Finished Sweet Rose Bag!

This project was doomed from the start with me but it’s finally finished!  I made a mitake on the finishing.  Dumb mistake but correctable.  I put the cording around the top instead of the sides and I had to take the silk lining out since I was putting it on the wrong place.  Duh!  All I had to do was look at the picture.  Oh well…  it’s corrected now!

This was one of the classes that I took at Celebrations this year….

It’s Sweet Rose Bag by Louise Henderson of Cherished Stitches.

Here’s the front:

Sweet Rose Bag Front

And the back.  I adapted some letters from the Gift of Stitching for my initials.

Sweet Rose Bag Back

Yeah!  Happy Dancing!!!!

Progress on Sweet Rose Bag

Well I finally finished frogging on my class piece from Louise Henderson of Cherished Stitched called Sweet Rose Bag.  It’s been going quickly since I fixed my mistakes.  (I had a lot to fix…  counting was off on the pink part of the rose…  UGH)

I finished the front last night.  It still needs paillettes and some beads but I’ll do those at the end.

Here’ s a picture.  I’m half done!

Cherished Stitches Sweet Rose Bag Class Piece - Front

It really is so pretty when it’s finished.  I’m enjoying this project now that I’ve gotten past the frogging!  I think I’ll still have enough pink silk to finish…  I hope.

Mystery Quilt Top Done!

This is so exciting.  I’ve finished my first large quilt top.  This was a mystery quilt.  I used the Sakura fabrics I think from R&R.  I put the borders on Saturday.  There is a light border and a 10 inch dark border.  I have a beautiful fabric for the backing.  This baby is getting professionally quilted.  It’s a large Queen Size and I plan on using it on my bed.

Here are some pictures.  It was hard getting the whole quilt top into one picture.

Mystery Quilt Top

Another View of the Mystery Quilt Top

Here’s a closeup of the corner.  You can’t tell but these fabrics are all metallic etched.  It’s gorgeous!

Top Corner of Mystery Quilt Top

Here’s a closeup of one of the blocks.  There are 12 in total.  I love how the sashing also forms stars.

Closeup of block in Mystery Quilt

This was a major accomplishment for me!  There were 6 parts to this mystery and it was a big job, but it’s done!  Well it’s not quite a quilt yet but it will be!

I also did a little more quilting yesterday.  I’m totally into my Designer Mystery Quilt where are the fabrics are from Moda Glace.

Here’s Block 3.  It wasn’t a hard block but the piecing was intricate.

Mystery Glace Block 3

On the stitching front I’ve actually made some progress.  I don’t have pictures yet.

I FINALLY finished fixing my class piece Sweet Rose Bag by Cherished Stitches and started to make some progress on the stitching.  It had me in such a slump.  I think I was able to salvage it so that I will still have enough silk to finish the piece.  The rose in the center is almost done.  I also worked on Sampler Cove Spanish Rouge.  The second band takes a lot of time.  It’s not hard but there are a lot of fractional stitches and a lot of backstitch.  It’s just a little tedious and all done on 40 ct.  I’ll post pictures when I have more done.

Lots of Quilting!

I’ve refound my love for quilting and I’ve been going crazy sewing blocks.  I also nearly have a quilt top done so as soon as the borders are on it, I’ll take a picture.

I wanted to share all the quilt blocks I’ve done lately.

This one is the last block from Saturday Sampler 2009.  It’s in the Floral colorway (I still really need to do the Funky colorway because I LOVE how it came out).  It’s a basket themed quilt.  Now I’m ready to piece the quilt top.

Saturday Sampler 2009 Block 12

I’m actually already caught up on Saturday Sampler 2010.  I finished Blcok 3 eary.  I’m doing the Chic colorway this year.  It’s a lot of pieces but with my new 7/8″ ruler it’s a piece of cake.

