Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Two Timing Ann (Lots of Pics)

Yes, it's true.  I've been two timing Ann Medd.  Two timing her with another Ann.  With all the market things that came out, I couldn't resist - just blew my resolution to stitch only WIPs this year with a reckless abandon.  I picked up a few things from Market and had a real dilemna as Ms. Medd was constantly calling me, but I finally blocked my ears and started another Ann - Ann Grant:

Beautiful Ann Grant.  The colors are so pretty.  Unfortunately I can't get the best picture of this loveliness because it's so miserable with rain and overcast skies today, but trust me - the reds, the pinks - beautiful!!

Ann Grant
Shakespeare's Peddler
32 ct. Vintage Sand Dune
 Silks as called for

This is really a joy to work on and I've gone out of my element with this one.  She's stitched on 32 ct. which I haven't touched in years, and with all the recommended silks.  They are so wonderful to work with.  So wonderful, in fact, that I think that I'm hooked.  Not a good thing.  But so hooked, I kitted up two more -

The stunning Susan Rambo - love those reds and greens:


And the wonderful Elizabeth Mears.  I saw this on Ellen Chester's site finished and I swooned.  

The only bad thing about these projects is that they're all BAPS!!  Why can't I pick something small?  Why?  Anyway, before you think that I've abandoned Ann Medd, I have not.  I have made some progress on her and she will be picked up again in a day or so.  I just needed a slight break from all that fill in, but I do want Ann Medd done - it just won't be by the end of March.

On the quilting front, I've gotten a little bit done.  I wonder where the hours in the days go sometimes, but I managed to get nine of the Farmer's Wife blocks finished (six from last month and three from March's installment).  Four more and I'll be caught up for the month.  And then - only three more months to go!!  I can't wait to put all the blocks together.  But these are the blocks I've finished this month so far:


All these blocks were fun and went together without a hitch, but in my true fashion I left the harder ones for the end.  Why do I do that?

Other than that - as I said - I don't know where the time goes and there isn't much more happening around my neck of the woods.  I did make another acquisition for my craft room yesterday.  Purely by accident, mind you.  I ran into Joanne's for a new rotary cutter.  Mine is on its last legs and I'm afraid that I'm going to slice and dice myself one of these days.  But I had a little time to kill so meandered around the store and found something that I had to have.  Why?  I already have one, but what's another one:

Yep, another mannequin.  I actually walked out of the store with my rotary cutter in hand and started to leave, but I couldn't leave - I had to have it!  What's one more, right?  

I took some pictures of my room now that it's coming along a little better - still a work in process, but since I don't have much else to talk about, I'll show you how it looks going full circle around the room.  Behind the door - the shelves are finally getting full.  Although the vast majority of my fabric is still in Rubbermaid bins in the workroom (which DH needs to clean out so I can get to them).

The cutting and work table (ignore the glare off the door jam - I'm not the best photographer).  

Part of my antique findings and gifts and giveaway wins from fellow bloggers:



The sewing area and all the junk stuff I put on the shelves:

The baskets on the top shelf hold my BOM projects - the extra fabric and blocks as they're made.  I'm going to reline the baskets with a pretty red polka dot fabric and put garden tags painted with chalk board paint on the baskets so that I can write the names on them.  The jars hold selvages, pieces of scrap fabric I may be able to use, fabric for my hexies and batik squares that my friend Diane gave me for my own Batik hexie quilt.  The boxes hold some of my threads - Gloriana's, etc.   And another view:


Looking down toward the closet (which I left closed because it's a mess in there).  The quilt rack is suppose to be hung over the other mannequin with my recently finished red and white quilt, but when my son and I tried to put it on the wall, we discovered after we got the anchors in that the wall was bowed in the middle, so we have to come up with some creative thinking (probably building up the wall with wood on the two ends) to get it up.

My bookcase area - still a work in process.  Most of my books and charts are in two cabinets in the workroom which is probably where they'll stay unless I commandeer the other basement bedroom into another work area (which is going to become a reality I think).  At some point the bookcase will be removed and I'll get one of those huge hutches from Ikea to fill the entire wall.

