It is not all my fault...

Ok. I know I haven't posted in a very long time, but it is not my fault entirely. I think part of blame belongs to Theresa. She forced me to adopt a kitten from our local shelter. Well, actually, she sent a link to the cutest kitten picture ever and baited me into going by the shelter. When I got there, this adorable kitten acted as if she had been waiting on me for a long time and was so ready to go home. Needless to say, she is now a member of the Regan family. She is just too cute, but she prevents me from cross stitching. She wants all of my attention, so I have to hold her and pet her instead of stitching. I am sure you all understand.

This is another project that has taken me away from my cross stitching. Isn't it too cute? A group of us decided to get together one Saturday and work on this little quilt together. Each of us would make our own, but at least the peer pressure would get us closer to finishing than if we were working alone. Great plan, but it didn't work. I finished mine this morning and just love it. Not sure if Sharon, Bridget, or Mari are finished, but I am sure Lisha will finish soon.

Here are two update photos. I have been slowly working on LK ABC Christmas. Maybe I will finish this before the end of the year. Maybe. Also, I have been stitching on the Quaker Christmas for a while and finally feel like I am making some headway. It will definitely be a 2011 goal.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Middle of November? Really?!!

Wow! This has been a crazy few weeks for my family. Fortunately, our mother is feeling much better and is healing. It is actually amazing how well she is doing, considering we almost lost her just 3 weeks ago. We are now getting ready for a very special Thanksgiving dinner. We have so much to be thankful for this year.

I have been stitching, too. I finished the Snapperville piece earlier this month. I just love it. It makes me smile when I look at it. With the addition of snaps and buttons, it will be just perfect.

I also finished this cute little piece last night. It is time to get in the Christmas spirit, I guess, so this was a little inspiration piece. I just love the colors. I will finish it as an ornament, I'm sure.

Hope everyone has a great day and thanks for stopping by. I will try to be better about updating my blog. I have several other great projects to share soon.

Ready for Halloween

Wow! October just flew by, didn't it? I think the stress of work and football season just about did me in this year though. Thankfully, my mother is home and doing very well after her surgery. She is still not able to do much, but at least she is getting some well-deserved and needed rest. We have one final game this week, but the official marching season has ended. The kids were great this year. This is a picture of my son, Patrick, on field during the weekend competition. They placed 6th in the state for our school division, which is pretty great. They also placed 3rd for music performance. We are very proud of this group of kids.

This past week I finished a quilt project. I am so excited about this one. Isn't it adorable. This is Spooky Hollow, an applique quilt. This is my very first completed applique quilt. I had such a great time working on this one. I love the fabric colors and everything. I have plans to complete more of these smaller quilts soon.

Finally, we went to a Halloween party last night at our friends, Theresa and Steve. Hobbie and I dressed as Flo (Progressive insurance commercial) and Mayhem (Allstate insurance commercial). Patrick is dressed as Beetlejuice and Nicholas is a "stupid" mime (he wouldn't wear make-up and talked the whole time). We had such a great time last night. Hobbie and I won the Golden Pumpkin award for best costumes. Thanks!

Wow, where has the time gone. I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted. Well, things have been a bit crazy around here the past month. Marching (football) season is well underway and that takes a lot of our time. Three games and one contest to go. Also, my mother has not been well and that has been stressful. Thankfully, she is home and feeling much better.

So, now for the stitching updates. I have been stitching, but it doesn't seem like I am accomplishing much. First, I finished BBD Trix or Treat. I love this pattern! It was a lot of fun to stitch and I plan to finish it as a box.

Also, I finished RTR This is Halloween. Another great piece. I stitched it on Silkweaver Thunderstorm and think it looks wonderful. I love all of the bright colors.

Finally, I finished SP Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler. This one took me longer than I had expected. It is really pretty stitched on the 40 ct. Not sure what I will do with this one, but most likely frame it for my craft/guest room.

