"Old Glory"

This week it was time for me to switch gears.

I had been working on an embroidery

while I had been recently traveling.

In fact, it was a pattern from Crabapple Hill Studios

that I had purchased over a year ago while

attending one of Meg Hawkey's wonderful retreats.

 Now it's done.

 "Old Glory"

A patriotic design done in brighter

more contemporary floss colors.

The part that draws the most attention 

is the use of gold bugle beads to 

look like a sparkler.  

 Too cute!

I was determined I could find something

in my stash that would work for the pillow.

I eventually found the perfect back and cording fabric.

A piece that has to be about 20 years old, but 

it worked.

(Never give up your stash!)

Summer is the time for 

 flowers, fireworks and flags.

 

This little pillow is going to be enjoying

the summer months on my back porch.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Back Burner Update

It seems like the past week

has flown by.

I had committed myself to

only working on those stalled projects

that needed to be taken off the back burner.

I'm afraid, as always,

I tried to bite off more than I could chew.

But that doesn't mean that 

I didn't have a successful week.

I sauteed some small pieces into

2 inch four patches and pinwheels.  

and those were combined into 41-six inch blocks.

That's not all....

They were whipped together with 40 other six inch blocks

that were from an earlier

mystery quilt designed by Thimble Creek Quilts. 

I had used all scraps and "leftovers".

 There are still borders to figure out,

but I guess I'll move it back to the back burner

for just awhile longer to simmer.

It was fun to get out my kitchen aide mixer

 and mix up some new fabric combos

for the last four full size hexagons
I need for "Route 66" designed by Di Ford.

 I hung up the last

set that I just finished.

I'm getting closer.

One more tasty treat.

Look what finally popped out of the oven.
It had baked long enough.

Snow Happens

by Bird Brain Designs.

This has been my traveling "snack food" since

the start of the year.

It was ready to be done and enjoyed

with the red geraniums of summer.

There's still plenty lingering on those

crowded back burners,

but I'm feeling quite happy with

 

this week's baking.

Until Next Time-
Kyle

Flow With the Seasons

 I have a very dear quilting friend

whose stitching philosophy

is to work on seasonal projects

during the same season.

That way she's working with the

colors and styles that represent

that particular time of the year.

I understand her thoughts,

 It surrounds you with 

seasonal expressions. 

Although, I have to admit,

 I'm usually a season or more behind

or on a few occasions, I'm actually ahead.

 Depending on how you look at it!

But this time

I was right on.

I finished working on 

my "Autumn" pillow

designed by Crabapple Hill.

If you remember I started this a 

few weeks ago while

 sitting and waiting for Running Man

to finish running 50 miles.

I had gotten to this point 

by the time he crossed the finish line.

For the last couple of weeks

I've been enjoying the rest of the stitching

 

as the fall colors have begun to appear

in my neck of the woods.

The design incorporated a few bits of wool

for the leaves and rosehips.

It gave the pillow solid spots of color

on the outer edges.

The directions also suggested a 

small wool scalloped border

which I tacked down with french knots. 

 I used a small hand dyed brown piece that

had been lingering in my wool bin.

I liked how it framed the embroidery.

I had three pieces of fabric that I wanted to use.

One for the border,

the marble for the cording

and the dots for the backing,

but sometimes you just have to improvise.

It was a sweet project to work on

and now it's ready to enjoy

during the "current" Autumn season.

Until Next Time-

Love Those Pom Poms

 My Wascally Wabbits Table Mat

was a new project that got started and finished.

This rabbit project

is a "I've been sitting around for 2 years" and

"Easter Bunny's only seem appropriate during a certain period of time" project.

 So I knew I needed to get it out

and get it done.

  

The wool applique 

bunny pillow pattern

 

is by Cabin Creek

and is cute and simple.

My friend and I had each bought a kit from a local wool shop,

not because we didn't have enough wool ,

but because we simple adored the 

pink pom pom fringe that was included as an edge treatment.
(We have a thing for "dingle balls".)

When I use a primitive whip stitch
verses a buttonhole stitch,

 

 it saves lots of time and thread,
and for something as seasonal as this,
both of those reasons seem practical to me.

 I was thinking the pom poms might

be a challenge to sew on and look nice,

 but it was easy, especially using a zipper foot.

Now another unfinished project is done.
And I have to admit
there's something about

 those pink pom poms that
you just have to love.

Until Next Time-

Let It Snow

Well, it's not the Polar Express,

but this huge mass of freezing arctic air

is now 

as you probably have already heard

multiple times,

is known

as the "Polar Vortex".

I hope everyone is safe

and not dealing with frozen pipes,

furnace outages

or is stranded  somewhere cold

trying to get home.

Maybe even snowmen 

would prefer to be inside on days

like this.

Awhile back some quilty friends

and I 

stitched up this delightful pillow

using another one of Crabapple Hills

awesome designs called 

 

 "Let It Snow"

2002

The black mottled background fabric was perfect

with a twinkling of stars and a moon so

 our snowmen could be dancing in the moonlight

on a cold and frosty winter's night.

Too cold for me to venture out,

but this snowy guy is enjoying the 

silence of  falling snow from a dark January sky.

Okay,

I'll let him sit

on a chair in my sewing room for a while

to stay warm, but

it's all the pretend winter I want

inside for now.

 Until Next Time-

Think Spring

It finally feels like spring.

I'll dismiss the fact that

the weather on Wednesday, May 1,

is predicted to be 38 degrees

and, guess what?

SNOW!

So I'll hurry to take this picture

of my finished pillow

  "Sweet Violette"

with my very stunted tulips.

The pattern called for lace and no border.

I added a border and rick rack.

This Amy Butler fabric called

 Deco Dots

was the perfect color and 

added some whimsey to counterbalance the 

formality of the embroidery.

I liked how it turned out.

Another sign of spring is

 The boys of summer are back.

The pelicans have arrived.

A wonderful bird is the pelican

His bill will hold more than his belican.

 He can take in his beak

Food enough for a week,

But I'm damned if I see how the helican.

         Ogden Nash

Welcome back, Pete the Pelican

and all the other Re Pete's.

Enjoy spring while you can.

Until Next Time-