November Sewcial Sisters...

I love the time I spend with the Sewcial Sisters. They're all such talented women and I learn so much from them. 

Lori is an accomplished quilter, and I watched her hand quilt on her Everlasting quilt on Monday. She took the time to show me how to do it, and shared a few other pointers. I'm really inspired to work on a sample piece with the goal of getting good enough to hand quilt my own Everlasting quilt. 

During our monthly Show and Tell (or, as I call it Bring & Brag), she shared this lovely table mat she'd completed since our last gathering. I love how the colors just pop off the black ground fabric.

Kathy D. has been busy! She shared five or six finished quilts, but this one was one of my favorites. It's so colorful! Kathy has her own longarm quilting machine, so she always finishes her own pieces. Her machine quilting is so professional and beautiful. It really enhances (as it should) her precision piecing. 

Karen made this beautiful quilt and shared it with us on Monday. She's always shy and hides behind her quilts when the cameras come out. The colors make this piece subtly Christmas, but it's perfect as a year-round quilt, too. 

Darcy has been working on the multiple blocks of this quilt as a gift for her husband. She's completed most of the blocks - which I think she said she started in 2016 - and it getting really close to putting it all together. I had to get a photograph of this block, because of the sweet camper. I loved this quilt, and would love to create my own version. Note to self - Add this quilt to the list!

Before we left for the day, Lisa B's son brought Darcy's new sewing machine to her. It's a Ltd. Kaffe Fassett Bernina. Sorry I don't know the model number. The machine is decked out with the same decals as the colorful fabric shown on the protective cover. As you can see, she's in love with it. I have to admit, I was a bit taken with it, too. Lucky for me, they were all sold out of the Ltd. ed machine.

Our next meeting is December 1st. I'm planning to have a few pieces completed so I can brag, too. If I don't get them done, I'm perfectly happy to cheer on the accomplishments of my friends. They're the best!

I've Been Everywhere, Man...

Can you believe I have not one single photograph of any part of my day yesterday? I spent most of my day behind the wheel of my Explorer, running errands hither and yon. Tag was my wingman. 

Together we traveled from home an hour and a half northwest to my brother's home to pick up tomatoes he'd grown; stopped at a farm local to him to purchase sweet corn (only $5/dozen!); went to the Fleet Farm store; stopped at Primitive Gatherings to pick up backing for my Everlasting quilt; made a fuel stop closer to home; and picked up more tomatoes just up the road from our farmhouse. whew!

By the time I got back home, I had an hour and a half to rest a bit, change clothes, and drive back to town to chair a meeting of our 50th (high school) Class Reunion planning committee. I ordered dinner from the restaurant where we were meeting and took it home afterward. I decided that cooking dinner was definitely not on my agenda.

I went to Primitive Gatherings to choose backing fabric for my quilt to match the outer border (darkest fabric above) of the Everlasting quilt. I'll use the same flannel fabric for the binding when it's all finished and returned to me.

When I stopped at my brother's, he pulled out a pressure canner he hadn't been using and gifted it to me. It needed the pressure weight (jiggler), so I went to Fleet Farm to see if they had a replacement. They didn't, but they did have the exact same pressure canner I had on order from Amazon for $30 less! So, yes I bought the one at Fleet Farm, and as soon as I got back in the Explorer, I cancelled the online order. I'll order the replacement piece online.

Tag rode in the cart at Fleet Farm, and got all kinds of attention. He took it all in stride, and was grateful for the extra pets and giggles. ("Look! It's a Corgi!") I have to smile just thinking about it.

I was pretty well gassed by the end of the evening, went to bed early, and slept like a log. Today, I'll be putting up tomatoes. I'll let you know tomorrow whether I used the water bath canner, or if I decided to dive in and use the pressure canner. I'm going to mull it over a cup of coffee and breakfast. 

Sewcial Sisters...

I had a great time yesterday with the Sewcial Sisters at Primitive Gatherings. I took lots of photos to share, too! 

This is Mary Ann with her version of the Everlasting quilt. This is a Primitive Gatherings pattern for anyone interested. The custom quilting on this piece was wonderful.

Karen also had her finished Everlasting quilt with her. It was quilted by the same longarm quilter. Karen customized her center, too. She also omitted the outside border because it would have been too large for where she wants to hang it.

Lori shared her finished quilt. Lori frequently hand quilts her pieces, but this one was quilted with an overall Baptist fan pattern. I love its simplicity. 

Kathy D has been a busy beaver, too! She does all her own longarm quilting, and this is just one magnificent example. This is actually a quilt panel. She concentrated on different quilt patterns to complete it. We all thought it was wonderful.

