My New Needlebook

I got a really fun package a couple of weeks ago from Wendy. It turns out she was my secret swap partner in the R.A.T.Z. needlebook swap. Wendy and I have swapped bitty blocks and so that added to the fun!

The needlebook she made for me is so wonderful and not a single detail is lost on me...I love the linen and the scrappy border...the embroidered piece on the front, complete with monogram, is lovely! I also love the button closure.

The back, with all of the linen, makes it tactile as well as pretty...and that gingham on the inside--so cute, so sweet!

There are pockets for embroidery floss (or other items, like the mini composition book that Wendy included) and 2 nice size pages of wool felt to hold needles and pins. I can sew on the go with everything I need in one place!

The same week my needlebook came in the mail, I enjoyed some time with my daughter and her kiddos (my grandchildren). Sadly, it was the end of our summer outings before she had to return to work---it seemed like summer break just started! We took them to Wonderscope and here's me with the little sweeties in the Lego room...

I love this photo. I take care of them while their mom is working and this photo pretty much says it all---they're bundles of energy! And I love it!!

Marilyn

A Little Catching Up

I worked on a few smaller projects this week--things that were in the works that just needed to be finished up...ahhh, that word, finished!

Nikki, a friend in the KC Modern Quilt Guild, is very active with the Quilts of Valor project. Her group issued a QOV Firecracker Challenge for 12.5" star blocks to be used in sampler quilts. It's been a while since I've made a wonky star block and now I remember how fun it is--lots of possibilities.

I needed to print out some more paper pieces for my ongoing hexagon project. I make 1 inch "hexies", but I noticed there were .5" pieces available for printing also. Having seen these tiny hexagons--they're adorable--I wanted to give them a try. Not bad, but I think I'll stick with my big ol' 1 inchers!

And, just today, I finished this embroidered Mad Hatter, using a Wild Olive pattern.
 

Considering all of the swaps I've particpated in, I've been lucky. Maybe a couple of times, there's been a swapper who didn't follow through--I know, not nice, right? The flickr Bitty Block group is especially good about following through, but it looks like one of the people in the "Alice in Wonderland" swap isn't going to "be nice". And the bitty she said she would make is the Mad Hatter...well, I just don't think you can have a group of "Alice" anything without the Mad Hatter, so I made one for myself! I'm expecting one more block, the Cheshire Cat--coming from Australia--and when it arrives, I'll post pics of all of them--they're really cute!!

Marilyn

Soooo, my last post was in December.....

and much has happened since then.  But what do you say we pick it up again with where I am right now.....




These little (3.5") blocks are for the June Bitty Block Committee "My Garden" swap. I used a pattern from Sublime Stitching for the tomatoes and a couple of text fabrics that seemed fitting to the theme.  I love their embroidered faces;-)

Summer break (from childcare for our 2.5 year old grandson, and since January, his new sister--now 7 months old) started this week--and I've got big plans to finish lots of projects before I start up again in early August!  Many of them involve bitty blocks from other fun themes the last several months.....so stay tuned!

Marilyn

I Hope I Win THIS Giveaway!!

This is going to be a short little blog post but it's gonna pack a punch.....

My friend, Aneela--the multi-talented Aneela--is having a huge scrap fabric giveaway.....and not just any fabric scraps but pieces from many treasured fabric lines!!

You can check it out here--even if you're not a sew-ist, Aneela writes an entertaining blog:)

Marilyn

P.S. I'll have some Hoop Up! Round 2 embroidery pieces to show you soon. It's a rainy morning here today and difficult to get decent photos.

Hoop Up!

I realize, as I've been working on the final block for Hoop Up! Stitch & Send Swap, that it's been a while since I shared anything new in that department!

My last block is for Missy. Her theme is Nursery Rhymes...I love "Hey Diddle Diddle" so it was easy for me to choose what to stitch for her.


I'm pleased with it so far, but have some outlining still to do and also some filling in.

**05-04-2010, edited to add** Finished and on it's way to Missy!

The next two blocks are finished and have already made the trip to their new homes...

For Cathy, a fairytale-ish woodland theme:


And for Nicole, a Paris/or France theme:



Two others in our group have added to Nicole's French street scene---a florist's shop and a pet grooming salon---what fun!!

This has been such a great group of stitchers! We all agree how much fun we've had and how sad we are to see it coming to an end. The deadline for finished blocks is April 30th. Maybe there will be a Round 2?

