Monday, August 29, 2011

3 Collies and 1 Lab...

I used to do crewel embroidery.  And, needlepoint.  And, counted cross stitch.  For years and years.  And, years.  Then, I got into rug hooking.  During all of those years, I sewed.  Always.  But, I never sewed quilts.  Until 2009.  And, since that time, I don't do much else.   

Except.  As most of you know, Sharon and I got each other all excited about the Snow Days quilt, which involves a great deal of stitchery/embroidery.  We're 7 months into it and I do not regret one single stitch.  I find it very relaxing - and enjoyable - to work on while watching tv in the evenings.   

One day, while thinking about projects past and present...and about embroidery...and about my big a** star rug...and then about another rug that has been waiting to be started for several years, I had an idea!  

But first, let me fill you in with some background.  Back in February of 2006, I received a rug hooking pattern of my 3 collies and 1 lab that I had commissioned Elizabeth Black to draw for me.  She is an artist/rug hooker well-known for her animal designs.  It's a wonderful design, and it's all drawn out on foundation fabric for me.  3 x 5 feet in size.  At the same time, I commissioned Gail DuFresne to dye wool for it.  Yup, I did.  

And, what have I done with it?  Nothing.  The pattern on foundation fabric and the wool are stored very carefully, but they are stored.  On my closet shelf.  Back then, my first hesitation was the amount of time I would need to commit to hooking a rug of that size...in the small cuts of wool strips that Elizabeth recommends (#3 - #5).  I had intended to begin it as my 2007 project.  But, everything changed that year...I moved, I lost Cruiser...just a really bad time of my life.  

Time went by.  I worked on other rugs.  Then, in 2009, I started making quilts.  Well, that put all of my rug hooking on the back burner.  Heck, more than just on the back burner...more like in the back 40.  It's been 3 years since I picked up a hook (well, except to do the sheeps' eyes on the 2sheep rug I finally finished this past winter).

About a year ago, I gave some thought to doing the collies/lab design with fabric.  In a smaller size as a wall hanging.  That's as far as that went.  Thoughts. 

Then, one day this summer, while I was thinking about the collies/lab design, I came up with an excellent idea.  Truly!  I have the drawing saved on my computer...which means that I am able to make it as large - or SMALL - as I want.  So.  I could make it an easy size to embroider.  Right?  It wouldn't be too difficult at all...just need to follow the lines Elizabeth drew.  I wouldn't really need to add much, if anything, to it.  At all.  I am kind of excited about this.  I will finally be able to use this beautiful design that Elizabeth drew for me.  And my beloved collies and the brown boy will be memorialized.  This project won't be started until after Christmas, of course.  



What do you think of that idea??

Want a peek at the pattern?  Here it is...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Speaking of stitching.  I finished block 7 of the 'Snow Days' quilt.  It is amazing how much one can accomplish when one has nothing else to do is under doctor's orders to rest.  This block is 9 x 9 inches. 

With a total of 14 blocks to be stitched on, I am now at the halfway point.  Course, I have yet to begin piecing the fabric blocks.  I think that will be best done once all the stitched blocks are completed.

I must get moving...way past time to start my day.  

Hope you have a good one!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Catching Up...

Still getting fatigued way too easily. 

Still taking my daily nap.

I've been working on some easy things, though.
Things that don't require too much energy.

I'm stitching on block 7 of the 'snow days' quilt.
(no photo)

I finished piecing this quilt top today.
Right now, it measures ~48 x 57.
I'm not sure if I'll add a border.
This took me all week to put together...
working in small increments of time.
If you'll go visit my friend, Erin
you'll see that she is working on something similar.
Actually, I totally ripped off the idea from her.
The big difference is that
I used a charm pack (5" squares)...
she is using a layer cake (10" squares).

She knows I did this.
(Thanks, Erin!)


And.
I've been reading.
A lot!
Way more than usual.
I'll for sure hit my goal
of 80 books read this year.
I'm at 51 right now.

 Hope the weekend goes well for you.

Those on the east coast...
I'm thinking of you.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Stitchin' and Readin' and Nappin'...

