New Project

I needed a new project to take with me when going to the dr. and such. So I decided to do the HexyMF over on Katy's blog. I have everything ready and organized in a box. I spent the better part of yesterday morning cutting out all the hexagons for this quilt. My hands are sore this morning but they are all ready to go. I may start basting some later this evening after I have my swimmersize session. The first pic is what a stack of 425 hexie's look like waiting to be basted. I still need to cut 80 yellow centers for the flowers. I am waiting on fabric to arrive for them. I chose to use only five different fabrics which will be 16 flowers from each. I decided to use fabric I had in my stash for a while. There are two solids and three prints. I will be putting this on a black background unless I change my mind.

Until next time,
Wendy

Heartwarming Find

What you may say is heartwarming about a sewing machine find? I will tell you why this little machine warmed my heart upon seeing it. When I was nine I inherited my grans (my dads mom) sewing machine. It was an Atlas sewing machine and she was the only one to have ever sewn on it. When she passed away my dad brought it home to me. I learned to sew on that little pinkish tan machine. Nothing fancy but she sewed like a top. I literally wore that little machine out. I was sewing one day and the motor caught fire! She burnt up before my eyes! Cabinet and all. I had nothing left except the iron legs of the cabinet when all was said and done. My gran had put her machine in her mothers singer treadle cabinet. Now all I have is the legs for the cabinet and my memories of learning to sew on that machine. When my machine was destroyed my dh bought me a new singer. It was ok, but not my sweet grans machine. When I laid eyes on this my heart swelled with memories of sitting at my grans machine learning to sew using a machine. I could hand piece, but this allowed me to sew anything I wanted. I made all of my oldest daughters fancy dresses and such on this machine. Like I said, the memories just came flooding back and I had to buy it and give it a home. She needs to be oiled and dusted a bit, but the motor runs smooth as silk. And just the sound brings a smile to my face that only I can understand. Not just memories of sewing, but standing near gran when she sewed and the times that we spent at her house once we moved close by. Yep, this little pinkish/tan girl has found a loving home that will treat her kindly. Now off to sew after this long post of memories for me. A quick pic of the boys, Whiz is ignoring me by closing his eyes nearly shut and being real still!lol He does not like the camera at all and usually tries to bite it when it is this close to him! So funny my little guy.

Until next time,
Wendy

Great Find

I love it when I make a great find, but when the sweet hubs finds a great deal I love him for it. Look at what he found while out on Sat. and brought home to me. A new to me Pfaff 1222 at a ridiculously small price and it hums like a dream. It also came with a number of feet. This baby is an older machine and weighs a ton, and is all metal. 

Not only that the guy also gave him a fishing tackle box full of parts for singer machines. This box is full of parts and sewing feet (I am guessing over a hundred or more as I have not counted them yet) 

This box contains anything you would need to fix a machine. Tons of bobbin races brand new! I am going to do an inventory in the next couple of days. The machine also came with two glass jars of bobbins. One is clearly marked for Singer machines, which I have in abundance! And one was half full of metal bobbins that can be used as universal bobbins. I don't know if they will work in my Bernina as I have never tried to use a universal in it. But, I do have plenty of other machines to try them with.

 And this little knife was also in the box of goodies. I am so excited about this find. My hubs really hit the jackpot for me on this! And it is so wonderful that he helps me with my love of machines, especially the older Singer machines. Soon I will need a room just for them.

I do have another machine to post about soon that was a find at the thrift store.
Until next time,
Wendy

Sweater Progress

 Thought I would post progress on the sweater. I now have seven inches completed not what I had hoped, but I am trudging along. I have noticed that I am building a little bit of speed now, so I know there is hope. I also tried to get a better showing of the colour for this project. The teal is such a beautiful colour and these pics are much better but, still a little bit off in colour. Wish me luck as I spent all afternoon and evening on this yesterday. I might have the back finished by the end of the week at this rate. Off to the Dr.'s now ugh....

Until next time,
Wendy

Knit Along and 2nd Post of The Day!

I have joined the knit along on Melody's blog found here. We are making a sweater! And I chose this beautiful teal color. I have longed to knit a sweater for years, but have never put needles in hand to do so. I am a self taught knitter and have only made dish cloths and neck warmers. So, when Melody (she is a prolific knitter and loves colour) decided to have this knit along with the way she learned when she started, I had to jump in and at least try. I also realized that I had been casting on wrongly and found out the correct way, which was also easier than what I had been doing. My stitches also look so much better. I am very slow but am hoping speed will come in time. I hope to have the back finished today sometime, but here is a pic of what I have so far. If you would like to join go on over to Melody's blog and take a look see. As for me I will be picking up the needles and work to finish the back as we will be starting another part on today. Wish me luck on this new adventure!
Until next time, 
Wendy

Awesome Mail

I finally made it to the post office on Saturday afternoon and found this lovely package waiting on me. It is from Peg, who was my partner in the colour swap that I was in. She really spoiled me in what she sent out to me, and everything in colors that I just love! Thank you Peg for all the beauties that you sent out to me. Below are a couple of closeups of the fabulous goodies she sent out to me. I will post what I sent out to Peg once it arrives and she has seen it...