Marilyn

February Quilting Bee Blocks...and more

Another month almost over...maybe it seemed to zip by because it's a short one??!

Kinda fun to measure a month with quilting bee blocks though...here are the ones I made for February:

In Sew Connected 2, Doris is making a neighborhood quilt and asked for simple houses and, if we wanted, we could add embroidered details.


Ruth is making a similar quilt, "About Town", in Bee Obsessed.


It's my month :) in Stash Busting Bee International and I've asked for blocks for an I-Spy quilt for the grandbabies! Some really cute blocks are being created.....I can't wait to show them to you when they arrive and I've had a chance to lay them out!

Doll Quilt Swap 8 is wrapping up soon and I'm getting close to being finished...here is sneak peek #2. I'm ready to stack, quilt and bind it and it will be on it's way:)



The second meeting of the newly formed KC Modern Quilt Guild is tonight and I'm very excited--it's such a great group quilters! I think they are expecting twice as many as the first meeting.....how FUN!


Marilyn

Hoop Up! Stitching

The dreary days and cold nights we're experiencing have at least been good for stitching! Once it warms up (notice I didn't say IF), I won't find myself huddled under a blanket so much and my embroidery will probably slow down.


For now though, Hoop Up! Stitch & Send has been the perfect swap to work on!

I finished this one just today for
Aneela...her theme is Little Girls Playing.


Aneela has a tutorial for a fill-in backstitch that I tried and really liked!

For June's theme, Baby Girl Loves, she sent out white fabric to some members in our group and pink fabric to the others to embroider on. I was excited to receive a pink piece--it was really fun!


June is going to use the stitched pieces to make a quilt for her 3 year old daughter...won't that be cute?

I think I showed this one in it's beginning stages, but now it's finished too...it's for Marianne. Her theme is Found in an Oriental Garden.


She is also going to make a quilt, to use as a wallhanging, with her stitched blocks...this is a photo of her own embroidered block and the fabric she's using--lovely!

Thanks for letting me share my stitching with you. In my next post, I hope to share some photos of work-in-progress for Doll Quilt Swap 8. I have my fabric and I have a plan so it's time to start cutting and sewing!

Marilyn

Whole Lotta Lovin' Goin' On

Soooo, this is one reason why my poor little blog has been neglected lately...

But, really, which one would you choose?! (Can you believe he's one month old already!)

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I am finding time for some embroidery too---for the Hoop Up! Stitch & Send swap. I just started on this block for a group member whose theme is "Japanese Garden"...


...and I just finished this one for a "Whimsical Forest/Woodland" theme.

(pattern by Hannah)

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This one isn't for the swap but it's one I started in early autumn (hence, the leaves, acorns and fall colors) but set aside. I worked on it around the holidays to keep my hands busy and finished it up---not sure what I'll do with it yet?

(pattern from Sublime Stitching)

I hope to get around to my regular blog visits again soon. I've missed seeing what you all are up to and your gorgeous creations!

Marilyn

Staying Warm, Stitching and Swapping

Too much snow and way too cold temperatures last week weren't good for much of anything except wrapping up in a blanket or snuggling with a baby.

Or stitching...which seems to go hand in hand with wrapping up in a blanket. And the timing is perfect for the latest swap I've taken on...Hoop Up! Stitch & Send Swap.

My theme is "Sweet Dreams" and I put together this flickr mosaic with photos that I like for inspiration...


1. ZZZ's pillowcase, 2. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, 3. Counting Sheep, 4. Pillowcase Fairy, 5. Storybook Collection, 6. cookie loves milk tattoo, 7. Sublime Stitching Sweet, 8. Once Upon A Time..., 9. BLUE MOON week 60, 10. travelers, 11. alarm clock, 12. Sleepy owls - pillow

There are 6 groups participating. Each group has 6/7 stitchers who choose a theme and send out a block of their chosen fabric to the others. Everyone embroiders something according to the theme and sends it back. Some will use the embroidered blocks to make a quilt, wall hanging, pillow, apron, tote bag, etc. I'm very excited to see what my group comes up with--they're all quite gifted and creative!

I finished my piece this weekend...


My idea of stitching up a cozy little bed took on a life of its own and I think it ended up with kind of a Disney-Cinderella feel to it.

Now, on to something for one of my group members! So many ideas and, fortunately, plenty of time--the deadline isn't until April 30th;)

Marilyn