 Another quiet day.

Read.

Finished Block 6 of the 'Snow Days' quilt.
(aren't those little boys just too dang cute??)

Took a nap.
(Actually, I think I took 2 naps today!)


Trimmed Tag's nails.
Brushed Tag.
(and that was enough energy expended, for sure!) 


Received this fat quarter bundle
in the mail from big sister, Joyce.
 Cute and bright, hey?

That's all!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Red & Aqua Strings...

It was a pretty quiet day around here.

It rained part of the day.

I read.

I stitched on block 6 of the 'Snow Days' project.
(it's a small block and it's almost done!)

I took a nap.  

I put together these two blocks for the
'aqua and red block swap' that I am in.

Shanna asked for 2 string blocks
to be made using this tutorial.
They were fun to make!


 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 August is my month...
for those in the swap to make blocks for me.
When I get them back, I will post photos.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Monday, August 22, 2011

Pneumonia Recheck

 Went to see my doctor today.
We had a very nice visit.

In the end, though,
she decided that I was not
ready to go back to work.

I go back to see her in 2 weeks.
Recheck and chest radiographs.

I am feeling much better.
My doctor commented on
how much better I look.
But, I'm still not 100%.
So.


More time off and more rest.
Seriously.
REST.


It is nice to feel a bit better
and to have a bit of energy here and there.
But, I cannot push it.
Doctor's orders.
Got it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I did get a few things done last week...
in the spirit of our "Christmas in August"

Trying to use up the last of the
Iced Mocha fabrics.
This is side 1...

and here is side 2...
(yes.  really.  one tote with 2 different sides)

A zippered pouch...



another coin purse
(but not with Iced Mocha!)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I stopped by my LQS today.
Gloria gave me a project to do.
Gonna be cute!







"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Kaylynn Comes For a Visit...

Caution!
Photos ahead that
will make you smile.
Guaranteed!

Kaylynn reflects...
  
Kaylynn plays with Tag...

Kaylynn brings the mail in...

Kaylynn helps Great-Aunt Julie bathe Tag...

Kaylynn loves on Manley...


Kaylynn gathers flowers...

Kaylynn plays tug with Tag...

Kaylynn makes faces...

Kaylynn dances...

Kaylynn sleeps...

Saturday, August 20, 2011

DQS11 Received...

WOW.
I mean, really.

WOW!
I mean, really?

I received my dqs11
(doll quilt swap eleven)
quilt in the mail today.
Along with a few goodies.
Ky in Texas (no blog)
was my swap partner.
To send to me.
She stalked me good, that's for sure!

Here's what she sent...
this is the back of the envelope...
LOVED seeing this!
Just in case I wasn't sure.
Or, that I didn't want to get
all excited over nothing.

I received this wonderful 
gray/taupe embroidered quiltie

AND

a bundle of 9 fat quarters of Lilac Hill
(she used from the bundle to
make borders and backing)

AND
a notepad

AND 
a wonderful letter explaining
why she made for me what she did.

Here's a closer look.
The back...

The front...
please do not be distracted
by the holder of the quiltie...
more on her tomorrow.
 
This quilt measures 12 inches square.
Take a good look at this embroidery...
Isn't it AWESOME!?!


I love this little quiltie.

Ky did an awesome job and I am ecstatic!
Thank you so very much!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

DQS11 Done!


Well, I finally finished the 
dqs11 quilt last night...
measures about 17" square.
I wasn't sure how to quilt this...
tried straight-line quilting...
tried meandering...
just didn't like how it was looking.

So, I stitched in the ditch...
something I've never done before.

I think it looks okay.

I also made this lined zippered pouch
for my swap partner.
It measures about 6 x 10 x 2 inches.
 First time I followed this tutorial...
it was easy peasy.

Now to get them into the mail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, for those of you wondering...
Tag is doing an excellent job of resting while I rest.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Pneumonia Recheck...

I had a pleasant visit with my doctor yesterday.

I went to see her for a
recheck on my pneumonia.
Her decision...take another week
to recuperate and build up stamina.  

Okay.  That's an easy one to agree to.

