Monday, March 12, 2012

Jeanne's March WIPocolypse Update

Don't you love the photo of Ireland in my header?   Oh just imagine living in a cute little rowhouse like that with lace curtains. :)   I can almost smell the fresh clean air after the rain! 

Things have been hopping around my house lately - visitors from out of state, lots of work issues and the usual stuff.  Can't believe it's time again for a WIPocolypse update!   I've been looking online at the new things from Market but nothing has really blown my socks off (which I'm secretly glad about).  Wonder if I'm starting to reach some sort of stash threshold?  Probably not...I'm sure in no time at all I'll have another episode of internet shopping!  My wish list is never empty that's for sure.

Here's my progress on American Sampler...I'm finally getting 'in the groove' on this old project. It took me some time to re-orient myself back in January  after letting it sit a few years...some of my threads had been pulled out for other projects, I had changed some threads and not written it down (note to self:  never do that again!), I had to repurchase the chart, etc etc.  However, things are going well now....I made progress this month with the border on the right  - adding another queen-stitch carnation and some smaller flowers, finished the top verse and got a good start on the house.  I love the house and am enjoying stitching it.   The only thing is I wish I had picked a darker fabric ......back when I took a class for this project (circa 2006) the shop brought in a selection of fabric cuts and I just picked one and went with it.  However, there are parts stitched in white like the railing on the top of the house that aren't showing up well on my linen....oh well - I'm sure not starting over so will have to live with it.


I also am trying to finish up my March ornament - I'm close - still working on the darn backstitching.  This ornament is taking awhile....it's one of those projects that doesn't look at all good until you get all the stitching and backstitching done.   Lots of half-stitches, metallic fibers, etc. I stitched this years ago for a gift - I love it but I'll also be glad when I'm done with it. 


I'm working on a little LHN project too - Poinsettia House for the 2012 Year of Smalls blog.  This was the January project but I'm just now getting time for it.   I'm stitching the house in overdyes and not doing it one-stitch-at-a-time.....hoping to avoid an excessively  'stripey' look but it's not working out entirely.  I love overdyes for lettering and small motifs but on big blocks of stitching I don't like the striped effect you sometimes get.

Two weeks ago I was able to get away for a weekend quilting retreat which was wonderful for the soul.   I don't have any big finishes to show you...I worked on lots of different things. I did complete a little top that I'm going to put on my dining room table this fall - it's all apple fabrics I collected years ago (not sure why but I was in an apple-mood apparently).  I still need to do the quilting and binding.  Unfortunately it barely made a dent in the apple fabrics!  That's the trouble when you've collected quilting fabric for almost 20 years  - using it up is almost impossible.  You make something and then you have loads of leftovers and scraps that you can't just throw away...the stuff multiplies like rabbits!  Also pictured is a wool folk-art heart - I saw this in a vendor booth at some show a few years ago so finally getting it made...it's going to be a pillow soon.  It's all done with buttonhole stitching.  




Lastly, I got started on making some padded bags to store my stitched pieces in - I have lots of seasonal things that aren't always on display and have been stacked on the floor of my guest room closet.  I've cleared a shelf in an armoire I have - my goal is to be able to stack all these projects there in bags.  I hate wrapping them up in tissue paper all the time. It's a good way to use up excess fabric too - each one has a Velcro flap and a place for a label on the front. I got 3 done at the retreat but still need about 10 more.  They're easy and fairly quick to do.




Well now you know what I've been up to.   I'm  anxiously waiting on 2 of my quilts to come back from the machine-quilter and then I'll have lots of binding to do on them.  When I pick them up I have 2 more quilt tops to drop off and then my backlog of quilt tops will be gone!  For years I've had tops hanging in the closets....it's a great feeling to be getting caught up.  I recently gathered all my finished quilts together in one place and my husband could not believe I had that many.   I wish I had more room for displaying them but maybe someday...in the meantime they keep each other company in the closet LOL.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to stop by and read my blog - so many of you are doing fantastic things, I only wish I could do all your projects!