Saturday Sampler 2010 Block 3

Then I did 4 more blocks on Trifles and Truffles.  It will have a total of 23 blocs, all in funky colors.  I really love the quilt and the blocks are fast and easy.  The brown block is a little small because I had to use fabrics from my stash (the kit was short) and since I had to use a different technique for the flying geese I miscalculated.  It will still ease in to the rest of the quilt though so I’m no worried.

Trifles and Truffles

Trifles and Truffles

Trifles and Truffles

Trifles and Truffles

Then I started a Mystery Block of the Month.  I have actually been collecting the blocks and have the full kit but it’s still a mystery since I haven’t looked at all of the blocks.  Each bloc is by a different designer.  The fabric is all from the Moda Glace collection.  I LOVE it.  It’s a sampler quilt of stars that will be finished s that the 12″ blocks form a frame with an extra large star in the middle.  I recently bought backing and binding fabric from the same line and I have the finishing kit already.

Designer Mystery Block 1

Designer Mystery Block 2

My Vacation Comes to an End

Well, like all good things, my vacation had to come to an end today.  I had a glorious time at Celebrations and then took an additional 2 days off.  However I’m wishing I took off more days!

I have lots to share today.

First of all, I’ve FINISHED my kitchen.  I painted the walls, hung a new ceiling fan and made curtains.  Here are my curtains.  I’m really pround of them since they are the first I’ve ever made.  They are lined and I think I did a pretty good job of matching up the prints on the right and left panel.

My new curtains

Then I framed and hung my most recent finish on the wall.  You can see the wall color that I chose.  Here’s All in a Heart by Miss Crescent Crowne…

All in a Heart Framed and on the Wall

The curtains really POP on the green walls.

Celebrations was incredible.  I signed up for a record (for me) 12 classes.  Obviously I wasn’t able to be in all of them but I couldn’t resist the designs.  I didn’t go last year so I had to make up for lost time, right?

I’ve already made some good progress on the Sweet Rose Sweet Bag by Louise Henderson.  Please excuse the hoop marks…  it’s a work in progress and what I’ve been focusing on stitching.

Cherished Stitches Sweet Rose Sweet Bag WIP

I also had to show two gorgeous boxes from Marcia Brown.  I’ve already made some stitching progress on the first box, Crysanthemums in Autumn.  Here’s a picture of the box.  The design on the inside matches the box to some degree.  The finishing believe it or not won’t be that taxing!

C. in Autumn - Marcia Brown

I had to sign up for her Bounty box as well.  My confidence was up after sitting through her first class.  I just love hand-painted boxes and these are just lovely.

Bounty Box - Marcia Brown

This box has a little tray inside that will have some stitching in it.  It’s just gorgeous.

I’ll post WIP pictures as I work on the different pieces.  I’m so enthusiastic about all the pieces!

After I got home I got inspired to actually finish the finishing on my class piece from Sherri Jones called Rings of Roses Reticule.  I had finished the miser bag last year and in December I stitched the needlebook and pincushion.  Luckily I found all the finishing materials!

Here’s the whole set…  finally complete…

Sherri Jones Rings of Roses Reticule Full Set Complete

Here’s a closeup of the needlebook.  It’s done over-1 with some specialty stitches.  The inside is lined in silk with some silk self-lined pockets and Doctor’s Flannel for the needle pages.

Rings of Roses Needlebook

Here’s a closeup of the pincushion.  It’s a bit small to be practical but it looks just lovely in my curio.

Rings of Roses Pincushion

Today I decided to do something that I haven’t really gotten into since about October.  I decided to quilt!  I actually finished 5 blocks.  I got caught up with the 2010 Saturday Sampler quilt and I finished all but 1 of the blocks for the 2009 Saturday Sampler quilt (11 down, 1 to go in the Floral colorway).  The 2009 quilt all have basket motifs.  The 2010 quilt is being done in the Chic colorway which I’m very please with.