And then the sitting area - this chair definitely needs a slipcover or something but I haven't been able to find what I want.  Either that or I'll take it out and put up my other sewing machine.  Time will tell.  Right now it kind of gets the brunt of what I'm working on - like the quilt slung over the back and my cross stitch chart filing on the footstool.

So there you have it.  I can't think of a week that goes by where I don't think of something else to drag out and put in there.  But I love having things I love around me.  Maybe when I finally get the hutch I can display all the flower frogs there.  

I hope that everyone has a great week and weekend.  And I have to apologize that as of late I've been really bad with commenting on blogs.  Too many things going on - like emergency room visits for my daughter, my son being sick - AGAIN -  and not a lot of time.  I don't want to miss a thing so I lurk but don't comment.  I'll be back to doing that soon!!  I love seeing everything that you do!!


62 comments:

Yvette said...

You are making me wish I could stay home and work on my FW blocks. Yours turned out so beautiful!

OK, I am in love with your sewing haven. What a great room to retreat to.

merumo said...

You made a sisiter of Ann Medd! I love your progress of Ann Grant. She looks absolutely beeeaaaauutilful!!! I got her chart & fabric, but still awaiting for some of the silks. And looks like you will be ready for two more new ones soon ;) Good for you! And look at what you sewed besides stitching!! Just amazing. And the most amazing thing for me is your sewing room looks nice and tidy even after that much of sewing you have done. I think I have to clean my room before going back to sewing. lol Thank you for a wonderful inspirations!

Nicola said...

Lovely stitching, the colours on Ann Grant are so pretty. Love the two projects you have kitted up, look forward to seeing you progress on those.

Unknown said...

I love it all! I too love Ann Grant! I love all your market stash!!! and the scissors!!!! Those are the ones I picked! and your room... omgosh! love it...
love the quilts...
I guess, I just love it all!

BeckySC said...

EVERYTHING you post Deb always leaves me DROOOOOOOLING!!! WOW! Just WOW!!!!

Annie said...

Very pretty stitching and quilting. Looks like you have enough to keep you busy for a little while. And what a joy to have a room like that!

Siobhán said...

I couldn't wait to come and see your blog entry on the laptop, so I could get a better look (than on the iPhone) at the pics! Wow wow wow!! I love Ann Grant. Oh my gosh, the colors! Love the new kitted up samplers, too.

Great job on your quilt blocks! YGG! Your room looks fantastic, too. I keep eyeing my older daughter's room since she's away at college but think she'd require therapy if I tried to change it from 'her' room to 'my' room, LOL.

Bertie said...

Gorgeous samplers Deb, I have heard of AGrant but not seen it yet, fabulous.
Oh your sewing room looks wonderful, I would love to just walk in there LOL, so tidy!!!
The quilt hanging over the chair!!!

Margaret said...

Love your room! There are so many wonderful things in it -- makes it so warm and inviting! Glad you nabbed that mannequin! :D

And Ann Grant!!!!! OMG! OK, that's it. I think Ann Grant wins. lol! She might have to be my next project. On 40ct though. Can't deal with 32ct. Are you using 2 strands or one? Gorgeous!

Love your Farmer's Wife blocks too. Your quilt is going to be soooooooo amazing!

Cathy Lloyd said...

I LOVE your creative/creation room! It is so fabulous! It's fun to peek into someone's home and see what it's all about! Love everything about your room. Ann Grant...beautiful. I can see why you started it. Ann Medd will wait, won't she?? Have fun with that farmer quilt. I love all your color choices! Before long, you'll be adding another sampler to your stash...hopefully next week when I get my Swan mailing done! Have a great Wednesday Deb!

BrendaS said...

Deb --
OMG, where to start, let's see -- LOVE your Ann Grant Start. I am ordered the fabric and threads and am waiting for them to come in. Can't wait.

Great Farmers Wife blocks. I can't wait to see the whole thing put together:)))

Your craftroom looks so nice and inviting. I love looking at all your nooks and crannies and how you've arranged things. I like having "my things" close at hand too. Thanks so much for sharing your little "nest".

