1 Christmas Project Complete

I am so impressed with myself. I have finished a Christmas project and it is only the 8th of August. Hopefully this is a good sign and I will get at least two more done this month and successfully complete Di's challenge.

Here is my set of coasters:

I made two each of three different designs.

Not sure what I will do next. Possibly a little basket like the one Cheryl at Willowberry Designs made. I have made the basket before in purple, but it is really cute with her little stitchery designs incorporated into it. We shall see how quick I am at stitching. In the meantime I must work on some of my BOMs. Must catch up!!! So back to work! Hope everyone is having a great weekend and getting lots of sewing done. A-

Motivation

I think I have finally recovered my rhythm around here. Vacation is over and everyone has finally recovered from the flu for the second or third time. Now--Inspection is Thursday and the place is relatively neat and tidy. Not that I won't stress anyway, but I have made my way to the doc this morning to refill my blood pressure medicine so I should be right! I think it is definitely time to start sewing. I have joined Di's Christmas in August challenge just to get me even more motivated. Or insane--not sure which??? And I have actually started my first project.

I found these cute little coasters in a copy of Handmade and thought they would make great use of these little trees. So I have them all cut out and will get busy on them soon. I have also started on my list of BOMs that I am behind on. I am working on Debbie Mumm's Natural Wonders right at the moment. June is done and July is cut out. I would love to get caught up on all of them. So here is June and all the rest. Hopefully I will be able to pop up July and August soon.

These have taken me out of my comfort zone sometimes. All the little triangles and matching bits and tiny applique, but it has been fun. I still have most of my hair, even if it is a little grayer. That could just be from the inspector lady!!!!! OK, a little more scrubbing and a whole bunch more sewing!! Later, A-

Sort of Busy--Just Not Much Sewing

I have been busy creating a lesson plan for homeschooling 9th grade. It is a little daunting. How to turn on the magic button that makes your child love to write essays and become good at it at the same time. I must just start with doing I suppose. My son loves reading and science, but strongly dislikes anything that involves putting word to paper. The most I can hope for is that he still loves me at the end of the year.

I also have to deal with inspection again in another week and a half, so my thoughts keep wondering to the cobwebs in the corner. That is one stressful thing that I will not miss when we return to our house that we own in Florida. Quilters should not have to interrupt their flow for super scrubbing every three months. It is just not right!! My huge sewing room ,however, with the nice tile floor will be sorely missed!!! And being able to call Joy to complain about inspection for only $1 will be missed even more!!!!

I have done a little bit of sewing. A very little bit. This is the May block from my Now and Forever quilt. I am getting there slowly.

And here is my pillow I am working on in my embroidery class at Handcrafter's House:

And my brain is about 10 projects away from what is already in the wispy pile. Here is my next project--now if only I can remember which pile the instructions are in.

Very different from my normal colore choice of purple, but I quite like them. Also, Joy sent me this "oh so fun" book of paper piecing patterns. I love to paper piece!!! So I am sure that I will have to begin at least one of the 50 projects inside real soon.

She also sent me these nice healthy recipe books that I have been staring at for quite sometime. Now no excuses for not cooking healthy. Can't wait to try some of these--they look yummy!!!

Now, I must get busy and do something. I still have to finish one more green block. And Garion and I must take our walk before the sun vanishes from the sky. And then I should finish my pillow and work on some of my other BOM blocks. So many things to catch up on. And so many new things to start. And so many dust bunnies to trap. Hope everyone is sewing up a storm. Later, A-

Home Again Home Again

My holiday seemed to woosh by. Of course when you are driving from Florida to Indiana to Virginia and then back to Florida in two weeks it does have a tendency to woosh.

I had fun stopping at all the quilt shops that I could find along the way. Maybe a little too much fun. I haven't even found homes for all the goodies Joy gave me and the last batch of must have sale items I purchased before I went on vacation. Now I have more.

It is time to break down and do some serious tidying. Joy and I have decided to go on a fabric diet. When was that official start date? Hmmmmm!!! I should not need anything for awhile. I think. This could be harder than giving up chocolate. I am really excited because Joy will be coming in 5 1/2 weeks and we will have two happy weeks of sewing. I have recorded uncountable episodes of Simply Quilts to watch and we probably have far too many projects planned, but we will have a really good time trying to accomplish all of them. Is sleep necessary??? As long as we have coffee, tea and chocolate to keep us going????? In the mean time I suppose I had better get busy and find room for all the fabric or we won't have any room to sew. I have lots of catching up to do on BOMs as well. At least I think my jetlag has subsided somewhat. So I will get started. Happy sewing everyone!!!

Made My Goal and Away We Go!

I finished all three quilts for the family and my flu seems to have finally gone away. Yippee!!!!
It would be bad to go home one short or sick. I am sure they would still love me, but I would not be happy.
I have also traced all my stitcheries that I am behind on, so that I can stitch and chat with the relatives. Hopefully I can peacefully catch up on all them.
It will be fun to sew whatever I want for awhile.
I will hopefully learn not to wait until the last minute to get things done.
Maybe...
Anyway I must finish packing and put the laptop away for the time being. I will hunt down wifi as much as I can. I hate missing all my favorite blogs.
Joy better be sewing. Hee hee!!!!
I will check in when I can.
Ta for now!!
A-

Final Countdown

Thank you for that Joy!
I am busy scurrying around getting ready for our holiday to the U.S. Two quilts down--one to go. I have finished quilting purple squares and am busy handstitching the binding down. The problem now is having time to sit down long enough to do it. I will get there. I can say that now with a little more confidence than I had a week ago. It would be nice to have this in the finished column for June. It would slightly make up for not having any in May. A little anyway.

I should introduce my two other children. This is Hillary. She is almost a year old and I am still getting to know all of her talents. I am new to machine embroidery, etc., so everyday is a new adventure.

And we cannot forgot her faithful older sister:

This is Hannah. She is a little over two. It is quite nice having two machines. Especially when you are busy quilting and still wanting to do a million other things at the same time. Am I spoilt? Yes, my hubby does a wonderful job of spoiling me. One of these days soon, I really need to make him a quilt of his very own.
Now, if I want to finish I must get started. I still want to trace a bunch of stitcheries to take along with me as well. I am so behind.
OK--hi ho hi ho--off to sew I go.

Bad Me

I was a bad girl in May and did not complete any projects. I am sad about that because I was on a roll. I was not idle though. I have been busily working on two quilts that have to go with me on my visit to the U.S. at the end of the month. That means that I will have at least two completed projects for this month. If I hurry and get them done that is. The first one is created using some of the blocks from the one block a day from Crazy Mom Quilts that I am doing. I have lots left so I will start one for myself when I get back. I will also be catching up on all the BOMs that are going to go undone this month unless I turn into super quilter.

The second one is my own creation. It is the first one I have done without some kind of pattern or instructions. I purchased a bunch of charm packs on ebay which were not anything like what I thought they would be. I wanted bright and they ended up being pastel colors. Not normally my style. But--I found lots of pink scattered through them and thought of my mom. I quite like it after all that--hope she does.
So on that note, I must go put borders on the purple one so that I can put the walking foot on and quilt up a storm. Hopefully I can get one of them done before the weekend it up.

Hopefully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Later, A-