This weekend, I attended the local Quilt show with my sister, Bridget, and friend, Theresa. It was very inspiring to see all of the wonderful quilts, but I just don't have the patience to do such a big project. We also had the opportunity to do some shopping. I did pick up several patterns for bags, which I love to make. I also picked up the pattern for Spooky Hollow. This is a applique wall hanging that is just too cute. I have been working on it the past few days and hope to have it ready by Halloween. I just need to run into town today or tomorrow to get a few pieces of fabric. I can't wait to share this with you guys.

So close to market...

So, who is excited about all the new patterns that will be released at market this weekend? I know I can't wait to see what Theresa from Shakespeare's Peddler brings back. I have been stitching, but not exclusively on my projects. For the first time ever, I was asked to do some model stitching. Theresa has so many wonderful ideas and she needed some help this year. She asked me to stitch "This is Christmas". It is really cute and lots of fun to stitch.

Saturday, we had a stitching gathering at my house. I finished the Just Nan Christmas biscornu finally. I think it is really pretty. It looks like a lot of work, but is actually a pretty quick stitch.

Now, it's ready for the Christmas tree.

But, first we need to celebrate Halloween!! I picked out several of my Halloween patterns from my stash basket and kitted 3. I started all three on Sunday! Well, actually, I only put in a few stitches on the first two and then worked the rest of the day on the third. This is a picture of my progress on This Is Halloween from Raise the Roof Designs (the companion to the pattern I stitched for Theresa). Isn't it cute already. I love the colors and decided it would look great on this piece of Thunderstorm fabric from Silkweaver. You would not believe how much fabric I still have from winning the prize for their contest a few years ago.

Hopefully, I will get some more stitching accomplished in the next few weeks. I hope to have several of Halloween projects completed before Halloween. (Keep your fingers crossed.)

So for now, I will stitch as fast as I can so I won't feel one bit of guilt when I buy a ton of new patterns and goodies after Theresa returns from market. Yes, Lisha, I said not one bit of guilt and a ton of patterns.

Have a great week.

Where did August go?

Wow! That was a fast month! With the boys going back to school, USM classes beginning, and football season starting, we have had a full month. I did get some stitching accomplished as well. I have been working on the same few patterns, but my progress is great.

First, don't you just love the Anniversaries of the Heart series by Blackbird Designs? The first and second block are finished. I added my Mother-in-law's info to the January block. February is a big month in our family. Let's see, my son's, grandmother's, and grandfather-in-law's birthdays are all in February. And, of course, so is my birthday. I had to limit this project to just the immediate family, parents and grandparents. I also have a sister-in-law and two nephews that have February birthdays.

I am also making great progress in the Bent Creek Snapperville series. This is an old series, but I just love the theme and colors. Just two more blocks and the border to go...

And, my favorite project this month has been Shakespeare's Peddler Jenny Bean Humble Servant Sampler. I just love the colors in this one. To be honest, it was slow going at first. The upper left corner took me longer than I expected. But once I got to the letters and bee, I was hooked. Just a little work on the border and the lower right corner to go. This is such a sweet piece. I think I will frame it and hang it in my guest room.

I did have a complete week off this month. I didn't have classes to teach, fish to videotape, children to entertain, etc. So , I signed up for two sewing classes at our local quilt store. The first class focused on applique quilting. I have never done this, so thought it would be a great class for me. I had the best time. We were working on a quilt named Hooterville. It is so cute. These are my first two blocks, so forgive the lack of technique. But I am hooked. I have finished all of the tree squares and am working on the 16 owl squares. It is actually a lot of fun, but I can only do one square a day. Can't wait to finish this quilt.

The other class was a "Chubby Charmer" class where we learned to make a large bag. I used a bunch of scraps from some other projects. The best part is that I learned to machine quilt. So my week off was a great time.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Some progress pictures to share

So, I have been working on the BBD Anniversaries of the Heart this weekend. This is such a lovely series. I am stitching it on 40 ct linen, which makes it look so delicate and beautiful. Of course, since I have decided to include family birthdays and anniversaries in this piece, I have been doing some research into my family tree. It is quite interesting. My husband's paternal family tree is well researched. So I was able to find his parents' and paternal grandparents' information. I also have his maternal grandparents' birthdates but not their anniversary. As for my family, I have an aunt that just loves researching family information, so I have the dates needed.

