New Project in the Works

I started a new project in the sewing room yesterday. My Bruder Bear is going to be a grandpa again and so it was time to start a new quilt for the little one. We know it's another boy (great-grandson number six for my parents), and so I picked out some cute boyish fabrics at the quilt shop a couple of weeks ago.

Most of the fabrics are from the Giraffe Crossing line by The RBD Designers for Riley Blake.  I'm going to use the Yellow Brick Road pattern by Atkinson Designs, which is the same pattern I used for soon-to-be big brother Grant's quilt.  

Meanwhile, it's a very dark and dreary day here at the resort, so I think that makes it a very good day to spend sewing.  And maybe for making a big pot of soup.  ♥

A Couple of Finishes

Hey, as promised, I'm back!!  

Down in the sewing room, I finally got gutsy and decided I needed to quilt the window scene wall hanging using the Through the Winter Woods fabric.  Yes, it had me buffaloed because it had light and dark sections and I'm an "all over" quilter girl and what color thread would work on both?  Answer:  none.

So Tuesday afternoon, I gathered myself together and came up with a plan.  First I put the layers together and pin basted them, then I stitched in the ditch (right down the seam line for those not acquainted with the term) around the scenes and the window frame.  Then I basted around the entire edge of the quilt and put it on my Handi-Quilter and using a brown variegated thread, stippled quilted the border.  I changed to a cream thread and lightly stippled each scene and...I was done! And I'm happy with it.  Turns out it's no big deal to change thread colors!  What a dork I was about this!  

I may stitch some lines through the window sill, but that'll just take a jiffy using my regular sewing machine.  

I also finished the herringbone table runner from the same pattern book as the window wall hanging several weeks ago.  It's not the best photo as the light was wrong in my sewing room and I was too lazy to drop the blinds.  

I think I'll make two more projects from the book.  Can you believe that, after almost forty-three years of marriage, we've never had a real Christmas tree skirt? There's one in the book I really like, so I hope to tackle it soon.  Also, Ann gave me a jelly roll of this fabric for my birthday and there's a log cabin quilt, using those scene panels, that I believe I'll try.  That will most likely be after Christmas, though.  

Ah, the joys of being a quilter--there are always more patterns and fabrics calling to us!  ♥

Thankful Thursday

Wow, I can't believe what a slacker blogger I've been this month.  But then again, there's only so much you can say about dusting, organizing shelves, and cleaning sinks.  Yeah, it's been that exciting here this month.  

But, this morning I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures.  I try to do at least four posts per month, so stay tuned for a flurry in the next few days!

Meanwhile, I know Thursdays have become known in the internet world as "Throwback Thursday", but today I decided I would do a Thankful Thursday.  So, in a few words and a few pictures, here goes:

I'm thankful for this perfect little ceramic bird I found last fall in a drugstore next to the shop where I get my hair cut.  It makes me smile.

And I'm thankful for my trusty ancient NordicTrack.  I can't believe that for the last one year and nine months, most days, I climb on it each morning and work away. It's a love/hate relationship, but still, I'm thankful!  

Hope your day is as beautiful as it is here!  ♥

September?

Well, it looks like I've missed a few weeks here.  Things have been busy, and when I've had down time, I've been lazy.  :-)

I have my little house picture done and hanging.  I've left the frame matte-finished, but I may varnish it later. I do like it!  And it solves a bare-space dilemma for those times when my Christmas stocking and my little flag banner are out of season.

The little basket below it holds our car keys and I've made different garters for it for various seasons. I haven't been to a Longaberger party in years, but I sure love the baskets I have and use them all the time. (We'll just have to ignore the fact that the light switch isn't centered...  Bah!!)

I have finished changing out Americana decor for fall and it feels so good!  Love, love, love the fall season. And here's that Edyta Sitar runner I made earlier this year. Doesn't it look perfect with this arrangement on it?

So far I've found no bags of cute little pumpkins at Safeway, but I'll keep checking.  ♥