Monday, January 21, 2013

Just a Quickie Post

Hi everyone.  I hope that everyone's New Year's has gotten off to a great start!!  I did not make Resolutions this year, but I had a Plan (those are easily changed) to try to blog more frequently.  Well, we're looking at January 21st today, so that makes it three weeks.  I was going to try for two weeks - that was the Plan.   Obviously I didn't stick to that very well.

One of my plans though was to join Nicola's Scarlett Letter Challenge this year.  I felt that it was a great reason to finally stitch one or two of the samplers that I had hidden in stash.  I've done them before (like Ann Medd), but seemed to pass Scarlett Letter pieces over for other things.  This time I'm glad I didn't because I'm in love with this sampler.  This was my New Year's start (pics are clickable).  I'm a little further than this, but the camera is dead and I didn't feel like fooling around with the phone camera:

Ann Smith
The Scarlett Letter
AVAS and 35 count Magnolia linen

I love the bright happy colors of her.  What I don't like is all the over one.  I usually avoid over one like the plague, but finally broke out the magnifier and I'm so happy that I did.  The magnifier and I have become good friends.  The letters are full cross over one and the sky below that is tent stitch over one.



The Cotton Club isn't finished yet.  Just the borders now and it will be a wrap.  My 'plan' was to have it finished last week, but then I had forgotten that my daughter only had half days for most of the week due to semester finals, so that cut into my sewing machine time.  And I also got into a huge stash room clean out.  But while thinking about the end of the Cotton Club, I went back and forth about what to start next and it came down to two quilts.  In going through my stash, I decided to work on one old stash piece and one new piece.  And yes, I should have my head examined because in addition to trying to make progress on my basket blocks with Siobhan, I'm going to work on these two:


I have had this quilt in my stash for about 10 years.  Just about the time I stopped quilting for a while when I became busy with PTA activities  at my children's school, this BOM starting showing up in the mailbox.  I just filed them away and didn't look at them again until last year.  This one will be a challenge, but for some reason working on those baskets with Siobhan and actually appliquing has given me the courage to work on this.  There will no fast results with this one - it's going to be slow going as a lot of it is not only appliqueing, but also paper piecing and I'm not the quickest nor best paper piecer in the world.  I'm planning for two blocks a month - not a lot, but we'll see how it goes.  Maybe a block a week....maybe!!

The other quilt will be more straightforward, but another one that I've loved for a long time:


I don't know what my obsession is with quilts like this - it's very reminiscent of the Farmer's Wife, but I'm really looking forward to working on this one.  The colors are different than the Farmer's Wife and I think that is what I like about it - different blocks and different colors.  The BOM has 10 blocks each month so between the two of these quilts I've got my work cut out for me.  And besides these two, I want to get working on Phebe - I actually have a couple pieces ready to go, just have to applique them down.  So it looks like I'm going to have my quilting work cut out for me (well, no, I'll do the cutting - LOL) for the next year or so.

New Year's started off on a really great note for me.  I won a couple of giveaways and wanted to post  to thank each of the girls that sponsored them.  Before the New Year even started I won a giveaway from Lisa from a Southern Bell Misplaced in Michigan.  I found out that Lisa lives not all that far from me and hope that I'll be able to meet with her soon:


The red fabrics immediately went into the pile of reds for my baskets and you can't see them, but there were two stitching wallets - one plastic and one mesh that I'm already using.  And the pillow (a favorite of mine) is backed with a Fleur de Lis charm.  UGH, I can't find the picture I took and the camera battery is dead.  But it was so sweet and thank you so much Lisa.  I hope that we can meet up soon.

Right after the New Year I won another giveaway from Shelly of the Arizona Stitcher:


The box was full of so many goodies, the Little House Needleworks chart and the linen, ribbon trims, a stitcher's mug, some wonderful Christmas far quarters, chenille trims, a needle minder, note cards, tissues, a christmas towel, prickly pear jelly (yum) and chocolate!  Thank you so much Shelly.

The next giveaway I won was from was Becky.  She held a stitching challenge last year and I won!  The prize is a $100 dollar gift certificate to the LNS of her choice.  I can't wait to get that in my hot little hands and have some fun spending it.

