Happy New Year!

I'm excited to begin a New Year with new possibilities,
projects and challenges.  I've already pulled out some
unfinished projects and am working on them.  Some
have been sitting around for a few years.  There are
also a few that I really don't care for anymore and I
think they will be finding new homes.

Although I do not make resolutions, I am setting a goal
to work on already purchased projects and complete
them.  But, knowing me, I will be continually picking
up new items to work on and eventually old projects will
once again be set to the side.  How many times have I
said this in the past that I wasn't gong to get new things
until old things were completed?  Well, what's a girl to
do when there are so many wonderful things calling to
me?

Christmas was a wonderful time for me and my family.
but went oh so quickly.  Thought I'd share a couple of
gifts I received from Di and Miss Gracie  and
Karen:

From Di:

This sweet little friendship mug rug sits on the little table
next to me where I stitch and constantly reminds me
how blessed I am to have hers and others friendships.
Thank you again, Di.

From Karen:

Six lovely hexagon coasters and a delightful, scrappy
hexagon table topper.  I can't imagine the hours of
work that went into the making of these.
Thank you, Karen

For Di and other friends I made these little needle
keepers using the pattern from Amy.
 http://nanacompany.typepad.com/

   

These were such fun to do that I think I'll make a few
more to give as gifts throughout the year to my quilting
and sewing friends.

This little stitchery reminded me of Karen and her
love of birds, flowers and the outdoors.

For a few friends at work I knit scarves.  I have a
tendency to wake up very early and so I would sit in
bed and knit...great therapy.

Other friends received mug cozies and cups filled
with a few of my favorite things:  hot chocolate and
hot cider mixes and a bag of cookies for dunking.

Couldn't resist this sweet stitchery for another friend,
JoAnn, to hang on her little quilt stand.

It was so much fun making these gifts.  As I worked
on these, sweet thoughts and feelings of those they
were going to really brought the Christmas Spirit
home to me.

Navy Instead of Blackwork

Bird Brain Designs featured a seasonal quilt of
four blackwork designs to be embroidered in the
October 2014, issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.

I fell in love with the stitchery and was
even more excited as I also had a quilt hanger
that would be perfect to display my little
quilt when it was done.  Decided to stitch mine in a dark
navy blue thread instead of black for a change.

This morning while I was auditioning navy
fabric to use in the borders, I decided I no longer
wanted to piece the borders and quilt it.  So, I added a
small border and placed it in a 10inch square frame.

 Very happy with how it turned out.  Really like
stitching with navy floss for a change.

Getting There

Last year I purchased the pattern "Festive Season"
by Hatched and Patched--a delightful table runner.
Thought it would be a welcome addition to my
Christmas decorations.

Instead of using the red embroidery floss I normally
do, I decided to try a different red.  After stitching
close to one-fourth of the design, decided that I
didn't like that red.  So, I put it to the side.

I recently pulled it out again thinking maybe the
red would be ok.  Sadly, I still didn't like it...
not that it isn't a lovely shade of red, but it just
wasn't the right shade for me.

Decided that I would unpick it and start over.
Two and a half hours later all the stitched threads
had been removed.  I was ready to start all over.

I have just now passed the area I unpicked and
I can't believe how much happier I am with it.
It makes me smile instead of frown!

Maybe now I can finish it for this year!

I also found a new project calling for hexagons.  I
love hexagons, but don't do many projects using them.
However, this one intrigued me and a friend and
we decided to do them together, hoping that by doing
so we would motivate each other to complete the
project---THIS YEAR!

Thanks to her checking up on me, I am making good
progress.

Probably should set these aside and put the borders
on a little fall design sitting down on my sewing
table.  But, they are so fun and relaxing to do!

Meet the Mormons

I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons.

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the documentary,
Meet the Mormons   ( Mormon.org ) with my family at our
local theater.   The film examines the lives of six members
living around the world (Nepal, Costa Rica, Germany,
South Africa, and the USA) who share their experiences as they
try to balance faith and family with work, hobbies and culture.

