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!

Scattered Leaf Quilt Top Done

My "Scattered Leaf" quilt top is done!  Finished it this
afternoon.  I really couldn't find anything I liked for the
border so decided to do a 1 1/2 inch stop border and
then pull from left-over pieces and make a scrappy border.
Am very pleased with how it turned out!

Now to figure out backing.  These pieces were in my
fall stash:

This picture does not do justice to the golds and reds.

Love the colors on the floral piece but don't think I
really want flowers on the back of a leaf quilt????

Each of these would have to be pieced with other
fabrics to make the backing large enough.   I'm not
really sure how to go about piecing the back so it
looks good.  Guess I'll have to give it some
more thought.

Tip Toeing Again!

We'll be tip toeing around quilt blocks once again for a
day or two while I study the layout of my "Scattered
Leaves" quilt blocks and try and catch any mistakes
in laying out the blocks before sewing it together.

The pattern for this quilt comes from the October 2009
American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine.  I fell in
love this this quilt and thought what a great way to use
up fall fabrics that I had.

I started it a few years ago and completed all the leaf
blocks and 28 blocks with the scappy log cabin.  Then
for some reason, as with many of my projects, I either
got burned out, distracted, saw something else that
just had to be done, or whatever.  Anyway, they have
sat in my sewing room patiently waiting for my return.
All the strips, well most all of the strips, were
cut to size and sitting in containers waiting to be added
to the leaf blocks.

Having completed my Halloween houses, I went down
to my sewing room looking for my next project and
these called to me.  So, for the last couple of days I
have been sewing strips to the leaf blocks and finished
them today.

Apparently, I even purchased the fabric for the borders
when I started the blocks.  Not sure if I have enough
for the backing, so may have to do some piecing as
I really don't want to go buy more fabric.

Am hoping I can get it sewn together and taken to
Myrna early next week.  Maybe she can do this one
when she does my Halloween quilt.

Good thing I'm still working because I know where
my next couple of paychecks will be going!

P.S.  Already found an error after looking at this
picture.  The last three blocks on the right side
need to be turned correctly.  Glad I caught that!

Hi Ho Hi Ho........

......It's off to the quilter's we go.

I just returned from dropping off my quilt top to be
quilted.  I started the stitchery blocks back in June of
2011.  Wish I had kept track of the hours spent in
stitching each block.  I'm sure it has been in the
hundred's!

"Hocuspocusville" has truly been a love/hate affair.
There was so much work to each block that some
evenings I would only get a very small section
stitched.  And, because it was so intense, there would
be days and even weeks go by that nothing was
done.  I needed a break.  Guess that's why it has
taken three years to finish it.

But, I am way excited to have it quilted and then
I can bind it and hang it.  Won't get it back until
September, but that is ok.  Myrna, the lady who does
the machine quilting for me, has family popping in and
out and so it's going to take extra time.

So, now it's on to other things that have been waiting
their turn.  Nothing BIG however.

P.S.  If you enjoy reading books by Lisa Wingate, you
can download a free copy of her book today:

 

From the album: Timeline Photos By Bethany House Publishers 
The ebook of Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate is free today!
 Find it and other deals on our ebook specials page:
 http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse/ebook-specials-
from-bethany-house (Click on a book cover, then on one of the
"Where to Purchase" links to the left.)

I went to Amazon and was able to download it!

One Year Later

Just finished this mini table topper (10.5 inches by
15.5 inches) that I started one year ago.  It came as a
kit from one of our local quilt shops.  Ran across it
the other day while looking for something else and
realized that all I had to do was hand-stitch the acorn
section (it is all wool), baste the top and quilt it.

Don't really know why it never got finished, but
it has only taken me a couple of evenings to quilt
it and this afternoon I sewed the binding on.  The
pattern is from Buttermilk Basin.

This will be fun to add to my fall decorations.

Feeling A Little Bored

Today I've been feeling a little bored with my projects.
The center nine-patch blocks for my Halloween quilt are
all sewn together and the stitcheries I am working on
are coming along nicely.

There is some housework that needs to be done, but I'm
dragging my feet, so decided to check out some blogs.
Came across Trish blog and saw this simple little
tutorial she had done and thought to myself "I have all
these 5-inch squares in a shoe box that I cut from old
fabrics and I could make up a few of these.  Don't
know yet what I will do with them.  Could add more
sashings around them to increase their size as these are
4 1/2 inches unfinished or just sew them into the 12 1/2
inch blocks.  They really worked up fast and it was
a very nice change of pace from what I've been doing.

Guess I'll just work on a few at a time when I'm bored
and then decide what to do with them.  Just don't want
them taking up more space.  They need to find a
good home!

Sadly, the colors and prints are not popular now.
Maybe they can be made in charity quilts.  Wish I
knew of a place that just took tops and finished
them as I'm not sure I want to invest in batting and
backing at this point.

Maybe down the road I'll receive some inspiration!
 

Hiking Up Waterfall Canyon

WARNING:  There are lots of pictures in this post.
Wish I knew how to make a collage so I didn't
have to do the pictures individually.  Anyone
know of a free site I can combine them and then
post?

Had such a fun day hiking with my daughter and
grandsons!

Boys and rocks just go together!

Heading out for the two mile hike--each way

Taking a break along the creek

Ian had to capture this little lizard along the way
We saw a couple of them and they were cute
and fun to watch!

Cooling down in the creek

My daughter and grandsons!

Ian was able to capture a couple of butterflies

Hey, Grandma, check me out!

Looking down the trail

Taking a break from climbing over all the boulders

Two miles later and we are at the waterfall

This feels soooooo good!

We made it!

Ian and Ty cooling their feet in a little pool below the waterfall

Me and my daughter

Fascinating rock formations

Beautiful and rugged mountains surrounding the waterfall

Happy Anniversary!

Kerri and Kohler hiking up the mountain side

Don't Look, Grandma!
Thankfully, Ian spotted this snake by the creek
and alerted me so I was able to scoot down the
path before it slithered across the dirt trail and
up the mountain side.