21 comments:

  1. Beautiful progress on the American Sampler - I really love it! You have all sorts of stuff going on, don't you? Each project/stitching is wonderful but I really like the idea of your project bags to protect the things you're not showing. Great idea and great way to use up that extra fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, great WIPs! I love your American Sampler. And your other stitching is lovely too. Lovely quilts! And how cool to make bags for your seasonal pieces! So clever!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful picture in your header!
    Lovely stitching and I love the storage bags that you are making.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're making wonderful progress on the American Sampler. That is one that I haven't seen anyone working on so I'm definitely going to be watching your progress.

    You have other wonderful projects as well. I especially love your heart!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So many wonderful things going on at your house! Love your sampler in progress. Oh, the heart is fabulous, and I love the apple quilt too. So glad you got to enjoy a retreat this month. I live for my retreats, they recharge my batteries like nothing else. I got a good giggle out of your stash fabrics multiplying like rabbits! Isn't that the truth!?
    I love the idea of making bags for your samplers in storage. I always wrap mine in bubble wrap, but I bet I would save some space putting them in bags. Great way to use up excess fabric too!
    Thanks for posting. It's all inspiring to me!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow so many beautiful projects! Love your apple quilt! American Sampler is so pretty! Those padded bags are a wonderful idea to store out of season finishes! Going to have to make some myself!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your sampler and quilt are beautiful. Nice work. And that header photo is gorgeous.

    Bobbi

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello--the American sampler is beautiful. Love the dark browns for the tree trunks as they really look more authentic with the different browns, as in how trees actually grow. I would not start over something this wonderful!! You might want to do a little outline stitching around the railing on top of the house. You would have to go all the way around, but it would give definition to the railing that would be seen. Just a thought from a person who also loves to cross stitch (and seems to run into little design issues more often than I want to!!) The storage bags for finished items is a great idea--it would keep the dust off the pieces and keep the dust from scratching the wood frames. Have a great evening!! Judy

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great idea about the project bags! You are one talented lady. Love the American Sampler progress. Was that the class I took with you? I haven't taken that poor thing out to breathe for years! I will need to repent and improve!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lovely progress on all your WIPs. The American Sampler is so beautiful.

    Love those padded bags! What a brilliant idea.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love so many of your ideas. Thanks fr sharing them with us. The apple topper is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love your progress on the American Sampler. That is just such a pretty piece. Those queen's stitched flowers really are amazing to see. Love your quilt and bag projects too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. your progress on the Am sampler is great Jeanne - it is a lovely piece and I admire you for overcoming so much to pick it back up again. LOVE the bags to store your finished pieces. Wish I was talented with a machine like you are. YGG with all the quilting accomplishments. I say any finish of any kind is a good finish ! Glad you enjoyed the retreat. Mel

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely progress on your sampler! I love the flowers on the side and the twisted trees! Such a pretty sampler!! Great ornie you are making too! Nice progress on your LHN too!!Beautiful quilts and that heart is gorgeous! Sounds like you had a lovely time at the retreat! What a great idea to store your seasonal frames!! Keeps them protected better than tissue!!

    PS, love your header photo! I dream of living somewhere like that!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have lots going on with all your many projects which are all lovely. Just love your blog header. When you mentioned you wondered if you were reaching a stash threashold...I think I have reached that and recently realised there is no way I am EVER going to use up all my stash. It was then I made the decision to try and use what I have instead of always buying new stuff for a project!!
    Chrissie

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great progress on your American Sampler. I just love seeing this one. Great finishes too! I love the apple quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such nice progress you are making on the American Sampler. I love the blue house! Great quilt and projects bags, too!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow! I've eyed that American sampler for years and now I want to go order it this very minute---- you may have reached a stash threshold, but I'll probably only come to my senses when the floor collapses.
    Love the quilt and the ornie and, heck, everything you are working on. Those padded bags are a BRILLIANT idea! Kudos to you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely stitching and your apple quilt looks great. I love the colour combination.

    Your padded bags are fab. I gotta keep this in mind when I have too many projects to display ^.^

    Hugs,
    Veronica.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Jeanne, I am new to your blog, and love your stitchings. Your doggies, Abby and Buster are very sweet. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great progress on the sampler and pointsia house! love the ideas of the bags for the framed pieces!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by - I love hearing from other stitchers and crafters. If you have any questions be sure to leave an email address if you don't have one in your blogger profile so I can contact you. I appreciate your visit! (I've had to turn off allowing anonymous comments due to spammers)