August 26, 2018

HQAL Update and Slow Stitch Sunday

I love this hand quilt-a-long (HQAL)! I am having so much fun with it. This is where I was last time:

The purple one had the center and two rings of petals sewn. The blue one had the center, one ring of blue petals sewn and the second ring of petals prepared and ready to sew to the flower. This is where I am now:

The purple one has the white border done and is ready for green:

The blue one also has the white border – all the white is attached to the blue, but not all of them are attached to each other.

I cut some of the pieces for the next flower – I actually really like the red! I’m not so much of a red person, but I had this fabric and decided to use it. I hope the floral fabric for the outside petals looks nice when finished.

I also cut some green border fabric. AND…

Ripped a little more. The photo on the right shows what I am ripping out. Who would have thought it would be such an arduous task to rip out those stitches! But a little at a time and it will get done eventually. This HQAL is hosted by Kathy – all the details are below. If you get a chance, please click through to the other talented needleworkers taking part in this HQAL. I am also taking part in Slow Stitch Sunday.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan, Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, and Karrin

August 19, 2018

SAL Update and Slow Stitch Sunday

I’m so excited that I was able to re-join this great group of stitchers! I’m still working on the Christmas stocking for my oldest son. This is where I am now:

8/19/2018

And this is where I was last time:

In looking at the two pictures, I realize that I kind of stitch wherever the mood strikes and with whatever color is next. I think it’s kind of cool to look at the projects where the stitcher is stitching block by block. One day I might try that.

About the SAL

This SAL (Stitch Along) is slightly different to other SALs in that we don’t all stitch the same design at the same rate. We choose ONE unfinished project, or ONE new one, and show progress of its completion over a series of three weekly updates. There are no deadlines and no set amount to stitch. The result is that the space in our drawers full of WIPs (works in progress) is gradually being freed up to store lots of new crafty goodness. It’s surprising how much motivation I’ve gained from being in this SAL. If you’d like to finish a project you’ve left unfinished for a while, or start a new one with us, you can join us by leaving a request in the comments or a message on Avis’ blog, Sewing Beside the Sea.

Check out the other fantastic stitchers who are participating in this SAL:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph,Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Catherine, Deborah

I’m also linking up with Kathy at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday

August 16, 2018

Yummy Dinner

School is back in session and I am done teaching summer camps – fall classes won’t start until next week. I am feeling more creative in the kitchen and trying out some new things.

Cauliflower Rice Chicken Bake

This recipe is from Tasty (yes, AGAIN!) and it turned out really well.

Paleo Cauliflower Rice

I made Paleo Cauliflower Rice from All Recipes and it was super simple! Everyone really liked it and had seconds.

Peanut Butter Oat Quick Bread

This yummy bread is from Trkingmomoe’s blog. I just went there to grab the link for you and can’t believe how many more recipes she has up since this one. They look great – I want to try them all! Anyway back to this bread, it was really quick and easy to make and quite yummy. I toasted a slice this morning with butter and it was a great addition to my breakfast.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

This was also a new recipe for us. We had bananas that were past their prime but I didn’t feel like making banana bread – I had just made the Peanut Butter bread – so I searched on All Recipes and found this one. They turned out pretty good and are surprisingly soft. We’ll be making these again!

On the first days of school, I always like to make something special for the kids. Here, high school and middle school start on consecutive days. I made those fancy waffles the first day and raspberry, white chocolate scones for the second day. It really doesn’t seem to matter how many of either that I make, there are never any left for snacks later in the day!

August 15, 2018

ScrapHappy Day

I found this fun scrap-a-long this morning over at Kate’s from Tall Tales from Chiconia and I have the perfect addition:

It’s my version of Amanda Jean’s quilt from Crazy Mom Quilts Ticker Tape Quilt. I teach sewing to kids and we have a LOT of scraps in the studio. I saw the doll quilt that Amanda Jean had made and thought it was brilliant! I now have quite a stack of 1″ X 3″ pieces of fabric from different scraps from our pile and little by little I am adding to this quilt. I like how simple and easy it is!