Kathy also finished this fun string quilt, and chose a really interesting placement for the blocks to create this pattern.

She also shared the blocks from a block of the week project she's been working on. The blocks were each designed by a different designer or shop owner. So many baskets, and so many flowers. (Lisa Bongean's design is the blue hydrangeas in the upper left corner.

Kathy also shared two cross stitch pieces she finished. This is one of them. I think she was thinking about finishing this one as a pillow.

When it came around to my turn, I shared my Everlasting quilt top. I took it along to finish the embroideries. I worked on bees all day, and shortly after I got back home, I stitched the last three bees.

It's finished! Well, except for the longarm quilting and binding, but all the bees are done, and now it's ready to be layered up and bound. I'm planning to send it off to the same longarmer who did Mary Ann and Karen's quilts. I wonder how she'll feel about having to quilt a third one?

I haven't go anything on the shedule except mailing out some orders today. I think I'll take the rest of the day off.

August Sewcial Sisters...

I spent most of the day at the clinic yesterday. I had tests in the morning and a CT scan in the afternoon, trying to figure out just why I'm still having back issues. Perhaps I'll have some answers in the next couple days. While I wait...

The Sewcial Sisters meet today at Primitive Gatherings. It's early for our monthly get-together, but that's alright with me. I'm looking forward to some uninterrupted stitching time. I'm down to making bees for my Everlasting quilt, so that's what I'll be doing today. Stitching wee bees for the border.

I'll try to remember to take pictures today so I can show you what the other ladies are working on. It seems I have so much fun visiting, that I forget. I'll do my best to do better today. I need to get on the road so I'm not late. See you tomorrow. 

Getting Back To It...

 

I'm finally back to working on my Everlasting quilt top. I'm working on corner three now, and after the corners are finished, I'll add a few random bees to the borders.

I've got my reunion meeting this morning, so I'll get back to it this afternoon. It should be a great day for it, as the weather is supposed to be on the cool side again. I mean, really? It's almost JUNE! Oh, well. I guess I'll just don a sweater and stitch. 

Take It Easy...

Monday was a very productive day. I began mixing up bread dough for the week. As the bread went through it's rise, I mixed and baked a batch a four-dozen chocolate chip cookies for our grandson (and his folks). The last thing I made was a homemade rhubarb custard pie (homemade crust, of course). 

Grandpa Handsome made plans to take in a baseball game in Milwaukee with our grandson, so Grandma got busy early so he could hand deliver the pie, cookies, and a few preserved favorites. Once I finished everything (in good time for Grandpa to leave), I sat down with a cup of tea to rest a bit.

Handsome had planned to mow the lawn, too, but didn't get it done before he had to leave. I decided to surprise him and do the mowing while he was at the game. That was my last task for Monday. I made a light dinner and settled into a comfy chair. 

Tuesday was sunny but cooler, so I worked on a few things in the studio. Handsome ran to a doctor's appointment and had a few other errands, so the pups stayed with me. I figured they would just hang out until he got back home.

Tag loves to spend his days in the back entry. The storm door has a full-length window, so he can catch a few rays, snooze, and watch the road for interlopers. Likewise Bella will settle in on a comfy rug or on the sofa in the living room.

This face, however, is like a naughty kid. I should have known to keep her with me, or kennel her up. The little, sweet-faced witch chewed up my favorite sandals. Grrrrr! I take part of the blame for leaving them next to the bed in our bedroom, rather than put them in our closet. However, that didn't mitigate my ire when I found them.

When Handsome got home, my sandals were waiting for him. He brought them upstairs to my studio, never noticing that they'd been destroyed. He was shocked when I pointed out their condition, followed by "You owe me a new pair of sandals". He was horrified, and offered to take me out immediately to buy a new pair, but I told him it wasn't necessary. By the end of the day, I'd ordered a pair exactly like them from Zappos, and they'll be here by Friday. 

I'm going to be fanatic about putting all my shoes away from now on. If they're out of sight, well, you know the rest. Otherwise, the rest of my day was uneventful. 

I've been designated in charge of the committee to plan our 50th high school reunion for next summer/fall. (I'm not even sure how that happened.) Anyway, it means I'm putting a little time into venue, dates, etc., along with another classmate. I've called a first meeting for Saturday morning, hoping classmates interested in working on the committee with us will show up. Planning for that is occupying a bit of my time at the moment, but I also want to get back to finishing the embroidery on my Everlasting quilt top. It's next on my list. Time to get it done.

Two Down, Two To Go…

 

“Everlasting” Quilt - My Version - Corner Embroideries 

I’m sharing embroidery progress on my version of Primitive Gatherings “Everlasting” quilt. I managed to complete two corners during our Sewcial Sisters’ retreat. 

