Slow Stitching the Last Santa

I have one last stitching project with an absolute deadline....finishing the Bird Brain Santas on the Sparkle blocks I stitched after Christmas last year. Rob, one of my SILs saw me working on this project and expressed how much he liked it....so, of course, it became his and I need to finish it and get it off to be quilted in time for Christmas.

This is the last block....

My goal is to get this finished and the top set together this week. Totally doable barring an unforeseen disaster.

I am linking up to Kathy's Slow Stitching Sunday. Click the button on the side bar to see what others are doing.

We made a trip to the North Georgia mountains this week and brought home lots of apples. Yum. Today we are dehydrating apples. And I made this...

Yum. Couldn't wait till it cooled to cut it.

Sara Ashley and Jackson came over and made Halloween cupcakes on Friday night.

Hope all of you had a great Halloween weekend.

Take Care,

Jennie

Fall Tennessee Rug Retreat

Earlier this month I attended the Fall edition of The Tennessee Rug Retreat at Carson Springs Conference Center in Newport, TN.  As usual, it was a great long weekend. We did miss our wonderful organizer, Rhonda, who was unable to attend due to family illness.

Following is our rug show..,,

Katy continues to work on her original birdhouse design. The blue background really makes it pop.

Sheri finished all but the border on Rick Rack. She started this rug with Nancy Parcels at Caraway in June. I really want to do this one from the worm bags.

Sheri also stitched this wonderful penny rug. Design is from Cee of Etsy shop Early Style Penny Rugs.

Robin finished this darling Santa rug....can't remember designer.

And then she started this one by Brenda Gervais. Don't you love his mustache??

Georganna worked on this incredible rug....design by Vicky Dickerson. This one was also started at Caraway.

Becky finished this very large, happy rug.

And then she started this one, Mighty Oak, by Sally Kallin.

This wonderful design is by Barb Carroll. Vicky started it in a class with Barb. I love the way she is hooking the horses.

Cathy joined us on Friday after having attended Teachers' Workshop in West Virginia all week. That is dedication!! McDuff was one of the rugs that was taught there.

Kathie dressed some of her Angels. They will be turned into Christmas ornaments and will adorn her tree this year along with shepherds, sheep and stars.

Nancy hooked this poinsettia into dyed linen. It will become a pillow.

She carried on the Christmas theme with this cute runner by Prairie Road Designs.

And finally, I finished the runner I started at Caraway with Tricia Travis....by Lanna Omor of Humble Rugs.

I got all of the pennies stitched on to the first layer of this runner by Cee of Early Style Penny Rugs.

And my greatest accomplishment was to finally finish this rug started years ago with Jeanne Benjamin.  Design by Patsy Becker. I love this rug and don't really know why I have procrastinated so on it. Now to figure out binding.

Hope you enjoyed.

This is what Buddy and Daisy did while I was away.  Hard life.

Take Care,

Jennie

Slow Stitching

My Slow Stitching (click on button on sidebar to see what others are up to) for today was a little knitting on the Summertide MKAL. Wish I could say it is a relaxing knit, but it isn't for me. Am determined to finish it, as I know it will be lovely.

I am making progress on the Jen Kingwell quilt. Finished up the twelve Square in a Square blocks that alternate with the Irish Chain blocks that comprise the outer border.  Here is a photo of some of them together...

This will be a short week at home, as I am leaving for the Tennessee Rug Retreat on Thursday and will be there through Monday.  I still need to figure out what I want to work on and get it together. I have a busy three days ahead and am feeling pressed. I should have prepared this weekend. My sewing room looks like I feel..

Got to clean up this mess and get organized before I leave. Ugh....

Take Care,

Jennie

Simply Red Center

I have made some progress on Simply Red Center, my Jen Kingwell quilt. 

The central block is finished.

It is not perfect, but I am happy with it....especially since I haven't needle turned in a long while.

The outside border has twelve Irish Chain blocks. Today I got six of them done and the rest cut out....

All the fabrics except the red in the center block are from stash.

