More Feathers...and a Win!

First up I have been practicing drawing more feathers...I am getting more comfortable with the shape of feathers and will be doing another practice run hopefully over the weekend...this has been a fun exercise and I am going to continue to practice until I am comfortable making feathers...I think they are so beautiful on a quilt and they also make great fillers for open spaces...someone said I should mark them for a while on the project I am working on...I had thought about that, but like learning to type without looking at the keys I think I will continue on as I am...I don't want to become dependent on marking my feathers...my goal is to be able to design feathers as I go to suit the quilt I am currently working on if that makes any sense...Second, I won a fat quarter stack from Connecting Threads on Stephanie's blog here she has some wonderful designs herself, so you should go check out her blog....and they arrived on today...21 lovely fat quarters! The name of the bundle is Spring Terrace and can be found here...

I have never used Connecting Threads before, but this stack of yummy goodness is just beautiful...I will definitely be going over there to check out their other lines...now just to figure out what I am going to make with these...keep those needles stitching...

Wendy

Feathers...My Nemesis

I began doodling feathers today...most of the morning to be exact...I have always loved feathers, but have never tried to make them...well today was the day...bad idea, really bad idea...gave me a headache the size of Texas! Drawing them is so much easier than actually quilting them...still I tried and will try again in the future...although I think I will do so on a much smaller scale until I can get the correct feel for them...on paper is much easier than when you put thread to fabric...feathers 1, me 0...tomorrow is another day after all...seriously, I have watched video after video of people doing feathers and they make it look so very easy...not! at least for me it is not...I am a very visual learner so thought the videos would be a great help...I think they did help some, but I definitely need more practice...so I will be practicing these on a regular basis so I can become proficient at doing them...hopefully it will not take the rest of my life to do so...

I do think that white thread would look better and also help hide the imperfections, but I wanted to see where my mistakes were...well I can definitely see them! I do think for a first time try at feathers I did not do too awfully bad though...and I think with some much needed practice that I will be able to master these enough to use them in a quilt...as my mom used to say " if at first you don't succeed, try, try again"...so there will be more feathers in my future...keep those needles stitching.
Wendy

Wicked Hop...My Day!

Today is my day on the "Wicked" Hop hosted by the lovely Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt. with our great cheerleader Wendy of why-knot-kwilt. There has been some really wicked fun going on in blogland this month. I don't decorate for Halloween, as Christmas is my favorite holiday. But I do have a sister that goes all out with her decorations every year. I try and make her something for her birthday (which is in Nov.) so she can have it for her big halloween bash that she has every year. This year I have made her a wall hanging. Her party was on the 27th and she loved her new wall hanging. I enjoyed making this for her and tweaked it to suit her tastes. I call this "Wicked Hallows". This is the whole wall hanging. All the pumpkins and the haunted house motifs have been appliqued onto the batik fabric with buttonhole stitch. I used dyed cheese cloth for the edging around the quilt. There are spider webs in each corner. It is 32" x 60" which is a good size wall hanging. This fit perfectly over her fireplace.

 Now for a few closeups....

The spider web...

 Closeup of the whole row together....

 Closeup of the moss made from cheesecloth....

A better closeup of the moss....

 Closeup of the label.

 And another whole shot of  "Wicked Hollow"

I hope you have enjoyed my post about my little wall hanging. It was great fun creating this gift. If you have more free time please visit all the other great blogs on this blog hop. There are such great wicked ideas floating around from all those participating in this blog hop. I know you do not want to miss out on seeing all the great creativity that is going on.

October 30^th

Quilt To The Edge

Stitchduchess Crazy & Sane Quilting World 

Pampered Pettit

Feltfree på Åsly

Quilt Matters

Life, Quilts and a Cat Too

Sunshine Girl

Secretly Stitching

Englating

Seams Like a Dream

AnnieOak Designs

Have a great day,
Wendy

Sneak Peek....

Just a sneak peek on my project that will be revealed on Oct. 30. at the "Wicked" blog hop. Come back to take a look see at what I have been stitching up...
Wendy

Pin Cushion Swap...

This is the lovely pin cushion that my partner Carol sent out to me. The lovely Bree hosted this pincushion swap. I was so happy with my pincushion. With all the ones I have I did not have a strawberry. Thank you Carol, I love it. I will post about the one I made as soon as my partner recieves it.
Wendy

A New Fabric Collage....

I made another canvas and cloth quilt. This one is more like a fabric collage on canvas though. I cut out shapes from different Christmas fabric and made this one. Two down and two more to go. I am having fun making these up as I go.
Wendy

A Non Traditional Quilt

This was a fun little quilt to make...a quilt on canvas not your traditional quilt to be sure, but a quilt non the less...this was fun to make and I have three more ready to put together...this is a great gift for the quilter who has everything...or just to brighten up a sewing or craft room...I used Christmas themed fabric for mine...
Wendy

What's On My Work Table....

I have been working on crocheting and knitting some dish cloths that are needed around here. I have a book that was given to me with some great patterns for knitting dish cloths. I have started at the front and will do one of each. So far I am enjoying the process. By the time I am finished I should be able to knit more than just the basic stitch as these will give me lots of practice. And this one is a crocheted one that I finished on last night.

