A Finish , Finally

I finally got things put back in my sewing space and was able to get the binding put on a project that I have been working on for a few years. This project is pieced, with embroidery and applique. It was a pattern offered on Val Laird Designs. Here is it finally done!  It's called Thoughts In Thread and Val's original was done in pastels. I had a large amount of brown and tan fat quarters in my stash and I am a more brown/autumn girl.

There are 9 embroidered blocks with phrases based on Philippians 4:8

The center square says " Fill your mind with these..."

the remaining squares have thoughts and a motif. Such as a violin and "true thoughts". 

I did not do the quilting myself. I felt that I had put lots of hours in the embroidery and the piecing, it deserved the addition of custom quilting by a local artist. She is the best of the best! 

She custom quilted in each block. 

 The back shows the quilting so well and the label I added.  Val Laird included the embroidery and the lettering to make the label. I love it. It says 2015-2017....so two years in the making.

I am looking forward to entering this wall hanging in our local quilt show next weekend. I will have pictures to show next week. 

I am linking this post to Crazy Mom Quilts  Finish It Up Friday.

Off to check all the other entries.

Family Time, Studio Improvement and a tiny bit of sewing

We have had company since last Friday the 15th. Our only son is visiting from Phoenix. He wanted to be here for his dad's birthday, Sunday and then to stay and help/visit. His job can mostly be done over the phone and via the computer, so it is a working vacation for him.

I haven't been sewing. We picked him up from an away airport - due to Allegiant Airlines flying directly from Mesa AZ into Rapid City SD. It's a 2 hour drive for us, but then we shopped in the "Big City" while there.

Now we have a new TV in the living room. We have done without one since the new flooring went in last year and mostly that has been fine. I don't really watch a lot of TV. But during Hurricane Harvey, I wished I had access to the news while still cooking and cleaning. Then Hurricane Irma arrived and we have several family members and friends in Florida, so I really wanted to stay informed. Guess that was all it took for Mr. Busy to go television shopping!

While Mr Busy and DS were hanging the new TV on the wall above the couch, I hid in the sewing room.  I recounted all my En Provence block pieces to make sure I had the correct amount. Then I stacked them in the block configuration.

  These are laid out on my portable ironing table, it's the only flat sturdy place that was big enough for these 15" blocks. Then a sheet of freezer paper was laid on top and the sashing strips were laid out. Half are sewn and these are the last 12 sets of five . If you are not sure what it is supposed to look like, check out Bonnie Hunter's blog. Her quilt is the header photo.

Sunday was Mr Busy's birthday, so we had a family day. Then Monday, our granddaughter and her family came for dinner because her hubby was home at dinnertime for a change. Yesterday and today, the "boys" are putting extra lights in my sewing studio!  Whoo Hoo!!  I have been using a ceiling fixture with 3 bulbs, circa 1977 when the house was built. I have been supplementing with an Ott Light, and extra light at the sewing machine and 2 halogen lights at each end of my cutting table. I am willing to put a hold on the machine sewing to get new lighting!.  I have hand sewing to keep me busy if need be. I am a pretty good supervisor too!  heehee!

My cutting table still looks like the above pic. " a work bench"

Mr Busy and our son working overhead to attach the third LED ceiling light. There will also be one over my sewing machine. I was having some withdrawal symptoms, so I set up a temporary cutting space on my kitchen counter. I am cutting block for Covered in Love monthly block drive to send to Kat in Texas. Its the Scrappy Susannah block in fall colors. They will be 12" blocks.

All this is happening between great visits, family dinners and DS at his computer for his work. He'll be here until we take him back to the RC, SD airport on Monday morning. I may cry all the way home. "sad face"

We will see if I have a block or two done for Finish It Up Friday. I may have to set up my extra machine at the computer desk or dining room table. I have a binding to attach to a wall hanging so it will be ready to hang at our local quilt show the first weekend in October. I should be able to get that done and then work like mad to get it sewed down. The label is done, and the hanging triangle have to be cut. **sigh**

Until next time.
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Two small finishes- George & Martha and a fall themed table topper

New monthly challenges have been selected, so I have dug into my UFO stash to pull out the projects and see what needs to be done. In the mean time, I did finish the Disappearing Hour Glass project that was started in July. It is now hanging on the wall in our living room. 

I've been experimenting with Instagram from my phone. I don't know if I like it or not. More practice is in the future.

I also finished this Fall themed table topper.

Probably the most amazing part about this project, is that it was in a project bag with the Quilts and More magazine, dated 2012 and the charm pack of fabric. I actually had it all together. That is a bit amazing.  The hexie papers all had to be cut to the same size and that gave me a bit of trouble.  The embroidered motifs were backed with an interfacing. My usual practice and recommended in the pattern instructions. But then they were difficult to get wrapped around the hexie papers to be the same size as the plain fabric. I finally took the backing paper from behind the embroidered blocks and adjusted the seam allowance so they all fit together. This after I had the rows already all whipped stitched together. BUMMER. Anyway, now it is done. I like how it turned out and I have some charms lefts from this collection, so I am planning a set of hexagon folded coasters. 

In between all this sewing, I have been sending leaders and enders through the machine,  making 9 patches like a maniac. Only 95 more to go!  Phew!  


That is all for this week. Next week I will be getting ready for my son's visit. He will be here from Phoenix to spend 10 days with us. We will celebrate his dad's birthday on the 17th and his early. His is the 30th. I am looking forward to that. 

I am linking up to Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

All this week, praying for the  victims of Harvy, family in Montana amongst the burning forest, and now for family in Florida who have decided to shelter-in-place. They are north quite a ways, but I still am concerned. 

Until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Saturday Snapshots 9-2-17

Today I am linking up with Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads for"

There are a few rules if you want to post also. Check out Melinda's blog at  West Metro Mommy Reads, then link up your Saturday Snapshots.

I will begin by sharing a photo from our front porch on August 21st. This is Mr Busy and our great grandson, Joe. He is almost 4.  Can you guess what they are doing? We were not in totality, but 97.8% was pretty awesome.

Pa (Mr Busy) fashioned the unique eye wear for J out of eclipse glasses and a paper plate, because the glasses were too big for him. It worked great.


I'm late posting today. We have been at our granddaughter and grandson-in-law's house celebrating our great grandson's 4th birthday. His actual birthday is September 5th.  But his grandma and his Auntie Shasta could visit from Colorado this weekend, so we celebrated today. Also, his Dad was off this weekend. Dad works retail, so lots of weekends he is not around. Here are just 3 of the many photos taken today.

 I am afraid I caught his momma unaware, as I tried to get a picture of the red and black cupcakes for his Mickey Mouse themed party.

A large blow up Mickey joined the party. These were ears for all. Here is Joseph and his Auntie Shasta and Mickey

I made him a super hero cape, with belt, wristband and a mask.  Showing off a bit in this one.

Busy  Busy  in our neck of the woods this week.

Off to check out all the rest of the Saturday Snapshots.

Til next time: