed doing it,.
It is like an old friend, you pick up where you left off.

I hope to show more handwork in the coming year.
I just received my first French cross stitching magazine, Creation Point de Croix.

If you check out Madame Samm's site she will have more stitcher's to visit from around the world.

Happy Stitching

Mary

Stitching, here I come

I have to say I was stitching long before I learned to quilt
It feels good to  add it to my sewing activities again.
Working on the Tammy Bag hop, and We Support You hop has renewed my love for embroidery and cross stitching.
I think I have been doing it a little at a time through the years, but recently, even my husband has noticed that I was embroidering more.

As you can see I love to put the pieces I stitch into fast and fun smaller projects.
I think they add a little something to them.

This little Halloween stitchery went together fast. It is finished and hung for Halloween.

Even embroidery looks good on a Tammy Bag.

These little cross stitch pieces are great to fit on a Tammy Bag.
I wasn't even aware I was doing this.  In looking back, I find I have been purchasing patterns that are incorporating embroidery needle cases, cute drawstring bags and miniature wall hangings.  Small projects that don't take long to complete.  I like the feeling of gratification that comes with completing something in a short amount of time.

I hope you are having a super day sewing, embroidering, or whatever makes your heart sing.
Enjoy

Mary