Because I really have no stamina.
Every little thing I do
leaves me gasping for breath.
Well, okay, perhaps not gasping...
but definitely wanting more air.

So, it'll be nice.
To relax and feel better
without pushing to get back to work.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been working steadily
on this stitchery piece.
Still a bunch to do, but am sure I'll
have this part of the project done
before I go back to work.

And, I finished Jerry's quilt. 
After washing/drying, it measures ~14x16...
just the right size for a miniature dachshund.
Hope he likes it!

Not much else going on around here...
how 'bout with you?



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Friday, August 12, 2011

How I Spent My Week with Pneumonia...

A huge thank you to everyone who has commented here and emailed me with get well wishes, good thoughts and prayers.  I am on the mend and feeling a bit better each day.  I've been taking lots of meds, (antibiotics, 2 inhalers, cough syrup and steroids) and they are doing what they're supposed to be doing.  YAY!  I go for a recheck on Monday.  

I've been reading and napping and watching tv (last weekend's Lucille Ball marathon was totally awesome!).  

And, I've done a bit of sewing.  Mind you, I do about half an hour of something and then I get tired and need to rest.  So, the progress I've made on these projects has been slow...but that's okay. 

So.  First up.  I finished this Christmas table topper.  It is for me Mum to give to a friend.  Fabric is Jovial for Moda by Basic Grey.  It measures about 23 inches square and went together very quickly.  Last seen here, I added the borders, quilted/bound it.

Second.  Here's what I have done thus far on my doll quilt swap quilt.  Last posted about it here...it's been waiting for borders...been very undecided about them.  I finally made a decision and put them on last night.  It measures 17 inches square.  I am a little behind...but I think I'll get it into the mail by the due date (August 16). 

Third.  Remember the Sunshine Quilt for Doreen?  Well.  When we met for lunch, Doreen  showed me a picture of Jerry, her miniature dachshund.  She absolutely adores him.  I mean...she is over the top in love with him.  (nothing wrong with that...just sayin')  He is pretty cute...but I am not a huge lover of small dogs.  So, I was a bit less effusive with my adoring praise than she thought I should be about him.  {grin}  He is pretty cute.  I guess.  So, now every time I talk with her, she asks me if I don't think that Jerry is just the cutest dog ever!  I decided that - because of his adorableness factor - or was it to do with how much my friend loves him - he deserved his own little quilt.  I had more than enough fabric scraps from her Sunshine quilt.  So.  I did what any other quilter would do.  Made Jerry a quilt.  Here's a photo of the finished top, which measures 15 x 18 inches.  I made a simple patchwork quilt with squares.  The borders are the same as the borders on Doreen's quilt.  Refresh your memory here.

And, fourth.  This is, after all, 'Christmas in August' for Sharon and I, so I am working on a Christmas gift.  I started this last Monday evening...and have made some good progress.  I'm using two basic stitches...stem stitch and back stitch...with twelve colors of floss.  It's much different than working on the 'snow days' blocks that use only the one variegated floss.  I'm trying to be fairly relaxed about color placement and so far, I'm happy.



Must go rest now.  I'll keep you posted on my pneumonia progress.  Please keep up the prayers and good thoughts.  Thank you!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday, August 7, 2011

ohyeah???

Yeah.
So.
I don't have just a
horrible summer cold.
Nooooo, nothing that simple.
I have me some good
ole-fashioned pneumonia!

Yessirree!
Which, by the way,
could land me in the hospital
if the meds don't start
working double-time.

Please say a prayer or two for me.
I'm a little nervous about this.

And, send flowers!

I love you all.



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Friday, August 5, 2011

Blog Break...

 I am...
sniffling
sneezing
coughing
aching.

Therefore,
I am going to take a
little blog break.

See ya when
I'm feeling better!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Done and Gone...

The 'Sunshine' quilt for Doreen measures
54 x 57 inches after laundering.
I used Kona Cotton Solid in Banana for the backing.

Here's Doreen with her daughter,
Stacy & granddaughter, Payton.
 
The quilt is passing inspection...

I love you so!
 




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."    Jeremiah 29:11