WIPocalypse 2012

Here are photos of the first two projects I plan to work on before the January 9 post date.  I doubt that I will be disciplined enough to work on these until they are completed...I really have a bad case of stitching ADD. 

I chose Shakespeare's Peddler's A Weary World Rejoices since I am still in a Christmas mood/mode. 
There are still parts of the top of the sampler that have not been stitched.  I am stitching this in colors of my own choosing to get a lighter, greener appearance than the original design that was heavy in reds and browns.

A Weary World Rejoices - Shakespeare's Peddler
Fabric - Light colored from my stash, probably 40 count
Fibers - Cotton overdyes of my own choosing

The other project I plan to work on in the immediate future is the triple Loose Feathers from BlackBird Designs this year.  I have completed the Summer design, and am about one third through Autumn.  Winter is due in the shops in a week or so, which is why this piece has been moved to the top of my list for some attention.

Loose Feathers 2011 - Summer, Autumn, Winter - Blackbird Designs
Fabric - an off white 45 count
Fibers - cotton overdyes as specified

Wow!

We are having our first real snow of the season, which has finally gotten me in the mood for some snow.  Also, these are the biggest snow flakes I have ever seen.  Drive carefully, everyone.

2012 WIPocalypse

I joined an online group for 2011 where you listed some of your WIPs, with the idea of finishing some/all of the projects on your list.  Well, I have failed miserably.

With renewed enthusiasm, I have joined 2012 WIPocalypse; the link is:  http://measi.net/measiblog/2011/08/28/4814/
I'm really hoping to do a better job in 2012.  I have many, many beautiful projects that I would like to finish.  Not to mention how this should will encourage me to cut down on the new projects being brought into the house, which have a way of taking over physical and mental space! 

If any of you think this type of motivation would help you, pop over to Measi's site.  It's not too late to join, the rules are easy, it will be fun, and there will be a giveaway drawing on 1/1/2013.  What more could one ask?  Hope to see you over there.

Happy Thanksgiving

From Graphics Fairy

A Fun Autumn Weekend

A couple weekends ago a few of us gathered

for a fun stitching weekend hosted by Nancy. 

Lauren designed the cute small stitch
as a remembrance of the get together.

The sayings around the edges
were cute and appropriate for the occasion. 

I wish I had taken a better picture...some day when I finish mine.

We had a fun pot luck dinner on Friday, 

followed by a lot of chit chat and stitching time.

Saturday, following a delicious breakfast

coordinated by Nancy and Ginny,

we made a road trip to the Door Mouse,

a barn filled to the brim with quilt fabric

and patterns, and to the Craft Gallery in Findlay,

which was hazardous to most of our budgets.

We grabbed a bite in Findlay and got back shortly after dark.

More stitching time and good gal time together. 

There was a celebration of Rose's completion of Anniversary Roses

some time after midnight.

Sunday we had a great breakfast casserole made by Rose. 

We then shared a leisurely morning,

got things organized to leave,

and said our goodbyes shortly after noon.

Thanks Nancy...and Lauren...for a fun get together.

Here are a couple more photos:



LZ intent on being the first to finish Lauren's
little remembrance piece
and Ginny switching from a quilting
project to something else.



Rose beginning work on Book of Berries
with Nancy sitting back and enjoying it all.




A tiny portion of Rose's completed
Anniversary Roses sampler, designed by Lauren.
Congratulations on a huge and beautiful finish.




A sweet little box lid stitched by Nancy -
part of the Lake Erie nautical them.



Secrets

I finished the stitching part of a little project today, but can't show it right now. It's a secret! I love secret surprises, don't you?

I used to just love surprise wedding and baby showers. I don't think anyone does that any more. Seems a shame.

I'll post a photo when I can. Right now it's a secret!

Soothing Music

I saw this on another blog and really found it amusing and relaxing. 
I hope you do, too.

Sorry if there's a bunch of advertising...I've never linked to youtube before!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXKDu6cdXLI

Autumn

It's that wonderful time again...Autumn. 

