It's time to get started! Word Up Sewing Party

My word for the year is Blessings, and today, I will be counting my blessings as I sew along with you.

I am blessed to have found the wonderful community of online quilters, who offer inspiration, encouragement, and wonderful friendly comments.  My first blogaversary is coming up soon, and I'm very happy to have made several good friends in the past year.

I'll be adding to this post throught the day, as I make progress on my projects.  I'll be close to the computer as well, and will respond as quickly as possible to any comments.

Sew on!

1st Edit:

First finish.  I'm working on various projects today, because I'm nearing the deadline on several swaps and challenges.  I'm blessed to have found so many groups that were willing to welcome me, and challenge me.  This first is an ornament for the One Ornament of the Month Challenge.

I added little gold beads (stash from my beading phase) instead of sparkly gold thread cross stitches, which would have required a trip to the store.  We all know how those trips go - I would NOT come out with a single 99 cent floss.

Edit #2

I can only show a tiny little part of my next project because it is for a secret swap.  I didn't get nearly as much done today as I had hoped, but I'm planning to keep on going.  And I did finally get to watch Marley and Me for the first time, and Mama Mia for about the tenth time!

I'm ready!

I am all set for the big sewing party tomorrow.  I have several projects lined up, my chick flicks are nearby, and I have some hot chocolate just waiting to be heated.

This was the view outside my window at work today.  It snowed almost all day, but immediately melted on the roads and sidewalks.

I'm off to bed now, so that I'll be all rested up for the big sewing party tomorrow.  I love Saturday!

Counting my blessings.......Sunny

One Flower Wednesday

O U T S I D E . . . .

I N S I D E . . . .

O U T S I D E . . . .

I N S I D E . . . . .

' N U F F   S A I D . . . . .

Counting my blessings....Sunny



No Quilts?!? Somebody stop me!

I currently have two quilts that are waiting to have the bindings sewn down.  That's it.  I don't really have a 'stash'.  I've bought fabric and patterns for probably about a dozen projects, but unfortunately, I don't have time to make quilts.  Why, you ask?  Because I spend too much time blogging and reading blogs and working on all the little projects that I find myself signing up for.  I'm having a blast, getting more inspiration, trying and learning new things, and most importantly, making new friends. 

I'm currently participating in the Block Swap Adventure.  This is fun because we're paired with our partner, and know who they are, so we can chat throughout the month.

the first block I received

One Flower Wednesday and the Inchy Swap:


Two are for me, one is for  swap.  I won't tell which is which!

I'm stitching the Give Thanks BOM by Jenny of Elefantz.  She has posted two of the verses that will be stitched and hang in the spot where the tan dots are.  They're wonderful, and I'll be stitching them later this week.

I'm in a Tilda Valentine's Heart Swap ~ no pictures yet for this one.

I've joined the One Ornament a Month project:

I've seen several other BOM's that I'd like to make, but I had to put on the brakes!  My goal was to do all these projects each month, as well as work on one of the projects that are neatly sorted and stored in boxes in the sewing room.  So far, I haven't made it to the boxes.  So if you see me expressing interest in a new  swap or project, please stop me!   oops, just remembered - I recently signed up for a Seasonal Swap.

I'd really like to be making some quilts with patterns such as fans, Dresden plates, Grandmother's flower garden.  I love all the quilts that I see on everyone's blogs.  I wish work and sleep didn't take so much of my time!

Counting my blessings......and my projects......Sunny



FNSI Results

I had a productive night on Friday.  I finished the first part of the Give Thanks BOM by Jenny of Elefantz.  Click on the button on my right sidebar if you want more info on this beautiful BOM.

I also finished making my green rectangles for the Homemade Afghan Project, and I worked on my cross-stitched Ornament of the month.  I love FNSI, and you would too.  Join us next month if you haven't already.

Counting my Blessings.......Sunny

One Flower Wednesday and FNSI reminder

It was actually a three flower Wednesday!  Yippee - my garden is growning.  I'm starting to think about what I might want to do with my flowers.  I've seen a couple of cute ideas.

Don't forget - this is Friday Night Sew-in.  Click on the button on the right sidebar to get more information or to sign up.  Anyone is welcome.

Counting my blessings......................Sunny

Stitching, sewing, crocheting.....

As another weekend is coming to an end, I'm wondering where it went, and why I didn't get more done.  It was cold and dreary out, and we had no plans to go anywhere, so we just stayed in, all warm and cozy both days.  We didn't even go out for dinner on Saturday night, which is usually the only night we eat out.  A cold dreary day calls for soup, so we made a big pot of clam chowder.  Yummy!

I worked on quite a few projects over the weekend.  I stitched:

and I crocheted:

And I made a mug rug for Madame Samm's contest.  Here's a sneak peak:

I also brought some work home, and spent some time on that this morning.  Now I'm off to do a little more stitching before bedtime.  I hope everyone has a good week.

