It's On Its Way...

Brynwood Needleworks - Birthday Table Runner

I met my goal!

After approximately fifty hours of effort, it's done.

Brynwood Needleworks - Birthday Table Runner Showing Reverse

I added patchwork on the center of the back of it, too.

Brynwood Needleworks - Birthday Table Runner

 

I stayed up until 3 am yesterday hand stitching the last applique' panel. I assembled everything when I got up, machine quilted it, and then added the binding, but no hand stitching this binding. It was stitched-in-the-ditch instead because of the time crunch.

In the end, it was finished, wrapped and in the mail on time. Tag, Bella and I took it to the post office and when we were assured it was on its way, the three of us came home to a pool party to celebrate. Yes. I did fall asleep in the chaise as the sun set through the pine trees.

 

Coming Along Nicely...

Brynwood Needleworks - Table Runner Applique'

 

I'm nearly finished with the applique' for the table runner I'm creating. I'll be working toward completion while I visit with my Nifty 50 girlfriends today. 

 

After I finish the applique' panels (Yes. There are two of them), they'll be attached to the patchwork section. Then I'll layer and quilt it, finishing with binding. No sweat. Right?

 

It will be leaving here - headed for its new home - in time to arrive for Birthday celebrating! It will be fun to share photos of the entire piece with you as soon as it's done. 

I'm packed and ready to head over to meet the girls. I'll see you again tomorrow.

Something Wonderful This Way Comes...

Brynwood Needleworks - Cork Fabric From Portugal

  I'm always excited to present new and wonderful things in my shop.  

I now have gorgeous cork fabric from Portugal in the studio, and I'll begin making new wallets and handbags using this unique, quality material. 

 

The top fabric is natural cork. It has a beautiful finish and is unembellished. Then, there's the blue cork with a silver fleck that reminds me of our bluest of blue Gulf waters. Last, but certainly not least, is the natural cork with a rich, gold fleck.

I have the most wonderful, new products planned for these fabrics...and I can't wait to show you my completed pieces.

 

I'm going to finish the Birthday table runner by Wednesday, and then I'm going to start assembling my new line. Back to the table runner for now.

What are you planning for this week?

Starting A "Happy Birthday Table Runner"...

Brynwood Needleworks - Jelly Rolls

I'm making a new table runner. This one is going to be a gift this month for someone near and dear to me. These are the jelly roll fabrics I've chosen to use. The floral one is Moda's "Clementine" from Me and My Sisters Designs. The geometrics are precut strips from Blank Quilting Company. They worked perfectly together.

Brynwood Needleworks - Strips of Color

I've already sewn strips together and arranged them in two rows of fifteen strips. They match and will be mirror image once I sew them together.

Brynwood Needleworks - Birthday Runner Fabric Strips

After all these strips are sewn together, I'll add more sections per the pattern directions. Then there are sections of applique' that I'll apply before quilting it.

I'll work on it in random moments so that it's finished in time to be my mid-month Birthday gift. I want it to be fun and colorful and perfect. (I did tell you it was for a loved one, right?)

Brynwood Needleworks - Shabby Fabrics "Happy Birthday Table Runner" Pattern

In case you're interested, this is the pattern I'm using. It's Shabby Fabrics' "Happy Birthday Table Runner".  (Click HERE to view and/or purchase. It's also available as a PDF file HERE.)

I love the table runner patterns from Jennifer Bosworth (She's the designer behind Shabby Fabrics)! Remember the "Patchwork Pumpkins Table Runner" I made HERE? It's still one of my favorites! (Link HERE for the pattern.)

I know I'll be making more of this Birthday table runner this year, too. I'd better finish this one first, though. I hope you have something creative planned for this week. I'd love to know what you're working on!

Disclaimer: I just want you to know that I receive no compensation, monetary or otherwise, for raving about Jennifer's fabulous patterns. I'm content to be an unpaid fan.
 

Change Is Good...

Web Image

The winds of change are blowing through southwest Florida.

Handsome and I are making wonderful plans for our near future.

Preparations for those plans are keeping me from the studio and my projects. Well, that and re-injuring my back on Monday. Nothing serious...just enough to make life exciting. Thank goodness for ice and Alleve. I regrettably remind myself that I'm not a kid anymore and I need to be more careful. 

I've even considered taking a little blog vacation. What with no projects to share - and secrets I must keep for now... Instead, I've decided that for the next few days, I'll post inspiration and links to some really great projects. I'll "talk" to you as I always do. I compare my posts to chatting with my friends over tea. In that light, I'll continue my daily posts with you.

I'm going to share a video with you today. It runs about 35 minutes, so make a cup of tea and relax to watch it. By the time you're finished watching Jennifer Bosworth's (Shabby Fabrics' owner) video, you'll be able to make your own.

Here's the direct link: https://youtu.be/W7qGxoTk6g0 I hope you enjoyed this video. I'll be back tomorrow with more creative fun.

