I'd Rather Be Cross Stitching

Just noticed the big ole hole in the screen...Thank you Henry Ford!

Well as a first attempt at piecing, I think I did pretty good but.....

I'd rather be cross stitching.  

 I figure I have at least 10 hours in to this and I don't even really like to sew.

Quilting requires a love of sewing at a machine. 

I can honestly say, I don't enjoy that.  

 I am glad I did it so my mom has something to do other than "Putz around the house."

I'm not exactly sure what that means.  

I'm an occupational therapist and I do honestly believe that no matter what age, people need to be productive and have some purpose.  

I do believe that when she does have a project to work on, she is much more clearer in her thinking.  

One other thing, the nice bright colors, everything around here is white and grey.  :(

 Did some shopping for her then went down to her house today.  

We got the back and filling cut and pinned with the top of the table runner.  

Will do the placemats sometime later if she can't do it herself.  

I helped her finish the bag she was making for her friend.  

She just can't do some of that more sophisticated process.  

I talk her through it.  

She'll be able to do the finishing hand work, the binding and putting on some buttons to help reinforce the handles. 

She did all the hand quilting and did a good job at that.  

It turn out very cute.  I should have taken a picture. 

It is very good to work together and I know that means a lot to her.

It means a lot to me to be able to do this for her even if I'm grumping around about it. 

Hope you had a great weekend.

Mine was even with that quilting!

Thanks for stopping.

Keep on stitching

Monica

So Why do People Like to Quilt?

I think I have talked about my mom who will be 88.  

She use to be an excellent quilter but, as she has aged she has really lost her ability to do the most of the piecing.

She can still do the quilting.  She has been able to do a Split Rail pattern but she wants to do something different.  

She wants to make her friends and people who have been important to her gifts.  

The latest was a book bag for her hair dresser who admired her book bag.  

I helped her last weekend get the pieces going the right way.  

Her sister helped with cutting out the pieces.  

Its given her something to work on this week.  

I really think, that she is better mentally when she has some quilting to do.  

A friend of mine is making a top for me for a bed throw my mom will quilt.  

In the meantime, I figured I better get something together for her.  

So, I thought how hard can this be?

I had bought some material this past summer to have her make something since, it had a bigger pattern on it and she could quilt around the flowers.  

Since, I helped her last weekend, I figured I could make a table runner and some placemats.  

It is a very simple nine patch square.  

 Making triangles.

 I have one square put together.  

 Looking at it, I might have changed some of the fabric around.  

 I am going to use the floral for the border and the blue will be the binding.  

The red fabric has a sort of dot in it.  

I should have maybe changed the orange with the floral.

I can't say I have been having fun doing this.  

I really don't think that I will start doing this on a regular basis anytime soon.  

I really think that cross stitch is my passion.  

I started my His Eye on the Sparrow by Heartstring Samplery.  

This is a really large piece.  I think finished its 31x26 but, the small motifs I think will keep it interesting.  

Henry Ford is now refusing to sleep in his crated.  

He has been sleeping under the bed (which is high) and dragging all kinds of things under it.

He will take the bathroom rugs, clothes, shoes and Buster's bed.

One night, he just wasn't going to give it up, taking Buster's bed.  He also tore a whole in it and pulled out stuffing.  We put Buster's bed in the crate.  

Later that night, Buster opened the door and slept in his bed in the crate.  

 Now, we refer to it as the Shih Tzu condo.  

That should just about do it.  

Thanks for stopping and taking the time to send me comments.  

I love to hear from you.  

Keep on stitching

Have a great weekend. 

Monica

Drawn Thread Nearly Finished

Just cruisin' on Drawn Thread B My Valentine.  

I have a little on the bottom left square then one more row.  

I love doing these.

Each square is a small triumph!

Tried another spot to take pictures and this appears to be the best yet.

I did it in my sewing room with all the lights on especially the pseudo Ott.  

These colors came out pretty true.  

Did a little shopping yesterday with my friend Arttie.  

She is making a quilt top for me, a throw for the bottom of the bed.

It will then give my mom something to hand quilt. 

We went to the quilt store and picked out fabric. 

We went to the yarn store too.  

I got a book of hats/scarves/mittens etc, a pattern for baby/kid sweater and sock yarn.

The sweater pattern has owls around the yoke of the sweater that are just a variation of a cable stitch.  If I don't get the pattern now, while I can, when I want one, I won't be able to get one.  

Downton Abbey tonight but, also Sons of Liberty starts on the History Channel so dvr'ing that one to watch later.  

Hope you have had a great weekend.

It was pretty good here.  The weather was really nice the last few days but, cold today, 10 degrees right now. 

I hope you ladies on the East Coast have projects ready and head lamps in case the power goes out and you can keep stitching.  

Stay safe!

Have a wonderful week.

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Trying a Different Picture Taking Location

I have started working on Drawn Thread B My Valentine.  

I don't have the thread  the pattern called for so, I'm improvising.  

