fall's fluttering in . . .

It's been a fairly productive week . . . I love having a bunch of little handwork projects to work on because I can skip around and work in the evenings and at lunch time without a lot of fuss, and I get things done!

So now, along with the acorn mug rug, I've finished my little harvest stitchery mug rug.  I really love how that turned out! It used a nice, wide variety of embroidery stitches, and I even learned a new one -- the wheatear or wheat stitch. Can you tell which one that is (aside from it being the one that looks like it's the first time I've ever stitched it!)? As for the acorn, I think I'll probably make several more of those.  It's really cute and a very easy stitch-up.

My hexie pumpkin mug rug is all stitched up and ready to be sandwiched, quilted and then bound.

That will make for some good slow stitching today! The template was for a big leaf that gave me an idea for . . .

Another mug rug, of course. I've found, though all of this, that I have no shortage of browns in my stash, which is quite hilarious to me!

I also finished up this sweet little butterfly topper as a little "happy" for Evey, who turns four tomorrow. I was very pleased with this "flying by the seat of my pants" finish.

I say that because I had no plan. I just sewed and added/embellished as I went. The label is a combination of two photos that rather document her experience with "Ella the moth" this past month.

Evey picked up this huge moon moth at the Botanical Gardens (it had already expired).  

She immediately named it, carried it home, and insisted that it sleep with her. 

We celebrated this joie de vivre-filled, spicey girl's birthday as a family last night, so she's already got her commemorative piece; she was thrilled with the photo on the back! She said, matter of factly, Ella's in pieces and mama put her in the trash.  This (referring to the topper) is pretty.  LOL!

I hope to have some more small, fall finishes this week.  Linking up to the Slow Sunday Stitching post at Kathy's Quilts.  If you've come looking for the "Quilter's Meet & Greet" post, click HERE.  I will say I've had a ball hopping around to all the M&G posts and hearing (via comments) from all that are participating ... but I was shocked at how many "no reply" commenters are still out there.

Y'all enjoy this beautiful Sunday!

:)

needs attention now . . .

You know how when you get an idea for a project and it doesn't matter how many *other* projects you're in the middle of, this idea is just begging demanding your attention, so you drop everything else and attend to it?

Like my starburst fabric and the hexie topper.  Why yes, exactly like that. I knew I'd have some down time (five hours, round trip) as we (Todd, myself and a co-worker) traveled to and from Rome, Georgia, yesterday, so I decided Tuesday evening that I'd do some hexi-prepping.

It served me well, because I was able to baste *all* of my hexies on the drive up.  I had to sight-see on the drive back (which may be why I navigated my husband to the scenic route on the way back)!

Yup, pretty pleased with this.  Now to whip them together and sandwich it.  I'm thinking quilted stars in each hexi . . . yes??!

I spent some time this morning using a snowflake die cut to cut out blue and white quilts from the challenge show.  I laminated them, because we'll use these on our Christmas tree (downtown Huntsville has a Tinsel Trail in Big Spring Park) on the trail this year . . .

I think we'll spray a little glitter on the shapes before laminating them.  Aren't they fun? With white and blue lights and a big blue and silver spray as a tree topper -- it'll be stunning!

This was our tree from last year -- the first year we'd entered a tree -- with the guild's 1st VP and President.  The die cut shape I used was an ornament (plus a few stars) and the photos were from all the place winners in our guild's show. It was a lot of fun!

Speaking of guilds, my July -- next to last -- article on A Quilter's Journey featured just that.  Guilds. It was one of my most favorite to write, because it was very personal. Well, you can figure that out for yourself if you read on . . .

To guild or not to guild?

It shouldn’t even be a question! But it is, for a lot of quilters. It was a question for me. Very early in my quilt journey, I was encouraged to join a guild; specifically, the Huntsville guild. That encouragement came from darling Mrs. Martha (who worked at Hooked on Quilting), and who had helped me in so many ways as a new quilter. But I have to admit that I pushed back on her push to visit a guild meeting. Why?

I’m an introvert. Mind you, I’m not shy (being an introvert doesn’t necessarily equate to shyness), but being in a large group of people (especially people I do not know) is incredibly draining; mentally exhausting, even. So heading off to a guild meeting wasn’t high on my list of quilting priorities. Except that Mrs. Martha kept talking about it and asking me if I’d gone.

In December of 2007, I bit the bullet, researched the meeting time and place, and showed up for my guild meeting debut. For all of my initial hesitation in attending, I was looking forward to it. I entered the building, was met and greeted by the hospitality committee, given a ‘ticket’ for the drawings, and sent on in. But December is the holiday dessert meeting – and since there was no planned, formatted program, just holiday fun and festivities, it seemed very overwhelming and a little chaotic. (A lot chaotic. A whole, whole lot.)

I think I may have looked around for about thirty seconds, before I decided that guild was not for me.

On my way out, I handed my ticket back to the hospitality committee member who’d given it to me, mumbled something about making a mistake, and bolted for the front door.

There may or may not have been tears. (Seriously, I was so overwhelmed and out of my element. And I’m a girl.)