 Until next time,
Wendy

WIP Crocheted Lap Rug

This is a wip for a crocheted lap rug that I am making for myself. It will take around 70 to 80 blocks for this one as I need to be sure my furboys can snuggle up with me under it. Not much else going on in the sewing crafting dept. I have some items to post about but am waiting on the receiver to get them before I post pics of them. I also have done a bit of lace dyeing with some dyes that I had gotten off ebay. No instructions came with them as far as mixing them so I just put full strength dye to the lace. I found better instructions by using google and next time will be adding water to the mix to get the shades I want. Live, try and learn!

 I also added a another smoothie to my list....this one is mango and so yummy.

 Until next time,
Wendy

Just Lovely Plants, Fabric and Smoothies

I just love hens and chicks! Mine is doing really well and is full of little chicks! Below is my fabric pull for my new crazy quilt. This is the fabric for my CQJ quilt for 2012. This quilt will have more than 12 blocks, I have been sloooooooow to get them made but am almost finished making the blocks. My muse had taken a vacation and I was left with no creative juices flowing. I am happy to announce that she has come back and is well rested and ready to go forth with this project. This quilt will have a theme that I am excited about, this will be my Marie Antoinette tribute to a queen who I find really fascinating. I will show the blank canvas sometime this week hopefully. I do have one block completed, but I am thinking on using it as a pillow cover....not sure yet.

Next is a great mixed berry & spinach smoothie. You can get the recipe here, I really enjoyed coming up with this one. We are trying to get more healthy around here and add more fruits and veggies to our diet and this is the least painful way of doing so for some of our family (especially the green stuff)lol.

Until next time,
Wendy

Happy Memorial Day

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day here in the US. Thank you to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we so enjoy. Thank you to each family that has lost a loved one who has given their all to protect and keep us in the freedom that we are accustomed to. May your day be blessed and filled with good food, fun and laughter.

Fools Gold RR Finished Block

This block was really hard to send on. It is my favorite so far in this rr. I love fans and the color pallet that Arlene chose is just wonderful. This one took a lot of work but it was so worth it in the end. I did make a few changes, but I let the block speak to me and it developed well I think.The first pic is of the blank canvas I had to work with. Just lovely.

 And the finished block for Arlene.

 A good amount of time went into this block design. I think my favorite is the spiderweb roses in gold. I used Krenick ribbon to make them and they are just so pretty. The pic really does not do this block justice. I hope that Arlene likes what I have created for her. I was going to go with bullion roses at the bottom, but my practice ones were really not very good. So I opted to forgo them and use the hummingbird and french knots instead. This block is now winging its way to the next person in the rr and will arrive soon hopefully to Arlene.
Until next time,
Wendy

"Santa Sack Swap"

It's that time of year again. I have been waiting several months now for the sign ups for this swap. I participated last year and had so much fun gathering items for my swap partner. You send out two gifts per month from July to December and then open when Cheryl gives us a date. It was so much fun last year. Participation is limited so you need to hurry on over to the blog that Cheryl has set up and sign up before it is too late!

Great Weekend

I had a very good weekend, as I was with all three of my children for Mother's Day this year and spent time with my mom as well. This is my loot for MDay! A kindle, k cover and money for books, flavored coffee and a mug, a dozen red roses and two cast iron with enamel dutch ovens!(these will be used to bake bread in)

The pic of the roses do not do them justice. They are so pretty, but it has been rainy here all weekend and no sun for good pics. They have stripes in them and are so pretty.

Until next time,

Wendy

Karen's Finished Fools Gold Block

I had thought that the pic for the finished block was gone. My camera stored it in another place! I really think my camera is going out on me, so time to think about getting a new one. With that said, here is the finished block for Karen in the "Fools Gold" RR that we are doing. 

 

Stitching Plan

Arlene asked me if  I would post a pic of my plans for stitching her block. So this pic is for Arlene, hope you like the plan for your block.

 My faithful little friend sitting next to my stitching table. He actually wanted in my lap, but as you know stitching would be impossible!

 This was taken just minutes after I had told him no for trying again to get into my lap! Just a naughty little fellow with his tongue sticking out at me! I thought this was so funny! Just like a two year old! I do love my Riddick!