Embracing The Season...

I made this Patchwork Pumpkins Table Runner (from Shabby Fabrics) last year,

and I couldn't wait to put it back on our table this season. I love it that much!

Last week, my friend Beula (from the Paneras group) gifted me with some of her

wonderful treasures. She loved the little "Memories of Wisconsin" wool book I made

and decided that I should have some of her trinkets to use in future wool books.

 Beula is in her 90's and a vital, creative woman in her own right, so you can

imagine my surprise and delight that she should choose me to receive some of her

treasures. I was speechless to find that she also had given me two Russian amber 

and silver bracelets, a matching amber necklace, six little worry dolls from  

Guatemala, an agatized coral pendant, and even a genuine Indian arrowhead!

(You'll definitely see some of these items again when I make my next wool book.)

I wanted to give her something to show my appreciation, so I made another fall

pumpkin mug mat just for her. Then, I added a trio of acorn candles and a few

other little items selected with her in mind. I gave them to her at Paneras last night.

When I got home, I found that I'd received an envelope in the mail from my

friend, Jacque of The Doodles of My Mind blog. Remember, Jacque's pup

is a sweet, old chocolate Labrador named Tag E. Butt. We love him a lot!

I opened the envelope to find special selvages for my Selvage Quilt project. I

was so excited to see them! First, Deb Strain is one of my fave fabric designers.

And, look at the color registers on the edge...ACORNS!!!   Thank you, Jacque! You knew I would love them and you were so right. I think I'll have to do one set of blocks that will be devoted solely to acorns, with your selvages as the focal point. I know I'll have to leave more than the skinny 1/4" extra pattern, too. I may leave them as wide as you've cut them!   Goodness, Fall is my favorite time of year (north or south), and these are a few of the things that helped me get in the spirit yesterday. I'm blessed, indeed.
What are you doing to enjoy Autumn?  How are you decorating? What are you making? I'd love to know!

All Stitched Up BOM - June...

My latest installment of the "All Stitched Up Club" for June arrived yesterday.

 I signed up for this program at Shabby Fabrics online. (You can join the club,

too, if you'd like. Just click on the "All Stitched Up" link above.) I'm truly fond

of Kathy Schmitz' fabric set in this kit - especially the one with writing on it.

Every kit comes with a sweet verse and image on a bookmark. Each one is 

cuter than the last. I save them separate from the kits so I can use them.

See what I mean about the fabric with the writing on it? Each word represents a quilting term! I'm looking forward to stitching the design and sewing this one.
I guess it's time to stop pushing around fabric and furniture and stick to the fun stuff. My biggest issue right now is choosing what to work on next.   Don't worry. I'll figure it out and get started today. So many ideas...so little time.  sigh

Next Up...

I'm nearly done with the Chocolate Bunnies, but I'm looking ahead to 

my next project, too. I joined Shabby Fabrics' BOM designed by Kathy

Schmitz and the first kit is for February. It's called "Love Birds".

Each finished project is a table mat. Rather than do all the stitcheries

and then assemble all the kits at the end (as I'm doing with the "Sweet

Stitches" kits), I'm planning to do these each from start to finish.

I'll finish the bunnies first, and then I'll turn my attention toward

Valentines' Day. If I focus, I may finish this one ahead of time!

I hope you have a great Friday. It's almost the weekend!

52 Days To Go...

 I completed another "Sweet Stitches" kit last weekend. I'm not going to

show you the entire image quite yet, though. (It's perfect for Thanksgiving

so I'm saving it until later in the month). These really stitch up quickly, so

I'm sure I'll manage to finish another one or two more this week! I'm

thinking that, if I'm not careful, I'll have all the panels finished this month!

The weather was delightful Sunday afternoon, and our time was spent with

musicians and wonderful music. Imagine a day where every, little thing

brings a smile to your face, and you'll begin to understand just how I feel 

when I listen to my husband and our friends entertain sold out venues.

This week is going to be a busy one. I'm going to make my Christmas

gift list so that I know just how much I want to accomplish in November. 

With only fifty two days until Christmas, I have fewer days than that to create,

gift wrap and ship out presents to be sure they arrive in plenty of time. I'll

share my list again this year so you can follow my progress. It's going to be fun.

Are you making Christmas gifts this year, or will you be shopping instead?

Collecting Blocks...

 I'm still writing my pattern, so I can't show it to you quite yet. Instead,

I thought you might like to see the Block of the Month that I joined in January

 at Jennifer Bosworth's Shabby Fabrics shop. As you can see none of them

have been opened yet, because I have quilts to finish by winter before I can

 add another project to my "active list". These are the first six months' blocks.

 Each kit comes with all the fabric required to do the block, and the first

pattern also came with the thread (Sulky #12 - black) to do the stitcheries.

