A "Face Palm" Moment...

Brynwood Needleworks - Schmitz' "Snow Day"

When I had my needlework shop (Stitches), I could never conceive of a time when I would use a machine to stitch out an embroidery. Goodness, how times change!

While I still treasure the time I spend doing handwork, it's fun to let Destiny cut my time on a project down to minutes or hours, rather than days, months, or years!

You've watched me complete nine (almost ten) of the Kathy Schmitz' Sweet Stitches embroideries so far. Until now, I've placed each piece of fabric on top of the pattern...onto a light table to trace each design. Until now.

Brynwood Needleworks - Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy

I purchased this stabilizer - Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy - quite a while ago, and then promptly forgot about it. Two weeks ago, my friend, Mary Agnes, showed me an embroidery she was working on and said she "loves this stuff".

Brynwood Needleworks - Schmitz' "Snow Day"on Sticky Fabri-Solvy

These are water soluble sheets that you run through your inkjet printer on the "copier" setting. It prints your design onto the stabilizer, which has a sticky backing. After it comes through the printer, remove the freezer-paper-like backing, adhere it to your ground fabric, and you're ready to stitch. It's that easy.

After you're finished stitching, simply get your piece wet and the stabilizer dissolves away. The only catch is that, if you're stitching outside and it starts to sprinkle, you'd better hightail it inside...and don't spill your glass of water on it either. Your design will melt and you'll have to get out the water soluble marker after the fabric is dry again to retrace the rest of your pattern.

Brynwood Needleworks - Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy Stabilizer Pack

 

As always, I'm uncompensated for my endorsement of this product. If you're interested in purchasing it, you can find it at your local quilt shop...or I will carry it soon on my website.

 

I can't believe I haven't tried this sooner! (That's my "face palm" moment.) Now, I can run each design through the printer and get right to the stitching. Happy Dance!

Living With Gratitude...

Brynwood Needleworks - Mother's Day Stitching

 

I hope you had a great weekend. The weather was beautiful here in SW Florida, and we spent a lot of time outdoors. Of course, Tag and Bella teased to play in the pool (just like little kids), so they were wet the majority of our daylight hours. Both have shiny, soft coats now...even if Tag's coat is a little "blurry". 

Handsome and I did yard work together, trading our usual tasks this time, with good reason. I have a whole new appreciation for how much stamina is required for the jobs my husband performs around our home. Our yard looks great, and I'm busy planning a small container garden this year. Not much, but just a few vegetable plants.

We shared a quiet Sunday, too. I managed to make quite a bit of headway on May Day, my Sweet Stitches embroidery. Funny how these panels, which I can usually stitch up in about two days, have taken me nearly a year to complete! (And that's just the stitching!) I am committed to finish these panels and assemble them into a quilt before this year is over. (Just watch me! giggle)

This week is going to be BUUSSSSYYYY. I'll be cutting wallets today in preparation for assembly. (My hardware is due to arrive today. Yay!) I think you're going to like my new designs. 

I'll be meeting up with girlfriends this week, too. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are booked already, but I still have Friday open in case someone wants to get together. Don't worry, though, I'll still be working so I'll have new things to show you.

DON'T STOP READING YET:

I have something fun planned for you, too! If you'd like to send pictures of what you're working on right now, I think I'll put together a "Show and Tell" post so I can share your project with my readers! 

Just email your photos (using the "Email Me" link in my right sidebar) along with any information about your project and your blog URL (if you have one) and I'll include you in my Friday post! It's my small way of thanking you for stopping by from time to time. I'm always grateful for you!

Pieces of April...

Brynwood Needleworks - Schmitz' Sweet Stitches "May Day"

Just in time for the start of a new month, I'm ready to stitch out "May Day" from Kathy Schmitz' Sweet Stitches series.

This one has four little bees that will buzz around the flowers, once they're created. I'll be putting this design onto the scroll bars so I can get right to it.

Brynwood Needleworks - Schmitz' Sweet Stitches "Peter Cottontail"

 

"Peter Cottontail" is just waiting for the eggs to be fused into the basket, and he's finished. I'll take him off the scroll rods today and add the final touches. Nine designs down. Three to go. I can see the end in sight.

Note: You might notice my reference to Three Dog Night's "Pieces of April" in the title. In case you haven't noticed yet, I love using song titles for many of my blog captions. In the lyrics for this particular song, the refrain kept repeating in my mind as I wrote this post: 

"I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I've got pieces of April, but it's a morning in May..."

Three Quarters Finished...

Brynwood Needleworks - K. Schmitz' "Peter Cottontail"

 

Yesterday was Nifty 50s, so I decided to get back to my handwork. I took my kit and supplies for Kathy Schmitz' kit, Peter Cottontail from the "Sweet Stitches" set I've been working on and got busy.

