Sew Busy!

 The last three weeks have been great for me and stitching. I made the decision to work less overtime so I can have more time at home. I miss the money, but I was too tired and stressed. So with all that time I made things!!

I worked for a bit on the jelly fish project from the Mill Hill Marine Life Series for a bit. I decided to take a break from it so I could work on my Perpetual Calendar. It is so easy to start working on little projects that are super satisfying to finish and forget to take time to progress on the larger projects. I am almost finished with June and am hoping to start July within the week!

I have also been spending some time working on the Bramble and the Rose, but do not have an update photo on that. 

Meanwhile, I have been trying to get up to my sewing room every couple of days to work on some large projects I have going on. I was able to finish my Tradewinds quilt a couple of days ago.

Today I finished the last of the quilt blocks for the Nebula quilt pattern. I have some of the background cut. I'm hoping to cut the rest of that tomorrow so I can assemble the quilt top in the near future. Here are the ones I finished since the last update.

I also have been sticking to my Gravity Quilt stitch along and finished the 3rd month's blocks today as well. Here are the blocks I have completed so far.

I'm working on a challenge project for the Milk and Honey Quild Guild which requires me to make a quild no larger than 28 inches square using 4 colors, 2 of which are provided to me. So far I have designed the quilt and selected the additional 2 fabrics. I am hoping to start cutting the project very soon. I think it needs to be completed by May. No spoilers though!

In addition to the sewing today, I got a little excited and painted the pantries in my kitchen. It looks so much better! Before and After...

I'm looking forward to sitting on the couch soon to do some cross stitch. It was a busy day to be sure!

The Beauty of a Stitching Place and Time

 It has been a great year so far. I made a decision to work less overtime, so I have had more time at home (although less money for stitchy projects). Also, we recently went on a cruise. Vacation is a lovely pick me up and this one was very relaxing. And, of course, I have been working on my projects.

Since I moved into my new home I have a sewing room where I store all of my stitching supplies and have room for a sewing table, a cutting table, fabric shelving, and a comfy chair. In our relaxation room I also have a decidated stitching area at one end of the couch. But most of the time I sit at the end of my gorgeous kitchen table in a sunny spot stitching with my dogs and cats milling about my legs...and preiodically climbing on me. Having these happy spots has motivated me to stitch more which has really helped me destress from work.

Before we left for vacation I made six tote bags. Four of the bags were for us to take on the cruise. I was thrilled to add pockets to them on the interior. I am super happy with the fabrics I used as well. Everyone who received one loves them - which makes me heart sing. Three were made from the blue florals and the others were made with the same fabrics but I rotated the placement which really changed the charachter of each bag.

While I was on the cruise I worked on the third in a four part series of Marine Life from Mill Hill. I loved stitching the first two and the Dolphin project was just as fun. When we were in the Bahamas sitting on the cruise ship deck with the sun streaming down the beads were so brilliant and lovely! I finished just after I arrived home.

I'm now working on the fourth in the series - the Jelly Fish. This one I saved for last because I love the rainbow colors and was so looking forward to it that I figured it would pull me through the others. Although the blues in the dolphin were luscious.

Yesterday I was feeling quite terrible with a sinus infection and decided I didn't want to participate in much. I wasn't up to sttiching but I did end up doing some quilting in my beautiful sewing room. I cut the last three months of the Nebula Quilt from Jaybird Quilts. I finished sewing the month 7 blocks and then made a little piece with some of the left over fabrics. I was excited with how they all came out.

Throughout my stitching I have had my helpers with me. They seem to be always with me, sometimes within millimeters of me.

I'm looking forward to more stitching and more finishes!

A Finish and a New Kit!

 As usual it is busier around here than I was thinking it would be. I seem to include basic needs in my time buget plan! I did take time to do some stitching and sewing this week. I completed a tote bag for a friend - and forgot to get a picture! No worries though since I have 2 others pre-cut with the same fabric.