I also finished my Vintage quilt, but the weather has not cooperated for pictures.it was entirely from stash, including backing and batting.  The batting for this quilt is my last one larger than a 60x60 in my stash. I normally buy a roll, but it has gotten pretty expensive, even with a Joann's coupon and I have been using up my odds and ends, regardless of the fiber content. Will have to decide about purchasing soon.

I have been knitting a mindless shawl from this free pattern , Be Simple Shawl, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/be-simple-shawl, on Ravelry. Very easy, and lovely Madeline Tosh yarn purchased at The Yarnhouse Studio in Opelika, AL.

I am through Clue 2 on the Summertide MKAL. Clue 4 came out today, so I am obviously behind. I am okay with that. Diane had to bail me out a couple of times, but I have learned a lot.

Bucky has been lame and resting for a couple of months. He and Sara Ashley were glad to finally be able to ride again...though carefully.

This is a rare sighting...

Daisy and Roxie napping together. Roxie is doing her best to ignore Daisy...lol.

Take Care,

Jennie

Slow Stitching with Jen

Juliann recently started a Jen Kingwell SAL....I mentioned it in an earlier post...and I thought it was a great day to get a Slow Stitching start ( click on the Slow Stitching Sunday button to see what others are doing).

The pattern I chose is from this book....

The quilt I chose is a bit more restrained than some of Jen's quilts. It is an adaptation of an antique quilt that she had admired.

She calls it Simply Red Center.

I am determined to enjoy the process on this quilt. It offers hand appliqué as well as some machine piecing...no hand piecing as in most of her quilts.  It has been longer than I can remember since I have done any needle turn appliqué, but I am giving it a go.  It won't be perfect, but I plan to try to relax and enjoy the process.

This is the beginning of the center block.

I probably shouldn't have started in the center, but it is too late now to worry about it.

The kids enjoyed singing I'll Fly Away along with Willie Nelson last night at Chastain despite the rain.

Take Care,

Jennie

Finally, A Little Slow Stitching

This has not been a month that has leant itself to much relaxation or slow stitching, but today I was able to slip a bit in.  Click on the Slow Stitching button on my sidebar to see what everyone else is doing.

Knitting was on my To Do List for this month. I started working from this basket of cottons....Christmas is coming and some peeps have already hinted that their dishcloths are mighty ratty . Dishcloths are perfect knits....as easy or difficult as you want to make them. Great for trying out new skills or just sticking to the favorite tried and true.

Four finished thus far....with plenty of materials for more.  Will have to make a few for our house, too.

Then I read about the summertime Mystery Knit Along by Helen Stewart over at Ravelry. It sounded like fun, but I worried about my skill level...adventurous beginner, it said....a new clue once a week for several weeks, resulting in a lovely shawl. I bit, and finished up the first week's clue. This week's is going to require a bit of guidance from my knitting guru friend, Diane.

Here is my yarn....Madeline Tosh Light in Tern and Tart.  

And the first week's clue knit up...

I am sewing Boy Scout patches on for a second grandson.

Jackson is now a Tiger Cub.

Macy had her artwork displayed at The Art Walk in Downtown Newnan this week.

Here she is with her art teacher...and her great pumpkin picture visible above her head.

One of the Sew Crazies' QOV was presented this week...

Warms my heart and soul to see these deserving vets honored.

Take Care,

Jennie

A Little History

I had the opportunity to visit our small hometown museum this week and view their quilt show. There was a nice representation of antique quilts, though almost no documentation on them. Label your quilts, folks!!!  Below I will share a few of my favorites. The photos had to be made without flash.

Love the bright yellow background of this GFG.

A beautiful Victorian CQ...this one did have documentation , with photos of the lovely Southern lady who created it....one of my husband's ancestors!!

Loved the treasure trove of prints in this quilt. Reminded me of the popular Jen Kingwell quilts.

Close up of fabrics.

Another GFG....unusual choice of background color.

A more modern flag wall hanging. Love the movement.

Another modern flag.

Love the fabrics in this basket quilt.

What a beauty!! So many tiny pieces.

Nice string quilt with another unusual background color.

Another really nice string quilt.

Hope you enjoyed!

SA will be fourteen tomorrow. We celebrated at Olive Garden earlier this week ...cake by yours truly.

Be sure to tell someone and make their day!

Take Care,

Jennie