Happy Me...

Bluebell Nest Table Runner and Napkins

 As promised, here's my first Christmas finish. A table runner and

coordinating napkins. The table runner is 44" long and 18" tall, so it

will fit nicely on the table where it will reside. No hints, so don't ask!

 I like the way the napkins turned out. They're double sided and measure

a useful 10" square. I make them this size so that they won't have to be

ironed after they're laundered. Just fold right out of the dryer and use.

 One napkin of every of my napkin sets always gets a Brynwood acorn.

I think it fits right in on this set, don't you? One gift finished...

 and the next one in process. I have a lot more photos of this one, but

I'll save it for tomorrow so you get a better idea of how it will look.

I love having goals and deadlines. It feels really great to roll toward

year-end the way I started...FOCUSED. Busy me is happy me!

Quilting The Nest...

 The first "Sweet Stitches" pattern I ever stitched was the "Bluebell Nest" 

design. I really liked the way it turned out, but I realized (after stitching three 

others) that I used a completely different stitch on this one than all the others.

I'm going to stitch it again (after I finish the others), so I decided to do something

different with this one. It's perfectly fine, but doesn't match the rest, so I made a

table runner with it. I assembled the top yesterday and then set about quilting it.

 I placed the bird's nest panel in the center and added machine-stitched

branches (from the design) in mirror image on each end. I've already finished

 one here, using echo and decorative stitching all around the branch motif.

I'll finish quilting the third panel today and then trim and bind it to finish the runner. 

I'm also going to make matching napkins to go with it. If all goes as planned, I'll

have one Christmas gift finished by the end of the day. (Photos tomorrow.)

Off to the studio...Wish me luck!

It's Friday Already...

l-r: "Bluebell Nest" and "Sunny Days"

 I finished the stitching on "Sunny Days' this week. That's two designs awaiting 

their appliqued' accents, but otherwise finished. When Kathy Schmitz named

her series "Sweet Stitches", she really knew what she was doing, don't you think?

"Sunny Days"

 You know that I'll start stitching on "Little Acorns" next, but I have other 

projects to work on before my little squirrel. I'll be teaching classes soon at 

Crazy Quilters and just want to make sure my class projects and outlines are

 ready in plenty of time. I'll be stopping in the shop today to check schedules.

Well, another Friday is here already. Time sure flies these days.

I'm already starting work on Christmas gifts, (Did you read that, Shell??)

and making lists to keep track of everything. At this rate, you-know-what

will be here before I know it! I don't want to be caught off-guard or run out of

time this year. I'm taking a running start in September so I can finish early for

 a change. I'm setting my sights on having everything done by Thanksgiving.

Off to another (sigh) appointment this morning, then the quilt shop, and then 

I'll come home to get ready for guests at our home this evening. Tag can hardly 

wait! lol I'm sure he'll be taking notes in his diary so he can tell you all about it.

Busy, busy! Gotta fly. Catch you tomorrow, girlfriends.

Where Bluebirds Fly...

 I finished the stitching on the "Bluebell Nest" (have I been calling it "Bluebirds"?)

yesterday evening. As I said, I just have to wait until the eggs are appliqued' to do

the very last little bit on the nest, but otherwise, I've finished everything else.

I have an iron along with me and could easily pick up starch and freezer

paper to finish it, but I left the silk thread at home and would rather spend

my cash on other goodies when Kathy D. and I venture out on our 

upcoming quilt shop trip. So, I'll be folding this block up and tucking it

into the package along with the rest of the kit until we get back home.

Sweet Stitches™ "Bluebell Nest" Pattern image

 I know I'm repeating myself (it's a privilege that comes with "maturity"), but my

plan is to complete the blocks as shown on each kit. However, instead of finishing 

each as the kitted, small mini quilt, I'm going to join them into a large finished quilt.

(Interminably long sentences are also a perk for middle aged bloggers! lol)

Handsome and I are really having fun on this trip. We're packing lots of visits

and fun things into each day. Yesterday morning, I took Tag up to the top of

the property and threw a bunch of retrieves for him. He got a chance to really

stretch out and get out some of that pent-up energy from our long car rides.

He's also having a ball with our grandchildren. He loves them all, and they

hate it when we have to leave to come back to the Flying Cloud. ("Bye, Tag!")

We're all having so much fun together, and I can't tell you how much I 

love hearing, "Grandma, look at this!" or "Grandma, do you want to watch

a movie with me?" We're savoring every single minute of our visits! 

One thing I'm especially looking forward to seeing Despicable Me 2 with our 

younger daughter-in-law and our two granddaughters! I loved the first movie 

and seeing this one with the girls (in the theater) will really be a grand time. 

Grandpa has a special baseball "date" with our grandson for a Brewers game.

Apologies that I'm not answering emails these days. I'm having too much

fun and time is limited. I promise that I'll get back to everyone who leaves

a note...it just might take until I get back to Florida to really catch up.

Well, we're off on another adventure today. Perhaps a little trip to the

Fox River Valley is in order. Then, again...we'll most likely follow our 

hearts instead and spend our precious time with loved ones closer to home. 

I'll be back tomorrow to tell you where the wanderlust led us.