Not One Stitch

I did not take one single stitch yesterday.  Not one cross stitch, not one stitchy stitch, not one crochet stitch.  The problem:  I'm working on a stitchery that I don't like.  I stitched it once before, but I don't want to do it again.  So....I'm not going to continue.  I'll find something else that I enjoy stitching!  Is that okay?  I'm only wasting a very small piece of fabric, and who knows, maybe in a couple of months I will want to stitch it. 

Last week I received a squishy from Portugal.  From Teresa F  in Portugal to be more specific.  I was one of her PIF recipients, and I hit the jackpot!  Included in the package was a wonderful table topper, a very pretty mug rug, some beautiful buttons, and even a souvenir apron.

A couple of days later, a package arrived from Shakerwood Quilts.  I met Cathi this summer at a quilt show, and bought some of her luscious wools.  And now.......she sells all that lovely wooliness in charm squares!  They're the perfect size for little leaves, flowers, pincushions, etc. 

I'm hoping the arrival of all these goodies will help me find my mojo.  'Cause it's been missing the last couple of weeks.  If you see it, send it home please.

And because we're having dinner guests Wednesday night, here is my One Flower Wednesday offering.  After all, it's Wednesday already for my friends Down Under.

And now, I think I'll go start a new project!  Ahhh...I feel so much better with that decision made.

Keep on stitching....Sunny

wordless Wednesday

 

That is all....Sunny

Weekend Wrap-up

Note to Self:  Do NOT go to the mall on the last weekend before school starts, and the final day of Tax Free Week.  I had a few coupons, and I figured summer clothing would all be on clearance, but I didn't think about the whole school/tax free thing.  It took forever in line to pay for my few items.  I hate shopping.  Unless it's at a Quilt Shop, that is.  Or maybe a book store.  Clothes shopping is a chore that must be undured.  It is not fun.  I wanted to reward myself with a sweet tea from McD's, and that took another eternity. 

The real reward was a couple of hours on the river after we left the mall.  It was another beautiful day, the temp was about 80, with blue skies and white puffy clouds.  After a few too-hot weekends in early July, we have had some very nice kayaking weather.  DH and I decided that we're really getting old.  We were so exhausted when we got home, we ordered a pizza for dinner, and I was really too tired to eat.  We used to take long day trips for kayaking, but we've stayed pretty close to home this year.  The longer day trips may be a thing of the past. 

Fortunately, we live near the Potomac River, and there are many different places to put in.  Most of the places we go are areas of fairly shallow and sometimes rocky conditions.  Great conditions for kayaks, but not for bigger boats, so it's quiet and peaceful.  Yesterday we went to a spot above a dam, with much deeper water, and we had to share the river with a lot of boaters, many towing skiiers or tubes.  No peace or quiet yesterday!  But still a perfect day for a paddle.

I received a lovely little squishie in the mail last week, from my friend Grethe.  It's just a tiny little thing, and oh-so-cute.  I think I'll take it to week and hang it on my cubicle wall.  Thanks so much Grethe!!

On Saturday, there was a card in my mailbox for a package from Portugal, that requres a signature for delivery.  What can it be?  I have an idea who it's might be from, but I have no idea what it might be.  Hopefully, dh will be home tomorrow when the mail carrier comes, and will be able to sign for it.

I guess it's time to head for bed.  After all tomorrow is Monday, and it's back to the rat race.

Have a wonderful week.....Sunny

Bobbin Bikinis and OFW

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who hadn't heard of bobbin bikinis.  They're like little tiny scrunchies, to wrap around the bobbins to keep then from unraveling.  They're soft and stretchy, so they're easy to fit on the bobbins, and won't take up much room. 

I managed to get another two blooms for my garden this week.  My plan was to just make one a week, but for the most part, I find myself making two, reversing the colors.  That didn't work out exactly this week.  I'm starting to run out of pink scraps, so my garden may be going dormant for awhile. 

But do not fear - a Christmas gift that I need to get started on makes use of hexies!!

A few days ago, I received notice that my first PIF gift for the year has been received.  I had shown a few sneak peaks earlier, but now I can show the entire thing.

Now it's time to get started on the second!  I know what I'm going to make, just need to get it started. 

Time to get stitching......Sunny

A Little Vitamin D!

Yes, it's Saturday, and yes, we finally went kayaking again.  we've missed the past two weekends because of a tiny little medical issue I was dealing with.  All is well, and it felt wonderful to be out on the water again.  We had just bought our new boats, and they'd only been in the water for about a half hour the weekend that we bought them.  What I found that day, was that my new kayak is a lot "tippier" than my old one, and I was feeling more than a little nervous about going out today.  But once we got away from the dock and really started paddling, all my trepidations passed, and it felt great!  We were on a nice sized lake, and we actually encountered some wind that was causing small white caps.  No spectacular photo opportunities, but I took a few shots to show that we had blue skies again.