 Until next time,
Wendy

Progress Fools Gold RR/Arlene's Block

Two posts in one day:) The block I am currently working on for this RR is Arlene's. I absolutely love the colors that she has chosen to use. I chose the other fan block to work as I have a love for fan blocks. So far I have added the laces and one lace motif that I will be using for this block. I have about 5 1/2hrs. invested so far in this block. I am keeping track of the time on each of these blocks that I have invested in them. Until Gerry K noted how many hours she spent on a block I had never thought to keep track of how much time was spent per block. When you do so, you realize just how much time you can spend when working on a block. Below is a  breakdown of hours spent so far on Arlene's block.
Drafting the design of the block: 3hrs.
Sewing down the lace: 2 1/2 hrs.
Next I will be doing the seams and then adding the beading which takes a long time.
Blank block before any work:

 Block after lace has been added:

Tomorrow I will be starting the seams.
Until next time,
Wendy

Progress on Fools Gold RR

Sorry for the absence from the blog front. I have been really busy and am limiting the my time on the computer. I have been working on a few things though. Some I am waiting to be delivered before I post and a rr that I am working on. I have been having camera issues as well, which really is a pain when you have a blog and love to post pics. First off is work I did for Karen in the rr "Fools Gold" where we are using faux gold instead of real gold thread and such. This has been a great rr and I have challenged myself to use new to me techniques on each block. Which I have done with this block. I used Gerry K's technique of doing an outline of your design from the back of the block. Then when you are ready to stitch just follow the lines and fill in where you would like. It does take a little more time, but is well worth the effort. You do not have to mark on the front of the block or use the tissue transfer method for your motif. I will definitely be using this method again in the future. Thank you Gerry for sharing this great technique with all of us on your blog. Karen gave a list of subjects that she likes that we could use for her blocks. As she indicated that she liked flowers, I chose to do my interpretation of a lotus blossom. She has three hot blocks and three cool blocks so I chose a cool block to work with. As my camera was not working correctly I do not have a pic of the finished block, but do have a few in progress ones to show.

Until next time, 

Wendy

Quilt Found and Returned to Owner

Remember the crazy quilt that was lost a few months ago that everyone in blogland was posting about, myself included? Well the quilt was found and Allie Aller has now received her quilt back at home. I am so happy her quilt was found and promptly sent home to her. Here she is with her quilt! So happy to see them both together again!
 

Happy Easter/ Resurrection Day!

Wishing all of you a Happy Easter/Resurrection Day!

Mini Quilt

This is the mini quilt that Cottilello made for me in a swap that I was in. I just love the peacock that she made for the center.

 

Peacock Runner

 

This is the most beautiful runner! I received this runner in a swap. The creator of this awesome runner is Shayla. She is so creative and used a vintage peacock pattern and added the extra blades for big beautiful tail feathers! I am so in love with these peacocks and the runner over all. The quilting is just fabulous as well. Thank you so much Shayla. This is a true treasure.

Fools Gold RR

The butterfly block...6x6

 
 Until next time,
Wendy

Comment Moderation

Well, I tried no word verification and had so many anon. replies that had to be culled that I have turned it back on. So sorry for the extra step for my readers, but I just do not have time to filter all these ugly comments from bad sites. Hope you understand. Thank you in advance for understanding.
 
I have turned off the word verification on my comments section to make it easier to leave a comment on my blog. I still have moderation but this will make it so much easier for those who wish to leave a comment on my blog. I hate the new verification process and I think this will work better.
Until next time,
Wendy

Trying Times

Well another round with meds is in order. I spent three hours in the ER late last night. Developed a bad case of hives all over. I am one solid red itchy spot! Two shots later and an script for some steroids and they sent me home. Will be glad when this is over with! Hope to be back soon with some crafty posts!
See ya soon,
Wendy

Progress

Well I think I am finally over the crud that I had. I have been cough free for three days now and am feeling much better. Although when I get too hot I start to cough I can control that with the ac. Had a Dr.s appt. for the bp and all came out well with that so I am good to go. I have been able to do some handwork but not much of anything else. I made the heart below for Lorrie in a V day swap.

 I need to take pics of the one she made for me and post here as well....Next I did get the quilt in the previous post put together and ready for quilting, but have not had the energy to quilt it. Hopefully I will get that finished soon. Of course I have been working steadily on my yoyo's and will have a pic of those soon as well. Lastly, I am in a rr called "Fools Gold" with some ladies from CQI and the first block is almost ready to be sent on. I will post about it fully on tomorrow, but here is a sneak peek of my start on Cathy L's block....more on that tomorrow...

 Have a great day,
Wendy

WIP Wednesday

Two post in one day! I just wanted to pop in and show what I am working on...it is a Christmas quilt using a layer cake from Moda called "Fruitcake". I hope to have it put together and ready to quilt by the weekend. I need to add the last two rows and then sew together and put the borders on. Hopefully I can do that tonight or early tomorrow morning.

 Until next time,
Wendy