Finish It Up February...are you in?

In a blink of an eye, January has whizzed by!  I got a ton done but only three or four small finishes, plus eighty million wee bowl filler pillows...haha. Yes, I am ready for Valentine's Day AND Spring!

 The 'True Love' and the 'Rusty Pin Pillows' got stitched last night...and that's it!  No more!

 I know I have said that before...but they are so darned addictive...sweeter than candy and no calories!

But that's IT!  Done!  :o))

I declare that next month is going to be "Finish It Up February" with some BIG finishes...and I don't mean by making BIG pillows!  Care to join me in some UFO Busting...or finishing up your current projects?!  February is a short month so we better make the most of it!  Pitter-patter-let's get at 'er!

Have a Super Saturday and Happy Stitching!~P

UFO Bites the Dust...

This 'pin cushion' goes way back when I was part of a Wool Pin Cushion Round Robin hosted by Kaaren of the Painted Quilt Blog...back to August of 2010!  There were four participants, Kaaren, Lori (Humble Quilts) and Karen (Log Cabin Quilts)...yes, I was in VERY good company!!  We each had to make a crazy patch 8" round wool circle...here's mine as an infant...

                             

...We each picked a THEME (mine was Four Seasons).  We each stitched the first section on our own round mat...I stitched Spring and then mailed it to the next person!  While they worked on my Round, I worked on theirs!

                                    
 So off on it's journey it went and along the way it got the seasons...WINTER...

SUMMER....

 and FALL...

 And then it arrived back to me...pretty much finished!  I just had to make it into a pincushion.  Instead I put it into a ziplock bag to stew for FIVE YEARS!  Until yesterday...I came across it and had a light bulb moment!  Yes, once in awhile the switch still works!

To finish off the Round, I cut out a backing of black wool and blanket stitched it on and then attached sticky sided Velcro strips to the back and presto....stuck it on this old cutting board!

It now hangs in my kitchen AND I LOVE IT!!

Great fun and a great keepsake from my blogging buddies!  Now I can FULLY enjoy it hanging in my kitchen! Simply PERFECT!

A happy ending that took FIVE years....but then good things always take aging...right?  I wonder if the other three ever finished their's off...Come on Kaaren, Lori and Karen...fess up!  Is your's finished and if so, we want to see!  We will be watching!  The links to their blogs are in the first paragraph...have a visit...they are still quilting like CRAZY!

I hope you have a FUN Friday and happy stitching!~P

Caution...Blizzard Like Conditions...

There was a blizzard in my sewing room yesterday...a reported 3" of the white stuff fell...making chair rolling impossible and hazardous! 

The cause of the white-out conditions was man-made...or rather quilter made, as Triangles by the Roll ripping was the cause!

                           
I have nothing but good things to say about these paper triangles!  In just a few minutes I had a million perfect little 1 1/2" half square triangles...SEW EASY and FAST!  They cut apart lickity split and the paper, being thin, was very easy to remove (the secret is to tug in the middle...and it falls off).

So...are you are wondering why I need a million red and neutral HST?...Well remember these blocks...stitched in 2015...They have been hiding in a tote for almost a year...and they are too darn cute not to be in a quilt top!  This quilt is called 'Home For the Holidays' and it's by Primitive Gatherings.  It's Christmas 2016 or BUST for this one!

                           

First row down...or three blocks complete...which means that I have four rows or 10 blocks to go!  You know what they say...the first three blocks are always the hardest!  I am on a roll...I can do this!

I have to admit that these HST blocks are going to make this quilt top sing!  They add colour, sparkle and movement to the other blocks!

The blocks are time consuming and fiddly but fun to make!  And I have company...Anna from 'Woolie Mammoth Blog' is also working on this quilt, so we can cheer each other on!  A couple of audio books and some Wintry- rainy days should do the trick..and lord knows, we both have plenty of that!  :o)) Go Anna, go!

Have a wild and wicked Wednesday and Happy Stitching!~P

Feeling The Love

Looks like I'm all set for Valentine's Day...I will be serving up a bowl full of hearts, sprinkled few woolie gingerbread boys...

I am loving these wee pillows...

They are fast and easy to make...and dang cute! And they have been a nice change to making quilts and table toppers but it's time to stop playing and get back to 'work'!  Yes, this retirement gig is hard to take!!:o)

Have a magical Monday and Happy Stitching!~P

  

Simply...wonderful! Simply...the BEST! Simply Vintage!

