lots of little happies . . .

Quickie post (well, quick for me, anyway) . . . 

Finished up the first set of coasters yesterday . . . I just quilted a square spiral . . . nothing fancy or precise.  

I think they look fun.  More importantly, Joc really liked them, so I'm happy!  I may practice some FMQ on the next set.

So, one set of matching napkins and coasters complete!  :)

My pillow swap arrived yesterday!  It's so pretty . . . 

Front.

Back.

That was actually the second one she'd sent.  For some reason she felt like the first one did not have the requisite stitching on it.  But I love the first one . . .

Front.

Back.  Isn't it darling?  I particularly loved the little spider web and spider in the top left corner, and the little flowers stitched into the girl's headband!  Her stitchwork is just beautiful!

And here's a sweet shot of my little lady . . . 

She's cut TWO teeth!  And her tongue doesn't like to stay in her mouth.  She's such a character!

I'll leave you with this last image, courtesy of WHNT.com . . .

I think it may be hot this weekend.  LOL!!!

Happy Thursday!

:)

dabble in fabric . . .

Part of yesterday was a "play" kind of day.  I finished my little "Cinderella" pumpkin (as my sister so aptly called it). I really like how it turned out -- especially with the blue marker washed out of it!  

Since I'd stitched it on white (what was I thinking?) and I knew the background I was going to put it into, I decided to add batting and backing and quilt it with a little "bling" (a gold metallic thread).  

And now, tah dah, it's a pillow, ready to head out to my swap partner (who I'm fairly certain does NOT read my blog, at least I hope).  All in all, for a first pillow swap attempt, I'm pleased with it!  The theme was autumn and this speaks autumn to me!  (Especially if you know my affinity for all things pumpkin!)

I also cut and stitched the first set of coasters for Jocelyn.  I did stitch them inside out and then turned them right sides out.  I've got five sets to do, so I may do each one a little differently, just to add a little variety, but I'm pleased with how these look.

They haven't been quilted yet.  Joc had purchased different colored threads to stitch each set of napkins.  I thought it might be fun to use that same color to quilt the coordinating coasters.  I'm headed over there today--I'll finish these up on her machine while I'm there!

Which leads into my last note for the day.  This time three years ago Joc was waking up and enjoying her last morning in her parent's home, before breaking out into pre-wedding frantic busyness!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet little girl and her husband! 

:)

design, desire, disgrace . . .

Just a little swap-stitchery-something on my design wall this hot and sultry Monday morning . . . 

I think it will be prettier when the blue marking isn't clashing with the yellow/orange stitching!  It's a from this cute little drawing: 

I love all the scroll work!  I'll frame this up in some yummy autumn fabrics and get it on its way.

I've also got a pile of 15" square tee-shirt cut-ups that I need to give a little zigzag stitch around the edges.  

They will become washable "paper towels" for Joc.

Joc's first major sewing project was making a set of six napkins from each of these lovely fabrics.  Aren't they fun?

I told her I'd take the remnants and make some matching quilted coasters for her to use.  So that's on my 'to do' list.  It shouldn't be tough to cut and quilt them ... but is there an easy way to bind a small project like this?  Should I just buy some bias binding?  Or should I just bite the bullet and make binding for each set of six?  That's thirty coasters!!

And at some point I really really need to take care of this . . .

Isn't it disgraceful?!?  June has definitely taken it's toll on my sewing bunk (not to mention my large number of WIPs)!  I know creative juices will have a hard time flowing while it looks like chaos.  So perhaps--now that things have settled just a bit--I can carve out some time to whip this room back into shape!

And with that in mind, I'd better make a hasty retreat!  You, on the other hand, should head on over to Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times and check out the list of great design wall stuff out there today!

:)

design wall threads . . .

You might have noticed that I have a new button over there to the right, for StitchMAP (MAP = Mentor Apprentice Program).  This is a Yahoo! list group that focuses on needlework of all kinds.  It's also a teaching group.  Pretty cool, huh?  They have all sorts of classes (including a Color Theory class that's a prerequisite for most of the others), challenges and swaps.  I'm on the waiting list for the color theory class, taking a travel bag challenge, and just signed up for a pillow swap!  It's a very active, fun group, and they're very chatty and helpful and community-oriented.

All that being said to say that on my figurative design wall today is the pattern I think I want to use for my [door] pillow swap.  The theme is autumn and in a recent pinterest spree I found this darling little acorn medallion on about.com  (clicking on the picture should take you to the pattern).

Isn't it sweet?  I'm going to play around with my fall fabrics and decide how I want to border/back it.  I think I already know that I want the strap to be made of translucent orange beads!

And then I'll have to decide what colors of floss I want to use . . . decisions, decisions!

I'm finding that floss is nearly as much fun as fabric.  With the benefit of being less expensive and taking up less room!  Hmmm, looking at the above, I think I need to add a tan or two and a darker brown.  Please excuse the water stain on my ironing board!  

Still working out my challenge project for the guild.  Yikes!  On top of that there's VBS next week - I'm teaching 3-5 grade - another GLOW event coming up the following week, and Ellie's baby dedication on the 16th!  Plus back-to-back big event weekends up at the Camp.  I feel like we're in full speed ahead mode!

Kim and Baby P's appointment went *very* well this morning.  Except for the part where the doctors' office was so busy they couldn't get her in for the ultrasound.  Boo!  It's scheduled for next Thursday, which is really fine by me -- I'll have another opportunity to spend the day with Sawyer!  That's always a happy!  Tomorrow is an Ellie day -- I'd like to have my little stitchery pattern transferred over so I get do a little stitching during nap time.

Oh ... and a by-the-by ... I had a weigh-in appointment last Friday with my own doctor.  That one went extremely well, too.  I'm now down 24 pounds in eight weeks.  YAY!  My doc was as excited as I was!  I think the monthly weigh-ins are helpful (accountability is a biggie for me) and going to be key to continued success.  I'm still doing the SB thing and watching my carbs -- though I'm thankful that I'm in Phase 2, which is not nearly as restrictive as the first 2-3 weeks!

Be sure to head over to Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times and check out all the fantastic design walls this week!

:)