The first block (January) only has my mother-in-law's initials and year of birth (MGM 1934). The second block (February) is a bit more crowded. Of course, my initials (JLC) and birth year (1971) are included, as well as my son's (PGR 1995), paternal grandmother (JMO 1903) and Hobbie's paternal grandfather (HMR 1900). Patrick wanted me to include his cousins that were also born in February, but I decided to limit to just our immediate family and then parents and grandparents. You see, I have two brothers and two sisters and Hobbie has three sisters and a brother. And we have 9 nephews and 4 neices, 13 grand neices and 4 grand nephews. So there just isn't enough room for everyone.

I have also been working on the Bent Creek Snapperville. This one is really easy and a nice break from the more tedious Anniversaries piece.

And finally, I have started on Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler. This is such a pretty piece. Theresa is a wonderful designer and I can't wait to see the next one in the series. I would love to finish this one first, though.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope everyone has a great week.

Oh, yeah. One more picture to share. The boys started school last Friday. Aren't they handsome? Can you tell which one isn't excited about a new school year. Nicholas (left) is starting 6th grade and Patrick (right) is a sophomore.

July wasn't the best month for stitching...

So I have been neglectful to my blog lately. I know, but I have been so busy. This summer semester flew by and I just felt like I was constantly trying to catch up. Plus, our entire family was gone the second week of July. I had to go to a meeting about the textbook, Hobbie was at a conference, and the boys were at camp. Hopefully, I will be more attentive this month. I do have several neat projects in line for this month, so I will definitely want to share.

I did finish one biscornu. This is Barbara Ana Designs Thanksgiving biscornu. It is very cute and quite easy to stitch.

I almost finished this LK Spring piece, but ran out of the green thread. I just picked up a new skein this weekend, so this will be finished soon.

I have also worked very diligently on Remember Me. Isn't it wonderful? I can't wait to get this one completed. Of course, I ran out of the Charcoal thread, but I think I am going to just use the DMC equivalent to complete it.

Have you seen the Blackbird Designs Anniversaries of the Heart series? These are so pretty. I have been purchasing these as they became available and have been thinking how I want to finish these. I know I want to stitch them as a single piece, but I really didn't want to buy another piece of linen when I have a drawer full. Luckily, I found a piece of 40 ct. that is perfect for it. I started the first pattern this weekend and had a great idea come to me while I was stitching. I am going to personalize the entire sampler by adding the initials and years for birthdays and anniversaries for me, Hobbie, the boys, our parents and our grandparents. Isn't that wonderful? The funny thing is that each month is covered except for May. I still need to find out the dates of my husbands paternal grandparents birthdays and anniversary, so maybe one of those dates is in May. I can't wait to finish this now...

Stitching like a mad woman....

OK! I am determined to complete some of these patterns that I have collected over the past three years. I sat down the other night and pulled out several "simple" projects and kitted them. So, this actually got me in a very stitchy mood. I have completed CCN Daisy Sampler. Love the colors on the fabric. This is a super easy pattern to stitch and really cute.

I also finished LK Hocus Pocus. I borrowed the pattern from a friend. I found a scrap of linen in a basket in my craft room and thought it would be perfect. I love the colors and can't wait to add this to my Halloween decorations this year.

Next, I worked on a project using the SamSarah Baubles alphabet series. Theresa came up with the great idea of stitching these as a long sampler or bell pull. I loved the idea and decided to copy her. I have a nice start and since these stitch so quickly, it shouldn't take me long to finish.

I have had this LK Garden Sampler pattern for quite a while and I am not sure why it has taken me so long to stitch it. It was very easy and lots of fun. I just love the colors. This is going to be a gift for my mother. She and my father are major gardeners, so she will appreciate the little sampler.