Also on my work table are these blocks for another pink/black quilt. I am hoping to get this to the flimsy stage in the next day or so. 

And I have been doing some secret sewing that I cannot show right now. And of course I have been crocheting on my afghan as well.
Keep those needles stitching,
Wendy

FNWF Update....

I am late in posting my FNWF post...it has been a busy past few days...I did get a bit accomplished though....I worked on my afghan which I should have posted about on Thursday, but I did not get to work on it again until Friday...I made twelve roses and finished two blocks that are now joined and one block almost finished....

I did have to remove the picot edging as I could not join them and keep the pretty edge...when this is blanket is finished my plan is to go around the whole blanket with the lovely picot edging...it was a pain to remove all that work as well...but in the end I had no choice as I could not find a way to join each block and it look pretty...so the edging I wanted for each block failed and will be used as an all over finish for the blanket in the end....

 then I worked on this stitchery BOM that I have started...I really tried to resist this one for a while and I have finally jumped in and have received my first set of blocks...this is going to be a very pretty quilt when all is said and done...

I did work on some secret sewing before working on the stitchery above, which cannot be shown here as it is a gift...but I did have a productive night for FNWF...you can go here to see what everyone else was up to for the sew in...
Wendy

p/s...if you received an email with an attachment from me, please see the post below...

Urgent...

If you receive an email from me with an attachment please do not open it...IT IS NOT FROM ME!!!!!!!!! My email account was hacked sometime during the night....I did not send out emails with attachments...I have not sent out an email of any kind to anyone who has my email addy...it has now been recovered and I hope no-one has opened this false email from me...I don't know why people do this kind of thing to other people....it makes me so angry to think someone would steal my email and then mail out false information...I do not even know what it says...I would not have known if one of my email people had not emailed me asking if it was for real....PLEASE be advised that I have not sent out an email to you....thank you,
Wendy

Crocheted Thursday

I have decided that on Thursdays I will be posting about what is on the hooks at the moment...I have several projects that really need to be finished up along with this new one...so for today it is all about the roses...this is a rose block that I am making which will eventually become an afghan for either the sofa or the spare room...the colors are bright and cheerful while the rose is just a lovely shade of white...I do think the pops of color sets the white of the rose off really well...I have one block completed and three more roses ready with one in progress on the hook...I am going to try and do five blocks at a time rotating making the roses then the blocks...I think it will go faster this way...

 Another pic...the yellow has been removed from the basket as I have decided not to use it within this block...

 Hope your hooks are always filled with lovely thread...
Wendy

"LaPassion" Hexagon Quilt

I  just had to post about this amazing quilt being made called "LaPassion" over on Grits blog...this quilt is just stunning and will make you want to pick up needle, thread and hexagon papers and make one...I have started a page here with blog links to those who are making this lovely quilt...I will add to the list as people let me know they are making "LaPassion" and  would like to have their blog listed so we can come visit...this quilt is not for the weak at heart....but those who love a challenge and want to make an heirloom quilt....go ahead and go take a look here, I promise it is worth the click to go see...
Wendy

Some Stitching....

 It is a rainy day here with overcast skies and cooler air...I have been fighting off allergies for days now due to the changing of the seasons...I have been able to do a little stitching though...one is a secret so I can only show a sneak peek...the other is my bed runner that I am working on...some close-ups of the bed runner in progress..

I really like this fabric that I chose...I purchased three yards when I first come across it...I wish I had purchased the whole bolt now...it has been languishing in my stash for some time and I decided to use it for this project...

And here is a sneak peek of my secret project...this will be revealed in a blog hop next month...keep those needles stitching...

Wendy

Friends Swap...

My swap package from my partner Lanette has arrived and we opened ours on yesterday...Lanette put together an amazingly wonderful package for me...she really spoiled me in this swap...
F-flower pincushion/thread catcher with charm packs
R- redwork pattern
I- Indonesian batik fat quarters
E- essential quilting pins/notions
N- nativity felt kit
D- dritz needle accessories
S- shawl crochet book

This is what I sent out to Lanette...I wrapped all her gifts in generous size cuts of fabric...we can never have too much fabric in our stash!

As I forgot to take a picture of what I had sent out to Lanette, this photo is from her blog....

F-Fabric jellyroll> Moda "Happy Camper"
R- Ribbon "vintage" lace, white ric rac
I- Infinity crocheted scarf
E- everyday new notions: buttons, needles, washi tape, beads, silk leaf ribbon
N- notions "vintage" ric rack, binding, twill tape etc.
D- dmc embroidery thread, lace motifs 
S- spools "vintage" thread spools, sneak peek fabric viewer
I had so much fun shopping and finding all those vintage items for Lanette...when I read that she collected vintage sewing items, I went on the hunt for some items for this swap...I am so glad that she likes everything that I sent out to her...a big thank you to Khris who hosted this swap...a whole lot of fun was had during this swap...keep those needles stitching.
wendy

Updated..Pin It Blog Hop....My Day!!!