Here are my 2009 blocks that I did today:

Saturday Sampler 2009 October Block

Saturday Sampler 2009 November Block

Saturday Sampler 2009 December Block

Here are my 2010 blocks:

Saturday Sampler 2010 March Block

Saturday Sampler 2010 April Block

The Saturday Sampler 2010 March Block was challenging.  Lots of difficult piecing.  The April block just had a lot of piecing.  I am totally in love with my 7/8″ ruler though.  To make all of the half square triangle units I have to cut the fabic on the 7/8″ line.  This ruler has lines on the 7/8″ line instead of the whole inch line.  It’s way cool.

Well it’s back to work tomorrow!  Things have been nuts so I’m expecting to be in full swing and to have to hit the ground running.  I was so confused today though.  I kept thinking it was Sunday.  At least I remembered it was Tuesday in time to do my eBay shipping!  This morning I watched the Discovery-Health episode called Anxiety.  It’s a part of their Psych Week.  Some of you know but most of you don’t, I suffer from OCD and lately a general non-specific anxiety disorder that gives me anxiety attacks every evening like clockwork.  Work is probably a major cause since it was a bit better over vacation.  I was hoping that the episode would address some of what I suffer from but it focused exclusively on panic disorder and agoraphobia.  I don’t have those problems but it was interesting nonetheless.  Well, I’m in a fairly high state of anxiety right now so I think it’s time to get off the computer and try to stitch some to see if it will relax me.  Thank the Good Lord for hobbies and for friends and family who are there for me because right now these attacks are really impacting my quality of life and I feel helpless.  They are incapacitating when at their worst.  All of my muscles contract painfully and I feel like I am coming out of my skin.  My jaw gets so stiff that I can’t even speak.  I don’t usually blog about my problems but it’s not like there is anything to be ashamed of.  It’s just something that I need to learn how to overcome.  I get the therapy and medication I need but there is no magic pill (I wish there was).  Life usually isn’t perfect, right?

A New Finish and a New Start

Well here I am blogging when I should be getting ready for work…  LOL.  I hate being on time.

I have a new finish to share as well as a new start.  I fell in love with this design when I saw it and I had to stitch it.  This is Miss Crescent’s Crowne “All in a Heart”.  I have a frame for it too.  I think I’m going to hang it in my kitchen.  I think it would look adorable in there since I just painted the walls a sage green and replaced the ceiling fan.  I’ll frame this pretty soon since I’m not using glass.

This design hardly took me any time at all.  I started it right before I went down to Charleston.

All in a Heart Finish

It was stitched in Crescent Colors cottons on some random piece of 32 ct Zweigart.

Then I started something that I’ve been wanting to start for  a long time.  I thought I’d have to order the fabric but it turns out I had a Fat Half in my stash (which I need to replace since it was for another project).  This is Sampler Cove “Spanish Rouge”.  I’m stitching it on 40 ct Lakeside Linen Magnolia (even though it calls for 36 ct).  I’m using the required fibers.  It’s stitched in Vikki Clayton silks.  She sent me single strand spools which are very handy!

Spanish Rouge as of March 28

I’m planning on finishing the cross stitch band and the row of alternating double backstitch which goes right below it before moving on to another project.  It’s been very soothing to work on so far because of the repeating pattern.  This chart has some specialty stitches in it as well as cross stitch.  I’ve been in love with the design for a long time.  I either wanted to start this or Amtrack but this won out.  I’m a sucker for reds.  I finished the one color red and now I’m filling in with the second color.  There are only 2 colors in this design.

Otherwise not much is new except I’m giving my kitchen a facelift.  I’ve painted the walls and ceiling and replaced the ceiling fan (which I did by myself).  All I have to do is give the kitchen a deep cleaning and make the drapes.  I got a great deal at Joann’s Fabric on the drapery fabric for the big recessed window over the sink.  I picked a fabric that was on sale for $6/yard and I had a 50% off coupon for the lining fabric so I got it for $3/yard.  All of the fabic and the thread only came to $27.  I still need a tension rod and rings but that’s it.  My kitchen was really horrible looking.  It was painted white with an old country type blue and green stencil around the top, blue ceiling fan and blue roll shade in the window.  It took six coats of primer to cover the stencil.  I’ll show a picture when it’s all done and clean.