I also worked on the Quaker Christmas Sampler. I have actually finished one of the six pages of the pattern, so I have stitched even more than what is in the picture. Funny thing is that I stitched while Hobbie and I watched the last four episodes of Avatar the Last Airbender (don't ask why, just know that sometimes it is nice to watch what your husband wants to watch). Anyway, now every time I look at this piece I think of that little Airbender!!

I still have lots of little patterns to work on. Currently, I am stitching on RTR Happy Camper and another Halloween sampler. Hopefully, I will have progress pictures to share in a few days.

Have a great Independence Day holiday and thanks for stopping by!!

A couple of finished projects...

So, I have been in a very stitchy mood lately. I get these moments of obsession where I want to finish lots of different projects. I love this small piece from Shakespeare's Peddler. It is so pretty!! And what a fast project. I finished it in one night. Now, I need to find just the right size basket to make it into a pincushion.

Raise the Roof Libertyville is a perfect summer project, don't you think? I had the first three pieces in my "To-Do" basket and started working on them about a week ago. I stopped by to visit with Theresa and do some shopping and was able to pick up the last part. I stitched on it yesterday evening and this morning. I just think it is so cute and love the buttons. I think my favorite part is the little motifs under the hill on the last panel. Great design, Theresa!!

Now, I have a few projects in my bag and hope to get one are two finished before the end of the month. I do want to start on the current Blackbird Designs yearly series with the houses. I found a piece of 28ct. Natural Linen in my stash last night that will be the perfect size. I may start this next month.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week and try to stay cool!!

Blackbird Designs Peacock Pinkeep

I started this pattern a few weeks ago. The pattern actually calls for red and brownish-green silks but I didn't want to spend the money, so I pulled some Threadgather Silk 'n Colors that I had received as a birthday present a few years ago. I think they worked perfectly. I just love the finished product though. This pretty pinkeep will sit on my stitching table for a while.

The finishing was actually pretty easy. The inside is a coil of felted wool and flannel. The top and bottom are just circles of cardboard that I cut from a cereal box. Then I just sewed all the pieces together and what a pretty finish.

Now, I need to decide what my next project will be...

Too long since last post...

Wow! It has been a while since I posted, hasn't it? I have been quite busy for the past few weeks, with all of the end of school events and my trip to Denver. I have been stitching a bit, but I don't have that much to show for it. I finished the LK Cat Lessons for People. It was really fun to stitch and turned out really cute. I want to frame this for my kitchen.

Last night, my younger sister and I attended a sewing class at the local quilt shop. We learned how to make a tulip bag. It was really a lot of fun and I think my bag is really cute. I am definitely using this one as my purse this summer. Of course, I have to curb my impulse to go out an get enough supplies to make lots of these. Maybe later in the summer...

I'll try to be better about posting because I have some really neat projects in line for the summer. Thanks for stopping by and I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Finally feeling better...

Sorry for the delay in posting. I have been very sick for the past week. And the little monkey in the picture above is to blame. His mom took him to register for Kindergarten and they picked up more than the supply list. He spread his little illness to almost everyone in our extended family. Needless to say, I have been too tired to post. Notice the cute quilt in the picture? That is the rag quilt that I made for him. He was very happy with it, but his baby brother really loved it.

When I did have some energy this past week, I stitched. Since I wasn't together enough to pay attention to small details like color, I decided to stitch on the Quaker Christmas sampler. I have made some great progress. I am almost finished with the first sheet of the pattern. I am really enjoying stitching on this one, but it does get redundant sometimes.

One more finish to share... Shepherd's Bush Scatter Pumpkins. I think it is really cute, even if the buttons are a bit large for the fabric count that I selected.