 In addition to the areas that are stitched, each block also has a colored applique'

that is a sweet added touch. I don't intend to make them as separate mini quilts.

Rather, my plan is to make it into one complete quilt when I'm finished stitching

all the individual blocks. I just think it will get more use for me as a whole quilt.

 I checked Jenn's site and couldn't find the BOM available any more, but if

you're interested in getting the patterns for yourself, they're designed by 

Kathy Schmitz and are available from her website: here. Although the patterns

 don't include the fabrics, each one does include the little fabric applique'.

For now, I'll keep collecting the rest of the monthly patterns, and stay focused 

on my current "To Do" list, but just as soon as I'm caught up...

My pattern project awaits me in the studio. I'm really going to try to have

it finished by the end of the day today. Wish me luck (and stamina), girlfriends!

Sharing A Few Finishes...

 I just thought I'd share a few recent finishes. 

I did take photographs of the Grammies Jammies this year,

and found that I'd deleted them before I downloaded them into my 'puter.

(Of course, they were already on their way to Wisconsin when I realized that.)

This is one of the two sweatshirts I made for a couple of cute little boys in

our family. This is the first one I did. He's just a little guy, so I thought 

something "doggie" would be fun. His name is embroidered below the motif.

 His older brother loves trains, so of course that's what I chose for his sweatshirt.

His name also appears below the engine on his shirt, but their names don't

appear here to protect the innocents. I hope they like them!

 It occurred to me that you hadn't seen my December mini yet, either.

This is the original that was designed for our group. 

It has four large holly leaves around the candles, but we were also

given a pattern for smaller leaves if we preferred them. Most All

of the other quilters machine quilt their appliques', however, I

have now earned the official new title of "Overachiever".

 I really like hand stitching my applique' work, so that's what I did

on my block. When they gave me my new "title", the girls told me that my

machine applique' technique will never improve if I don't practice. Uh, huh.

I chose a Christmas line that I had to cut into before it became

 part of the "I-love-this-so-much-I'll-keep-it-forever" stash.

The collection is from Moda (of course) and it's BasicGrey's

Fruitcake line - and I still have enough left to make a whole quilt!

2012 BOM Downloads

All the months are finished now. It was a fun project, and we've already

decided what we're going to do for 2013. Shabby Fabrics' Country Cottages

quilt is what we've chosen. If you look on my left sidebar (the buttons in this
post are not active links), you can still click on the sidebar button to download
 the FREE Country Cottage patterns if you'd like to join us.

2013 BOM Downloads

 (Hurry though, because they've already started a new BOM and I don't

know how long the Country Cottages patterns will be available!)

This evening is another of Handsome's concerts (that I'll be recording), 

so I'm going to take it easy today. You know I'll be in the studio, 

so I'll be back again to show you what's next "by my hand".

Ivy League Fabrics...

Shabby Fabrics just debuted a new fabric line from Northcott Fabrics. It's called "Princeton" and I have the perfect project in mind for it.

In the event that a certain person (essential to my every breath) would see this, I can't mention any names. It's going to be used to create their Christmas gift this year, but I'm sharing the secret with you, so "mum's the word". Promise?

Just look at these gorgeous prints and colors! I have what I need to make a queen size quilt, and I'll be working on it so I meet my deadline so it's quilted in time for Christmas Eve. 

I finished hand sewing all my pumpkins yesterday and will assemble them into my table runner today. I'll have it finished in plenty of  time for our Saturday morning coffee group, and I'll share a photo of it with you on Saturday, too. I always know when I've made a "hit" because Handsome tells me he likes it, too. He told me today that he thinks it's going to look great on our dining room table. It just doesn't get better than that!

Patchwork Pumpkins...

Before we headed to Wisconsin, I showed the girls the Shabby Fabrics website image of this pattern for a Patchwork Pumpkin Table Runner. We all wanted this pattern, so Kathy and Nora ordered one for each of us, plus extras for future sales. When we got to the shop last Saturday morning, all of our patterns were waiting for us.

I almost never do holiday themes, but I will do seasonal themes from time to time. This pattern was irresistible to me. When I got home from the shop, I sorted through my stash and assembled the fabrics that would be used in my runner. I began working on it on Sunday afternoon.

I started stitching on my block at Paneras over coffee and conversation with the knitting/crocheting/sewing girls. I still have the leaf and stem to stitch down on the first block, but I have all four blocks appliqued' and awaiting my hand sewing.

The pattern calls for two different colored leaves (two of each), so I'm showing you my choices. I just know that Brenda and Fay will have theirs completed by Saturday. They usually machine applique' their blocks and I like hand stitching mine. We'll see how far I get. I'm looking forward to seeing mine finished and adorning our teak dining room table through Thanksgiving.

If your heart skipped a beat when you saw this pattern, you can click on the pattern title above. It's a link to order your own copy.

I wish you a joyful and creative day today!