Corner Two Complete

I already shared my first corner last week, so here’s Corner Two. I drew a bouquet on paper with a Sharpie. Then I traced it in pencil onto my fabric. I’m only drawing  a sketch of the stems and then fleshing them out with lavender blooms as I go. Just as in nature, no two plants are exactly the same, so I’m free to embellish as I please.

I’ll work on the upper corners soon, and will show you my progress as I have more to share. I want to work on my goldwork wreath, too, so I’ll probably go back and forth between the two. 

I’ve neglected responding to blog comments this past week while I was away, so I’ll catch up this week. Thanks to everyone who left a note for me. Apologies that I didn’t answer them quickly, as usual. 

Finally, I’ve got my Etsy shop on vacation for a bit. If there’s something you’ve seen and want that was currently listed, just let me know. I can complete a sale for you through Square. In the meantime, I’m working on an Etsy alternative, and will let you know more soon. (They’ve raised seller rates again, and it’s getting ridiculous, so I’m working on an alternative.) I’ll see you again Wednesday. Tag’s back tomorrow.

Sewcial Sisters Retreat...

Primitive Gatherings Retreat House

I promised to tell you about the retreat I'll be attending next week. I'll leave on Monday for Larsen, WI to join some of the Sewcial Sisters for three days.

I'll be rooming with Kathy D. at Primitive Gatherings' Retreat House. I haven't seen the guest rooms yet, but I promise I'll take photos while I'm there! The reservations include three meals a day, morning coffee (yay), a swag bag with as yet unknown goodies, and three days of fun with the Sewcial Sisters.

I'm really looking forward to it, and promise that I'll take you along on the trip. I'll share updates while I'm away so you don't miss a thing.

My "Everlasting" Quilt Top - So Far

I'm definitely packing this project, and will be working on finishing the embroideries in the outside border while I'm away. I'll likely pack a few other things in case I need a break from this. I'll share project photos while I'm there, too.

I'm going to spend this weekend choosing my attire, pulling projects and packing all my essentials for my getaway. Handsome has reluctantly agreed to make sure the Barn Girls and Leo have fresh water and food every day while I'm away, and I know Tag and the Labrador Ladies will be well-cared for, too. Handsome was completely self-sufficient before I married him, so I know he'll be happy to have a little time to himself, as well.

It snowed on and off all day yesterday, and frankly, I'm so tired of white stuff - even if it quickly melts away. I'm ready for spring and so are the tulips that have already popped out of the ground in the kitchen garden. I'm itching to get the flower beds cleaned out, but I'm waiting until the cold is gone so the little bugs and critters that might be resting under the leafy debris aren't displaced into the elements. I'm hoping that by Easter, or soon after, we'll be able to look forward to more time outdoors. In the meantime, I'm going to finish up a few projects next week, and get myself ready for gardening again.

Thanks for all your comments about seeing my progress photos and posts as I work on my embroideries or other projects. I really appreciate your kind words, and will continue to give you updates on small accomplishments as they come. For now, I'm anxious to get to Larsen and play with my friends. 

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend. I hope you have better weather where you are. If you're in the same boat as we are, you have my sympathy. Let's cross our fingers together that warm weather is just around the corner.

I'm Getting There!...

Brynwood Needleworks - "Everlasting" My Way - Time For Borders

I got all my blocks assembled over the weekend! I still have the 3-1/4" borders to apply, and then decide how I want to embellish the light space around the outside.

 

Yesterday, while I was baking bread (yes. I baked bread in this heat in our un-air-conditioned farmhouse!), I was entertained by the birds coming in to the feeder just outside the window. Every time a red-winged blackbird came to the feeder, it announced its arrival. Like a bolt of lightning it ocurred to me...why not change the crow to a red-winged blackbird? I can add the colored shoulder stripes, and not have to figure out where to add another crow!

Another bonus would be that every bird shown on the quilt would be a bird that regularly eats at our kitchen feeders. So, what do you think? Add shoulder stripes?

I'm currently designing the needlework for the light border areas. I don't want to overdo it, but I do want it to be hand embroidered, as opposed to wool applique'. I'll get the borders sewn on and then the rest will happen while comfortably seated on the first floor (it's cooler than upstairs, and I'm just not ready for us to hook up the air conditioners yet. We do have ceiling fans in every room.).

We're meeting friends for breakfast this morning, and then I'm making a quick run to Menasha to Primitive Gatherings. I won a $20 gift certificate in their latest drawing!!! I may have to spend it as long as I'm already there. I also have that wrong Wool Box that I need to return. lol I'll start testing some embroidery layouts on the quilt after I get back home. It's going to be a great day.