We are almost to the end of the semester and I am so excited. Just one more lecture in each class and then exams. I am looking forward to some free time for a few weeks before summer school begins.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Theron's Rag Quilt

I had posted pictures earlier of the rag quilts that I had made for my boys, Patrick and Nicholas. Well, I had quite a bit of fabric left over from my wild shopping spree for flannel. I decided to use the leftovers to make Theron a rag quilt. I think it is so cute and just perfect for Theron. I still need to sew the squares together for Tucker's quilt, but that should be finished in the next week or so.

Other stitching news: Not much to share. I started Shepherd's Bush Scatter Sunshine. This was a freebie I got a while back and thought it would be perfect for this time of year. I am using the floss the pattern calls for except for a few changes. It should be finished later this week.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!!!

When Barnabe Met Bella...

FINISHED!!!! Isn't this absolutely lovely? I loved the pattern when I first saw it, but it is so much prettier in real life. I stitched on this one exclusively the past 4 evenings. At first, it was quite aggravating with all of the color changes, but with my "one color" approach, it actually went pretty quickly. Now I need to get some of those lovely pins by Just Nan to add to this biscornu. I do have the bunny and hedgehog, but I think a bird and some bugs would be just perfect. What do you think?

A few finishes to share...

So, this weekend was a very productive stitching weekend for me. For some strange reason I have really wanted to watch the Harry Potter movies lately. I'm not sure what started the whole interest, but I have been thinking about it for some time. Well, this weekend we watch all six movies. I got up Saturday morning and cleaned the house a bit (didn't sweep or vaccuum). At 10:00 a.m. I started the first movie and we watched them the rest of the day. This of course gave me plenty of stitching time. We finished the last movie at 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

So here are some of my finishes for the week. I actually finished this (CCN Joyful Summer) earlier in the week. I love the fabric I selected for this piece. I might finish this as a flatfold.

The big project for the all day Harry Potter marathon was Blackbird Designs Awake the Dawning Day. I have really struggled with this one for some reason. Once I got the house completely finished the rest of the pattern was pretty enjoyable. However, while watching the movies I did misspell a word and had to rip out some of my work.

The other finish I have is actually part of a bigger project. This is the bottom of the Just Nan When Barnabe Met Bella. There are a lot of color changes in this piece. So, I tried a different approach. I stitched only one color at a time and complete all the stitches for each color. It actually went very quickly that way. The top is a bit more detailed, but I hope to finish it in the next week or so.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by...

Not so much to share....

So, I haven't been as productive this month as I was in January and February. I have been so busy with other things that by the time I have a chance to sit down and stitch I am just too tired. I know, excuses, excuses, but that's my story and I'm sticking with it. My big finish this month was Patrick's rag quilt. I made one of these for Nicholas about a year ago. I cut the squares for Patrick's about a year ago and then got distracted by other things. Well, during Spring Break I decided I was going to finish up some of the sewing projects I had laying around. I finished three pairs of PJ's for my dad (he was so happy) and this quilt. It was really easy and turned out so nice. Patrick likes it and has it on his bed now.

You know how one project leads to another. Well, I had all of this left over fabric from Patrick's and Nicholas's quilts so I decided to cut squares for another quilt for Theron (my nephew). My mom then said, "What about Tucker?" (He's another nephew.) So now I have two more rag quilts read to be assembled and another stack of fabric for quilts for the last two nephews (Tyler and Leif). All this from just trying to tie up some loose project ends.

Now for cross stitching news. I haven't finished anything since my last post. I did buy quite a bit though. Due to a little bonus that we received in March, I decided to use my extra cash on some patterns I have been wanting for a while. I also purchased some 40 ct linen for future projects. I can't wait to stitch on these, but they are in line behind some other lovely projects, so they will have to wait.

I have been stitching though. Here is my progress on CCN Joyful Summer. I have made so many mistakes. I think I have the hang of it now and will be able to finish it in the next week or so.

My other slow-going project is BBD Awake the Dawning Day. I don't know what it is about this one, but I just can't get going on it. Maybe now that I am working on all the cute flowers in the border that will help inspire me to stitch, but I don't know.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a lovely Easter Sunday. Thanks for visiting.