Hope your daughter and son feel better soon.

Have a good week!

Hazel said...

DROOOOOOOOOOOOL at all those kitted up samplers! Love them all. The silks look so pretty with the fabrics. Great shots of your crafty room too. xx

Littlebit said...

LOVE your Ann samplers, your mannequins, your quilt blocks, and your sewing room!! How quaint and cozy!

robindefender said...

Ann looks soooo gorgeous! I totally know what you mean about being unable to resist the new stuff. I dropped poor Sarah McPhail like a hot potato this weekend in exchange for a couple of new market release projects... but at least they are small projects, likely to be done by the end of the week.

Your craft room looks awesome, by the way.

Nancy said...

You are working on some gorgeous projects! Oh well on breaking your resolution - I say stitch on what makes you happy. I love your mannequin, and your craft room looks like so much fun!

Terri said...

What a lovely room you have. The wall colors are so soothing looking. I would be spending hours in there :)

I love your little ironing board. Can you share where you got it if you remember? I'm getting ready to purchase one for my own craft room.

Thanks.

Jane said...

Ann Grant is just gorgeous, no wonder she's two-timing with all the admirers she has!
I'm turning just a little green this end looking at your Craft Room, I've just called DH in to take a look and maybe give a little hint to two!!! only trouble is if I had a room like that I would never come out xxx

Andrea said...

OMG, I am LOVING your sewing/stitching room!! GORGEOUS!!! I want to move in for a week, just so I can camp out in there and drool over everything! Have Pug, will travel ;)

Your Ann Grant is beautiful!! Love that sampler, yours is the first I've seen being stitched! Very inspirational! I think the other Ann will understand why you strayed, lol!

xoxo

Teresa S. said...

Enough already! I got Ann Grant too and have been resisting her but you are undermining my resistance! (I even have LL Sand Dune, dang it all) And I want to do Mary's Best Handework (I see it on your wall and have it on my watch list on ebay, but haven't purchased it yet) wail! and you have the little metal box with the pincushion on top actually hanging on the wall (I forget the designer but mine is still sitting on a display case)sigh!

Nicole said...

Ann Grant looks amazing Deb!! So amazing that I had to stop what I was stitching, so I could start her myself. I'm such a copycat!! :)

I also love Susan and Elizabeth - I'm now two-timing Elizabeth with Ann, so we're both cheaters! ;)

Nicole
P.S. I love your craft room - it's so pretty!!

Tanya said...

I love your room. I wish I had one just like it. You have some really great WIP.

Kim said...

You two-timin' stitching wench! ;o) LOLOL Love Ann Grant! Just got the chart myself! What linen will you be using on Susan Rambo?? I need to kit that one up too! I LOVE what you've pulled for the other Ann. LOVE it! Great pics of your room!! And you're right..what's one more mannequin? Truly?

Laurie in Iowa said...

Ann Grant looks fabulous... the colors are just wonderful. I have a feeling Ann G. will be calling my name very loudly soon and I won't be able to resist.
Your FW blocks look great... it won't be long now and you'll have this one all wrapped up.
Your sewing room looks like the ideal place to hangout. I love it.

~*Sharee*~ said...

I'm so jealous, you have a lovely sewing/craft room; I wish I had a craft room; I just have a craft "house" LOL. But not as organized as yours hun. Thanks for sharing; I have fallen in love with your cross stitch...

Hugs,Shar

Rugs and Pugs said...

Deb ~
Great projects!!! Love them all.
Your craft room is to die for wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Donna said...

Love Ann Grant I am waiting for my silk to arrive love Susan Rambo 2 great samplers...totally love your craft room...Donna

Myra said...

I enjoyed the tour of your craft room - such pretty things in there. I am loving all your WIP's and you are right, those are some BAP's. :o)

Loraine said...