As I hit the steps, the hospitality lady (who happened to be Charmaine L.) followed me out and talked me back inside. She introduced herself, found me a seat at her table, and introduced me to the group (which was largely made up of her stitching group). They made me feel welcomed and I ended up having a great time (it didn’t hurt that I won several drawings through the course of the evening). 

I made connections that evening that have stood the test of time. Over the next several years, I made friends. I joined a stitcher’s group. I involved myself in guild business and served on the board in a variety of positions. I encouraged other quilters I knew to come to guild. Through it all, I’ve learned so very much and grown and stretched myself, both as a quilter and just as me.

So, to guild or not to guild? Unequivocally, to guild is the answer. But let’s be on the watch for those who are first-time visitors, wanting to make a connection—let’s help them plug in. Let’s purpose to be more than an audience member (or even just a newsletter recipient). Get involved! Participate in guild events like workshops or community outreaches! Become involved with the board! You’ll find your membership so much more rewarding. I know I do.

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter. :)

no surprise . . .

So perhaps chaos does lead to creativity, after all . . . !

In the middle of all my mess (and a half-dozen ongoing projects), I saw a picture online (facebook or pinterest or something), and was instantly intrigued.

I loved the idea of this quilting around the center.  It's a really simple design -- super simple -- and would make a fabulous table topper -- and I still have sunflowers on the brain, and I thought this would be perfect for a sunflower fat quarter I'd purchased just recently.

Hence my question about how to template a spirograph-like star for quilting the other day.  I was really struggling with it, but determined to overcome.  Then I took another, closer look at the finished project in the original photo, and realized that there were 24 points, which meant they were using equilateral triangles and each triangle was a separate unit.  I wanted an unending design, so that my quilting started and stopped at the same point.

Finally, I figured it out!!!

So then it was time to put my top together.

I had to stencil my quilting design on there in order to know where my star should go (and how big it could be).  And well, if it's good on the front, wouldn't it be good on the back?! 

Of course!  Plus, I get double use from it (which I'm all about).

Instead of putting it together, quilting and binding it, I stitched it with right sides together, flipped it inside out, and then quilted it . . .

I was a little concerned about how the design would quilt on the back, even though I'd worked very carefully to line up the center design, so I used a more blended color of thread for the bobbin.

But I think it worked out just perfectly! It's hard to see in the picture, which means it's not as striking, but now I know it's do-able and I can go wild next time!  Yay!!

Already got it in use!  It was a fun and fast project and I *love* the quilting!  

[post script added:  since it doesn't get any NewFO-y-er than this, I'm linking up to Barbara's Cat Patches for her July NewFO linky party!  Yay!!]

As for "Wilma" -- she's the companion to "Waldo" of "Where's Waldo" fame.  

I'd cut and pasted her into my photo the other day:

Teresa found her first!!  I may have to mail Teresa a little something for having a 'hawk eye'!

:)

it's a good thing i married a firefighter . . .

Cuz y'all . . . yesterday I was HOT!!!!  I mean my sewing machine was SMOKIN'!!!!  My fingers were just a'BLAZING!!!!  I was setting fabric on FIRE!!!  

Okay, okay, enough with the imagery.  But I do have a reasonable right to be a little excited.  I got in four finishes yesterday!  Whoohooo!!  

First finish was my little Leaves and Acorns topper . . . 

Next I quilted the cute little hexie topper . . . 

I haven't named it yet.  I quilted around the outside, the stitched in the ditch around in the six, then offset stitched in the center hexie.  I'm very pleased with this sweet little project!!  :)

Then, on a whim, I rummaged through my sewing basket, found some very thin, black binding, and finished up my Winter's Shimmer topper.  

I was just a teeny, tiny bit concerned about how the black would look on the reverse side, but I shouldn't have worried:

I'm really pleased to have this one finished!

And then finally I quilted and bound my Theoretically piece.  

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out and it will serve as a great reminder for all the work I put into my Color Theory course!!  The button in the center is a nod to the last exercise of the last lesson ... where I had to "make do with what I had".  I quilted it with a metallic thread.  That's a nod to me.  LOL!

In addition to all that, I made breakfast, lunch, *and* dinner, did three loads of laundry, and got dressed -- which, before you laugh, is a pretty big deal in the scope of things!

And my final act of the day was to mark the next segment on my wholecloth quilt.  I know it's hard to see, but it's a circle of hearts.

I'm really excited about quilting this design, because it's one of those that's a continuous pattern.  You never have to move your needle.

Y'all ... this "finishing" is just so freeing!!  I feel caught-up . . . I feel complete . . . I feel accomplished . . .

I feel justified in starting a new project today!!

:)

fall fruits inside and out . . .

I was hoping to have a finish to share this morning, but we had a busy day yesterday!  I do have this to share . . .

It's not attached or quilted yet, but give me an hour (some hour, any hour) and it'll be finished!

Todd is working on updating the camp's website, so I spent a good portion of my day sorting through three years worth of photos, picking the best ones and editing them.  Then we decided we needed to go out into the camp and grab some new photos.  So I did something I haven't done in well over a year . . .