I have had to take some of the stitching out but, I'm pretty pleased with how it is turning out.  

 So many time, my pictures look too yellow.  

I thought I would try taking the pictures in my laundry room where there is florescent light.  

There is some shadow but, the colors look a little more true but. kind of dark.  

What I probably need is a better camera but, I do only do this for fun.  

 I was showing someone some pictures of finished projects.  

I wasn't on my home computer so I Googled my blog site. 

I found out that some of my pictures have been pinned on Pinetrest.

Now I feel like a celebrity.  

Decided I needed a little extra cuteness to this blog and I was able to get a fairly good picture of Buster before he turned his head...like he did on the second picture I took.  Henry Ford was too much of a wild child and wouldn't sit still.  Typical!

Came back to this spot.  We saw the Imitation Game this weekend.  I highly recommend it.  I want to see American Sniper.  Maybe next weekend.

Just hanging into January.  Should have started sorting patterns but, watched the football game instead.  I don't normally watch football but, Green Bay was in the Championship.  Oh well...there is always next year.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping and the great comments.

Keep on Stitching.
Monica

The Christmas Sampler is Complete and I Even Ironed It

So many time I post pictures of my finishes without being ironed because I just want to post.

I ironed it this time so it would look especially nice.  

Now I have to frame it.  

That might wait a little while.

I do have a frame that fits it.

 I am quite pleased with how it turned out.  

I love the colors.  

It will make a lovely addition to my Christmas pieces.  

I wanted to do more this year but, it will have to wait.

I plan on starting Drawn Thread B Is For Valentine.

I'm not doing it in the Needle Point Silk as the pattern used.

I matched DMC.  Once I did that, the colors looked an awful lot like Splendor Silk I have.  

I am going to use that instead. 

I can't remember what I used it for in the first place.  

It also called for some Dinky Dyes but, I think I will just blend the needle.  

While cooking today, I thought I would try making a Balsamic Vinegar reduction, just for the heck of it.  

Having never made one before, I Googled it.  

One of the sites it directed me to, I did.

The Nourishing Gourmet

I think I have to try making the Teriyaki Bowls with the Teriyaki Chicken in the slowcooker. 

Hope your week has been going smoothly. 

This week hasn't been too bad but, I have some really crazy nuts busy days at work. :(

Have a fabulous weekend!

Thanks for stopping and great comments.

(I am going to organize by designer and make a master list)

Keep on Stitching

Monica

Still Plugging Along

I am still plugging along on my Lizzie Kate.

It's nearly done but, I just don't seem to have a lot of time to work on it. 

Work, dogs, moms, cold weather....you know the drill.  

I had to rip out one of the trees cuz it was slightly off.  

 This picture is more true to color.  

Worked on some little projects.  I want to organize my charts better.  Posted on Prim Stitchers.
Do I organize by designer or by subject.  I can see the advantage of doing either.  I think I'm leaning more towards subject.

I finished one of Ed's socks and have stitches on a needle.  I want to get a few rows done tonight.

In the winter doldrums and its been cold.  It has actually warmed up a bit today and got to 19.
Suppose to be 30 next weekend.  Wouldn't be surprised if that means more snow.

Where do the weekends go?
Have a wonderful week!
Thanks for taking the time to send me little comments.  I do enjoy them

Keep on Stitching
Monica

Waiting For My Camera to Charge and Downton Abbey

Yep, kind of dead in the water waiting for the camera battery to charge.
We had a very good New Year's.  We got together with friends on New Year's Eve and then had the Mom's for dinner on New Year's Day.
New Year's Eve was Hor's d'oevers.  I brought Jalapeno Popper Dip.  I got the recipe from someone I work with.  It is awesome....here's the recipe. It does pack a bit of a kick.  

Jalapeno Popper Dip

2 8 oz pkgs of cream cheese room temp.
1 c. mayonaise
1 4 oz can diced mild green chilis
1 4 oz can diced jalapeno peppers drained
1 c. fresh grated parmesan (not the stuff in the green can...ewww)
1/3 c. grated cheddar cheese
bread crumb no idea how much, I just sprinkled over the top
jalapeno pepper slices

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix together the cream cheese and mayo...I did it with my mixer.  Add the peppers and cheeses.  Spread in an oven proof pan, a pyrex pie plate will do nicely.   Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top and artfully (haha) arrange the sliced jalapenos.  Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.  Serve with taco chips or cracker of choice.  I guarantee someone will ask you for the recipe.

We are headed for another deep freeze or Polar vortex.  It started out at 16 this morning at 7 am.  It is now -6 and dropping.

I really thought I would be done with my Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler but, the holidays, kids, and work slowed my down.  I had several other Christmas pieces I wanted to do.  Maybe I should work on nothing but, Christmas stuff this year.  Nooooo, I'm chomping at the bit to start my Eye on the Sparrow.

I'm on the final section.  I am also working on two pairs of socks.  

Got to go...getting close to Downton Abbey.  

Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping.

Keep on Stitching

Monica