I have been working on the Mill Hill Aurora Borealis kit for the last couple weeks. Today was competion day! I'm excited to see what it looks like in the dark because it has glow-in-the-dark beads. Ooooo.

I haven't decided yet how I will frame it. I'm trying to think of new ways to display my stitching because framing is just so expensive. We might start making our own frames here. It is easy enough to cut some molding and then I can paint it. Especially for these little project stitched on the paper it should be easy and attractive to make our own.

While I was stitching the Aurora Borealis my dog flipped the bead container and I ended up running short of the 02098 pine colored beads. Crisis! So I just _had_ to order the Grasshopper Pie pattern from Glendon Place as a kit since it happens to have those beads. Yesterday the kit arrived! I am so thrilled to have this goegeous project. Of course, when to stitch it? I have so many that I want to do. What a terrible conundrum to have! I received the kit from WickedWips ETSY shop and couldn't be happier with the service. I recommend purchasing from her if you have the chance.

First 2024 Completion

 It has already been an eventful 2024 and it's only one week in. I worked three of the days so far and have been trying to get a handle on plans for our vacation in a month. It finally became cold enough for the ground to freeze, so I haven't had to fight the mud battle I was waging in December. There have been a couple of doctor visits for me and for dogs, and finally a couple of days to try to relax. Of course the minute I sat down I spent most of a day doing paperwork. I swear the world gives me more busywork than an elementary school teacher! Saturday I was excited to have a friend over to stitch with me for a few hours. That is the first time in a couple of years I have been able to make that happen! We had a great time. I was working on the letter Z in the Black & White project. She was working on Glendon Place's Plum Pudding. 

Today I was able to finish the letter Z. I was pretty excited because it seemed like it took far longer than I hoped. I grabbed the letter Y to work in next but decided that I wanted to work on The Bramble and the Rose a bit before I started back in on some of my smaller portable projects. Here is the finish of Z and some of the progress on The Bramble and the Rose:

Now that it is winter (it snowed about 6" today), I start to think about what WIPs I can work through to completion. And I always hope I will be able to get more done than I actually do. This year I'm going to think more about just trying to find time to stitch and not worry about what I might or might not complete. I am hoping that things start to settle down with the house so I'm not tied up with fixing all the things that one finds wrong with a 200 year old home the first year living in it! I look forward to making things to make it beautiful instead of just focusing on just keeping it standing - a lofty goal. 

I know that things always happen and some are good and some are challenging. I hope that everyone this year is able to find more fun times than challenging ones and that the challenging times are short lived. Be well!

Holiday Projects

 This time of year is always busy, even if you don't celebrate the winter holidays. I always pick up overtime so others can spend time with their families - and it is extra pay after all. But it is also dark and the weather is in upheaval, so what better time to work on sewing projects?

This year I joined the Milk & Honey Quilters Guild. I haven't had a chance to go to a meeting yet, but I did join the mug rug exchange and the 30-year challenge project. I am still working out what I want to do for the 30 year challenge, although I have the fabric. But the mug rug exchange is done and I was excited to make a fun little project for one of the other quilters.

This is a great pattern. The green block to the left is a pocket for holding tea bags or a napkin. I recevied lovely feedback from the recipient. It was nice to participate in the group effort.

I have also been going to the fabric projects group at my local library a couple times a month as my schedule permits. I have been able to make some progress with my various projects. No photos at this time however. I've been a bum on that front. I have made good progress on the letter Z from Black & White. That is really all I have been focusing on currently. Although I had a day of educational seminars and was able to quilt for the day. During that time I madea couple of blocks for the Nebula quilt and move my halloween quilt along. I also made huge progress on a queensize quilt I am working up. So this is all encouraging. As always, it is fits and starts because of this whole employment thing.

A few days left in the year to work on projects and then a new year begins - same plan as the last, do my best each day. And I'm looking forward to a vacation early in February. What a great way to welcome a new year!