Back from Charleston and More Stitching

It seems that everytime I sit down to the computer lately I feel obligated to list stuff on eBay so I never blog anymore.  Well not today!  Today I’m blogging!

Lots has been going on.  I’m back from Charleston.  It was a good visit.  It was good to see my grandmother and I think it lifted her spirits.  Joey was a good boy for the most part but he was obsessed with my grandmother’s cat, Mo.  Mo is indoor/outdoor so he stayed outside during the day and then when I went to bed with Joey, he came inside.  It was pretty warm down there, in the 60′s, so it wasn’t bad.

I wanted to share a picture of my grandfather when he was just retired.  He built his own house from the ground up out in New Mexico.  He and my grandmother stayed there until their health started to get the better of them and they moved to Charleston to be near my Aunt.  This is a picture of my grandfather building his house out in New Mexico.  He was strong then and could do ANYTHING.  You should see the tools he has.  I have one of his old tool boxes and a few of his tools now.

Grandpa in New Mexico building his house

That’s how I like to remember him.  He used to call me “Racy Stacy!”.  I’ll always remember that.  He could keep me glued in my chair with stories of when he was growing up or in the Navy.  He lived a long a life.  He would have been 90 in April.  I loved him very much.

The week went by quickly.  I got a lot of stitching done!  I brought down three projects but really just focused on Village of Hawk Run Hollow.

Joey had fun.  I took him to a dog park.  It was muddy though.  My poor grandmother.  She was sitting on a bench when a very muddy Golden Retriever decided that it loved her!  We left after Joey got a little too obnoxious with a more dominant dog.  I didn’t want there to be trouble.  Joey had to take a trip into the bathtub at the house to wash his legs off.  He was muddy!  The next day, my Aunt Sheryl brougt Bailey over.  Bailey is my cousin Jeff’s dog.  Here’s pictures…

Joey and Bailey

Joey and Bailey playing

Here’s a picture of Joey just enjoying the backyard.  He loved that there was a fence.  I don’t have a fenced in backyard so it was really nice for him.

Joey in Grandma's Backyard Running

Joey in the backyard at Grandma's

When he was in the house, it was normal Joey….  he made himself at home.

Joey Making Himself at Home

I also got my haircut wile I was down there!  I cut off 11 inches believe it or not.  I donated my hair to Locks of Love.  I hope they can use it.  Here’s the new me!  The hairdresser took this picture at the salon. Since I have to find a salon up here I thought it would be good to be able to show the new hairdresser what my hair looked like coming out of the salon in Charleston.

New haircut!

I really like how it looks and I’m getting more used to doing it everyday.  No more long hair!

After I got back work got crazy immediately.  Then I got sick….  I had to present a technical presentation on Orthogonal Array DOE to a group of about 35 people for 2 hours the other day.  I got through it with Sudafed and Afrin.  It actually went really well and people said I was actually a very entertaining speaker!  I’ve come a long way from my stage fright of talking in front of people.  Now I can crack jokes.  I got a big laugh when I described the guy sitting next to me on the plane to Orlando when I was reading up on Orthogonal Array.  He thought I was a rocket scientist or something.  As soon as I mentioned Black Belt he thought Karate.  LOL….  Actually I’m in process improvement and Black Belt is my level of certification.  I’m working towards my Master Black Belt which will mean excellent job security and some major bragging rights (not to mention a little cash).  The DOE was a part of that.  I gota big round of applause at the end of the talk.  Very new for me.  It’s just this year that I’m comfortable speaking in front of people.

Well time to share my progress on stitching!

I finished the second block on Village of Hawk Run Hollow.  I’m leaving the backstitch to the end so that it doesn’t get messed up.

Block 2 of VoHRH

Since finishing the second block I’ve been working on a small new project by Miss Crescent’s Crowne called All in a Heart.  I’m getting close to being done.

All in a Heart WIP

It’s a pretty quick stitch.  All in Crescent Colors but I LOVE the frame it goes in.  It will be even prettie when the green leaves go in and the wod Love in the yellow color.  I don’t know what color linen I’m using.  It’s just a piece I found at Tawny’s.