I need to wipe off the drool on my computer! Your samplers are just fabulous! I don't know where you always finds such amazing things to stitch, but I think I need to be a copy cat! Your new Ann is just calling my name.
I love, love, love all your photos of your crafting space. You have so many fabulous things! It must be so fun to go down there and stitch and quilt. The quilt on the chair is really nice!
Hope your son gets better soon. Uggg! The sickness will not go away, will it? We still have the lingering effects of the flu! I haven't felt great all week.
Hugs to you! Can't wait to pick your brain about your fabulous new kitted samplers.

Sylvia said...

I love your sewing room - what a fabulous reteat! I don't blame you for starting Ann - she is absolutely fabulous. Your other two kitted up samplers are also absolutely stunning. A girl has got to do what she has got to do.

Brigitte said...

The three samplers are just gorgeous. No wonder that you *had* to throw your WIP-stitching resolution into the bin, lol.
Great tour of your craft room, it's definitely a place where you could spend 24 hours a day.

Jackie's Stitches said...

Ann Grant looks fantastic! I can't tell, are you using one thread or two? I also keep going back to look at Susan Rambo....

You have a great room full of goodies. It looks very warm and you've decorated and organized it beautifully

staci said...

I love the colors of Ann Medd. And your craft room looks full of inspiration!

Carol said...

Oh, your craft room is wonderful, Deb--love the color of the room itself and I've enjoyed peeking into every nook and cranny :)

Such pretty colors in Ann Medd--she's going to be a beauty!

Sherry said...

Ann Grant is going to be so beautiful and the others you have kitted up make me drool as well. Your quilt blocks are so wonderful and I love the colors and designs! Makes me want to quilt again but I have so much stitching waiting to do! I need more hours in the day! Thank you for the tour of your sewing room. I would love to a place like this to go!

Love to Stitch said...

Wow Deb, I saw your start yesterday and it is FABULOUS! Love it, and I am trying to be good and not even PULL the threads yet. (I did order them and I have them!) I am going to have to start her soon as well. LOVE your craft room, you are so organized it is wonderful. So many beautiful things around you to inspire you in your room. All your patterns, books and threads oh my!!!! Your quilts are amazing too :) I look forward to seeing more pics-- keep up the great job on Ann too!!!! Enjoy your day!!

Katrina said...

Love your new Ann :-). You are such a bad, bad woman, LOL. I want to start Ann now too.

The quilt blocks and silks are so pretty too and your stitching room is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

Giovanna said...

Ann Grant is just beautiful - love the close-up of your stitching. Great start!

Cari said...

Deb, Deb, Deb....Bad Deb....JUST KIDDING... you are such an enabler. I love Susan Rambo and now I love her even more seeing the threads all ready to go. Dang you...I don't need another piece to stitch but I'll be ordering just as soon as I finish this comment. Love your creative room...peaceful and productive. BIG HUGS girl friend. Keep in touch!!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

The new Ann is gorgeous - I must do her and hang her near Elizabeth Savilles - the colors are awesome!

Your quilt blocks are wonderful - can't wait to see it all put together - what a stunner that will be!

Your room is to die for... seriously - wonderful!!!

Michelle said...

Love love love your new start. I want that one so bad! And your FW blocks look fantastic. You're closing in on the end now! Love the photos of your room, the color of the walls is fantastic.

Glenna said...

Wow! Loving Ann Grant and Susan Rambo and your stitching room! Beautiful clear photos of all of it!

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

Love your room, Deb! I just saw this, we must be on the same wavelength as I was showing pics of mine on my blog too....LOL

Isn't it great to have a special part of the house to creat? Love it!!!

Sending positive thoughts your way with your troubles and stress. Your new Ann is looking great. I love the colors and the eyelet stitches too.

Jennifer

woolwoman said...

what an awesome post Deb ! where do I start - AGrant is beautiful - so far I've resisted but I did fall for Elizabeth Mears after I saw Ellen's in person in Dec. Love Susan Rambo too but so far I have been able to resist - I think the reason you are enchanted with AG is because of the springy colors after a long cold winter. your quilt blocks are wonderful -and OMG your crafting room is fantastic !!! I sure wish I had the ummpff to get my wool room organized as beautifully as yours. I know you will enjoy many happy hours down there. Cheers! Mel

Hillery said...

