A Finish...

I finally was able to finish the shrug that I was making...it is a really pretty yarn from Lion Brand Yarns-Vanna White-Sea Mist...it took four skeins of this yarn to make the small size shrug...I am pleased with how it turned out...another giftie finished...I did not think it would get finished since I had injured the tendons in my right arm...but I was finally able to do the last bit of crochet on this today...
Wendy

Table Runners....

A group photo of all six of the table runners...this first one I am calling berry blast! I absolutely love it and will be keeping this one...the rest are for gifts and I have six more to make...

This one is pretty as well...although the print fabric does not take ironing very well at all, so I used the blue solid for the center...I still like it though...

I have had this candy cane fabric forever and a day....I think it turned out really well...

I think both of these prints went really well together for this....

I have only a small bit of this fabric left now...I have had it for a long time as well, as I bought five yds. when I first purchased it because I liked it so well...I paired this one with a burgundy solid to bring out the colors in the ornaments...

This was some Moda green that I had from a few yrs. back that looks Christmasy....this one could actually be used before or after the holiday season...

these all turned out really nice and I am off now to finish up the others...
Wendy

A Finish...

A small finish, but a finish none the less...I finally finished the snowman stitchery...I stated in my last post that I had applied iron on lightweight fleece to the back...I really like how the stitchery turned out...the fleece keeps the thread from showing to the front once it is completed, that is a big plus...my only gripe is that I should have pieced the whole thing before I ironed the fleece to the stitchery...lesson learned...and the finished mat...

I did have to change how I made this one as I did not think to piece it all at one time...again a lesson learned...this little project took a totally different turn because I did not think the project through before beginning...I am usually really good about that, but not this time...I really like how this little mat has turned out though...I will be doing another one in the original plan that I had...so, will I use fusible fleece again, yes, yes and yes again...if you decide to use it just remember that it works best with the quilt as you go method of projects...your project with be quilted when finished, all you have to do is put the backing/binding and your done...what are your thoughts on using fusible fleece good or bad I would love to hear them...oops, I forgot to add that the stitchery is a Michelle Ridgway design and can be found on her blog for free here.

Wendy

New Canvas...

I made a couple more fabric canvases over the last month...I really like how these come together...they are a great project when your sewing is limited...I see more of these in the future done with regular fabrics and not Christmas fabric...and here are some closeups of the new ones....a collage with two snowmen as center stage for this canvas...

  And this one...just simple patches for this one...

 The very first one that I made...

the second collage with one snowman as center...

Wendy

FNWF Results...

I added eyes and a nose on the snowmen for the candle mat, but had not posted it as of yet...and a small close-up of the snowman...

it was slow going as hand stitching is only allowed in small amounts until the tendons heal in my arm...Now for the FNWF: I started this little stitchery ...does not seem like I made much progress, but the stitches are tiny so I think it was a good showing...

I did add some fusible fleece to the back of this one just to try it out...at this point I am not sure how I feel about it as it seems kind of thick even though the fleece says that it is light weight...we shall see...I did make a few items that I cannot show as they are a secret...keep those needles stitching,
Wendy

On This Day....

On this day 25yrs ago I married my soul mate...the journey has been wonderful for the first 25yrs and I am looking forward to the next 25 and all that they hold for us...

SSCS...Parcel Arrived

Every year I participate in the swap that Chooky hosts for her readers...my parcel from my secret santa has arrived and is now under the tree awaiting Christmas day...Maria sent to me all the way from down under...go check out her blog here... We make one handmade gift and then an ornament which we can open immediately when our parcel arrives...she wrapped mine in some lovely Christmas fabric and those cockatoo's are just beautiful... These are just wonderful and are now hanging with the rest of my handmade ornaments. Now to be patient until Christmas. We don't know who makes for us as who we send to is not the same as who sends to us. I will post what I made for my partner on Christmas day.
Ornaments from SSCS...so lovely....

I can show the ornament that I made for my partner...

Wendy

Happy Thanksgiving....

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blogging friends who celebrated 
Thanksgiving on today.I hope your day is filled with love, laughter, family and lots of great food! Be blessed and tell those around you how much they truly mean to you.
Wendy

Snowmen Finished...

I finally finished the snowmen candle mat I have been working on...this project was fun and irritating at the same time...let me explain the last part...I was working fine the first snowmen no problem...then during the process of appliqueing the second one my fingers began to feel really raw...I could not figure out why...I left the project unfinished after I had sewn down the three snowmen and came back to it this past weekend...just like the first time, after working a little while my fingers and hands began to feel really raw...the only thing I came up with is working with the wool felt...I have never had any other type of reaction to wool before, so am not sure if that was the problem or not...anyhow, it is now finished unless I want to add anymore detail...I had thought about adding facial features but it wont be seen underneath a candle...what do you think, should I add the face or leave it as is?
Wendy

FNSI...Results

Not as much accomplished as I wanted, but I do have some secret sewing that cannot be posted yet...I did complete three more flowers for the scrappy flower garden and started a fourth...these are the first I have made in some time as I had over stitched and crocheted until I had tendinitis and had to let it heal...I did do a bit of stitching, but again I can not show it...soon though...what did you accomplish at the FNSI...