I traced out the design, attached the background fabric to my scroll rods and got right to stitching (while I gabbed with the ladies, of course!).

Brynwood Needleworks - K. Schmitz' "Peter Cottontail"

 

I made quite a bit of progress before I left Harbour Heights. I took this photo when I set it aside for the rest of the afternoon, and then Handsome and I met an old friend for dinner. 

Brynwood Needleworks - K. Schmitz' "Peter Cottontail"

As soon as we got home, I put on my jammies, grabbed a bottle of water and (Tag and) I retired to our favorite spot so I could continue stitching.

If you look at the pattern in the first photo, you can see that all I have left to complete Peter Cottontail are his pant legs and feet (paws?). I'll do those over my morning coffee today and he'll be ready to set aside until I finish the final three designs.

The rest of the day will be spent making another (#41) The Wanderer Travelers Clutch, as I was blessed to sell the first one I showed you in yesterday's post. I'm so thankful for my wonderful clients. 

I wish you have a great day today. I pray everyday that all my friends, near and far, can be as happy and content as I am.

xo

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

Brynwood Needleworks - K.Schmitz "Peter Cottontail"

   I've chosen this kit as my next piece in the "Sweet Stitches" line-up.  

Brynwood Needleworks - K.Schmitz "Be Mine"

I completed "Be Mine" day before yesterday, and just took it off the scroll rods.

Brynwood Needleworks - K.Schmitz "Be Mine"

First, it needs a good steam press (using a pressing cloth on the back side, of course).  After that I'll put it on my hanger with the rest of my finished pieces for now.

Brynwood Needleworks - K.Schmitz "Peter Cottontail"

  I'll prep the fabric for the needlework and mount it onto my scroll rods. It will be ready for the next chance I have to sit and stitch.  Hippity Hoppity!  

Kitchen Boss...

Brynwood Needleworks - Kitchen Boss

I have a new addition in our kitchen. "Bossy" is now on the wall in our above our cabinets, along with some of my blue & white transferware pieces.

I've had a lifelong affinity for barns and cows, so I really couldn't resist this when I saw her online. I bought her at DecorSteals.

Brynwood Needleworks - Kitchen Boss

She's enjoying a high place front and center in my special dish arrangement. I'm thinking she needs a little "something more". I considered a bay leaf wreath (which I still could do later) or a cow bell, but I want to make a blue & white toile scarf to go around her neck for now.

Brynwood Needleworks - Blue & White Transferware

Here's a closer look so you can see my Pembroke Welsh Corgi plate; black Labrador Retriever plate; Cypress Gardens (FL) plate (bottom center); Stephen Foster Memorial plate and my mother-in-law's bowl and pitcher set.

Brynwood Needleworks - Kitchen Boss and Blue & White Transferware

 

On the other side of Bossy is a Colonial Williamsburg souvenir plate (bottom center) from our travels; a Royal Copenhagen plate of a hunter and his dog (1977); a yellow Labrador Retriever plate; and (right next to Bossy's nose) Thomas Edison's (FL) Home souvenir plate. In the very bottom right corner, there is a blue transferware covered serving piece shaped like a duck sitting in a basket.

These are just a few of my favorite things, framing my latest addition. I will be dressing her in blue and white toile in the near future, and will share a photo once she's fitted out.

 

I played with the ladies at Nifty 50s yesterday. It started raining just before I left home, so rather than schlep my sewing machine and project outside, I grabbed my needlework ("Be Mine", most recently  seen HERE) instead. I'm almost finished with it, so I'll share that soon, too.

I'm into the studio today (of course, I am!). Time to get back to work. Catch you later!

Be Mine Block...

Brynwood Needleworks - Be Mine

  No matter what's on my plate, I always find myself returning to needlework.  

Brynwood Needleworks - Be Mine

This is my next installment in the Kathy Schmitz "Sweet Stitches" monthly mini quilt series that I started last year. My plan with these is to stitch out each design, finish the fronts as blocks, rather than a free-standing mini quilts.

Brynwood Needleworks - Be Mine

When all twelve are complete, I'll find a common sashing fabric, and then combine them into a full quilt top. It will be a true "quilt for all seasons".

Seven of my blocks are already stitched out, making this one Number Eight. That leaves four to finish. I can see fun stitching times ahead to finish this project. 

Today is Set-up day for our Disconnected Piecers Quilt Guild 2016 Quilt Show. I'll be in Punta Gorda helping hang quilts, or anything else that's needed. Show opens tomorrow, and we'll be ready. 

If you're local - or in southwest Florida - I hope you'll consider spending part or all of Friday and Saturday at our show. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

If you're not local, I'll be taking lots of photos to share with you in the next few days. I'll also share news about ribbon winners, too! I hope you'll check back to see what I see.