Today I’m going to Tawny’s to stitch (Where Victoria’s Angels Stitch).  Nashville stuff is in including my orders. Yeah!!!  I can’t wait to get my hands on Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow and the new Blackbird Designs book…  oh yes and the new Shepherd’s Bush kit….  I have my weaknesses….

Tomorrow I leave to Charleston!

With sad news…  my grandfather passed away a few weeks ago.  My company is being generous and is giving me a week of personal time to go down to take care of my grandmother.  She’s just getting over pneumonia and is only 80 pounds.  I think it will lift her spirits that I’ve visiting.

I will have to bring some work with me but I’ll keep that to a minimum.  I am bringing stitching and Joey!  Coordinating his care is a little complex so I’m just driving down with him.  As long as he’s not too bad with her cat, Mo, it should be okay.

I think for projects I am going to take Village of Hawk Run Hollow, Mirabilia Sunflower Fairy and my new Miss Crescent’s Crowne All In A Heart.  I should have plenty of stitching time.

It’s about a 13 hour drive but it doesn’t really bother me.  besides Joey will be good company.  He’s good in the car.  My car has 140,000 miles on it but it’s an Accord so I trust it.  I have to get it serviced this morning to get ready to go.

My eBay business is on vacation while I’m gone.  It’s going to be hard to get on the internet while I’m gone and I can’t do any shipping until I get back.  I hope my customers understand!  They usually do.  I have the best customers.  eBay has been doing REALLY well lately and I have a couple of new consignors.  Always looking for more consignors so if you’re interested in my services (I sell clean stash on consignment) check out my De-stashing services tab or send me an email at severnswb@hotmail.com.  I’ve been doing it for about 1.5 years now and my consignors are all very happy with the service that I’ve given them (and the monthly checks!)  If you’re just interested in what I have for sale, check out: http://stores.ebay.com/Stitching-and-Stashing  I actually have a copy of BBD Loose Feathers #8 Moon Garden for sale!  Don’t miss that one.  It’s very rare and hard to find.

Well I hope everyone has a good week!  I’ll post progress pictures when I get home as well as some other pictures from the trip (have to remember my camera!).  I think Joey is going to have a chance to play with my cousin’s dog, Bailey.  That should be fun and good for him.

I think I’m un-slumping!

I hope I’m not speaking too soon bu I feel like my stitching slump may be coming to an end.  Sometimes the best cure is some new stash acquisition.  I went to Where Victoria’s Angels Stitch yesterday for a stitch in and I got quite a bit done on the stained windows of Block 2 of VoHRH.  Today I finished the windows and after this post I’m going to get back to it (I tried to go get my oil changed but everywhere is closed on Sundays???)

So I thought I’d share a progress picture of Block 2 and then share some pictures of my new stash!

VoHRH Block 2 Progress

There is still a lot of solid stitching but this truly is a fun piece.  I pre-ordered the chart of Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow from Tawny (the shop owner) and I got my fabric for Christmas.  I don’t have the threads yet for Christmas.  I’m waiting on those.  I still have so much to do on Village plus I have Shores fully kitted.  The fabric can be hard to get later so I figured I should jump at the chance now.  I love all the Hawk Run Hollow pieces except I’ll never stitch Houses.  It refers to your own death and I’m too super-stitious to stitch it.  Nevermind that Shores is also a little morbid but at least it’s about someone else’s death!  I’m okay with that….

It was a good stash enhancement day!  I got one piece that I fell in love with.  I have it all kitted.  It’s by Miss Crescent’s Crowne and it comes with all the Crescent Colors cottons that you need to stitch the design.  Tawny also had the frame which is SO pretty.  I got a piece of fabric that will work too.  I think when I go down to South Carolina next week to visit my Grandmother, I may bring this piece with me.  Here’s the kit:

All in a Heart Kit

And here’s a close-up of the design

Miss Crescent's Crowne All in a Heart

Isn’t it going to be pretty???