The blue skies were a very welcome sight to me, because last night I drove home in the worst rain storm of my life.  Never have I seen rain coming down like that.  We had almost 2 inches in about 15 minutes. 

I did have a very nice surprise waiting for me when I got home, though.  My second August BSA block from Aileen, a new member of BSA.  Because I'm collecting patriotic Red,White, and Blue stars, she also included a book!  It has stars for all 50 states, and she said she'd had the book for a long time, and didn't think she would be using it.  How sweet is that?  Thanks Aileen.

Yesterday was special for another reason, too.  What do you think it was?

Today when we got home, there was a lovely thick envelope waiting by the front door, from Mary P., my mug rag swap partner!  Inside was this beautiful mug rug, and some bobbin bikinis.  Now, I've never heard of bobbin bikinis before, but I can't wait to try them.  Do you all know about them?  Have I been living under a rock?

Mary's quilting is awesome!  And I just love the acorns and oak leaves.  I can't wait for fall to get here so I can start using it.  Thanks Mary!

And now I'm going to go watch some TV and do a little stitching.      Sunny

for Grethe

OFW and Ta Da!

I was busy last week and missed One Flower Wednesday, so I have two pictures today.  Be sure to visit Karen's blog for links to more weekly flowers!

I'll also show you the hexies that I sent off the the Inchy Swap.

The two secret projects that I mailed earlier have been received so I can now do the big reveal.  First was a mug rug for a new swap.  The swap is based on seasonal/holiday themes, so the first one was for fall. 

And the quilt I made for the Name Game Swap Round Two was so fun to make.  My partner was pretty specific in what she wanted, and as soon as I read the requirements, I saw down, drew out a sketch, and headed for the quilt shop.  Ta Da!

Now I just wait by the mailbox for my mug rug and name quilt!

Waiting contentedly......Sunny

More squishies!

Two more squishies were waiting when I got home today!  I received my August BSA block from Samara.  I just love the dots and the stripes.  thanks Samara!  Samara is too busy to blog often, but you should go take a look at the amazing picture quilt she's making.

I won this book last week from Jamie of Busy Bee Quilts.  There are some really cute ideas in the book, and I think I may be able to adapt some of them for mug rugs.

She also included 3 extra books!  Score!!  I've glanced through them very quickly, and I think they will be very much at home in my library.

Yesterday, I finished my second BSA block for August.  I've never made this block today, but I really had fun with it

DH was nice enough to go to the Post Office today, so I sent out my two BSA blocks, August Inchy swap, Mug Rug swap, Name Game Swap, a PIF gift, and some blocks for Phoenix Quilts.  It feels so good to have everything for the month finished and mailed.  So now I'm free to work on my Ornamanent of the month, and Christmas Through The Year.  And maybe start something new??

Contentedly stitching the day away.....Sunny

I have been remiss.....

I could blame it on the Olympics  I guess.  Or that I had a tiny little procedure done last week that has caused some minor problems.  But it's time to stop making excuses and thank a few people!

This past week, I received a surprise package in the mail - for no reason.  How cool is that?  Now all I need is some cool weather to enjoy it.  I received this beautiful scarf from my friend Kate in Oz.

Kate has taken a break from blogging, but she assures me she's still sewing and knitting.  We keep in daily contract through Words with Friends.

Last week, I received another wonderful package, from Linda at Sew Nicely.  She recently celebrated a blogiversary, and I was one of the commenters on her post. She sent me a wonderful magazine from the UK, and a pocket calendar with beautiful pictures of Ireland.  Apparently the picture is on my other computer, so You'll just have to take my word for it.  Thanks Linda!

And I was the lucky winner of the drawing for the June prize for Christmas Through the Year.

It's the cutest little bag, and there was a little kit tucked inside to make my own fabric swatches!  I borrowed this picture from Cheryl of Polka Dots and Rick Rack.  Each month, Cheryl and Darlene of Quilting Daze shake their pom poms and cheer us on to make at least one Christmas gift per month so that when December arrives we'll be all ready for Christmas!  I've finished a gift six of the last seven months.  Bring on Christmas!

I just looked at the clock and realized that it's past my bedtime.  I have more to say, so I'll be back tomorrow.  Have a great week!

Contentedly stitching the summer away.....Sunny