Merry-Making...

 I made headway on my needlework last weekend, but I was so easily

distracted. I preferred to harass the Corgi, cheer on a Packers win

 and spend time with Handsome instead. Really. Can you blame me?
Instead of stitching "Make Merry", I was actually merry-making. 
(You can see, I did make some progress from my last update, though.)

It's a new week, though. I want to finish this piece because it's time
to start the "Wooly Critters" BOM for January. I don't want to start
the new year "behind", after all! I will finish this needlework today.
I'll show it to you tomorrow. I will. Promise. Cross my heart.

Feeling Better By The Day...

 I felt well enough to pull out my Sweet Stitches "Make Merry" kit.

It features the Jolly Ol' Elf himself, so I would like to finish it while

Christmas is still in the air. I figure I have until Sunday to get him done.

 After Sunday, I think I'll need to look forward to 2014, like the

rest of you. I'd much rather be stitching than out in the stores.

I like the idea of getting back to my regular routines, too...

just in time for the new year!

How are you spending your time between now and New Years Day?

Snow Day...

 Don't worry. I'm not talking about our weather, although I see that

it's more than snowing in the Midwest and other northern places.

Yesterday, I received the final installment in the Sweet Stitches

Block of the Month Club from Shabby Fabrics..."Snow Day".

The snow lady in this kit is so sweet! She'll be fun to stitch.

Now I have all twelve months of kits - and I've already stitched half

of them. When they're all stitched, then the sewing will commence.

 As a little "thank you" from Shabby Fabrics, there was a little 

bluebird pin included with this last kit. It's from Kathy Schmitz

and looks just like the little bird in the "Bluebird Nest" kit! I 

added it to my guild ID quilt pin. It fits right in with my others.

I'm going to see my Coffee Club girlfriends this morning.

I'm looking forward to it, as always. They're always a good time!

Have a great Saturday. 

I'll be back tomorrow with my Sunday Scripture.

Give Thanks...

I finished another one of my Sweet Stitches embroideries over the weekend. 

Because it's meant for July, I'll wait to show you that one until later. (I asked
Handsome to choose which one I should do next and he liked "Liberty".)

Instead, I'll show you the second embroidery I did in October. I only showed

 a little bit then, and decided to save it to show you until Thanksgiving week. 

I know you were expecting to see "peeks" of the project I was working 

on at weeks' end on Friday and Saturday. Change of plans. So close to 

being finished with FIVE more gifts, I was informed that there won't be 

a gift exchange between us this year. Whoa! I didn't see that coming.

One of the gals lost her beloved husband three weeks ago, and is understandably 

not in the holiday spirit. Another has family that has temporarily moved in with 

her for an extended while and has put a damper on her creative endeavors.

I'm still going to finish those projects, but they won't be Christmas gifts, so 

I decided to take a weekend break and regroup. I spent Saturday starting the

"Liberty" Sweet Stitches block and finished it Sunday during the Packer game.

Today, I'll begin another Christmas gift. I'll show you my progress on that

when you come back to visit on Wednesday. If you're traveling during this

holiday, please be safe and have a wonderful time with family and friends.

 This time of year, I'll be reflecting on all of the blessings in my life. It's not

 about gifts or "what's in it for me"...it's about taking care of each other. Those

relationships based on give and take, mutual love, and respect that lasts a lifetime.

On the top of my list is my own beloved, Handsome. I'll write more about my

list over the course of the week - along with pictures of finished projects.

Tag will be back tomorrow. He has his own list, too...and you know him.

He's just too excited to keep these things to himself. He can't wait!

Although many people don't like Mondays, I personally love them. I

view each Monday as a new beginning and another chance to get it "right".
So...Have a great Monday, my friends.

Moving Right Along...

 I pulled fabrics to make my next Christmas gift project yesterday.

I might just as well call this the "Year of the Plates". It's going to be

another table runner and napkin set with the Dresden plate motif.

 I cut the "ties" (as Handsome calls them) and started sewing the top

seams to prepare for joining them together. Today, I'll make them up

and then start assembling the three plates for the runner. It will be fun 

to see just how far I get on this gift set today. More on that tomorrow.

 When I'm not in the studio, I also like to sit and stitch. I finished this 

"Sweet Stitches" piece called "March Winds" on Tuesday night. 

I was visiting with girlfriends at our Paneras group when I put the

last stitch into the fabric. I bonded the birds to it yesterday morning.

 I can almost feel that brisk March wind. Can't you?

I traced the pattern for my next kit, too. It's called "Sweet Liberty".

Another adorable stitchery to work on when I'm not making gifts.

I love this "joyful and creative life". I'm truly blessed.

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!