There are several who wanted to see the rest of my pincushions...well here are 32 of them...the two rocking chairs holds thread spools as well and they are going to be refurbished with crazy quilted seat covers...I have some packed away as they are seasonal and only come out to play on the holidays...Christmas, Fall, St. Paddys, Valentines Day etc...here is a list:
1. large chair
2. small chair
3. white heart
4. mouse
5. cream heart #1
6. wool flower
7. purple crocheted octopus
8. white crocheted octopus
9. peacock jar
10. yellow flower jar
11. blue teacup
12. white coffee cup
13. wool heart with initial
14. red wool heart
15. siggy pincushion
16. string pincushion
17. top hat
18. stitchery pincushion with house
19. x stitch pincushion
20. teal square
21. pinwheel
22. blue and yellow
23. x stitch initial travel pin pillow
24. shabby pink
25. bottle top
26. acorn
27. cream heart #2
28. Karen Ruane pin pillow
29. batik
30. cherry stitchery
31. aqua heart pin pillow
32. shabby white by me for this hop....

Today is my day for the Pin It Blog Hop hosted by Madam Samm and Kristin who is our fearless cheerleader for this round of the hop...I love pin cushions and have a big collection of them...some small, some big, some plain, some blinged out...the last time I counted them I had close to 60 of them and of course I have added to them since that time...I really should count all of them...today is my day and this is the lovely pin pillow that I made for this hop...I have another in the works but decided to do just the one for now...I really like how this one turned out...I love the shabby chic feel to this one...be sure and visit all the other wonderful blogs that are on todays list...

September 13

Quilting In South Carolina

Negligent Style

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Sew Many Yarns

News From Bear Hollow

Around The Homestead

Living with Purpose

Buzzing and Bumbling

Colorpoint Quilter

Scraps of Life

Daisy Days

Stitchduchess

Life @ RuffHaven

AnnieOak Designs

Grandmama's Stories
Suebee's World
Handmade by Mama

Remember....

Let us take a few moments out of our day to remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001...or the attack by those who hate the thought of "FREEDOM"   (images taken from google images)

SS2

First I want to thank each of you for the prayers and thoughts sent my way this past week along with the encouraging words...I have started my project for "Simply Stitch 2"...I worked on these hexies last night and they will be a part of the project as well...I will post more about this in a few days...keep those needles stitching...
Wendy

Taking a Few Days....

Taking a few days to regroup after this past weekend...my moms baby sister passed away on the 30th of August and her wake and funeral was over the last few days...I have several dr. appts to take my mom to and need a little rest and clearing of the mind...I will be back in a couple of days...

One Flower Wednesday

 Well today is "One Flower Wednesday" and I made two flowers and started on a third but did not finish it....

All ten of these beauties together....now to think about the next round on each of these flowers....I plan to make ten and then do the second round on each flower so I don't have to do them all at the same time...

My stack is steadily growing....keep those needles stitching,
Wendy

Monday Star Count

Today is the Monday Star count....I have made three more to add to my scrappy stars quilt....and I have enough for 26 more cut and ready to baste and stitch together...and the whole group of eight stars together...

I am enjoying the process of making these stars...they are very relaxing to work on...notice the star made from the fabric I made the curtain for Bliss with...keep those needles stitching...
Wendy

Another Pin Cushion

Here is the pin cushion from the stitch along....I finally had time to finish it and take a pic... after three failed attempts of doing tiny applique I decided to just stitch it and be done....

All hand stitched and sewn together....no machine used on this one...it is now sitting on my shelf with all the other pin cushions...now to get busy on the two totes I need to do...keep those needles busy...
Wendy

Monday Morning Star Count...

Here are three more stars for my collection...I am enjoying making these...my speed is finally picking up with these...also I sewed up a privacy curtain for Bliss for her bunk...also made a privacy curtain for the closet as she uses that as a dressing room...

 Loving the fabric I chose for her...now all she has to do is tie it up and she has instant privacy...keep those needles stitching...
Wendy

FNSI...

 Finally able to make this post...had to do household chores and then charge camera battery...this is what I worked on for the "sew in" on Friday night...this will be a wall hanging for Bliss's dorm wall...they are sadly lacking in color and she wanted me to make her something...hope to finish it this week and get it mailed off to her...it's a collage of vintage doilies, lace and new fabric..I really like the border fabric and the way it makes the rose fabric pop out...there will also be another heart placed in the center heart...the pic really does not do this justice...off for some much needed rest...keep those needles stitching...
Closeup of the folded fabric flowers and ruffle.... 

Wendy

Back Home...

We are back home after a safe trip..."B" is now installed at Christ For The Nations for the next four years...the trip was a good one, but very tiring...we had good weather on the way out...and just a small amount of rain about an hour from home on the way back...I am tired and mentally exhausted from this trip...I did baste two large stacks of hexies totaling around a hundred...so some stitching was accomplished...the quick turn around on this trip has me so tired...1400 miles round trip...missing my girl terribly...will be back in a few days...need to unpack, wash and rest a bit....hope you are having a great day and are keeping those needles stitching...
Wendy