Wendy

National Button Day...

I was reading a blog I follow today and her post was about this being National Button Day...well I could not go without posting some of my buttons as well in honor of it being Button Day! I have a large collection of vintage buttons that was my grans and my moms...we used to play with them as kids and used them as money and such in games we played...most of these buttons holds many memories of days happily playing in the button tin...since I have had them I have added to them on and off through the years...here are just a few of my buttons...a few put together...the yellow ones came from a dress my mom wore when she was a little girl in the 30's...they are very fragile and I only have a few of these now...the black one is made of jet and came off a mourning dress. 

 these are made of bone and came off a coat that my mom wore...

 I love the green ones with the lilly petals on them...and the chocolate buttons with knots...these came from gran as well.

 These buttons are made of leather and are in really good condition considering their age.

I hope you have enjoyed my buttons as much as I do...I will be back on tomorrow with the results of my FNSI...
Wendy

Fairies...

A while back I entered a drawing on this blog for some fairies...someone else won the major drawing, but the artist Annette was so generous that she sent each lady that responded a few of her fairy cards...mine arrived this week and they are beautiful! You should go check out her blog here as she has some amazing art on her blog...these are just stunning...and no they did not come with writing across them, I added this out of respect for the artist and her work...:)
Wendy

Birthday Post....

My birthday was on the 6th of this month and I forgot to post about it here...I had a wonderful day and had many birthday wishes...I thought I would post a few of the items I received on my big day...I am so blessed to have been able to celebrate another year on this earth...I am truly thankful to God for another great year....a mini quilt, 7 charm packs, fat quarters, crocheted shawl, crocheted neck warmer, enamel peacock with swarovski crystals,two jellyrolls, and a $10.00 gift card from Goodys...had a great haul...the crocheted shawl and scarf was made for my by my daughter Bliss...I really missed her being here...the two men in my life went in together for the peacock...I love it...and of course I love my fabric...some closeups:He is just beautiful and sparkly when the light hits it...the crystals on his tail is just amazing...he opens up and there is a space just the right size to put something special inside...R & C did so well in getting this for me...another gorgeously stunning peacock for my collection...I love it guys!!!

Next is my lovely shawl that Bliss made for me to wear when I am working on my handwork in the evenings or early mornings...this pic does not do the color justice...it is a deep red and is so very soft and cuddly...I used this already this morning while drinking my cuppa and browsing blogs...so warm...a big thank you to my sweet Bliss for making these for me....I love them!

And a very lovely colorful scarf because Bliss knows how much I adore color!

My dad/mom got me another singer sewing machine along with this great mini quilt...I love collecting vintage/antique sewing machines so this was a great gift....I will be posting about it again soon...

That was the haul for this year...The most special gift of all though is the gift of life through another year from my heavenly Father...I cannot thank Him enough for all that He has done, not only for me but my family as well this past year...I am looking forward to another great year!

Wendy

Veterans Day....

In Honor of Every Veteran who has served our country past and present....Thank You! Thank you for putting your lives on the line on a daily basis...Thank you to my dad who served in the US Navy, and to my uncles and cousin who have served as well...To every man and woman who have and are now serving our country...thank you for your sacrifices to make sure we can live in a free country...thank you to those families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice of their loved ones life...from the bottom of my heart I appreciate your courage and all that you give so that we as a country may live in freedom...Thank you!

More Feathers....

I have practiced more feathers...I know you probably don't want to keep seeing them, but I am practicing and this helps me to keep a record of the play time with them...I am trying to play with the feathers at least 15 minutes a day with the hopes of making lovely feathers very soon...I will be back tomorrow without any feathers I promise. :)
Wendy

Crochet Update...

Cooler weather means more time crocheting. I have pulled out three projects that I put aside when the temps began to heat up. Now that it is beginning to cool down a bit I can crochet again without being so hot. I hope to finish the first project over the weekend. It has been in my work basket for a while now and I really want to finish it. It is a simple shrug made with Vanna yarn in a beautiful green color called mist. The pic does not do the color justice. I may try and take another pic when the sun is out. Next up is my simple wave afghan in pink and grey. I am loving this pattern. I have used the pattern from Attic24 , if you have a chance go visit this very talented fiber artist. She has lots of cool things to see. This one has a long way to go before it is finished. I think there are about twenty rows so far.

 What are your long term projects that you are working on? Keep those hooks busy.
Wendy

Work Table...

 I am going to settle in with some hot chocolate and some stitching tonight while I veg out in front of the tv. Keep those needles stitching.
Wendy

Snowmen....

Just a little candle mat that I am working on...trying to decide if I like this on the black background or not before I start appliqueing them down...I may do one on a red background as well...I also need to decide how I will do his arms and scarf as well.
Wendy

Feathers.....

More practice with the feathers...this will become a pillow since this was a practice piece...there are quiet a few mistakes, but I am continuing on...these are actually much better than the first ones, so there is hope...I just need to find my groove with these I guess...so more practice in my future...and a closeup...

Wendy

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