I was touched by the stories of these diverse, wonderful members
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, each
striving for the same goals.
 https://www.lds.org .

The documentary is wonderful, entertaining, uplifting and
very touching.  One minute we were laughing and then we
would find ourselves in tears. Even my young grandchildren
could relate to it.  In fact, after the movie was over, my
11 year-old grandson said, "I've never cried in a movie before.
I think I cried more than you, Grandma."

 If you have an opportunity to see this documentary, I hope
you will take the opportunity to do so. Even though members
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are
diverse, I believe that it shows that we are all part of a big
family striving for the same goals.
.
If it comes to a theater near you, I encourage you to
see it.  It will be well worth your time. 

Great Weekend!

Last weekend I was privileged to have a dear friend
spend a few days with me.  Napua was here for her
grandson's wedding.   We have been friends
for nearly 50 years.  This friendship began when we
were newly married students at Brigham Young
University in Provo, Utah, and working together
in the Division of Continuing Education, Evening
Classes.

For 25 years she served as a vice-president of
BYU Hawaii.  She retired about five years ago,
served a mission, and is back at home now.

We had such a fun time together going to the
Bountiful Temple and the Women's Conference
with my daughter, and just playing catch-up.
Napua is an amazing woman and I'm so blessed
to have her friendship.  Can't wait until she
comes back or I go to Oahu for a visit again.

My daughter was able to snap a picture of my
finished Halloween quilt for me.  (My camera
is acting up).  She took it with her phone so it
is not as clear as I hoped.  But, it is done and
hanging on the wall.  I just love it!

Also finished these mini "Spooky" Halloween banners
for my children and myself.  Will deliver them this
weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I must get busy putting out the rest of my
Halloween Decorations up before I blink and the month is
over.

A Touch of Fall

In between doing some fall house cleaning,
I was able to complete this little wall hanging.
I have some company coming and have been
trying to clean and get my home decorated
for fall and wanted this to go in the bathroom.

It turned out a bit smaller than I had planned, but
was trying to use up some of the two inch strips left
from my leaf quilt.

My sister gave me this darling birdcage for my
birthday.  Decided to add a fall wreath to the base
and put it in my guest room with a little candy
dish filled with goodies.

Thinking that if I had company coming to stay more
often, maybe I would pressure myself to get more
done.  Anyway, it's beginning to look a lot like fall
at my house!

Just In Time

Fall officially begins Monday and I'm so happy that I have
completed my Scattered Leaves Quilt just in the nick of time.
It looks fabulous on my bed and I'm hoping to make a
simple fall pillow to add in the next few days.  But, if I
don't make it, it will be ok because I have several other
projects that need to be completed.  Perhaps I'll just
wrap some left-over fabric around a pillow form, tie it
with a bow and call it good.

This is the back of the quilt using fabric pieces from my
stash.

According to the magazine, "American Patchwork &
Quilting," I probably started this in 2009.

The quilt was machine quilted using a oak leaf
pattern.  I love oak leaves! (and acorns)  They remind
me of when I was a little girl and would go tromping
in the mountains with my family.

I especially like the the border and the red stop border
and binding.














 Fall also means "apple season time" to me.  Several
years ago I made this little apple hanging and was
so excited to add this stitchery from Michelle in
her "Country at Heart" patterns.

I have been able to stitch a few of these for friends,
also.

Made this simple little table runner for my daughter
to add to her fall collection.  The pattern is from
"Pieced Tree" and is called "Building Blocks."
The mini charms are from Moda's Mill Book
Series, circa 1852.

Now I just need to do the binding on my Halloween
Houses quilt and Halloween Hat table runner and
completed my "Boo" pillow and fall stitchery from
Bird Brain Designs.

Today I hope to sew the binding on the above items
and then can sit and do the hand sewing in the
evening.

Sure feels good to get some of these projects completed!