I bought my Simply Vintage a couple of weeks ago...the second it hit the book shelves!  Yes, this is the Winter 2015 issue #17!  For some reason, we don't get it till after the fact...Winter is here and has been here for awhile now...it's 2016...and I am now working on Spring Projects.  But I will forgive them...because Simply Vintage is Simply THE BEST regardless of when it hits the News Stands!  

This issue certainly didn't disappoint...TONS of eye candy and wonderful projects to make and drool over!  I'm not even upset that I already own two of the patterns because the other projects make up for it!  

I have already made Winter Wonderland...well technically it's still a UFO...but it's near completion!  I just need some Big stitch hand quilting and the binding and she will be done!  And what better incentive to 'get 'er done' than to have it staring back at me out of this wonderful magazine!  

No, I don't have this pattern...and I LOVE IT!!  Sew darn cute and sew on my To Do List!

 This is another one that I thought I already owned...but I don't...but I DO NOW!!  (I own the PUMPKIN Pattern which is similar).  Isn't this one sweet!

 And of course, this one is a winner all round!  LOVE this one!

 I also wanted to show you this one...the perfect example of framed blocks looking absolutely gorgeous!

 There is also a wonderful article on Lori Smith...love her patterns!

 And here she is sitting at her sewing machine...in her sewing studio!  Why do famous quilt designers always have studios filled with yummy goodies...they never look messy or junky and there are always gorgeous drop-dead quilts hanging around EVERYWHERE?!  Such eye candy ...

See the quilt in the top right corner...that's the one that I made!!  Well not THAT quilt but one using that pattern...and I still LOVE that quilt even though the sashing was made from a pair of men's wool pants!  Yup, I practically ripped them right off the man who was having the Garage Sale!  Hey, don't judge...wool was hard to find back in the olden days...:o)

So YES, I really enjoyed the Winter Issue of Simply Vintage...but come on!  We want SPRING!  Just imagine the kind of damage we could do (...as in sewing) if we got these magazines early...Boggles the mind, doesn't it!!

Have a SUNNY Sunday and happy stitching!~P

More Pillow Talk...

My temporary laps back to Winter (ie snowmen) seems to be over (whew!)...and I am now  back to working on Spring!:o))  For all of you readers back East, buried in ten feet of snow, you might enjoy gazing at a little Spring eye candy this morning....

Here's the latest additions to my Spring Bowl Filler collection...this sweet lamb...

S

 And a basket of spring flowers...
                                                
YES, I now have a COLLECTION!  See what happens when you take it one pillow at a time!

 And to make it look extra Springy....let's put them in front of my blooming PaperWhites!  I know the lighting is terrible...I get up way too early...but you get the idea!  (Please ignore the reflection of the crazy lady in her housecoat taking the picture!:)

I have one more pillow ready to stitch and then I think I will STOP...Enough of Spring already!   Next up will be a Valentine's Bowl, filled with wee Valentine pillows...hey, I'm on a roll and besides, I have all of this stuffing!  They are like eating chips...you can't just eat one...you have to have a whole bowl!   (Get it?;o)

Have a super Saturday and Happy Shoveling/Stitching!~P

Oh, the People You Meet...

...Make that the TALENTED people you meet while at Heritage Quilt Guild!  Look at what Jenny brought for Sharing...wee, itty-bitty babies made out of Fimo...you know, the clay that you bake!  Yup, Jenny has another hobby besides creating gorgeous hand-quilted Quilts...she bakes babies!

Look...they fit into the palm of your hand...

 ...the size of a finger and they are SO life-like it's crazy!  PUT THAT FLY SWATTER DOWN!

 Jenny uses animal fur for the babies' hair...and even makes toys to keep her babies happy...

 And of course provides them with hand stitched blankets....

How sweet are these?!  Yes, Jenny gives a whole new meaning to 'having one in the oven'!
Thanks for sharing, Jenny!  Absolutely incredible!

Have a Fun Friday and Happy Stitching/Baking!~P

Heritage Happenings...

Pour yourself a coffee...and sit back and enjoy the Heritage show!  I have TWO weeks worth of Show and Tell this morning...I seem to be falling down on the job!

I'm not going to comment on the photos as I have places to go, people see, things to do...and I have to get at it!  Sew...ENJOY!!

Coffee on one side...

And wine on the other!

 A Fig Tree Pattern + Fig Tree fabric=PERFECTION!

 Fabric bowls for holding bowls for the microwave.

 These are novelty print pillowcases!

                                       

                                     

                                      

 The Heritage Gals outdid themselves, as usual, providing lots and lots of inspiration and entertainment for the rest of us!  Well done, ladies!

Have a thrilling Thursday and Happy Stitching!~P