Giving Thanks

 Thanksgiving came early to my home this year. We have other obligations on the actual holiday so my Aunt and I decided to get together early this year to have some turkey, good conversation and a little break from our daily lives. We had a wonderful time and enjoy a delightful pre-cooked turkey with all the trimmings and some roasted vegetables. It was lovely.

Not long before she came I was able to wrap up binding a couple of quilting projects I had laying around (it was "cleaning"). I am so happy with the result on both of these.

The first is my own design. I made it to commemorate completing the 46 Adirondack High Peaks a few years ago. It was fun to participate in the seminar at the Schweinfurth Art Center which resulted in this quilt. The second quilt is Mod Flower Box by Robin Pickens. It was a lot of fun to do and was the first time I was sewing round pieces. I have another one that I made with the same fabrics except with a light gray background. I feel lke the black background is so dramatic.

In the meantime I am doing little projects about the house and spending some time working on my Black and White, perpetual calendar, and marine life stitching projects. I discovered that there is a stitching group that meets at the local library a couple times per month. Everyone is lovely. One of the ladies owns an alpaca farm and sells knitting and crochet patterns as Berry Meadow. They are gorgeous - she is very talented at project design.I'm looking forward to getting to know all of these people better over the next year.

Spring is Turning to Summer

 It has been a lovely spring in Vermont. We wish we had more rain for the plants, but it has been nice to be able to be outside on sunny days as much as we have. It has been a hot week here, but nothing too intolerable if you are able to pull up a comfy chair in the shade.

This past week I was able to finish one of the new projects I purchased. In January I got the bug for some beading/cross stitch kits and ordered far too many. I decided to start stitching the Marine Life Series from Mill Hill so I can have a few more "beachy" items in my morning room. I finished the lobster and couldn't be happier with the outcome.

I have started on the Turtle and have made some great progress. I am still working on the perpetual calendar project, but I needed a little break from it.

Meanwhile the puppy continues to grow like crazy. He is an awesome addition to the pack and has really bonded with his big sister Doss who is also new to the pack.

My biggest challenge right now is that my allergies are flaring like crazy so I am very very tired much of the time. This is cutting into my stitching time because I am often just fall asleep in my stitching chair. Not that it is terrible to get some extra sleep! Hopefully the rain this evening will knock some of the pollen down so I can perk up some. 

March Shenanigans

We are coming up on St Patricks Day. For many this means a day to imbibe, get red faced and be merry. For me this means the anniversary of passing the nursing licensing exam and the confirmation that I would be able to continue having a job. It also marks the onset of spring. This will be our first spring in the new home and I am excited to see the greenery coming out on the farm and watching (maybe even helping) Jon put in his gardens. 

However, today we have gotten about a foot of very wet heavy snow and I am also off work. I just worked a 6 day stretch and am very uninterested in doing much of anything. I was awake at 5 am, but stayed in bed reading the news and snoozing for a bit. Then the power (and my internet) went out for a few minutes so I got up. The dogs and I went outside and jumped around in the snow for a bit. I shoveld the walk. They did not help. We then stood in the kitchen for a bit. Then there was another cavorting trip to the outdoors. Then impoortant-seeming phonecalls to ensure adult things were adressed. The cat and Jon came down to break up the party. There was general confusion for a bit as the cat was trying to help with the project and thus was taken outside to be reminded how distasteful it is to have to live somewhere other than here.

An egg sandwich was then made and destroyed. I took to the couch to complete a project. 

I have finished the April installation of the "Fun Every Day!" calendar from Sam*Sarah. Sadly, Patti Connor, the artist, has retired from stitching. So here is the photo of my finish from today:

So now, over the course of 3 years I have successfully completed 4 months totalling 16 tags. What might be the chances I will finish this project this year? Probably not very good.

I have been working on The Bramble and the Rose but do not have a photo update at this time. Not much more to say on that!

I shall now begin the May series for the calendar. It is a good day for stitching.

Black and White Gains a P

I guess I am inspired to stitch a lot lately. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's because I have a place to sit (2 really). Maybe it's just time. 

