OPAM and FNWF

I kept very busy in June, but it doesn't seem that I have much to show for it.  I did manage to finish one quilt for our guild's service project.  Gotta love a good supply of scraps.  I quilted it with free motion hearts.

I spent much of my time this month cross stitching, finishing a project that I've been working on since about March.  The closer I got to finishing, the more I wanted to spend time cross stitching.  I'm thinking about making it into a wall hanging, because framing costs are prohibitive.

Another time consuming, but fun project has been the making of small hexies!  My collection is now up to 43 of 56.  Now that the cross stitch is finished, I'll be spending even more time on the hexies.

Naturally, we have some kayaking pictures to end the post.  I guess these pics get boring after awhile, because they pretty much all look alike.  Water, clouds, the front of my kayak, and a heron or two.  It doesn't get any better.

Happy Independence Day to all my USA readers.......Sunny

For Di

We're still in the Finger Lakes hiking to water falls, lounging by a lake, and eating lots of good food.  Too tired to post tonight, but I had to share these pictures for Di.

No stitching has happened the past few days, but we're returning to reality tomorrow.  I don't plan to leave the sewing room on Wednesday!

Happy Stitching....Sunny

Alphabets and Finger Lakes

It's time for the alphabets again - RSC, GG, FNSI......

I'm using aqua/teal for this month's RSC16 color.  And making my usual blocks.  I never thought I would like making string blocks, but I do!  They're so ugly as you're making them, and then when they're trimmed up, they become beautiful!

I had several blue strips left over from a previous month, so I sewed them together and made DH a dresser scarf.  I don't have a picture of that on my camera, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

FNSI found me sewing some little hexies.  I didn't make all these on Friday night, but I did make a couple of them.  I need 56 for my project, and have about 18 made so far.

My block for GG (Gifted Gorgeousness) was quick and easy this month.  Now that I'm past the halfway point, I'm anxious to finish the stitcheries and put the quilt together.  Stay tuned for further developments.

We've run away from home for a few days, for what has now become an annual trek to the Finger Lakes.  I miss being able to visit Di, since she moved away last year, but still enjoy the beauty of the area.  Here are some of the sights around Keuka Lake today.

On to Ithaca and Cayuga Lake tomorrow.  For now, I need to go do some stitching!

~~~~~Sunny~~~~~

OPAM and More

May was a fun and productive month.  I jumped on the bandwagon with Kaaren of The Painted Quilt to make "Stopped me in my tracks".  I made a smaller version for a very generous throw/cuddle quilt.

I'd like to turn the A/C down to about 60 degrees so I can snuggle under it, but I don't suppose DH would appreciate that!  I had to go to three fabric stores to find the perfect backing.  I had a vision, and couldn't be swayed.

One of the Guilds that I belong to had a Challenge this year:  Old McDonald's Farm.  Anything farm related.  I immediately knew I wanted a barn with a barn quilt.  Everything else grew from there.

Do you think I need another sunflower and maybe a stem on the right side to break up the rail fence?

This poor UFO has been languishing in the pile for a couple of years.  I had stitched it, but never quite got around to adding the beads.  This was on my UFO list for guild, and now it's a finish.  The beads took all of maybe 30 minutes?  And yes, I need to get a larger pillow form.  I had one that was too big and one that was too small.

My green scraps for RSC16 were transformed a couple of weeks ago, but I just finally took photos tonight after dinner.  If you need some scrappy inspiration, pop over to Angela's blog.  She hosts a linky party every week as well as makes suggestions for rows/blocks.

I'm finally making a quilt from my RSC15 project!  Here's a sneak peak.  I hope to finish putting it together tomorrow and add the first scrappy border.  Then I'll add another white border and be done.  The search is now on for backing fabric.  I'm not sure why I decided to set them on point, since they're essentially circles??  I hand embroidered flowers for each center, in the appropriate color for the block.

I think that sums it up for the month, except to say that Spring did finally arrive!!

Keep on Stitching.....Sunny

Will it ever be Spring?

It's still cold and rainy here.  At least everything is green and lush!  And I think Spring green is just the prettiest color, after the drab grays and browns of winter.  Any day now . . . .

I've had some luck with blog drawings lately, scoring two wins!  Yesterday this beautiful package of luscious wool arrived from Cathi at Shakerwood Woolens.  You can also find her on Facebook.

My other prize was from Pam Buda at Heartspun Quilts.  I got to choose my own pattern, and I chose this beauty.  I love 'old fashioned' patterns, and can't wait to get started on this.  I think I already have the perfect fabric in my stash.

My green scraps for RSC16 have been cut and will be put together into blocks in the next day or two.

Gifted Gorgeousness is progressing nicely.  I hand stitch with a group two afternoons a month, and this is the perfect project to take along.  There are nine stitcheries, and I hope to get a little ahead so I can assemble the quilt before Christmas.  THis was a kit I won from Kaaren at  The Painted Quilt a couple of years ago.

If you haven't been over to visit Kaaren for awhile, you may have missed out on this SAL.  I loved the quilt so much I rushed out to buy fabric and get my top sewed.  Then I spent half a day looking for just the right backing fabric.  I hope to get it sandwiched and basted today, and then I'll start quilting on Thursday.  No pictures just yet, so hop over to see Kaaren's.

I debated over making mine in another color, but the yellow just called out to me!

I went to a friend's house this past weekend for a mini retreat.  She is hand quilting a quilt that was pieced by her mother for a grandchild's graduation.  DK has never actually finished a quilt before, although she started a couple of small items years ago.  She is making fantastic progress, and I helped her make the binding, which will be attached very soon!  I took hand projects to work on, and made some progress on my GFG.  My goal is to work on it daily, and perhaps have it finished this year.  I started it in 2010, so it's time.  Many of the hexies are from One Flower Wednesday and from a monthly hexie swap.  I loved making the hexie flowers, but I do NOT like sewing them all together.

I guess that sums up the month so far.  With all the rain and dreary weather we've been having, I have plenty of time to stitch.

Hoping for Spring....... Sunny

Fun with Flossie!

While I was cleaning and organizing about a month ago, I found a book that I had forgotten I bought.  I bet no one else has ever done that, right?  So I've been acquiring some fabric, a little here and a little there.

This is going to be a challenge for me, as there are no patterns for the 121 blocks.  A few are simple, and I can measure and cut with no problem.  I think many of them will be paper pieced.  To make it a little more challenging, I decided to dust off my Featherweight machine for the piecing.  I've had it for about five years and I've never used it.  I've named her Flossie, and I'm sure we're going to become very good friends.  My research tells me she's from 1935.

I finished a very simple block this afternoon, and am almost finished with the second.  To do that, I needed to thread it, and adjust the tension.  I'm used to automatic thread cutting, needle down, and automatic presser foot up and down.  I think I'll catch on to this pretty quickly though.

Late last night, I put the final stitches in my first May finish.  These aren't my usual colors, but I really love this!  The baskets are scrappy log cabins, from a fat quarter bundle I've had for years.  I just had to add the background and borders.  It measures about 35" square and will soon be hanging on a wall.

Now, back to stitching.....Sunny