Yup.  I can wear my tennis shoes again!  I tried sometime in the last two and a half months (when I was doing the de-cluttering process) and couldn't do it, so I was *very* pleased to be able to get into them yesterday afternoon!  Sometime next week I'll update my whole foot/weight loss progress (because I'm really thinking it's all tied together, now).

The golf cart is down ... and needs major $$ to get it back up and running, so we got in Todd's little truck.  But it meant we would have to 'hoof it' onto the trails.  One I've really missed is the little trail down to Crawdad Creek.  It really is a lovely, magical little spot.  First you have to find the Hidden Pathway . . . 

And then there's a trail opening in there somewhere!

Now, past the Forked Tree (which is so tall, it made my neck hurt to look up at it).

And through Fern Valley . . . 

Tiptoe past the upended group of trees . . .

Then there's the *magical* mushroom . . . 

Okay, it's not really magical, but I imagine if mushrooms could be magical, this one definitely would be.  

And finally, the creek starts to widen and make an appearance!

I got several great "micro" shots while I was out.

AND! before I forget, Kim, from Big B (everything embroidery!), had the solution/answer to my mystery nut!  It's from a Sawtooth Oak -- and as soon as I googled it, I knew that was spot on. Thank you SO much, Kim!

But after yesterday's adventure, I now have a new mystery:

Neither Todd nor I have ever seen one of these before ... they were falling on me as we left the Crawdad Creek area (had we overstayed our welcome?!?).  They're really tiny -- less than an inch big -- and very spikey!!

Today I'm off to Athens, Alabama to catch the Piecemaker Guild's quilt show!  Then Alabama plays at Arkansas this afternoon.  Should be a fun day!

:)

it's beginning to look a lot like . . .

Well, autumn, of course!!  

I got four of my six leaves finished yesterday evening.  

I haven't pressed them or stitched up the sides.  I haven't even really finished completely getting the right sides smoothed out.  Maybe if I get in there and get the last two done, I can take the whole kit and caboodle to Joc's and work the hand work while Ellie's napping.  Hmmmm . . .

I finished up my Color Theory course!  YAY!  I actually turned my last lesson in (very late) Sunday evening.  I got word Monday evening that I'd done well and passed the course.  Whew!  And better than a whole month early, too!

This was one of the final assignments.  Matching colors to pictures.  I used a picture of the Mayflower.  I know I've talked about wanting to do a landscape quilt using this as the focal.  Now I'm that much closer!

Finishing the CT course means I'm also eligible for other classes offered on StitchMAP, because it's a prerequisite for every other class.  And there's a new redwork class that's coming up soon!  I am signed up for it, too.  Yay!

I'm finally on the upswing ... a cold, sinuses and just the general "crud" has plagued me for about the last two weeks.  Unfortunately, as is often the way, Todd's just starting to come down with it.  Poor guy!

Conversation between Sawyer and his stuffed animal, "Baby," overheard by Kim:

Sawyer:  Baby, are you excited about Baby June?
Baby:  Uh-huh!
Sawyer:  Do you love Baby June?
Baby:  Uh-yes!

How sweet is he?!  Precious little guy; he'll make such a great big brother!!  Kim says she's been spoiling him just a bit lately, knowing that in less than two months, her attention will be divided.  I remember being that way with Jocelyn, before James was born, too.  

I was over there yesterday afternoon, right after he'd gotten up from his nap.  I was getting ready to leave and he grabbed my hand and said, "Okay, I go with Neesey for ride."  Kim told him that I had to go, and that he could go on a ride with her.  I turned towards the door and he broke into tears . . . "I want to go with Neesey!"  Awwww!  I opened my arms and he ran right into them.  How could I refuse?  He came with me to the grocery store and Kim met me there a little while later and all was good.  Love my little man!

:)

acorns aweigh my boys . . .

Gracious.  After frantically rummaging through three drawers and finally remembering that (unlike EVERY other stencil/template I have) I may have tucked them back into the book I copied them out of, I finally found my oak leaf and acorn template!  I only got my acorns stitched up . .. 

I still need to press them out and stitch up the openings. I hope to get my leaves done later this afternoon.

I got to thinking that perhaps this might also be pretty in batik leaves . . .

What do you think? Then I thought that perhaps for the batik leaves, I could do the acorns in this brown/green combo:

Because acorns aren't just brown/brown.  And I've always loved that mossy, mottled green!

And in case you're curious, this is the book the project came from:

I've got several Art to Heart books, and I just love them.  They're such fun and filled with such cute projects!

Linking up to Connie's Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday!  

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

I was in an empty classroom (my high school students were all in morning assembly, with the rest of the school), routinely checking homework and getting tests ready for the day and listening to the news on the classroom television. When breaking news hit the screen, I stopped what I was doing and walked over to the TV to watch.  I'll never forget seeing the image of the first plane hitting the building -- and then watching live as the second plane flew into the other tower, cementing the fact that it was a deliberate act of terrorism.  

So before I sign off, I just want to take a moment to remember -- and to appreciate -- that day and those who worked so hard to save lives, those who lost friends and family, and those who continue into this day to fight for the freedoms we so enjoy in this country.

:)