This week has been a bit up and down. The weather went from just under 60degF to the teens with a foot of snow. My mood has been all over the place with craziness at work and being frustrated about wanting to get outside more in the snow. And last minute errands have gotten me all dicombobulated. But at least I have had down time and been able to make a few things.

A couple of days ago (the 22nd?) I finished the next letter in my Black and White alphabet. It is not very much black and white, but then I have to do things my own way. Meet the letter P:

It feels good to finish this one because it involved the most stitching of them all. It seems I started it so long ago. I think the letter Y is next on my agenda for that project.

Meanwhile, I am stitching a little pallate cleanser. My cat had damaged one of my beaded projects and I needed to raid another for some matching thread for the repairs. So I decided to start a cute little one called Moonstruck from the Mill Hill bead collection (a subdivision of Wichelt). And of course I just wen to their website and was sucked right in to all the pretty projects. So here is the progress photo of this little project:

I'm happy with how quickly this one is going. I am trying to get to some of my outstanding projects, but it is always nice to have littles to finish in between.

I have had a helper while I have been stitching:

Generally he isn't too much of an imposition, but sometimes he wants to sit in my lap while I stitch. He is such a strange being. 

Time for me to get back to managing my upcoming vacations!

Snowy Stitching Time

Last week there was a very cold snap that came through. We had temperatures that dropped to -25 degrees Farenheit. Since then it has warmed to the 40s yesterday. Now it has transitioned from rain to snow. As much as I love to be outside, and I have taken a few opportunities, it is also a great time to stitch.

I have made great progress on a couple of my projects in the last couple of weeks. In mid-January I had picked back up on my "Red Bird" and "Black and White" projects as shown in this post: Fast Forward a Year. And this is where I am at with each:

It feels good to make progress on these and feel more connected to my fabric and fiber loving self. I am looking forward to picking up on some of my longtime projects now that I have the space and some time for stitching.

In addition to the stitching, I also repainted a bathroom. Here are the before and after pictures:

I am so excited about my pink bathroom. It is a bright raspberry color and really brightens up this tiny space. It will look fantastic once we get the decorations and shelving up. We are hoping to expand the shower this summer, but I just couldn't wait to get rid of the tan from the previous owners. 

I also found some time to make a display board for my quilting so I can visualize the quilts as I make them. It looks amazing in the room:

So big happenings here... and looking forward to more!

Fast Forward a Year

A lot has happened and a lot of it precluded time spent with my hobbies. The whole of 2022 was the sum of a series of epic happenings. I left a job I loved with an environment I found intolerable and moved to a job I love with coworkers to match. I moved from NY to VT. I sold a lovely little house and bought a large, impressive 200 year-old home - with the repairs to match. I lost a dog (miss you Leifr) and gained a rodent infestation. I went to the Grand Canyon - it is definitely grand! I feel like I spent half the year on hold with vendors and medical offices. But most importantly, I am happy to be living with Jon, my two dogs, my two cats and have an awesome stitching room:

The cats are happy because they apparently have each co-opted a queen sized bed:

The good news is that I have found a little time with the onset of the new year (mostly the inability to have access to contractors during hunting season) to get in some time for crafting. I did have two finishes in 2022 that I never posted. One was another in the alphabet series I have been working on and off over, I think, more than a decade now (oof). The other is a delightful Haloween quilt which will have a matching pumpkin facing the other direction (any time now):

I have made some progress over 2022 on the Red Bird project. I think I will need to purchase more of the green, but I am working through the rest of it for now:

And I started the letter P in the alphabet series and have rocked it in the last month (having the flu for a week helped because I only had the energy to stitch for the few hours I was awake):

And today I finished most of a quilt top for a lap quilt I am working on. I just need to add a colorful boarder with a white-grey outer border:

I'm pretty proud of this quilt because I learned how to make the rounded flower corners in a quilt block. 

It is lovely having a room where I can relax and focus on making things. I need the quiet and space to re-ground myself. Also, the view out towards Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks is not to be trifled with.