Lost again!

Just where did this week go? Somehow I have breezed through and not sure what or where! I have accomplished a few things....

I have since stitched even more on my Hawaiian block....all the leaves are done and soon to start the flowers.
I am enjoying the hand stitching...love to hand stitch. I found 2 patterns: one for a February design (my birth month) and one for a December design (Mr H's month) and hope to work on them next.  I started the gold trim for the center of my Dresden wreath...and it looks just as I wanted. All in all, the quilting projects are moving along.  I finally finished the Angel...

Love the wild hair! I just decided this morning at 3 AM....did I mention that I have been up since 2 AM! to add a trim to the wings along the edge.  Twice I have taken out Alice...oh I must wait until I get a few things finished first!  My Christmas packages to be mailed are almost ready...They will go out early!!!
Two new additions to my house this week... first this pretty little bird..

I will love having him with my Christmas decorations. I miss having Cardinals around. Back in Rhode Island they visited our feeders all year. He is ceramic and the bit of glitter catches the light on his chest. Then I also just had to have ...

I saw the dragonfly and into my hands it flew. Tea seems to taste special in it. I love tea cups as you may know so this is another addition that I have been actually using.  Can you believe that this Thursday is Thanksgiving? With that in mind, it means that December is just around the corner.....this has been a fast year. I asked Mr H to cut me a piece of wood to cover and slightly enlarge a table for me to put out my Christmas village this year. This will be instead of using the mantle which I have other decorating plans for. So, I will be pulling down from the garage storage cupboards the house soon and it will begin to look festive around her. I think I will go and curl up on the daybed in the sewing/guest room....it is a bit after 4 AM ....I hope to take a little nap before starting the day. It has been nice having you visit with me. Thank you so much for your friendship and kind words...enjoy your day.

Needle in hand

What a lovely few days...the weather has been cooler. I managed to get everything ready for hand quilting

Now before I hear about the pinning....when I was taught many moons ago to quilt by my friend Beatrice, we always pinned after the applique which was basted was finished. I find this to be easy for me. That is why after all they sell these wonderful curved pins. Anyway, I am ready to start. I am not liking the pattern for the center quilt lines....so this presents a hold up. I would like to stay true to the design, but I just do not like the suggested lines. So, in the meantime....

I do have my Dresden wreath to work on. Blanket stitching the edges down. Then I will couch the gold trim around the center circle and add the batting and the backing. I would like it to be ready to hang for Christmastime.  I am still thinking about what embellishments to use and such.  I have yet to start the bead challenge piece! And Alice is definitely asking to be started.....just not enough time for all that my mind is talking about. What to do....what to do....
Errand today and one to the post office....then I can show you the project I was working on. Did I remember to tell you about my printer problems? Well, I love technology until it works against me. I am still in many ways challenged in this area. Last week the printer decided to choose when and what to print. The audacity of the machine! I was having none of that. I consulted the online manual for ways to convince it to work with me to no avail. A call to Best Buy Geeks and since it was still under warranty I should take it back. So off Mr H and I went. Of course the model is not being sold still so I got the next in line. I really liked the one I had for almost 2 years. I always, always buy the extended warranty on computer things....if something is going to go wrong it will be just after the product warranty is over. So now we are a team again me and the printer. So that about covers it.  It is nice to have you visit. Thank you for your friendship and kind words.....have a great day.

Stitching away

Finally finished with the applique part of the Hawaiian block....

next step is to do the shadow quilting around the flowers. Excuse that it is not pressed but I just added the last of my stitches. I have decided that this will be a table topper. Well, to be honest, I think I have decided!And while this was being worked on

I have started the embroidery on the blades of the Dresden wreath. I know it can be difficult to see the stitches..... but I am doing the Chevron stitch and really like how it looks. Simple and not to distracting. The Sulky thread catches just enough light to be glitzy.  I am so enjoying sewing again. I felt I needed a break form cross stitch, not entirely, but just a change right now.  I have a few new fabrics to make a couple more of the Prairie Point ornaments too. Today after Mr H's doctor appointment we plan to drive over to Carefree to The Enchanted Pumpkin Garden. It was great last year and from the looks of the postings it will be great again. I will be sure to post pictures.  Amazing carving and displays. Can you believe it is almost Halloween? We do not get trick or treat kids here in our community. This is the first year Mr H did not put out a pumpkin patch out front. Right now I need a cup of coffee and scrambled eggs. Wish you could share them with me, but still happy you visited today. Thank you for your friendship and kind words. Have a great day.

Skipping Autumn

It is hard to think of Autumn and crisp air when the temps are still in the mid 90s. Yesterday it was 96 and prediction for today is 94. All week it will be in the mid 90s and can it be true? on Thursday maybe 98! Presently it is 71 degrees and warming up. So, I guess working on Christmas could be what I need....

Those lovely prints that I bought the other day will be a Dresden wreath. I am ready for the embroidery and this will be a wall hanging. I completed my ornament, of course I can not show you yet, but it looks cute for a little girl.

This is Natalia Rose and her mommy Elyssa. My niece took the little one to their local park to ride the carousel, something Mr H and I used to do with Elyssa.

This is one of our rides taken in 1995 when she was around the same age as her baby is now. She loved the carousel, changing animals each time--- usually riding for at least 6 rides! She was a delight for us to have for weekend visits. My goal is to continue making Natalia an ornament for as long as I am able to each year.

My plans for today are to work on my Hawaiian block which is almost completely appliqued down. I decided it will be a table topper so now I will think about the backing and maybe a border. Decisions! That is part of the enjoyment, isn't it. Remember Alice, the pattern from Quaker Fantasies? I had requested the Ignore Attic get it for me back on September 14th. Still no call that they have it. I found that I can get it from Stitches N Things now, so I guess that is what I will do. I will give The Attic a call on Tuesday before ordering. Well, time to move on and get a laundry in and fetch the Sunday paper which I heard being tossed against the garage door. It has been nice chatting with you today. Thank you for your friendship and kind words. Have a wonderful day.

It was a sew sew day

I did not plan to be so productive, but then again I do not make plans.

Sew pleased with my pillow finish. It is just how I envisioned it. It measures 16 inches square. I think I love the Dresden plate pattern! I really enjoy hand stitching...

The center button is blanket stitched and the other edge also. The petals are done with the Cretan stitch. The flat beads I hope indicate the seeds of the Sunflower. I usually really stuff my pillows, but this I wanted to keep a little softer, squishy.

On the back I used the reverse side of a bright green and I love how it looks. You can see the scrap of the fabric front draped on the coroner. I already cut out more Dresden blades....hope to show you that soon. I then sat and decided to make an ornament for my tree.

I had these two old buttons in my button jar and they look just right. Well, after finishing this one I had to make a couple more...

so, the two at the bottom will be going to two special homes....not yet of course, but soon. My enjoyment is making and giving, never selling. I would love to make a children's print ornament so I will be on the lookout for special prints.
Somehow the weather fairies have not caught on yet that it is Autumn....yesterday the temp was around 90 and today it may be around 92.  Sitting outside once 8am rolls around it out of the question. Guess that means more time to sit at the sewing table, although not today as we have a doctor appointment this am and a party this afternoon. The time in between may be a trip to JoAnn's for supplies. It  has been so nice to chat with you, thank you for your friendship and kind words. Have a wonderful day.