Hello Again, Deb. I know I used to follow your blog. I started a new blog and changed things around, and I must have lost you. I am so glad you found me, because I have been perusing the eye candy on your blog and have been loving it. Your craft room is fabulous and all your new samplers are gorgeous. Can't wait to see more.
Happy Day,
Hillery

Stitcher said...

That sampler is wonderful, and I dream of having a workroom like yours.

Sue said...

I love the stitcing projects, I'm like you, everything I stitch is huge. I love how organized you are too.

Lois said...

Oh my, what gorgeous WIP's!! Little wonder you couldn't resist them!!! Poor Ann but I know you won't desert her totally! Really enjoyed seeing your craft room, I'm about to combust with envy!! As for your quilt blocks, well, lovely as ever. And,no you just couldn't possible leave that mannequin behind, sure the one you already had needed a friend!!!

Dee L said...

Your stitching--Wow!
Your craft room--Wow!
Your quilting (previous post)--Wow!
You do such nice work. I'm about to try using silks. Could you tell me where you buy your NPI silks?

Thanks so much,
lucasd329@gmail.com

Heidi said...

Loved, loved, loved being invited into your studio! I love seeing other people's studios and need to share mine one day too. The color of your walls is fabulous. And oh....all the goodies. You have some Moda lunchboxes. I have always wanted to get one but they are just too expensive.

Your new Ann start is beautiful. Love the Friesian letters. That is what they are called here in Holland anyway. I so understand starting big projects. I had it so bad that I needed a quick stitch fix and made a bowl filler pillow this week.

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Mary Ann said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful sewing room - what a cheery place!

Anonymous said...

Hi Deb, the colours of your Ann Grant are beautiful and so is the linen you are using. All your photographs are lovely. Kind regards, Ann ~ Australia.

Nancy M said...

You should come to my house, I hate kitting thing up!! I see you have no problem whatsoever!!! You new piece does look very pretty already. Love the pictures of the stitching room. You are so creative with your jars, baskets, hangers, shelves and all. My room just has dressers and my computer desk and my cross stitch pieces hanging, no fun stuff! I did get news that my quilt I gave to an Amish lady for quilting is done, so I might be seeing that this week!

Dona said...

Deb, you have gorgeous samplers in progress! THey all have such pretty colors in them.

What a cozy craft room you have! I enjoyed visiting it.

Sally said...

Oh wow Ann Grant is looking simply divine all ready! Those colours are beautiful!

You have some gorgeous things kitted up to.

I love your craft room. I want one!!!!

TeresaB said...

Can't blame you for wanting to start your new Ann, she's very beautiful. And I love, love, LOVE the Rambo sampler. All those colors are just fantastic! Can't wait to see your progress on it. So far I've been able to resist both of these. And Elizabeth with that big old house is just something to behold.

Adore your room, what a great place to escape to and work on quilting of stitching.

Mary said...

Great new start on the "new" Ann. The colors for Ann and the newly kitted are just yummy!

You've been busy with all those great quilt squares. Love the stars!

Fabulous stitchy room!

Karoline said...

Ann Grant is gorgeous, great start.

I love your crafting room & I'm just a touch jealous as I now have to share mine with my DH since we needed his study for the baby.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful start on Ann Grant, I'm jealous, lol, I'm waiting for the chart and the supplies to come from Theresa. And your sewing room is so nice and clean !!!

marylin said...

your picture very beautiful

have a good day

marylin FRANCE

Berit said...

So much floss-toss-y goodness here! And, a sewing room tour?! Total eye-candy!

Eek; hope everything's well with DD and the family!

Sharyn said...

Deb,
First, thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog. I'm so impressed by yours, all you accomplish! Your Ann projects are beautiful and I love your room. Wish you could come help me with mine! You'd cringe if you saw it!

Sharyn:-)

Barbara Hudak said...

So I need to ask about the Farmer's Wife, is the pattern all templates? I've wanted to get it, but have been hesitate in getting it because of the templates.

Your x-stitch is looking great!