Which means that I will acquire more stash.  But quite frankly I need to get rid of some stash.   Right after the New Year, I got on some kind of cleaning tear and really went at my craft room.  The closet is so clean and organized right now:


Everything in it's place (well almost, I just noticed the green top of the thread keeper system laying not where it should be) and things labeled, but.........this isn't the only closet that my stash is in.  It's also in two other closets, three cupboards and quite a few Rubbermaid bins in the workroom.  You can accumulate a lot of stash when you stitch, quilt and knit.  I think that I could easily be shown on an episode of The Hoarders.  My husband definitely thinks so and you probably would too if you saw pictures of the complete mess.   So I'm thinking of posting some of my stash on this blog or another one.  I actually thought of doing this a year or so ago, but hesitated thinking that people wouldn't want half of the things that I would get rid of.  And they might not, but I thought it was worth a try seeing what people would want and the rest I could possibly donate.  So stay tuned.  I hope to get a new camera battery tomorrow and have things put together by the next time I post.

So that's it in my part of the woods!!  It's cold and snowy here today - a great day to hunker down sew and put a pot of soup on the stove.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

   






35 comments:

Rugs and Pugs said...

Deb ~
You call that a quickie post??? LOL!!!
You have your work cut out for you. Best of luck with all your "plans".
LOVE the sampler. I don't think I could do over one.
Stay warm.
Hugs :)
Lauren

marly said...

Ann is just so gorgeous. Your over one stitches look absolutely perfect. Mine disappear into the weave and end up in the next stitch. You've chosen such great quilt designs to work on. So your plan is to blog more often? We would love that! Hope you have some time between those projects.

Grit said...

The sampler looks fantastic.
Liebe Grüße Grit

pj said...

Hi Deb! Happy New Year! Wow you do have a big list for 2013. I know you always accomplish more than you give yourself credit for.

You have inspired me to do another sampler ... and I got the pattern the other day so ready to start Abigail Gould! Love yours!

Stay warm!
pam in iowa

BrendaS said...

Ann looks so pretty! Love the bright colors:) I really like the quilts you picked out to work on -- can't wait to see how you progress!

Very nice giveaway wins you won!! Lucky you:)

Vickie said...

ooOoo! That is a gorgeous sampler. I too hope you blog more often. It is always great to hear from you.

Margaret said...

Ann Smith is looking gorgeous! I love the quilts you have lined up to work on too. Pretty fabrics! And great prizes too!

Teresa S. said...

Congrats on all your winnings! That might be a harbinger of a great 2013 for you??

Ann Smith's pic is totally wonderful. Those colors really pop!

I am trying to expand my horizons in quilting in 2013 also. I'll be sharing more about that on my blog soon.
Have a great year!

Ellen said...

Ann is gorgeous! I am just starting the 1 over 1 on Dorothy, the crosses are real tiny on 40 ct ha ha!

Looking forward to your works on the quilts!

You have won some wonderful giveaways!

Hugs,

Evelyne said...

Beautiful sampler and lovely colours!
Great give away, with nice fabric.
Have a good week, Evelyne

Nicola said...

Your quilting projects look pretty amazing, I love these sort of quilts too.

Stash can build up so quickly. One of my "goals" for this year is to sort out my threads but that was my goal for last year too. LOL.

Well done on your wins, a great way to start off the New Year.

Myra said...

It looks like you have some fun "plans". I don't do resolutions so I have plans too. I love the colors in Ann and your stitching is just gorgeous.

Faye said...

I keep eyeing your gorgeous sampler..... It is a lot if over one, but you are doing a wonderful job!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Ann Smith is looking wonderful! I'm looking forward to seeing this and other projects unfold over the year. You've got some great projects picked out!

Lois said...

I love how Ann is working up but don't envy you all that over one! Could you come to my house and get all my stash organised?! I've become so widespread that I'm now 'losing' things that I know are somewhere in the mess! As ever, love your quilt choices!

xstitchlibrarian said...

The colours on your New Year's start are fantastic. It will look amazing when it is finished!

Ineke said...