I got a few Lizzie Kate’s too.  Occasionally I like to stitch one of the pieces.  I got Be Kind to Animals, Dogs leave Paw Prints and Cat Lessons for People.  Cat Lessons for People is really cool.  It says “Be purr-snickety, Play with your food, Appreciate wildlife, Nap every day, Don’t bite when a hiss will do, Practice patience, Listen before speaking, When you make a mess bury it, Sit very close to those you love”.  I just love it.  I got the Crescent Colors I would need but otherwise I think I have the WDW already.

Lizzie Kate Charts

Then I got my regular Blackbird Designs stuff.  I’ve been collecting the monthly stocking and the fabric to stitch them on.  Not that I’ve STARTED any, but I could!  Tawny i good to me.  She cuts each piece, serges and labels it so that I know what to use.  I picked up November and December.  That should round out my collection.  I love the little stockings!

BBD Stockings November & December with fabrics

I also had to get the most recent Loose Feathers and the fabric.  I collect these.  Who doesn’t?  This one is Winter Wonderland.  I think Blackbird Designs is easily one of my favorite designers.

BBD Loose Feathers Winter Wonderland

I didn’t take a picture but I also got the most recent copy of Sampler & Antique Needlework Quartely.  They have been disappointing me lately though.  I have every issue but lately they haven’t been having as many charts in them.  But I do still collect them.

I also placed an order with Tawny for Nashville.  Some more fun goodies!

What’s funny is how outrageous my own stash is when I make it a business of de-stashing for others.  LOL….  Oh well.  I do think I’m about to do a major fabric purge though.  I’m always so busy listing for others though that I rarely list any of my own stash (although I should).  Business has been VERY good this month and as usual I have TONS more to list.  My consignors all seem very happy and my customers are happy too!  It’s a good business.  Tawny just gave me some stuff from the shop.  That’s always fun to list.  The hard part about the business is to refrain for buying myself.  Occasionally it happens but I’m usually very good.

Well off to stitch!  I got my Roku box back working again.  I probably need to work a little bit today (I worked all lat night) but I plan on doing a good deal of stitching too.

Mayte liked my exchange!

I just got an email this morning that Mayte loves the strawberry fob that I send her for the Blackbird Designs exchange.  I stitched a design from the Wild Berries lage of Joyeaux Noel.  It was the first time I tried coffee dying.  I think I was rather brave since I coffee dyed it AFTER I stitched it!  The linen actually started out white.  I wasn’t too worried about the threads though since this was stitched in DMC.  I did the strawberry leaves a little different.  I drew upon some of my quilting knowledge and used Steam a Seam which is used for fusible applique.  It worked really well!

It was really a fun little stitch and the first strawberry I’ve ever made.

BBD Exchange for Mayte

It’s snowing like crazy today so it’s a work from home day.  My animals will be happy.  They love it when mommy is home.  My own mother is out of town taking care of my grandmother in Charleston.  That means that I need to clear her driveway as well as the 89 year old woman down the street from her so I’ll be doing a lot of shoving.  I have a snowblower for my own house but I can’t get it down the street to work on my mother’s house.

I also have some GREAT news and a big brag.  I’m so proud of my little sister.  She has been going to school to become a Surgical Technician.  She’s almost done with the classroom studies (12 months) and she’s about to start in April her 3 month internship at a hospital.  She was told the other day which hospital she is going to.  She has been accepted at Morristown Memorial which is one of the top hospitals in the area and a trauma center.  Leigh is the first person EVER from her program to be accepted at this elite hosptial.  The hospital was told that they are getting the best of the best.  Leigh is beside herself with excitment and I’m so excited for her.  She’s worked so hard.  She has apirations of starting out as a surgical technician and then go back to school to be an RN.  I am so proud of my little sister!  I know Morristown is lucky to have her because she’s smart, committed, hardworking and serious.  I know she’s going to do great.

Well I have to finish feeding the crew!  Thanks for reading my blog!