What you see is a 1.5 yard piece of white fabric (there is batting and a back as well) that I am just sewing the scrap pieces to. This will be a little too small for us so I think when this piece is filled, I might do several others to add onto it and use the quilt-as-you-go method. We’ll see how I feel when we get to that point!

Please take some time to look at these blogs that sometimes also take part in ScrapHappy Day:

Kate (the organizer of ScrapHappy Day), Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley and Dawn

August 12, 2018

Slow Stitch Sunday

My summer camps are done for this year and I have a week “off” until my fall schedule starts. I will be teaching three classes in my studio during the week as well as parties, private lessons and workshops. I also am still teaching the two fiber arts kids classes at our local art center. I’m really enjoying what I’m doing and feel like I have a good rhythm going.

I do a really thorough clean out and clean up of the studio and machines after summer camp and as I was going through the cabinets I came upon a book I had bought some time ago:

I really like the simplicity of the look of rework and had planned to embroider these designs at some point. I came upon Kathy’s blog and her Slow Stitch Sunday link up and thought: Wow! I am going to start yet another project! So this will be my share for Slow Stitch Sunday. I cut some fabric and transferred the image:

This book is old and I’m not very good at transferring images, so it didn’t transfer all that well. I think I can figure it out anyway. Then, because I can never do anything the way the pattern says, I decided to embroider in a teal color:

Boy is this fun!! I’m just doing simple backstitch with a few lazy daisies and french knots thrown in. This will be a super fun filler project.

August 8, 2018

Mini Pot Pies

I think I have mentioned before how much I LOVE the “Tasty” app on my phone. I am embarrassed to admit how much time I spend on it – looking at recipes, watching the videos. BUT…their recipes almost ALWAYS work out and for the most part our whole family likes what I make from them.

Mini Pot Pies from Tasty.

Last night I tried this recipe: Mini Pot Pies with great success. The recipe was easy to make (except for the lattice work on top – it was very fiddly and I gave up after two) and everyone liked it. This is only one plate of three and there are no leftovers! I enjoyed both working with and eating (!) the puff pastry that is used for the crust. This is definitely a repeat recipe!

August 7, 2018

It Arrived!!

My package from Susan at Desert Sky Quilts arrived last night!

Aren’t they pretty?!!

Of course I had to open up the package of squares and look through each one. Oh. My. Goodness! So many fantastic prints! I am feeling the need to start something new RIGHT NOW! AND…

This cute little charm! I feel like I should make it into something. I immediately thought about a marker for my knitting – I use those all the time so I would see it all the time. Then I thought that it is too pretty for that and was thinking to make it into the focal point of a necklace (I have just the right accent beads to go along with it). Then one of my daughters saw it and asked if I could make her a cell phone fob with it. I’m not quite sure what this charm will turn into, but when I decide I’ll post about it!

Thank you so much Susan!!

August 5, 2018

HQAL Update

I have had so much fun working on my Grandmother’s Flower Garden! I love the easy rhythm and relaxation of hand sewing the pieces together. This is where I was last time:

In three weeks I was able to:

Finish the purple flower and:

Cut all the pieces and start sewing the blue one. I am a purple person – I love the color purple, but this blue flower is so appealing to me!

I am really enjoying the colors and patterns on these two fabrics!! My goal for next time is to finish this blue flower and make a red one. Let’s see if I can get it done!

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Susan, Nanette, Sassy , Edith, and Sharon

Edited: I also decided to link up with Kathy for Slow Stitch Sunday. Hop over there to see what’s going on.

August 1, 2018

I won!!!!

I am so excited! I entered into a drawing that Susan over at Desert Sky Quilts was having for a gorgeous selection of fabrics and I won!!

Yummy Fabrics!!!

These are the fabrics! I can’t wait to receive them- I have a very special gift to make!

Connie's Creations

My little place on the web to share my creative spirit.

Month: August 2018