Your stitching is so colourful! Lovely quilting plans you have. I am looking forward to see more of it.

Siobhán said...

Wow, you go girl on all on your wins! And OH MY GOSH, you should have posted a 'get your smelling salts handy now' warning when showing the fabrics for your Dear Jane & Sylvia's Bridal Quilts. Just them in the packaging is enough to make my heart swoon. Swoon!! Okay. Deep breath. LOL ;) Love your Ann Smith, too. The colors in it are so bright and happy!

Giovanna said...

Lovely start on the sampler - the colours are fantastic. And well done on winning the draws, those are some great gifts :-)

Charlene ♥ NC said...

I've looked at Ann Smith, but backed away - your stitching is Beautiful. I've always loved that Dear Jane quilt, so it will be fun to watch. Nice wins and neat closet! I enjoy seeing what others offer when they purge stash - go for it!

Katherine said...

Deb - I love a quickie, and I love those two quilts you're going to start working on. Beautiful. And regarding the sampler colors, you're right, they are happy; which I guess is what we need in the middle of winter. Looking forward to watching your progress.

valerie said...

Love Ann Smith. II'm not sure if I ever noticed her before but she's gorgeous and the colors are so fun! Can't wait to see more of her! And congrats on all your giveaway wins! All the goodies are fantastic!

Melissa said...

Gosh, you are on a winning streak...GO get that lottery ticket!

Love your start on Ann - such beautiful, bright colours!

Dawn said...

Love your sampler start - great colors.
The sampler style quilts for me is seeing the variety of fabric combinations and piecing.
Wow - lot's of wins - congratulations.
Good luck with the clean up, I need to tackle my space too...
Thank you for sharing!

Michele B. said...

Love your Ann Smith...the colors are so brilliant. Can't wait to see more progress!

Michele B.

Carol said...

What a lovely sampler, Deb--really love the colors!! And I'd say you're on a very lucky streak with all of those lovely giveaway wins--hope it continues :)

Mary said...

The sampler is beautiful and so colorful and you have gotten quite a good start!
Love the quilts, too.
Lucky you to have won so many giveaways with such nice goodies!

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

Oh I love the stitching !!! the beautiful colors ...

bisous from FRANCE? Marylin

Catherine said...

Great stitches and goodies!!

Loraine said...

Oh gosh Deb, this is a wonderful post! Sorry I missed it earlier.
I love your Ann Smith! Oh my she is a beauty, and the colors have got to cheer you up this winter. I hope the over one stitching can be done without too much trouble!
Love seeing your quilts in store for this year. Dear Jane and I are going to be friends again, so maybe we can cheer each other on.
I've always love Elm Creek quilts, and the colors are really pretty. Good luck getting those done.
Love seeing your organized closet. That is a nice feeling!
You are one lucky girl to win so many fabulous giveaways. You are so deserving!
Have a great weekend, and we will talk to you soon.
Hugs.

Jeanne said...

I love Ann Smith - it's gorgeous. Will have to put that one on my list for someday. Congrats on all your giveaway wins, you must have a lucky streak going - better buy some lottery tickets while you're hot!

I know what you mean about stash...I quilt and stitch and also have a whole drawerful of doll kits and a few other crafts thrown in. It becomes overwhelming sometimes.

woolwoman said...

LOVE that Ann Smith but I feel the same way about too much over one - I just stay away from it. Dear Jane OMGosh - what a gorgeous quilt. I just spent the weekend at a quilting retreat with 180 quilters and 7 of us hookers infiltrated the group - there was some amazing things being created there and it really gave me the quilting bug and ha ha - I think we also gave the quilters the "hookers hug" too. Take care - always great to see your "quick posts" Have a great week - mel

Carin said...

Your sampler is realy looking good, love those colors !!!
And a lot of fun with maaking the dear jane and sbs... the first one I haven't starting but the sbs blocks are half done.
you won some beautiful give aways !!

Karoline said...

Great start on Ann, she's looking gorgeous

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on your new quilts

Joy said...

What a lovely sampler...can hardly wait to see the finish. Looks like you've been busy. I have purged so much I feel like a new person!

Happy Weekend to you!