Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Finally a new post...and wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Can't believe how fast the time flies by....I've been a bad blogger but trying to get myself back into it.  I think I'm going to designate one day a week as my 'blog day' - a day to catch up on other blogs and update my own and stay off of Facebook!   I need to update my blog list too as so many stitchers are no longer updating their blogs so I need to remove them and find new ones to add.  I'm thankful for those of you still out there!  Facebook groups are fine but on an individual basis I prefer blogging. 

I've been busy with lots of small finishes over the last couple of months.   I'm loving getting some old quilting and stitching projects off my list and pulling out some things that have waited years to be started.  I'm finding lots of cute ornament finishes by other stitchers and want to get back into stitching at least one ornament a month going forward. 


Since I last updated my blog I celebrated a big birthday - I turned 60 - yikes!  It's scary but you can't avoid aging unless you die young so you've got to make the best of it.   My husband and I went to Disneyland for 4 days - we go there on all my 'big' birthdays.  I was born a couple months after Disneyland opened in 1955 and this year they celebrated their Diamond 60th Anniversary so it was fitting for me to join the fun.   Here's a shot of me in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle all decorated in the blue theme for their 60 years, plus a photo of my husband and I on Splash  Mountain (we're in the back 2 seats).  We had a great time!





Here's an update on what I've been working on...hope you enjoy browsing.



I finished up this piece but unfortunately didn't get it framed in time for Thanksgiving.  It's an older pattern called "The Lord's Blessing" by Imaginating.  

Below is a piece I reworked before Halloween.   I received this piece in an exchange several years ago and it was made into a treat bag.  I decided to give it a new life as an easel finish to better showcase the design.  I love how it turned out.  



"Halloween Cat" by Barbara Ana Designs -
the front....


the back....

I made some custom project bags for a gal on Facebook to gift to her stitching pals.  They're kind of hard to photograph because you get glare off of the vinyl fronts...she sent me the fabric and I think they turned out well. 



Below is a was a club piece by Plum Street Samplers I stitched earlier this year...I decided to finish it into a small wallhanging/ tablemat instead of framing it.   It's "Hurt Not the Earth".....



Earlier this month my quilting friends and I headed up to our annual November retreat in northern Arizona for 4 days.  What joy to sit and sew for 4 whole days and have someone cook for you too!   We like to give each other fun little gifts and since I retired over the summer I wanted to make something for everyone.  I bought this pattern on Etsy - it's "Flora Needlebook" by MMMCrafts.   I made 14 of these needlebooks out of wool felt with embroidered embellishments done in DMC.  They were a lot of work but I love how they came out and my friends seemed to like them too.

the covers...I did 2 of each color scheme

how they look inside...wool felt for storing your needles


Here's a few other things I did while at our sewing retreat:
  
I quilted this wallhanging.  I still have to put the binding on it but I'm almost to the finish line.
Closeup of the appliqued center block


This little wallhanging was made from an orphan quilting block I've had lying around for years.  No more guilt!

A purse for  next summer...

This a pattern by Cindy Taylor Oates called "Sit & Sew".  You hang it over the arm of your stitching/sewing chair and it has pockets for your scissors and notions plus a pincushion and holder for a spool of thread on top.  It was fun to make.



And here's my latest finish I did last week.  This old Ewe & Eye & Friends chart has been in my stash for many years...it's called "Let It Snow".  I had a piece of hand-dyed evenweave I got in an exchange years back and it was perfect for this piece.  The fabric was from Sugar Maple Fabrics which sadly isn't in business any longer.  I finished it with mini pom-pom trim to display on a little stand I received from a stitching friend.  These stands are made by Bloom Woodworks - love them and plan on getting some more! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow stitchers and bloggers!

18 comments:

  1. What a great catch up post, Jeanne! Belated happy birthday wishes to you! I love your finishes especially the PSS kit finished at a table mat or wall hanging and the adorable snowman on the Bloom Woodworks stand. How did you attach it to the stand? Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving.

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  2. Wow wow wow, what a great post and so many wonderful sewing beauties.
    I must say I love the first and the last design ,and the little needle books are great .

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  3. Happy 60th!!!
    All of your projects are great, the quilting, project bags, needlebooks, etc.
    You've been busy!
    I think I have that Snowman design.
    Hmm, maybe I should get him out and stitch him, love the blue fabric.
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Marilyn

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  4. Wow, you have been so busy, I love everything :-)

    I too much prefer blogging to FB, although i do have a FB account
    i'm more of a stalker than a poster, lol.

    Hope to see more of you next year!

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  5. What a fabulous array of finishes. Stitching, sewing, quilting.. you are really multi-talented.

    You look like a kid at Disney World.. .like all of those TV commercials. Remember ... 60 is the new 40.

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  6. I think your plan for posting sounds great. I do not do FB.
    What talent you have Jeanne! Love seeing the quilting projects as well at stitching. What love you put into those needlebooks!

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  7. Glad you're back to blogging. Loved the photos and those stitched projects are just amazing!

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  8. Happy belated birthday Jeanne! looks like you did it up right with a big celebration at Disneyland - how fun that you do that every big birthday - I wish I had a tradition like that to look forward to on my 60h. Your post if FULL of fun and great finishes. OMGOSH - the quilts and projects for your quilting retreat buddies - how wonderful to be among that group of friends. I'm glad you are having fun and getting things done. Hope you have a great thanksgiving holiday and enjoy the season - Mel

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  9. Happy belated birthday! What fun to go to Disneyland too! Love all your beautiful finishes. Wow! Just wonderful! Hope you and yours have a wonderful thanksgiving.

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  10. All of this work is stunning but I admit that the snowman on that pedestal is to die for ~ thanks for sharing pics and Happy Thanksgiving!

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  11. Happy birthday to you Jeanne! My goodness, so much to look at on your post. Great finishes!

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  12. Happy Birthday to you! looks like you had a great time. Wonderful stitching and quilting, your finishes are just gorgeous.

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  13. Happy birthday! What a fun way to celebrate. All of your stitching looks amazing it's so hard to choose any above the others to comment on, but I really love the bright colours of those needlebooks.

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  14. Love, love all of your finishes; you have been very busy. I am glad that you continue to blog; I like FB but it doesn't compare to a good blog like yours. FB seems to have a lot of junk on it and people are free with foul language; not my cup of tea. Looked like you had a lot of fun celebrating your 60th!! Happy stitching................

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  15. A bit late but..Happy Birthday!
    Loved all of your beautiful projects. Your quilted wallhanging is gorgeous, and that snowman finish….cute, cute, cute. You are truly multi talented.

    Your Halloween reworked project is great. I have not seen that type of finish before. A tad bit different than a flat fold…I like it.

    Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

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  16. Love all your stitching. I am going to try to do better on my blog also and keeping caught up on other blogs. Good luck to us!

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  17. I know this is a late comment - but had to tell you I did Disneyland for my 60th birthday last fall - it was wonderful to go with my parents and my sister. I love it, hubby doesn't so I have to wait for visitors. Love your stitching as well.

    Keep stitching and loving Disneyland :)

    Sandy

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