fun stitching day . . .

Yesterday's time with the Sassy Sewers was such fun!  It's a hodge podge of happenings ... some women bring their sewing machines, some don't, some bring embroidery machines, and some bring craft projects. They meet on Thursdays (it used to be first and third, but I think it's slowly morphing into an every Thursday event) at the District #1 Madison County Shed -- in the large group room.  They set up the tables for us and there's a nice kitchen and bathrooms -- and it's free!

The women are fun and funny and there's great camaraderie (as there typically is in stitch groups)!  I meant to grab a group picture, but I forgot!  But I did grab some photos of some of the things that were brought for show and tell . . .

Nancy had made this darling little setup to keep her working thread and bobbins in order! I love the felt buttons.  Too cute!

All of the ladies had worked on one of these folded stars. Isn't this *gorgeous??? Shirley used hers as a center for a really pretty table topper.  The pattern is a Moda Bake Shop offering (and is actually for a potholder -- our group modified the setting) and can be found HERE.

And isn't this heart pincushion darling?  Shirley brought one for each of us!! It's a semi-homemade ornament. She found the heart shaped Christmas felt ornaments on sale for a bargain, and covered up the Christmas sentiment with a pink felt heart that she hand-stitched on.  Great job!

And this was the project several of them worked on yesterday (usually there's a group project offered). This cute little tea towel with the mason jars is the sample -- Ellen's offering.  I grabbed the pattern for later use! You can too ... the pattern and tutorial are found on a really cute blog called Flamingo Toes.

And what did I work on?  My celtic knot embroidery.  I got the knot transferred and stitched the monogram. It uses a stitch I'd never used before, called the "heavy chain stitch".  I really like the look of it and it was an easy stitch to manage.  There's a great illustration (and tutorial) of this stitch at Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials.  I know, I know ... I didn't do a whole lot for three hours I was there ... but you've got to figure in the fellowship factor *and* the eating lunch factor.  LOL!

And of course, what kind of Friday would it be without a feline?

Leia says, "Happy Friday!"  (Haha ... actually, I think Leia was growling at me when I grabbed this shot.  No surprise there, eh?!)  I'll link her up anyway to sarah did it! and the Feline Friday linky party!

Happy Friday!!  (I mean it.)

:)

tea parties and stitching projects . . .

It's been a crazy week . . . I spent most of the morning, Monday, in the doctor's office.  Another sinus infection gone rogue into my lungs, leaving me with another case of acute bronchitis.  I sound worse than I feel, but all that coughing is wearing on a body (and bladder...I'll say no more).  But he got me on antibiotics and a whole host of things, so hopefully I'll be right as all the rain we're getting!

I did spend Tuesday with Ellie.  What a fun day we had!!  First of all, the girl can sleep.  She didn't wake up until almost 9:30!  After we snuggled and I fed her some breakfast, we decided to make scones for an afternoon tea party.  I'd gotten some new tea (a cocoa, candy cane rooibos tea) and thought Ellie would enjoy it, but she also loves to help in the kitchen, and scones are easy and quite necessary for a tea party.

Ellie cut the butter into the flour . . . 

She's working that pastry cutter like a pro.

And stirred . . .

And tasted . . .

And we ended up with some yummy cinnamon raisin scones!

Perfect for an after-the-afternoon-nap tea party!

It was nice because Ellie's mommy got to join us . . . a three-generation tea!

I finished my heart spool project and it's looking good in the ol' quilt stand . . .

And I'm working on a couple things.  A secret mug rug project, this StitchMAP hexie lab project . . .

And gathering my stuff to work on over retreat, which is in less than TWO WEEKS!

Today I'm headed out to stitch with the Sassy Sewers.  They're always fun!! Happy day!

:)

leaving, on a jet plane . . .

But unlike the song, I *do* know when I'll be back again!

I'm heading to visit Sister #3 in her new home in New Jersey and spending a couple of days exploring the new hometown with her, then together, we're flying down to Texas to visit Sister #4 and her family (who has also just recently moved into a new home) for a couple of days.  I'm *so* excited!!  Both sisters have already scouted out quilt shops to visit.  In New Jersey we'll be looking in on Olde City Quilts and in Texas we'll be stopping by The Quilt Cottage!  Whoohoo!  Do I have the best sisters, or what???!

I've finished piecing *and* setting my rainbow-star-burst-thingie-piece.  I think I may call it "Luminous"!  

I'm so very pleased with how this turned out!  I learned a lot EPP'ing this, too. I'd like to make it again. Actually, I think a whole quilt made from this block would be awesome! But this first one will definitely be just a table topper.  Perhaps I should name it Prototype instead.  Ha!

Again, printed out the design in EQ to doodle around with quilting ideas.  I like the idea of lots of straight lines, I think.  Keeping it geometric.  

I also pulled out an oldie-but-a-pretty UFO project from last year.  I got stuck trying to figure out what to quilt next.  When I pulled it out last week, it practically screamed at me to put the fans in the four corners! Although, now that I look at it, I wonder if I should turn them around and have the flowers facing each other? Ugh!

I'm also debating on the border to use between the fans in the corners.  I was originally thinking the twist would work best, but seeing it through the picture makes me thing the swirls would be more complimentary.

Ugh, ugh!  Perhaps I haven't gotten any further than I was last July?!

I took my youth girls Sunday school class to the Lincoln County Fair yesterday afternoon!  It was *such* fun and we had such a blast, strolling around and riding rides and people-watching and petting animals.  I really do love all my girls--they keep me young!

Seriously! I love the ears in the first one, but pink is most definitely my color, don't you think?! 

They were even willing to take a look at the Sewing/Crafts exhibition and winners (I think perhaps because the building had A/C!).  The quilts immediately caught my eye, and lo and behold, I saw this sweet quilt:

With a third place ribbon, to boot!  It belongs to Ellen, a friend of mine in our Sassy Sewers group.  And I helped quilt it!  (That's me on the very end, left -- hiding behind Tamara!)  

Ellen quilted it for her autistic grandson, who loves, loves, loves all things fire fighting. There are patches from fire companies all over the *world*!  Pretty cool, huh?

And why this guy was just hanging around on the side of the road, and not entered in the fair, I have no idea:

This is one of our neighbor's pets.  He rather reminds me of "Uncle" from Charlotte's Web!  Sometimes they just let him loose and he wanders across the street.  When I called him, to take his picture, he came running, his tail just a waggin'!  I love living rural.  :)

Finally, just finished stitching up this piece for a StitchMAP class.  I have one more lesson to finish to be done with it.  I had to use at least four different stitches and I think I more than succeeded!  In fact, I used seven . . . chain, running, back, outline, padded, split, and a couple of French knots for good measure.  We had to submit front and back pics of our work . . . 

The point is to make the back as neat and near presentable as the front.  Not too shabby, I'm thinking!

I'm linking up to Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times (Design Wall Monday), and Kathy's Quilts (Slow Stitching Sunday).

Okay ... now off I go to pack and get ready for my trip into the wild blue yonder.  I'll catch ya' on the flip side!

:)