Counting my blessings.......Sunny

A Finish!

I started this little quilt at a retreat in November.  After I got the top pieced, I couldn't quite decide what to do with it.  Someone suggested that I set it on point, because the basket pattern doesn't stand out very well.  So, corner triangles were added.  When I took it to the quilt store to audition fabrics, another customer suggested the piping.  So, piping it is!  One of my goals this year is to learn new techniques, so I was successful with this one.

I had to piece the back, so I had a little fun with it, and added a basket.  Then came the big question of how to quilt it.  It took awhile until the obvious solution came to mind.

I couldn't find a basket stencil, so I designed this with a couple of triangles and a plate.  And if you can see - even the bindings are sewed down.

Count your blessings . . . . . .Sunny

One Flower Wednesday

This flower only exists because of One Flower Wednesday.  I worked very late tonight, then came home, briefly cruised blogland, and then grew this flower.  I was way too tired, but it's Wednesday, and the garden needed tending.  Great motivation to keep on sowing!

Count your blessings.....and your flowers.........Sunny

I was Tagged!

  I was tagged by LittleBook Notes with the Liebster Blog blogger award!

Liebster Blog is an award to highlight your favorite 'wee' blogs out there--the ones that we love that don't have huge numbers of followers.

Now that it's my turn, here are the "wee" blogs that I'd like to highlight:

Everything Neet She quilts and she crochets , and does beautiful work.

Tamera Quilts You should see the quilts she makes!  And she makes a lot of donation quilts, and is involved in numerous swaps and other groups.  Check out her blog!

Quilting is Blissful Humour, cat stories, and more quilting and stitching in a week than I do in a year.  You have to see her stitching!

Little Bits and Pieces   A very friendly blogger, with more beautiful quilts.  She was one of my first 'friends' when I started blogging.

If you wish to accept this tag, feel free to post about it! Don't forget to mention who tagged you, and spotlight 3-5 of your favorite 'wee' blogs (as in, the aim is to highlight blogs with fewer than 300 followers, so spread the love!), and let people know you tagged them.

What are you waiting for? Go check them out!

Quilt Workshop cancelled.....

The phone rang while I was still in bed this morning, telling me that our quilt workshop for today was being rescheduled.    We don't really have a lot of snow, but they were worried about everyone carrying their sewing machines.  So, since I had nothing else planned for today, I will be spending my time here

and here

I have several small stitcheries started, and I'll work on them for awhile first, while I watch cooking shows on TV with Mr. QD, then I'll head downstairs to the sewing machine later.  Must go now, and he is cooking breakfast!

Counting my blessings...........Sunny

Word Up! and One Flower Wednesday

I could not get my computer to cooperate last night, and I was so sleepy I just couldn't fight it any more.  So off to bed I went.  Things are working better today!

They were fast asleep long before I went to bed!  Aren't they adorable?

Our Charming Hostess, Kelly, has asked us to come up with a word for 2011.  Something we aspire to, to work towards, to lean on.  2010 was not a good year for me.  I can think of many words that would have defined it in a negative way.  But 2011 is new and fresh and positive!  So my word is BLESSING.  As in:  Count your many Blessings.  As in:  Be a Blessing to others.  I count you all among my many blessings, and hope to get to know many of you better in the New Year.  Don't forget to count your blessings!

~When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. ~

                                                                                                                                                 Willie Nelson

                                                                           Sunny

CGQC Finishes for November & December

Happy 2011!!

November and December proved to be very productive months for me.  With Holidays and a few vacations days that I needed to 'use or lose', I had a few extra days to spend in the sewing room.  So, without further ado, here are my finishes:

Wall hanging designed after a grapevine wreath.



Love this snowman candle mat!

 

I've joined One Flower Wednesday, and an Inchy Swap.  I try to make at least one hexie flower per week.

 

Stocking and mug rug for the 2010 Great Stocking Giveaway



Table runner for the Secret Santa Christmas Swap

Ain't he cute?  Might still add a hat somehow.

 

mug rug for friend

 

mug rug for stocking stuffer, also held a Starbucks GC in the basket

 

Turning 12, quilted at last!!!!

 


Garden Twist, sandwiched, quilted, and bound

  

actually made 2 of these place mats.

 There was only one item on my Goals list that didn't get finished, but it is nearing completion.  I've made some changes to the original design, and it just needs to be quilted.  I expect that may happen today.

2010 has been a great quilting year for me, especially since I just started quilting late in 2009, and started blogging in January 2010.  I want to thank you all for your friendship, encouragement, advice, and support.  I wish a very wonderful 2011 to anyone who is reading this!  I'll be back soon with my Jan/Feb goals, as well as some long term goals for the entire year.

Happy New Year Everyone!      Sunny