Love it. 

We are having a perfect autumn weekend here in Strongsville.

I don't have any pumpkins yet this year,

but this was my collection from a couple of years ago.

Not sure why it looks blurry.

The original doesn't!

FYI

A couple of quick FYIs for you...take a look at Rose's Loose Feathers Summer start on our BBD blog: http://obbdg.blogspot.com and while you are there, link to the Carriage House blog for a peek at some of the new blocks from HRH Farms, and a mention of Julie, who stitched the piece for Kathy Barrick.

Patriotic Fun

We had a small patriotic project get together over the weekend. 

We had some chaos, but lots of fun.  And, of course, lots of food.

Here are a couple of photos of our projects.



These are the patchwork pincushions we made Saturday.




These were chaotic to get started...
I wanted to work on the patchwork ahead of time and didn't...
but everything worked out well in the end.



My Birthday Lunch

Again this year some of us went to Wild Mango
to celebrate my birthday. 

Third year in a row...it's becoming a tradition.

You just have to take pictures of your food...
it's unlike most food that you have. 

And, by the way, everything tastes as good as it looks!



Our appetizer sampler.  Yummy.




Rose and Carol both had this shrimp.




This was my scallops with mushrooms and risotto. 
Now that I look at this photo, I can see why it was so good!




Toni's ginger salmon with sweet potato fries and veggies.



Sinful, but definitely fit for a birthday celebration.
We did take some home!

Thanks for partying with me. 
The company was as good as the food. 
Thanks, Carol.

Happy Mother's Day

Enjoying the Blooms Despite the Rain

This actually is the photo of my crabapple tree

that I took last year, when it was prettier than now.

Birthday Beets - Mission Accomplished

With the help of a month long extension,

Carol and I were able to finish our birthday beet project for Rose

one day before the scheduled gift giving. 

We are both happy that these are completed,

and anxious to give them to our beet-loving friend.

P.S. Thanks Toni and Terri for your help and moral support.



Here is the basket of beets, ready for giving, sans basket.

 

The darling needlebook that Carol stitched.





Hearts - Many Meanings

These are some of the hearts we exchanged

during our fun "heart day" a couple of weeks ago.

We had a really nice time.

Hearts had extra meaning in February -

Valentines, Love,

and Healthy Heart Awareness.

Today this post extends warm hearts and prayers

to the family of Lisa Roswell.

Such a sad event.

I hope their hearts will heal soon.

Winter Beauty

Hand decorated by the hands of Mother Nature and Father God.

Hearts Galore

Yesterday we had a little heart get together and we had pretty hearts all over the place.  It was great fun.

Here are a couple of photos of what we did:



We made these little pin/needle booklets -
a project that Toni came up with.
Unfortunately I took this photo
after Terri and Toni left.




These were the pincushions for our exchange.
Fun stuff!
I'll have more photos another day.



February Pincushions

Here are a couple of pincushions that I stitched recently. 

One is for an exchange. 

I hope to show you some others later today.



This is the one I made to exchange. 
It's an old Prairie Schooler pattern
that I added the word friends to in place of the alphabet letters.
I hope whoever receives this likes it.
It was a fun stitch.



This is from a BBD Reward of Merit pattern.
I didn't center it properly on the fabric,
so I had to leave part out.
Made into a cute little pincushion.

A Fine Finish From LZ

Linda - aka Super Stitcher! - finished her Mary Wigham just in the nick of time to frame it

and enter it in the WRSG 2010 Contract Piece Challenge. 

The sampler didn't win, but received many oooohs and aaaahs.

The actual piece looks much more beautiful than this photo. 

Linda used the hand dyed silks from Vicki Clayton for this piece. 

I can't remember the name of the Lakeside Linen she used,

but it is a beautiful green and goes great with the silks. 

She won a free frame at a shop hop contest and chose this one for Mary.

Great job, LZ.

I'll post more projects that were in the Contract Piece Challenge soon.

The lower left hand portion of the piece.